Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

Learn how a self-proclaimed perfectionist wrote a 114,000-word first draft in just 88 days—while working full-time and without finding more hours in the day.Poornika didn't have endless hours to write. She had two hours a night after work, some longer weekend sessions, and a chronic illness that sometimes forced her to step away completely. And yet, she finished her novel in 88 days—and went on to sign with her dream agent.In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Poornika Kakkanaiah, a former Notes to Novel student, to talk about what made that kind of progress possible. Spoiler: it wasn't discipline or motivation. It was having a clear roadmap that eliminated decision fatigue and made every writing session count.Poornika shares how she broke free from months of research paralysis, the outlining approach that gave her a scene-by-scene outline she trusted, and why setting a cut-bait date changed everything.If you've ever felt like your day job makes finishing a novel impossible, this conversation will show you otherwise.Here's what we cover:[07:51] Why combining multiple plotting methods created confusion instead of clarity, and what she did instead[10:45] How Poornika built a scene-by-scene outline she trusted—and the cut-bait date that forced her to start drafting[11:27] The three strategies that made it possible to write 114,000 words in 88 days while working full-time[37:50] What it was like to get "the call"—and why signing with her dream agent felt like everything finally clicking into place[40:06] The truth about getting multiple offers of representation (and why one great fit is all you need)If you're craving proof that it's possible to write a novel alongside a demanding job and real-life challenges, Poornika's story will show you exactly what that can look like.🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Poornika Kakkanaiah on TikTokPoornika Kakkanaiah on InstagramGet on the Notes To Novel Waitlist ⭐ Follow & ReviewIf 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!Ready to stop overthinking and start writing? Join my LIVE 3-Day Writer Breakthrough Bootcamp, and you'll walk away with a realistic finish date, clarity on your story's deeper purpose, and a logline that proves your idea works. Click here to save your spot for just $27!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.

Balancing a full-time job and writing a novel can be tough, but it's absolutely achievable. Discover how to select a consistent plotting method to prevent procrastination and clarify your writing agenda before each session. Learn the importance of realistic goal-setting that aligns with your busy life and how to identify small, hidden pockets of writing time. Building a solid support system can also supercharge your momentum. Plus, hear success stories of writers who turned their ambitions into completed drafts!

The best writing advice sticks because it changes how you approach the page. In this special year-end episode, I’m counting down the top 10 most impactful writing tips from Fiction Writing Made Easy in 2025, pulled from this year's most listened-to episodes.These are the lessons writers kept coming back to. The ones that helped them stop second-guessing, get unstuck in the middle, and finally make real progress on their drafts. In the episode, you’ll hear me talk about things like:[07:30] Why perfectionism during drafting slows everything down, and what to do instead so you can keep moving forward.[15:30] Why learning to write strong, focused scenes first makes plot structure clearer and helps your novel come together faster.[18:30] How narrative drive works, why disconnected scenes stall your story, and the simple fix that creates clear cause-and-effect momentum.[28:00] The real reason writers struggle to finish, and why process matters just as much as craft and mindset.[31:00] Why following one complete writing method beats trying to combine multiple approaches, and how too much advice creates paralysis.And so much more…So grab your notebook, settle in, and let’s celebrate the writing advice that helped so many writers move closer to finishing their novel in 2025.🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Click here to view the episode page with all the links.Get on the Notes to Novel waitlist!⭐ Follow & ReviewIf 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!Ready to stop overthinking and start writing? Join my LIVE 3-Day Writer Breakthrough Bootcamp, and you'll walk away with a realistic finish date, clarity on your story's deeper purpose, and a logline that proves your idea works. Click here to save your spot for just $27!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.

Learn how a busy parent finished a novel by following a clear roadmap that made it possible to pause, return, and keep moving forward.Between raising four kids, navigating pregnancy and newborn life, and juggling everything that comes with being a busy parent, Madi didn't exactly have ideal writing conditions. And yet, she finished her novel.In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Madi, a former Notes to Novel student, to talk about what it actually looked like to write a book in the middle of real life. She didn’t have unlimited time or perfect routines. What she had was a clear plan, realistic expectations, and a way to keep moving forward even when progress felt slow.Madi shares the mindset shifts that helped her stop waiting for the right time, how outlining gave her momentum instead of boxing her in, and why having a process made it possible to pause without quitting when life demanded her attention.If you’ve ever wanted to write and finish your novel but feel too busy right now, this conversation is for you.Here’s what we cover:[05:15] The mindset shift that helped Madi stop treating her novel like a hobby and start making real progress toward a finished draft[09:00] How outlining gave Madi clarity and confidence without killing creativity or locking her into a rigid plot structure[07:15] What writing a novel looked like during pregnancy, newborn life, and four kids—plus the simple routine that kept her moving forward[14:50] The step-by-step editing process that turned Madi's first draft into a contest finalist manuscript without burnout[24:15] How Madi went from querying literary agents to landing her dream agent at a top Christian Fiction agencyIf you're craving proof that it's possible to write a novel alongside a full, busy life, Madi's story will show you exactly what that can look like.🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Madi Unruh Instagram Get on the Notes To Novel Waitlist ⭐ Follow & ReviewIf 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!Ready to stop overthinking and start writing? Join my LIVE 3-Day Writer Breakthrough Bootcamp, and you'll walk away with a realistic finish date, clarity on your story's deeper purpose, and a logline that proves your idea works. Click here to save your spot for just $27!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.

Join writers Tiara Ito, Jennifer Wagner, and Sheila Holmes as they share their transformative journeys from being stuck to finally starting their novels. Tiara reveals how a structured outline helped her overcome perfectionism. Jennifer discusses her breakthrough with a scene-by-scene roadmap, enabling her to draft a full manuscript in just 90 days. Meanwhile, Sheila, blending her medical knowledge with fiction, explains how genre-based planning clarified her writing process. Discover how a clear framework can break down barriers and ignite creativity!

Discover how clarity can transform your writing process. Fast drafting isn't about rushing but having a solid understanding of your story's foundations. Learn why common advice can lead to frustration and how a little prep work can save you time in rewriting. Hear inspiring stories of writers who overcame anxiety and achieved significant progress by focusing on essential elements like genre and character. With the right roadmap, you can draft confidently and create compelling narratives without sacrificing quality.

Uncover the hidden fears behind feeling 'not ready' to write your novel. Discover how endless research can trap you in preparation mode, preventing action. Learn that clarity emerges only through drafting, not planning. Embrace the idea of starting imperfectly and use low-pressure writing experiments to build confidence. Hear inspiring stories of writers who overcame perfectionism and finished their novels. Equip yourself with diagnostic questions to differentiate between needing more prep and just avoiding decisions.

This episode dives into the mindset traps that keep writers stuck. Discover why your thoughts might be sabotaging your progress rather than your skills. Learn to embrace the concept of progress over perfection to push past those pesky opening chapters. Shift from endless analysis to taking action and gain confidence in your writing. Finally, uncover the value of layering your storytelling to reduce overwhelm. It’s all about making your novel feel manageable and freeing yourself from the pressure of perfection!

Join Karyn Fischer, a seasoned book coach and former literary agent, Alice Sudlow, a developmental editor specializing in story refinement, and Julie Artz, an author and line-editing expert, as they share invaluable tips for polishing prose. They delve into using dynamic verbs to invigorate writing, maintaining clarity, flow, and purpose in scenes, and strategically varying sentence lengths to enhance emotion. Plus, discover practical tools like reading aloud and tracking junk words to elevate your editing game and make every line count!

Join bestselling poet Shelby Leigh, who has sold over 60,000 copies of her poetry, as she shares her journey from anonymous writer to marketing guru. She discusses the importance of building an authentic author platform and when to start—ideally months before your launch. Shelby introduces her "Show, Sell, Story Tell" framework to connect with readers and offers essential tips on email lists and website setups. Learn to avoid common pitfalls and embrace your unique marketing style, even if you're an introvert!