FREE 60-MINUTE CLASS
The 5 Hidden Mistakes That Keep First-Time Novelists Stuck
And the Simple Fix That’s Helped 800+ Writers Make Real Progress on Their Books
Struggling with your novel? Whether you haven't started yet or lost in the middle, this free class breaks down the five hidden mistakes that derail 97% of writers. And how to avoid them so you can finally type, 'The End!'
Preslaysa Williams landed a book contract with Avon Books (HarperCollins) ✨
"I recommend working with a book coach because it's a great way to learn the craft of storytelling quickly without having to spend years toiling at it alone. As a result of Savannah's stellar coaching, I landed a book contract with Avon/HarperCollins!"
Poornika Kakkanaiah wrote her 114,000-word draft in only 88 days 📚
"Before Notes to Novel, I thought it would take me years to write a book. Fast drafting made the writing process fun and took a lot of the pressure out of it. I can now say that after finishing my first draft, I still love writing, maybe even more than I did when I started."
Lindsay Sfara went from 25k words in 6 months to 100k words in 6 months 💥
"I tried to write a draft on my own for six months and only hit about 25,000 words. But the six months after I took Notes to Novel, my draft reached 100,000 words. That's more than doubling my original writing pace."
In This Free 60-Minute Training, You'll Discover:
- The genre mistake that makes your story feel "off" to readers and how to fix it so your book feels alive.
- Why "plot-first" thinking leaves your characters flat and your story hollow, and how to create a plot that breathes life into your protagonist.
- The stakes blind spot that makes readers stop caring about your protagonist halfway through, and how to keep them obsessed until the final page.
- Why writing and editing at the same time is like driving with the brakes on, and the simple shift that doubles your writing speed to finish months sooner.
- The perfectionist trap that kills your momentum every time you stop to research one tiny detail, and how to stay in flow without sacrificing accuracy.
By the end of this class, you'll know exactly how to avoid the traps that derail most writers so you can finally finish the novel you've been dreaming of.
Is this you..?
You started your novel with so much energy, creativity, and enthusiasm. Perhaps you even shared your book idea with friends and family. But now you're staring at a half-finished Chapter 3 (or page one), wondering if you're cut out for this. And when someone asks about your book, you say, "Oh, you know, it's coming along."
You've dreamed of writing a novel for years, but something always gets in the way. Maybe you've started strong, only to hit a wall halfway through. Or perhaps you haven't started at all because of the conflicting advice about "the right way" to write. You've read so many rules that you're afraid to do anything wrong.
If this sounds familiar, I want you to know it's not your fault. Even though you feel like you're the only one who can't figure this out, 97% of first-time novelists experience this exact same thing. You're not alone.
And here's the good news: Once you know the five things that are holding you back, it's surprisingly easy to fix them. There's a way out of the stuckness, just like the 800+ writers I've helped.
What If You Could Write With Confidence, Clarity, & Conviction Because:
- You know what matters most to your characters, so readers feel personally invested in whether they get it (or not!)
- You know how to make readers in your genre think about your novel for days (months, years) after they finish it.
- You know the secret to making your plot and characters work together, so your story flows effortlessly from beginning to end.
- You know how to keep drafting without getting stuck in perfectionist editing loops, so you finish instead of rewriting Chapter 1 forever.
- You know how to research without killing your momentum, so you write faster and finish sooner.
Now, imagine this: You type the final words of your novel, close your laptop, and hold your finished draft in your hands. It's real. It's done. And it's everything you dreamed it would be.
MEET YOUR HOST
Savannah Gilbo is a developmental editor, book coach, and host of the top-ranked Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast (3M+ downloads). Known for her approachable, no-fluff teaching style, Savannah helps aspiring fiction authors confidently write, edit, and publish stories readers can’t put down.
Unlike generic writing advice that leaves you overwhelmed and second-guessing yourself, Savannah’s proven methods meet you exactly where you are—whether you’re staring at a blank page or stuck in the messy middle of Chapter 15.
With over 800 graduates from her signature program, Notes to Novel™, and a global community of 100,000+ writers, Savannah has helped authors overcome self-doubt, take creative risks, and finally bring their stories to life. Her clients have landed publishing deals with HarperCollins, won prestigious awards, and even had their stories optioned for film.
Now, she’s sharing her best-kept strategies in this free webinar to help you finish the novel you’ve been dreaming of—and do it with confidence.
Amanda Norris overcame frustration and completed her entire draft 📚
"I was frustrated and about to give up when I found this course—and I finally finished an entire draft! Savannah's guidance helped me transform from someone who talks about writing 'someday' into someone who can proudly call themselves an author."
Taliya Grey conquered perfectionism after struggling since 2015 💥
"I have been writing this series since 2015. I always got a few chapters in and then just stopped. I couldn't figure out what wasn't working. After Notes to Novel, I discovered I can tell the story I want and make it make sense. I used to be scared to tell people I was writing a book—now I don't feel like such an imposter anymore."
Bree Cox ended 10 years of endless revision cycles ✨
"After 10 years of struggling to write this novel, Notes to Novel changed everything and got me to the end. I was editing and re-editing the first 25 pages of my story for years. I moved from being an employee of my writing to the president."
Frequently Asked Questions
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It's Time to Finally Finish Your Novel
If you're tired of staring at a half-finished manuscript, or worse, still dreaming about the book you'll write "someday," this training will give you the clarity, confidence, and momentum to finally finish what you start.
Your story deserves to be written, shared, and celebrated, not stuck in your head. But without the right framework, even the most passionate writers fall into these 5 predictable traps. Don't let them hold you back from the breakthrough you're capable of.
This is your moment. Your story is waiting. It’s time.