#131: 5 Steps To Start Planning Your Book Series

“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! Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:48] Sunday Update - This week will be a mixed bag. I’m taking a 2-day online course from Laura Belgray, who’s sharing a behind-the-scenes look at her most recent book launch. The other fun thing I’m doing is giving a presentation for ProWritingAid’s Romance Writers Week. Also, the third Crescent City book from Sarah J. Maas comes out this week, and I am so excited to read that.

[06:48] Monday Update - Today, there are two big things I need to do: craft some emails for the Women In Publishing Summit, which I'm speaking at in March. The other big thing I'm working on is growing my email list and one of the ways I’m planning to do that is to be a guest on as many other writing podcasts as possible.

[11:08] Tuesday Update - I’m coaching a writer who is working on two stories at once. Working on two projects at once would be hard for most people to handle. However, because this author has two novels in different stages of the process, it allows her to use different parts of her brain on different days.

[16:33] Wednesday Update - The virtual class that Laura Belgray is hosting is about how she launched her book, Tough Titties, and it was awesome. I also have a little bit of a selfish reason for wanting to see what she did because I have a book coming out later this year, and I’m hoping to learn from what Laura did so that I can have a great book launch myself.

[21:03] Thursday Update - It's so easy to second-guess ourselves when it comes to mapping out or outlining our stories. There are so many decisions to be made. If you are a student of my Notes to Novel class, you can submit your loglines for me to review during any of our Q&A calls. If you don't know what a logline is, it’s essentially a 1-2 sentence summary of your story—and you can craft it before you’ve even outlined or written a single word of your book.

[28:57] Friday Update - I am writing a book and it’s an analysis of the first Harry Potter book. It’s a craft book for writers that’s going to dig into the big picture and the small picture to find out why and how this story works so well. This project is something I started 5+ years ago, and it got shelved for various reasons but is now coming back into the spotlight. 

Links Mentioned In This Episode

• Episode #54: How to Test an Idea Before Writing the First Draft
• Episode #94: How to Reveal Your Character’s Inner Life on the Page
• Episode #102: 3 Common Interiority Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
• Waitlist: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Analysis Guide 

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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! Here's a preview of what's included: 

[04:39] Chapter summary: In the opening chapter, the author employs a tight focus on Katniss's perspective, utilizing vivid imagery and carefully chosen details to immerse the reader in the setting.

[08:57] Macro analysis: We use Paula Munier’s 7 Key Questions to highlight the multifaceted nature of the narrative, incorporating elements of action, societal critique, and internal transformation.

[44:16] Micro analysis: We talk through the structure of the scene using The Story Grid’s 5 Commandments. We focus on a specific scene involving Katniss and Gale since it is a well-crafted and impactful part of the narrative, showcasing the author's adept talent to convey character dynamics, conflicts, and thematic depth.

[01:04 ] Final thoughts: Reflecting on this scene, it becomes apparent how it propels the narrative forward and leaves a lasting impact on the characters entwined within it. Ultimately, this initial chapter accomplishes all the essential functions expected of a compelling opening.

Click here to check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 5 Mistakes Writers Make in Their Opening Pages
• How to Write a Well-Structured Scene
• A New Workshop For Writers: How to Hook Readers in Your First Five Pages
• Understanding Genre: How to Write Better Stories

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:42] Savannah discusses the the three primary categories of book series—static, dynamic, and anthology.

[03:06] The 5 steps to start planning your book series.

[11:48] Analyzing a character's journey across the Hunger Games trilogy.

[14:50] Unpacking Voldemort's grand plot objective versus the specific goals within each book—and the strategic implications.

[21:35] A useful exercise to stimulate plot ideas for your series.

[29:03] A bonus tip for enriching the worldbuilding/setting of your book series.

[32:45]  As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into planning a book series. Don’t expect to have everything figured out in one or two sittings. This is something you’ll need to start and add to over time, so please know that going into this process!

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

• Understanding Genre: How to Write Better Stories
• How to Uncover the Theme of Your Story

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“ 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 way to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:44] What is chemistry?

[03:01] The first thing we need to do when creating chemistry between two characters is to have fully fleshed-out characters with their own goals, motivations, and inner obstacles.

[03:42] Capitalize on opportunities for opposition and harmony between your characters.

[07:41] The 3 key ingredients of chemistry are vulnerability, desire, and resistance

[09:14] Examples from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

[17:51] Writing romantic tension between romantic and non-romantic characters

[22:56]  If you want to master crafting irresistible chemistry and tension, I highly recommend studying your favorite stories. This is the best way to improve your writing. You can ask yourself questions like:

• What do I like about the chemistry and tension between these two characters?
• How did the author play on each character’s vulnerabilities within the relationship?
• What does each character like (or desire) about the other (physically, mentally, and emotionally)?
• How did the author create resistance between the characters? Why do the characters not want the relationship to move forward?
• What can I replicate in my own writing?

And if you need help getting started with your story, check out my FREE Story Starter Kit: 5 Questions To Ask Before You Start Writing. This fillable workbook will help you build out the foundational elements of your story: genre, character, setting, plot, and theme. Grab your free copy here!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 5 Questions to Help You Write Better Characters
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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 kickstart your marketing efforts. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[3:55] Where should new writers market their books?

[05:14] Alexa advises on what to do if you're afraid of marketing your book.

[09:06] How soon should writers start thinking about marketing their books?

[14:16] After writing 14 non-fiction books, what is it like for Alexa to now be in the fiction world?

[22:22] Alexa shares her ideas for marketing the second book of her series.

[35:56] Alexa talks about the Women In Publishing Summit, a virtual conference for authors of all experience levels to learn and connect with others in the industry.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Women In Publishing Summit  
• Alexa's Instagram  

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[03:47] What are obligatory scenes and conventions (and why are they important)?

[06:58] 3 steps to finding the obligatory scenes and conventions for your story's genre.

[10:31] Savannah breaks out most of the required scenes and conventions, which you can download by visiting the blog post for this episode.

[13:58] How to handle the obligatory scenes and conventions of your subplots vs. the main storyline.

[16:51] Final thoughts: If you don’t do the work to understand your genre, you’ll have a hard time getting your books into the hands of readers. And without readers, your story will never be experienced. That’s a terrible thought, right? To avoid this, know your genre and give your readers what they’re expecting in a new and exciting way. Give them the emotional experience they’re looking for, and you’ll earn loyal fans for life.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 2: Understanding Genre: How to Write Better Stories
• Ep. 95: How to Start Writing Your Sci-Fi or Fantasy Novel
• STORY by Robert Mckee
• The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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 our interest and pulls us into the story. Here's a preview of what's included:  

[02:40] Chapter summary: Abigail reads a summary of the first chapter and talks about how (and why) the author gives away the ending of the story upfront.

[15:52] Macro analysis: We talk through the 7 Key Questions as laid out by Paula Munier in her book, The Writer's Guide to Beginnings, and how the chapter serves as a compelling opening for a character-driven story.

[21:42] Abigail talks about how this story is a great example of a novel with a unique voice.

[45:46] Micro analysis: We talk through the structure of the scene using the 5 Commandment scene framework as laid out by Shawn Coyne at The Story Grid, including the use of “postcard scenes”—a term they borrowed from Donald Maass.

[58:30] Final thoughts: The first chapter is essential in driving the story forward so writers should ensure that they are delivering enough of the big picture to engage readers.

Click here to check out the LitMatch Podcast with Abigail Perry! You can also get in touch with Abigail through her website or on Instagram @abigailkperry.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Donald Moss’ Postcard Scenes

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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. Here's a preview of what's included:

[02:30] Jessica introduces herself and shares her experience writing fiction using the Save The Cat! plotting method.

[04:00] Savannah asks Jessica about marrying the external plot of a story to the protagonist's internal arc. Savannah sees a lot of writers focus solely on the external plot events and not enough on character growth and development. Jessica shares her thoughts on how to make sure you're balancing both plot and character as you write.

[11:45] Savannah asks Jessica to talk about two important multi-scene beats—the Fun and Games beat and the Bad Guys Close In beat. Jessica shares her thoughts on breaking these longer beats down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

[18:00] Savannah asks Jessica about being too rigid with the Save The Cat! structure. Specifically, what happens if your beats don't line up with the percentages recommended? Jessica shares her thoughts.

[21:50] Jessica talks about how she had a hard time with the All Is Lost beat and the Dark Night Of The Soul beat until she figured out a very important distinction.

[30:40] Jessica talks about some things to consider in terms of your first 25-50 pages when it comes time to query agents.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Jessica Brody on her website or connect with her on Instagram
• Check out Jessica's craft books to go deeper into the STC! method—Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a YA Novel
• Join Jessica's membership, The Writing Mastery Academy, and get $20 off your annual membership using code 'FWME'

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“ 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 rectifying them if you've already fallen prey. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:20] Having gratitude for every mistake encountered and acknowledging that they served as valuable lessons. The repetition of these errors helped Savannah develop numerous solutions, contributing to her growth as a writer, editor, and book coach

[05:38] The essence of a story lies in how external events impact someone striving for a challenging goal and the subsequent transformation they undergo. The narrative's power lies in the underlying story, not just the eloquence of words. Without a compelling story, the manuscript lacks substance.

[11:07] Common worries and self-doubt faced by writers often revolve around questioning one's capability and self-worth. Shift to tackling these concerns by identifying the content genre of the story, offering a pathway to navigate and overcome these common anxieties in writing.

[17:53] Advice to choose one or two writing methods that resonate with writers and focus on them. Whether it's scene structure or character development, selecting a preferred approach like scene and sequel or goal-motivation-conflict is encouraged.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• How to Outline Your Novel with Save the Cat!
• How to Write a Well-Structured Scene
• Notes to Novel

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo

“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 writing a first draft. You're going to get to hear from real writers who are in the trenches, actively working on their novels and I think it'll be very fun for you to hear how they did it plus some of their biggest takeaways. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[01:26] Lindsay Sfara shares her experience where she initially faced challenges with an insufficiently detailed outline, leading to a lack of direction in her superhero fantasy novel.

She highlights her struggles and the transformative impact of the Notes to Novel course.

[07:56] Liya Gray has been working on a YA series since 2015, facing challenges and halting progress. She credits Savannah’s course for unlocking a new understanding of her story's structure, and realizing the difference between scenes and chapters.

[12:43] Ami Blackford talks about her insights into the Notes to Novel course and its impact on her writing journey. Amy, initially felt there were missing pieces in her eighth novel's outline but she highlights four significant takeaways from the course regarding theme, content genre vs. commercial genre, structured scenes, and fast first draft and magical edits.

[18:46] Tanja Fabsits shares her experience with her first novel, and a significant realization during the course was related to scene structure, but her favorite takeaway was the overall feeling of relaxing into the outlining process.

[20:56] Morgan Schrock, with a background in scientific writing for journals, decided to write a fiction novel. Her most significant realization was that the middle of her story felt boring, and she identified the problem as a lack of agency for her main character. The course's outlining technique proved to be a game-changer for her.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Lindsay Sfara  - Instagram
• Liya Grey - Website, Instagram, Facebook
• Ami Blackford - Website, Instagram, Facebook
• Tanja Fabsits - Book
• Morgan Shrock - X, Instagram
• Free Workshop - The Confident Writer's Roadmap

Click here to get 15% off a 30+ page manuscript report from The Spun Yarn's beta readers! Use code SAVANNAHGILBO at checkout.

If you enjoyed this episode of the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast, please rate, review, and follow this show!

Follow me on Instagram @savannah.gilbo