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

#206. Student Spotlight: How Gina Elizabeth Went From Stuck to Publishing Two Books in Just One Year


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After years of getting stuck at chapter six, Gina Elizabeth finally discovered the missing piece that helped her finish writing not just one novel, but two books in a single year.

Today I'm chatting with Gina Elizabeth, indie fantasy romance author of the Bonded in Blood series (and Notes to Novel graduate!), about her transformation from someone who couldn't finish a book to a published author of multiple books.

In this episode, you'll hear us talk about things like:

  • [04:00] Why she couldn't get past chapter 6 for two decades—and the surprising tool she didn't even know existed that changed everything
  • [09:15] How learning to outline a novel actually freed Gina’s creativity instead of stifling it (plus why her outline felt "chaotic and crazy" but worked anyway)
  • [10:50] What happened when I suggested Gina cut 20% of her draft (and how she turned those cut scenes into a prequel novella that readers love)
  • [20:30] The "write forward" technique that helped Gina overcome writer's block and finish her first draft in 6-12 months
  • [25:00] A behind-the-scenes look at Gina’s marketing plans, including what’s working so far and what she still plans to do before book 2’s release

If you're tired of abandoned manuscripts and ready to finally finish your novel, Gina's journey from 20 years of false starts to published author proves it's never too late to learn how. Press play to discover the exact strategies that helped her break through the chapter six curse for good.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

  • Hunted (Bonded By Blood) by Gina Elizabeth
  • Hide: A Bonded In Blood Novella by Gina Elizabeth
  • Gina Elizabeth on Instagram
  • Gina Elizabeth’s Website
  • Join 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!

NOTES TO NOVEL IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! 🎉 No more false starts. No more guesswork. In just 8 weeks, you’ll have the clarity, confidence, and system to finally write your novel—and keep going. Enrollment closes August 28th! Join Notes to Novel now →

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