Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice – Details, episodes & analysis

Learn how to work with beta readers in a grounded, calm way so feedback feels useful, not overwhelming.

You're nearing the finish line of your first draft, or maybe you've just crossed it. Either way, the question is the same… what happens next? Should you send it to friends? Hire an editor? Bury it in a drawer? Everyone keeps mentioning “beta readers,” but what does that actually mean? And how do you find the right ones without losing your mind or your confidence?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the entire beta-reader process so you can take your book from first draft to ready-to-share with total clarity (and zero panic).

You’ll hear me talk about things like:

[01:45] What beta readers actually do (and what they don't), so you approach this next step with the right intentions to avoid disappointment. 

[02:55] The "blind spot” problem every author faces after finishing a draft, and how beta readers give you a fresh perspective when you're too close to your story. 

[05:15] Where to find reliable, genre-savvy beta readers that don’t ghost you and deliver quality feedback instead of vague opinions.

[09:25] How to set clear expectations before beta readers start so you get useful, specific notes instead of confusing contradictions.

[14:45] What to do after the feedback arrives: how to sort through conflicting opinions, decide what to keep, and turn it all into a calm, actionable revision plan.

Finishing your first draft is a huge accomplishment, but inviting beta readers in can feel like a whole new level of vulnerability. This episode will help you take that next step with composure so you can share your story, stay true to your vision, and come out the other side with a stronger manuscript and a clearer sense of direction.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Spun Yarn for beta readers
• Take the Author Success Blueprint Quiz to get personalized next steps for your writing, editing, and publishing journey.
• Ready to map out your complete editing journey from first draft to published novel? Get your step-by-step editing roadmap → here. 

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Ever wonder why some horror stories linger in your mind long after the lights go out? Jamie Nash reveals how structure (not jump scares or gore) creates true terror.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jamie Nash, screenwriter and author of Save the Cat! Writes Horror, the ultimate guide to creating “Monster in the House” stories that keep readers up at night.

With over 25 years of experience writing and teaching horror (including films like V/H/S/2 and Lovely Molly), Jamie shares how to craft terrifying tales using Blake Snyder’s iconic Save the Cat! framework. We talk about how structure, theme, and moral depth make stories truly scary and how to balance dread, scares, and gross-outs for maximum impact.

Whether you’re writing a slow-burn psychological thriller or a relentless survival horror, this episode will show you how to use the Save the Cat! framework to make every scream count.

[03:45] What makes a novel truly horror and how to tell if your story actually fits this genre (before you waste time writing the wrong one).

[05:58] The three ingredients every unforgettable horror story needs and why missing even one can ruin your scare factor.

[18:24] How to use Save the Cat! beats to build tension and fear so your story feels cohesive and terrifying, not random and rushed.

[24:11] The two main types of horror pacing, and which one to choose to keep your readers gripped. 

[32:53] Why passive heroes kill good horror and how to turn your protagonist into the story’s fiercest weapon.

[36:32] The difference between dread, scares, and gross outs, and why dread flags (red flags that signal unease) are the true engine of horror.

If you’ve ever wondered how to write horror that lingers long after the last page, this conversation with Jamie Nash is your masterclass in scarecraft.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jamie Nash Website 
• Save the Cat! Writes Horror
• Save the Cat! website

⭐ Follow & Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their books. Thanks for tuning in to The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast! See you next week!

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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.

Real writers share how they broke free from endless rewrites and abandoned drafts to finally finish their novels in just 90 days—using the exact framework that can unlock your story too.

In this episode, I’m sharing real, inspiring stories from fiction writers who went from stuck and overwhelmed to finishing their novels using the exact framework I teach in Notes to Novel.

You’ll hear from fantasy writers, contemporary fiction authors, and more—writers who were trapped in endless rewrites, drowning in revision loops, or paralyzed by perfectionism. They all discovered that finishing a novel isn’t about working harder—it’s about having the right process.

Here’s what you’ll learn from their breakthroughs:

• [02:25] How Jennifer broke free from a 3-year struggle with the same manuscript by treating her outline as a flexible “map” instead of a rigid plan.
• [06:30] Why Nefer finally escaped a 5-year line editing loop by focusing on story structure before prose—and how this one shift transformed her writing process.
• [10:25] How Tiara went from writing 2,000-word short stories to completing an 80,000-word novel without feeling overwhelmed—by breaking it into manageable scenes.
• [14:00] The moment Jen realized she didn’t need an MFA to write fiction—just a clear strategy—and finished her first draft in 90 days after spending 2 years stuck on 10 pages.
• [16:55] How Sheila used genre frameworks to outline a 4-book series AND a standalone novel after spinning her wheels despite reading every craft book out there.

Whether you’re stuck rewriting Chapter 1, have abandoned manuscripts piling up, or feel paralyzed by novel structure, these writers prove that finishing your book is possible—even with a busy life and no formal creative writing training.

Ready to make your own breakthrough? Enrollment for Notes to Novel closes on August 28th, and we won’t open again until next year. Head to savannahgilbo.com/notes-to-novel to learn more and join the program that’s helped over 800 writers make real progress on their books.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Notes to Novel
• Jennifer Landers on Instagram
• Nefer Doane’s website and Instagram
• Tiara Ito’s website and Instagram
• Sheila Holmes on Instagram

⭐ Follow & Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their books. Thanks for tuning in to The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast! See you next week!

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.

“It might seem strange to start a story with an ending, but all endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time.” - Abigail K. Perry

In this episode, we’re talking about The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom to see how and why it works. Join Abigail K. Perry and me as we break down this first chapter to see how it hooks our interest and pulls us into the story.

Read the blog post here!

Here's a preview of what's included:  

[02:40] Chapter summary: Abigail reads a summary of the first chapter and talks about how (and why) the author gives away the ending of the story upfront.

[15:52] Macro analysis: We talk through the 7 Key Questions as laid out by Paula Munier in her book, The Writer's Guide to Beginnings, and how the chapter serves as a compelling opening for a character-driven story.

[21:42] Abigail talks about how this story is a great example of a novel with a unique voice.

[45:46] Micro analysis: We talk through the structure of the scene using the 5 Commandment scene framework as laid out by Shawn Coyne at The Story Grid, including the use of “postcard scenes”—a term they borrowed from Donald Maass.

[58:30] Final thoughts: The first chapter is essential in driving the story forward so writers should ensure that they are delivering enough of the big picture to engage readers.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry here! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.
• The Writer's Guide to Beginnings by Paula Munier
• The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne

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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.

“Every time you write something hard, it changes you as a writer, and it makes you a better writer.” - Jessica Brody

Today I'm sharing a conversation with Jessica Brody where we talk about some of the most common mistakes writers make when outlining, writing, and editing their books using the “Save the Cat” method.

Read the blog post here!

Here's a preview of what's included:

[02:30] Jessica introduces herself and shares her experience writing fiction using the Save The Cat! plotting method.

[04:00] Savannah asks Jessica about marrying the external plot of a story to the protagonist's internal arc. Savannah sees a lot of writers focus solely on the external plot events and not enough on character growth and development. Jessica shares her thoughts on how to make sure you're balancing both plot and character as you write.

[11:45] Savannah asks Jessica to talk about two important multi-scene beats—the Fun and Games beat and the Bad Guys Close In beat. Jessica shares her thoughts on breaking these longer beats down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

[18:00] Savannah asks Jessica about being too rigid with the Save The Cat! structure. Specifically, what happens if your beats don't line up with the percentages recommended? Jessica shares her thoughts.

[21:50] Jessica talks about how she had a hard time with the All Is Lost beat and the Dark Night Of The Soul beat until she figured out a very important distinction.

[30:40] Jessica talks about some things to consider in terms of your first 25-50 pages when it comes time to query agents.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Jessica Brody on her website or connect with her on Instagram
• Check out Jessica's craft books to go deeper into the STC! method—Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a YA Novel
• Join Jessica's membership, The Writing Mastery Academy, and get $20 off your annual membership using code 'FWME'

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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.

“ The purpose of a first draft is not to come up with something that's perfect. Instead, the purpose is to explore your story and get it out of your head.” - Savannah Gilbo

Transform your writing as I reveal 5 all-too-common mistakes that plague writers. Learn the savvy strategies to sidestep these blunders and discover my top-notch tips for rectifying them if you've already fallen prey.

Read the blog post here!

Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:20] Having gratitude for every mistake encountered and acknowledging that they served as valuable lessons. The repetition of these errors helped Savannah develop numerous solutions, contributing to her growth as a writer, editor, and book coach

[05:38] The essence of a story lies in how external events impact someone striving for a challenging goal and the subsequent transformation they undergo. The narrative's power lies in the underlying story, not just the eloquence of words. Without a compelling story, the manuscript lacks substance.

[11:07] Common worries and self-doubt faced by writers often revolve around questioning one's capability and self-worth. Shift to tackling these concerns by identifying the content genre of the story, offering a pathway to navigate and overcome these common anxieties in writing.

[17:53] Advice to choose one or two writing methods that resonate with writers and focus on them. Whether it's scene structure or character development, selecting a preferred approach like scene and sequel or goal-motivation-conflict is encouraged.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• How to Outline Your Novel with Save the Cat!
• How to Write a Well-Structured Scene
• Notes to Novel

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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.

“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

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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.

“Try learning new skills and then putting what you learn into practice right away, because, at the end of the day, you can only really learn through doing anyway.” - Savannah Gilbo

Is imposter syndrome holding you back from writing a novel? Here are the EXACT action steps you can take right now to combat your feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and fear—and to overcome imposter syndrome for good.

Read the blog post here!

Here’s a preview of what’s included: 

[01:28] What exactly is imposter syndrome? How can you conquer it?

[06:18] How overindulgence in work can drain the creativity and enjoyment from crafting a novel and may even jeopardize your relationships.

[11:06] Overly independent writers tend to reject assistance or input from others, even when it is necessary, out of the fear of being perceived as incompetent.

[14:13] Writers who believe that continually reading more craft books, enrolling in additional training, or rewriting the opening chapter repeatedly, might eventually amass enough knowledge to create a flawless novel.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 122 - Counting Down The Best Tips From FWME In 2023
• The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Dr. Valerie Young
• Unlock Your Story Challenge

All podcast episodes are available here.

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“My point is that you have to do the work to make the mistakes and learn.” - Savannah Gilbo

The past year on Fiction Writing Made Easy has been a treasure trove of insights, expert advice, and creative hacks, all neatly bundled up in amazing podcast episodes and interviews.

Today, we dive into a delightful countdown, revisiting the very best tips that get into the heart of fiction writing, and uncovering the gems that made 2023 an inspiration for writers.
 
Read the blog post here!

Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:00] Savannah’s favorite ways to brainstorm subplots and then layer them into your story in an organic way.

[13:34] The best technique to write quality fiction that readers will connect to.

[21:30] Being willing as writers to put things out there that aren’t perfect.

[35:09] As a writer, create your milestone list from one to ten.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Tip 10: Episode #98: How to Add Subplots to Your Novel
• Tip 9: Episode #90: How to Choose the Best Point of View for Your Story
• Tip 8: Episode #109: 5 Common Scene Issues (And How to Fix Them)
• Tip 7: Episode #82: Show, Don't Tell: What This Advice Really Means
• Tip 6: Episode #79: 3 Things to Focus on if You're a Brand New Writer
• Tip 5: Episode #88: Perfectionism vs. Procrastination: What’s REALLY Going On?
• Tip 4: Episode #96: 5 Worldbuilding Tips for Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers
• Tip 3: Episode #104:10 Tips for Writing Better Dialogue
• Tip 2: Episode #102: 3 Common Interiority Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
• Tip 1: Episode #108: Why Your Capacity for Zero is Crucial as a Writer

All podcast episodes are available here.

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“The more work you do up front and the more you get your mindset right, the more likely your chances of success are.” - Savannah Gilbo

In this episode, I'm giving you a glimpse behind the scenes and sharing some of the key takeaways I learned from coaching writers this year. I hope that you'll be able to reap some of the benefits of these lessons so that you can move forward with your writing in the most efficient way possible. 

Read the blog post here!

Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:50] It's easier to make progress when surrounded by a community of like-minded writers.

[05:48] Before your query letter and submission materials, you should have a finished draft of your synopsis and get outside feedback from a developmental editor or beta readers.

[09:53] Why do more writers seem to be choosing self-publishing over traditional publishing?

[15:04] Savannah’s recommendation of starting a story at a different place and how perfectionism has also impacted almost every writer I worked with this year.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode #66: The Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
• FREE Story Starter Kit
• Jane Freedman's Hot Sheet Newsletter
• Notes to Novel 
• Unlock Your Story

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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.