How To Write The Future

 ”What if we could travel to a different galaxy? And then that's what the book is about. What if there were superheroes in the world? What if women ruled the world? Those types of things— It's the what if question and the answers.” — Kristin Noland In this episode, How To Write the Future podcast host, Beth Barany, talks to developmental and line editor Kristin Noland about the definitio...

"Once or twice a year, I like to do an episode about upcoming events that you can participate in. And this is especially helpful if you're looking for inspiration about how to think about the future, whether you're a science fiction writer, you just want to get ideas, or you're somebody who cares about the future and wants to come at it from a creative perspective." In the...

“All I have to say, I know it can take a long time. And I really respect that it takes time to be ready to take the next step.“ In the first episode of 2025, How To Write the Future podcast host, Beth Barany shares creative writing resources to help writers kick start their 2025 by focusing on their craft. From free downloadable workbooks, virtual courses, and supportive groups to even being perso...

"From planning your writing life to exploring tropes, storytelling, and world-building, these episodes showcase the diverse topics we've covered this past year to help you write positive futures." In this episode of How To Write the Future, host Beth Barany shares clips from the “ Top 6 Most Popular Episodes in 2024.” From delving into the how, when, and why to use tropes with USA T...

“I want you to really deepen into what this experience could be like. What would it be like to hold the book in your hands?” This episode is last part of a 9-part mini-series based on the “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap” where Beth Barany discusses her method to help writers go from idea to published science fiction and fantasy novel. In this final episode of this 9-part mini-series, "You...

“There's a lot of ways to launch a book. And you get to decide what is the way that feels the best for you.” This episode is part of a mini-series based on the “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap” where Beth Barany discusses the method she developed to help writers go from idea to published science fiction and fantasy novel. In “ Launch and publish your novel (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap...

“ It helped me see that marketing is really about you offering your gift, your book, which is your gift.“ In " Trust-Your-Heart Marketing (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 6) " podcast host Beth Barany explores how sharing your story can create meaningful change, provides tools to help clarify your values, and examines the emotional impact you want to have on readers. This episode...

“We write for ourselves, And we revise for our readers.” In “ Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 5)" How To Write The Future podcast host, Beth Barany focuses on the art and craft of revising and editing your novel and shares key tips on how to approach your messy first draft, from word choice to pacing, and gives advice on the i...

“Give yourself an opportunity to be perfectly imperfect.” This episode is part of a mini-series based on the “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap” where Beth Barany discusses the method she developed to help writers go from idea to published science fiction and fantasy novel. In “ Take 1. Write Your Messy First Draft. (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap, Step 4)" How To Write The Future podcast...

“Get to know your characters and really understand how they perceive the world. So that you can write the book in their voice.” In this latest episode of How To Write the Future, host Beth Barany continues to guide listeners through her Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap as she explores step 3 and discusses the different types of writers, core elements of story development, and why you want to get...

“To write a novel, you really need to be able to already be able to sit down and write. Even if it's just a little bit at a time.” This episode is part of a mini-series based on the “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap” where Beth Barany discusses the method she developed to help writers go from idea to published science fiction and fantasy novel. In “ Writing practice. ‘I can do this.’" (...

“I help you go from idea to finished science fiction or fantasy novel that you are proud of.” How To Write the Future host, Beth Barany kicks off her first episode based on her Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap method called, “ You are Here: Take an Assessment and Clarify your goals (Step 1)” where she explains why it’s important to clarify your goals, and asks you two key questions to help get yo...

“I really recommend that you trust your own style and voice. Don't let anyone tell you that what you are trying to do is wrong or bad, or that you're wrong or bad for doing it. Trust yourself, trust your heart.” In the latest How To Write the Future podcast episode, “Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers (Ep. 125)” host Beth Barany, kicks off an 9-part...

“I want you to own the relationship with your reader. It should be your website they're buying on, not mine. So they're buying on your website. They're experiencing your process.” -- Damon Courtney  In “Interview with BookFunnel creator Damon Courtney, part 2” How To Write the Future podcast host, Beth Barany continues her interview with Damon Courtney where he explains the importan...

“I set out really just to write myself a set of instructions that I could give to readers who joined my list. And ended up building BookFunnel.” -- Damon Courtney In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, “Interview with Bookfunnel creator Damon Courtney” host, Beth Barany interviews Bookfunnel creator Damon Courtney where Damon shares the inspiration behind creating the author service and...

“What I'll tell people is to find your writing group, find your writing family.” -- R.A. Clarke In this episode, “ Interview with Science Fiction Western novelist, Rachael Clarke, Part 2 Part 2 ” podcast host Beth Barany continues her interview with Rachael Clarke where they discuss Rachael’s writing process, including one of the biggest points of struggles. Plus, they share why it’s importan...

“I'm passionate about sci-fi and I was thinking, I just I love horses so much, and I started thinking, what would horses be like in the future? What does that look like? What would happen? My brain started like kind of spiraling and brainstorming with this, what would a horse be like in the future?” -- R.A. Clarke In this episode, “ Interview with Western Science Fiction Novelist, Rachael Cla...

“I know for me what I'm working on, especially at the beginning of creating a story I'm asking, because stories have to have escalating conflict, I ask: What is the worst thing that could happen now to my dear lovely character? And now what? What's worse than that? And what's worse than that? And that's how I build my plot.” --  Beth Barany In this episode of How To Write...

“I think games are excellent at building intuition for complex systems, and if you're trying to think through the future, trying to get a grasp of the system dynamics and second order effects and points of leverage are all super helpful.” -- Randy Lubin In this episode of How To Write the Future podcast, host Beth Barany interviews game designer and entrepreneur, Randy Lubin. They discuss how...

“If you are having fun and you're playing and you're experimenting, it is all gonna feed into what you're doing. ” -- Melissa Dinwiddie In this How To Write the Future episode, “ Dealing with Perfectionism, Interview with Melissa Dinwiddie, part 3”  podcast host Beth Barany wraps up her interview with former professional artist and trained improviser, Melissa Dinwiddie, where they d...

“I'm leading people through some kind of an activity. So often when I tell people that I use play-based methods, or particularly if I tell people that I use improv, they will often jump to the conclusion that I'm doing some kind of role playing. ” --  Melissa Dinwiddie In this How To Write the Future episode, “ Let's Play A Game, Interview with Melissa Dinwiddie, Part 2 ” host Beth...

“So every day after breakfast, I lead these creative catalyzing sessions, which is basically a bunch of improv games to get people laughing and moving. And people will say often that it's their favorite part of the retreat.“ -- Melissa Dinwiddie In this latest How To Write the Future episode, “Bring Improv to Your Life, Interview with Melissa Dinwiddie, Part 1”host Beth Barany interviews form...

“It's very common in the urban fantasy genre for there to be a group of magical beings of various kinds.” In the latest How To Write the Future episode, host Beth Barany answers a question from a listener on “ How to bring magical elements into your contemporary story (Q&A)” and shares what elements to consider. Beth also shares about her gift, the “World Building Workbook for Fiction Wri...

“Do you need to think bigger? Do you need to think of a map that would encompass all of your story worlds, and maybe they're all connected.” In this How To Write the Future episode, “How do I rein in all my ideas? (Q&A),” host Beth Barany answers a listener’s question on how to manage so many ideas for your story and hint: it has something to do with setting boundaries for your story worl...

“You want the reader to experience backstory from the perspective of your point of view character, who is living in the present and responding and going after their goal and accounting obstacles.“ In this podcast episode of How To Write The Future, host Beth Barany answers a question from a listener on where and how to add the backstory in your novel. Beth also shares about her “World Building Wor...