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Fiction Writing Made Easy
How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to write a story that works? Do you have any writing tips? These are just some of the big questions that developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo, digs into on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Each week, Savannah shares actionable tools, tips, and strategies that will help you write, edit, and publish your book. So, whether you're brand new to writing, or a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you!
Episodes
182 episodes
#172. A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (December 2024)
Want a sneak peek into my life as a developmental editor and book coach? Listen in and find out what I do in my work week to help authors transform their story ideas into fully realized novels.I'll walk you through what I'm learni...
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Episode 172
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35:42
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#171. How To Utilize Tone & Mood In Your Writing With Isobelle Lans
Need help with tone and mood in your novel writing? Maybe your scenes aren't hitting the right emotional notes, or your story atmosphere feels off. Today, we're breaking down four practical ways to master these tricky writing elements to keep y...
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Episode 171
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23:43
#170. How To Pick Your Publishing Path With Nicole Meier
Whether you want complete creative freedom, better royalties, or a faster speed to market—get the clarity you need to choose the right publishing path for your novel.Your novel is (or nearly) complete; now it's time to ...
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Episode 170
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40:49
#169. 5 Tips To Help Neurodivergent Writers Finish Their Books
Finally, finish your book with effective writing strategies designed to work in harmony with your neurodivergent mind.Does sitting down to write your book feel impossible on some days, while on other days, you can write for hours ...
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Episode 169
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32:58
#168. Women's Fiction vs. Romance: What's The Difference?
If you’re serious about becoming a published author, determining your novel’s genre is one of the most important things you’ll have to do. But sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially if your book toes the line between Women’s ...
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Episode 168
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24:54
#167. Why Marketing Matters From Day One With Lacy Lieffers
“When should I start marketing my book?” This is a question I get asked all the time! Along with other similar questions like, “Do I need to build an email list?” And “What are some effective ways to market my book?”My gue...
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Episode 167
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42:54
#166. Student Spotlight: How Jennifer Sold 5,000+ Copies of Her Debut Novel in 18 Months (Without a Big Social Media Following)
Selling 5,000+ copies of a debut novel in 18 months (without a massive social media following) might seem out of reach to most aspiring authors. But, in fact, it’s not. And our incredible podcast guest, Jennifer Lauer, is h...
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Episode 166
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46:02
#165. How To Interpret Agent Rejections (& What To Do Next)
It’s no secret that one of the biggest roadblocks to getting traditionally published is the dreaded literary agent rejection. But to find the right literary agent for you and your story, you have to go through the process ...
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Episode 165
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18:22
#164. Student Spotlight: Why She Ditched Her Agent And Self-Published Her Debut Novel With Stefanie Medrek
Ever wonder what happens when you ditch your agent and decide to self-publish instead? This episode is a must-listen if you're curious about the ins and outs of self-publishing and how it can possibly safeguard your creative control. <...
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Episode 164
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43:52
#163. How To Find & Work With A Book Cover Designer With Zoe Norvell
You finished your book and now you’re looking for a cover designer, but where do you start? Where can you find a good book cover designer? And how much should you expect to pay them for a quality book cover?These are all q...
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Episode 163
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46:28
#162. Book Recs: 5 Books Every Aspiring Writer Needs To Read
One of the questions I get asked by a lot of aspiring authors is, “What books should I read to learn how to start writing a novel?” I get asked this question so often that I decided to turn my answer into a podcast episode! ...
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Episode 162
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23:10
#161. Scene Beats: What They Are & Why They Matter
Have you ever Googled things like “how many words should be in a novel?” Or “how many scenes should a novel have?” If so, you’ve probably gotten answers like “80,000 words.” Or “somewherre between 40 and 60 scenes.”Easy en...
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Episode 161
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20:00
#160. How Tim Grahl Wrote His Best Book Yet In 6 Months
How do you know if you’re actually getting better at writing? In this episode, my guest, Tim Grahl, the CEO of Story Grid and the author of multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction, shares his answer to this question...
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Episode 160
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44:48
#159. A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (September 2024)
Want a peek behind the scenes into my work week? 👀In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing what I do as a developmental editor and book coach. I’ll talk through the projects I’m working on, what I’...
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Episode 159
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22:21
#158. How To Strengthen Your Writing with the Power of Social Media With Lara Ferrari
Would you believe me if I said social media could make you a better writer? If you’re shaking your head NO, you’ll want to check out this episode.My guest, Lara Ferrari, is an Instagram marketing specialist who has ...
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Episode 158
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41:57
#157. 10 Surprising Lessons From My First Book Launch
Earlier this year, I published my first book, The Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—and I learned soooo much about book marketing.Tune into this episode to hear the ten s...
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Episode 157
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19:00
#156. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 4)
Do you ever wish you could see a behind-the-scenes look at how other people write? In this episode, you’ll get to hear directly from five of my Notes to Novel students as they share how they brainstormed, outlined, and wrote ...
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Episode 156
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26:13
#155. 10 Things That Will NOT Make You A Better Writer
As someone who’s worked with hundreds of authors, I see people making the same mistakes over and over and over again. Mistakes that are easily avoidable once you know they’re mistakes.In this episode, I’m...
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Episode 155
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32:48
#154. Coaching Call: Critiquing Jac Sahlin's Query And First Five Pages
“I think your story has a genre identity crisis. That’s probably why you’re not getting responses from agents.” ← That’s what I told my new friend, Jac Sahlin, about the duology she’s currently querying.Tune into this epis...
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Episode 154
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1:20:59
#153. Scene Analysis: Chapter 5 "Diagon Alley" From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
“How many scenes are in the Diagon Alley chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?” Believe it or not, this is one of the most frequently asked questions I get from writers when they hear I’ve written a book breaking apart thi...
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Episode 153
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47:59
#152. Three Act Structure Breakdown: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
How did Rowling deliver on the life-and-death stakes an action story requires, but in a way appropriate for middle-grade readers? How did she consistently weave together the external plot and Harry’s character arc in such a way th...
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Episode 152
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38:26
Bonus: The Global Story Structure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Rowling is a master at weaving the external plot with Harry’s internal character arc—and using the external plot events to help Harry grow and change.In this episode, you’ll hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk through the ...
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18:12
Bonus: How To Write Scenes Like Rowling (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
J.K. Rowling is the master of layering things within her scenes. She’s also fantastic at raising the stakes from scene to scene, too. But how does she do itTune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry and I talk to Tim ...
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27:52
#151. How Rowling Built A World Ripe For Life Or Death Conflicts (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
Ever wonder how Rowling created such a fantastic, three-dimensional story world for her Harry Potter series?That’s exactly what you’ll hear in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Join me, Abigail K. Perry, and Tim Grahl, as we...
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Episode 151
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21:10
Bonus: How Rowling Used Plot Catalysts to Keep Readers Engaged (A Sneak Peek From My Book!)
Plot catalysts make it difficult for a character to achieve their goals. If you’re writing an Action story, there are three main plot catalysts you’ll want to include in your book—a speech in praise of the villain, a deadline or ticking ...
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11:27