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
#199. Struggling With Flat Characters? These 5 Books Will Transform Your Writing
Master character development with these five must-read books that transform static characters from boring to brilliant.You've created characters with compelling backstories, but somehow, they still feel... flat. They move t...
#198. Book Reviews: Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Reader Feedback (With Emily Golden & Rachel May)
Learn how to handle book reviews without letting them crush your confidence or derail your writing dreams.Receiving your first book review can be both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Whether it's a glowing five-star lov...
#197. How to Write a Novel That Hooks Readers Through Curiosity (Not Confusion)
Master the art of creating irresistible, page-turning curiosity without confusing or frustrating your readers.Have you ever written what you thought was a brilliantly mysterious scene, only to have readers say they were completely...
#196. The Pros and Cons of Writing A Novel With Multiple Points of View
Discover the pros and cons of writing a novel from multiple POVs—including how to avoid the #1 mistake that kills multi-POV novels.Are multiple point-of-view characters right for your story? Will they create the...
#195. How Deliberate Practice Can Improve Your Fiction Writing (With Tim Grahl)
Master the fundamental building block of fiction writing with this one exercise that's helped writers break through years of stalled progress in just weeks.Ever wonder why some writers seem to improve rapidly while others stay stu...
#194. Self-Publishing Your Novel: A 10 Step Guide for First-Time Authors
Congratulations! You've finished writing your novel, and you've set your sights on self-publishing. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "Where do I start?" If you're feeling overwhelmed by the self-publishing process, you're n...
#193. How Dictation Can Help You Write Faster With Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
Learn how dictation is your secret weapon for capturing story ideas, supporting overall health, and writing up to 3,000 words per hour.Are you curious about how dictation can improve your health and mobility, enhance your <...
#192. 5 Big-Picture First Draft Mistakes (& How To Fix Them)
Discover the five most common big-picture mistakes writers make in their first drafts—and learn exactly what you can do to fix them.Congratulations, you finished your first draft! …But now what? If you're feeling stuck or overwhel...
#191. Fiction Genres Made Easy: Understanding the 5 Dimensions of Genre
Discover the five ways to talk about your story’s genre so you can write, edit, and publish your novel with clarity and confidence.Ever found yourself staring at a blinking cursor, excited about your story idea but utterly confuse...
#190. Novel Editing: 10 Steps to Editing Your First Draft
Congratulations! You've finished writing your first draft—an achievement that puts you ahead of countless aspiring writers who never make it past the dreaming stage. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "What nex...
#189. Student Spotlight: From First Draft to Published Novel at 72 With Cheryl Arko
Discover how a 72-year-old data scientist overcame perfectionism to publish her debut science fiction novel after decades of dreaming about it.Are you stuck with half-finished manuscripts or endlessly revising the same chap...
#188. 5 Mindset Hacks to Help You Finish Your First Draft
Five book coaches reveal their most powerful mindset hacks to help you crush self-doubt, overcome perfectionism, and finally finish your first draft—even if you've been stuck for months.Picture this: You sit down with a fresh cup ...
#187. How To Write An Unforgettable Plot Twist In Your Novel With Samantha Skal
Master the art of the jaw-dropping plot twist and transform your readers from passive page-turners into gasping, can't-put-it-down fans.Ever gasped out loud while reading a thriller? That moment when everything flips upside down a...
#186. First Draft Roadmap: 10 Steps to Writing A Novel For Beginners
Writing your first novel is a journey unlike any other—equal parts exhilarating, frustrating, magical, and challenging. But here's what you need to know right now: it's completely doable with the right approach.Something I've disc...
#185. Student Spotlight: How Angela Haas Published TWO Books In 6 Months
Curious about writing books in more than one genre? Angela Haas shares a behind-the-scenes look at writing science fiction and romantic comedy!In today’s episode, we’re going behind the scenes of Angela Haas’s journey to hear how ...
#184. 3 Must-Know Tips For Writing A Novel With Dual Timelines
“I want to write a dual timeline novel, but I’m struggling to weave the storylines together. Help!” 👈 This is something I hear from writers all the time. And while it’s true that writing a story with dual timelines presents its ...
#183. From Screenwriter to Award-Winning Memoirist: Michael Jamin's Indie Publishing Journey
Curious about what it’s like to make the switch from writing for TV to writing books? Or maybe you want to learn writing tips from a screenwriter with decades of experience?Either way, you’re going to love this episode with Michae...
#182. Writing Romantasy: How to Balance Fantasy Elements and Romance in Your Novel
Calling all Romantasy (and Fantasy) authors! Tune in to learn how to write a Romantasy novel that perfectly blends fantasy elements with romance.Whether you're drafting your first Romantasy novel or refining your approach to an ex...
#181. First Chapter Analysis: House Of Earth And Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Romantasy and Fantasy authors! Tune in to learn how the opening pages of House of Earth and Blood hooks readers and pulls them into the rest of the story.Join me and Abigail K. Perry for a deep dive into the...
#180. Student Spotlight: How Her Debut Novel Became An Amazon Bestseller With Margaret Mantor
Discover how a debut author turned her first novel into an Amazon #1 bestseller using strategic marketing tactics instead of relying on social media.Meet Margaret Mantor, a science-fantasy romance author from Denver whose n...
#179. Writing When You Have A Chronic Illness With Sandra Postma
Chronic illness teaches you about pain, loss, and resilience. Find out why this can make you a better storyteller.Writing a novel can feel impossible when managing a chronic illness. Symptoms, brain fog, and advice that doe...
#178. First Chapter Analysis: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Romance, historical fiction & fantasy writers—tune in to learn how the opening pages of Outlander hook readers into the story. In this listener-voted episode, I team up with developmental editor ...
#177. 3 Things You Need To Write Your Novel In 2025
Got writer's block and convinced it's because you lack talent? Think again! And I have the solution that'll change the way you approach your writing…If you're struggling to finish your novel, I want you to know that your la...
#176. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 5)
See how Notes to Novel™ helped these five writers go from a blank page to a story that works (without the overwhelm).With Notes to Novel™ (season 6) right around the corner, I'm bringing you something incredibly special today. I'm...
#175. 5 Easy Time Management Strategies To Write Your Novel Faster
Feel stuck writing your novel? These 5 time management strategies will squash all productivity blocks to get your story finished—finally (and fast).Why does finding the time to write feel so hard sometimes? We often blame o...