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
#151. How Rowling Built A World Ripe For Life Or Death Conflicts (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
Ever wonder how Rowling created such a fantastic, three-dimensional story world for her Harry Potter series?That’s exactly what you’ll hear in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Join me, Abigail K. Perry, and Tim Grahl, as we...
Bonus: How Rowling Used Plot Catalysts to Keep Readers Engaged (A Sneak Peek From My Book!)
Plot catalysts make it difficult for a character to achieve their goals. If you’re writing an Action story, there are three main plot catalysts you’ll want to include in your book—a speech in praise of the villain, a deadline or ticking ...
#150. How Rowling Created A Cast of Compelling Characters (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
Ever wonder how Rowling created such a wonderful cast of quirky and relatable characters in the Harry Potter series? If so, tune into this episode to hear Abigail K. Perry, Tim Grahl, and me talk about the characters in Ha...
Bonus: What Made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone A Best Seller? (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry)
What made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a worldwide bestseller? Why does this story still resonate with readers almost thirty years later?And why did Abigail and I agree to spend so much time dissecting ...
[SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT] My Book Is Available For Pre-Order!
Ever wish you could understand exactly what makes your favorite stories so lovable? Me too! So much so that I deconstructed every single scene in the first Harry Potter book to see how and why it worked. And today, I’m super exci...
#149. 5 Questions To Write Better Antagonists
Antagonists can make or break a story—both for the writer and the reader. Writers who don’t spend time developing their antagonists tend to write drafts that fall apart in the middle. Anyone who reads a story with a weak or u...
#148. How To Use Universal Fantasy To Write Better Books (& Sell More Copies) With Theodora Taylor
“Never wonder if readers will love your story again.” This is exactly what Theodora Taylor teaches you how to do in her book 7 FIGURE FICTION: How to Use Universal Fantasy to SELL Your Books to ANYONE.Despite writing fiction in a...
#147. A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (June 2024)
Want a peek behind the scenes into my work week? 👀In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing what I do as a developmental editor and book coach. I’ll talk through the projects I’m working on, what I’m e...
#146. 6 Ways Mindfulness Can Make You A Happier & More Productive Writer With April Dávila
If you’ve ever felt frustrated with your progress (or lack of progress), it’s probably time to take a step back from your writing and consider your mindset.To help you do just that, I’m sharing a conversation in today’s ...
#145. How To Develop Your Character's Backstory
Crafting compelling backstories for your fictional characters is critical to developing a cohesive story, but it’s sometimes easier said than done.There are endless options when it comes to which details you can include in your ...
#144. Student Spotlight: How She Landed A Book Deal With Her Dream Publisher (With Savannah Carlisle)
Have you ever heard someone say that the only difference between a published author and an unpublished author is that the published author never gave up?I wholeheartedly believe this, and my guest today proves it’s true.Sav...
#143. How To Pitch Podcasts With Michelle Glogovac
“Human beings want to hear the stories of other human beings. And that's exactly what podcasts do.” - Michelle GlogovacYou have a finished book, now what? Learn how to pitch yourself to podcasts (and create your own...
#142. How To Write A Query Letter That Get Requests
“I recommend working on your query letter as soon as you feel good enough about the overall shape of your story.” - Savannah GilboAgents and editors must sort through hundreds of query letters to find an outstanding story. S...
#141. How To Create Believable Monsters With Randy Ellefson
“The object itself didn't cause the conflict. The person who made the choice with the object caused the conflict.” - Randy EllefsonIn today’s episode, we’re going to cover something really fun—how to create believab...
#140. First Chapter Analysis: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
“We need to advance the plot and we need to develop the character. When you can marry the two, you have a strong scene.” - Abigail K. PerryWe’re taking a deep dive into Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it wor...
#139: 5 Multi POV Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)
Telling a story through multiple viewpoints can be a great way to create a more expansive (and objective) look at your characters, world, plot, and/or theme. But with each additional viewpoint character you add to your story, the more room ther...
#138: How To Manage Your Creative Anxiety With Rhonda Douglas
“Writing is a creative project. It's not an earthquake, but the thoughts and the worries can feel similar. If I can have a positive association or feel prepared for an earthquake, surely I can do that for writing.” - Rhonda Douglas...
#137: 5 Tips For Writing Better Fiction (Even If You're Just Starting Out)
“Focus your pre-writing and drafting and revising efforts on the present moment of your story.” - Daniel David WallaceI asked five of my peers to share one of their favorite writing tips, and boy, did they deliver! Tune in t...
#136: First Chapter Analysis: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
“Usually stakes start personal and they become public. That's a way of raising stakes, regardless of the genre.” - Savannah GilboWe’re diving deep into Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it works. Join me an...
#135: Mastering Point of View and Voice: Expert Tips From Gabriela Pereira Of DIY MFA
“You, the writer, have a bigger sphere of knowledge. You know more things than the narrator necessarily knows.” - Gabriela PereiraIn today’s episode, I ask Gabriela Pereira of DIY MFA for her thoughts on some of the...
#134: How To Stop Procrastinating: 5 Productivity Tips For Writers
“It's really important to focus on the big picture story first and not worry about granular details that you can figure out later.” - Savannah GilboGet more done in less time, overcome procrastination, and become a master at...
#133: A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (March 2024)
“Sometimes it's easy to take feedback to mean that your story's broken when it's not.” - Savannah GilboI’m taking you behind the scenes with me throughout my entire work week! You’ll see how I plan my days, what projects I w...
#132: First Chapter Analysis: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
“In stories that feel society dominant, is survival even worth it if you don't have freedom?” - Abigail K. PerryWe’re taking a deep dive into The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it works. Join me and Abiga...
#131: 5 Steps To Start Planning Your Book Series
“The key to making books within a series work is to grow, escalate, and complicate the conflict and stakes from book to book.” - Savannah GilboA good book series allows readers to immerse themselves in a world and stay there...
#130: How to Craft Romantic Chemistry & Tension Between Characters
“ Flat or boring characters who are underdeveloped are never going to light up a scene, no matter how many tricks you pull.” - Savannah GilboIf you’re writing romance, the chemistry and tension between your characters can ma...