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

Weekly practical tips on writing, editing and publishing fiction novels AI summary

Savannah Gilbo Visit website › Arts · EN · 285 episodes · latest 2026-11-10

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What it is about

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.

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© 2026 Savannah Gilbo, Inc. | Fiction Writing Made Easy

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Latest episodes

#268. 5 Thriller Mistakes That Weaken Suspense (& How to Fix Them)

2026-11-10 · 26 min · Episode 268

You’ve finished the first draft of your thriller, and it has plenty of action. But when you read it back, it’s not as gripping as you’d hoped, and it’s hard to say why. Usually, the problem isn’t a lack of danger or…
#267. Ask Savannah: How Do I Fix a Plot Hole in My Story? (Plus Balancing Writing With Life & Hiding Plot Twists)

2026-10-27 · 26 min · Episode 267

How do you fix a plot hole in your novel? What if your beta readers figure out your big plot twist too early? And how are you supposed to find time to write when life keeps getting in the way? In today's episode, I'm…
#266. How to Get Back Into Writing Your Novel After a Long Break

2026-10-20 · 16 min · Episode 266

If you’ve stepped away from your novel for a few weeks, or even a few months, getting back into writing can feel a lot harder than it should. Maybe you open your draft, scroll through a few pages, and wonder where you…
#265. What Is Cozy Fiction? 10 Characteristics Cozy Writers Need to Know

2026-09-29 · 25 min · Episode 265

Learn what makes cozy fiction work—and how to balance warmth, tension, character growth, and community to create the hopeful reading experience cozy readers expect. You know the feeling a cozy book gives you—warm, safe,…
#264. First Draft Mistakes: Jessica Brody & Savannah Gilbo Compare Notes

2026-09-22 · 29 min · Episode 264

What are the most common first-draft mistakes writers make—and which ones actually need your attention while you’re drafting? In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Brody, author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Page…
#263. How Emily Henry Hooks Readers in Chapter One of Book Lovers

2026-09-15 · 22 min · Episode 263

Your first chapter needs to hook the reader—but that doesn’t mean you need a huge plot twist, dramatic action, or a flashy meet-cute on page one. The first chapter of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers is mostly two sisters…
Bonus: How 3 Writers Found a Clear Path Through All the Writing Advice

2026-09-01 · 17 min

If you’ve read the craft books, listened to hundreds of podcast episodes, and studied all kinds of writing advice—but still sit down at your desk wondering, okay, what am I actually supposed to work on today?—this…
#262. 10 Tips to Make Your Enemies to Lovers Romance Feel Believable

2026-08-25 · 28 min · Episode 262

If you're writing an enemies to lovers romance, getting your characters from “I can't stand you” to “I love you” takes more than chemistry. Here’s how to write enemies to lovers in a way that makes that turn feel…
#261. 5 Mistakes Writers Make Using the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet

2026-08-18 · 22 min · Episode 261

If you’re using the Save the Cat! beat sheet to outline your novel but your story still feels flat, disconnected, or hard to draft, one of these five common mistakes may be the reason why. The Save the Cat! beat sheet…
#260. Student Spotlight: From Stuck at 25k Words to a Finished Draft With Lindsay Sfara

2026-08-11 · 39 min · Episode 260

After stalling out on a draft she'd already outlined chapter by chapter, Lindsay Sfara discovered the story development work that has to come before an outline—and turned that stuck manuscript into a published debut…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 03/2020 · over 6 years
Typical length: 29 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone
Keywords: Fiction Writing Tips, Story Structure, Character Development, Writing Stronger Scenes, World Building, Story Development, How to Outline a Novel, Writing Advice

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