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

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
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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 
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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.
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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 
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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.