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Fiction Writing Made Easy
Fiction Writing Made Easy is your go-to 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.
Whether you're a first-time author or a seasoned writer looking to sharpen your skills, each episode offers insights on novel writing, story structure, character development, world-building, editing, and publishing. Savannah also shares mindset tips, writing routines, and revision strategies to help you stay motivated and finish your novel with confidence.
If you're asking these questions, you're in the right place:
- How do I write a novel without experience?
- What’s the best way to structure a story that works?
- How do I develop strong characters and build immersive worlds?
- How do I edit or revise my first draft?
- When is my book ready to publish?
- What are my self-publishing and traditional publishing options?
New episodes drop weekly to help you write a novel you're proud of—and get it into readers’ hands.
Fiction Writing Made Easy
#79: 3 Things to Focus on if You’re a Brand New Writer
In today’s episode, I’m going to share the three things to focus on if you’re a brand new writer—or if I was coaching someone who was brand new to writing. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[02:17] Getting your mindset right is super important! Don’t expect to write the perfect first draft. Instead, consider your first draft the “discovery draft” and have fun with it!
[04:50] Figure out your story’s content genre so that you have a roadmap to follow. Your content genre can tell you all kinds of things, from the types of characters you’ll need, some of the key scenes readers expect to see, and more.
[07:25] Learn how to write a solid scene. If you can write a scene that works, you can definitely write a story that works! Practice on your own work-in-progress scenes AND break down the structure of scenes in published novels, too.
[09:55] Final thoughts and episode recap
Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know what your favorite part of the episode was, too!
Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!
Links mentioned in this episode:
- FREE TRAINING: The 5 Little Known Mistakes Most Fiction Writers Make (and What to Do Instead). Click here to register for free!
- Ep. 2 - Genre: The Key to Writing a Story That Works
- Ep. 40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene
- Ep. 6 - 3 Reasons You Should Write in Scenes vs. Chapters
- Ep. 9 - Value Shifts: How to Determine if Your Scenes Work
- Ep. 43 - 10 Tips for Writing Better Scenes
Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.
👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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