Pen Pals Pod

In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton navigate the treacherous waters of writing workshops and editing, trading war stories about feedback that made them stronger (or at least made them cry in their cars). While Krisserin advocates for the safety of structured workshops and multiple drafts, Kelton embraces the wild west of publishing personal essays straight into the void - death threats and all. The friends set new goals: Kelton plans to leverage her in-laws' babysitting powers for seven solid hours of writing, while Krisserin commits to 5AM writing sessions (with accountability texts to prove it.

Get in contact with us at: [email protected]

Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

Write to us:
[email protected]

Follow us:
Instagram: @penpalspod
TikTok: @penpalspod
YouTube: @PenPalsPod
SubStack: penpalspod.substack.com

Follow Krisserin and Kelton:
TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites
Instagram: @keltonkin, @keltonwrites
Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs
Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com

Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

In this episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton unpack what it really means to "be published," trading stories from their own winding paths through the writing world. While Kelton reflects on her journey from anonymous Tumblr confessions to bylines in The Guardian, Krisserin shares a fresh rejection letter from her year-long query journey and contemplates the various doors (and price tags) to literary success. The friends explore how privilege shapes access to traditional publishing paths, debate the value of MFAs versus real-world experience, and celebrate Kelton's impressive feat of writing 724 words one-handed while nursing her baby. Their candid conversation reveals the messy truth behind those coveted "published author" credentials, ultimately suggesting that maybe the best path forward is the one you forge yourself - whether that's through perfectly crafted queries or late-night phone typing sessions. Through their characteristic mix of humor, frustration, and unwavering support, Krisserin and Kelton demonstrate that even the most daunting publishing dreams feel more achievable with a friend to commiserate with along the way.

Get in contact with us at: [email protected]  
Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

Write to us:
[email protected]

Follow us:
Instagram: @penpalspod
TikTok: @penpalspod
YouTube: @PenPalsPod
SubStack: penpalspod.substack.com

Follow Krisserin and Kelton:
TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites
Instagram: @keltonkin, @keltonwrites
Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs
Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com

Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

In this debut episode of Pen Pals, Krisserin and Kelton launch their shared mission to support each other through the journey of publishing their first novels. While Kelton tracks her progress through word counts and steals writing moments between baby naps, Krisserin creates elaborate rituals with perfectly curated playlists and emotional support beverages to get into her creative zone.

The friends establish their weekly accountability system, with Kelton diving into her first novel filled with magic and mystery, and Krisserin tackling revisions on a critical first chapter for upcoming workshop submissions. Their honest conversation about writing processes and goal-setting sets the tone for a podcast dedicated to making the path to publication less solitary - and a lot more fun. Through their different approaches to the same dream, Krisserin and Kelton show that the journey to becoming a published novelist is better with a friend by your side.

Get in contact with us at: [email protected]

Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios

Write to us:
[email protected]

Follow us:
Instagram: @penpalspod
TikTok: @penpalspod
YouTube: @PenPalsPod
SubStack: penpalspod.substack.com

Follow Krisserin and Kelton:
TikTok: @krisserin, @keltonwrites
Instagram: @keltonkin, @keltonwrites
Kelton's Substack: Shangrilogs
Krisserin's Substack: krisserin.substack.com

Music by Golden Hour Oasis Studios