Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
Do you have a story you can't stop thinking about? Maybe it's still just an idea. Maybe it's half a draft you haven't opened in months, or a finished manuscript that doesn't quite work yet. Wherever you are, it can be hard to know what your story needs next.
Fiction Writing Made Easy is a podcast for aspiring fiction authors who want clear, practical guidance on what to do next with their novels. Hosted by developmental editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo, the show breaks down complicated writing concepts into simple, actionable lessons. Savannah explains why storytelling techniques work, how the different elements of a story fit together, and what that means for your own writing—often using examples from familiar books and movies.
Topics include developing your story idea, outlining a novel, creating characters readers care about, writing scenes that move your story forward, and figuring out what to fix when your draft isn't working. You'll also find genre deep dives on romance, fantasy, thrillers, and horror, mindset tips for difficult writing days, and advice on querying agents and self-publishing.
You'll also hear from editors and industry experts, as well as writers Savannah has taught who share how they finished—and often published—their books. With hundreds of episodes and over 3.8 million downloads, there's plenty to explore wherever you are with your book.
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Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
#11: 10 Tips for Writing Better Love Triangles
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In today's episode, I'm sharing my top 10 tips for writing better, more compelling love triangles. Here's a preview of what's included:
[01:30] A love triangle is a relationship that takes place between three or more characters. Character A has to choose between character B and character C.
[01:50] Three examples of popular love triangles from Pride and Prejudice, Twilight, and The Hunger Games.
[02:15] Tip #1: Fully develop all three characters involved in the love triangle.
[03:10] Tip #2: Make both suitors a believable and viable choice for the protagonist.
[04:15] Tip #3: Don’t drag out your protagonist's decision or go back and forth between the suitors too much.
[05:10] Tip #4: Have your protagonist actively choose one of the suitors to be with.
[06:05] Tip #5: Give insight into who your protagonist is with the choice they make.
[07:15] Tip #6: Don't feel like both relationships don’t have to start at the same time as the only way to achieve tension in your story.
[08:35] Tip #7: Establish what’s at stake for your protagonist if they choose one suitor over the other.
[09:40] Tip #8: Don’t neglect the rest of the story for the sake of your love triangle.
[10:55] Tip #9: Have a solid reason for including a love triangle in your story.
[11:40] Tip #10: Explore both internal and external conflict with your love triangle.
[12:50] Key points and a quick recap of the episode.
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