Fiction Writing Made Easy

Savannah Gilbo

1 Creator

How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to write a story that works? Do you have any writing tips? These are just some of the big questions that developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo, digs into on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Each week, Savannah shares actionable tools, tips, and strategies that will help you write, edit, and publish your book. So, whether you're brand new to writing, or a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you!

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Top 10 Fiction Writing Made Easy Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Fiction Writing Made Easy episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Fiction Writing Made Easy for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Fiction Writing Made Easy episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Introducing the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast!

Fiction Writing Made Easy

03/10/20 • 2 min

Weekly writing tips from a developmental editor and book coach.
My name is Savannah Gilbo and I'm a fiction editor and book coach. Every day, I help people, just like you, write, edit, and publish their books.
I started this podcast because I want to prove that writing a novel doesn't have to be scary and overwhelming. Every week, I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away.
So, whether you're brand new to writing, or a more seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you! So pick up a pen and let's get started!
For more writing tips, or to learn more about the show, head on over to https://www.savannahgilbo.com.

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3 Listeners

#47: Save the Cat! The Beginning Beats

Fiction Writing Made Easy

06/22/21 • 26 min

In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the beginning beats of Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! (STC!) beat sheet so that you can efficiently outline (or write) your novel. Here's a preview of what's included:
[01:05] The STC! method highlights 15 “beats” or plot points that each has a specific purpose and serves a particular function within your global story.
[02:25] The average novel is about 80k words, and this section is about 20k of them. If you write 1,500-word scenes, you're looking at about 14 scenes here.
[03:15] Some of the beats are single scene beats while others are multi-scene beats.
[03:55] Beat #1 is the opening image which is a single scene beat that shows a “before” snapshot of the protagonist’s life and the flawed world that he or she lives in.
[06:10] Beat #2 is the theme stated which is another single scene beat where someone hints at the theme or what the protagonist will learn by the end of the story.
[08:15] Beat #3 is the setup which is a multi-scene beat where readers get to see what the protagonist’s life and world are like–flaws and all. It’s also where important supporting characters and the protagonist’s initial goal are introduced.[011:30] Beat #4 is the catalyst which is a single scene beat where a life-changing event happens to the protagonist and catapults him or her into a new world or a new way of thinking.
[13:50] Beat #5 is the debate which is a multi-scene beat where the protagonist debates what he or she will do next. This will take up the second half of the beginning section of your story.
[16:40] Beat #6 is the break into two which is a single scene beat that acts as the bridge between act one and act two. Here, the protagonist decides to accept the call to adventure and leave their comfort zone, or adopt a new way of thinking.
[18:15] Key points and episode recap.
Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode! Especially because I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. So, click here to subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts!

If you're already a subscriber, and if you enjoy the show, I would be really grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Those reviews help other writers find my podcast and they’re also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the show is. Thanks in advance!
Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode Freebie: Scene Planning Roadmap PDF
Ep. 2 - How to Choose the Best Genre for Your Story (article)
Ep. 7 - 5 Questions to Help You Write Better Characters (article)
Ep. 40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene (article)

Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

1 Listener

#109: 5 Common Scene Issues (And How to Fix Them)

Fiction Writing Made Easy

09/20/23 • 12 min

In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 of the most common “scene level” issues to look for when editing your draft. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[02:44] Issue #1: The scene isn’t properly structured and it feels flat.

[03:59] Issue #2: The POV character doesn’t have enough agency.

[05:57] Issue #3: There’s too much extra stuff crowding the scene.

[07:50] Issue #4: There’s not enough interiority on the page.

[09:35] Issue #5: The POV is inconsistent (aka there's head hopping)

[11:22] Final thoughts and episode recap.
Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know what your favorite part of the episode was, too!
Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!
Links mentioned in this episode:

The 5-Day Unlock Your Story: A LIVE challenge designed to help you get your ideas out of your head and onto the page.
Ep. 40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene
Ep. 43 - 10 Tips For Writing Better Scenes
Ep. 63 - Don’t Start A Scene Without These 3 Things
Ep. 74 - When Should You Write in Scene vs. Summary?
Ep. 94 - How to Reveal Your Character’s Inner Life on the Page

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

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#58: 10 Querying Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Fiction Writing Made Easy

05/18/22 • 26 min

In this episode, I'm sharing the 10 most common querying mistakes I see writers make and how to avoid them. Here's a preview of what you'll hear in the episode:
[02:45] Mistake #1: Your story isn't 100% ready to send out just yet.
[04:25] Mistake #2: Sending your query to the wrong person.
[06:15] Mistake #3: Not following the submission guidelines.
[08:45] Mistake #4: You forgot to include your metadata.
[09:50] Mistake #5: Your word count is too high or too low.
[11:10] Mistake #6: The genre of your story isn't clear.
[12:30] Mistake #7: The comp titles listed don't make sense.
[14:25] Mistake #8: Your story summary is too vague.
[16:35] Mistake #9: You've tried to fit too much stuff in your query.
[18:55] Mistake #10: Your query letter is unprofessional or weird.
[21:00] Final thoughts and episode recapFollow & Review in Apple Podcasts

Are you following my podcast? If not, I want to encourage you to do that today so that you don't miss an episode! Especially because I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not following the show, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. So, click here to follow this show in Apple Podcasts!

If you're already a follower, and if you enjoy the show, I would be really grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. These reviews help other writers find my podcast and they’re also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the show is. Thanks in advance!
Links mentioned in this episode:

Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

1 Listener

#3: How to Decide Which Story Idea to Write Next

Fiction Writing Made Easy

03/17/20 • 13 min

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to choose between multiple story ideas, or how to decide which story idea to write next. Here's a quick overview of what we talk about in this episode:

[01:20] Two reasons why taking the time to flesh out your story ideas before you start writing a single word will save you time, energy, and frustration.
[02:15] 5 questions to help you decide between two or more story ideas.
[03:15] An example from a real-life writer who was torn between a "for fun" romance novel and a "more serious" memoir. "Which one should I choose?"
[06:15] What happens when your idea doesn't have enough "meat" to support a full-length novel (hint: it almost always has to do with a lack of conflict).
[07:30] What's the difference between a topic and an idea? And how do you determine whether you have a topic (aka part of an idea) or an actual story idea?
[08:50] If you have a topic, you can turn it into an idea that can support a full-length novel by asking yourself these key questions.
[10:00] What's next? Here's how identifying your genre can help you further flesh out your idea and understand your next steps.
[10:40] Key points and episode recap.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode Freebie: How to Choose Which Story Idea to Write Next PDF

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

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#2: How to Choose the Best Genre for Your Story

Fiction Writing Made Easy

03/17/20 • 24 min

In this episode, we're going to talk about genre -- specifically how to choose the primary (or global) genre for your story. Here's a quick overview of what we talk about in this episode:

[01:30] What's the difference between commercial genres and content genres (aka the reader's genre and the writer's genre)? And why you should care about BOTH.
[05:00] What's the difference between plot-driven stories and character-driven stories? And what are the 12 content genres?
[07:00] A special note for science fiction and fantasy authors (if you're writing speculative fiction, you don't want to miss this!)
[08:45] Why you need to choose one primary genre for your story -- and how this can actually make the writing, editing, and publishing process SO MUCH EASIER.
[09:45] 5 questions to help you choose the main genre for your story.
[17:30] Once you've identified your story's global genre, what's next? Here's a preview of how your story's genre can help you write a stronger first draft.
[20:30] Key points and episode recap.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know book by Shawn Coyne
Episode Freebie: How to Choose the Best Genre for Your Story PDF

Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

1 Listener

#124: Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 3)

Fiction Writing Made Easy

01/09/24 • 30 min

“That's how much my writing's improved. But not just the writing, it's the ease. It's not a struggle when I sit down in front of the laptop to write. Everything just seems a lot easier.” - Morgan Schrock
In today's episode, I reached out to some of my Notes to Novels Season 3 students and asked them to share the number one thing they learned about writing a first draft. You're going to get to hear from real writers who are in the trenches, actively working on their novels and I think it'll be very fun for you to hear how they did it plus some of their biggest takeaways.
Read the blog post here!Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[01:26] Lindsay Sfara shares her experience where she initially faced challenges with an insufficiently detailed outline, leading to a lack of direction in her superhero fantasy novel.
She highlights her struggles and the transformative impact of the Notes to Novel course.
[07:56] Liya Gray has been working on a YA series since 2015, facing challenges and halting progress. She credits Savannah’s course for unlocking a new understanding of her story's structure, and realizing the difference between scenes and chapters.
[12:43] Ami Blackford talks about her insights into the Notes to Novel course and its impact on her writing journey. Amy, initially felt there were missing pieces in her eighth novel's outline but she highlights four significant takeaways from the course regarding theme, content genre vs. commercial genre, structured scenes, and fast first draft and magical edits.
[18:46] Tanja Fabsits shares her experience with her first novel, and a significant realization during the course was related to scene structure, but her favorite takeaway was the overall feeling of relaxing into the outlining process.
[20:56] Morgan Schrock, with a background in scientific writing for journals, decided to write a fiction novel. Her most significant realization was that the middle of her story felt boring, and she identified the problem as a lack of agency for her main character. The course's outlining technique proved to be a game-changer for her.
Links mentioned in this episode:

Lindsay Sfara - Instagram
Liya Grey - Website, Instagram, Facebook
Ami Blackford - Website, Instagram, Facebook
Tanja Fabsits - Book
Morgan Shrock - X, Instagram
Free Workshop - The Confident Writer's Roadmap

Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

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#55: 3 Tips for Writing a First Draft in 90 Days

Fiction Writing Made Easy

01/18/22 • 11 min

In this episode, I'm sharing three tips for writing a first draft in 90 days. Here's a preview of what you'll hear in the episode:
[01:35] How one of my Notes to Novel students, Jennifer, wrote a draft in 90 days (after creating a flexible, yet very fleshed out scene-by-scene outline)
[04:35] Tip #1: Block out the time and space on your calendar so that you'll actually have the time and space to write a first draft in 90 days.
[05:25] Tip #2: Accept that your first draft will be messy, but don't let that stop you from making forward progress. Use things like "details TK" to keep moving forward.
[07:00] Tip #3: Create a scene-by-scene outline for your story so that you have a roadmap to follow each time you sit down to write.
[09:25] Final thoughts and episode recapFollow & Review in Apple Podcasts

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

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#57: Action Genre Conventions

Fiction Writing Made Easy

02/15/22 • 20 min

In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the conventions of the action genre. I'm also going to show you how these conventions show up in the movie The Hunger Games. Here's a preview of what's included:
[01:25] Action stories are about life and death, and good versus evil. They’re about a character who has to rise up, overcome great obstacles, defeat forces of evil, and maybe even save the world. But that being said, these stories aren’t always about superheroes.
[02:35] Readers choose action stories to experience the excitement of the life and death stakes and situations that the protagonist is presented with. But it’s not just about that—we choose these stories because they inspire us to become the best versions of ourselves, too.
[03:35] Genre conventions are the character roles, settings, and micro-events that are specific to a genre. They’re what help us writers write a story that works AND evoke emotional reactions in our readers.
[04:50] #1 - The protagonist has a special talent or gift and the potential for heroism.
[06:55] #2 - The protagonist’s goal is to stop the antagonist and save victims.
[08:10] #3 - There are multiple lives at stake (including the protagonist’s).
[09:10] #4 - The antagonist is stronger and/or more powerful than the protagonist.
[10:25] #5 - The protagonist has a moral compass that the antagonist does not.
[11:50] #6 - There’s a speech in praise of the antagonist.
[13:00] #7 - There’s a MacGuffin (or a very specific thing the antagonist wants).
[13:50] #8 - There are sidekicks who help the protagonist save the victim/s.
[14:45] #9 - There’s at least one mentor figure who gives the protagonist guidance.
[15:25] #10 - There’s a ticking clock that puts pressure on the protagonist.
[17:05] Key points and episode recap.
Follow & Review in Apple Podcasts

Are you following my podcast? If not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode! Especially because I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not following the show there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. So, click here to follow the show in Apple Podcasts!

If you're already a follower, and if you enjoy the show, I would be really grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Those reviews help other writers find my podcast and they’re also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the show is. Thanks in advance!
Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode Freebie: Action Genre Conventions PDF Cheat Sheet
Action Conventions: The 10 Things Every Action Story Needs (article)
Action Obligatory Scenes: The 6 Scenes Every Action Story Needs (article)
Conventions vs. tropes: What's the difference? (podcast and article)

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

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#50: Save the Cat! The Ending Beats

Fiction Writing Made Easy

09/08/21 • 21 min

In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the beats that make up the end of a story, or the final section of Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! (STC!) beat sheet so that you can efficiently outline (or write) your novel. Here's a preview of what's included:
[01:45] A recap of the last three episodes (episodes #47, #48, and #49)/
[03:15] The average novel is about 80k words, and this section (the end) is about 20k of them. If you write 1,500-word scenes, you're looking at about 14 scenes here.
[03:40] Some of the beats are single scene beats while others are multi-scene beats. I will tell you which is which!
[04:20] Beat #14 is the five part finale! And this beat is all about resolving all the problems that were raised in act one and act two. It's also about showing how much your protagonist has changed since page one.
[05:45] Five Part Finale Part 1: Gathering the Team.
[07:00] Five Part Finale Part 2: Executing the Plan.
[08:35] Five Part Finale Part 3: High Tower Surprise.
[10:15] Five Part Finale Part 4: Dig Deep Down.
[12:15] Five Part Finale Part 5: Execution of the New Plan.
[15:00] Beat #15 is the final image. And this is a single scene beat that shows how much your protagonist has changed since the opening image.
[18:25] Key points and episode recap.
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