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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
#85: Student Spotlight: How She Overcame Her Fear of the Blank Page (and Indie Published Her Novel) with Jennifer Lauer
In today's episode, I’m sitting down with Jennifer Lauer to talk through how she overcame her fear of the blank page and indie published her debut novel. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[03:00] An introduction to Jennifer Lauer and her story, The Girl in the Zoo
[09:30] What the beginning of the writing process looked like for Jennifer—and when she finally realized that her fear of the blank page was preventing her from writing
[14:45] What happened when Jennifer finished the first draft of her book (and changed her genre from love to action)
[26:00] Jennifer’s experience entering a Twitter pitch contest—and how it gave her the courage to submit her pages for a critique on TSNOTYAW podcast
[30:35] Why Jennifer ultimately decided to indie publish her novel (even after getting a positive response from a few industry professionals)
[43:35] The 3 biggest lessons Jennifer learned from this experience (and the advice she’d give to her past self when embarking on this writing journey)
[47:00] Final words of wisdom and advice from Jennifer
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!
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Visit Jennifer’s website or follow her on Instagram @jenniferleelauer
- Jennifer’s debut novel, The Girl in the Zoo on Amazon
- Jennifer’s fiction podcast The Strange Chronicles
- The Spun Yarn Beta Reader Service
- The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Podcast
- Dyna Kau (cover designer) and Barbie at Monocle Editing
- Joanna Penn’s website
- Jane Friedman’s website
- Want to learn more about my Notes to Novel course? Click here to sign up for my FREE TRAINING: The 5 Little-Known Mistakes Most Writers Make (& What to Do Instead)
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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