Write Your Damn Novel (formerly How to Win NaNo) is a no-nonsense guide to writing a novel in 30 days. Like it or not November comes every year, but don't you worry — your hosts are here for you! Kristina Horner and Liz Leo are 'writing-50k-words-in-a-month' experts (and lifelong writing friends) with a passion for helping people write their damn novel. Join them each week as they share their personal tips, tricks and other things they've learned over almost two decades of consecutive NaNoWr ...
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Send us a text Love 'em or hate 'em, tropes are a major part of narrative storytelling. The important thing is understanding them, so you can either use (or avoid!) them to your heart's content. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina talk through popular tropes in many different genres of novels and discuss which ones they love, which ones…
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Send us a text You know, sometimes it happens. You prepare in whatever way works for you, you carve out time, you buy new fuzzy socks... and you still manage to fall behind. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina give you some #realtalk about what to do when your graph is looking bleak. Spoilers: It's going to be okay. Support the show Enj…
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Send us a text Listen, we get it. You go to work, and then you come home exhausted. All you want to do is relax, or watch TV, or collapse in bed. How do you prioritize writing when your job leaves you lacking in energy or inspiration? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz tackle the topic of how to continue to make progress on your writin…
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Send us a text Generic store-brand November Writing Challenge begins in 2 days! Listen for words of encouragement and an update on the ways your hosts Kristina and Liz will be tackling the challenge in this most unprecedented year. Most importantly: we've chosen our tracking tool for the year and have a LEADERBOARD you can join! Best of luck this N…
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Send us a text How do you make your side characters feel like real people? Do you need side characters? How many should you have? There's so much to consider when developing your cast of characters! In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dive into the wonderful world of character development. We discuss how many characters is too many character…
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Send us a text This is something we hear a lot when people are considering what to write in November: does fanfiction count? is it allowed? can I write it? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why their answer is an incredibly enthusiastic yes, including the many merits of fanfiction writing and a bit about why it sometimes has a bad …
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How to write a novel in November without NaNoWriMo
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29:50Send us a text This year, it's the wild west for novelists who still want to participate in some kind of November writing challenge. Where do we track our words? Will it feel the same? How do we find our commmunity? Will winning still "count"? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss options for how to still write in November without supp…
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Let's talk about tense, baby, let's talk about POV
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33:57Send us a text Even if you're a true pantser, there are some decisions that must be made before you can start writing. Choosing a point of view to write from is necessary, as is deciding on a tense. But how do you know which one is right for you? What are your options, and what's the difference? In today's episode, hosts Liz and Kristina discuss th…
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Send us a text What if you've taken a break from writing and find you've forgotten how to do it? Is noveling like riding a bike? How exactly do we rebuild the habit we may have lost? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss the various reasons we might stop writing at points in our lives, and how to get it back. Thanks to lovelycastellan …
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What the heck is going on with NaNoWriMo?
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24:41Send us a text Welcome to Season 6! You might have noticed we've done a bit of a rebrand... this podcast (formerly known as How To Win NaNo) is now called "Write Your Damn Novel"! In the first episode of our new season, hosts Kristina and Liz talk a bit about what's been going on with the NaNoWriMo organization and why we felt the need to distance …
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Post NaNoWriMo Tip: Note to Your Future Self
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21:18Send us a text Do you want to make your future self the happiest writer in the world? Then leave yourself a note at the end of NaNoWriMo! Because listen, we get it. November is over and you've earned a break. But now is the best time to set your future self up for success. In this final episode of the season, hosts Kristina and Liz give tips for th…
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The Best NaNoWriMo Merch & Winner Goodies
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20:13Send us a text It's the LAST DAY of NaNoWriMo, which means... well, either you're already celebrating your win or you're still still furiously writing. Either way, we all know the best part of succeeding at NaNoWriMo (aside from the feeling of a job well done) is the WINNER GOODIES! In today's episode, your hosts Kristina & Liz take it a bit easy, …
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Send us a text The end November approaches... and for some, that could mean getting to the end of your novel! But... what does that mean? How do you finish such a huge project? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz discuss some tips and strategies for ending strong, from resolution to twists to cliffhangers. Support the show Enjoy the sho…
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Introduction to: The White Room (a tool for writers)
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20:31Send us a text Have you ever been totally stuck on your writing project and had no idea what to do next? Maybe you need a trip to the white room! And just what is this mythical 'white room' you ask? In today's episode, hosts Liz and Kristina interview guest speaker Katrina Hamilton on what the white room is, how to use it a a writing tool, and all …
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Send us a text What is "voice" when it comes to writing and how do you develop your own? Can it change over time, and do you need one at all? In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why voice is important, define the difference between character voice and author voice, and share some of their favorite voice-y authors. Support the sho…
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Send us a text It's November 1st! Happy NaNoWriMo! Now... where on earth do you START? The good news is, the only wrong way is to not start at all. In today's episode, best friends and hosts Kristina and LIz discuss some strategies for starting your NaNo novel, how to hook your reader, how to write a killer opening line, and more! Support the show …
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Send us a text Do you have limited time to write this November? Are you going on vacation, or just know there will be days you wont be able to focus on writing? Are you worried you wont have the full thirty days to spend on this? You're not alone! In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz discuss some strategies and tips for finishing N…
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Send us a text Last season we covered our survival kits for Planners and Pantsers, but there's another category of NaNo participant we wanted to make sure was represented on the podcast. In this week's episode, your hosts Kristina Horner and Liz Leo welcome guest host Katrina Hamilton to talk about what it takes to be a Plantser. Support the show E…
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Send us a text Have you ever wanted to take part in a writing retreat, but don't know how? What if we told you it could be as easy as setting one up yourself? In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz are joined by their good friend Katrina Hamilton to talk all things writing retreats. We discuss what they are, why they can be such a bi…
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Send us a text Do you listen to music when you write? Does music inspire ideas for your writing? In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about the many varying ways music can help or hinder us as writers, and delve into a plethora of strategies for using music to your advantage this November! Support the show Enjoy the show? Like…
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Send us a text Do you have an idea for a series? Are you planning a novel you know will have multiple installments, or maybe you've already written book one and you're ready to tackle book two for this year's NaNoWriMo? In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about what it takes to write a series and how to use NaNoWriMo to achei…
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Send us a text Lots of novels have more than one author, but how do they make that work? What's the writing process like? And is it at all feasible during NaNoWriMo? In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about what it takes to co-write a novel with another person. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumb…
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Working on an Old Project vs. Starting Something New
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27:53Send us a text Having a hard time deciding what to work on for NaNoWriMo this year? Are you flirting with the idea of starting a brand new, shiny project while your older ideas give you side eye from the shelf? In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about the pros and cons of going either direction. Support the show Enjoy the sh…
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Send us a text Another season of NaNoWriMo is upon us, and what better way to celebrate that than with the advent of our fifth season of this podcast? It's hard to believe how long we've been doing this, and couldn't be more grateful for your support. In today's episode, best friends Liz and Kristina look at what's coming in Season 5, and take a mo…
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Send us a text It's our last episode of Season 4! We might have forgotten to wrap up this season, so here's a farewell episode before we jump into Season 5 for the upcoming NaNo season! In today's episode, we talk about how to take advantage of the break between Camp NaNo July and November, when to start prepping for the next NaNoWriMo, and say goo…
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Send us a text There's one universal truth when it comes to writing: IT'S HARD. Listen, we get it. We've all had those moments where we question why we even try. If you've ever sat in front of your laptop feeling like a fraud, you're not alone. In today's episode, best friends Liz and Kristina discuss why this happens, give advice on what to do whe…
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April Camp NaNoWriMo Pep Talk & Writing Sprint Music
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25:02Send us a text It's officially April! That means we're camping, fam! In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk a bit about their own experiences camping (NaNoWriMo and otherwise - who says this podcast is only about writing?!) as well as sharing ten uninterrupted minutes of inspiring music to write to this month, custom made by our…
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Send us a text It's a writer's worst nightmare: the dreaded "Writer's Block". In this week's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz discuss what writer's block is, whether or not it's real and what can you do about it if you're feeling stuck. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow …
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Send us a text We're back for the first time ever in SPRING to talk about Camp NaNoWriMo! Stay tuned for 10 more episodes for a very special part two of Season 4. What is Camp NaNoWriMo? How is it different than the NaNoWriMo that happens in November? Join us this week for a discussion on what kinds of projects you can do for "Camp" and how to trac…
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Send us a text Book titles are the first thing a potential reader sees! But they can also be super hard to come up with. In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz walk you through a number of things to consider when thinking up a title for your novel. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a…
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Send us a text NaNoWriMo 2022 is now over! In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina talk about why why they keep coming back to this challenge, year after year. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join ou…
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Send us a text Are you wanting an extra challenge this year? Are you interested in trying out a story idea using braided narrative, found documents, non-linear narrative, captain's logs, etc? Best friends Liz and Kristina talk through all the ways they've gone off the beaten path in their writing and how you can too! Support the show Enjoy the show…
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The Dreaded Question: "What is your book about?"
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22:41Send us a text There's no avoiding it: people are always going to ask you what your book is about. It's extremely helpful to have a succint answer ready for this dreaded question! In today's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz discuss the difference between a "blurb" and a "pitch" and how to get people hooked on your idea without putting them to…
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Send us a text Do you have kids? Are you a caregiver? Are you responsible for the day to day care of another human in some way? In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz walk you through tips for making space for writing amidst the chaos of caregiving, and more importantly - discuss why it's so important that you feel empowered to take that ti…
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Joining NaNoWriMo last minute? WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE?
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17:48Send us a text Maybe you JUST learned about NaNoWriMo and haven't had time to prep. Maybe you weren't sure you were going to do it this year and made the decision to try in the eleventh hour. Or maybe you're a panster and just haven't figured out what you're doing yet because that's how you roll! Whatever your situation, we've got you covered. In t…
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Send us a text A very special bonus episode for Halloween! One of our Discord members requested we talk about some of our favorite NaNoWriMo memories from over the years! So in today's episode, best friends Liz and Kristina take little a trip down memory lane. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - lea…
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A Step By Step Guide to Writing Your Novel in November
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24:06Send us a text Ever wished there was just a TEMPLATE for how to write an entire novel, start to finish, in November? 50,000 words, 30 days, every step of the Hero's Journey accounted for. Now, there is! In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz map out where you should be in your novel at each point in the month, so feel free to use this episo…
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Send us a text Are you a planner? Do you wish you were a planner? In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina break down the basic neccessities planners need to prepare for (and survive) NaNoWriMo. Thanks to listener lexisnexis for this great topic suggestion! Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - …
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Send us a text Are you a panster? Do you turn your nose up at outlines, but still want to find some way to prepare for NaNoWriMo? In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina break down the basic neccessities pansters need to prepare for (and survive) NaNoWriMo. Thanks to listener lexisnexis for this great topic suggestion! Support the show Enjoy…
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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing Groups
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19:01Send us a text Believe it or not, writing can be a social activity! In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about all things writing community: how to convince friends to join in on the fun with you November, how to join a virtual or in-person writing group, or how to create your own! Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, …
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Send us a text That's right... it's officially October, and this episode marks the start of SEASON 4 for the How To Win NaNo podcast! Best friends Liz and Kristina couldn't be happier to be back for another year of stories, struggles, and advice. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! F…
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Send us a text NaNoWriMo might be over for another season, but that doesn't mean you have to stop writing! In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss how to make writing a habit, how to not burn yourself out, and accountability in general. We also talk a bit about what's next for the podcast, so stay tuned for more! Support the show Enj…
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I've won! Now What Do I Do With All These Novel Drafts?
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21:39Send us a text First of all, YOU DID IT. Another NaNoWriMo has come and gone and whether you wrote 50,000 words or not, you've now got another draft to add to the pile of "now what" novels. These tend to stack up if you've being writing for awhile, and that's okay! In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss some options for how to next the nex…
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Send us a text There are a whole bunch of reasons why a person might write more than 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo: maybe you're just a naturally fast writer, maybe you're trying to finish the book, or maybe you just need a bigger challenge! In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz get into the nitty-gritty of being NaNo over-achievers. Support …
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Send us a text Something you might find yourself asking is, "how important is theme when writing my story?" Should theme come before you start writing, or is it something I can figure out along the way? Like most things with writing, there's no wrong way! In this episode, Kristina and Liz discuss different approaches to story theme and why it's som…
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What Happens When Your Plot Doesn't Go As Planned?
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23:23Send us a text Have you outlined your book, but then once you start writing everything falls apart? How do you push through when feeling disorganized? What if the urge is strong to go back and edit? In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss a number of tips to help you through this frustrating experience. Support the show Enjoy the sho…
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How to Make Book Covers (For Fun & For Real)
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19:06Send us a text Book covers definitely aren't the MOST important thing to be thinking about during NaNoWriMo, but since the NaNo site gives you a nice spot to upload one, it's something that's likely on your mind! In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz share some great tips on making your own! Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episo…
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Send us a text Why this is going to be the best year of NaNoWriMo ever and how you're going to absolutely crush it. Or something like that. In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz do their very best to get you pumped. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram…
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Halloween Spookfest: Tarot Reading for NaNo Novels
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12:02Send us a text Have you ever thought about using tarot cards to help inspire your novel? Or just want to find out what's in store for your writing future? On this special Halloween episode, hosts Kristina and Liz do just that. Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagr…
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Send us a text It's almost November, and maybe you're worried that your tank is ALREADY empty! Whether that be creatively, physically, of just straight burnout, the idea of finding any sort of creative reserves to draw from might be daunting. In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss a number of options for how to fill that tank and ge…
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