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

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

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

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Chapters

1. From Endless Loops to Published Author (00:00:00)

2. Gina's Fantasy Novel Journey (00:05:40)

3. Discovering the Power of Outlining (00:10:25)

4. Writing Forward Without Looking Back (00:16:45)

5. Marketing Strategies and Building an Audience (00:22:35)

6. Advice for New Writers (00:31:05)