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Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
Podcast

Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice

Savannah Gilbo

277 episodes · Arts, Books, Education

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, actionable steps so you can finally make progress on your manuscript and write a novel you’re proud of. Whether you’re a first-time author, an aspiring novelist, or a seasoned writer looking to strengthen your craft, each episode will help you understand what makes a story work at the deepest level—so you can stop second-guessing your ideas and start building a stronger novel from the inside out. You’ll learn how to develop your premise, structure your plot, create compelling characters, write stronger scenes, world-build without infodumping, revise your draft, and navigate your publishing options with more clarity and confidence. If you’ve ever wondered things like... How do I write a novel if I’ve never done this before? What’s the best way to structure a story that works? How do I develop strong characters readers will care about? How do I build an immersive world without info-dumping? How do I write scenes that move the story forward? How do I edit my first draft? How do I know when my book is ready to publish? Should I pursue self-publishing or traditional publishing? …you’re in the right place. New episodes drop weekly to help you simplify the novel-writing process, strengthen your storytelling skills, and get your book into readers’ hands. — Popular Episode Topics Include: Fiction Writing Tips, Story Structure, Plotting a Novel, Character Development, Writing Stronger Scenes, World Building, Novel Revision, Story Development, How to Outline a Novel, Character Arcs, Genre Fiction, Editing a Novel, Fiction Writing Mistakes to Avoid, Revision Strategies, Writing Advice

Episodes

#261. 5 Mistakes Writers Make Using the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet
#261. 5 Mistakes Writers Make Using the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet
Aug 18, 2026 · 23 min
#260. Student Spotlight: From Stuck at 25k Words to a Finished Draft With Lindsay Sfara
#260. Student Spotlight: From Stuck at 25k Words to a Finished Draft With Lindsay Sfara
Aug 11, 2026 · 41 min
#259. How to Finish a Novel With Kids at Home & Limited Writing Time
#259. How to Finish a Novel With Kids at Home & Limited Writing Time
Aug 4, 2026 · 25 min
#258. 5 Myths Keeping You From Finishing Your First Draft
#258. 5 Myths Keeping You From Finishing Your First Draft
Jul 28, 2026 · 23 min
#257. Stuck in Chapter One or the Messy Middle? What Your Stuck Point Reveals
#257. Stuck in Chapter One or the Messy Middle? What Your Stuck Point Reveals
Jul 21, 2026 · 17 min
#256. Why “Just Start Writing” Can Be Terrible Advice for New Writers
#256. Why “Just Start Writing” Can Be Terrible Advice for New Writers
Jul 14, 2026 · 16 min
#255. Student Spotlight: How Grace Draven Learned to Write Faster (Without Sacrificing Quality)
#255. Student Spotlight: How Grace Draven Learned to Write Faster (Without Sacrificing Quality)
Jul 7, 2026 · 41 min
#254. How to Outline Your Novel With the Hero’s Journey
#254. How to Outline Your Novel With the Hero’s Journey
Jun 30, 2026 · 26 min
#253. 5 Common Mistakes That Make Your Character Feel Flat
#253. 5 Common Mistakes That Make Your Character Feel Flat
Jun 23, 2026 · 25 min
#252. Value Shifts: How to Tell if a Scene Is Working (or Falling Flat)
#252. Value Shifts: How to Tell if a Scene Is Working (or Falling Flat)
Jun 16, 2026 · 24 min
#251. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 8)
#251. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 8)
Jun 9, 2026 · 35 min
#250. Why Your First Draft Doesn't Match the Book in Your Head (with Gala Russ)
#250. Why Your First Draft Doesn't Match the Book in Your Head (with Gala Russ)
Jun 2, 2026 · 48 min
#249. 5 POV Mistakes That Pull Readers Out of Your Story
#249. 5 POV Mistakes That Pull Readers Out of Your Story
May 26, 2026 · 32 min
#248. From Meet-Cute to HEA: How to Connect the Key Scenes of Your Romance Novel
#248. From Meet-Cute to HEA: How to Connect the Key Scenes of Your Romance Novel
May 19, 2026 · 47 min
#247. 5 Secrets to Writing YA Fiction (That Actually Feels Like YA)
#247. 5 Secrets to Writing YA Fiction (That Actually Feels Like YA)
May 12, 2026 · 23 min
#246. Story Mapping: How to Map Your Novel With Sticky Notes (With Danyel Nicole)
#246. Story Mapping: How to Map Your Novel With Sticky Notes (With Danyel Nicole)
May 5, 2026 · 22 min
#245. 5 Ways to Show Worldbuilding in Your Novel Without Info-Dumping
#245. 5 Ways to Show Worldbuilding in Your Novel Without Info-Dumping
Apr 28, 2026 · 20 min
#244. How to Create Characters Readers Will Love (5 Essential Elements)
#244. How to Create Characters Readers Will Love (5 Essential Elements)
Apr 21, 2026 · 23 min
#243. What to Expect When Working with a Line Editor (With Two Birds Author Services)
#243. What to Expect When Working with a Line Editor (With Two Birds Author Services)
Apr 14, 2026 · 34 min
#242. 5 Revision Mistakes That Keep Writers Stuck in Editing Hell
#242. 5 Revision Mistakes That Keep Writers Stuck in Editing Hell
Apr 7, 2026 · 21 min
#241. Do You Really Need to Hire a Book Editor Before You Query?
#241. Do You Really Need to Hire a Book Editor Before You Query?
Mar 31, 2026 · 13 min
#240. 10 Writing Mistakes That Make Readers Put Down Your Novel
#240. 10 Writing Mistakes That Make Readers Put Down Your Novel
Mar 24, 2026 · 24 min
#239. Student Spotlight: How J.J. Henley Finished Her First Draft in 8 Months (With Two Kids and In 15 Minutes at a Time)
#239. Student Spotlight: How J.J. Henley Finished Her First Draft in 8 Months (With Two Kids and In 15 Minutes at a Time)
Mar 17, 2026 · 51 min
#238. How to Market Your Book in a Way That Actually Feels Good (With Beth Barany)
#238. How to Market Your Book in a Way That Actually Feels Good (With Beth Barany)
Mar 10, 2026 · 34 min
#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)
#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)
Mar 3, 2026 · 18 min
#236. The Truth About AI and Creative Writing with Ana Del Valle
#236. The Truth About AI and Creative Writing with Ana Del Valle
Feb 24, 2026 · 28 min
#235. Scene Structure Made Easy: The 5 Essential Elements Every Scene Needs
#235. Scene Structure Made Easy: The 5 Essential Elements Every Scene Needs
Feb 17, 2026 · 24 min
#234. How to Build A Sustainable Writing Practice With Dr. Bailey Lang
#234. How to Build A Sustainable Writing Practice With Dr. Bailey Lang
Feb 10, 2026 · 30 min
#233. 5 Secrets to Writing Dialogue That Sounds Natural
#233. 5 Secrets to Writing Dialogue That Sounds Natural
Feb 3, 2026 · 16 min
#232. 5 Tips For Crafting Morally Gray Characters Readers Love
#232. 5 Tips For Crafting Morally Gray Characters Readers Love
Jan 27, 2026 · 19 min
#231. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 2
#231. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 2
Jan 22, 2026 · 30 min
#230. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 1
#230. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 1
Jan 20, 2026 · 26 min
Bonus: From Stuck to Steady: How 3 Writers Found Their Drafting Rhythm
Bonus: From Stuck to Steady: How 3 Writers Found Their Drafting Rhythm
Jan 15, 2026 · 17 min
#229. 5 Signs Your Writing Process Is Broken (And How to Fix It)
#229. 5 Signs Your Writing Process Is Broken (And How to Fix It)
Jan 13, 2026 · 22 min
#228. Student Spotlight: How She Finished Her First Draft in 88 Days (While Working Full-Time) With Poornika Kakkanaiah
#228. Student Spotlight: How She Finished Her First Draft in 88 Days (While Working Full-Time) With Poornika Kakkanaiah
Jan 8, 2026 · 50 min
#227. 5 Tips on Pursuing Your Writing While Holding Down a 9-to-5 Job
#227. 5 Tips on Pursuing Your Writing While Holding Down a 9-to-5 Job
Jan 6, 2026 · 19 min
#226. Counting Down The Best Writing Tips From FWME In 2025
#226. Counting Down The Best Writing Tips From FWME In 2025
Dec 30, 2025 · 39 min
#225. Student Spotlight: From Zero Drafts to Dream Agent While Raising 4 Kids With Madi Unruh
#225. Student Spotlight: From Zero Drafts to Dream Agent While Raising 4 Kids With Madi Unruh
Dec 23, 2025 · 41 min
Bonus: From Overwhelmed to Outlining: How 3 Writers Finally Started Their Novels
Bonus: From Overwhelmed to Outlining: How 3 Writers Finally Started Their Novels
Dec 18, 2025 · 17 min
#224. The Truth About Writing Faster: It's Not What You Think
#224. The Truth About Writing Faster: It's Not What You Think
Dec 16, 2025 · 16 min
#223. Permission to Start: How to Move Past ‘Not Ready Yet’ and Finish Your Novel
#223. Permission to Start: How to Move Past ‘Not Ready Yet’ and Finish Your Novel
Dec 9, 2025 · 15 min
#222. 3 Mindset Shifts Every Writer Needs to Finish Their Novel
#222. 3 Mindset Shifts Every Writer Needs to Finish Their Novel
Dec 2, 2025 · 25 min
#221. 5 Line Editing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine
#221. 5 Line Editing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine
Nov 25, 2025 · 26 min
#220. How to Build an Author Platform (Even if You're an Introvert) with Shelby Leigh
#220. How to Build an Author Platform (Even if You're an Introvert) with Shelby Leigh
Nov 18, 2025 · 33 min
#219. How To Build Story Tension by Sharing More (Not Less) with Daniel David Wallace
#219. How To Build Story Tension by Sharing More (Not Less) with Daniel David Wallace
Nov 11, 2025 · 30 min
#218. How to Find & Work With Beta Readers to Improve Your Manuscript
#218. How to Find & Work With Beta Readers to Improve Your Manuscript
Nov 4, 2025 · 27 min
#217. Save the Cat! Writes Horror: How to Write Truly Terrifying Stories With Jamie Nash
#217. Save the Cat! Writes Horror: How to Write Truly Terrifying Stories With Jamie Nash
Oct 28, 2025 · 48 min
#216. Story Structure: The 5 Scenes Every Story Needs (With Kristina Stanley)
#216. Story Structure: The 5 Scenes Every Story Needs (With Kristina Stanley)
Oct 21, 2025 · 48 min
#215. How to Write a Prologue Readers Won’t Skip (& When to Start at Chapter One Instead)
#215. How to Write a Prologue Readers Won’t Skip (& When to Start at Chapter One Instead)
Oct 14, 2025 · 20 min
#214. Subverting the Mainstream Lens: Writing Stories That Stay True to Your People (With Tiffany Grimes)
#214. Subverting the Mainstream Lens: Writing Stories That Stay True to Your People (With Tiffany Grimes)
Oct 7, 2025 · 37 min