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

Fiction Writing Made Easy is your go-to creative writing podcast for practical, no-fluff tips on how to write, edit, and publish a novel—from first draft to finished book.

Hosted by developmental editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo, this show breaks down the fiction writing process into clear, actionable steps so you can finally make progress on your manuscript and write a novel you’re proud of.

Whether you’re a first-time author, an aspiring novelist, or a seasoned writer looking to strengthen your craft, each episode will help you understand what makes a story work at the deepest level—so you can stop second-guessing your ideas and start building a stronger novel from the inside out.

You’ll learn how to develop your premise, structure your plot, create compelling characters, write stronger scenes, world-build without infodumping, revise your draft, and navigate your publishing options with more clarity and confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered things like…

How do I write a novel if I’ve never done this before?

What’s the best way to structure a story that works?

How do I develop strong characters readers will care about?

How do I build an immersive world without info-dumping?

How do I write scenes that move the story forward?

How do I edit my first draft?

How do I know when my book is ready to publish?

Should I pursue self-publishing or traditional publishing?

…you’re in the right place.

New episodes drop weekly to help you simplify the novel-writing process, strengthen your storytelling skills, and get your book into readers’ hands.

—

Popular Episode Topics Include: Fiction Writing Tips, Story Structure, Plotting a Novel, Character Development, Writing Stronger Scenes, World Building, Novel Revision, Story Development, How to Outline a Novel, Character Arcs, Genre Fiction, Editing a Novel, Fiction Writing Mistakes to Avoid, Revision Strategies, Writing Advice

Copyright: © 2025 Savannah Gilbo, Inc. | Fiction Writing Made Easy

Latest Episodes:

#87: First Chapter Analysis: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the first chapter of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Join me and fellow developmental editor, Abigail Perry, as we talk through the first chapter of this popular fantasy novel. Here’s a preview of what we talk about:

[03:45] A very quick summary of the first chapter

[16:45] A macro analysis of the first chapter using 7 key questions from Paula Munier's book The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings

[26:55] A micro analysis of the scene within the chapter using the "5 Commandments of Storytelling" from The Story Grid

[38:05] 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:

Want to join our book club? Click here to learn more!
Click here to check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#86: A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (February 2023) Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind-the-scenes with me throughout my entire week, and I’m going to share what I’m working on, what big projects I’m focused on right now, and basically, anything that happens during the week.

I'm always curious as to how people set up their day and what they're working on and how they choose what they're going to actually work on that week. So, I thought you might be curious to know what I do all day as an editor and book coach—what I focus on and how I navigate through many, many, many action items. So, that’s what this episode is all about. I hope you enjoy this peek behind-the-scenes!

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:

Looking for more info about how to enroll in my Notes to Novel course? Sign up for my FREE masterclass, The 5 Mistakes Most Fiction Writers Make (and What To Do Instead) to learn more!
Want to join our book club? Click here to learn more!

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#85: Student Spotlight: How She Overcame Her Fear of the Blank Page (and Indie Published Her Novel) with Jennifer Lauer Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, I’m sitting down with Jennifer Lauer to talk through how she overcame her fear of the blank page and indie published her debut novel. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[03:00] An introduction to Jennifer Lauer and her story, The Girl in the Zoo

[09:30] What the beginning of the writing process looked like for Jennifer—and when she finally realized that her fear of the blank page was preventing her from writing

[14:45] What happened when Jennifer finished the first draft of her book (and changed her genre from love to action)

[26:00] Jennifer’s experience entering a Twitter pitch contest—and how it gave her the courage to submit her pages for a critique on TSNOTYAW podcast

[30:35] Why Jennifer ultimately decided to indie publish her novel (even after getting a positive response from a few industry professionals)

[43:35] The 3 biggest lessons Jennifer learned from this experience (and the advice she’d give to her past self when embarking on this writing journey)

[47:00] Final words of wisdom and advice from Jennifer

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!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Visit Jennifer’s website or follow her on Instagram @jenniferleelauer
Jennifer’s debut novel, The Girl in the Zoo on Amazon
Jennifer’s fiction podcast The Strange Chronicles
The Spun Yarn Beta Reader Service
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Podcast
Dyna Kau (cover designer) and Barbie at Monocle Editing
Joanna Penn’s website
Jane Friedman’s website
Want to learn more about my Notes to Novel course? Click here to sign up for my FREE TRAINING: The 5 Little-Known Mistakes Most Writers Make (& What to Do Instead)

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#84: The 6 Scenes Every Status Story Needs Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m covering the key scenes that every status story needs. I’ve also included examples of how they show up in the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[01:40] Status stories center around the protagonist’s inner need for respect that manifests as a specific desire to achieve or accomplish something in the external world.

[02:40] Readers of status stories want to feel hopeful that the protagonist will succeed. They want to read about someone who works hard to improve their situation–and they want to feel a sense of triumph when that person succeeds.

[04:20] 1- The protagonist becomes aware of an opportunity to rise in position.

[05:07] 2- The protagonist commits to pursuing this new opportunity, leaving their comfort zone or current circumstances to go after it.

[05:55] 3- The protagonist sees the true nature of the antagonist and/or learns what the antagonist wants and why.

[07:00] 4- The protagonist reaches an all-is-lost moment where the antagonist or rival takes the lead and/or destroys the protagonist’s chance at getting what they want.

[08:00] 5- The protagonist faces the antagonist, and either gets what they want or redefines their definition of success to get what they need.

[09:05] 6- The protagonist is rewarded externally, internally, or both.

[09:50] Key points 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:

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

Bonus: Ask Savannah (Listener Q&A) Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

In today's extra special bonus episode, I'm going to answer some questions from my listeners! Here's a quick overview of what we talk about in this episode:

[01:15] Ame says, “Would you be able to talk more about the coming of age genre, specifically how to develop a good plot and the aim of the book?”
[02:50] Emme says, “I have a really compelling story idea, characters, and full outline that I'm really excited about, but I'm not confident in my writing and abilities to bring it to life. What should I do?”
[05:25] Ben says, “I have a story that fits both the thriller and the horror conventions. Is that possible or would I need to include the conventions for both or just try to pick the one that best fits?”
[06:30] Chris says, “I am completely new to writing fiction. How "rough" can I make my first draft? The sage advice seems to be that the first draft should trump all story construction and prose activities, but I am wondering how "good" does it need to be?"
[09:05] Shamsee says, “Do you have any information (like the key scenes and conventions) on the fairy tale genre?”

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." 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:

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#83: What Kind Of Editor Do You Need For Your Book? Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, we’re going to talk through the different types of editors you might need to work with to get your book ready to publish. Here's a preview of what's included:

[01:40] A developmental editor is someone who is concerned with the overall content and structure of your manuscript, and whether or not your story “works.” They focus on things like character development, story structure, plot, genre, theme, and point of view.

[05:32] A line editor is someone who focuses on the way you use language to communicate your story to readers. They help you make sure the voice and style of writing are consistent, too.

[06:40] A copy editor is someone who focuses on spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They will address commonly confused words (for example, affect vs. effect) as well as ensure consistency with capitalization, hyphenation, and numerals.

[07:45] A brief description of some other editing roles including acquisition editors, beta readers, and proofreaders (plus, when you might work with them).

[09:15] Some things to consider when searching for an editor to work with—including a list of questions you can ask to help you find the right editor for your book.

[11:55] Key points 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:

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#82: Show, Don't Tell: What This Advice Really Means Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m sharing what the advice to “show, don’t tell” really means (and spoiler alert: it’s probably not what you think!). We’ll also talk about how to reveal your character’s emotions on the page, too. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:20] In general, the advice to “show, don’t tell” means that a writer should relate information to readers through sensory details and actions rather than exposition.

[03:39] But there’s more to it than that. To me, “show, don’t tell,” means that you need to show your character’s emotional reaction to what’s happening in a scene—and there are three main ways to do this.

[03:56] Method #1: You can tell readers what your character is feeling.

[04:35] Method #2: You can show emotions via body language or physical tells.

[06:14] Method #3: You can show readers what your character is thinking in response to what’s happening in a scene.

[12:15] 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:

Ep. 2 - How to Choose the Right Genre for Your Story
Want to learn more about the Notes to Novel course? Click here to sign up for my FREE masterclass, The 5 Little Known Mistakes Most Writers Make (and What To Do Instead) for more info >>

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#81: First Chapter Analysis: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the first chapter of Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. Join me and fellow developmental editor, Abigail Perry, as we talk through this popular contemporary romance. Here’s a preview of what we talk about:

[03:30] A very quick summary of the first chapter

[05:30] A macro analysis of the first chapter using 7 key questions from Paula Munier's book The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings

[28:15] A micro analysis of the scene within the chapter using the "5 Commandments of Storytelling" from The Story Grid

[55:15] 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:

Want to join our book club? Click here to learn more!
Click here to check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#80: Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned From Writing a First Draft Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, I asked five of my Notes to Novel students to share their biggest lessons learned while working through their first drafts. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[02:00] Kelsey Evans on how understanding her genre’s framework made the biggest difference in her ability to finally finish her first draft
[06:35] Stefanie Medrek and her favorite advice for battling writer’s block
[11:00] Angela Haas on the popular writing advice to “show, don’t tell”
[16:00] Bree Cox on how she used her outline to test out ideas before writing
[20:30] Kara Kentley on the importance of having a writing community
[28:20] Casey Drillette on how she embraced the outlining process (as a pantser!)

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 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:

Follow Kelsey Evans on Twitter @kelseyevans or visit her website here
Follow Stefanie Medrek on Instagram @medrekwrites or visit her website here.
Follow Angela Haas on Facebook or visit her website here
Follow Bree Cox on Instagram @breeacox or visit her website here
Follow Kara Kentley on Instagram, Tik Tok, or Twitter @karakentley or visit her website here
Follow Casey Drillette on Instagram @caseydrillette
My FREE training—The 5 Little Known Mistakes Most Fiction Writers Make (and What To Do Instead).

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

#79: 3 Things to Focus on if You’re a Brand New Writer Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m going to share the three things to focus on if you’re a brand new writer—or if I was coaching someone who was brand new to writing. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[02:17] Getting your mindset right is super important! Don’t expect to write the perfect first draft. Instead, consider your first draft the “discovery draft” and have fun with it!

[04:50] Figure out your story’s content genre so that you have a roadmap to follow. Your content genre can tell you all kinds of things, from the types of characters you’ll need, some of the key scenes readers expect to see, and more.

[07:25] Learn how to write a solid scene. If you can write a scene that works, you can definitely write a story that works! Practice on your own work-in-progress scenes AND break down the structure of scenes in published novels, too.

[09:55] 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:

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Support the show

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