Pen Pals
Join writers and parents Krisserin Canary and Kelton Wright as they navigate the journey of publishing their first novels. From California to Colorado, these friends share their experiences with first drafts, revisions, query letters, and the rollercoaster of rejection. Each episode offers an honest look at balancing creative ambitions with daily life, featuring candid conversations about writing craft, time management, and staying motivated. Whether you're a fellow writer or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, Pen Pals proves that every creative journey is better with a friend.
Email us at: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com
Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios
Episodes
29 episodes
Long-time Readers and Short-Lived Aunties: A Thanksgiving Gratitude Special
When you're chasing publication dreams and battling rejection, gratitude feels like a luxury. But Krisserin and Kelton argue it's actually a practice—one that keeps you grounded when writing feels impossible. In this candid Thanksgiving convers...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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55:08
Emily Halnon's Couch-to-Marathon for Writers: From Proposal to Bestseller
Krisserin's brain is scrambled from her massive Excel spreadsheet organizing her 24,000 remaining words, while Kelton is juggling unexpected client work that threatens to derail her memoir proposal. But this week they're joined by Emily Halnon,...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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57:37
Writing Through the Doldrums
In this candid episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton get real about the challenging phases every writer faces—the doldrums. Between sleepless toddler nights, demanding day jobs, and the mental exhaustion of parenting, both hosts grapple wit...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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47:34
Olivia Muenter on Book Deals, Big Five Rejections, and Why Success Doesn't Cure Imposter Syndrome
Krisserin's fighting through the darkness of her 5 AM garage writing sessions while Kelton navigates competing feedback on her memoir proposal. But this week they're joined by their third Season 2 guest: Olivia Muenter, USA Today bestselling au...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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58:44
Ghost Stories and Good Luck: Lesley Bannatyne on Contests, Craft, and the Spirit of Halloween
In this episode, Krisserin and Kelton sit down with author and Halloween historian Lesley Bannatyne, whose short story collection Lake Song won the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction. Lesley shares her unconventional path to publication—winnin...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:21:21
Chelsea Hodson on Tumblr Fame, Cold Emails, and Writing at 2:30 AM
Krisserin's broadcasting from Scottsdale, Arizona (after getting two speeding tickets in the same spot) while Kelton's racing to finish her memoir proposal. But the real star of this episode is their first Season 2 guest interview: Chelsea Hods...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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1:12:45
Keep Fishing: How to Build Confidence as a Writer
Krisserin's fighting off sickness while crushing her revision goals, and Kelton's Rewilding class just sold out. So why do they both feel like frauds? This week, they tackle the tricky bitch that is confidence—how to build it, maintain it, and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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47:54
Finding Your Voice (And Other Terrifying Feedback)
Kelton's exhausted from weeks of sleepless nights with a teething toddler, and Krisserin is deep in revision mode—235 pages edited and counting. But the real topic of this episode is one every writer dreads: major editorial feedback that you do...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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55:15
Speaking Success Into Existence (Plus Actual Magic)
Big news drops in this episode: Krisserin has an agent! After manuscript consultations with longtime friend Kima Jones from Triangle House Literary, what started as friendly feedback sessions turned into official representation. Krisserin share...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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48:26
Back to Work: The Autumn Novel Theory (And Other Excuses)
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 inapp...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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48:28
The Final Chapter: Season One Finale
It’s the season one finale! We’re talking endings—what makes them work, what makes them fail, and how we’re both rethinking the ends of our own books. Krisserin gets real about the feedback that’s forcing her to rewrite, and Kelton opens up abo...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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51:21
How to Get a Literary Agent (Kind Of, Maybe)
Krisserin and Kelton dive into the often soul-crushing world of querying literary agents, where finding representation feels like a high-stakes marriage proposal to strangers who might never write back. While Krisserin reflects on her 70-query ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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56:21
The Fool, the Villain, and the Wedgie: A Guide to Better Characters
Krisserin and Kelton dive deep into the art of character creation, exploring what makes fictional people compelling, memorable, and real. From their shared love of Murder Bot's sarcastic inner monologue to their hatred of clumsy coffee-spilling...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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53:06
AI Is the Devil (And Other Light Topics)
Kelton and Krisserin dive into their complicated relationship with artificial intelligence—which they lovingly refer to as "the devil." They share personal stories about how AI has affected their writing careers, including a heartbreaking momen...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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53:33
Books That Raised Us (And Broke Us)
Remember that one book that made you cry in public? Or the series that basically raised you? In this episode, Kelton and Krisserin crack open their bookish brains and spill on the stories that stuck. From Kelton's pirate adventures to Krisserin...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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56:46
Embracing your weird & finding your readers
Kelton shares the tough news of losing a client to AI, leading to a powerful discussion about finding and embracing your unique voice as a writer. The hosts explore writing about personal obsessions - from desert landscapes to intrusive thought...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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56:34
Book Battles: Genres, Trends, and IP Theft
Krisserin celebrates completing her manuscript while Kelton makes significant progress on her novel. They tackle the challenging questions of where your book belongs in the literary marketplace, whether to read in your genre while writing, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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57:54
Smash or Pass: Literary Edition
In this episode, Krisserin and Kelton catch up on their writing progress before diving into a spirited round of "Smash or Pass" with a literary twist. They debate everything from writing in book margins and killing off main characters to dream ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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59:24
The Outliner vs. The Pantser
In this episode, Kelton and Krisserin flip the script on their expected writing styles, revealing that organized Krisserin is actually a passionate pantser while project-manager Kelton has embraced the power of outlining. They candidly dissect ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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46:11
Literary Pathways: AWP Bonus Episode
In this special bonus episode, Krisserin takes you on a journey through the 2025 AWP Conference in Los Angeles, where she sought out the voices on the edges of the literary world rather than the mainstream publishing houses. From self-published...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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58:43
Slump City: Population You (And Every Other Writer)
In this candid conversation, Kelton and Krisserin explore the inevitable writing slumps that all creators face. They share their personal experiences with creative blocks—from Kelton's newsletter struggles to Krisserin's post-querying paralysis...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:01:43
The Imposter's Guide to Writing Anyway
In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton confront the demons of self-doubt that haunt their writing lives. Between morning pages and late-night edits, they unpack their deepest insecurities: Krisserin fears her technically-sound writin...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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53:15
The Financial Reality of Writing Dreams
In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton strip away the taboo of talking money in the literary world, tallying up the true cost of chasing publishing dreams. While Krisserin calculates the sobering $25,000 she's invested over thirteen ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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53:38
The Frodo Principle: Why No Writer Makes the Journey Alone
In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton tackle the sometimes awkward, often necessary world of building community and platform as writers. From Kelton's viral dog video that landed her in 'algorithm jail' to Krisserin's anxiety about ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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50:40
Literary Side Quests: When Distractions Derail Your Writing
In this episode of Pen Pals, Kelton and Krisserin confront their greatest writing nemesis: distraction. While Kelton battles the twin challenges of a baby learning to poop and the allure of raccoon videos on her explore page, Krisserin struggle...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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59:14
