DiscoverPen PalsBack to Work: The Autumn Novel Theory (And Other Excuses)
Back to Work: The Autumn Novel Theory (And Other Excuses)

Back to Work: The Autumn Novel Theory (And Other Excuses)

Update: 2025-09-22
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Krisserin and Kelton are back for Season 2! They dive into their summer writing goals with the brutal honesty that only true accountability partners can provide. Kelton reveals why she convinced her therapist that her novel is "seasonally inappropriate" for summer writing, pivoting instead to a memoir proposal that practically wrote itself in three days. Meanwhile, Krisserin confesses to feeling overwhelmed by alpha reader feedback and discovers the humbling truth about her editing skills while reading her speculative novel aloud to an agent friend.

Between tales of COVID summers, PTA obligations, and toddler daycare transitions, they explore the reality of fitting writing into lives that refuse to pause for creative pursuits. The conversation takes an illuminating turn as they discuss eye-opening insights from Krisserin's manuscript consultations, including why multi-book deals might be financial suicide and the uncomfortable question every writer should ask: what's your monetary goal for this book?

From Kelton's new "Rewilding" class to their shared revelation that they've been treating book publishing like winning the lottery instead of a achievable career goal, this episode captures the messy, non-linear reality of pursuing publication while living full, complicated lives. Plus: why over-editing exists, the art of pivoting to projects that energize you, and their ambitious fall goals that just might change everything.

Learn more about Kelton's class: The Rewilding here.

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Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

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Back to Work: The Autumn Novel Theory (And Other Excuses)

Back to Work: The Autumn Novel Theory (And Other Excuses)

Krisserin Canary and Kelton Wright