#189. Student Spotlight: From First Draft to Published Novel at 72 With Cheryl Arko

Discover how a 72-year-old data scientist overcame perfectionism to publish her debut science fiction novel after decades of dreaming about it. Are you stuck with half-finished manuscripts or endlessly revising the same chapters? Does your story refuse to translate from your imagination to the page the way you envision it? You"re not alone. The very perfectionism that drives you to write can become the biggest obstacle to finishing your novel. In this episode, Cheryl Arko shares her transformative journey from decades of false starts to published author at 72, revealing the exact strategies that helped her finally complete her science fiction novel after years of struggle. Tune in to hear:[14:31] The reverse outlining technique that revealed why Cheryl’s scenes weren"t working (and exactly how to fix them) [17:47] How entering a writing competition boosted her confidence and validated her manuscript"s potential (and earned her a finalist spot!) [20:39] The two-phase writing approach that freed Cheryl from perfectionism paralysis (and helped her make twice the progress in half the time) [29:35] How developing her antagonist into a more three-dimensional character solved plot problems Cheryl had been stuck on for months [35:01] The practical reasons Cheryl chose self-publishing at 72 (and how to decide what"s right for you based on your timeline and goals) If you"ve ever abandoned a manuscript or worried it"s too late to realize your writing dreams, this episode proves that with the right approach, you can finally type "The End" on your novel—no matter your age or how long you"ve been trying. 🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Cheryl Arko’s websiteBuy Cheryl’s book on AmazonEp. #40 - How to Write a Well-Structured Scene ⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they"re also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!  Also, if you haven"t done so already, make sure you"re following the podcast! I"ll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you"re not following the show, there"s a good chance you"ll miss them. Click here to follow now! Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025. FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author! 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.