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

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 
⭐ 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
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.

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
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.

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
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.

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
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.