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Bonus: Making Time To Write: How 3 Busy Writers Finished Their First Drafts episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 10, 2025 · 16 MIN

Bonus: Making Time To Write: How 3 Busy Writers Finished Their First Drafts

from Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice · host Savannah Gilbo

What if the reason you haven't written your novel has nothing to do with how many hours are in your day? "I don't have time to write" might be the most common excuse that stops aspiring authors before they even start. But here’s what I’ve learned after working with hundreds of writers… It’s not about how much time you have that matters. It’s about what you do with your limited time that counts. In this episode, you'll hear from three busy writers who had every legitimate reason to put their writing dreams on hold—yet didn't. Meet Maddie, a mom of four kids aged one to six who wrote her first draft while juggling pregnancy, a newborn, and a copywriting career. Rhonda, a clinical pharmacist who transitioned from competing in 14-hour triathlons to writing an 80,000-word manuscript. And Mark, a former college administrator, worried it was too late in life to learn how to write a novel. None of them found magical extra hours in their day. Instead, they discovered something far more powerful: how to make their limited writing time more effective. In this episode, you’ll learn: [03:00] How a mom of four young children completed her first draft in just six months of actual writing time, including taking a year-long break for pregnancy and a newborn, without losing momentum [06:25] Why one debut author discovered that following a proven framework didn't create a cookie-cutter novel—it actually freed him to be more creative and original [09:35] The mindset shift that helped a 45-year-old clinical pharmacist transition from grueling 14-hour triathlons to completing her first 80,000-word novel [13:20] Why having limited writing time can actually make you a more effective writer, when you know exactly what to write in each session Ready to stop using "no time" as your excuse? Join Maddie, Rhonda, Mark, and hundreds of other busy writers who've discovered that you don't need more hours—you need a better plan. Get on the waitlist for the next open enrollment of my Notes to Novel course and get my complete, step-by-step framework for writing a story that works. Don’t miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished draft you’re proud of! 🔗 Links mentioned in this episode: Grab this free guide to discover how busy writers (with kids, jobs, and real lives!) find time to write consistently and finish their novels: 5 Time Management Strategies to Help You Write Your Novel Madi Unruh Instagram Mark Mrozinski 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! FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author! Support the show

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 10, 2025

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What if the reason you haven't written your novel has nothing to do with how many hours are in your day? "I don't have time to write" might be the most common excuse that stops aspiring authors before they even start. But here’s what I’ve learned after working with hundreds of writers… It’s not about how much time you have that matters. It’s about what you do with your limited time that counts. In this episode, you'll hear from three busy writers who had every legitimate reason to put their w...

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Bonus: Making Time To Write: How 3 Busy Writers Finished Their First Drafts

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This episode is 16 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 10, 2025.

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