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How To Write The Future
The How to Write The Future Podcast offers fiction writing tips for science fiction and fantasy authors who want to create optimistic stories because when we vision what is possible, we help make it so. By science fiction and fantasy author and fiction writing coach, Beth Barany.
Episodes
147 episodes
147. How to Ask Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Creativity (and Your Life)
“As a storyteller, WHAT IF is fabulous. What if it was like this? What if it was like that? What if I did this? What if I put it this way?“In “How to Ask Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Creativity (and Your Life)...
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Season 1
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Episode 147
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10:09
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146. How Ancient Female Warriors Shape Our Future
“Women have had an impact in world history throughout the ages. We just haven't been told those stories. So one of my missions in life is to bring these stories to life, both through fiction and through nonfiction.”Di...
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Season 1
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Episode 146
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14:30
145. Women in Science: From Ancient Times to Modern Breakthroughs
“Did you ever wonder who invented Kevlar, the coffee filter, the car heater, or liquid paper? Would you be surprised to find out that they're all invented by a woman?” In this podcast episode, titled “Women in Sc...
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Season 1
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Episode 145
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7:14
144. 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 Wr...
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Season 1
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Episode 144
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4:48
143. 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 Prot...
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Season 1
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Episode 143
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6:02
142. How Science Fiction and Fantasy 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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 142
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8:13
141. Favorite Science Explainers on YouTube (part 2)
Science Explainer: That is a term that has come out in the last bit of years to explain someone or to describe somebody who shares about science to the general public.In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, h...
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Season 1
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Episode 141
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5:45
140. Favorite Science Explainers on YouTube (Part 1)
“As you may have noticed, these are all women science explainers and scientists, because I really want to highlight women doing science.”In the latest How To Write the Future podcast episode, host and science fiction ...
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Season 1
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Episode 140
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5:36
139. Simple and Powerful Storytelling Structure with Leon Conrad
“Because It's grounded on a very simple principle. Story, well told, well crafted, well structured, will have a pattern of ebb and flow. The ebb is where the tension builds up, and the flow is where it releases.”-- Leon Conrad&n...
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Season 1
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Episode 139
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26:43
138. Building Authentic Stories: Real-World Elements in Fantasy and Sci-Fi with Lewis Jorstad
“I really enjoy leaning on real world history to write my stories.”-- Lewis Jorstad In this episode of How To Write the Future, host Beth Barany chats with bestselling author and editor Lewis Jorstad about how to incorporat...
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Season 1
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Episode 138
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26:24
137. The Art of Editing Speculative Fiction with Kristin Noland
”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 answ...
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Season 1
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Episode 137
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22:43
136. Exploring Futuristic Events in 2025: A Guide for Science Fiction Writers
"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,...
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Season 1
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Episode 136
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5:14
135. Creative Writing Resources: Power Up Your Fiction in 2025
“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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 135
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8:35
134. Top 6 Most Popular Episodes in 2024
"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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 134
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14:59
133. You did it! You've a finished science fiction or fantasy novel you’re proud of. (Step 8)
“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...
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Season 1
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Episode 133
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7:52
132. Launch and publish your novel (Step 7) (Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap)
“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 m...
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Season 1
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Episode 132
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6:07
131. Trust-Your-Heart Marketing (Step 6)
“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 ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 131
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8:52
130. Take 2-95! Revise for your readers. Writing is rewriting. (Step 5)
“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 foc...
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Season 1
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Episode 130
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8:20
129. Take 1. Write Your Messy First Draft. (Step 4)
“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...
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Season 1
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Episode 129
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6:14
128. Story Development (Step 3)
“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 listen...
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Season 1
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Episode 128
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8:31
127. Writing practice. "I can do this." (Step 2)
“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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 127
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7:02
126. You are Here: Take an Assessment and Clarify Your Goals (Step 1)
“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 meth...
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Season 1
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Episode 126
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6:32
125. Trust Your Creative Heart Roadmap for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers
“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 lates...
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Season 1
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Episode 125
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7:50
124. Interview with BookFunnel creator Damon Courtney, part 2
“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 wit...
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Season 1
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Episode 124
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16:00
123. Interview with Bookfunnel creator Damon Courtney, part 1
“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, “Intervi...
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Season 1
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Episode 123
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16:34