If you've been working on the same novel for months or even years, you might have started to wonder whether you need more time, more discipline, or maybe just a better idea or more talent.

But what if the real reason you haven't finished is that you've been trying to solve the wrong problem?

Well, in today's episode, I'm breaking down five common beliefs that keep writers stuck and what your draft actually needs from you instead.

Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast. My name is Savannah Gilbo and I'm here to help you

write a story that works. I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming.

So each week I'll bring you a brand new

episode with simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your

writing right away. So whether you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned author

looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.

In today's episode, we're talking about five common beliefs that can quietly keep you from finishing your first draft.

Because when you've been working on the same novel for months or maybe even years, it's natural to start looking for an explanation.

You might assume you don't have enough time or maybe that you need to be more disciplined or that you still have way too much to learn before you're ready to start writing.

And then when none of these solutions seem to work, it's easy to start wondering whether the problem is you or whether your story idea simply isn't good enough.

But in many cases, writers aren't stuck because they lack talent, commitment, or a good

idea. They're stuck because they've mistaken the symptom for the cause. And what I mean by that

is they keep trying to solve problems that aren't actually responsible for them being stuck. So in

this episode, we're going to look at five of the most common myths that keep writers stuck,

how each one gets in the way, and what's actually true instead, all so that you can make forward progress towards finishing your draft.

All right. So let's dive right in, starting with myth number one. And myth number one is if I had more time or tried harder than maybe I'd finish my draft. This is probably the most common explanation

writers give for why they haven't finished. If I had more time, if I had more discipline,

maybe if I had more motivation, I'd finally get the thing done. Now, of course, finishing a novel

does take time and effort. You have to sit down, put words on the page, and keep returning to

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