Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
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Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
Fiction Writing Made Easy is your go-to creative writing podcast for practical, no-fluff tips on how to write, edit, and publish a novel—from first draft to finished book.Hosted by developmental editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo, this show breaks down the fiction writing process into clear, actio...
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#257. Stuck in Chapter One or the Messy Middle? What Your Stuck Point Reveals
Stuck writing your novel? Wherever your draft stalls out—chapter one, 20,000 words, the messy middle—that spot isn't random. It's a clue that tells yo...
#256. Why “Just Start Writing” Can Be Terrible Advice for New Writers
Everyone tells you to just start writing. Nobody tells you when. And if you keep starting your novel and stalling out a few chapters in, that missing...
#255. Student Spotlight: How Grace Draven Learned to Write Faster (Without Sacrificing Quality)
Can a lifelong discovery writer write faster and embrace structure without losing the magic? Bestselling author Grace Draven wrote 62,000 words in 21...
#254. How to Outline Your Novel With the Hero’s Journey
Learn how to outline your novel using the Hero’s Journey—without mistaking this classic framework for a complete story blueprint.
The Hero’s Jou...
#253. 5 Common Mistakes That Make Your Character Feel Flat
If your protagonist feels vivid in your head but flat on the page, this episode will help you diagnose what’s missing—and fix the specific piece of ch...
#252. Value Shifts: How to Tell if a Scene Is Working (or Falling Flat)
If you’ve got a scene that feels flat and you can’t figure out why, this episode will help you diagnose what’s really going on—so you know whether the...
#251. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 8)
What does it look like to go from feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about your novel…to finally making real progress?
In this episode, I'm s...
#250. Why Your First Draft Doesn't Match the Book in Your Head (with Gala Russ)
A book coach who's written 15 novels pulls back the curtain on what's really happening when your messy first draft disappoints you.
Ever finish...
#249. 5 POV Mistakes That Pull Readers Out of Your Story
Most fiction writers are making at least one of these point of view mistakes. Find out which one could be hiding in your draft.
You know that fe...
#248. From Meet-Cute to HEA: How to Connect the Key Scenes of Your Romance Novel
Learn how to write the lead-up and reaction scenes between your key romance plot points so your story flows naturally from meet-cute to HEA without st...
#247. 5 Secrets to Writing YA Fiction (That Actually Feels Like YA)
Learn the five craft secrets to writing young adult fiction that actually feels like YA—so when you sit down to write your own, you know exactly what...
#246. Story Mapping: How to Map Your Novel With Sticky Notes (With Danyel Nicole)
What if getting stuck on your novel has nothing to do with your story and everything to do with HOW you're seeing it? Story mapping coach Danyel Nicol...
#245. 5 Ways to Show World Building in Your Novel Without Info-Dumping
Master these 5 worldbuilding techniques to immerse readers in your fictional world without infodumping or overwhelming them.
If you've ever sat...
#244 How to Create Characters Readers Will Love (5 Essential Elements)
Readers don't fall in love with likable characters. They fall in love with characters who want something specific, stand to lose something personal, a...
#243. What to Expect When Working with a Line Editor (With Two Birds Author Services)
What does line editing actually involve, and is your manuscript ready for it? Here's everything you need to know.
Line editing is a stage in the...
#242. 5 Revision Mistakes That Keep Writers Stuck in Editing Hell
You finished your first draft. And for a minute, it felt amazing. But then you open your manuscript to revise, and suddenly everything feels unclear.<...
#241. Do You Really Need to Hire a Book Editor Before You Query?
Discover why the answer to hiring a book editor before querying isn’t a simple yes or no—and how to make the right call for your manuscript.
If...
#240. 10 Writing Mistakes That Make Readers Put Down Your Novel
Are you revising the same chapters over and over, but nothing you change is actually fixing the problem?
Most writers go straight to the prose w...
#239. Student Spotlight: How J.J. Henley Finished Her First Draft in 8 Months (With Two Kids and In 15 Minutes at a Time)
She wrote her first novel in 15-minute increments—in drive-through lines, at the dance studio, at swim lessons—while raising two kids and walking thro...
#238. How to Market Your Book in a Way That Actually Feels Good (With Beth Barany)
Learn how to market your book in a way that aligns with your values, builds genuine reader connections, and feels sustainable instead of draining.
#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)
You wrote a prologue for your novel. But now you're wondering if you really need it. Here are three honest signs your story might actually be stronger...
#236. The Truth About AI and Creative Writing with Ana Del Valle
Is AI here to replace novelists, steal ideas, or ruin copyright forever? Let’s separate fear from facts.
AI and creative writing are among the m...
235. Scene Structure Made Easy: The 5 Essential Elements Every Scene Needs
Learn the 5 key elements every scene needs to move your story forward and keep readers turning pages.
Scene structure doesn't have to be complic...
#234. How to Build A Sustainable Writing Practice With Dr. Bailey Lang
Master the 8 Habits of Mind to build a sustainable, joyful writing practice that helps you finish your book without burnout or self-sabotage.
Bu...
#233. 5 Secrets to Writing Dialogue That Sounds Natural
Master the art of writing natural-sounding dialogue by learning how to remove unnecessary lines, shape distinct character voices, and write conversati...
#232. 5 Tips For Crafting Morally Gray Characters Readers Love
Discover the five craft techniques that make morally gray characters impossible to put down—so you can write complex, compelling figures readers will...
#231. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 2
Discover how five Notes to Novel students stopped guessing their way through drafts by planning and outlining their stories with a clear structure.
#230. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 1
Five writers. Five different starting points. One clear framework that turned stalled first drafts into steady progress.
In today’s episo...
Bonus: From Stuck to Steady: How 3 Writers Found Their Drafting Rhythm
Discover how three Notes to Novel™ students stopped guessing their way through drafting and built steady, sustainable momentum toward a finished first...
229. 5 Signs Your Writing Process Is Broken (And How to Fix It)
If you've been working on your novel for months—or even years—without making real progress, this episode will help you understand why.
Maybe you...
#228. Student Spotlight: How She Finished Her First Draft in 88 Days (While Working Full-Time) With Poornika Kakkanaiah
Learn how a self-proclaimed perfectionist wrote a 114,000-word first draft in just 88 days—while working full-time and without finding more hours in t...
227. 5 Tips on Pursuing Your Writing While Holding Down a 9-to-5 Job
If you've been trying to write a novel with a full-time job, family, and everything else life throws at you, this episode is for you.
Maybe you...
226. Counting Down The Best Writing Tips From FWME In 2025
The best writing advice sticks because it changes how you approach the page. In this special year-end episode, I’m counting down the top 10 most impac...
#225. Student Spotlight: From Zero Drafts to Dream Agent While Raising 4 Kids With Madi Unruh
Learn how a busy parent finished a novel by following a clear roadmap that made it possible to pause, return, and keep moving forward.
Between r...
Bonus: From Overwhelmed to Outlining: How 3 Writers Finally Started Their Novels
What if the reason you haven't started writing your novel has nothing to do with how much you know?
“I’m not ready yet” is one of the most commo...
#224. The Truth About Writing Faster: It's Not What You Think
Unlock the clarity you need to write smoothly, avoid constant restarts, and finish a stronger first draft in less time.
If you've ever tried to...
#223. Permission to Start: How to Move Past ‘Not Ready Yet’ and Finish Your Novel
Discover why “I’m not ready yet” is a fear-driven mindset and learn how to take small, confident steps that move your novel forward.
So many wri...
#222. 3 Mindset Shifts Every Writer Needs to Finish Their Novel
Discover the mindset shifts to break out of analysis paralysis, choose progress over perfection, and build your novel layer by layer until it's comple...
#221. 5 Line Editing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine
Discover five practical line editing strategies that sharpen your prose, strengthen emotional clarity, and make each sentence more purposeful on the p...
#220. How to Build an Author Platform (Even if You're an Introvert) with Shelby Leigh
Learn how to build a focused, authentic author platform to connect with readers early, grow your visibility, and create lasting momentum for your book...