Best Savannah Gilbo Podcasts (2024)

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From Notes to Novel -- 5 Key Steps, with Savannah Gilbo 31:18

1h ago31:18

31:18

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I'm chatting with Savannah Gilbo. Savannah Gilbo is a certified developmental editor and book coach who helps fiction authors write, edit, and publish stories that work. She’s also the host of the top-rated Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast, where she delivers weekly episodes full of simple, actionable…

1
#145. How To Develop Your Character's Backstory 20:33

1h ago20:33

20:33

Crafting compelling backstories for your fictional characters is critical to developing a cohesive story, but it’s sometimes easier said than done. There are endless options when it comes to which details you can include in your character’s backstory, and what you do include will influence everything that happens in your story—from the plot events …

1
#144. Student Spotlight: How She Landed A Book Deal With Her Dream Publisher (With Savannah Carlisle) 43:45

7d ago43:45

43:45

Have you ever heard someone say that the only difference between a published author and an unpublished author is that the published author never gave up? I wholeheartedly believe this, and my guest today proves it’s true. Savannah Carlisle writes heartwarming romance novels that transport readers to fun and quirky small towns where friends feel lik…

1
Writing a Romance Readers Love, with Danika Bloom 35:15

1h ago35:15

35:15

This week on The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m chatting with my friend Danika Bloom. Danika is a USA Today bestselling romance author and the lead cheerleader at AuthorEverAfter.com where she mentors and supports pre-published romance writers to finish and indie publish their first books. Her most recent book is The Billionaire's Shrubbery. We …

1
#143. How To Pitch Podcasts With Michelle Glogovac 39:52

14d ago39:52

39:52

“Human beings want to hear the stories of other human beings. And that's exactly what podcasts do.” - Michelle Glogovac You have a finished book, now what? Learn how to pitch yourself to podcasts (and create your own podcast book tour!) in this episode. Here’s a preview of what’s included: [04:47] What is a podcast book tour? And what are the benef…

1
Finding the Shape for Memoir, with Beth Kaplan 29:46

1h ago29:46

29:46

This week, I'm speaking with Beth Kaplan -- a fellow Canadian author -- about writing non-fiction. We get into finding the right shape for memoir, finding the thematic "hot moments" for your story, and the true nature of drafts. Beth is a former actrress and the author of a biography and two memoirs -- All My Loving and Loose Woman. The latter was …

1
#142. How To Write A Query Letter That Get Requests 21:03

21d ago21:03

21:03

“I recommend working on your query letter as soon as you feel good enough about the overall shape of your story.” - Savannah Gilbo Agents and editors must sort through hundreds of query letters to find an outstanding story. So, how do you write a query letter that catches their attention and makes them want to read more? Tune into this episode to l…

1
Story Structure, Play and Experiments 40:05

1h ago40:05

40:05

This week on the podcast I'm speaking with Beth Barany, and we get into story structure, play and experimenting -- especially for Science Fiction and Fantasy. Beth is an award-winning novelist, master neurolinguistic programming practitioner, and certified creativity coach for writers. She's also an experienced international speaker and podcaster. …

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#141. How To Create Believable Monsters With Randy Ellefson 52:33

28d ago52:33

52:33

“The object itself didn't cause the conflict. The person who made the choice with the object caused the conflict.” - Randy Ellefson In today’s episode, we’re going to cover something really fun—how to create believable monsters. And I have a special guest joining me today—someone that knows way more about creating monsters than I do. His name is Ra…

1
Writing with a Strong Sense of Place 22:53

18d ago22:53

22:53

This week, I'm chatting with Karen Lea Armstrong, about her novel DROWNPROOFING, which is set in Northern Ontario. We talk about what it means to write a so-called "regional novel" -- one with such a strong sense of place. And we talk about Karen's publishing journey. Karen was in my First Book Finish program, so it's such a delight to see this boo…

1
#140. First Chapter Analysis: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 56:41

1M ago56:41

56:41

“We need to advance the plot and we need to develop the character. When you can marry the two, you have a strong scene.” - Abigail K. Perry We’re taking a deep dive into Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it works. Join me and Abigail K. Perry as we break down this first chapter of the third book of The Hunger Games trilogy to see how…

1
How to Finish a Book...Even When Life Gets Hard 36:17

21d ago36:17

36:17

In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Elizabeth Chatsworth, who is the author of the steampunk fantasy series, The Brass Queen. She’s also been in my First Book Finish program. We talk about how she wrote the sequel to The Brass Queen – Grand Tour: Brass Queen II – while facing some challenging life circumstances, and the roller coaster ride of…

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#139: 5 Multi POV Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them) 20:49

1M ago20:49

20:49

Telling a story through multiple viewpoints can be a great way to create a more expansive (and objective) look at your characters, world, plot, and/or theme. But with each additional viewpoint character you add to your story, the more room there is for mistakes. In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 most common multi POV mistakes writers make and how …

1
How Rest Supports Your Creative Process 19:49

2M ago19:49

19:49

Writing can be challenging at times, even more so when we’re tired. The problem nowadays is that it seems like we’re all always tired. Doesn't it feel that way to you? If we want to write for the rest of our lives and finish our books, we need to make sure we’re getting enough rest so we have the energy to write. But don’t fret—there are lots of li…

1
#138: How To Manage Your Creative Anxiety With Rhonda Douglas 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

“Writing is a creative project. It's not an earthquake, but the thoughts and the worries can feel similar. If I can have a positive association or feel prepared for an earthquake, surely I can do that for writing.” - Rhonda Douglas Ever found yourself staring at the blank page, trying to write but unable to find the right words? You’re not alone! T…

1
#137: 5 Tips For Writing Better Fiction (Even If You're Just Starting Out) 32:35

2M ago32:35

32:35

“Focus your pre-writing and drafting and revising efforts on the present moment of your story.” - Daniel David Wallace I asked five of my peers to share one of their favorite writing tips, and boy, did they deliver! Tune in to hear 5 editors and coaches talk about their favorite tip and why it’s so helpful. Here’s a preview of what’s included: [01:…

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#136: First Chapter Analysis: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 1:01:35

2M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

“Usually stakes start personal and they become public. That's a way of raising stakes, regardless of the genre.” - Savannah Gilbo We’re diving deep into Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it works. Join me and Abigail K. Perry as we break down this first chapter to see how it hooks our interest and pulls us into the story! Here's a…

1
#135: Mastering Point of View and Voice: Expert Tips From Gabriela Pereira Of DIY MFA 42:04

2M ago42:04

42:04

“You, the writer, have a bigger sphere of knowledge. You know more things than the narrator necessarily knows.” - Gabriela Pereira In today’s episode, I ask Gabriela Pereira of DIY MFA for her thoughts on some of the most commonly asked questions I get about point of view and voice—and she shares some of her favorite tips and strategies for masteri…

1
#134: How To Stop Procrastinating: 5 Productivity Tips For Writers 29:10

3M ago29:10

29:10

“It's really important to focus on the big picture story first and not worry about granular details that you can figure out later.” - Savannah Gilbo Get more done in less time, overcome procrastination, and become a master at time management with these 5 super simple productivity tips that I’ve been using daily for the last 10 years. Read the blog …

1
#133: A Week in the Life: 7 Days Behind the Scenes with Savannah (March 2024) 34:59

3M ago34:59

34:59

“Sometimes it's easy to take feedback to mean that your story's broken when it's not.” - Savannah Gilbo I’m taking you behind the scenes with me throughout my entire work week! You’ll see how I plan my days, what projects I work on, what I learn from the writers I work with, and so much more! Read the blog post here! Here’s a preview of what’s incl…

1
#132: First Chapter Analysis: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 1:07:05

3M ago1:07:05

1:07:05

“In stories that feel society dominant, is survival even worth it if you don't have freedom?” - Abigail K. Perry We’re taking a deep dive into The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to see how and why it works. Join me and Abigail K. Perry as we break down this first chapter to see how it hooks our interest and pulls us into the story! Read the blog p…

1
#131: 5 Steps To Start Planning Your Book Series 34:58

3M ago34:58

34:58

“The key to making books within a series work is to grow, escalate, and complicate the conflict and stakes from book to book.” - Savannah Gilbo A good book series allows readers to immerse themselves in a world and stay there. But how do you write a series that works? To start, here are 5 steps to help you start planning your book series. Read the …

1
#130: How to Craft Romantic Chemistry & Tension Between Characters 25:35

4M ago25:35

25:35

“ Flat or boring characters who are underdeveloped are never going to light up a scene, no matter how many tricks you pull.” - Savannah Gilbo If you’re writing romance, the chemistry and tension between your characters can make or break your story. Let’s explore how to create romantic chemistry between two characters in an authentic and compelling …

1
What It Means to be a Resilient Writer 18:43

4M ago18:43

18:43

In this final episode of Season 3, I'm going back to interviews with writers who answered my final question: "What does it mean to you to be a resilient writer?" Listen to see if their answers match up with your understanding of what it means.By Rhonda Douglas Resilient Writers

1
#129: Overcoming The Fear Of Marketing With Alexa Bigwarfe 43:42

4M ago43:42

43:42

“Work on being a better writer and work on your craft and the other stuff will follow. As long as you have a great book, marketing comes a lot easier.” - Alexa Bigwarfe In today’s brand-new episode, I’m sharing a conversation with Alexa Bigwarfe about how writers can overcome the fear of marketing their books and what you can do right now to kickst…

1
#128: What Are Obligatory Scenes And Conventions? 19:01

4M ago19:01

19:01

“When a story doesn't include these key scenes and conventions of its genre, it's just not going to work.” - Savannah Gilbo Want a framework for your entire story? Learn what readers expect from a story like yours, and then use these obligatory scenes and conventions as a framework to craft a story that works. Read the blog post here! Here’s a prev…

1
#127: First Chapter Analysis: The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom 1:00:41

4M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

“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 o…

1
#126: Save The Cat! Troubleshooting Common Plot Problems With Jessica Brody 41:31

4M ago41:31

41:31

“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…

1
8 Lessons I've Learned from Helping Almost 200 Writers Finish their Books 28:31

5M ago28:31

28:31

In this final episode of this Finishers mini-series, I am sharing some of the lessons I've learned in the past four years from helping nearly 200 writers to finish their books -- finish drafts, revise, edit and get their books out into the worldBy Rhonda Douglas Resilient Writers

1
#125: Novel Writing Pitfalls: Don't Make These 5 Mistakes 26:04

5M ago26:04

26:04

“ 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 rectif…

1
#124: Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned from Notes to Novel (Season 3) 29:45

5M ago29:45

29:45

“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 …

1
Finishers Series: Why Your Book Matters 22:26

5M ago22:26

22:26

There are times when we wonder if it's all worth it, if our intention to finish a book and get it out into the world really matters. Join me for the first episode in a series dedicated to all the writers intending to finish their books in 2024.By Rhonda Douglas Resilient Writers

1
Finishers Series: How to Fit Finishing Into Your Busy Life 15:10

5M ago15:10

15:10

Here's a truth: no one really has time to write a book, especially a first book. Yet we can still manage to get them written and out into the world. In today's episode I'll walk through how you can fit finishing your book into an already busy life. And here's a free resource for you as well -- my guide called 30 New Ways to Find More Time to Write.…

1
Finishers Series: How to Manage a Book-Length Project 19:21

5M ago19:21

19:21

As we start work on our book and the idea starts to take shape, the amount of work a book-length project takes can feel overwhelming. You’re left paralyzed and with a half-done draft—so now what? You have to change the way you view your book so you can turn it into a manageable project. Don’t let fear hold you back. It’s time for you to finish! Tod…

1
Finishers Series: The 6 Phases of Finishing a Book 19:39

5M ago19:39

19:39

In today’s episode, I’ll walk you through the six phases of writing a book, which will not only make the overall book-writing process easier, but will help you defeat your self-doubt and get your book out into the world.By Rhonda Douglas Resilient Writers

1
The Hidden Life of Ellen Baker 31:14

5M ago31:14

31:14

Writing a book and getting it published is a wonderful, fulfilling process… and it’s also very intimidating, especially for first-time authors and beginning writers. But don’t worry, writer - there’s a lot you can learn to make these processes easier, and Ellen Baker knows all about them. As she’ll tell you, some things take a lot of trial and erro…

1
#123: How To Overcome The 5 Types Of Imposter Syndrome 19:05

5M ago19:05

19:05

“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…

1
How to Approach Research 25:15

5M ago25:15

25:15

Doing research may be the highlight of the writing process for you, or it might be the part you put off as long as possible. Either way, research is critical—but it doesn't have to involve sitting at the computer for hours. Instead, author Mary Carroll Moore used the people around her as resources. Their insight helped make Mary’s writing accurate …

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#122: Counting Down The Best Tips From FWME In 2023 42:19

5M ago42:19

42:19

“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 t…

1
The Courage to Share 27:51

6M ago27:51

27:51

Writer, have you ever been afraid of sharing your work? Finding the courage to do so can set you down a new path in your writing life, perhaps one you never thought was possible. Author Esther Schultz has been writing her whole life, but she never shared her work with anybody until her mother-in-law moved in. But after receiving encouragement from …

1
#121: 5 Takeaways From Coaching Writers in 2023 23:54

6M ago23:54

23:54

“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 s…

1
Strategies to Get to the Page 34:22

6M ago34:22

34:22

Life has a wonderful habit of getting in the way of our writing time. But if we want to finish our books, we can't stand by and let it happen. We need strategies to make time to get to the page. Author Debra Martens developed her own while constantly moving between countries and dealing with recurring illness, and even uses a lesson from time spent…

1
#120: First Chapter Analysis: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 1:11:08

6M ago1:11:08

1:11:08

“I think that's really important at the end of every time that you write a scene. Ask yourself, how can I raise the stakes even more?” - Abigail K. Perry Join us today as we embark on a thrilling literary journey through the fantastical world of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros. In this episode, I'm joined by Abigail K. Perry and I encourage you to rea…

1
Three Writing Myths and How to Spot Them 19:15

6M ago19:15

19:15

As writers, we may sometimes write myths - but we can also be affected by them. I’m not talking about fantastical stories in this case, though. I’m talking about myths about writing, which harm us and can keep us from making progress, or keep us from writing, period. This week, we'll explore three myths that impact writers and how, once we know how…

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#119: Student Spotlight: How Fern Bernstein Wrote A Dual Timeline Novel Based On The Edies of Grey Gardens 46:08

6M ago46:08

46:08

“It's the inciting incident, the turning point, the crisis moment, the climax, and the resolution, and each scene really needs to have that to move the story forward.” - Fern Bernstein In today's episode, I’m sitting down for a conversation with Fern Bernstein to talk about her debut novel, Staunch: The Edie's of Grey Gardens. Here’s a preview of w…

1
Facing the Discomfort of Memoir 30:17

6M ago30:17

30:17

As writers, we can be avoidant when it comes to sharing our writing. It can be an uncomfortable experience, especially with something as intimate and close to our lives as a memoir. Author Stephanie Kain faced this dilemma when writing her memoir, and it left her wondering how she could get past her discomfort, especially when living in a small tow…

1
#118: How To Find The Major Dramatic Question Of Your Story 12:27

6M ago12:27

12:27

“Every story has one main question that it raises in the beginning and answers by the end.” - Savannah Gilbo In this latest podcast episode, we'll explore a fundamental element of storytelling: the Major Dramatic Question (MDQ). From the outset of your story, readers should be gripped by this central question. Here’s a preview of what’s included: […

1
Keeping a Book Afloat Over Several Years 39:13

6M ago39:13

39:13

Kimberly Ward knew she wanted to write a book about her experience taking her family sailing around the Caribbean. She came to my Book Finishers Bootcamp and took what she learned there to finally FINISH the book that had been years in the making. In this episode, Kimberly shares her experience as a new Indie writer. Listen for tips on finishing a …

1
#117: Exploring the World of Beta and Sensitivity Reading with Julie Taylor from The Spun Yarn 59:40

7M ago59:40

59:40

“As I kid I was like, I would love to get paid to read.” - Julie Taylor In today’s episode, I’m sitting down to chat with Julie Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at The Spun Yarn - a company that offers paid beta reading and sensitivity reading services to authors. Here’s a preview of what’s included: [06:15] How does The Spun Yarn create a perfect m…

1
How to Get Into Flow 39:20

7M ago39:20

39:20

Achieving a state of flow in your writing life may sound difficult, or even like an impossible dream. But there are concrete ways that you can cultivate more flow in your life, and you don’t need anything special to get started. Insights from the field of positive psychology can have a huge impact on us as writers, and by learning a little more abo…

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Savannah Gilbo Podcasts

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