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Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
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.
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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
268 episodes
#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 scene is working, needs strengthening, or may not belong in your story at all.Y...
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#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 sharing five clips from past Notes to Novel students who all came into the program stuck...
#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 finished a chapter, read it back, and realized the words on the page don't match the sto...
#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 feeling when a scene isn't quite working, but you can't put your finger on why? Your paci...
#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 stalling in the middle.You know what your meet-cute looks like. You know there's a...
#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 to aim for.You know what YA feels like when a book is doing it right. The voice ...
#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 Nicole found that out firsthand.When Danyel's first draft started to feel off, she go...
#245. 5 Ways to Show Worldbuilding 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 down to write a scene and ended up with three paragraphs of explanation before anything...
#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, and can't quite get out of their own way. Here's how to build one.Think about the...
#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 revision process that can feel really confusing, especially if you're not sure ...
#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.Where do you start? What do you fix first? And how do you know if anything you're...
#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 you've finished your draft and you're thinking about querying literary agents, you've p...
#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 when their story isn't working. They tighten sentences, swap out words, and rerea...
#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 through one of the hardest seasons of her family's life. And she finished her book.
#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.Book Marketing. These two words make most writers want to close their laptops...
#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 without one.Writing a prologue feels like the right move until you're th...
#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 most debated topics in the publishing industry right now. Some writers are...
#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 complicated. Sure, there are many methods out there, such as Story Grid's Five Commandments...
#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.Building a writing practice shouldn't feel like pushing a boulder uphill. But so many wri...
#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 conversations that feel purposeful on the page.If your dialogue feels stiff or flat, even ...
#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 argue about, defend, and love despite everything.Morally gray characters are som...
#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.In this Student Spotlight episode, you’ll hear from five Notes to Novel students wh...
#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 episode, I’m sharing real stories from five Notes to Novel students who were stuck in very differe...
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 draft.In this short bonus episode, I'm sharing three real case studies from pas...
#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've started multiple books but never finished one. Maybe you sit down to write and have...