Learn how a busy parent finished a novel by following a clear roadmap that made it possible to pause, return, and keep moving forward.

Between raising four kids, navigating pregnancy and newborn life, and juggling everything that comes with being a busy parent, Madi didn't exactly have ideal writing conditions. And yet, she finished her novel.

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Madi, a former Notes to Novel student, to talk about what it actually looked like to write a book in the middle of real life. She didn’t have unlimited time or perfect routines. What she had was a clear plan, realistic expectations, and a way to keep moving forward even when progress felt slow.

Madi shares the mindset shifts that helped her stop waiting for the right time, how outlining gave her momentum instead of boxing her in, and why having a process made it possible to pause without quitting when life demanded her attention.

If you’ve ever wanted to write and finish your novel but feel too busy right now, this conversation is for you.

Here’s what we cover:

[05:15 ] The mindset shift that helped Madi stop treating her novel like a hobby and start making real progress toward a finished draft

[09:00 ] How outlining gave Madi clarity and confidence without killing creativity or locking her into a rigid plot structure

[07:15 ] What writing a novel looked like during pregnancy, newborn life, and four kids—plus the simple routine that kept her moving forward

[14:50 ] The step-by-step editing process that turned Madi's first draft into a contest finalist manuscript without burnout

[24:15 ] How Madi went from querying literary agents to landing her dream agent at a top Christian Fiction agency

If you're craving proof that it's possible to write a novel alongside a full, busy life, Madi's story will show you exactly what that can look like.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Madi Unruh Instagram 
• Get on 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!

Ready to make 2026 the year you finally finish your novel? Notes to Novel is my signature program that walks you through brainstorming, outlining, and writing a first draft that works—so you always know what to do next. Click here to get on the waitlist →

Support the show

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