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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
Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
#25: Worldview Genre Conventions
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In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the worldview genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Here's a preview of what's included:
[01:45] Worldview stories focus on a period of the main character’s life where he or she is transitioning from one significant state to another. These stories show how the external events of the plot affect a character in such a way that he or she must grow, change, and awaken to a new understanding of themselves, or the world around him or her.
[02:55] Readers choose worldview novels because they are super relatable! They give readers a sense of relief, satisfaction, and maybe even hope that they, too, can survive whatever roadblocks or challenges are appearing in their own lives.
[04:30] Genre conventions are the character roles, settings, and events that are specific to a genre. They’re what help us writers write a story that works AND evoke emotional reactions in our readers.
[06:15] #1 - A mentor that can guide and support your protagonist.
[06:55] #2 - An outdated worldview or some kind of false belief that your protagonist must overcome by the end fo the story.
[07:55] #3 - Social problems or moral challenges for your protagonist to face (ideally, one that relates to your protagonist's outdated worldview).
[09:05] #4 - At least one shapeshifter who says one thing and does another.
[10:15] #5 - An internal change within your protagonist.
[11:35] #6 - Some kind of confrontation with the adult world that helps your protagonist grow and change.
[12:40] #7 - An emphasis on friendship.
[13:45] #8 - External pressure from your protagonist's friends, family, or society to be a certain way.
[15:15] #9 - Secrets.
[16:05] #10 - A bittersweet ending.
[18:10] Key points and episode recap.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- Episode Freebie: Worldview Genre Conventions PDF
- Worldview Obligatory Scenes: The 6 Scenes Every Worldview Novel Needs (article)
- Worldview Genre Conventions: The 10 Things Every Worldview Novel Needs (article)
- Conventions vs. tropes: What's the difference? (podcast and article)
👉 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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