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Artwork for Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo

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

Savannah Gilbo
Character Development
Writing Process
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Story Structure
Writing
Fiction Writing
Notes To Novel
Self-Publishing
Novel Writing
Perfectionism
Book Marketing
World Building
Creative Writing
Outlining
Story Grid
Point Of View
Voldemort
Time Management
Plot Structure
Creativity

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.... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes266Founded6 years ago
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Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo

Latest Episodes

A book coach who's written 15 novels pulls back the curtain on what's really happening when your messy first draft disappoints you. 

Ever finished a chapter, read it back, and realized the words on the page don't match the story in your head? There'... more

Most fiction writers are making at least one of these point of view mistakes. Find out which one could be hiding in your draft.

You know that feeling when a scene isn't quite working, but you can't put your finger on why? Your pacing, dialogue, and ... more

Learn how to write the lead-up and reaction scenes between your key romance plot points so your story flows naturally from meet-cute to HEA without stalling in the middle.

You know what your meet-cute looks like. You know there's a breakup coming. Y... more

Learn the five craft secrets to writing young adult fiction that actually feels like YA—so when you sit down to write your own, you know exactly what to aim for.

You know what YA feels like when a book is doing it right. The voice pulls you in. The ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gala Russ
Book coach and publishing strategist; pen name Willa Drew; author of romance novels
Self-published author (Willa Drew)
Episode: #250. Why Your First Draft Doesn't Match the Book in Your Head (with Gala Russ)
Kristina Stanley
CEO of Fictionary; author of Secrets to Writing Romance
Fictionary
Episode: #248. From Meet-Cute to HEA: How to Connect the Key Scenes of Your Romance Novel
Danyel Nicole
Founder of Map Your Story Studios; Notes to Novel graduate
Map Your Story Studios
Episode: #246. Story Mapping: How to Map Your Novel With Sticky Notes (With Danyel Nicole)
Jackie Heninger
Author publishing under the pen name JJ. Henley; mom of two, former teacher, romance/thriller writer
Episode: #239. Student Spotlight: How J.J. Henley Finished Her First Draft in 8 Months (With Two Kids and In 15 Minutes at a Time)
Beth Barany
Science fiction and fantasy novelist, creativity coach for writers, and podcaster
Beth Barany, author and creativity coach
Episode: #238. How to Market Your Book in a Way That Actually Feels Good (With Beth Barany)
Ana Del Valle
Award-winning novelist, technologist, host of the Novelist Studio podcast and YouTube channel, founder of the AI Creative Writing Academy
Novelist Studio; AI Creative Writing Academy
Episode: #236. The Truth About AI and Creative Writing with Ana Del Valle
Dr. Bailey Lang
Book coach, editor, and writer specializing in sustainable writing practices
Episode: #234. How to Build A Sustainable Writing Practice With Dr. Bailey Lang
Maggie Reyes
Writer from Tasmania, Australia, who expanded her identity as a writer through the course.
Episode: #231. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 2
Insa Duvoss
Writer from Germany focused on women's fiction who emphasized the benefit of community from the course.
Episode: #231. Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 7) - Part 2

Host

Savannah Gilbo
Host of Fiction Writing Made Easy

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3.3k ratings
  • My favorite fiction writing podcast

    Hands down my favorite! Savannah breaks down fiction writing into bite size pieces. So grateful I found this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PapaGoFish
    United Statesa month ago
  • Extremely Helpful

    Savannah Gilbo’s Fiction Writing Made Easy provides terrific checklists and useful examples. I learn so much in every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Travis Ketterman
    United Statesa month ago
  • Awesome Podcast!!!!

    Savannah Gilbo’s podcast belongs to the tiny group of essential podcasts teaching the craft of writing every author should listen to. Whether you’re an indie or trad writer. I’d give more stars if I could.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RianaWrites
    Australiaa month ago
  • Just What I Needed!

    I’m so glad I came across Savannah’s podcast. I’m barreling out of a (year+) writing rut and this podcast has given me all of the confidence I need to keep hammering at my first draft. I’ve signed up for her newsletter and I’m so glad I did! Love all of the info and resources I’ve discovered since listening🖤

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SJ Lorta
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best writing podcast out there

    I probably wouldn’t be almost finished drafting my novel without Savannah. This podcast has been such an amazing resource for me and I find the episodes packed with clear, actionable advice and not too long or too much to digest in one sitting. By far my favourite writing craft podcast ☺️🙏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoJoG321
    Australiaa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and episodes are consistently helpful for finishing a manuscript.
Listeners find the host's explanations clear and actionable.
Content is practical and stays focused on craft rather than marketing hype.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#41
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#126
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#37
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#46
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#105
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#147
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#250. Why Your First Draft Doesn't Match the Book in Your Head (with Gala Russ)
Q: Gala, where can people go to find you on the Internet? Do you have a free gift for listeners today?
Gala shares her website and social handles, highlights Instagram as a primary contact point, and mentions a free Write Your Novel Check-in workbook designed to diagnose progress and reorient writers who are returning to their projects.
#250. Why Your First Draft Doesn't Match the Book in Your Head (with Gala Russ)
Q: A lot of things. Yeah, we're going to dive off the deep end today, but before we get into that, can you in your own words introduce yourself to my audience and let us know who you are, what you do, and things like that?
Gala introduces herself as a book coach and publishing strategist who diagnostically applies craft insights to manuscripts and helps writers decide between traditional and self-publishing paths, drawing on her experience of publishing nine books under her pen name and coaching others toward publication.
#248. From Meet-Cute to HEA: How to Connect the Key Scenes of Your Romance Novel
Q: Should the meet-cute happen on page one or later in the book?
It depends on the story; in some romances, the meet-cute can occur very early to set up romance quickly, while in others you can delay it to allow stronger external plot setup or character work, as long as the romance is clearly established and the couple begins moving toward each other.
#243. What to Expect When Working with a Line Editor (With Two Birds Author Services)
Q: What are common line-edit issues to look for and address?
Common issues include clarity problems, weak word choices, inconsistent rhythm or tone across multiple viewpoints, and pacing that doesn't match the scene. Editors provide targeted comments and track changes to help writers fix these areas while maintaining their voice and the story's momentum.
#243. What to Expect When Working with a Line Editor (With Two Birds Author Services)
Q: How do writers find and evaluate the right line editor?
Writers should seek referrals, review portfolios across genres, and request a sample edit to gauge fit, communication, and whether the editor respects the writer's voice. A sample edit also helps writers see how feedback is delivered and whether the editor provides useful rationale for suggested changes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical fiction-writing craft, offering clear, actionable steps for drafting, structuring, world-building, and revising. Episodes regularly dissect scene construction, character development, and narrative momentum, often illustrating concepts with concrete examples and hands-on exercises. Guests range from editors and writing coaches to authors experimenting with innovative methods (including AI-assisted approaches), with a steady emphasis on finishing a manuscript, refining craft, and navigating publishing options with integrity. A standout aspect is the recurring focus on practical workflows (like story mapping, revision programs, and sustainable writing habits) that listeners can directly apply to their own project... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
2. Helping Writers Become Authors
3. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
4. Writing Excuses
5. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 266 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Gala Russ
2. Kristina Stanley
3. Danyel Nicole
4. Jackie Heninger
5. Beth Barany
6. Ana Del Valle
7. Dr. Bailey Lang
8. Maggie Reyes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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