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.
Hit follow for new episodes every week—and take the next step toward a novel you're proud of.
Episodes
284 episodes
#31: The 6 Scenes Every Thriller Novel Needs
In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every thriller novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:18] Thrillers combine all the crimina...
#30: 4 Reasons Why You Need a Target Word Count
In today's episode, we’re going to talk through four reasons why you should have a target word count for your story. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:50] Generally speaking, a novel is defined as any story over 40,000 word...
#29: Horror Genre Conventions
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the horror genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie Halloween. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:25] W...
#28: Red Herrings: How to Mislead and Surprise Readers
In today's episode, we’re going to talk about how to mislead and surprise your readers using red herrings. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:20] A red herring is anything that distracts readers and/or your characters from a...
#27: The 6 Scenes Every Performance Story Needs
In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every performance story needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:30] Performance stories center aro...
#26: The Inciting Incident: How to Get Your Story Into Motion
In today's episode, we’re going to talk about crafting a great inciting incident for your story. I'm also going to show you how the global inciting incident looks different across the content genres. Here's a preview of what's included:<...
Bonus: Conquering the Writing Blues Summit Interview with Dr. Susan Hickman
In today's extra special bonus episode, I'm sharing my interview with Dr. Susan Hickman from the Conquering the Writing Blues Summit I took part in earlier this year. Here's a quick preview of what's included:[02:50] What does a ...
#25: Worldview Genre Conventions
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 i...
#24: 10 Steps to Get Ready for NaNoWriMo
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through ten steps to get ready for NaNoWriMo. Here's a preview of what's included:[03:40] Step 1: Choose one story idea...
#23: The 6 Scenes Every Romance Novel Needs
In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every romance novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:45] Romance novels center around two i...
#22: How to Evaluate the Conflict in Your Draft
In today’s episode, I’m going to walk you through my five-step process for evaluating the conflict in your novel. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict that ...
#21: Progressive Complications: How to Write Better Conflict in Your Novel
In today's episode, we're going to talk about writing better conflict in your novel using "progressive complications." Here's a preview of what's included:[01:20] Progressive complications are moments of conflict ...
#20: 5 Strategies for Getting Unstuck While Writing
In today's episode, I'm sharing my five favorite strategies for getting unstuck while writing. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:30] If you need help pushing past the first few pages of your novel, I have a ...
#19: Thriller Genre Conventions
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the thriller genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Silence of the Lambs. Here's a preview of what's included:...
#18: 5 Mistakes Writers Make in Their Opening Pages
In today's episode, I'm going to talk about the five most common mistakes I see writers make in their opening pages. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:00] Details about my brand new workshop called “How to Hook Readers in Y...
#17: The 6 Scenes Every Horror Novel Needs
In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every horror novel needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:10] In horror novels, bad things happen...
#16: Conventions vs. Tropes: What's the Difference?
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the difference between genre conventions and tropes. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:28] Genre conventions are story elements such as character archetypes, key events, and...
#15: How to Figure Out the Shape of Your Story
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through how to figure out the big-picture shape of your story. Here's a preview of what's included:.[02:45] Each genre asks a specific story question. For example, in an action story, the...
#14: How to Handle Character Backstory in Your Novel
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through my top three tips for weaving your character's backstory into your novel in a way that engages the reader without bogging them down. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:20] Wh...
#13: 5 Things That Kill Narrative Drive (and How to Fix it)
In today's episode, I'm continuing last week's discussion on narrative drive or that "thing" that hooks a reader's interest and pulls them through the story. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:10] What is narrative drive? Wh...
#12: 3 Ways to Create Narrative Drive in Your Story
In today's episode, I'm exploring narrative drive or that "thing" that hooks a reader's interest and pulls them through the story. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:25] What is narrative drive? Here's a quick definition.
#11: 10 Tips for Writing Better Love Triangles
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. C...
#10: How to Create Memorable Characters Using Hooks
In today's episode, I'm going to show you how to create unique and memorable characters using "hooks." Here's a preview of what's included:[01:15] What are character hooks? How do they help readers?[02:25] Hook #1: Give your ...
#9: Value Shifts: The Quickest Way to Determine if a Scene Works
In today's episode, we're going to talk about value shifts. Specifically, how understanding the concept of value shifts can help you write an edit a story that works. Here's a preview:[01:10] What are value shifts and why do I ne...
#8: 7 Secrets to Success That Every Writer Should Know
In today's episode, I share the 7 secrets to success that every writer should know. These 7 secrets will help you accomplish your goals, become a better writer, and live a writing life you love. Here's a preview:[02:00] Secret...