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If you keep working on your novel but never seem to get closer to “The End,” these five novel writing myths may explain why—and show you what to do differently.

If you've been working on the same novel for months (or years), you've probably wondered why you still can't seem to finish it. Maybe you've blamed your schedule, your motivation, or your talent. Or maybe you've started to wonder if you're just not cut out for this. But what if the real reason you're stuck is none of those things?

In this episode, I'm walking through the five most common novel writing myths I see holding writers back, and what's actually true instead. You'll see why getting stuck usually isn't a time, talent, or idea problem, it's a process problem, and why that's genuinely good news.

You'll hear me talk about things like:

[02:00] Why more time, motivation, and discipline almost never fix the real problem, and the one thing that actually makes the time you have useful.

[04:39] The difference between learning that moves your story forward and learning that's quietly become a way of avoiding the page.

[07:57] Why beautiful writing and good storytelling aren't the same thing, and which one actually gets a first draft finished.

[11:14] The trap of trying to get every part of your story right on the first pass, and how to build a novel in layers instead.

[15:13] What getting stuck is actually telling you, and why it's information you can use, not a verdict on you or your idea.

Whether you've been blaming your schedule, buying another craft book, or quietly wondering if you're cut out for this, this episode will help you see your stuck points differently, as something you can actually solve, one decision at a time.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Get on the Notes to Novel waitlist.
• Ep. 203 - Why Writing Advice Is Keeping You Stuck (& What to Do Instead)
• Ep. 207 - What Agents & Readers Want: How to Write a Story That Works

⭐ 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!

Struggling to make forward progress in your novel? This free guide will help you identify what's really slowing you down and find a clearer path forward. Click here to grab yours for free!

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

Stuck writing your novel? Wherever your draft stalls out—chapter one, 20,000 words, the messy middle—that spot isn't random. It's a clue that tells you exactly what your story is missing.

Almost every writer who gets stuck while drafting a novel assumes the same thing: that hitting a wall means something about them. That they're not disciplined enough, they're not a "real" writer, or they simply don't have what it takes to finish a book.

But getting stuck isn't a verdict on you as a writer. In fact, it's valuable information you can use to your advantage. Because the exact place where you lose momentum may just reveal the missing piece in your story's foundation. And the good news is that those gaps are fixable.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the three most common places writers get stuck while drafting a novel, what each one reveals about your story, and how to fix the underlying issue so you can move forward without anything holding you back.

You'll hear me talk about things like:

[00:54] Why getting stuck doesn't mean you're a bad writer (and how your stall gives you valuable information about your story).

[02:27] Why writers get stuck in chapter one and how to tell when you have a situation instead of a fully developed story.

[05:16] The real reason many writers hit a wall around 20,000 words (and the missing piece that keeps Act 1 from moving into Act 2).

[08:32] Why the messy middle feels impossible to write when your antagonist isn't creating enough pressure and conflict.

[13:42] How Stefanie, Cheryl, and Gina found the missing pieces in their stories, broke through their sticking points, and went on to finish and publish their novels.

Getting stuck isn't proof that you're not meant to write your book. It's a sign that your story is asking you to strengthen something underneath the surface. And when you know what's missing, you can go back, build the foundation, and move forward with a story that can actually support a full-length novel.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Get on the Notes To Novel Waitlist
• Ep. 206 - Student Spotlight: How Gina Elizabeth Went From Stuck to Publishing Two Books in Just One Year
• Ep. 189 - Student Spotlight: From First Draft to Published Novel at 72 With Cheryl Arko
• Ep. 71 - Student Spotlight: How She Wrote a Novel in 6 Months (and Landed an Agent 10 Months Later) with Stefanie Medrek

⭐ 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!

Struggling to make forward progress in your novel? This free guide will help you identify what's really slowing you down and find a clearer path forward. Click here to grab yours for free!

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