Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian No – Details, episodes & analysis

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Podcast Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian No

Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian No

Heather Davis, Writing Coach, Book Coach, and Developmental Editor

Arts
Education
Fiction

Frequency: 1 episode/18d. Total Eps: 53

Hosting podcast Buzzsprout

Welcome to the Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple Podcast! The show that’s all about how to brainstorm, write, edit, publish, and sell a powerful speculative fiction novel… and maybe just change the world too. 

I'm your host, Heather Davis. I’m a seasoned book coach, developmental editor, and fellow storyteller. In my work with writers, I always see the same problems and roadblocks standing in their way and preventing them from achieving their dream of becoming a published author. So it’s my mission to be 100% real about what it takes to craft a cohesive and unforgettable speculative fiction novel. I’ll share the same tips, tricks, and techniques that I use with my own clients in order to help you write the best novel you’re capable of writing. 

In my under-30-minute episodes, I’ll get right to the heart of the problem without wasting your valuable time. I’ll give concrete, actionable ways to address that problem that won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed or ready to give up. (That means that most of my episodes come with handy workbooks that you can grab for free right in my show notes!) But let’s be clear on one thing. Writing a good speculative fiction novel—you know, one that other people actually want to read it—is probably that hardest personal project you’ll ever willingly undertake. So this podcast doesn't downplay that hard work and promise that you’ll write a bestseller in 30 days or 6 months. (I personally don’t believe that good novels are written that way.) 

Instead, this podcast embraces the hard, messy, and frustrating work that goes in to writing a great novel. My goal is to help you write a novel that you're proud of—one that holds together, one that makes people think, and one that makes readers want to read your work and buy your books again and again. From character arc to plot structure, from deep level worldbuilding to developing a kick-ass magic system, from honing your authorly voice to identifying your genre, from building an email list to hiring an editor, we’re gonna to cover it all. 

So if that sounds like something that would be helpful to you in your writing journey, please take a second to follow or subscribe to the show. It would mean the world to me and it’s a really easy way to show your support and to make sure there are many more episodes to come! 

Until next time, keep writing, keep dreaming, and remember: the world needs your stories right now, so don't you dare give up on your novel or yourself! See ya soon! 

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  • 🇫🇷 France - books

    15/06/2026
    #96
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    12/03/2026
    #60
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    11/03/2026
    #87
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    08/03/2026
    #92
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    05/03/2026
    #86
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    04/03/2026
    #87
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    25/02/2026
    #95
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    16/02/2026
    #92
  • 🇺🇸 USA - books

    31/01/2026
    #100
  • 🇨🇦 Canada - books

    29/01/2026
    #82

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6 Key Steps to Finding Perfect-Fit Comp Titles for Your Novel (While You’re Still Writing) | Episode 26

jeudi 22 août 2024Duration 14:10

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 titles are a necessary evil. And if you give yourself the time, space, and tools to do the work properly, they can actually be fun to find.


In today's episode you'll learn: 

  • The 6 key steps to finding perfect-fit comp titles for your novel
  • When to start looking for comp titles
  • Why you’re making finding comp titles hard than it needs to be
  • Where to look for comp titles 
  • What books to avoid when looking for comp titles
  • And so much more

Join Momentum Writing Sprints! ✍️🏃🏽‍♀️😎Come write with us for FREE every Saturday from 11 am  to 12 pm ET! 

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25

jeudi 8 août 2024Duration 09:58

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
  • Whether backstory and context are essential or just a recipe for info dumping
  • Why character flaws and problems are key to an engaging opening scene
  • And so much more...


Sign up for my FREE Mini Course: 
✨4 Secrets To Crafting a Powerful Character Arc for Your Protagonist✨


👉resources.manyworldswriting.com/5XyYsI

Join Momentum Writing Sprints! ✍️🏃🏽‍♀️😎Come write with us for FREE every Saturday from 11 am  to 12 pm ET! 

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

Unlock the 7 Subtle Truths About Writing (That Will Make Your Story Better) | Episode 16

Season 1 · Episode 16

jeudi 25 avril 2024Duration 23:08

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 your energy in the right places as you write and revise.

 In this episode you’ll learn:

The truth about what a story really is and what it’s not.
How transformation is at the very core of impactful narratives.
The basics of character arc development
And so much more…

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

7 Crucial Steps to Creating and Writing a Captivating Magic System For Your Novel | Episode 15

Season 1 · Episode 15

jeudi 28 mars 2024Duration 22:45

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:


  1. The crucial importance of weaving an engaging magic system into your fantasy world.
  2. Differentiating between soft and hard magic systems, and knowing which to employ for maximum impact.
  3. A comprehensive 7-step guide to fashioning a magic system that is both intricate and internally consistent.
  4. Witness the creation of a magic system through a detailed example, illuminating every facet of the creative process.

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

9 Key Elements of Character Interiority: Writing Reality | Episode 14

Season 1 · Episode 14

jeudi 21 mars 2024Duration 24:10

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 you’ll learn:

What interiority is
The 9 ways interiority manifests in novels
Why you need to add interiority to your novel
How to get interiority onto the page in your scenes
How to balance your narrative with the right amount of interiority 
And so much more!


Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

7 Key Facts You MUST Know About Your Protagonist (Before Writing Another Word) | Episode 13

jeudi 7 mars 2024Duration 17:18

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:

  1. Why every novel is actually character driven
  2. How character arc must be thoroughly considered when getting to know your protagonist
  3. The 7 questions you must ask yourself about your protagonist to make them magnetic to readers
  4. And so much more!

 

Snag my FREE protagonist workbook: 

https://manyworldswriting.com/protagonist 

Join the Many Worlds Writing Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1012106499677937/?mibextid=oMANbw

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

Show and Tell: The Secret to Writing Better Scenes | Episode 12

jeudi 29 février 2024Duration 08:17

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 provide practical strategies to reignite the potency and depth of your scenes.

 

 In this episode you’ll learn:

  1. Showing vs. telling on the page
  2. Why balancing both creates stronger, more meaningful storytelling
  3. Mastering the art of crafting scenes that skillfully blend showing and telling.

 

If you’re ready to learn more about the art of showing and telling, snag my FREE workbook: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/showandtell 


Join the Many Worlds Writing Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1012106499677937/?mibextid=oMANbw

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

How to Turn a Narrative Summary into a Full Scene: Expanding Your Writing | Episode 11

jeudi 22 février 2024Duration 42:23

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 them vibrant and irresistible to readers

4) how to expand a summary into a full scene.

 

If you’re ready to learn all about how kick*ss scenes are actually written, snag my FREE workbook: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/scene 

 

Are you ready for an affordable mentorship program that will help you write a powerful speculative fiction novel? 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

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

The 10 Key Components of Writing a Great Scene | Episode 10

jeudi 8 février 2024Duration 36:02

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.

 

If you’re ready to learn all about how kick*ss scenes are actually written, snag my FREE workbook: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/scene

 

Are you ready for an affordable mentorship program that will help you write a powerful speculative fiction novel? Fill out an application to my Powerful Writers, Powerful Novels Mentorship Program: https://manyworldswriting.com/mentorship 

 

Join the Many Worlds Writing Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1012106499677937/?mibextid=oMANbw 

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show

Writing Backstory without Info Dumping | Episode 9

jeudi 25 janvier 2024Duration 18:54

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 here and learn the 5 principles of highly effective backstory: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/backstory 

 

Are you ready for an affordable mentorship program that will help you write a powerful speculative fiction novel? 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

Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗

Support the show


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