#256. Why “Just Start Writing” Can Be Terrible Advice for New Writers

Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice

Savannah Gilbo

Story Structure, Story Development, Character Development, Arts, Plotting A Novel, Fiction, World Building, Books, Fiction Writing Tips, Education, Writing Stronger Scenes, Fiction Writing Mistakes To Avoid, How To, Editing A Novel, Writing Advice, How To Outline A Novel, Character Arcs

4.9 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS

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Summary

Everyone tells you to just start writing. Nobody tells you when. And if you keep starting your novel and stalling out a few chapters in, that missing piece might be exactly why. “Just start writing” is one of the most common pieces of writing advice out there, and for some writers, it's exactly what they need to hear. But if you're a brand-new writer who's still figuring out your story, following this advice too soon can leave you stuck, overwhelmed, and wondering why your first draft keeps f...

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's one piece of writing advice that gets thrown around more than just about any other
0:04.2	piece of advice, and that is to just start writing. If you're stuck and not sure what to do first,
0:09.6	that's okay, just start writing. If you're overthinking your plot and going around in circles,
0:14.4	that's okay, just start writing. If you're not really sure who your protagonist and antagonist are,
0:19.6	no worries, just start writing.
0:21.7	You've probably heard the advice before. And here's the strange thing about this advice.
0:26.5	It can literally be the best thing a writer ever hears or the reason they never finish their
0:31.2	draft. It all comes down to how much clarity you have about your story before you sit down to
0:36.0	write. And the tricky part is, most
0:38.0	new writers can't tell whether they have that clarity or not. So today I'm going to walk you
0:43.1	through what the advice to just start writing gets right, where it quietly trips up a brand
0:47.2	new writer, and how to know when you're actually ready to start writing. Welcome to the
0:54.1	Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast. My name is Savannah Gilbo,
0:57.6	and I'm here to help you write a story that works. I want to prove to you that writing a novel
1:02.1	doesn't have to be overwhelming. So each week, I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple,
1:07.3	actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away.
1:12.1	So whether you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned author looking to improve your craft,
1:16.3	this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.
1:20.8	All right. So let's dig in and I want to start by being fair to this advice because there is a
1:26.2	real reason why the advice to just start writing is
1:29.2	everywhere. And that is that you learn to write by actually writing, not by reading about writing.
1:35.6	You can do all the prep in the world and still not really understand your story until you
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