Writing a novel is a really massive undertaking and without the right approach , it's really easy to get lost and stuck , but the other thing I know for sure is that it doesn't have to be this way forever .
Speaker 1Once you understand what's really keeping you stuck , you can break free from that cycle and finally finish the book that you've been dreaming about writing .
Speaker 1Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast . My name is Savannah Gilbo and I'm here to help you write a story that works . I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming , so each week , I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple , actionable and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away . So , whether you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned author looking to improve your craft , this podcast is for you . So pick up a pen and let's get started . Have you ever heard the statistic that says that 97% of adults want to write a book , but only 3% of those people ever actually finish one ? Well , in today's episode , we're going to talk about why that is , or why so many aspiring authors , who start out with big dreams of writing a novel , end up stuck , overwhelmed and wondering if they're even cut out to be a writer . But before we dive into the details , I have something super exciting to share . My Notes to Novel course is opening for enrollment very soon . This is my signature eight-week program designed to help you confidently write a story you're proud of , without the self-doubt , frustration or overwhelm that stops most writers in their tracks . So if you've been wanting to work with me on your novel and follow a step-by-step framework to turn your ideas into a finished draft , then this is your chance . I'll be sharing more details soon , but if you want to be the first to know when doors open and snag a few extra goodies in the meantime , make sure you're on the waitlist at savannahgilbocom forward slash waitlist .
Speaker 1All right , so let's dive into today's episode . I'm going to break down exactly why this happens , why so many people never finish their books and , more importantly , how you can make sure you're part of that 3% who actually finishes what they start . I think a lot of us can relate to that initial excitement that comes when we have a new idea for a story . We sit down to write and maybe the first chapter just flows out of us beautifully . The characters feel real , the world feels fun and it comes alive on the page , but then something starts to shift . All of a sudden the plot feels really messy , characters aren't coming together in the way you imagined and you realize that you don't actually know what happens in the middle of your story . Then life gets busy and suddenly that dream of finishing a novel feels impossible . If this sounds familiar , I want you to know that you are not alone .
Speaker 1Writing a novel is a really massive undertaking and without the right approach it's really easy to get lost and stuck . But the other thing I know for sure is that it doesn't have to be this way forever . Once you understand what's really keeping you stuck , you can break free from that cycle and finally finish the book that you've been dreaming about writing . So , after working with countless aspiring authors , I've identified five main reasons why so many writers never make it to the end . So the first roadblock , or the first reason why you might not be finishing the drafts that you start , is that you started writing without a clear plan , and I always say that diving into a novel without a roadmap is like trying to build a house without blueprints . You might make a little progress at first , but eventually you'll run out of steam and you won't know what to do next .
Speaker 1Now , many writers start with just a vague idea of their story and they hope they'll figure it out as they go . But what ends up happening is they reach the dreaded saggy middle and they have no idea how to move forward . And then , because there's no plan in place , they end up writing themselves into corners . So characters get introduced but serve no real purpose . Plot threads are started but they're never resolved . Every decision they need to make becomes a struggle because they're not sure if it fits within the bigger picture . So eventually they get so confused about their own story that abandoning it feels like the only option .
Speaker 1So if you can relate to this , I want you to know that even a simple outline or creating some kind of roadmap can change everything . So , for example
, knowing the key plot points , like the inciting incident , the midpoint twist and the climax , even just identifying a general sense of what happens in these three key scenes , that's going to give you a much clearer path to follow than not knowing what anything looks like when you start writing . Now , that's not to say that you need every plot detail figured out , but having those guidepost scenes or the key plot points of your story figured out will help you move in the right direction , especially when doubt creeps in , which we all know that it will . So if you started writing without some kind of plan and if you're stuck somewhere in the middle , or if you had to give up on a draft , then I would highly encourage you to make some kind of plan . Remember even just a simple outline , because it really can make a big difference . All right , so that is roadblock number one starting without a clear plan .
Speaker 1Roadblock number two is perfectionism . That kills progress , and this one trips up more writers than almost any other issue . So what this looks like is you get stuck trying to make every sentence perfect . You're editing as you write , spending hours rewriting the same paragraph over and over and over , and that little voice in your head insists that you can't move to chapter two until chapter one is absolutely flawless . And this approach kills momentum completely , because , instead of making progress on your story , you're instead trapped in an endless cycle of revision , and then you start to dislike your story because you're hyper focused on its flaws . So eventually you convince yourself that if you can't even get the first chapter right , then what's the point ? You'll never be able to write a whole book if this is how it's going to go .
Speaker 1But here's the truth that successful writers who finish their books and go on to publish their books here's what they understand . Your first draft does not need to be perfect , it just needs to exist , and you've probably
heard some version of this advice all over the internet . But it is true that you can't edit a blank page , but you can always improve a messy first draft , and it is true that the magic happens in revisions , but first you need something to revise to enable that magic to happen . So if you think this is the reason you're getting stuck , or the reason that you've given up on manuscripts in the past , then I want you to try to give yourself permission to write something that isn't perfect , because the thing is that's not just a band-aid to help you move forward . It's actually a necessary step for you to finish your novel . Right , you need to get the story out of your head and onto the page , and only then can you revise what you come up with .
Speaker 1Alright , so that is roadblock number two perfectionism that kills progress . Roadblock number three is information overwhelm . That paralyzes progress , and it's no secret that in today's world , there is an overwhelming amount of writing advice available right . You read blog posts about story structure , you watch YouTube videos about character development , you buy course after course , hoping one of them will finally unlock the secret to finishing your novel , and the irony of it is that all of this learning is often what keeps people from writing . So , instead of becoming a practicing writer , you become a perpetual student . You might know more about writing theory than many published authors do , but you still can't seem to apply it to your own work . And , even worse , every piece of advice seems to contradict the last thing you read , leaving you second-guessing every decision and frozen by all the conflicting rules and advice . If you can relate to this , I promise you are not alone . It happens way more than you think , and here's what I've learned from working with writers who get stuck in this particular roadblock over the years . You really don't need to master everything about writing before you start . You just need to take the next step
and focus on what's in front of you , and the best advice I can give you is to choose one proven process or one method and commit to it all the way to the end of a draft . So stop consuming all the conflicting information out there , all the different advice and just choose one process or one method , commit to it and move forward , because remember progress is going to beat perfection every single time when it comes to finishing your novel . Okay , so that is roadblock number three information overwhelm that freezes your forward progress . Roadblock number four is fear that stops you in your tracks .
Speaker 1Fear shows up in more ways than you might expect when you're trying to finish a novel . There's the obvious fear of failure . So what if your book isn't good enough ? What if people hate it ? Right , but there's also the less obvious fear of success . What if your book is actually really good ? Will you ever be able to write another one that measures up to that first book ? Or what will you do if people start expecting too much from you ? Right , it's the other side of the coin , and no matter what kind of fear you're feeling , whenever fear takes control , excuses tend to multiply . So suddenly you feel like you need to start doing more research . Or maybe you feel like you don't have the right writing space , or you're not in the right headspace , or maybe it'll be different this weekend .
Speaker 1Have the right writing space , or you're not in the right headspace , or maybe it'll be different this weekend . You might even start other projects to avoid finishing the one you're working on , and things like that . Right , but deep down , what's happening is you're protecting yourself from both the possibility of failure and the pressure that comes with potential success . So , if you are dealing with this particular roadblock , the key to moving past it lies in shifting your focus from
the outcome to progress . Every word you write is progress , regardless of the quality , and I want you to remember , too , that every draft you write teaches you something valuable , even if it never sees the light of day . And the only real failure is letting your fear stop you from trying to write a book or finishing the books that you start . And I think it's also important to remember that published authors aren't the ones who never felt fear , right , they're the ones who wrote the book and finished the book despite feeling fear , because , at the end of the day , we're all human . We all feel some version of fear when it comes to doing something new and something big and something important , like writing a novel . Okay , so that is roadblock number four fear that stops you in your tracks .
Speaker 1Roadblock number five is writing in isolation , without support , and we all know that writing is inherently a solitary activity right , but that does not mean you have to go at it alone when trying to finish your novel . In fact , without accountability or support , it's going to be incredibly easy to lose motivation when life gets hectic or when you hit one of these inevitable roadblocks , and the reason for that is because there's no external pressure to keep going , there's no one cheering you on when things get tough , and I think for most of us , when we write in isolation , our novels become the first thing to go . When life gets busy , right , we stop setting aside time for our projects because no one else knows about our goals and our deadlines but ourselves , and then that doubt creeps in about whether our stories are even worth telling , because we're not able to make time for it and we're not making progress and things like that . So without some kind of outside encouragement or understanding or even accountability from other people who get the struggle that comes with writing a novel , it's very easy to drift
away from the work altogether . So if you feel like you're struggling with this particular roadblock , then I want you to know this Having someone to cheer you on and hold you accountable can change the entire game , whether it's a critique group , a writing buddy or an online community surrounding yourself with other writers who understand what you're doing , the journey you're on , and things like that . That's going to provide the motivation and support that you need to push through when times get tough . You do not have to do it alone . There are so many other people out there on the same journey as you who probably don't want to do it alone either , and sometimes all it takes is reaching out on social media or joining some kind of online community or something like that to find your perfect writing buddy . All right , so that is roadblock number five writing in isolation , without support .
Speaker 1Now here's the encouraging news the writers who finish their novels aren't necessarily the most talented or the ones with unlimited time . They're simply the ones who have learned to work with a clear process , embrace the imperfection and stay consistent . They understand that writing a novel is more like a marathon , not a sprint , and they've learned to work with their limitations instead of against them . They've embraced the messy magic of writing a first draft and they know that done beats perfect . Every single time the writers who finished their books . They didn't start with some kind of magical advantage or special talent . They simply learned what works and applied it consistently . They gave themselves permission to write imperfectly , celebrated small wins along the way and refused to give up when things got challenging . So the difference between finishing and not finishing often comes down to having the right roadmap , the right mindset and the right support system working together . I know it might feel like those successful writers have something you don't , but here's the truth . Every finished novel started with someone just like you , someone with an idea , some self-doubt and a dream to tell their story . And the writers who finish aren't the ones who never hit the roadblocks that we
talked about in today's episode . They're the ones who learn to navigate around them and finish anyway .
Speaker 1Imagine if you commit to pushing past these roadblocks today . Imagine where you could be in 6 to 12 months from now . Instead of still wondering if you can even write a novel , you could be holding your completed first draft in your hands . Instead of feeling like you're a wannabe writer , you could be confidently calling yourself a capital-A author . Instead of looking back on another year of unfulfilled dreams , you could be already planning to publish your book or outlining your next book . So , in my opinion , the question isn't whether you have what it takes to write a novel . You absolutely do . The question really is whether you're ready to stop letting these five roadblocks define your entire writing journey .
Speaker 1All right , now , real quick , before I let you go , I want to let you know that I have a free guide that talks about all the roadblocks we went over today . So it explains what the roadblocks are , why they happen , and then gives you the strategies to break through each one of the roadblocks . You'll also see some case studies and examples in there of writers just like you who have broken through these roadblocks and gone on to finish their books . So if you want to download that , it's totally free Go to savannahgilbocom forward slash roadblocks . And if you want to get my help busting through these five roadblocks , if you want to work with me on your novel and learn my step-by-step framework to turn your ideas into a finished draft , then get on the waitlist for my notes novel course , which will be opening for enrollment again very soon . Go to savannahgilbocom forward slash waitlist to get on the waitlist and snag a few extra goodies in the meantime , and you'll be the first to know when enrollment opens for that .
Speaker 1All right , so that's it for this episode of the fiction writing made easy podcast . Head over to savannahgilbocom forward slash podcast for the complete show notes , including the resources I mentioned today , as well as bonus materials to help you implement what you've learned , and if you're ready to get more personalized guidance
for your specific writing stage whether you're just starting out , stuck somewhere in the middle of a draft , drowning in revisions or getting ready to publish , take my free 30-second quiz at savannahgilbocom forward slash quiz . You'll get a customized podcast playlist that'll meet you right where you're at and help you get to your next big milestone . Last but not least , make sure to follow this podcast in your podcast player of choice , because I'll be back next week with another episode full of actionable tips , tools and strategies to help you become a better writer . Until then , happy writing .