She wrote her first novel in 15-minute increments—in drive-through lines, at the dance studio, at swim lessons—while raising two kids and walking through one of the hardest seasons of her family's life. And she finished her book. 

That's Jackie Henley's (pen name J.J. Henley) story, and I wanted to bring her onto the podcast because I know so many of you feel like life keeps getting in the way of writing your novel. Jackie's story is proof that it doesn't have to.

Jackie is a mom of two, a former teacher, and a long-time Bookstagrammer who spent years reviewing other people's stories before she finally decided to write one of her own. She went through my Notes to Novel program and finished her debut romantic suspense, writing most of it in small pockets of time between school drop-offs, swim lessons, and drive-through lines.

In this episode, she walks us through the whole journey, and I know you're going to find it incredibly inspiring.

Here's what we talk about:

[05:58] How beta reading a friend's novel made Jackie realize she could actually write her own and why seeing a story in its messy state changed her mindset entirely. 

[15:14] Why Jackie resisted calling her book a thriller with a romance subplot and the ‘aha’ moment that completely changed her mind on this. 

[23:07] How having a scene-by-scene outline made her 15-minute writing sessions low-stress, productive, and effective. 

[28:13] What happened when her son stopped sleeping, her writing windows disappeared, and her family was navigating one of the hardest seasons of their lives (and how she kept going anyway).

[38:30] Her honest take on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, and what shifted her perspective entirely.

If you've been waiting for the right time to write your book, or if life keeps getting in the way and you're not sure you have enough time to actually finish, this one's for you.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Join The Notes To Novel Waitlist
• J.J. Henley / Jackie Henley on Instagram

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Learn how to market your book in a way that aligns with your values, builds genuine reader connections, and feels sustainable instead of draining.

Book Marketing. These two words make most writers want to close their laptops and hide forever. But what if it didn't have to feel that way?

In this episode, I'm joined by award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist and certified creativity coach Beth Barany to talk about what she calls heart-centered book marketing: A values-driven approach to promoting your story that actually feels aligned with who you are.

We break down how to market your book without feeling salesy, how to identify the core values behind your writing, and how to build meaningful reader relationships that energize you rather than drain you.

Here’s what we cover:

[04:35] What heart-centered book marketing actually means and how it differs from the traditional advice you'll find everywhere online.

[07:57] Why chasing other people's book marketing strategies leads to burnout, and a key question to ask yourself before adopting any tactic.

[11:01] How to uncover your core values as a writer and why your novel characters can actually help you do it.

[15:47] A real example of how Beth uses her values to choose her book marketing platforms, including a creative Reddit strategy she's currently exploring.

[22:18] Why you should ditch the "buy my book" approach and use your story's tropes to invite the right readers in instead.

[24:36] Why fangirling authors you love is the easiest free marketing strategy and how it can lead to real collaborations and unexpected opportunities.

Whether you're pre-launch, mid-series, or just exhausted by marketing advice that doesn't feel like you, this episode will give you a refreshing, permission-giving framework to promote your book in a way that's sustainable, authentic, and actually kind of fun.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Beth Barany Website
• Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap Workbook 
• Beth Barany Instagram 
• Beth Barany Podcast 

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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
• Take the Author Success Quiz

⭐ Follow & Review

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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 

⭐ Follow & Review

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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.

⭐ Follow & Review

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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 

⭐ Follow & Review

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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

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Discover the five craft techniques that make morally gray characters impossible to put down—so you can write complex, compelling figures readers will argue about, defend, and love despite everything.

Morally gray characters are some of the most memorable in fiction. Think Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones), Kaz Brekker (Six of Crows), Severus Snape (Harry Potter), or Amy Dunne (Gone Girl). These are the characters readers can't stop thinking about long after the book is finished.

But what actually makes them work? It's not randomness or shock value. And it's definitely not just "bad person with a sad backstory." It's intentional craft.

In this episode, I'm breaking down five tips for writing morally gray characters that feel authentic, nuanced, and impossible to look away from—whether you're writing fantasy, thriller, romance, or any other genre.

You'll hear me talk about things like:

• [02:45] What "morally gray" actually means and how it differs from the antihero—so you can stop conflating the two and start building true moral complexity.
• [04:25] How to create a character worldview that justifies their actions, including the role of backstory, goals, and the personal code that reveals what they truly value.
• [07:51] Why lose-lose dilemmas are essential for morally gray characters—and how to construct impossible choices that test your character and keep readers emotionally invested.
• [10:05] The importance of letting your character make questionable choices with real consequences—and why softening the gray undermines everything you've built.
• [12:50] How to keep readers invested in a morally gray character even when their choices are hard to stomach (hint: it's not about making them likable).
• [14:54] The redemption arc trap most writers fall into—and why the best morally gray characters don't get "fixed" by the end of the story.

If you've ever struggled to write a complex antagonist, a flawed protagonist, or a love interest readers can't quite root for but can't look away from either, this episode will give you the tools to craft morally gray characters with confidence and intention.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Notes To 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!

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Discover how five Notes to Novel students stopped guessing their way through drafts by planning and outlining their stories with a clear structure.

In this Student Spotlight episode, you’ll hear from five Notes to Novel students who entered the program actively writing, but couldn’t see why their drafts weren't working or how to fix them.

Each case study shows what changed once these writers had a clear process to follow—one that helped them turn their ideas into a story that works.

You’ll hear how confusion turned into clear decision-making, how outlines became practical tools for guiding the draft, and how stalled stories started moving forward once these writers understood what their stories actually needed.

Here’s what we cover: 

[03:00] How Maggie moved from self-doubt and “am I even a real writer?” thinking to confidently outlining a rich fantasy novel with a clear antagonist and story direction.

[07:00] How John spiced up the middle of his story by strengthening stakes, side characters, and theme, and learned to treat his outline as a flexible, living document.

[12:00] How Insa rebuilt her women’s fiction novel by clarifying genre, layering conflict into every scene, and writing over 15,000 words in just days after finishing Notes To Novel. 

[17:45] How Emily broke out of over-learning mode, found the missing middle of her story, and gained clarity on conflict, antagonists, and scene-level momentum.

[23:45] How Samantha uncovered the core misunderstanding holding her romance novels back and finally found a clear path to revising and finishing her draft.

Ready to finish your novel without second-guessing every word, sentence, or scene? Join Maggie, John, Insa, Emily, and Samantha, along with hundreds of other writers who've discovered that drafting doesn't have to feel hard. You just need the right roadmap.

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. Doors open January 22nd until January 28th. Don't miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished, easy-to-edit first draft you love. 

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Notes to Novel
• Maggie Rose Instagram
• Emily S. 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!

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Five writers. Five different starting points. One clear framework that turned stalled first drafts into steady progress.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing real stories from five Notes to Novel students who were stuck in very different ways but wanted the same thing: clarity and forward momentum on their novels.

You'll hear from writers who were buried in craft books, sitting on drafts that didn’t work, rewriting in circles, or unsure if they were “too far along” or “not far enough” to get help.  What changed was simple: they stopped guessing and started working with a clear framework they could trust.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what your next step should be, there’s a good chance you’ll hear your own experience reflected in this episode.

Here’s what we cover:

[04:01] How Carolyn went from a shaky first draft structure to confidently plotting a new novel with clear scenes, stakes, and forward momentum.

[07:42] How Hazel broke free from information overload and rebuilt her outline from the ground up with a clear theme and scene-level direction.

[11:20] How Josephine stopped over-learning, trusted one proven process, and moved from endless brainstorming to fast drafting with confidence.

[17:03] How Warren, a self-published author, fixed the middle of his story using key scenes, antagonists, and pinch points.

[19:49] How Rachel turned 130,000 words into a clear, pitchable 85,000-word story that she’s proud of and can explain with confidence.

Ready to finish your novel without second-guessing every word, sentence, or scene? Join Carolyn, Hazel, Josephine, Warren, Rachel, and hundreds of other writers who've discovered that drafting doesn't have to feel hard. You just need the right roadmap.

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. Doors open January 22nd until January 28th. Don't miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished, easy-to-edit first draft you love. 

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Join The Notes To Novel Waitlist
• Carolyn Freudenthal Website
• Hazel Dawson Instagram
• Josephine Noble Website
• Warren Dunn Website

⭐ 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!

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Discover how three Notes to Novel™ students stopped guessing their way through drafting and built steady, sustainable momentum toward a finished first draft.

In this short bonus episode, I'm sharing three real case studies from past Notes to Novel students who were all stuck in different ways but wanted the same thing: to finish their first draft. 

You’ll hear how each writer went from stalled, inconsistent drafting to steady momentum once they stopped overthinking and started working with a clear story structure and scene-level direction. 

These aren't theories or abstract tips. They're real examples of what changes when writers have a proven process that they can trust.

Here’s what we cover:

[03:56] How Lindsay went from 25,000 words in six months to a 100,000-word draft after finding the missing piece that finally made her story flow.

[08:47] Why Alison kept putting finished drafts in a drawer, and the realization that finally explained why her scenes weren't working.

[10:40] How Sharon, a first-time novelist, set a realistic goal of 6,000 words per week and finished her entire first draft two days ahead of schedule, stress-free. 

[13:18] The drafting strategy that keeps you moving forward with confidence instead of second-guessing every scene you write

Ready to stop stalling and start finishing? Join Lindsay, Alison, Sharon, and hundreds of other writers who've discovered that drafting doesn't have to feel like a slog. You just need the right roadmap. 

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. Doors open January 22nd—don't miss your chance to turn your ideas into a finished draft you're proud of.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Get on the Notes To Novel Waitlist

⭐ 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!

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.