Pen Pals

Kelton Wright and Krisserin Canary
  • 5.0 (25)
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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.comMusic by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

  1. 12/23/2025

    The Capricorn and the Libra: Our Year in Review

    In their final episode of 2025, Krisserin and Kelton reflect on a year that transformed them both—32 episodes of accountability, pivot points, and hard-won victories. While Krisserin celebrates landing an agent and finishing her duology, Kelton reveals her elaborate "Year of 40" planning document complete with astrological mapping and a manifestation app. Looking ahead to 2026, Kelton unveils her ambitious plans—the Rewilding winter practice, a new monthly writing group called the Murmuration, and manifesting a business partner with a very specific JD. Krisserin's playing it closer to the vest, applying to an MFA program and hoping for a book deal she's still too protective of her heart to fully visualize.  Between debates about who's more commercially-minded (Capricorn wins), pleas for listener ratings, and their characteristic mix of commiseration and ambition, this episode celebrates what a year of showing up—for your writing and for each other—can actually accomplish. Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    50 min

  2. 12/15/2025

    Writing Through December Chaos

    In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton confront the reality of December's chaotic energy—where seasonal disruptions, holiday stress, and looming daycare closures threaten to derail their writing routines entirely. While Kelton grapples with her lack of structure (going without coffee until noon, navigating postpartum dairy restrictions, and awaiting news of hand-foot-and-mouth disease), Krisserin celebrates a hollow victory: typing "THE END" on her manuscript, only to feel completely disconnected from the work. The friends trade strategies for building sustainable writing habits in the midst of life's upheaval—from Kelton's plan to reclaim her most reliable morning hour from client work to Krisserin's decision to explore short story writing and grad school applications while her novel rests. They debate the ethics of platform-building on TikTok, where algorithmic luck matters more than generous engagement, and wrestle with the pressure to create "uniquely differentiating" content when billions of people are doing the same thing. Through Emily Halnon's wisdom about training like an athlete and the reminder that 30 minutes of writing beats zero minutes every time, Krisserin and Kelton offer a refreshing antidote to December chaos: sometimes the goal is just to show up, even when showing up feels like the hardest thing in the world. Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    50 min

  3. 12/08/2025

    Stop Tap Dancing in Your Query Letter: Ali Gordon's Path to Publication

    Krisserin and Kelton sit down with Ali Gordon, author of "We Have Reached the End of Our Show," to discuss her unconventional path to publication without an agent. Ali shares how she wrote her debut novel during the pandemic as a "cozy treehouse" where she could escape—a meditation on grief and the end of the world inspired by her experience losing both parents to cancer within two years. The conversation digs into the brutal reality of querying: from agents who loved her novella but wouldn't represent it without expansion, to the personal sting of form rejections when you've poured your trauma onto the page. Ali explains why she stopped "tap dancing" in her query letters and started reaching out directly to independent publishers—landing at Wildling Press, where the entire team read her manuscript within weeks and called to say "we all cried, we love it." Ali gets honest about the trade-offs of publishing with a small press (no advance, years of unpaid work) versus the reward of working with people genuinely in love with your material. She reflects on how querying hurt her feelings in ways even acting school rejection never did, why writing "in love" with your project matters more than outlining obligations, and how four hours of forced airplane boredom gave her the idea for her next (hopefully funny) novel. Plus: Kelton's toddler still isn't sleeping so she's giving herself permission to rest despite memoir proposal deadlines, Krisserin shares the embarrassing story of fumbling repeated follow-ups from an interested agent twelve years ago, and both hosts grapple with social media metrics while pushing toward their January deadlines in a season when they should be pulling back. Learn more about Ali Gordon: Website: https://www.whatdoesaligordondo.com/ Book: "We Have Reached the End of Our Show" Instagram: @msalicenutting Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    1h 12m

  4. 11/24/2025

    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 conversation, they explore gratitude as a skill you build, not a feeling that arrives. They tackle the envy that lurks behind ambition, answer a listener's question about returning to abandoned projects, and get deeply personal about the people who've shaped their writing—from long-time readers who stuck with them for decades, to short-lived aunties who passed through their lives leaving permanent gifts. Krisserin celebrates a week of wild productivity. Kelton reflects on the readers who've been loyal since her Date by Numbers days. Both hosts reckon with how family, mentorship, and financial anxiety shaped their relationship to art. If you're oscillating between genuine gratitude and performative thankfulness, this episode holds space for both. Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    55 min

  5. 11/17/2025

    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, USA Today bestselling author of To the Gorge: Running Grief and Resilience and 460 Miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, a writer, trail runner, and mountain athlete who set the fastest known time on the 460-mile Oregon PCT. Emily's here to talk about the gap between landing an agent and getting published—and why the submission process was far more brutal than her surprisingly smooth querying journey. After three agent offers in six weeks, Emily faced publisher after publisher saying no, not because of her writing, but because her platform wasn't big enough. She breaks down the "pitch deck" strategy for positioning your memoir, how market bias shows up in publishing decisions (including the absurd reasoning that there's only room for one book about women on trails), and the practical realities of book marketing that most authors do themselves. The trio discusses what actually gets your book into readers' hands—from strategic podcast appearances to NPR affiliate targeting to direct DM outreach. Emily shares her candid breakdown of launch strategy, sustainable (and unsustainable) approaches to self-promotion, and the vulnerability hangover that comes after pouring your grief onto the page. Plus: Emily's discovery of poetry as creative renewal, Krisserin's push toward December 1st manuscript completion, Kelton's chapter outline goals, and their shared realization that sometimes the best writing investment is permission to rest and let ideas compost. Through their different paths to publication, all three writers circle back to the same truth: authenticity and persistence matter more than perfect platforms or publishers' initial predictions. Get Emily's book: To the Gorge: Running Grief and Resilience and 460 Miles on the Pacific Crest Trail Learn more about Emily: Website: https://www.emilyhalnon.com/ Instagram: @emilysweats Substack Newsletter: Trail Mix Recommended Reading from Emily: The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow Poets Square by Courtney Gustafson Tilt by Emma Pattee The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan The Comfort Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    58 min

  6. 11/10/2025

    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 with keeping their writing momentum alive. Krisserin wrestles with defining the antagonist in her second novel while navigating the broader scale and complexity her story demands, questioning whether she has what it takes to pull it off. Meanwhile, Kelton evaluates her newsletter's future after four and a half years of free essays, contemplating the balance between creative satisfaction and sustainable output. They discuss the realities of being a parent-writer, the pressure of the holiday season, the importance of taking breaks, and the confidence that comes with age and experience. Despite feeling down in the moment, both writers remain certain they'll emerge on the other side—together—holding hands toward success. A relatable and honest conversation for any creative pushing through the valleys between mountains. Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    48 min

  7. 11/03/2025

    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 author of "Such a Bad Influence," co-host of the Bad On Paper podcast, and Pen Pals superfan. Olivia's here to talk about her wildly unconventional path to publication—and why landing a book deal didn't cure her imposter syndrome like she thought it would. The trio discusses the challenges of generating new material after months of revision (Krisserin hasn't written new words in over a year), the importance of curating beautiful writing spaces (taper candles can fix everything, according to Olivia), and why rest is productive. Olivia's daily routine—journaling first, then tackling the most creative work in the morning, with a brain-dump journal that has "absolutely changed her life"—offers a template for sustainable creative practice. Plus: Krisserin moves from revision to terrifying new material, Kelton wrestles with contradictory feedback on her memoir proposal (more voice versus more market research), and Olivia plans her first self-hosted writing retreat in the Catskills while finishing her proposal for book three. Through their different writing styles and career paths, all three writers circle back to the same truth: the only real measure of success is that you keep going, no matter who rejects you. Pre-order Olivia's upcoming novel "Little One" (releases February 3rd): https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/olivia-muenter/little-one/9780316594561/ Learn more about Olivia: Website & Newsletter: https://oliviamuenter.substack.com/ Bad On Paper Podcast: https://badonpaperpodcast.com/ "Such a Bad Influence": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739425/such-a-bad-influence-by-olivia-muenter/ Recommended Reading from Olivia: "Night Watching" by Tracy Sierra"Tilt" by Emma Petit"Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance" by Alison PacWrite to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    59 min

  8. 10/27/2025

    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—winning major contests without an agent—and the craft lessons she learned along the way. They talk writing community, finding inspiration in spooky places, and why the best stories linger like ghosts long after you close the book. Learn more about Lesley at lesleybannatyne.com Get 20% off Lake Song using promo code "LAKE" from Ohio State University Press here: https://ohiostatepress.org/books/titles/9780814259542.html Write to us: officialpenpalspod@gmail.com Follow us: Instagram: @penpalspod TikTok: @penpalspod YouTube: @PenPalsPod Follow Krisserin and Kelton: TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com The Rewilding Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

    1h 21m
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

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.comMusic by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

Information

  • Creator
    Kelton Wright and Krisserin Canary
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Pen Pals
  • Show Website
    Pen Pals

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