Beth Barany's Blog, page 9
March 17, 2025
African Heritage Meets Interstellar Travel: Why Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti Trilogy is Essential Afrofuturism
“I think it’s really important that we read books and reread authors who aren’t similar to us, who are very different from us culturally, come from different backgrounds, different parts of the world.”
In this How To Write the Future episode, host Beth Barany explains in detail why you need to read the “Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor,” plus why she believes readers need to explore books that are different to our own cultures and backgrounds. Beth invites listeners to share their favorite authors, including a sneak peek at a topic for a future episode.
Note: The audio-only version has long pauses where I show the book covers. Go to the YouTube version to see Okorafor’s beautiful covers.
Platforms The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts | Buzzsprout | Spotify | Podcast Addict | Amazon Music| YouTube
RESOURCESNnedi Okorafor: https://nnedi.com/
Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/
Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/
Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/
About the How To Write the Future podcastThe How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.
This podcast is for you if you have questions like:
– How do I create a believable world for my science fiction story?
– How do I figure out what’s not working if my story feels flat?
– How do I make my story more interesting and alive?
This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.
Transcript for Binti Trilogy by Nnedi OkoraforHey everyone. Beth Barany here with How to Write The Future Podcast. I’m a science fiction and fantasy writer, as well as a writing teacher and book coach.
[00:09] Introducing The Binti TrilogyI am here today to talk to you about one of my favorite writers and my favorite series, it’s the Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor. I just adored this trilogy.
Three beautiful novellas.
[00:26] Book Covers and PraiseHere’s the first one. Just gorgeous covers. Here’s the second one.
And here’s the third one. I know there. I know that there are multiple additions of these books, and you can find them with different covers. So just beautiful, beautiful covers.
And there’s a beautiful pull quote here: praise from Ursula Le Guin. “There’s more vivid imagination in a page of Nnendi Okorafor’s work than in whole volumes of ordinary fantasy epics.”
She really packs it in. It’s so amazing and wonderful. Such a great writer.
[01:09] Personal Reflections on the Binti TrilogyAnd I have to say that each one of these volumes, each one of these stories, ’cause they’re complete in and of themself, even though they’re also telling a story over the three books. Each one made me cry in a way that was very cathartic and beautiful.
[01:23] Synopsis and ThemesIt was amazing.
Here is the short description of this book.
“She left her home for the stars, but found more adventure than she bargained for. A tense and intimate coming of age story in space.”
So it’s got all the elements that I adore. It’s got adventure, it’s got travel and space. And I have to say I really do love coming of age stories.
And Nnendi Okorafor is, her family is from Nigeria and I believe that Nnedi also spent some time in Nigeria as a young woman, and she is currently, I think she still is a professor. I almost don’t wanna give away anything about the story other than that I just really adored them. And definitely, keepers, I went outta my way to make sure I could get paperback copies instead of just the eBooks.
And I am going to reread them and I just highly recommend them. It’s so delicious. Go and get your own copies.
[02:23] Recommendation and ConclusionSo actually that is my episode for today. Very short and sweet.
[02:28] Engaging with the AudienceIf you have a favorite author that you adore, I would love to hear them. I’m always learning about new books from other people. I really love that. If it’s in science fiction and fantasy, if it’s in cultures that are different from my own, I really would love to hear about them.
[02:46] Exploring More Works by Nnedi OkoraforI do have another one of Nnendi Okorafor four’s books up on my shelf. I’m gonna go take a look over there. It’s called Akata Witch and it is a warrior training shamanic training, I don’t know if shaman is the right word, it’s about a witch and it’s about a young woman who becomes a witch, and that’s a whole other series that Nnendi Okorafor has.
And I know she’s got new books out. I really recommend her very lyrical, powerful, sensory oriented, and I really get to go deeply into her characters in such a beautiful way.
[03:20] Afrofuturism and Broader ThemesYou could say that her work– Nnendi Okorafor’s work –is under the umbrella of this greater category of Afro futurism. I’m gonna do a future episode on that, and hopefully do an interview with at least one person I’m hoping on this topic. So if you would like to hear more also about Afrofuturism, let me know. I would love to hear if that is interesting to you.I think it’s really important that we read books and reread authors who aren’t similar to us, who are very different from us culturally come from different backgrounds, different parts of the world.
And I really encourage you as well to read widely.
[03:59] The Power of FictionFiction is such a great way to develop compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings. And that’s one of the things I love, love, love about reading.
What I also love about reading futuristic stories from different viewpoints is it just broadens my vision of what could be, and this is the power of fiction.
It broadens our vision of what could be.
You may have noticed I do not talk about dystopia. I am not interested in it. I don’t read it. I don’t watch it.
I am looking to science fiction and fantasy for how to make my life better, how to make the lives of those around me better.
And I take a stand for the fact that we can use fiction to recreate who we can be as human beings.
That’s my hope anyway.
[04:43] Final ThoughtsAlright, that’s it for this week, everyone. Write long and prosper.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061Need instructions on how to leave a review? Go here.
***ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”
Learn more about Beth Barany at these sites:
Author site / Coaching site / School of Fiction / Writer’s Fun Zone blog
CONNECTContact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580
Email: beth@bethbarany.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethbarany/
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethbarany/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany
X: https://twitter.com/BethBarany
CREDITSEDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://www.descript.com?lmref=_w1WCA (Refer-a-Friend link)MUSIC CREDITS : Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/fuzz-buzz License code: UMMKDRL02DFGKJ0L. “Fuzz buzz” by Soundroll. Commercial license: https://musicvine.com/track/soundroll/fuzz-buzz.DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465 (Refer-a-Friend link)SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDade2025 BETH BARANY
For more “How To Write the Future” episodes, go here.
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The post African Heritage Meets Interstellar Travel: Why Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti Trilogy is Essential Afrofuturism appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
March 14, 2025
Q&A with Benjamin Bradley
Please welcome Benjamin Bradley to our Featured Author Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. Enjoy!
***
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here.
***
About Benjamin BradleyOn to Our Interview!Q. Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write!Benjamin Bradley is a member of both Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. He’s the author of the Shepard & Kelly Mystery series through Indies United Publishing House and his short fiction has appeared in literary magazines including Reckon Review and Flash Fiction Magazine. He works in public health and homelessness and lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, their cat Fox, and their dog Harper.
A. I’m a mystery writer and author who is passionate about the human experience and finding ways to make an impact on the world.
When I’m not writing or working, I love to be outdoors, particularly running ultramarathons or hiking with my wife and dog.
I’m really lucky to call Raleigh, NC home which has tons of great parks and trails to explore (and think of new plot twists!)
Q. How did you get to this place in your life? Share your story!A. I’ve been an avid reader my whole life, especially in the mystery and thriller genre, but only in the past decade started to consider that I might be able to craft stories of my own.
As I thought about that, my mom handed me a booklet I wrote as a kid — which is now officially my first manuscript.
Beyond all of that, I’ve been super privileged to have a ton of unique experiences traveling across the US and internationally which help inspire new tales!
Q. What are you most passionate about?A. I’m really passionate about finding ways to make an impact on the world — and I try to channel that both in my day job and in my writing.
In my day job, I work with people experiencing homelessness to help connect them to healthcare and public health programs.
There’s always work to be done and it’s equal parts challenging and rewarding.
In my writing, I think stories hold such great power to help us think differently and escape our worlds — but most importantly they help deepen empathy for other people.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and/or rituals around your writing?A. I work full time, so it’s always been important to carve out time to write whenever I can.
A hectic schedule can really put your routines and rituals to the test, but I cherished any block of time when I had dedicated headspace to think and write.
Sometimes that was at 5AM.
Sometimes that was late at night.
Sometimes it was hopping into my manuscript for edits during my lunch break.
Through all of this, my biggest reflection has been a universal one. Writing is a muscle. The more you work it, the stronger it gets. BUT there are days you flat out won’t have the juice. Muscles get tired. They can’t work forever.
Just as important as flexing it often is resting it and letting your head settle.
Q. What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.A. As with most writers, the challenges here were aplenty. The one that I struggled (and struggle) with the most though, is imposter syndrome.
Writing is an incredibly isolating practice at times and it can be really easy to create an echo chamber in your head. It’s up to you whether the shouts you hear are positive or negative.
For me, I held myself to an incredibly high standard. Even with the final product, I lamented small things I should’ve done differently or changed. I think most writers end up feeling this way.
One of the biggest pieces of advice that helped with this was: nobody picks up a book looking to hate it.
In a really tense world, I had worries that I’d embarass myself or get ridiculed online. The truth of the matter is, that’s out of my control.
I’m still a work in progress around this — even with my next manuscripts, I spend so much time putting myself through the wringer — but I love the writing community as a place to learn from one another about things like this!
Q. What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?A. The drafting process can really stretch on forever if you let it!
From start to finish, I counted 18 drafts of WHAT HE LEFT BEHIND. Some were just my own revisions, others were from editors and proofreaders via CamCat.
Every draft was important and worth it, but I did not expect to have that many iterations of the story!
When I received the final Advanced Reader Copy last year, I had to read through and take notes to help me remember the final character names and plot twists because I had so many versions running around in my head.
Q. What’s next for you in your creative work?A. Right now, I’m fully focused on spreading the word about WHAT HE LEFT BEHIND to help it reach as many readers as possible. I’ve got a few manuscripts drafted that I’ll work to get into the hands of agents and publishers soon, so stay posted for more!
What He Left Behind by Benjamin Bradley
In a sleepy town, a detective must partner with a big city detective who broke her heart and fled the town years prior, to uncover the explosive truth behind the murder of a stranger.
Connect with Benjamin Bradley
Site Link www.benjaminbradleywrites.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/benjaminbradleybooks
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/benjaminbradleywrites
The post Q&A with Benjamin Bradley appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
March 13, 2025
Q&A with Ian Worrall
Please welcome Ian Worrall to our Featured Author Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. Enjoy!
***
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here.
***
About Ian WorrallOn to Our Interview!Q. Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write.Ian Worrall lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the author of No Remorse No Regret and No Rest For The Vengeful and the upcoming No Mercy For The Guilty (April 7, 2025) and No Retreat For Justice (May 5, 2025) in the Catch Or Be Caught Vigilante Justice series. Ian is a lifelong fan of the Edmonton Oilers and one of the biggest fans of Iron Maiden.
A. Writing was just something I wanted to do, I started off doing screenwriting and moved into self-publishing novels and other fiction.
I did the vigilante justice book series with a female character because I wanted to have a story which wasn’t always the former special forces, cop, or cover operative male character who takes revenge
Q. How did you get to this place in your life? Share your story!A. I wanted to see where my writing could take me. Didn’t want to get to the end of my life and not have done something I had always wanted to do but never found the time, so I made the time while working two jobs and got the first book, then the second, third and fourth books done.
Books 3 and 4 are on pre-order scheduled to be released on April 7 and May 5 respectively
Q. What are you most passionate about?A. Making my stories as good as they can be and helping other writers through my YouTube channel, The Gray Haired Writer.
Always improving the craft and not being limited to one genre.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and/or rituals around your writing?A. For the first book, No Remorse No Regret, I thought of having the female character take revenge. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo kind of thing.
I first started with the main character, or hero, of the story and think of how to make the anti-hero for the story sympathetic. She is a contract killer in the first book after all.
Now I will start with the villain of the story, I got that idea from the Sacha Black book 13 Steps To Evil, the villain is actually the most important character in the story because he creates the conflict and without conflict, there’s no story.
Other times an idea will come to me and I’ll work on that if I don’t have another project that’s close to finishing, if I do I’ll write the idea down.
Q. What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.A. The biggest challenge for everything is with working a full time shift work job that has 12 hour day and night shifts is the time to do it. The solution, with regards to marketing is to do at least one thing each day.
For writing, while on the job I have breaks where I will do the writing and on days off I just do head down nose to the grindstone and get the words down.
For publishing, I save some money to an account and when I have enough to pay for the cover and editor then I will get that done. If the book is ready and I’ve incorporated all the beta reader feedback to make the story stronger.
Q. What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?A. That it will always take longer than you thought it would to get a book ready.
Q. What’s next for you in your creative work?A. An undercover cop thriller called Burned. Set in Nova Scotia, an undercover cop gets burned on an operation, his support team is killed, he rescued a drug addicted prostitute from being killed by a biker gang and goes into hiding to help her and find out how the operation got burned and who did it.
Q. Is there anything else you wished I’d asked? Please share!A. If you could give me the winning lottery numbers? Haha.
No Remorse No Regret (Catch Or Be Caught Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)
Once a victim…
Now a killer
At the age of 19, Melissa’s hopes and dreams were literally drowned when she was stuffed in a sports bag, tied to a cinder block and thrown into the sea.
Mistaken for a shipment of dope, she is rescued.
Indebted to the man who rescued her, she dispatches his enemies and carries on a personal side mission enacting revenge on behalf of women who’ve been raped.
But the serial killer who left her to drown resurfaces. And goes on his personal side mission to take out the one who got away.
With the police hunting them both, who will win the cat and mouse game?
Connect with Ian WorrallSite Link ianworrallauthor.com
Twitter www.twitter.com/Scotiawriter
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iworrallauthor
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-worrall-2411bb18
Pinterest www.pinterest.ca/iworrall
Instagram www.instagram.com/IanWorrallAuthor
The post Q&A with Ian Worrall appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
March 11, 2025
Q&A with Jennifer Jaxxon-Louis
Please welcome Jennifer Jaxxon-Louis to our Featured Author Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. Enjoy!
***
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here.
***
About Jennifer Jaxxon-LouisOn to Our Interview!Q. Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write.
Jennifer Jaxxon-Louis is a former computer programmer and math professor who writes young adult sci-fi thrillers to inform people about STEM areas.
She has written eight other books, a memoir, and a short story collection, all of which she will publish.
Besides writing, she is passionate about animals, architecture, woodworking, dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading. She would like to clone herself to have time for all her interests.
A. I was referred to you by Matt Posner, who I just did a podcast with.
I’m a former math professor and computer programmer, now an academic advisor, who writes YA sci-fi thrillers to encourage teens and young adults toward the STEM areas.
I want to give others information about these disciplines that I did not have so they can make informed decisions.
Writing is my main motivation in life and is my greatest source of joy because I love words and ideas.
Although I have many interests and hobbies, the first thing I ever wanted to be was a writer.
Q. How did you get to this place in your life? Share your story!A. I wanted to be a writer, but then an Olympic gymnast, then an architect.
I have tried so many other things, got writer’s block, and was plagued with self-doubt, but after working with a famous author mentor and participating on a great website called writingforums.org out of London where I wrote over 30 short stories in their weekly contests, I realized it was my main reason for being alive.
I was born to write, and I have so many experiences and ideas to share with others, to hopefully help them while entertaining them.
Q. What are you most passionate about?A. So many things!
I am very passionate about animals and their welfare. My sister is a vet and rescues, and I greatly admire her.
I am also obsessed with writing, and stories, and movies, and ideas.
I’m equally enamored with architecture, interior design, and woodworking, a lifelong passion.
I am a self-taught woodworker, and I have built many things, from walls, decks, and rooms to furniture.
My other main love has always been gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading in all forms, and I have danced my entire life.
In another life, I would have been a world-famous choreographer.
With writing, I am most interested in the how the mind works, and how the mind could work. That stems from my degree in psychology and all the reading I have done and experiences I have had regarding mental health.
In addition, I am passionate about telling the world what happened with my mother, how our medical system let her down which led to her death, and how the laws need to be changed.
It is something I plan to write a lot about very soon.
In my opinion, she was basically murdered by a senseless and incompetent system.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and/or rituals around your writing?A. I just did a podcast on this on The School of Fiction, Matt Posner’s YouTube channel that focuses on writing technique.
I use a combination of Joyce Sweeney’s The Plot Clock, which I live and was taught to me by Joyce Sweeney herself, a famous author, playwright, poet, picture book expert, and agent. I also use The Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson.
I start with my concept and brainstorm, and I usually have the first act all worked out early on.
But then, instead of moving forward with the Plot Clock into the second act, I do what Mr. Ingermanson suggests and write an elevator pitch, a one-sentence synopsis.
This is challenging, but helps me define my story.
Then, he says to expand into a five-sentence paragraph where there is a setup, three disasters, and an ending.
This follows the Plot Clock, and so I go back there and plan where my disasters will fall and other parts of the four-act Plot Clock structure.
I use both until I craft a solid outline. But, often I abandon and start over as the characters take me in different directions!
Q. What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.A. I have met more scammers than I can count, and I’m a math professor!
I’ve been taken advantage of, and so have many other writers I know. I do not trust anyone now who says they’ll market my book.
I go by word-of-mouth now by writers I have met, and I will only hire someone for artwork and editing.
I’m trying to learn how to format, distribute, and market on my own. I feel like I need to go back to college.
There are a million avenues, everyone insists their way is the right way, and it’s hard to know what will work.
Everyone seems to have an ulterior motive, and I’m competing against 60,000,000 books! It’s mind-boggling.
But, I prioritize, do my research, and try to take it one thing at a time.
The formatting of the EPUB has been a bit of a nightmare, and also, although I loved my illustrator, right before publication, I got negative reviews on my cover.
I published with that cover, but I’m having it redone. I’ve been through another illustrator who was not good, so now I’m hiring a third one. The cover really matters.
Q. What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?A. Nothing would have stopped me.
I assumed there were honest marketing people and such out there whom I could afford to help me get my book out there, but I realize there really is not, as far as I know.
I can’t think of anything else I have learned that would have really stopped me.
I’m happy if anyone reads my stuff. It’s not about the money for me at all.
Q. What’s next for you in your creative work?A. I am planning Two in Vermilion May Die, and then Three in Vermilion May Lie. Then, not sure about that series.
It may be a trilogy. We will see.
In the meantime, I am revising my novel of short stories, entitled What Happened in the Janitor’s Closet, which I’m very proud of.
It contains my favorite twelve short stories I’ve written, which I’ve been working on for years.
After that, I have a series called Burning Harbor that I’ve had in my head for about 20 years, so I would love to work on that, but I have 8 other books and a memoir to revise and also publish, so I will prioritize them as I get there.
I’m particularly excited to return to my first novel, Compound Fracture, which questions the morality of cannibalism during a post-apocalyptic event.
Those poor kids have been trapped underground in their doomsday bunker for years, waiting for me to return and decide on an ending already!
Q. Is there anything else you wished I’d asked? Please share!A. Sure.
What is your book about and what inspired you to write it?
My book is called One in Vermilion May Live, and it’s The Hunger Games meets Sons of Anarchy and The Brady Bunch. Seriously!
The main plot is about a group of high school kids on a college tour who are kidnapped, shot full of nanobots, and forced to play a deadly game called Vermilion all over the Midwest.
I was inspired by the concept of being held hostage from within, and the Lois Duncan book Ransom, and the Michigan Tech bus tour I took while in high school.
I was also inspired by Dan Brown’s MasterClass on writing thrillers, where he encouraged me to use interesting real locations throughout my story.
That gave it a very authentic feel that makes the story even more terrifying.
Reviewers have said it feels very real, like this could happen very soon. And I fear it could.
One in Vermilion May Live (Blowing Up The O’Grady Kids Book 1)How can you escape when you’re held hostage from the inside?
Dancer Mallory Rosenbaum dreams of Broadway, but her parents force her on a college tour up to Michigan Tech. When her tour bus is hijacked, she and eight other students are injected with super-advanced nanobots that take control of their bodies.
Now, they are unwilling contestants in Vermilion, a deadly game designed to entice criminal VIPs to invest in a terrifying new technology. Only one contestant can possibly win the antidote to dissolve their nanobots. The others will be eliminated — and disintegrated.
Desperate to save her, Mallory’s prudish twin Davina must infiltrate a violent biker gang invited as VIPs to Vermilion to score an invite to the next round. Can Davina become an unlikely hero and save Mallory in time?
Connect with Jennifer Jaxxon-LouisSite Link https://authorjenniferjaxxonlouis.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorjaxxonlouis
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorjaxxonlouis
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March 10, 2025
Elizabeth Moon: Crafting Strong Female Protagonists in Science Fiction
“So I highly recommend Elizabeth Moon, if you like military ship captains who are these strong, interesting women. I also really adored her fantasy.”
In this episode, titled “Elizabeth Moon: Crafting Strong Female Protagonists in Science Fiction” host Beth Barany shines a spotlight on one of her favorite science fiction and fantasy authors and shares her favorite works by Moon, including “Once A Hero” and the “Kai Vata” series, highlighting the author’s masterful creation of strong female protagonists, particularly in military sci-fi.
Platforms The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts | Buzzsprout | Spotify | Podcast Addict | Amazon Music| YouTube
RESOURCESFree World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/
Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/
Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/
About the How To Write the Future podcastThe How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.
This podcast is for you if you have questions like:
– How do I create a believable world for my science fiction story?
– How do I figure out what’s not working if my story feels flat?
– How do I make my story more interesting and alive?
This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.
Transcript for Elizabeth Moon: Crafting Strong Female Protagonists in Science FictionHey everyone. I am Beth Barany and I host How to Write the Future Podcast. I’m a science fiction and fantasy writer, and a book coach and writing teacher. I specialize in helping science fiction and fantasy writers write, publish, edit, and market their novels to the delight of their readers.
I help you build fabulous worlds and really knock the socks off your readers.
[00:28] Spotlight on Elizabeth MoonAll right, so today I am here to talk to you about one of my favorite science fiction and fantasy authors: Elizabeth Moon.
Surrounding me is six, seven books by Elizabeth Moon Plus. Uh, no. Eight, eight books by Elizabeth Moon, one by Elizabeth Moon and Anne McCaffrey.
I’ll have to talk about Anne McCaffrey in another episode. Also a deep influence, to me and someone I read when I was a teenager.
I started reading Elizabeth Moon as an adult and I absolutely adore her work. She writes science fiction and fantasy, and I actually met her science fiction first. Whenever I describe Elizabeth Moon to people, I say that she writes kick ass military space pilots, and I love that. I love kick ass military, space captains, all of her main characters are captains, women captains in this far future, Earth is a distant, vague memory, if it’s even mentioned. And also she writes fabulous extended families.
So books will have different women protagonists who belong to a big family.
[01:45] Favorite Books by Elizabeth MoonNow, my absolute favorite book of hers that I’ve read, reread multiple times is called Once A Hero. It’s called Once A Hero, and it actually has a sequel that I don’t think I’ve read multiple times. I’m not sure. Rules of Engagement.
And both of these are part of a greater series.
[02:06] Kai Vata Series OverviewNow, the other books in her sci-fi that I just absolutely adore features a character, that has been reoccurring.
And I’m gonna pop out here for you. This one. Oh yeah. Kylara Vata. Here’s this one. Trading in Danger, Marque and Reprisal. And then there was a big gap in time, both for Elizabeth Moon as a writer. She was writing other things. There’s also a gap in this main character’s life: Kai Vata, who at first, defies her family’s expectations. She’s supposed to go into business, into the space shipping business, but instead she goes to military academy and rises through the ranks there and has all kinds of fabulous adventures and then we get, which is the first one? Yeah. Cold Welcome.
Now she has risen through the ranks and she is now an admiral. And these came out fairly recently. In the second book, in that series is Into the Fire. And I don’t think the third book has come out because I am waiting for it and I haven’t seen it yet.
[03:09] Elizabeth Moon’s Standalone and BiographySo she also has a standalone book that I highly recommend called Remnant Population.
What is so interesting about this book is the main character is an old woman who’s been left on this planet and has no patience for tom foolery and the voice in this book is just so wonderful. Elizabeth Moon was one of the first women in the Marine Corps in 1967. She is so interesting. You can go to her website and read her bio and I’ll just tell it to you here what she has on her bio. “Elizabeth Moon grew up in South Texas a few miles from the Mexican border, giving her early experience with major cultural differences and leading to a lifelong fascination of how culture shapes individuals and how they adapt or don’t to new experiences.
“She has degrees in both history from Rice University with several courses in cultural anthropology on the side, plus biology at University of Texas. She served three years active duty in the Marine Corps between the two degrees during which she worked with what were then quite large computers and did graduate work and biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“She married a husband while both were in the military. They have one adult son.”
There’s a lot more there about her. You can read on her bio page. I really admire Elizabeth Moon.
[04:34] Meeting Elizabeth Moon and Fantasy WorksI got to meet Elizabeth Moon at a book signing in San Francisco some years ago. That was really fun.
So I highly recommend Elizabeth Moon, if you like military ship captains who are these strong, interesting women. I also really adored her fantasy.
And do I have one of them with me? I thought I had one. ah we go. Book one. She has this fabulous series, called The Deed of Parksenarian, and the first one is called Sheep’s Farmer’s Daughter. And the tagline is, she dared to become a legend.
Really, wonderful, wonderful series. I have to say, I am partial to her science fiction.
[05:11] Conclusion and Writing TipsSo that is today’s episode on one of my very favorite science fiction of fantasy writers, Elizabeth Moon, with whom, I am patiently waiting or for her next book, after, Into the Fire and Cold Welcome.
[05:24] Ready to Edit ChecklistAll right. if you are curious about improving your science fiction and fantasy.
I’m gonna offer up today another goodie that I don’t think I have offered in this podcast for a while. It’s my Ready To Edit checklist. This is for people who are not sure if they’re ready to edit their manuscript or not. So go ahead and check out the checklist to see if you are indeed ready. The checklist comes with six items on the checklist, and it comes with six little videos.
All right. Hope you enjoy that. That’s it for this week, everyone. Write long and prosper.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061Need instructions on how to leave a review? Go here.
***ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”
Learn more about Beth Barany at these sites:
Author site / Coaching site / School of Fiction / Writer’s Fun Zone blog
CONNECTContact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580
Email: beth@bethbarany.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethbarany/
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethbarany/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany
X: https://twitter.com/BethBarany
CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://www.descript.com?lmref=_w1WCA (Refer-a-Friend link)MUSIC CREDITS : Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/fuzz-buzz License code: UMMKDRL02DFGKJ0L. “Fuzz buzz” by Soundroll. Commercial license: https://musicvine.com/track/soundroll/fuzz-buzz.DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465 (Refer-a-Friend link)SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeC 2025 BETH BARANY
For more “How To Write the Future” episodes, go here.
If you’d like to invite Beth onto your podcast, drop her a note here.
Like the work we do? Tip us! https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany
The post Elizabeth Moon: Crafting Strong Female Protagonists in Science Fiction appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
Create With Purpose Part 6: Infinite Possibilities by Kirsten McNeill
Let’s welcome back Kirsten McNeill as she shares with us “Create With Purpose Part 6: Infinite Possibilities.” Enjoy!
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Greetings, Writer’s Fun Zone! Last month, I shared Part 5 of this Create With Purpose Series, and now we’re on to the final installment: Infinite Possibilities.
Each morning when you wake up, you are already making countless micro decisions.
Do you snooze your alarm or get out of bed?
Scroll on your phone or jot notes in your journal?
Stretch and rub your eyes or cuddle your pet (who may or may not have chosen to sit on or near your head)?
There are INFINITE possibilities to how your day can start and how your day will continue.
Sure, some choices you make are more probable than others, but I’m not here to talk about statistics.
I am here to inspire you. To remind you that you can have everything you’ve ever wanted. The path to what you want may not turn out exactly as you expected. Sometimes, it turns out even better!
Discover Your DesiresWhen I work with writers, my coaching process is all about exploring who you are, what you want, and the first step you can take to reach your goals.
That can seem like a lot, especially when you add infinite possibilities to the mix, but if you know where to start it can feel exciting.
If you’ve read the first 5 parts of this series, you’ll have already done a lot of exploring on who you are and your goals.
I think it’s important to explore this every few years or so because we change as we get older and don’t often reevaluate the direction we’re going in life.
Have you ever been working towards a goal, focusing on it for so long, only to realize it doesn’t align with who you’ve become anymore?
Or you were only doing it to please someone who is no longer in your life?
It is okay to change and evolve as we move through different times of our lives.
Sometimes, people in our lives try to stop our growth.
They want us to remain the person they’ve always known or even make fun of us for showing interest in something we swore to never look at in the past.
That ridicule and pressure from others stops us from being who we truly are.
People CAN change.
In fact, we change all the time without even knowing it on a physical and emotional level.
More often than not, we decide NOT to change because we are influenced by the people around us and the fears and doubts building up in our heads.
Take Time to ReflectI encourage you to pick a day this week to reflect on who you are.
What does it mean to be you?
How do you define yourself?
What goals are you working towards?
Make a list of those goals and review it.
How many of them are still important to you?
How many of them are no longer relevant?
How many of them have you STOPPED working towards because a person or event in your life discouraged you?
Look at one of those goals that you’ve stopped working towards.
That could be writing your own memoir, submitting to a book agent or publisher, or writing every single day.
Whatever goal you’ve looked at, it’s on your list for a reason.
You only stopped working towards it because you were made to believe it was impossible for you to achieve.
Have you ever considered that maybe what wasn’t possible was the WAY you had planned to achieve this goal?
Many of us get so stuck in our ways that we forget to explore MULTIPLE possibilities that will lead to our success.
We get so wrapped up in a specific vision that we are blind to the path that we were actually meant to be on.
Maybe instead of writing a memoir you were meant to create a blog that you enjoy even more.
Instead of submitting to a book agent or publisher, you were destined to be self-published.
Instead of writing every single day, you make far more progress and are more motivated when you write every second day.
Eventually, these will all lead to having published work shared with the public. That’s usually the main goal for a writer. We forget to explore the possibilities and we fear the discovery that we may like something new.
New is scary. New is uncertain.
But how will we know unless we try?
Let go of the outcome. Be open to trying new activities that lead to the same end goal.
You CAN have everything you want, but you may not even know what you want until you see and experience it for yourself.
Don’t be afraid of change and evolution. EMBRACE IT! Learn to be open to all possibilities, only then you will discover your version of success and happiness.
The Right MindsetRecently, I connected with the author C.C. Tyler.
During a video call, she reminded me of the concept of a fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset.
You can choose to remain stable in your current way of thinking. Believing you have limits on the life you deserve.
Or you can choose to believe that anything is possible. You can choose to be a dreamer.
Someone who will take any opportunity that feels aligned with their goals, even if there’s a chance of making mistakes.
You are a writer.
You were destined to share your creativity.
How you share it is up to you.
You have a lot more choices than you may believe. You can have everything you’ve ever wanted as long as you’re open to exploring new possibilities.
Believe in yourself. You’ve got this. Your version of success and happiness is right around the corner.
Never forget that you are worthy.
***
ABOUT KIRSTEN MCNEILL
Kirsten McNeill is a Confidence & Writing Lifestyle Coach, Book Editor, and Self-Published Writer. Her mission with Worthy Writers Editing is to bring sunflower sunshine to the creative world connecting writers to the confidence and passion they desire to help them publish and share their stories.
Download the FREE workbook Feed Your Horses Confidence Thought Exercise when you subscribe to the Worthy Writers Confidence Newsletter.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/confident.kirsten
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theworthywritersnook
Blog – Create With Purpose Part 5: Transformation & Empowerment
Podcast – Creative Flow & the Power of Writers With Laura Westman
C.C. Tyler Website: https://www.authorcctyler.com/books
The post Create With Purpose Part 6: Infinite Possibilities by Kirsten McNeill appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
March 4, 2025
How To Talk to An Agent by Catharine Bramkamp
Let’s welcome back monthly columnist Catharine Bramkamp as she shares with us “How To Talk to An Agent.” Enjoy!
***
For a few years I served on a subcommittee for the Women’s National Book Association. Our job was to help authors craft their pitch to literary agents. We called it Pitch-O-Rama and it was essentially how to sell your book in five minutes.
How to Sell Your Book in Five MinutesWe created this specifically for the annual San Francisco Writer’s Conference, during which authors can schedule meetings with agents from around the country. It’s a wonderful opportunity for writers.
And when we say wonderful opportunity we really mean it’s five minutes of utter terror.
Which is why I volunteered to coach the sessions. Authors say they want an agent to represent their soon to be bestselling book, but actually summarizing their project and saying it out loud TO an agent? YIKES!
You are thinking, how hard can it be to explain your work? Harder than it looks.
What all the coaches found was that too often, when asked about their book, author launches into a lengthy and detailed description of the plot.
The whole plot.
Including the motivations of secondary characters coupled with a fifteen minute world building lecture.
Which is why I drink.
Literary agents are in the book selling business. They sell your MS to the publisher who in turn, sells your book to bookstores who in turn sell your book to the reading public. On the way, everyone involved hopes to make a little money.
With that in mind, how can you convince an agent to take a risk on you and your book?
In eight minutes?
(I’m not exaggerating for dramatic effect, this year, the agent pitch sessions lasted exactly eight minutes.)
Suggested Pitch OutlineThe pitch outline I recommend:
Say Hello.Announce the title of your book.What is it about (including the resolution)? And this is different from describing the plot. The plot is how, the story is what.That the novel is finished (it needs to be finished).How is the book different from all the other books in the genre?Why are you the right person at the right time to write this?If you have more than one book, tell them!
But do not pitch the series, focus on the first book in the series.
Here’s a handy example of a pitch to a literary agent:“Hi [agent’s name here]. My name is [Author on the Verge of Fame] and I just completed my first book – [Super Fantastic Fantasy Novel].
This book highlights and celebrates strong young women as represented by my heroine, Venda of the Dragons who struggles through many life threatening adventures to reclaim her rightful throne.
It’s finished at 108,000 words.
Much like Game of Thrones there are possibilities for sequels which I’m excited to write. Unlike Game of Thrones, this book has less violence and more uplifting fantasy moments.
I am the person to write this since I work with disturbed children and encourage their healing through fantasy stories. I took much of their ideas and crafted my world based on their experiences.
Does this sound like it’s right for you?
(Stage direction: shut up and let the agent ask questions).
If you are writing a non fiction book you can spend another few seconds on your credentials, and your outreach.
In person, this is enough, your goal is to hear an agent to say, “Hey that sounds interesting enough, send me your first three chapters.”
That’s the win!
You are golden, you have lunch time bragging rights.
You say nothing more.
You will follow up after the conference.
Send an email with the chapters attached in a Word Docx file.
When you follow up, include a couple of ideas for book promotion as well as a quick sketch of your audience.
(Young female readers looking for a relatable heroine).
Do that, and you are possibly on your way.
Why Wasn’t I Picked?Agents are patient, wonderful people committed to finding and promoting great literature.
They are on your side.
So if they say that a book isn’t right for them, they mean it’s just not right.
Maybe their go-to publishers already have three dragon books in the queue.
Maybe they are looking for an adventure featuring a boy and his horse. You may not know.
But if an agent passes, it’s not about your work it’s about timing. Which absolutely sucks, but that is the game.
And what if the agent says yes?
Shut Up And Take the WinBefore one of my clients arrived at the conference, she carried a copy of her well researched, edited, perfect agent pitch.
During the first day of the conference, she sat in on a workshop during which the presenters suggested that authors should not sell their book, they should focus on selling themselves.
Panicked, she spent that night rewriting her pitch and rehearsing into the small hours of the morning. But she was ready!
When her interview time came, she sat before her chosen agent, with just enough time to deliver her name and the title of her book before the agent said, “I totally know you, and what you are about, would love to work with you. Send your pages to me and I’ll forward them to Nic who will love this project.”
Stunned, my client vacillated between delight, and with five minutes left in the interview, badly wanting to deliver her re-worked pitch.
But because she was prepped, she stopped talking and instead thanked the agent with a promise to send the pages immediately.
Moral of the story: No matter how hard you rehearsed, shut up and take the win. (And congrats!)
***
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***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catharine Bramkamp is a successful writing coach, Chief Storytelling Officer, former co-producer of Newbie Writers Podcast, and author of a dozen books including the Real Estate Diva Mysteries series, and The Future Girls series. She holds two degrees in English and is an adjunct university professor. After fracturing her wrist, she has figured out there is very little she is able to do with one hand tied behind her back. She delights in inspiring her readers.
Be sure to check out Catharine’s previous articles on Writer’s Fun Zone here.
The post How To Talk to An Agent by Catharine Bramkamp appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
March 3, 2025
How Science Fiction Can Change The World
“I would say I live in this space with my Janey McCallister Space Station Mystery series. I think a lot about the sweet spot between current technology and future speculation.”
In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, host and award-winning science fiction author, Beth Barany, discusses how science fiction and fantasy can inspire social change and presents eight potential topics for future episodes, including AI characters, climate fiction, and Afrofuturism, inviting audience participation through voting on your favorite.
1 – Writing Speculative Fiction for Social Change
2 – World Building in Climate Fiction
3 – AI and Robot Characters in Fiction
4 – Afro-futurism and Cultural Narratives
5 – Space Opera and Interstellar Societies
6 – Near Future Technology in Fiction
7 – Time Travel Narratives
8 – Biotech and Future Medicine
Cast your vote on which topics you’d like to see highlighted by emailing beth@bethbarany.com or connecting on Instagram @BethBarany or taking the poll here: https://bethbarany.com/htwtfpoll25
Platforms The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts | Buzzsprout | Spotify | Podcast Addict | Amazon Music| YouTube
RESOURCESFree World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/
Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/
Get support for your fiction writing by a novelist and writing teacher and coach. Schedule an exploratory call here and see if Beth can support you today: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/discovery-call/
About the How To Write the Future podcastThe How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.
This podcast is for you if you have questions like:
– How do I create a believable world for my science fiction story?
– How do I figure out what’s not working if my story feels flat?
– How do I make my story more interesting and alive?
This podcast is for readers too if you’re at all curious about the future of humanity.
Transcript for How science fiction can change the world[00:00] Introduction and Purpose of the PodcastBETH BARANY: Hey everyone. Beth Barany here with How to Write The Future Podcast. Science fiction and fantasy can change the world. I want your help. I really believe that science fiction and fantasy can change the world, and that’s one of my motivations for this podcast.
[00:16] Overview of Eight Potential TopicsBETH BARANY: So in this episode I’m gonna present to you eight different topics that could be, whole episodes. And I’m gonna ask some questions and I would love to hear from you. Which of these eight are you wanting me to do an episode on?
So I’m gonna state what the eight are. Then I’m gonna talk a little bit about each one, and then I’ll restate them at the end and you’ll have a link in the show notes or, wherever you’re listening to this podcast, that will take you to a poll.
So you can tell me what would you love a deep dive in. Okay.
[00:52] List of Possible EpisodesBETH BARANY:
Here are the topics I’m gonna cover briefly in today’s episode:
BETH BARANY: Writing speculative fiction for social change
World building in climate fiction
AI and robot characters in fiction
Afrofuturism and cultural narratives
Space opera and interstellar societies
Near future technology in fiction
Time travel narratives
and lastly: Biotech and Future Medicine.
Now that is eight topics.
Alright, here we go.
[01:25] Topic 1: Writing Speculative Fiction for Social ChangeBETH BARANY: So first off, writing speculative fiction for social change.
Science fiction is great for exploring real world policies and social movements. We can really do some great explorations with science fiction and fantasy as well. So speculative fiction include science fiction and fantasy and all the variations.
So how can these science fiction and fantasy narratives effectively influence policy makers and social movements?
That could be something I could explore. We can also talk about what real world examples have we seen of science fiction, inspiring actual technological or social change. And I could say Star Trek is a great example of that.
[02:06] Topic 2: World Building in Climate FictionBETH BARANY: Alright, next topic, which is world building in climate fiction, this is all about how do we build believable worlds affected by climate change?
And that might show up in science fiction, fantasy, all kinds of speculative fiction. So how do you balance scientific accuracy, if that’s important to you with storytelling when you depict climate affected futures?
Another question that we could explore is what unique challenges do characters face in climate changed environments?
My example for this is Dune.
Dune is a culture that’s highly adapted to a low water, high desert environment. So we could explore that. Let me know if you want me to explore that one. Next…
[02:49] Topic 3: AI and Robot Characters in FictionBETH BARANY: AI and robot characters in fiction, we could explore that more.
How do we write compelling narratives with AI characters?
And so something to explore would be what makes an AI character feel authentic rather than just a human with mechanical parts?
And another question is: how do you explore the ethical implications of AI consciousness in fiction?
And a great book recommendation that I have and one that does explore these beautifully is the book called Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter. She did the Murder Bot series.This is a standalone novel. I thought it was really good Activation, Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter.
[03:29] Topic 4: Afrofuturism and Cultural NarrativesBETH BARANY: Next we could explore Afrofuturism and cultural narratives. And this is bringing cultural heritage, for example, from a region in Africa or from some other part of the world, and bring it into futuristic narratives. So the questions to explore here would be how can writers respectfully incorporate cultural elements into future narratives?
And also, what role does cultural heritage play in shaping future societies?
And a great example of this is all the work of Nnedi Okorafor. I just love her Binti series. And I know, this is a very juicy topic, so let me know if you want me to explore this one in greater depth.
I can also probably find people to interview for this topic very easily as well as the others.
Another topic we could explore together.
[04:15] Topic 5: Space Opera and Interstellar SocietiesBETH BARANY: Space opera and interstellar societies. How do we build stories? Complex narratives of space faring civilizations?
And so as a writer, we ask, how do you create believable social structures for space faring civilizations? And also what are some unique challenges that arise when you are governing multi-planetary populations?
One of my favorite examples of this is the science fiction series by Elizabeth Moon, which I’m gonna talk about in the next episode. And I have a stack of books right here. I’m gonna be recording that soon.
Jim Hines has a great series called Janitors of the Post Apocalypse. He’s got a three book series. I just adore it. He does a great job with this whole space faring civilizations really fun.
[05:00] Topic 6: Near Future Technology in FictionBETH BARANY: Alright, next topic, we can dive deeper into: Near future technology in fiction. How do we write about emerging technologies realistically?
And a question we can discuss: how do you research emerging technologies to make near future scenarios plausible?
Also, what’s that sweet spot between current technology and future speculation?
And I would say I live in this space with my Janey McCallister Space Station Mystery series. I think a lot about the sweet spot between current technology and future speculation. And I, yeah, I have a lot to say about this and I might have already said it in some past episodes. So that is definitely something I have a lot to say on.
[05:43] Topic 7: Time Travel NarrativesBETH BARANY: Next time travel narratives: managing the paradoxes and creating consistent time travel rules.
So a question you might ask as a writer is: how do you maintain internal consistency in your time travel rules?
What are some creative ways to handle temporal paradoxes?
So I have a great example of this and it’s the Beryl Blue series by Janet Ray Stevens, a friend of mine and I just adore her time travel series.
It’s very fun and funny and has rules around time travel. I really adore it. That’s one example.
So let me know if you want me to discuss more about time travel narratives.
[06:22] Topic 8: Biotech and Future MedicineBETH BARANY: And then this is the last one I’m gonna talk about today, which is biotech and future medicine. This is stories that are writing about medical advances and their implications.
So how might advanced medical technology change human society and what ethical dilemmas arise with biotech advancement?
So let me know if you want me to discuss that one.
And I wanna bring up Elizabeth Moon again because she has life extension as a thing in her, science fiction. She discusses the implications of that. It has sociopolitical implications if people are living longer and that has impact and pressure on her characters and her stories. It’s really interesting.
[07:04] Wrap-Up and Call to Action: Vote for your FavoriteBETH BARANY: Alright, so those are my eight topics.
And vote for the one that you want me to dive deeper into.
Alright. And I’m gonna repeat them for you.
Writing speculative fiction for social change
World building in climate fiction
BETH BARANY: AI and robot characters in fiction
Afrofuturism and cultural narratives
Space opera and interstellar societies
Near future technology in fiction
Time travel narratives
And lastly, biotech and future medicine in narrative.
BETH BARANY: Alright, that’s it for this week, everyone.
[07:44] Additional Resources and Next Episode TeaserBETH BARANY: Just wanna quickly remind you, I have a world building workbook for fiction writers. If you want support and guidance and brainstorm tools around your world building. I highly recommend you check out my world building workbook for fiction writers and that will help you get going.
And last but not least, stay tuned till next week’s episode. I’m gonna talk about Elizabeth Moon, one of my favorite science fiction and fantasy writers. All right, write long and prosper.
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061Need instructions on how to leave a review? Go here.
***ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”
Learn more about Beth Barany at these sites:
Author site / Coaching site / School of Fiction / Writer’s Fun Zone blog
CONNECTContact Beth: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/podcast/#tve-jump-185b4422580
Email: beth@bethbarany.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbarany/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bethbarany/
TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethbarany/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany
X: https://twitter.com/BethBarany
CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT: https://www.descript.com?lmref=_w1WCA (Refer-a-Friend link)MUSIC CREDITS : Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/fuzz-buzz License code: UMMKDRL02DFGKJ0L. “Fuzz buzz” by Soundroll. Commercial license: https://musicvine.com/track/soundroll/fuzz-buzz.DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465 (Refer-a-Friend link)SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeC 2024 BETH BARANY
For more “How To Write the Future” episodes, go here.
If you’d like to invite Beth onto your podcast, drop her a note here.
Like the work we do? Tip us! https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany
The post How Science Fiction Can Change The World appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
February 28, 2025
How To Remember What You Read + YDNAB Review by LA Bourgeois
Let’s welcome back LA Bourgeois as she shares with us “How To Remember What You Read + YDNAB Review.” Enjoy!
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Before we jump into the review of You Don’t Need a Budget, let’s talk for a moment about how we remember what we’ve learned now that we’ve read the book.
Remembering What We ReadStart by realizing that, just by reading this book with an attitude of learning, we’ve already begun to absorb the lessons and ideas of the author, integrating them into our lives and work almost by accident.
Now, take a couple of days and devote your reading time to studying the book.
A great place to begin is copying the quotes and any notes made in the book to a journal, commonplace book, or the appropriate computer file.
Many folks recommend handwriting your thoughts in a notebook or journal. In fact, on the On With Kara Swisher podcast, Dwight Garner, the New York Times book reviewer, said that he regularly copies his favorite quotes from the books he read into a commonplace book (which is a notebook you keep near to jot down any good quotes, inspirations and ideas that float through the horizon of your attention).
FYI – A commonplace book is so handy! I keep one in my purse and one by my chair in the den for noting quotes from movies, fun signs on the road, and other random inspirations.
Due to ongoing tendonitis, I type my notes into Scrivener, the program I use for my writing. Each project has a file, and the book that I’m reading frequently pertains to one of those projects.
For example, reading You Don’t Need a Budget is part of my coaching project, so I popped these notes and quotes into a document in my “Coaching Blog” file.
Once all of the notes and quotes have been transcribed, I read them to see what themes and resonances showed up for me.
Why did that quote draw my attention?
What are the themes of the book that pulled me in or put me off?
Any exercises or journal prompts that attracted me now get my attention.
Are they still worth doing?
Did what I learned from the book deepen my understanding and experience of the exercise or prompt?
And this is the point where I can really delve in, to review and assess the book, to integrate the teachings into my work.
So, how do I remember the book that I just read? By focusing on the parts that spoke to me and giving them a little more attention.
An Anti-Capitalist Book About Personal FinanceAs for how this played out with our first book, You Don’t Need a Budget: Stop Worrying About Debt, Spend Without Shame, and Manage Money With Ease by Dana Miranda, each of you will have a different reaction to the book.
Bits that meant more to you than others.
And, because this book is an anti-capitalist book about personal finance, its ideas can resonate personally while feeling radically political.
This column is not about politics. It’s about reading books that make you feel inspired and to help you thrive as you build a life that incorporates your writing.
With that in mind, the big points that made the most impact for my creative life are these:
Reframing my emergency fund as the comfort fund because it encourages me to spend on things that help me improve my art like writing classes and an ongoing editor.Focusing on the big rocks and letting the rest take care of itself. This comes from the parable Miranda told early in the book about a professor filling a jar.He started with the big rocks, filling the jar with all of them he could get in. He continues with pebbles, then sand and finally water.
When you fill your jar in that way, then you get everything in the jar.
But, if you were to start with the water, then you couldn’t fit any of the rest of it into the jar.
She suggests this as a way to look at your financial goals, but I will carry it further into my creative work because there are always large and small goals, and sometimes I get distracted by the small goals and then don’t have the energy to make the big goals happen.
What lesson from the book resonated strongest with you?
How are you planning to put it into action?
The Next Book in Our SeriesThe next book in our series is The Elements of Humor: The Tools of Comedy That Make You Funnier, Happier, and Better Looking by Scott Dikkers.
Even if you’ve never considered creating anything funny or consider yourself a comic author, integrating the tools of comedy improves your writing in unexpected ways.
As the cover says, “Whether you’re aiming to craft funny content, boost your speech delivery with laughs, or just be funnier in everyday interactions, this book covers essential strategies including self-deprecation and the art of wordplay.”
Join us in reading ten pages per (week)day of The Elements of Humor and watch your words begin to sparkle!
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ABOUT LA BOURGEOIS
LA (as in tra-la-la) Bourgeois is a Kaizen-Muse Certified Creativity Coach and author who helps clients embrace the joy of their creative work and thrive while doing it.
Get more of her creativity ideas and techniques by subscribing to her newsletter at https://subscribepage.io/unlockyourcreativity.
The post How To Remember What You Read + YDNAB Review by LA Bourgeois appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
February 25, 2025
When Do Copyrights Expire? by Kelley Way
Let’s welcome back monthly columnist Kelley Way as she shares with us “When Do Copyrights Expire?” Enjoy!
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With all the copyrighted works of 1929 entering the public domain as of January 1, it’s a good time to ask how copyrights work, and when do copyrights expire.
Yes, all copyrighted works will expire at some point. The U.S. Constitution specifically says that creative works can be protected “for a limited duration,” meaning they must expire sometime.
When they do expire, they are said to enter “the public domain,” the magical place where free-to-use content resides.
Works in the public domain can be used by anyone, for any reason, without having to get permission or pay royalties (with some limited exceptions — see my article on the public domain.)
So when do copyrights expire?That question is trickier than you might think because it depends on when the work was copyrighted in the first place.
The Copyright Act of 1976 changed how the entire system worked, and a dividing line was created on January 1, 1978 (when the Copyright Act took effect).
For works published before this date, they got a flat 28 years of protection.
If they wanted their copyright to last longer, they had to renew their copyright with the Copyright Office to get another 28 years.
This caused many problems and confusion, and eventually, the law was changed to give these works a flat 95 years of protection, with no renewal required.
On the plus side, it’s now easier to know when these works enter the public domain, and it’s how January 1 became Public Domain Day.
For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
So, none of these works will be entering the public domain anytime soon.
People who want to determine the copyright status of a specific work will have to do some legwork to find out if and when the copyright author died before they can determine the copyright’s expiration date.
This extended copyright duration is very nice for copyright authors.
However – if the copyright is actually making money, they can plan for it to keep making money for years after they’re gone.
It can be a great way to provide for loved ones or donate to worthy causes if they set things up properly.
The intersection of copyright and estate planning law is my specialty. If you have questions about copyright law or how to incorporate copyrights into your will and trust, please reach me at kaway@kawaylaw.com.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelley Way was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California. She graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in English, followed by a Juris Doctorate. Kelley is a member of the California Bar, and an aspiring writer of young adult fantasy novels. More information at kawaylaw.com.
The post When Do Copyrights Expire? by Kelley Way appeared first on Writer's Fun Zone.
