Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast

Discover the five most common big-picture mistakes writers make in their first draftsand learn exactly what you can do to fix them.

Congratulations, you finished your first draft! But now what? If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed as you dive into editing your messy first draft, you're so not alone.

As a developmental editor, I've reviewed hundreds of first drafts, and I've noticed that most new writers struggle with the same core issuesproblems that have nothing to do with your writing talent, but everything to do with fundamental story principles.

In this episode, Im sharing the 5 most common big-picture mistakes I see writers make in their first drafts (and exactly what you can do to fix them).

You'll hear me talk about things like:

• [00:00] How to figure out if your story starts in the right place (and the one simple question that can help you find the perfect spot to begin your first chapter)
• [00:00] The difference between meaningful conflict vs. random plot eventsand why your protagonists transformation depends on this key storytelling element
• [00:00] How to fix weak narrative drive (aka the dreaded "so what?" problem that causes readers to abandon books), and how to create seamless scene-to-scene connections
• [00:00] Character development strategies for increasing emotional stakes in your novel without resorting to melodramatic plot twists or artificial tension
• [00:00] The one mistake that might make readers feel cheated at the end of your novel (even if they can't explain why), and how to fix it

If you've finished your first draft but feel something's not quite working, or if you're struggling to revise a manuscript that just doesn't seem to come together, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need to transform your story!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Novel Editing Roadmap: 10 Steps To Editing Your First Draft (Free Guide)
• Ep. #13 - 5 Things That Kill Narrative Drive (& How To Fix It)
• Ep. #18 - 5 Mistakes Writers Make In Their Opening Pages
• Ep. #118 - How To Find The Major Dramatic Question Of Your Story
• Ep. #145 - How To Develop Your Characters Backstory
• Ep. #149 - 5 Questions To Develop Better Antagonists
• Want my entire step-by-step process for brainstorming, outlining, and writing your first draft? Click here to learn more about my Notes to Novel program.

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their

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

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

Discover the five ways to talk about your story’s genre so you can write, edit, and publish your novel with clarity and confidence.

Ever found yourself staring at a blinking cursor, excited about your story idea but utterly confused about how to describe its genre? 😩 

This kind of uncertainty isn't just frustrating. It can have serious consequences for your writing, editing, and publishing journey.

Here’s what you need to know: There are actually five different layers of genre that work together to describe your unique story. Think of this as your story's "genre DNA"—a description that gives readers a comprehensive picture of your work.

Tune into this episode to learn:

• [02:22] How to determine if your novel is commercial, literary, or upmarket fiction—and why this positioning matters when writing, editing, and publishing
• [05:21] Why your story's time period affects everything from research requirements to character development (and what this means for fantasy authors whose stories often take place in their own temporal contexts)
• [07:32] How to select the appropriate age category for your target readers and why this critical decision shapes your word count, content, and marketing options
• [11:30] The different reality settings available for your story world and practical ways to manage worldbuilding without getting overwhelmed
• [18:15] How your story’s content genre can serve as your writing roadmap by defining the emotional experience readers expect from a story like yours

Whether you're drafting your first novel or preparing to query agents, this episode will help you define your story's genre so you can write with direction, revise with purpose, and market your book with confidence.

⭐ Follow & Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review! 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!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. #2 - How To Choose The Right Genre For Your Story
• Free Worksheet: Discover Your Story’s Unique Genre DNA

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

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

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

Congratulations! You've finished writing your first draft—an achievement that puts you ahead of countless aspiring writers who never make it past the dreaming stage. 

But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "What next?" 

Maybe you've tried jumping straight into revisions only to find yourself overwhelmed, confused, or just plain stuck. Or maybe you’re just avoiding it altogether.

If your excitement about finishing your draft has given way to editing anxiety, you're not alone. Every author—even the most seasoned professionals—reaches this crossroads, where the path forward seems foggy at best.

Tune in to learn the exact novel editing framework that has helped my clients and students transform their messy drafts into completed manuscripts.

You’ll hear me talk about things like:

• [06:21] The game-changing approach to organizing your editing notes that’ll prevent months of wasted time and getting stuck in "revision loops"
• [07:17] How mapping what you actually wrote (not what you intended to write) can expose the hidden strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript
• [10:05] The #1 mistake first-time novelists make when editing their messy first drafts (and how to avoid falling into this all too common trap)
• [16:05] The four-category sorting system that helps you prioritize feedback and make confident decisions about which changes to implement
• [23:22] How your publishing path impacts your editing to-do list (and which steps to take if you’re self-publishing or traditional publishing)

If you've finally finished your first draft but find yourself paralyzed by the editing process, or if you've been revising the same chapters for months without making real progress, this episode gives you the clear, structured approach you need.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Novel Editing Roadmap: 10 Steps To Editing Your First Draft (Free Guide)
• Want my entire step-by-step process for brainstorming, outlining, and writing your first draft? Click here to learn more about my Notes to Novel program.

⭐ 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!

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

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

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

Discover how a 72-year-old data scientist overcame perfectionism to publish her debut science fiction novel after decades of dreaming about it.

Are you stuck with half-finished manuscripts or endlessly revising the same chapters? Does your story refuse to translate from your imagination to the page the way you envision it?

You're not alone. The very perfectionism that drives you to write can become the biggest obstacle to finishing your novel.

In this episode, Cheryl Arko shares her transformative journey from decades of false starts to published author at 72, revealing the exact strategies that helped her finally complete her science fiction novel after years of struggle.

Tune in to hear:

• [14:31] The reverse outlining technique that revealed why Cheryl’s scenes weren't working (and exactly how to fix them)
  
  
• [17:47] How entering a writing competition boosted her confidence and validated her manuscript's potential (and earned her a finalist spot!)
  
  
• [20:39] The two-phase writing approach that freed Cheryl from perfectionism paralysis (and helped her make twice the progress in half the time)
  
  
• [29:35] How developing her antagonist into a more three-dimensional character solved plot problems Cheryl had been stuck on for months
  
  
• [35:01] The practical reasons Cheryl chose self-publishing at 72 (and how to decide what's right for you based on your timeline and goals)

If you've ever abandoned a manuscript or worried it's too late to realize your writing dreams, this episode proves that with the right approach, you can finally type "The End" on your novel—no matter your age or how long you've been trying.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Cheryl Arko’s website
• Buy Cheryl’s book on Amazon
• Ep. #40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene

⭐ 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 your favorite episodes, 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!

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

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

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

Five book coaches reveal their most powerful mindset hacks to help you crush self-doubt, overcome perfectionism, and finally finish your first draft—even if you've been stuck for months.

Picture this: You sit down with a fresh cup of coffee, open your laptop to write your novel, and then that voice of doubt creeps in: "This is terrible. You don't know what you're doing." And then you're staring at a blinking cursor, completely frozen.

Sound familiar?

If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. Whether you're just starting your first novel or you've been trying to finish that draft for months (or years!), these mental roadblocks aren't signs of failure—they're normal challenges every writer faces.

Tune in to this episode to hear five proven mindset strategies from professional book coaches and editors who have helped countless first-time novelists overcome writer's block, self-doubt, and procrastination to finally type "The End" on their first drafts.

• [02:11] The surprising mindset shift that turns "This writing is terrible" into productive writing sessions
• [08:41] How to carve out writing time that actually works (without quitting your day job or neglecting your family)
• [14:43] Why waiting to "feel inspired" is killing your novel—and the counterintuitive approach that actually works
• [20:12] The five simple questions that can rescue your story when you're stuck in the dreaded "middle slump"
• [27:08] How strategic "neglect" might be the missing ingredient to finally type "The End" on your manuscript

If you're an aspiring author who is writing your first draft, or if you've started multiple manuscripts but keep getting stuck in the middle, this episode's for you!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Get on the waitlist for my Notes to Novel course!
• Candace Coakley’s website and Instagram
• Sam Henke’s website and Instagram
• Jenny Luke’s website and Instagram
• Karla Diaz’s website and Instagram
• Sam Cameron’s website and Instagram

⭐ 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 t

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

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

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