Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

Ask Me Anything Thursdays answering the podcasting question "How do I make sure my protagonist is lovable?" Are you struggling to create a protagonist readers truly care about? In this episode, I share four actionable strategies to help you craft a dynamic, relatable protagonist readers won’t forget. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why connecting readers to your protagonist matters. H...

Are you looking to level up your writing in 2025? In this episode, I dive into three incredibly valuable ways you can improve your writing, get answers to your important writing questions, and get valuable feedback on your work for FREE. Tune in to learn how to navigate your writing challenges and set yourself up for success in 2025! This episode was produced by me, The Speculative Fiction Book Co...

Click HERE to find Comp Titles Crash Course! $97 for limited time! Comp titles--they might be one of the most dreaded topics in the writing world. After all, most of us are writing novels that feel unique, so trying to find a novel “like” ours is a nearly impossible feat. In fact… It's a frustrating, overwhelming task that makes us feel more than a little salty.  But, the truth is, comp title...

The opening scene of your novel is arguably the most crucial part of your book. If it doesn’t capture readers' curiosity and imagination, they won’t keep reading. No wonder the opening scene is notoriously hard to write! But don’t worry—I’m here to help simplify and clarify the progress! In this episode, you’ll discover: 5 Essential Questions you MUST answer when writing your opening scene Wh...

Writer's block is one of the most challenging hurdles an author can encounter. It has the power to derail brilliant stories and thwart dreams of becoming a published author. But fear not—there are effective strategies to combat this creativity killer and keep your writing journey on course. In this episode, we'll delve into practical, actionable steps to limit and conquer writer’s block....

 Most writers understand that creating a character with no flaws is a huge turnoff to readers because it’s hard to feel connected to someone who is perfect and does everything right.   But how do you give your protagonist flaws that feel real and authentic instead of superficially layered on?  Worry no more! In this episode, we'll dive deep into exactly how to uncover and develop your protago...

The biggest obstacles writers face are overcoming procrastination and avoiding the dreaded writer’s block. In fact, these obstacles are what stand between them and finishing their novel. But what many writers don’t realize is that the key to conquering these obstacles is developing a consistent writing habit that will keep their creative juices flowing. So, how can a writer actually create a writi...

Writing a speculative fiction novel that resonates with readers is tough work. Many writers feel they're doing something wrong when it takes time to create a draft that feels solid and ready to stand on its own two shaky legs. In fact, one of the very first questions most writers ask me before we start working together is some version of: "How long will it take for me to finish my novel?...

Many writers want to include more LGBTQ+ characters in their novels, but they’re afraid of getting it wrong and doing more harm than good. If you’re one of those writers, this podcast episode is for you! My friend and colleague, Sam Cameron, explains exactly how every writer can feel empowered to write more inclusive stories. 🌟Take Sam Cameron’s quiz and find out if your manuscript is LGBTQ+ incl...

→Sign up for my free workshop Create a Dynamic Character Arc For Your Protagonist. This workshop,  which includes live coaching, will help you develop the foundation elements of your novel and bridge the gap between plot and character arc! https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/workshop You might have heard of Goal, Motivation, Stakes, and Conflict, but do you know how to use them to create narra...

Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/AI Everyone in the writing world is talking about AI, but should you really buy into the buzz? In this episode I’m going to explore what it’s okay to use AI for in your writing and what I believe you should never use AI for.  In this episode you’ll learn: 3 tasks it’s okay to use AI for. 3 tasks you should NEVER outsource to AI 2 main benefits...

Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/edit  Almost every writer wants to get better at self-editing their work. But how? And which techniques improve your work the most dramatically? In this episode I’m going to talk about the self-editing hacks that will help you rapidly improve your work as you write and edit.   In this episode you’ll learn: The 8 self-editing hacks that can rap...

Snag my FREE workbook: https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/truth   Ever wondered why your favorite novels feel so authentic and cohesive? It’s not about all the surface level editing you’ve been driving yourself crazy with. Instead, it’s about the deeper stuff. The bones of the narrative.  In this episode I’m going to talk about the subtle parts of writing a great novel so that you’re focusing...

Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/magic Ever wondered how to create an interesting and compelling magic system that readers will love?  In this episode I’m breaking down exactly how to create a magic system that works .  In this episode you’ll learn: The crucial importance of weaving an engaging magic system into your fantasy world. Differentiating between soft and hard magic...

Snag my FREE interiority workbook: https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/interiority Have you ever wondered how to ensure your readers are so engrossed in your protagonist  that they can put your novel down? In this episode I'm peeling back the layers of protagonist interiority and revealing how to create your protagonist's inner world and make your novel unputdownable. In this episode...

What makes a protagonist memorable and unique? What makes readers fall in love with them enough to follow them around for 300-500 pages?   Knowing the answers to those questions is the difference between creating a flat, dull protagonist and having a magnetic protagonist that readers can’t get enough of!    In this episode you’ll learn: Why every novel is actually character driven How character ar...

If you're a writer, you've likely encountered the timeless advice: "Show Don't Tell." While intended to enhance scene creation by encouraging vivid depiction over mere narration, this guidance has been misunderstood, leading to detrimental effects on otherwise strong novels.   If you've questioned the validity of this advice, stay tuned as I debunk misconceptions and...

The most important skill you can have as a writer is the ability to write a compelling scene, but it’s a skill that few writers have actually mastered.    So in this episode we are going to do a deep dive into scene structure and learn: 1) How to know if an event in your novel actually needs to be a scene 2) the structure of a great scene 3) the 6 elements you should add to every scene to make the...

The most important skill you can have as a writer is the ability to write a great scene... but, unfortunately, it’s a skill that few writers have actually mastered. You need to understand:   1) What a scene is.   2) Whether a given event in your novel needs to be a scene.   3) The structure of a great scene.   I f you’re ready to learn all about how kick*ss scenes are actually written, snag my FRE...

Backstory is an essential part of every novel.   Without it, your protagonist doesn’t have a meaningful character arc and your story lacks depth. But writers are (understandably) scared to put backstory in their novel because they’re afraid of info dumping.   Well, there is a way to strike a perfect balance. You CAN include valuable backstory AND avoid info dumping.   Grab my FREE checklist right...

Criticism is one of the hardest things for writers to process and it sometimes leads to writers giving up on the craft or refusing to share their work with the world.    If you’re ready explore the 7 key understandings that will help you reframe criticism for a healthier relationship with it, access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/handlingcriticism   Are you ready f...

Nothing grabs readers’ attention like dialogue. That’s why it’s absolutely imperative to make sure that the dialogue in your novel is serving the story and making readers hungry for more.   Ready to learn more about dialogue? Don’t forget to access the FREE dialogue checklist right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/dialoguechecklist    If you’re ready to REALLY understand all the ins and out...

Spoiler alert—there’s a whole lot more to POV than just first person, second person, and third person. There are actually 4 layers that you need to master if you want readers and agents to love your novel!   So if you’re ready to master POV in 2024, dive into the episode and don’t forget to access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/POV     Wait... are you ready to real...

  📘Access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/better 📘   ✨Fill out an application to my Powerful Writers, Powerful Novels Mentorship Program: manyworldswriting.com/mentorship ✨   Join the Many Worlds Writing Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1012106499677937/?mibextid=oMANbw   Do you want to hone your writing skills so you can finally tell the powe...

Are you overwhelmed and frustrated by the complexity of worldbuilding for your fantasy and science fiction novel? Are things getting too complicated, too bloated, and too scattered? Are you worried that all those complex worldbuilding documents you found on Google aren’t really serving the core of the story you want to tell?     Well, guess what? I’ve simplified the entire process! In this episode...