Are you revising the same chapters over and over, but nothing you change is actually fixing the problem?

Most writers go straight to the prose when their story isn't working. They tighten sentences, swap out words, and reread the same chapter over and over. And still, something feels off. But most first-draft problems don't occur at the sentence level. They occur at the story level.

In this episode, I share the 10 writing mistakes I see most often in manuscripts. Plus, I’ll give you the diagnostic question for each one so you can pinpoint what's holding your story back and know exactly where to start revising.

Here’s what I talk about:

[01:44] Why some stories start too early and how this common first draft mistake makes readers feel like the real story hasn't begun.

[05:59] The one question every strong story is built around, and how to tell if your manuscript is missing it.

[07:49] Why stories start to feel aimless when the protagonist doesn't have a clear, specific goal driving the action.

[12:10] Why tension collapses when your antagonist is weak or underdeveloped, even when they're present on the page.

[16:23] Why so many novels lose momentum in the middle, and the structural issue that usually causes it.

If you recognize some of these issues in your own manuscript, don't panic. Almost every first draft has a few of these problems. This is a normal part of the writing process.

Revision isn't just about making your sentences prettier; it's about strengthening the foundation of your story so readers can experience the tension, emotion, and meaning you intended. Once you clearly see what's happening in your manuscript, you can start fixing the right things in the right order.

That's exactly what The Revision Accelerator is designed to help you do. In just five days, you'll diagnose what's holding your story back, prioritize what to fix first, and walk away with a clear revision plan without the overwhelm. Click here to join us.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sign Up For The Revision Accelerator to diagnose what's actually holding your story back.

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She wrote her first novel in 15-minute increments—in drive-through lines, at the dance studio, at swim lessons—while raising two kids and walking through one of the hardest seasons of her family's life. And she finished her book.

That's Jackie Henley's (pen name J.J. Henley) story, and I wanted to bring her onto the podcast because I know so many of you feel like life keeps getting in the way of writing your novel. Jackie's story is proof that it doesn't have to.

Jackie is a mom of two, a former teacher, and a long-time Bookstagrammer who spent years reviewing other people's stories before she finally decided to write one of her own. She went through my Notes to Novel program and finished her debut romantic suspense, writing most of it in small pockets of time between school drop-offs, swim lessons, and drive-through lines.

In this episode, she walks us through the whole journey, and I know you're going to find it incredibly inspiring.

Here's what we talk about:

[05:58] How beta reading a friend's novel made Jackie realize she could actually write her own and why seeing a story in its messy state changed her mindset entirely.

[15:14] Why Jackie resisted calling her book a thriller with a romance subplot and the ‘aha’ moment that completely changed her mind on this.

[23:07] How having a scene-by-scene outline made her 15-minute writing sessions low-stress, productive, and effective.

[28:13] What happened when her son stopped sleeping, her writing windows disappeared, and her family was navigating one of the hardest seasons of their lives (and how she kept going anyway).

[38:30] Her honest take on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, and what shifted her perspective entirely.

If you've been waiting for the right time to write your book, or if life keeps getting in the way and you're not sure you have enough time to actually finish, this one's for you.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Join The Notes To Novel Waitlist
• J.J. Henley / Jackie Henley 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!

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Learn how to market your book in a way that aligns with your values, builds genuine reader connections, and feels sustainable instead of draining.

Book Marketing. These two words make most writers want to close their laptops and hide forever. But what if it didn't have to feel that way?

In this episode, I'm joined by award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist and certified creativity coach Beth Barany to talk about what she calls heart-centered book marketing: A values-driven approach to promoting your story that actually feels aligned with who you are.

We break down how to market your book without feeling salesy, how to identify the core values behind your writing, and how to build meaningful reader relationships that energize you rather than drain you.

Here’s what we cover:

[04:35] What heart-centered book marketing actually means and how it differs from the traditional advice you'll find everywhere online.

[07:57] Why chasing other people's book marketing strategies leads to burnout, and a key question to ask yourself before adopting any tactic.

[11:01] How to uncover your core values as a writer and why your novel characters can actually help you do it.

[15:47] A real example of how Beth uses her values to choose her book marketing platforms, including a creative Reddit strategy she's currently exploring.

[22:18] Why you should ditch the "buy my book" approach and use your story's tropes to invite the right readers in instead.

[24:36] Why fangirling authors you love is the easiest free marketing strategy and how it can lead to real collaborations and unexpected opportunities.

Whether you're pre-launch, mid-series, or just exhausted by marketing advice that doesn't feel like you, this episode will give you a refreshing, permission-giving framework to promote your book in a way that's sustainable, authentic, and actually kind of fun.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Beth Barany Website
• Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap Workbook
• Beth Barany Instagram
• Beth Barany Podcast

⭐ 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

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You wrote a prologue for your novel. But now you're wondering if you really need it. Here are three honest signs your story might actually be stronger without one.

Writing a prologue feels like the right move until you're three drafts in and still not sure if it's actually helping your story or just sitting there, taking up space at the front of your book. And the tricky part is that it's not always easy to tell. Because sometimes the prologue isn't the problem. And sometimes it really is.

That's exactly what we're digging into in today's episode: I'm walking you through three signs that your prologue might not be doing what you think it is (and what to do instead) so your opening still grabs readers and pulls them straight into your story.

You'll hear me talk about things like:

[02:59] How prologues that deliver backstory or world-building can weaken your opening scene—and what readers actually need instead.

[06:10] Why a flash-forward prologue can release tension before it has time to build (and how to tell if your plot twist is losing impact).

[09:31] The subtle way a prologue can mask a weak first chapter—especially if your story starts too early.

[11:17] A simple reading test to determine whether your prologue is structurally necessary—or just informational.

[14:33] What it really means for a prologue to “earn its place” in your novel—and the mindset shift that makes the decision easier.

If you've been going back and forth on your prologue, this episode will give you the clarity to finally make the call. Because when your opening is working (like really working), you'll feel it. And so will your readers.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. #215 - How to Write a Prologue Readers Won't Skip (& When to Start at Chapter One Instead)
• Ep. #190 - Novel Editing: 10 Steps to Editing Your First Draft
• Take the Author Success Quiz

⭐ Follow & Review

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

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Is AI here to replace novelists, steal ideas, or ruin copyright forever? Let’s separate fear from facts.

AI and creative writing are among the most debated topics in the publishing industry right now. Some writers are excited, while others are feeling cautious. And many are wondering what's actually true about AI, copyright law, idea theft, and querying agents.

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning novelist and technologist Ana Del Valle to unpack what AI really means for fiction writers. Ana is the founder of the AI Creative Writing Academy and host of The Novelist Studio podcast, bringing both tech expertise and creative insight to this conversation.

Here’s what we cover:

[02:54] How Ana’s background in tech and fiction collided when ChatGPT launched, and why she believes we're entering a new golden era of literature.

[05:56] The crucial difference between AI Assist and AI Generation, and why this distinction protects your voice, ownership, and copyright.

[11:55] The truth about whether ChatGPT can steal your story ideas, plus what those scary AI lawsuits actually mean for writers.

[14:38] How U.S. copyright law handles AI-created work, and why heavily editing AI-generated drafts can put writers in murky territory.

[21:01] Whether you need to disclose AI use when querying agents, and how traditional publishing is already integrating AI behind the scenes.

Whether you're AI-curious or AI-cautious, this episode will give you the clarity you need to make informed decisions about using AI in your writing process.

Tune in now.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ana Del Valle Website
• ChatGPT for creative writers e-book
• Ana del Valle YouTube Channel

⭐ Follow & Review

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

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Learn the 5 key elements every scene needs to move your story forward and keep readers turning pages.

Scene structure doesn't have to be complicated. Sure, there are many methods out there, such as Story Grid's Five Commandments, Dwight Swain's Scene and Sequel, and James Scott Bell's LOCK system. And if you've tried learning from more than one method, it can feel like everyone's teaching something completely different.

But the truth is, they're actually not. Because when you strip away the terminology, they're all pointing to the same core ideas.

In this episode, I'm breaking down those five core elements—the ones hiding inside every scene structure method you've ever heard of. Once you understand what they are, you can stop guessing and start writing scenes that actually move your story forward.

You’ll hear me talk about things like:

[05:18] Why your character needs a clear goal before the scene begins, and why it's so hard to fix later if you skip it.

[07:01] What separates real conflict from obstacles, and why your scene antagonist needs their own agenda.

[10:41] What actually creates a turning point in a scene, and why piling on tension alone won't get you there.

[12:39] Why your POV character must be the one making a high-stakes decision, and the reason reader investment dips when someone else chooses for them.

[15:55] The consequences that follow your character's decision and how their specific reaction creates momentum in your next scene.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear framework you can apply to any scene you're writing or revising. And you can grab my free scene-structure guide from the links below to start applying it right away.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Click here to download the Scene Guide to write scenes that keep your readers glued to the page.

⭐ Follow & Review

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

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Master the 8 Habits of Mind to build a sustainable, joyful writing practice that helps you finish your book without burnout or self-sabotage.

Building a writing practice shouldn't feel like pushing a boulder uphill. But so many writers get stuck dealing with imposter syndrome, fighting writer's block, and wondering why their routine keeps falling apart.

That’s why in this episode, I sit down with Dr. Bailey Lang, a book coach, editor, and writer who specializes in helping authors build sustainable writing practices that actually work with their lives. With a background in Rhetoric and Writing Studies, she has spent years researching how writers get work done and what gets in the way.

Today, Dr. Bailey Lang shares the 8 Habits of Mind: curiosity, openness, engagement, creativity, persistence, responsibility, flexibility, and metacognition. These habits extend beyond managing impostor syndrome. They help you proactively create a writing practice that actually sticks.

Here's what we cover:

[06:49] How openness helps you experiment with your writing practice and find inspiration in unexpected places without forcing yourself into routines that don't fit.

[09:35] Why persistence is the habit Dr. Bailey Lang works on most with writers, and how to stick with your story during the messy middle when everything feels hard.

[13:31] The surprising resistance writers have to flexibility, and why rigid writing streaks might be sabotaging your practice instead of helping it.

[17:10] How to actually implement these writing habits without overwhelming yourself—starting with one habit, tracking it, and running small experiments.

[26:50] Why stories are the truest form of magic, and how these habits give you permission to tell the story you're meant to write.

Whether you're stuck, burnt out, or your writing practice isn't working the way you want it to, this episode will help you build a foundation that makes finishing your book feel possible and even enjoyable.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Dr. Bailey Lang Website
• Free email series: Learn the 8 habits of mind that can unlock your creativity and help you take your book from draft to done.
• 5 Writing Roadblocks Keeping You Stuck & How to Break Through

⭐ Follow & Review

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

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Master the art of writing natural-sounding dialogue by learning how to remove unnecessary lines, shape distinct character voices, and write conversations that feel purposeful on the page.

If your dialogue feels stiff or flat, even when the conversation itself seems clear, there’s usually a specific reason for that.

And it's not because you're bad at dialogue.

In most cases, it comes down to a few subtle craft issues that quietly pull readers out of the scene, even when the conversation itself seems realistic.

That's why in this episode, I’m breaking down five secrets that help your dialogue sound natural without copying real-life speech word-for-word.

You'll learn how to spot what's weakening your dialogue and how to revise conversations so they're clearer, tighter, and more effective on the page.

In the episode, you’ll hear me talk about things like:

[02:02] The easy-to-miss dialogue habit that feels realistic but quietly drains tension, and why cutting it can immediately sharpen a scene.

[03:56] Why natural-sounding dialogue has little to do with real conversation, and what readers are actually expecting when they read a scene.

[06:06] The subtle reason conversations can feel like talking heads and how to anchor dialogue so scenes feel present and alive.

[09:03] A simple test that reveals whether your characters truly sound different or if they're all sharing the same voice on the page.

[11:09] What powerful dialogue rarely says outright, and how what's left unsaid keeps readers leaning in.

If dialogue has been one of those craft areas that feels slippery or hard to pin down, this episode will help you see it more clearly and revise with confidence instead of guesswork. Enjoy the episode!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• 10 Steps To Editing Your Novel
• Take Author Success Quiz

⭐ Follow & Review

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

Support the show

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