Speaker 1: 0:00

And if you're a perfectionist, you might be cringing, thinking there's no way I could do that. But trust me when I say that momentum matters more than perfection, and the reason I say this is because the first draft of your story is all about discovery and learning what your story really wants to be, and this means you're going to need to give yourself permission to write poorly at times, and that's okay. You can and you will revise later. Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast. My name is Savannah Gilbo and I'm here to help you write a story that works. I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming, so each week, I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple, actionable and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away. So whether you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.

Speaker 1: 0:56

In this episode, we're going to cover the 10 essential steps to writing your first novel. If you've been dreaming about becoming an author but find yourself staring at a blank page or blinking cursor, or if you've started multiple manuscripts only to abandon them when the going gets tough, then this episode is for you. Something I've discovered after working with hundreds of writers is that finishing a novel requires more than just talent or a great idea. It takes the right mindset, practical tools and a strategic approach that keeps you moving forward even when inspiration fades. In this episode, I'm sharing the exact framework that has helped my clients and students transform their ideas into completed manuscripts, with special focus on the foundational elements that make stories truly resonate with readers, and we're going to cover a lot in today's episode. So I've created a free PDF guide of everything we're going to talk about today all so that you don't have to take notes as you listen which you can grab at savannagilbocom forward, slash write. So one more time, that's savannagilbocom forward, slash write. This guide will be your companion as you bring your novel to life, one step at a time.

Speaker 1: 2:04

So, with that being said, let's go ahead and dive in, shall we, starting with step number one? Step number one is to identify your why. So, before you type a single word, we need to talk about motivation, and I know this might seem like an odd place to start, but trust me when I say that understanding your why or that deeper level motivation is the secret ingredient that will keep you going when the initial excitement of writing a novel fades and yes, it will fade at some point. So, to uncover your why, I want you to just think about.

Speaker 1: 2:35

Why are you writing a book in the first place? Is it to share a message that matters deeply to you? Is it because you have characters or worlds living in your imagination that you need to bring to life? Are you hoping to start a career as a full-time author? Or maybe is writing a novel your own personal Mount Everest, something you want to accomplish just for the achievement itself? Now, there are no wrong answers here. Many successful novels have been written for each of these reasons and countless others.

Speaker 1: 3:03

What matters most is that your motivation resonates deeply enough to fuel your writing through the inevitable rough patches. What most new writers don't realize is that identifying your core motivation is more than just a feel-good exercise. It's really the foundation that will inform everything from your writing schedule to how you approach challenges, and without a clear why, you're much more likely to abandon your project when obstacles arise. For example, I once worked with a writer who kept abandoning manuscripts until we finally uncovered her true motivation. This writer really wanted to share stories about the kind of healthy and supportive relationships that she had experienced in her own life. So she was writing romance and she just really loved the power of love and the power of intimate relationships in someone's life. So with this why finally clear? Her writing started to flow naturally and she was able to finish her draft. I know that might sound simple, but that's the power of writing from a place of passion and purpose and that's the power of uncovering your why. So I want you to think about it. What is driving you to write this particular story at this particular time? When you can answer this question with conviction, you'll be much more equipped to deal with any mental or emotional roadblocks that come up as you write because, let's be honest, they will come up and you'll be much more equipped to get to the end of your first draft as well. Now, a little pro tip is to write down your motivation and keep it somewhere visible in your writing space when you hit those inevitable moments or those roadblocks where you start thinking everything I'm writing is terrible and I should probably just quit. This reminder will help you reconnect to the deeper purpose behind your work.

Speaker 1: 4:42

Okay, so that is step number one to identify your why. Step number two is to pick one novel-worthy idea to focus on. So once you're clear on your motivation, it's time to choose the idea you want to turn into a full-length novel. If you're anything like the writers I work with, then you probably have an ideas folder bursting with concepts and little snippets of ideas and pictures for inspiration. I have one of those too. But the truth is that not every idea we have can sustain a full-length novel, at least not without a little more development first. So while you might have interesting thoughts or concepts or ideas that could start a story, not all of them are going to have enough depth or complexity to carry an entire novel length work Again, at least not without fleshing them out a little more first. So I want you to think about it like this Something like a vampire moving into town might sound really cool and intriguing, but this concept alone lacks the necessary substance for an 80,000 plus word novel. Similarly, a fascinating setting without a compelling character who faces conflict won't keep readers turning pages either. Okay, so that's not to say that they can't work and can't be developed into an idea, but those kinds of things on their own don't make a novel worthy idea just yet.

Speaker 1: 5:57

Now, the best type of story ideas often come in the form of what-if? Questions that hint at the conflict and stakes. So, for example, something like what if a wizard school existed alongside our ordinary world? You might recognize that as Harry Potter. Another example what if a woman disappeared and framed her husband for her murder? You might recognize that as Gone Girl. Last example what if a deadly plague wiped out most of humanity? You'll probably recognize that as the stand.

Speaker 1: 6:26

And what you're looking for is an idea that's novel worthy, so one with enough potential conflict, character development and thematic exploration to fill hundreds of pages while keeping readers engaged. And, like I hinted at earlier, sometimes this takes a little bit of work. Whatever you come up with, don't worry if your idea feels simple at this stage. A farm boy discovers he's part of a galactic rebellion might sound basic, but it became Star Wars. So trust that your idea will develop complexity as you work through the remaining steps in this episode. Now here's what I recommend. From all of your potential ideas, I want you to choose one that gives you that sense of both excitement and fear.

Speaker 1: 7:04

The best ideas often scare us a little bit, and they're the ones that feel important enough to spend months, or maybe even years, bringing to life. I recently worked with an author who had five different story ideas that she was bouncing back and forth between, and every time one got difficult or she hit a roadblock, she would switch to another and, as you can imagine, this wasn't helping her make very much progress overall. So what we did is we stopped and we evaluated each idea based on its potential for engaging conflict and also her personal connection to the material. So again, which one brought her both that level of excitement and a little bit of fear, and this exercise helped her commit to just one idea. Then, once she committed to the story that genuinely moved her, not just the one that seemed most exciting or easy, that day she was finally able to complete her first draft after years and years of false starts.

Speaker 1: 7:55

So if you are like this author and you're jumping between ideas, I want you to ask yourself which one of your ideas do you keep returning to, or which idea kind of has a chokehold on your mind and refuses to let go. That persistence is usually a sign that you have found your novel worthy idea. Now, a little pro tip here is that you can test your idea to see if it's novel worthy. So what I want you to look for is a main character with a clear goal, significant obstacles to that goal and meaningful consequences if they fail. If these elements aren't immediately apparent, then your idea might need a little more development before it's ready to sustain a full-length novel. Okay, so that is step number two. Pick one novel-worthy idea to focus on. Step number three is to choose your story's genre. So now that you have your one novel-worthy idea, it's time to figure out where your novel fits in the literary landscape. And genre isn't just a marketing category. It's a powerful tool that helps you understand what readers expect and then how to satisfy them. Think of genre as the section of the bookstore where your novel would be shelved.

Speaker 1: 8:59

Some common examples of genres are things like literary fiction. These are character-driven stories that focus on relationships and the human condition. Romance novels are stories that center around a relationship and emotional fulfillment. Mysteries and thrillers are plot-driven stories involving suspense, crime or puzzles. Science fiction novels are explorations of advanced technology and scientific concepts. Fantasy books are stories with magical or supernatural elements. Historical fiction includes narratives set in the past with historical events as backdrop. Horror stories are designed to frighten or disturb readers. And then something like young adult are stories targeted at teenage readers, and this, of course, can cross with other genres, so you might have something like young adult fantasy or a young adult mystery or something like that.

Speaker 1: 9:47

Now here's what's really important for you to understand. Each genre is going to have its own conventions, typical word counts and reader expectations. For example, something like a romance is going to require a central love story and an emotionally satisfying ending. Thrillers generally maintain fast pace with high stakes, and fantasy novels often include magic and invented worlds. So just a few examples. Now, what many aspiring authors don't realize is that genre selection impacts nearly every aspect of your writing process, from character development to plot structure to pacing. So choosing your genre early will help you understand your readers' expectations and it can guide your creative decisions, which in turn makes the writing process a little bit less overwhelming.

Speaker 1: 10:32

Now a little pro tip for you. If you're like okay, I know what kind of story I'm writing, but I don't know what readers would expect from a story like mine, or I don't really know what to do with this information, I want you to go identify three published novels similar to your idea. These are often called comp titles or comparative titles. And then I want you to study what these books have in common, and the goal is to understand the patterns that are in the story, and this is going to show you what readers of your genre will expect and what they love. Okay, so that is step number three choose your story's genre. Step number four is to pick your point of view and tense. So, now that you have your genre selected, it's time to make two foundational choices that will shape every single sentence you write. Number one is your point of view and number two is your tense. These elements are going to determine who tells your story and when it's being told, and they affect everything from how much information readers receive to the emotional tone of your narrative.

Speaker 1: 11:28

So your main point of view options include first person, and in this scenario, the narrator uses I and directly shares their experiences. This helps to create that intimacy between reader and character, but limits information to what only that character knows. So, as an example, this would be something like I walked into the room and immediately sensed something was wrong. The next option you have is third person limited. So in this scenario, the narrator refers to characters as he, she or they, or by using their name, while following one character at a time. So, for example, sarah walked into the room and immediately sensed that something was wrong. The third option you have is third person omniscient, and in this scenario scenario the narrator knows everything about all characters, providing readers with a more expansive view. So an example of this would be something like Sarah walked into the room and sensed something was wrong, unaware that behind the curtain, the intruder held his breath. Okay, so you can probably already tell how your choice there is going to impact how readers experience your story.

Speaker 1: 12:30

Now, once, once you've selected your point of view, you'll need to decide on tense. So really, you have two choices here past tense she walked into the room or present tense she walks into the room. Past tense feels natural to most readers and is traditional for storytelling, while present tense creates a sense of immediacy that can make readers feel the events are unfolding in real time. So there's no wrong answer here. But just know that the choices you make will dramatically impact your writing experience and your reader's connection to your story. Each combination of point of view and tense creates a distinct reading experience, so it's worth taking the time to find the right match for your particular story. Now a little pro tip here if you're unsure which option is right for you, you can try and experiment and write the same scene using different point of views and different tenses. As you do that, pay attention to which version feels the most comfortable to write and which best serves your story. Okay, so that is step four. Pick your point of view and tense.

Speaker 1: 13:26

Step number five is to develop your main characters. So now that you've made some really important decisions on your genre and point of view, it's time to focus on the heart of any great story, and that is your characters, particularly your protagonist and antagonist. And I say particularly because these two characters will create the conflict of your novel and they'll drive your entire plot forward. Also, most readers connect with characters first and plot second. So this step is really really important For your protagonist.

Speaker 1: 13:55

You can start by answering these three foundational questions. Number one what do they want more than anything? This is going to be their external goal. Number two what do they need emotionally or psychologically? This is going to be that internal need. And number three what flaw or weakness must they overcome? This is their inner obstacle. Now, the reason these three questions are so important is because the most compelling protagonists want something badly enough to face significant obstacles to achieve their goals. Think about Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games. Right, she wants to protect her sister and survive the games. She wants both of those things badly enough to deal with the conflict coming her way. To go with a completely different example, you can think about Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, who seeks independence and true connection above all else, which, if you're familiar with the story, definitely makes her life a little bit harder. But she's so committed to that goal that she is willing to face obstacles and conflict to get it.

Speaker 1: 14:52

Now let's consider your antagonist. So this is going to be the force that opposes your protagonist in your story, and there are three questions you can ask and answer here that will help you flesh them out. So number one what are they trying to achieve? Ideally, whatever your answer is is going to conflict with what the protagonist wants. Number two why do they believe they're justified? This one's important because the best antagonists usually believe they're right or have a very strong motivation for doing what they're doing. And number three what weaknesses or vulnerabilities make them human? And this one's important just to create that sense of three-dimensionality and that complexity that helps your character feel like a real person. Okay, now remember that the word antagonist doesn't always mean villain. Your antagonist could be a compelling love interest in a romance. It could be nature itself in a survival story, or even aspects of the protagonist's own personality in a story about internal struggle.

Speaker 1: 15:46

Now, what many first-time writers don't realize is that character development isn't about creating likable characters. It's about creating fascinating ones, and that's because readers will follow a deeply flawed character through hundreds of pages if those flaws feel authentic and create meaningful conflict. I worked with a sci-fi writer once who couldn't understand why readers didn't connect with her mechanically-minded protagonist. And when we dug deeper, we discovered that she had made her protagonist just too perfect. So he was skilled, he was ethical and he was always right. But then, once she gave him a painful past that caused him to make critical mistakes in the present, readers were a lot more engaged in her story and couldn't put it down. So in this scenario, her character's flaws were what made him human and his humanity made him compelling. Now, of course, this example won't ring true for every single story. Protagonists like Sherlock Holmes or Jack Reacher don't really have tragic pasts or flaws that hold them back, but for the most part, readers do appreciate a more three-dimensional, well-rounded protagonist. So just something to keep in mind.

Speaker 1: 16:51

Now, a little pro tip here is to create character profiles for your protagonist and antagonist before you start writing, and I want you to go beyond just physical descriptions and I want you to dig into their backgrounds, their motivations, their fears and their desires, and then focus especially on the moments from their past that helped shaped who they are now in the present, because these defining experiences will inform how they react to the challenges in the story and everything that's happening around them. Okay, so that is step number five develop your main characters. Step number six is to determine your story's setting. With your characters taking shape, let's explore where and when their story unfolds.

Speaker 1: 17:31

The setting of your story is far more than just a backdrop. It's an active element that's going to shape your entire narrative, and the best settings do more than just establish a location. They create mood and atmosphere, they reflect character emotions, they introduce specific challenges and provide unique opportunities for plot development. Introduce specific challenges and provide unique opportunities for plot development. For example, the setting of a romance in a small town is going to create different dynamics than that same story set in a big city. A mystery set in the 1920s will have different laws and investigation techniques than one set in our present time today. So, when developing your setting, I want you to consider things like the time period. So is your story taking place in the contemporary world? Is it taking place in the future or at some point in the past? I want you to consider the geographic location. So is your story taking place in the real world or a made up one? I want you to think about the physical environments where your scenes will take place and how the setting might limit or enable your characters.

Speaker 1: 18:31

Now, if you're creating a fictional world, my advice would be to focus on the elements that directly impact your story, rather than developing every single detail up front. Keep in mind that you can always expand your world building as you get to know your story more and as you write. If you're using a real location or historical period, you will need to do some research to flesh out your setting, and that's just because readers who are familiar with your setting will notice inaccuracies. Of course, they will right. However, I don't want you to let research become a form of procrastination. So what I would suggest you do is just get the basics right and then dive into writing. Now, no matter if you're writing in a fictional world or a real location or historical time period, I just want you to ask yourself could your story happen anywhere, or does your setting create unique opportunities and challenges specific to your characters and your plot? The reason this is important is because, if you could just transplant your story to a completely different location without changing very much in terms of your characters and your plot, you might not be utilizing the setting to its full potential. So just something to keep in mind and, above all else, remember that your setting should work in harmony with your plot and your characters, creating a cohesive world that enhances your story rather than simply serving as a backdrop.

Speaker 1: 19:47

The most memorable novels often feature settings that feel like the characters themselves. They're places that are so vivid and integral to the story that the narrative simply couldn't exist elsewhere. Now, a little pro tip here is to choose settings that naturally create conflict or complications for your protagonist. As an example, if your character fears water, you could maybe set a crucial scene on a boat. If they're struggling financially, place them in an environment that constantly reminds them of their financial stress. You know things like that All right. So that is step six determine your story's setting.

Speaker 1: 20:21

Step seven is to use story structure to shape your plot. Now, with your characters and settings established, it's time to map out how the events of your story's plot will unfold. A solid structure will help you create a novel that engages readers from beginning to end, while also preventing the dreaded writer's block that stops so many first-time writers in their tracks. Now, there are many, many structural frameworks out there. There's things like the three-act structure, the snowflake method, the hero's journey, save the cat. You know there are so many, but all of them boil down to these three fundamental sections.

Speaker 1: 20:55

Number one is the beginning section of your story, and this typically represents the first 25% of your novel. In this section, you'll want to do three really important things. Number one introduce your protagonist in their ordinary world. Number two present an inciting incident that disrupts their world. And then, number three establish what your protagonist wants and what's stopping them. Okay, so that's the beginning, or the first 25% of your novel. Then you have the middle, which makes up about 50% of your entire novel, and here you'll want to do three things as well. Number one develop complications and obstacles that test your protagonist. Number two raise the stakes as the story progresses, no-transcript, okay. So, at its bare bones, that is what the middle of your novel should do. And then, finally, we have the end, which is the final 25% of your novel.

Speaker 1: 21:48

And again here there are three main things you want to do. Number one you want to present a climactic confrontation between your protagonist and your antagonist. Number two you want to show how the protagonist has changed. And number three you want to resolve the main storylines and provide readers that emotional satisfaction. Okay. So again, there are many structural frameworks out there. So if you want to go more in-depth, you can certainly do so. Now, what many new writers don't realize is that structure is far more than just a beginning, middle and end. It's actually a way to help you organize your ideas, build tension at just the right moments and give readers the emotional payoff they're hoping for. And when you deliver this kind of emotional payoff, that's what leaves readers feeling fulfilled. When you don't deliver it, readers will feel unsatisfied, even if they can't explain why.

Speaker 1: 22:38

I once worked with a literary fiction writer who prided himself on rejecting quote-unquote formulaic storytelling, and when I read two of his drafts for two different books that he was working on. They were both beautifully written on the sentence level, but they fell flat with readers. So he had beta readers and he told me they're just not responding, they don't like my books. So when we dug into his work, what I discovered is that he was missing this type of structure, particularly the escalating complications in the middle of his story and a true climactic moment at the end. And that was the case for both of his drafts, which was really interesting. But long story short. Once he incorporated these elements, while maintaining his unique style and voice, of course, readers responded really well and they were a lot more interested in his stories.

Speaker 1: 23:23

Now a little pro tip for you here if it's your first novel, I recommend focusing on just having a clear beginning, which I want you to think of as the setup, a clear middle which you can think about as escalating complications, and then a clear end with a satisfying resolution. From there you can map out the major turning points or plot points in your story before you start writing. But also keep in mind the goal is to remain flexible enough to discover unexpected directions as you write your book. So just a little tip there, and that is step number seven. Use story structure to help you shape your plot. Step number eight is to create an outline or not. Now that you have your characters, settings and an understanding of structure, it's time to decide how much planning you'll do before diving into the actual writing.

Speaker 1: 24:10

If you've been around the writing world for a while, you know there's a spectrum of approaches when it comes to writing a book, and understanding where you fall on this spectrum can save you an enormous amount of frustration. So on one hand of the spectrum, we have plotters, and these are writers who map out everything before they start writing. So they want to know their characters, they want to know what happens in their story from beginning to end, and things like that. On the other side of the spectrum we have pantsers, who are writers who prefer to kind of write by the seat of their pants. So they normally start with a little bit of an idea and then they write as a process of discovering what their characters and their plot is all about. Okay, so obviously two very different approaches so far. Now, in the middle of the spectrum, we have plantsers, and these are the writers who kind of blend both approaches. So sometimes that means creating a loose roadmap while allowing room for discovery during the writing process. Now, after working with hundreds of writers, I would say most of us fit in that planter category or that in-between zone between plotters and panters, but of course, there's no wrong answer or anything. It's just about identifying where you fit on that spectrum.

Speaker 1: 25:16

Now here's something I want you to know no matter how you approach outlining your outline doesn't need to be elaborate to be effective. Even a simple sketch of the major plot points in your story what happens at the beginning, the major complications in the middle and how it all resolves at the end can provide enough direction to keep you moving forward without feeling constrained. If you're brand new to writing, I recommend at least a basic outline that identifies these five things. Number one what is your opening scene? Number two what is the inciting incident that launches your story? Number three what are the major plot points or turning points in your story? Number four what does that climactic scene look like? And then, number five how does the story resolve? So, again, if you're brand new to writing, those are the five things I recommend thinking through before you start to write.

Speaker 1: 26:05

But what's most important is choosing an outlining approach that works for you and your creative process, rather than against it. Like I mentioned earlier, an extensive outline can be liberating for some writers and totally paralyzing for others. So pay attention to what energizes you and what depletes your enthusiasm. And a little pro tip here think about your outline as a living, breathing document. As you write, you're going to discover new possibilities that might not have occurred to you during planning. That's totally normal, and you know, just give yourself permission to deviate from your outline when your story naturally evolves, because, trust me, it will. Okay, so that is step number eight create an outline that's going to work for you, not against you.

Speaker 1: 26:46

And then it's time to move on to step number nine, which is to develop and establish your writing routine. So, before you dive into actually writing your first draft, I want you to take a moment to set yourself up for success. You now know what you need to do, but how, when and where will you do it? And this is important, because creating a sustainable writing routine is often the difference between finishing your novel and joining the ranks of quote-unquote someday writers who never quite get there. So to help you create a routine that works for you, I want you to consider things like are you more creative in the morning or in the evening? Is there a certain environment that helps you focus the best? So a quiet room, a bustling coffee shop, something else? Are there any rituals that you need to help you get in the zone, like a fresh cup of tea or a specific playlist? And then, of course, how much time can you realistically dedicate to writing?

Speaker 1: 27:37

Once you've considered these factors, it's time to create a specific plan. So maybe you'll write for 30 minutes before work each morning, or perhaps you'll dedicate two hours every Saturday and Sunday to working on your book. The exact schedule doesn't really matter as much as your commitment to showing up to your desk consistently, okay. So once you develop a plan, then I want you to figure out a way to track your progress. So you might be the type of writer who likes to set a daily or weekly word count goal and track words written versus your goal. Now, this is not a hard and fast rule by any means, but many new writers will target around 500 to 1,000 words per writing session. Again, that's not a hard and fast rule or anything. It's just something I've noticed over the years of working with writers. And again, that is per session, so it doesn't necessarily mean per day or per week or anything. It's just per session that you show up to write.

Speaker 1: 28:29

Now, something else I've learned after coaching hundreds of writers is that the most consistent writers they don't rely on motivation or inspiration to sit down at their desk and write. Instead, they rely on systems and habits and they create writing environments that minimize resistance and maximize productivity. And this is important, because what many first-time writers don't realize is that the quote-unquote perfect writing routine is one that you can actually maintain. And, of course, this is going to look different for every writer and it's going to look different from what you see on social media. Okay, so, for example, last year I worked with a busy executive who had been planning to write a novel for over a decade and she just wasn't making progress. So we looked at her schedule together and we found that she consistently had about 45 minutes free during her lunch break and she said you know what? I don't really do anything else besides maybe scroll on my phone as I'm eating. You know things like that. So we came up with this idea to download a writing app on her phone, and she already had a distraction-free environment, and so she just took advantage of those 45-minute lunch breaks and she ended up writing her entire first draft in these small daily chunks. So she is proof that consistency really does matter more than available time.

Speaker 1: 29:42

So when building your own writing routine, I want you to think about this what is the smallest, most manageable writing commitment you could make that you're 90% confident you can keep? Whatever your answer is, I want you to start there and then build momentum as writing becomes a natural part of your life. And a little pro tip here if you're someone who thrives with accountability, then find a way to build that into your routine. Tell someone about your writing goals, or join a writing group that expects regular check-ins. You can even hire a book coach to help keep you accountable and moving toward your goals. Okay, so that is step number nine develop and establish your writing routine.

Speaker 1: 30:19

Now on to step number 10, you probably guessed what this one is already. It's to start writing your first draft. This is where you transform all your hard work and planning into actual words on the page. And when it comes to writing your first draft, I want you to focus on writing all the way to the end, without stopping to edit. And if you're a perfectionist, you might be cringing, thinking there's no way I could do that, but trust me when I say that momentum matters more than perfection, and the reason I say this is because the first draft of your story is all about discovery and learning what your story really wants to be, and this means you're going to need to give yourself permission to write poorly at times, and that's okay. You can and you will revise later.

Speaker 1: 31:02

So here are some guiding principles that I recommend adopting for the drafting phase. Number one aim for forward progress. Always Don't edit while you write. Number two don't focus on the details. Use placeholders to keep moving forward. Number three if you get stuck on a scene, make a note and skip ahead. Number four keep your outline up to date as you write. This will save you time later. And number five celebrate small victories along the way because you deserve it.

Speaker 1: 31:31

One of my favorite success stories is an author who wrote what she called the worst first draft in history. She was so embarrassed by it that she almost deleted the entire manuscript off her hard drive, but instead she took a chance on it and she sent it to me and I read it, and while it certainly needed work. I could see the bones of a compelling story underneath the rough prose and the plot holes and things like that. Three revisions later, that quote-unquote terrible draft became a novel that landed her an agent and a book deal. Okay, so just something to keep in mind, especially if you're a perfectionist and a little pro tip here remember that you can't revise a blank page.

Speaker 1: 32:07

Your first draft does not need to be good, it just needs to exist. Luckily, by going through the steps in this article, you will already have a strong foundation built. But even then, it's not going to be perfect. It's still going to be your first draft, okay, and I recommend adopting this little mantra for your first draft Just say to yourself it's okay, I'll fix it later. It sounds so simple, but these six little words give you permission to write freely, without the paralysis of perfection. And remember the magic happens in revision, but you can't revise what you haven't written. So give yourself permission to write that messy first draft and just get your draft done, okay. So that is step number 10 to start writing your first draft, ideally all the way to the end.

Speaker 1: 32:49

Now, before I let you go, I want to remind you about a few things. Number one is that there's a PDF guide of everything we talked about in today's episode, all ready for you, so you don't have to take notes or re-listen to this episode a bunch of times. You can get your hands on that at savannahgilbocom forward, slash, write. It's totally free. One more time savannahgilbocom forward, slash, write.

Speaker 1: 33:10

And then the second thing I want to tell you is that the 10 steps we just went over, let these become your roadmap to navigate the complex journey of writing your first novel. The way that I've laid it out here is that each step is going to build on the one before it, so let this be your guide through the entire process, from initial idea to finished draft. And as you write, just remember that there will be days where the words flow effortlessly and days when extracting a single sentence feels like pulling teeth. This is normal, and I've never met a writer who didn't experience both extremes. But what separates published authors from aspiring writers isn't talent or luck. It's perseverance through the difficult parts of the process. It's showing up consistently even when motivation wanes, and it's trusting the process enough to keep going when self-doubt creeps in. So as you embark on this writing journey, don't forget that every established author was once exactly where you are now, and always remember that your first draft doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be complete. The world needs the story that only you can write, not a theoretical, perfect novel that exists only in your imagination.

Speaker 1: 34:17

So take a deep breath, open your notebook or laptop, download the free guide that goes along with this episode and start writing. You've got this. So that's it for today's episode. As always, thank you so much for tuning in and for showing your support. If you want to check out any of the links I mentioned in this episode, you can find them in the show notes listed in the description of each episode inside your podcast player or at savannahgilbocom forward slash podcast. If you're an Apple user, I'd really appreciate it if you took a few seconds to leave a rating and a review. Your ratings and reviews tell Apple that this is a podcast that's worth listening to, and, in turn, your reviews will help this podcast get in front of more fiction writers just like you. And while you're there, go ahead and hit that follow button, because there's going to be another brand new episode next week, full of actionable tips, tools and strategies to help you become a better writer. So I'll see you next week, and until then, happy writing.