Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice

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 discovered after working with hundreds of writers is that finishing a novel requires more than just talent or a great idea. It takes the right mindset, practi...

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 she self-published not one but two books in the last six months —one’s that’s a really fun space opera and the other that’s a romantic comedy. You’ll hear about her expe...

“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 own set of challenges, the possibilities are often worth the effort. Tune in to this episode to learn the essential elements that make dual timeline novels work , common m...

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 Michael Jamin. Michael is a TV writer turned author who just published his collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra , in 2023. Since then, his book has won a Reedsy Di...

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 existing manuscript, this episode will help you deliver exactly what readers are looking for in this booming genre. Tune in for a deep dive into the Romantasy genre a...

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 opening chapter of the first Crescent City book, House of Earth and Blood , to find out how and why it works.  We analyze this first chapter from both a macro and micro perspective to see wha...

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 novel Air And Ashes hit Amazon's bestseller list one month after launch. Tune in to hear us talk about why giving away books for free can lead to more sales, how to use Boo...

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 doesn't fit your life can make you wonder if you'll ever finish your story. But your experience with chronic illness also gives you a rare edge that empowers you to con...

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 and book coach Abigail K. Perry to analyze the opening chapter of Diana Gabaldon's genre-defying masterpiece, Outlander , on a macro and micro level.  And truth be told, this might be one of our...

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 lack of progress has nothing to do with your capabilities or the quality of your ideas. In fact, it boils down to an imbalance of three essential things—or p...

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 chatting with five amazing writers from season 5 about their experience inside the course. And let me tell you, they're in the trenches right now, active...

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 our busy schedules (and yes, that's definitely part of it). But there's something else lurking around that stops your writing progress. And it has a way of making you...

The best writing advice sticks with us because it changes our thinking about our craft. In this special year-end episode, I'm counting down the top 10 most powerful tips from Fiction Writing Made Easy in 2024—from crafting sizzling character chemistry and developing compelling antagonists to building immersive story worlds and mastering your character's backstory .  Plus, learn how to ov...

Is the thought of revising your first draft making you nauseous? I got you. These mindset tips will ease revision anxiety for good.  It's one thing to pour your heart into writing a first draft . However, facing revisions and sharing your story with others can feel raw, uncomfortable, and downright scary. Not to worry. Every writer struggles with this novel writing phase , and that's why...

Want a sneak peek into my life as a developmental editor and book coach? Listen in and find out what I do in my work week to help authors transform their story ideas into fully realized novels. I'll walk you through what I'm learning, how I support fiction writers in finishing their novels , and my exciting plans for 2025. Plus, I'll share all the behind-the-scenes moments that make...

Need help with tone and mood in your novel writing? Maybe your scenes aren't hitting the right emotional notes, or your story atmosphere feels off. Today, we're breaking down four practical ways to master these tricky writing elements to keep your readers hooked. In this episode, I'm chatting with Isobelle Lans, a UK-based author, editor, and writing coach who runs Inspired Creative...

Whether you want complete creative freedom, better royalties, or a faster speed to market—get the clarity you need to choose the right publishing path for your novel. Your novel is (or nearly) complete; now it's time to choose your publishing path. Whether you're drawn to big traditional publishing with major bookstore distribution, love the creative control of self-publishing , want big...

Finally, finish your book with effective writing strategies designed to work in harmony with your neurodivergent mind. Does sitting down to write your book feel impossible on some days, while on other days, you can write for hours on end? Maybe you feel guilty whenever someone says, "Real writers write every day" or "Just stick to a routine,"—but here's the thing—your neur...

If you’re serious about becoming a published author , determining your novel’s genre is one of the most important things you’ll have to do. But sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially if your book toes the line between Women’s Fiction and Romance. In this episode, I’m going to walk you through the difference between Women’s Fiction and Romance so you can write the best book possible and...

“When should I start marketing my book?” This is a question I get asked all the time! Along with other similar questions like, “Do I need to build an email list?” And “What are some effective ways to market my book?” My guest, Lacy Lieffers of Black Fox Marketing , is here to answer all of these questions (and more) in this podcast episode! Tune into this episode to hear us talk about why marketin...

Selling 5,000+ copies of a debut novel in 18 months (without a massive social media following ) might seem out of reach to most aspiring authors . But, in fact, it’s not. And our incredible podcast guest, Jennifer Lauer, is here to show you how it's done. When we last spoke, Jennifer was on the brink of launching her debut sci-fi novel , The Girl in the Zoo . Fast-forward to today, and she&ap...

It’s no secret that one of the biggest roadblocks to getting traditionally published is the dreaded literary agent rejection. But to find the right literary agent for you and your story, you have to go through the process of querying a handful of agents—which means you should expect to get a handful of rejections before finding your perfect match. In this episode, I’m sharing the three most common...

Ever wonder what happens when you ditch your agent and decide to self-publish instead? This episode is a must-listen if you're curious about the ins and outs of self-publishing and how it can possibly safeguard your creative control.  In this episode, Stefanie Medrek is back on the podcast—and boy, has her story changed! The last time we chatted, she had just landed an agent and was about to...

You finished your book and now you’re looking for a cover designer , but where do you start? Where can you find a good book cover designer? And how much should you expect to pay them for a quality book cover? These are all questions my guest, Zoe Norvell , will answer in this week’s brand-new podcast episode! Zoe is the mastermind behind INeedABookCover.com and INeedABookInterior.com —and she’s be...

One of the questions I get asked by a lot of aspiring authors is, “What books should I read to learn how to start writing a novel?” I get asked this question so often that I decided to turn my answer into a podcast episode! Tune in to this episode to hear my take on the 5 best writing books that have had the biggest impact on me and the authors I work with. I’ll share what the books are, why I lik...