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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
#80: Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned From Writing a First Draft
In today’s episode, I asked five of my Notes to Novel students to share their biggest lessons learned while working through their first drafts. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[02:00] Kelsey Evans on how understanding her genre’s framework made the biggest difference in her ability to finally finish her first draft
[06:35] Stefanie Medrek and her favorite advice for battling writer’s block
[11:00] Angela Haas on the popular writing advice to “show, don’t tell”
[16:00] Bree Cox on how she used her outline to test out ideas before writing
[20:30] Kara Kentley on the importance of having a writing community
[28:20] Casey Drillette on how she embraced the outlining process (as a pantser!)
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 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:
- Follow Kelsey Evans on Twitter @kelseyevans or visit her website here
- Follow Stefanie Medrek on Instagram @medrekwrites or visit her website here.
- Follow Angela Haas on Facebook or visit her website here
- Follow Bree Cox on Instagram @breeacox or visit her website here
- Follow Kara Kentley on Instagram, Tik Tok, or Twitter @karakentley or visit her website here
- Follow Casey Drillette on Instagram @caseydrillette
- My FREE training—The 5 Little Known Mistakes Most Fiction Writers Make (and 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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