August 26, 2025 • 23 mins
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!
👉 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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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'd read plenty of craft books and I'd listened to
a few podcasts, but I still feltlike something wasn't quite
clicking for me and this led tokind of a continuous cycle of
fear and doubt which just gaveme this compulsion for more line
editing.
And I knew it at the time, butI couldn't break out of it.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy
podcast.
My name is Savannah Gilbo andI'm here to help you write a
story that works.
I want to prove to you thatwriting a novel doesn't have to
be overwhelming, so each week,I'll bring you a brand new
episode with simple, actionableand step-by-step strategies that
you can implement in yourwriting right away.
So, whether you're brand new towriting or more of a seasoned
(00:40):
author looking to improve yourcraft, this podcast is for you.
So pick up a pen and let's getstarted.
In today's episode, I'm sharingreal stories from writers who've
gone through my Notes to Novelcourse.
These are writers who werestuck in different ways but
found their individualbreakthrough moments.
You're going to hear fromfantasy writers who couldn't get
past chapter three,perfectionists who were trapped
(01:02):
in endless editing loops, andwriters who were overwhelmed by
the sheer.
Three perfectionists who weretrapped in endless editing loops
, and writers who wereoverwhelmed by the sheer scope
of writing a novel.
Now, what I love most aboutthese stories is that each
writer faced a differentchallenge, but they all
discovered the solution wasn'tabout working harder or being
more talented.
It was about having the rightframework and tools to bring
their story to life.
(01:22):
So, whether you're constantlyrewriting your first chapter,
drowning in perfectionism orfeeling frozen because of the
size of your story, you're goingto hear from someone today
who's been exactly where you areand found their way through.
Now, before we dive into thefirst clip, I want to let you
know that my Notes to Novelcourse is officially open for
enrollment, but only untilAugust 28th.
(01:43):
This is my signature eight-weekprogram, designed to take you
from scattered ideas to acompleted first draft, all using
the exact framework you'reabout to hear these writers talk
about.
So whether you're stucksomewhere in the middle of a
draft or just unsure how to getstarted, Notes to Novel gives
you the step-by-step roadmap tofinally finish your book.
You'll get my proven framework,genre-specific guidance and all
(02:06):
the tools you need to writewith confidence.
Enrollment closes August 28thand we won't open doors again
until next year.
So if you're ready to make realprogress, head over to
savannahgilbocom, forward slashyes to learn more and to enroll.
All right, now let's dive intoour very first clip from
Jennifer Landers.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Now let's dive into our very first clip from
Jennifer Landers.
Hello, I'm Jennifer Landers andI have dreamed of being an
author for most of my life.
I began writing when I wasaround 10 years old and I have
longed to create stories likethe ones I have read and loved
over the years.
I'm a fantasy romance writerwho has struggled with finishing
a first draft.
I am notorious for getting 15to 20,000 words into a
(02:45):
manuscript, getting overwhelmedand leaving it.
I believe part of this is dueto being a panster and not truly
understanding how to outline orstructure a novel.
I received Savannah'snewsletter, so when I learned
that the Notes to Novel coursewas opening, my interest was
piqued, but I wasn't sure if itwas right for me.
I reached out to a couplealumni of the course on social
(03:05):
media asking them for theirfeedback.
I received the same answer fromall of them Take the course.
You won't regret it.
It will help you like it helpedme.
So you can guess what happenednext.
I signed up.
Taking Savannah's Notes to NovelCourse was a game changer.
I was determined to finish mycurrent project that I had
played with for about threeyears.
(03:27):
The thought of outliningintimidated me because I was
never sure of the right way todo it and I doubted that I could
plan a whole novel up front.
I thought it had to be perfectand regimented.
I had two big takeaways fromthe course that changed
everything for me the genrecheat sheets and how to outline.
Knowing what key scenes toinclude in my novel based on my
(03:47):
genre, was invaluable.
Feeling stuck or unsure Justrefer to your genre cheat sheet.
It laid out vital informationthat you need to know and
include in your story.
Learning how to outline in away that was simple and
effective took away theintimidation piece of it for me.
I learned that it didn't haveto be perfect and that it could
live with me throughout thedrafting process.
(04:08):
I understood how to incorporatekey scenes and how to build it.
From there I began to view anoutline as a map.
It was there to help guide mypath while drafting my novel.
I was able to create my mapthat still allowed me the space
to discovery write.
This led me to outlining forthe first time.
I don't think I would have everdone it without Savannah and
(04:28):
Notes to Novel.
This course offers conciseteaching that allows you to have
structure and a plan to resultin effective writing.
The live Q&A calls withSavannah provided guidance and
feedback in real time, making merealize how important coaching
was to a writer.
The community aspect offeredsupport and encouragement from
your peers and it was awonderful atmosphere to learn
from, while each person was at adifferent phase of their
(04:50):
writing journey.
I enjoyed it so much that I wassad when it ended.
I highly recommend this courseto writers, no matter what stage
you are at.
Since taking the course, I putinto practice the concepts and
exercises which have allowed meto outline my novel and finish
my first draft.
I feel confident this has setme up for future success as a
writer.
Thank you for everything,savannah.
(05:11):
I truly appreciate having youin my corner.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I love what Jennifer said about viewing her outline
as more of a map that guides her, while still allowing her to
discover her story as she writes.
I think that is such animportant point and I want to
make sure everyone catches that,because a lot of writers think
that outlining means boxingthemselves into some kind of
rigid structure where there's noroom for creativity or
discovery.
(05:37):
But what Jennifer discovered,and what I see with so many of
my students, is that having anoutline actually gives you more
creative freedom, not less.
It's kind of like thedifference between wandering
around, lost in the woods,versus hiking a trail with a map
.
When you know where you'regoing, you can actually enjoy
the journey and take creativedetours without that fear of
getting completely lost.
(05:58):
So thank you, jennifer, forsharing your story with us.
I'm so excited to hear that youfinished your draft after three
years of struggling with thesame project.
That makes me so happy, and Iknow sometimes we just need the
right tools to unlock what'salready inside of us.
So for anyone who's listening,who's been working on the same
story for years without makingreal progress, I hope you take
(06:19):
heart from Jennifer's experience, because it's never too late to
find the right approach to yourstory.
All right, now let's move on toour next clip from Nefer Doan
here.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Hi Savannah, hello everyone, thank you so much for
having me on Fiction WritingMade Easy.
I'm Nefer Doan, I live in theBay Area and I write dark and
cozy fantasy.
Before I took notes to novel,I'd spent five years working on
my first fantasy story and I wascaught in this endless loop of
line editing rather than doingwhat was important at that time,
focusing on big developmentaledits.
(06:52):
I'd read plenty of craft booksand I'd listened to a few
podcasts, but I still felt likesomething wasn't quite clicking
for me and this led to kind of acontinuous cycle of fear and
doubt which just gave me thiscompulsion for more line editing
.
And I knew it at the time but Icouldn't break out of it.
So that was frustrating, to saythe least.
(07:13):
In notes to novel, my biggestbreakthrough or aha moment is
kind of hard to pinpoint becauseI had several.
So one was regarding genre, andyou know we talk about genre a
lot.
So some people think of genreas like YA fantasy or adult
fantasy, but when we think aboutgenre we're thinking more about
you know, is this an action ora mystery?
(07:34):
So for me it was lining upexternal and internal genres to
build strong bones or theframework up for my story,
focusing on action and worldviewgenres.
Another big aha moment waslearning more about the key
scene elements, specifically thecrisis point and how you want
each crisis to hold equal weightso the decision feels real and
(07:57):
not easy.
The character has autonomy andthis also sets up the sticks for
conflict in a way that feelsreally natural.
So now that I've completed Notesto Novel, I want to touch on
what's changed for me.
I've always loved writing, butnow I have a lot more confidence
in what I'm doing, I thinkbecause I have more clarity.
So I feel a lot more confidentsetting up a scene to
(08:19):
strengthening my character'sarcs, to showing a lot more
character interiority, and I'mdefinitely not stuck in line
editing anymore.
So I highly appreciate that.
As for revising the fantasybook that I'm working on, I
actually went through it andoutlined it according to the
method that we learned in Notesto Novel, and it's been so much
easier to just dig in and makebig, necessary changes.
(08:41):
I also appreciate outlining alot more.
The Notes to Novel methodencourages my brain to think in
a linear cause and effect way.
That's been helpful in settingup a cleaner draft and a
stronger version of my originalstory.
So I just want to say that I'mreally happy that I took notes
to novel and I'm endlesslygrateful to you, savannah, for
sharing your knowledge andexpertise.
(09:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Oh my gosh, how many of us can relate to that
five-year line editing loop thatNefer was stuck in.
I think that, in particular, isgoing to resonate with so many
of you listening, because it'ssuch a common trap for writers.
And what really stands out tome is how Nefer identified the
real problem.
She was polishing words thatmight not even stay in her final
draft because the foundation ofher story wasn't solid yet.
(09:27):
That's kind of like spendinghours painting a room when you
haven't even built all the wallsright.
This is why I always saystructure first, prose second.
So thank you for sharing that,nefer.
I also love how she said thatshe took away this new way of
thinking from notes to novel,and that is this kind of linear
cause and effect way of thinking, because this is exactly what's
(09:48):
going to help you break thatrevision loop.
When you can understand howeach scene connects to the next
scene and serves your largerstory, then you can finally move
forward instead of endlesslytweaking the same chapters.
So for anyone listening whofinds themselves constantly
going back to fix earlierchapters instead of moving
forward, I hope Nefer'sbreakthrough is your permission
(10:09):
slip to keep writing and, likeNefer, I hope you trust that you
can make your story beautifullater if you first make it
complete.
So thank you again, nefer, forsharing that with us All right
now.
The next clip I have comes fromTiara Ito, so let's see what
she had to say about herexperience in the Notes to Novel
course.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Hi, I'm Tiara Ito, a writer from Bourbon, california,
and I like to write action,magical realism and family-based
stories.
Before I joined Notes to Novel,I mainly wrote short stories,
so I was comfortable writing inthat format.
But when I tried to write anovel, it felt completely
overwhelming and I had no ideawhere to start.
For me, I really struggled withthe length of planning and
(10:47):
structuring a novel and sincethere was a lot more ground that
I needed to cover in 80,000words versus the 2,000 words
that I was used to, I struggleda lot with how to plan and
structure my story so that Icould get started.
And the biggest breakthroughfor me in the course happened on
two levels.
The first was on the mindset ofwriting a novel and getting
more comfortable with the ideaof iterating, and the second was
(11:08):
in the planning and structuringof it.
Since this was a new format forme, I found it incredibly
helpful to have a clearframework to use that was also
broken down into easy to followsteps.
So with those two thingscombined, it helped me overcome
my biggest obstacle, which wasperfectionism, because it
allowed me to focus on justmoving through the framework
while reminding myself that Ijust needed to get something
(11:28):
down onto the page and then Icould always come back later and
refine it.
Now that the course is done, Ifeel a lot more comfortable
writing and trusting myself withthe process.
I also noticed I'm moreconfident with my storytelling
choices and I definitely don'toverthink as much as I did
before, although it still comesup every now and then.
But the best part is I don'tfeel completely lost when I'm
(11:49):
sitting down to work on my story.
I feel like I'm actuallyenjoying the process of writing
more than I did before, which isa great feeling to have,
especially as I'm working on myfirst novel.
So this course has definitelychanged the way I think about
writing and how I approach theprocess, and now I'm excited to
finish my first draft and getstarted on the next one.
(12:09):
Overall, it was a greatexperience and I love that I got
to do this course with otherwriters going through a similar
struggle as me.
So the sense of community thatwas built from the course was
great, and there were even a fewof us who still meet up to
check in and make sure we'restill making progress on our
projects.
So I'm glad that I took thatfirst step and signed up for the
course, because I'd probablystill be thinking about writing
(12:30):
a novel instead of actuallyworking on one right now.
So I'm just really gratefulthat I had the opportunity to do
this and to learn so much fromit.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I'm so glad that Tiara highlighted both the
mindset shift about iterationand the practical framework,
because you really do need bothto be a successful writer.
And what struck me the most waswhen Tiara said she's now
enjoying the writing processmore than before, because this
is huge right.
So many writers think thatstruggling and suffering is just
(13:01):
part of being a writer, but itdoes not have to be that way.
When you have a clear frameworkand you've given yourself
permission to iterate, thenwriting can actually be joyful.
I also appreciate that Tiaramentioned the community aspect
and how some of the studentsfrom that group still meet up to
check in on each other.
It's no secret that writing canbe such a solitary journey, but
(13:22):
it doesn't have to be so lonely,and having other writers who
understand your struggles andcelebrate your wins can really
make all the difference.
So for anyone who's listening,who's maybe only ever written
short, or who might beintimidated by the length of a
novel, tiara's story shows youthat it's really about breaking
that big project down intomanageable pieces, because
(13:42):
doesn't it feel a lot harder towrite a novel than to write one
scene at a time until you have anovel?
Sometimes the key is trickingour brain by just talking about
what we're doing a littledifferently.
So, tiara, thank you so muchfor sharing that.
I love hearing about yourexperience and I know that's
going to resonate with so manypeople listening All right now.
Next up, we're going to hear aclip from Jennifer Wagner, so
(14:03):
let's go ahead and dive rightinto that.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Hi, I'm Jennifer Wagner and I write YA fantasy.
I'm from Portland, oregon, andI had this fantasy story with a
strong female lead that I'd beendreaming about for years, but
for some reason I could neverwrite more than the first
chapter or two without gettingstuck.
Every time I sat down to writeI'd think about all the plot
threads, all the world building,all the character arcs I needed
(14:29):
to juggle and I'd freeze up.
Then I'd go back and polishthat first chapter again because
I didn't really know what elseto do.
I didn't have an MFA, I'd nevertaken a creative writing class,
so I also had the wholeself-doubt thing going on too.
I found the Fiction WritingMade Easy podcast and I had
heard about the Notes to Novelcourse, but I wasn't sure it
would work for me because I ammore of a discovery writer.
(14:51):
But I'm so glad I signed upbecause the course taught me how
to break things down intosmaller pieces instead of
focusing on everything all atonce.
The scene-by scene roadmap,especially, was a game changer
for me, because for the firsttime I wasn't staring at this
mountain of a story.
I was looking at one scene at atime and that felt doable.
I felt like I finally had astrategy for tackling this thing
(15:14):
.
That felt really big andunwieldy.
Once I had my outline done andonce I could see the path from
beginning to end, I remembertelling my husband I actually
think I can finish this thingnow.
And so within four weeks I had acomplete outline, not just
vague ideas, but a real roadmapall the way to the end.
I started writing and I didn'tstop until I was done, and in
(15:36):
about 90 days I had a completefirst draft.
Was it perfect, god?
No, I changed my villain's namethree times, I had some
timeline issues, and don't evenget me started on all the tiny
details I still need to figureout but it was done and that was
literally the best feeling.
So if you're stuck like I wasrewriting the same chapters over
(15:56):
and over, feeling like youmight not be cut out to be a
writer, I hear you.
You just need a clear plan andsomeone to show you the way, and
that's what this course gave meand it's why I finally have a
complete novel instead of just aperfectly polished first
chapter.
So, yeah, thanks for that,savannah, and thanks for having
me on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I love that she mentioned her villain's name
changed and the timeline issues,because that is the point of
first drafts, right, it's touncover all of those things, not
to write something that'sperfect.
So for everyone listening whocan relate to Jennifer's story,
if maybe you don't have an MFAor any kind of formal writing
training, and if you wonder ifyou're quote-unquote qualified
to write a novel, then hopefullyJennifer's story has inspired
(16:41):
you, because you don't needthose kind of credentials.
What you do need is a plan, aprocess and the courage to write
messy, all right.
So thank you, jennifer, so muchfor sharing your story with us.
Let's move on to our final clip, and this one is from Sheila
Holmes.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Hello, I'm Sheila Holmes and I'm from Toronto,
canada.
By day I'm a doctor and ateacher, and by early morning
I'm a writer.
I'm currently working on adystopian
society-slash-worldview noveland a medical thriller series.
My stories explore theintersection of medicine, ethics
and feminism.
I wanted to share my writingjourney over the past year
through the lens of the fivecommandments of storytelling,
because what better way to tella writer's story than as a story
(17:21):
?
Notes to Novel led to theturning point that changed
everything.
A couple years ago I decided Iwanted to write novels.
I had a few ideas percolatingand, being a nerd by nature, I
dove all in to learn about storycraft.
I read several books, includingSave the Cat Story Grid,
writing Down the Bones.
On Writing, I got a Masterplotsubscription.
I took a college course.
I watched YouTube videos andlistened to several podcasts,
(17:43):
including my favorite one,savannah's.
It was fascinating to see howstories are constructed, but
also overwhelming.
I had so much information, yetno idea how to actually put
things together.
I kept rewriting the samescenes and getting stuck.
My true inciting incident camelast fall, when I made a promise
to myself If I didn't finish adraft by the time notes to novel
enrollment opened again.
(18:04):
Then I had to sign up.
Part of me wondered if thecourse would be a more organized
version of what I had heard onthe podcast or what I had
already learned in books.
But I knew I couldn't keepspinning my wheels.
I needed more than information.
I needed a framework andsupport.
Investing my time, money andenergy meant treating a personal
passion and myself as apriority, even with many
(18:25):
competing demands.
The months leading up to thecourse were tough.
Life threw a slew of challengesmy way and writing time was
scarce.
Even when I carved it out, Ifound between overplanning,
procrastinating or underplanningand getting lost.
I knew I was a good student.
I'd done a million years ofschool, but could I actually be
a good writer?
Everything changed during notesto novel, when I learned how to
(18:47):
use genre to plan out the keyscenes of my story and of my
subplots.
I already knew what wasexpected of the different genres
, but I didn't know how tointegrate those elements into my
own story.
I learned how to merge what wasexpected for both the external
and the internal genres into thekey scenes of the story and how
to use genre to plan out mysubplot.
I discovered what my midpointscene needed from both the
(19:09):
society and worldviewperspective, and how to map out
my romance and performancesubplots within the larger story
.
This revelation gave me thescaffolding to build a story
that actually worked.
After notes to novel, armed withmy refined story plan, I came
to a decision point.
Do I start drafting now orshould I outline every scene in
detail first?
Both paths had failed me before.
(19:31):
Do I risk drafting into a deadend or getting bogged down in
the planning and never actuallywriting my story?
I chose to draft, but this timethere was a difference.
I had the solid brain to buildon the key scenes, the genre and
the character.
Instead of needing a finishedhouse before writing, I could
trust scaffolding, buildingfloor by floor and room by room.
This gave me the direction andthe flexibility to move forward.
(19:54):
I outlined my entire Pores Upmedical thriller series and my
dystopian standalone story.
Now I'm drafting the dystopianbook and it's coming along great
.
It's the Little Mermaid, meetPanlead's Tale, a feminist
speculative story set in afuture organic society tale.
A feminist speculative storyset in a future organic society.
For me, a planter, knowing thekey scenes and arc is enough
structure to begin while stillleaving space for discovery.
(20:16):
Thanks to Savannah and Notes toNovel, I feel like I can write
the stories that I've alwayswanted to tell and, just like in
fiction, my decisions revealwho I am and how I'm growing.
Choosing to write, but nowarmed with a solid plan, helps
me to see myself differently,not just as a good student of
writing craft, but actually as awriter.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I saved Sheila's clip for last because she told her
story through the fivecommandments of storytelling,
which I think is so amazing.
So thank you, sheila, forsharing your experience.
And what really resonated withme about Sheila's story is the
turning point moment about genre.
So she said she knew what wasexpected of different genres,
but she wasn't sure how tointegrate those elements into
(20:57):
her own story.
And this is such a commonstruggle, because it's one thing
to understand that a thrillerneeds a victim at the beginning,
but it's completely differentto figure out how to weave those
expectations into your uniquestory with your unique
characters and your uniquethemes.
I also love how Sheila said thatshe felt like she had
scaffolding to build a storythat actually worked, and this
(21:17):
is exactly what your genreframework can give you.
You don't need every singledetail figured out before you
start writing, but you do needthose load-bearing walls in
place.
So the key scenes, theconventions, how your character
and your plot work together andthings like that that's your
scaffolding.
Everything else can then bediscovered and refined as you
write.
And I have to say the way thatSheila described her story as
(21:40):
Little Mermaid meets Handmaid'sTale.
Sheila knows this, but I'malready obsessed with her book
and for anyone who's listening,who's trying to blend genres or
tackle big themes like medicine,ethics and feminism, sheila's
approach really shows thathaving a solid genre framework
doesn't limit your creativity.
It actually gives you thestructure to explore complex
ideas with confidence.
(22:00):
So thank you so much forsharing that, sheila, and for
anyone who's listening, if youresonated with any of the
stories shared in today'sepisode and if you want to get
in touch with these writers, wewill put links to where you can
find everyone in the show notes.
And if something did resonatewith you, I'm sure that all the
writers who shared clips todaywould just love it if you
reached out and left them alittle comment on social media
(22:21):
or something.
So again, we will post alltheir links in the show notes.
And last but not least, just onemore reminder that Notes to
Novel is currently open forenrollment right now, through
August 28th, and this is yourchance to join writers, just
like the ones you heard fromtoday, to learn more about the
program and grab your spotbefore enrollment closes, go to
savannagilbocom forward, slash,yes.
(22:42):
And remember we only openenrollment a few times a year,
so if you're ready to finallyfinish your novel.
Don't wait Head over tosavannagilbocom forward slash
yes to learn more about notes tonovel and to enroll.
All right, so that's it forthis episode of the Fiction
Writing Made Easy podcast.
Head over to savannagilbocomforward slash podcast for the
(23:04):
complete show notes, includingthe resources I mentioned today,
as well as bonus materials tohelp you implement what you've
learned.
And if you're ready to get morepersonalized guidance for your
specific writing stage whetheryou're just starting out, stuck
somewhere in the middle of adraft, drowning in revisions, or
getting ready to publish, takemy free 30-second quiz at
savannahgilbocom forward slashquiz.
(23:26):
You'll get a customized podcastplaylist that'll meet you right
where you're at and help youget to your next big milestone.
Last but not least, make sureto follow this podcast in your
podcast player of choice,because I'll be back next week
with another episode full ofactionable tips, tools and
strategies to help you become abetter writer.
Until then, happy writing.
I'd read plenty of craft books and I'd listened to
a few podcasts, but I still feltlike something wasn't quite
clicking for me and this led tokind of a continuous cycle of
fear and doubt which just gaveme this compulsion for more line
editing.
And I knew it at the time, butI couldn't break out of it.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy
podcast.
My name is Savannah Gilbo andI'm here to help you write a
story that works.
I want to prove to you thatwriting a novel doesn't have to
be overwhelming, so each week,I'll bring you a brand new
episode with simple, actionableand step-by-step strategies that
you can implement in yourwriting right away.
So, whether you're brand new towriting or more of a seasoned
(00:40):
author looking to improve yourcraft, this podcast is for you.
So pick up a pen and let's getstarted.
In today's episode, I'm sharingreal stories from writers who've
gone through my Notes to Novelcourse.
These are writers who werestuck in different ways but
found their individualbreakthrough moments.
You're going to hear fromfantasy writers who couldn't get
past chapter three,perfectionists who were trapped
(01:02):
in endless editing loops, andwriters who were overwhelmed by
the sheer.
Three perfectionists who weretrapped in endless editing loops
, and writers who wereoverwhelmed by the sheer scope
of writing a novel.
Now, what I love most aboutthese stories is that each
writer faced a differentchallenge, but they all
discovered the solution wasn'tabout working harder or being
more talented.
It was about having the rightframework and tools to bring
their story to life.
(01:22):
So, whether you're constantlyrewriting your first chapter,
drowning in perfectionism orfeeling frozen because of the
size of your story, you're goingto hear from someone today
who's been exactly where you areand found their way through.
Now, before we dive into thefirst clip, I want to let you
know that my Notes to Novelcourse is officially open for
enrollment, but only untilAugust 28th.
(01:43):
This is my signature eight-weekprogram, designed to take you
from scattered ideas to acompleted first draft, all using
the exact framework you'reabout to hear these writers talk
about.
So whether you're stucksomewhere in the middle of a
draft or just unsure how to getstarted, Notes to Novel gives
you the step-by-step roadmap tofinally finish your book.
You'll get my proven framework,genre-specific guidance and all
(02:06):
the tools you need to writewith confidence.
Enrollment closes August 28thand we won't open doors again
until next year.
So if you're ready to make realprogress, head over to
savannahgilbocom, forward slashyes to learn more and to enroll.
All right, now let's dive intoour very first clip from
Jennifer Landers.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Now let's dive into our very first clip from
Jennifer Landers.
Hello, I'm Jennifer Landers andI have dreamed of being an
author for most of my life.
I began writing when I wasaround 10 years old and I have
longed to create stories likethe ones I have read and loved
over the years.
I'm a fantasy romance writerwho has struggled with finishing
a first draft.
I am notorious for getting 15to 20,000 words into a
(02:45):
manuscript, getting overwhelmedand leaving it.
I believe part of this is dueto being a panster and not truly
understanding how to outline orstructure a novel.
I received Savannah'snewsletter, so when I learned
that the Notes to Novel coursewas opening, my interest was
piqued, but I wasn't sure if itwas right for me.
I reached out to a couplealumni of the course on social
(03:05):
media asking them for theirfeedback.
I received the same answer fromall of them Take the course.
You won't regret it.
It will help you like it helpedme.
So you can guess what happenednext.
I signed up.
Taking Savannah's Notes to NovelCourse was a game changer.
I was determined to finish mycurrent project that I had
played with for about threeyears.
(03:27):
The thought of outliningintimidated me because I was
never sure of the right way todo it and I doubted that I could
plan a whole novel up front.
I thought it had to be perfectand regimented.
I had two big takeaways fromthe course that changed
everything for me the genrecheat sheets and how to outline.
Knowing what key scenes toinclude in my novel based on my
(03:47):
genre, was invaluable.
Feeling stuck or unsure Justrefer to your genre cheat sheet.
It laid out vital informationthat you need to know and
include in your story.
Learning how to outline in away that was simple and
effective took away theintimidation piece of it for me.
I learned that it didn't haveto be perfect and that it could
live with me throughout thedrafting process.
(04:08):
I understood how to incorporatekey scenes and how to build it.
From there I began to view anoutline as a map.
It was there to help guide mypath while drafting my novel.
I was able to create my mapthat still allowed me the space
to discovery write.
This led me to outlining forthe first time.
I don't think I would have everdone it without Savannah and
(04:28):
Notes to Novel.
This course offers conciseteaching that allows you to have
structure and a plan to resultin effective writing.
The live Q&A calls withSavannah provided guidance and
feedback in real time, making merealize how important coaching
was to a writer.
The community aspect offeredsupport and encouragement from
your peers and it was awonderful atmosphere to learn
from, while each person was at adifferent phase of their
(04:50):
writing journey.
I enjoyed it so much that I wassad when it ended.
I highly recommend this courseto writers, no matter what stage
you are at.
Since taking the course, I putinto practice the concepts and
exercises which have allowed meto outline my novel and finish
my first draft.
I feel confident this has setme up for future success as a
writer.
Thank you for everything,savannah.
(05:11):
I truly appreciate having youin my corner.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I love what Jennifer said about viewing her outline
as more of a map that guides her, while still allowing her to
discover her story as she writes.
I think that is such animportant point and I want to
make sure everyone catches that,because a lot of writers think
that outlining means boxingthemselves into some kind of
rigid structure where there's noroom for creativity or
discovery.
(05:37):
But what Jennifer discovered,and what I see with so many of
my students, is that having anoutline actually gives you more
creative freedom, not less.
It's kind of like thedifference between wandering
around, lost in the woods,versus hiking a trail with a map
.
When you know where you'regoing, you can actually enjoy
the journey and take creativedetours without that fear of
getting completely lost.
(05:58):
So thank you, jennifer, forsharing your story with us.
I'm so excited to hear that youfinished your draft after three
years of struggling with thesame project.
That makes me so happy, and Iknow sometimes we just need the
right tools to unlock what'salready inside of us.
So for anyone who's listening,who's been working on the same
story for years without makingreal progress, I hope you take
(06:19):
heart from Jennifer's experience, because it's never too late to
find the right approach to yourstory.
All right, now let's move on toour next clip from Nefer Doan
here.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Hi Savannah, hello everyone, thank you so much for
having me on Fiction WritingMade Easy.
I'm Nefer Doan, I live in theBay Area and I write dark and
cozy fantasy.
Before I took notes to novel,I'd spent five years working on
my first fantasy story and I wascaught in this endless loop of
line editing rather than doingwhat was important at that time,
focusing on big developmentaledits.
(06:52):
I'd read plenty of craft booksand I'd listened to a few
podcasts, but I still felt likesomething wasn't quite clicking
for me and this led to kind of acontinuous cycle of fear and
doubt which just gave me thiscompulsion for more line editing
.
And I knew it at the time but Icouldn't break out of it.
So that was frustrating, to saythe least.
(07:13):
In notes to novel, my biggestbreakthrough or aha moment is
kind of hard to pinpoint becauseI had several.
So one was regarding genre, andyou know we talk about genre a
lot.
So some people think of genreas like YA fantasy or adult
fantasy, but when we think aboutgenre we're thinking more about
you know, is this an action ora mystery?
(07:34):
So for me it was lining upexternal and internal genres to
build strong bones or theframework up for my story,
focusing on action and worldviewgenres.
Another big aha moment waslearning more about the key
scene elements, specifically thecrisis point and how you want
each crisis to hold equal weightso the decision feels real and
(07:57):
not easy.
The character has autonomy andthis also sets up the sticks for
conflict in a way that feelsreally natural.
So now that I've completed Notesto Novel, I want to touch on
what's changed for me.
I've always loved writing, butnow I have a lot more confidence
in what I'm doing, I thinkbecause I have more clarity.
So I feel a lot more confidentsetting up a scene to
(08:19):
strengthening my character'sarcs, to showing a lot more
character interiority, and I'mdefinitely not stuck in line
editing anymore.
So I highly appreciate that.
As for revising the fantasybook that I'm working on, I
actually went through it andoutlined it according to the
method that we learned in Notesto Novel, and it's been so much
easier to just dig in and makebig, necessary changes.
(08:41):
I also appreciate outlining alot more.
The Notes to Novel methodencourages my brain to think in
a linear cause and effect way.
That's been helpful in settingup a cleaner draft and a
stronger version of my originalstory.
So I just want to say that I'mreally happy that I took notes
to novel and I'm endlesslygrateful to you, savannah, for
sharing your knowledge andexpertise.
(09:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Oh my gosh, how many of us can relate to that
five-year line editing loop thatNefer was stuck in.
I think that, in particular, isgoing to resonate with so many
of you listening, because it'ssuch a common trap for writers.
And what really stands out tome is how Nefer identified the
real problem.
She was polishing words thatmight not even stay in her final
draft because the foundation ofher story wasn't solid yet.
(09:27):
That's kind of like spendinghours painting a room when you
haven't even built all the wallsright.
This is why I always saystructure first, prose second.
So thank you for sharing that,nefer.
I also love how she said thatshe took away this new way of
thinking from notes to novel,and that is this kind of linear
cause and effect way of thinking, because this is exactly what's
(09:48):
going to help you break thatrevision loop.
When you can understand howeach scene connects to the next
scene and serves your largerstory, then you can finally move
forward instead of endlesslytweaking the same chapters.
So for anyone listening whofinds themselves constantly
going back to fix earlierchapters instead of moving
forward, I hope Nefer'sbreakthrough is your permission
(10:09):
slip to keep writing and, likeNefer, I hope you trust that you
can make your story beautifullater if you first make it
complete.
So thank you again, nefer, forsharing that with us All right
now.
The next clip I have comes fromTiara Ito, so let's see what
she had to say about herexperience in the Notes to Novel
course.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Hi, I'm Tiara Ito, a writer from Bourbon, california,
and I like to write action,magical realism and family-based
stories.
Before I joined Notes to Novel,I mainly wrote short stories,
so I was comfortable writing inthat format.
But when I tried to write anovel, it felt completely
overwhelming and I had no ideawhere to start.
For me, I really struggled withthe length of planning and
(10:47):
structuring a novel and sincethere was a lot more ground that
I needed to cover in 80,000words versus the 2,000 words
that I was used to, I struggleda lot with how to plan and
structure my story so that Icould get started.
And the biggest breakthroughfor me in the course happened on
two levels.
The first was on the mindset ofwriting a novel and getting
more comfortable with the ideaof iterating, and the second was
(11:08):
in the planning and structuringof it.
Since this was a new format forme, I found it incredibly
helpful to have a clearframework to use that was also
broken down into easy to followsteps.
So with those two thingscombined, it helped me overcome
my biggest obstacle, which wasperfectionism, because it
allowed me to focus on justmoving through the framework
while reminding myself that Ijust needed to get something
(11:28):
down onto the page and then Icould always come back later and
refine it.
Now that the course is done, Ifeel a lot more comfortable
writing and trusting myself withthe process.
I also noticed I'm moreconfident with my storytelling
choices and I definitely don'toverthink as much as I did
before, although it still comesup every now and then.
But the best part is I don'tfeel completely lost when I'm
(11:49):
sitting down to work on my story.
I feel like I'm actuallyenjoying the process of writing
more than I did before, which isa great feeling to have,
especially as I'm working on myfirst novel.
So this course has definitelychanged the way I think about
writing and how I approach theprocess, and now I'm excited to
finish my first draft and getstarted on the next one.
(12:09):
Overall, it was a greatexperience and I love that I got
to do this course with otherwriters going through a similar
struggle as me.
So the sense of community thatwas built from the course was
great, and there were even a fewof us who still meet up to
check in and make sure we'restill making progress on our
projects.
So I'm glad that I took thatfirst step and signed up for the
course, because I'd probablystill be thinking about writing
(12:30):
a novel instead of actuallyworking on one right now.
So I'm just really gratefulthat I had the opportunity to do
this and to learn so much fromit.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I'm so glad that Tiara highlighted both the
mindset shift about iterationand the practical framework,
because you really do need bothto be a successful writer.
And what struck me the most waswhen Tiara said she's now
enjoying the writing processmore than before, because this
is huge right.
So many writers think thatstruggling and suffering is just
(13:01):
part of being a writer, but itdoes not have to be that way.
When you have a clear frameworkand you've given yourself
permission to iterate, thenwriting can actually be joyful.
I also appreciate that Tiaramentioned the community aspect
and how some of the studentsfrom that group still meet up to
check in on each other.
It's no secret that writing canbe such a solitary journey, but
(13:22):
it doesn't have to be so lonely,and having other writers who
understand your struggles andcelebrate your wins can really
make all the difference.
So for anyone who's listening,who's maybe only ever written
short, or who might beintimidated by the length of a
novel, tiara's story shows youthat it's really about breaking
that big project down intomanageable pieces, because
(13:42):
doesn't it feel a lot harder towrite a novel than to write one
scene at a time until you have anovel?
Sometimes the key is trickingour brain by just talking about
what we're doing a littledifferently.
So, tiara, thank you so muchfor sharing that.
I love hearing about yourexperience and I know that's
going to resonate with so manypeople listening All right now.
Next up, we're going to hear aclip from Jennifer Wagner, so
(14:03):
let's go ahead and dive rightinto that.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Hi, I'm Jennifer Wagner and I write YA fantasy.
I'm from Portland, oregon, andI had this fantasy story with a
strong female lead that I'd beendreaming about for years, but
for some reason I could neverwrite more than the first
chapter or two without gettingstuck.
Every time I sat down to writeI'd think about all the plot
threads, all the world building,all the character arcs I needed
(14:29):
to juggle and I'd freeze up.
Then I'd go back and polishthat first chapter again because
I didn't really know what elseto do.
I didn't have an MFA, I'd nevertaken a creative writing class,
so I also had the wholeself-doubt thing going on too.
I found the Fiction WritingMade Easy podcast and I had
heard about the Notes to Novelcourse, but I wasn't sure it
would work for me because I ammore of a discovery writer.
(14:51):
But I'm so glad I signed upbecause the course taught me how
to break things down intosmaller pieces instead of
focusing on everything all atonce.
The scene-by scene roadmap,especially, was a game changer
for me, because for the firsttime I wasn't staring at this
mountain of a story.
I was looking at one scene at atime and that felt doable.
I felt like I finally had astrategy for tackling this thing
(15:14):
.
That felt really big andunwieldy.
Once I had my outline done andonce I could see the path from
beginning to end, I remembertelling my husband I actually
think I can finish this thingnow.
And so within four weeks I had acomplete outline, not just
vague ideas, but a real roadmapall the way to the end.
I started writing and I didn'tstop until I was done, and in
(15:36):
about 90 days I had a completefirst draft.
Was it perfect, god?
No, I changed my villain's namethree times, I had some
timeline issues, and don't evenget me started on all the tiny
details I still need to figureout but it was done and that was
literally the best feeling.
So if you're stuck like I wasrewriting the same chapters over
(15:56):
and over, feeling like youmight not be cut out to be a
writer, I hear you.
You just need a clear plan andsomeone to show you the way, and
that's what this course gave meand it's why I finally have a
complete novel instead of just aperfectly polished first
chapter.
So, yeah, thanks for that,savannah, and thanks for having
me on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I love that she mentioned her villain's name
changed and the timeline issues,because that is the point of
first drafts, right, it's touncover all of those things, not
to write something that'sperfect.
So for everyone listening whocan relate to Jennifer's story,
if maybe you don't have an MFAor any kind of formal writing
training, and if you wonder ifyou're quote-unquote qualified
to write a novel, then hopefullyJennifer's story has inspired
(16:41):
you, because you don't needthose kind of credentials.
What you do need is a plan, aprocess and the courage to write
messy, all right.
So thank you, jennifer, so muchfor sharing your story with us.
Let's move on to our final clip, and this one is from Sheila
Holmes.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Hello, I'm Sheila Holmes and I'm from Toronto,
canada.
By day I'm a doctor and ateacher, and by early morning
I'm a writer.
I'm currently working on adystopian
society-slash-worldview noveland a medical thriller series.
My stories explore theintersection of medicine, ethics
and feminism.
I wanted to share my writingjourney over the past year
through the lens of the fivecommandments of storytelling,
because what better way to tella writer's story than as a story
(17:21):
?
Notes to Novel led to theturning point that changed
everything.
A couple years ago I decided Iwanted to write novels.
I had a few ideas percolatingand, being a nerd by nature, I
dove all in to learn about storycraft.
I read several books, includingSave the Cat Story Grid,
writing Down the Bones.
On Writing, I got a Masterplotsubscription.
I took a college course.
I watched YouTube videos andlistened to several podcasts,
(17:43):
including my favorite one,savannah's.
It was fascinating to see howstories are constructed, but
also overwhelming.
I had so much information, yetno idea how to actually put
things together.
I kept rewriting the samescenes and getting stuck.
My true inciting incident camelast fall, when I made a promise
to myself If I didn't finish adraft by the time notes to novel
enrollment opened again.
(18:04):
Then I had to sign up.
Part of me wondered if thecourse would be a more organized
version of what I had heard onthe podcast or what I had
already learned in books.
But I knew I couldn't keepspinning my wheels.
I needed more than information.
I needed a framework andsupport.
Investing my time, money andenergy meant treating a personal
passion and myself as apriority, even with many
(18:25):
competing demands.
The months leading up to thecourse were tough.
Life threw a slew of challengesmy way and writing time was
scarce.
Even when I carved it out, Ifound between overplanning,
procrastinating or underplanningand getting lost.
I knew I was a good student.
I'd done a million years ofschool, but could I actually be
a good writer?
Everything changed during notesto novel, when I learned how to
(18:47):
use genre to plan out the keyscenes of my story and of my
subplots.
I already knew what wasexpected of the different genres
, but I didn't know how tointegrate those elements into my
own story.
I learned how to merge what wasexpected for both the external
and the internal genres into thekey scenes of the story and how
to use genre to plan out mysubplot.
I discovered what my midpointscene needed from both the
(19:09):
society and worldviewperspective, and how to map out
my romance and performancesubplots within the larger story
.
This revelation gave me thescaffolding to build a story
that actually worked.
After notes to novel, armed withmy refined story plan, I came
to a decision point.
Do I start drafting now orshould I outline every scene in
detail first?
Both paths had failed me before.
(19:31):
Do I risk drafting into a deadend or getting bogged down in
the planning and never actuallywriting my story?
I chose to draft, but this timethere was a difference.
I had the solid brain to buildon the key scenes, the genre and
the character.
Instead of needing a finishedhouse before writing, I could
trust scaffolding, buildingfloor by floor and room by room.
This gave me the direction andthe flexibility to move forward.
(19:54):
I outlined my entire Pores Upmedical thriller series and my
dystopian standalone story.
Now I'm drafting the dystopianbook and it's coming along great
.
It's the Little Mermaid, meetPanlead's Tale, a feminist
speculative story set in afuture organic society tale.
A feminist speculative storyset in a future organic society.
For me, a planter, knowing thekey scenes and arc is enough
structure to begin while stillleaving space for discovery.
(20:16):
Thanks to Savannah and Notes toNovel, I feel like I can write
the stories that I've alwayswanted to tell and, just like in
fiction, my decisions revealwho I am and how I'm growing.
Choosing to write, but nowarmed with a solid plan, helps
me to see myself differently,not just as a good student of
writing craft, but actually as awriter.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I saved Sheila's clip for last because she told her
story through the fivecommandments of storytelling,
which I think is so amazing.
So thank you, sheila, forsharing your experience.
And what really resonated withme about Sheila's story is the
turning point moment about genre.
So she said she knew what wasexpected of different genres,
but she wasn't sure how tointegrate those elements into
(20:57):
her own story.
And this is such a commonstruggle, because it's one thing
to understand that a thrillerneeds a victim at the beginning,
but it's completely differentto figure out how to weave those
expectations into your uniquestory with your unique
characters and your uniquethemes.
I also love how Sheila said thatshe felt like she had
scaffolding to build a storythat actually worked, and this
(21:17):
is exactly what your genreframework can give you.
You don't need every singledetail figured out before you
start writing, but you do needthose load-bearing walls in
place.
So the key scenes, theconventions, how your character
and your plot work together andthings like that that's your
scaffolding.
Everything else can then bediscovered and refined as you
write.
And I have to say the way thatSheila described her story as
(21:40):
Little Mermaid meets Handmaid'sTale.
Sheila knows this, but I'malready obsessed with her book
and for anyone who's listening,who's trying to blend genres or
tackle big themes like medicine,ethics and feminism, sheila's
approach really shows thathaving a solid genre framework
doesn't limit your creativity.
It actually gives you thestructure to explore complex
ideas with confidence.
(22:00):
So thank you so much forsharing that, sheila, and for
anyone who's listening, if youresonated with any of the
stories shared in today'sepisode and if you want to get
in touch with these writers, wewill put links to where you can
find everyone in the show notes.
And if something did resonatewith you, I'm sure that all the
writers who shared clips todaywould just love it if you
reached out and left them alittle comment on social media
(22:21):
or something.
So again, we will post alltheir links in the show notes.
And last but not least, just onemore reminder that Notes to
Novel is currently open forenrollment right now, through
August 28th, and this is yourchance to join writers, just
like the ones you heard fromtoday, to learn more about the
program and grab your spotbefore enrollment closes, go to
savannagilbocom forward, slash,yes.
(22:42):
And remember we only openenrollment a few times a year,
so if you're ready to finallyfinish your novel.
Don't wait Head over tosavannagilbocom forward slash
yes to learn more about notes tonovel and to enroll.
All right, so that's it forthis episode of the Fiction
Writing Made Easy podcast.
Head over to savannagilbocomforward slash podcast for the
(23:04):
complete show notes, includingthe resources I mentioned today,
as well as bonus materials tohelp you implement what you've
learned.
And if you're ready to get morepersonalized guidance for your
specific writing stage whetheryou're just starting out, stuck
somewhere in the middle of adraft, drowning in revisions, or
getting ready to publish, takemy free 30-second quiz at
savannahgilbocom forward slashquiz.
(23:26):
You'll get a customized podcastplaylist that'll meet you right
where you're at and help youget to your next big milestone.
Last but not least, make sureto follow this podcast in your
podcast player of choice,because I'll be back next week
with another episode full ofactionable tips, tools and
strategies to help you become abetter writer.
Until then, happy writing.
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