I have not been a podcast listener, but since we’ve hit spring and I need to do yardwork, I’ve supplemented by usual playlist with some fiction writing podcasts.
Today I listened to Savannah Gilbo‘s Fiction Writing Made Easy, Episode #240, “10 Writing Mistakes That Make Readers Put Down Your Novel.” I have to say, this one hit home. I agree with what she’s set out as mistakes, and I recognized my work in several of them.
This led to some thinking. Not spiraling, just thinking. My writing mindset isn’t that I need to make it perfect right now, it’s that it needs to be perfectible eventually. Like several drafts down the road eventually.
But thinking about my sins lead to inspiration. I now have a much stronger way to start the novel, and I’m going to bake the antagonist into the story much earlier and much more tightly. I can use the new starting ideas to introduce clear goals and stakes for my protagonist to fight back against.
If you like to write, I suggest giving the episode a listen. It’s useful to get that sort of outside perspective. Savannah Gilbo, thanks for the insight!
Here are today’s stats and context-free quote:
Date 3/24/2026
Words (Draft) 994
Words (Elsewhere) 0
Words (Total) 994
Characters (Draft) 5569
Characters (Elsewhere) 0
Characters (Total) 5569
Session Target 1690
Wendy squeezed her eyes shut and dropped her forehead to the bar. Without looking up, she yelled out, “Zeb, will you be ready to serve food Thursday evening?”
“Yes, chef.” There was a pause. “Appetizers only. I’ll write up a menu.”
“Thank you, Zeb.”
Wendy gently pounded her head on the table. Patricia put a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh. She gave up and her laughter filled the room.
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