How To Write The Future

Beth Barany

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.

  1. -19 H

    179. Building Character-Driven Action Adventure Stories with Lawrence Connolly

    “Written from the point of view of one character and then another scene from the another character. Now, we would never shift point of view within a scene, but each scene, each segment of the book is from a different point of view.” - Lawrence Connolly In this How To Write the Future episode, “Building Character-Driven Action Adventure Stories with Lawrence Connolly,” podcast host Beth Barany interviews author Lawrence Connolly, where they explore his upcoming exciting projects, including a feature film with his brother and his new novel. They also dive into using deep POV to create characters that are emotionally compelling to draw a reader into the author's world and share advice for writers working on film adaptations. ABOUT LAWRENCE C. CONNOLLY Lawrence C. Connolly’s books include the collections This Way to Egress, whose titular tale of psychological horror was adapted for the Mick Garris film Nightmare Cinema; and the Bram-Stoker-nominated Voices, which features Connolly’s best stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Twilight Zone, Year’s Best Horror, and other top magazines and anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.  A third collection, Visions, was praised by Publishers Weekly for featuring an eclectic mix of “entertaining and satisfying” SF.  His novels include the eco-thrillers Veins, Vipers, and Vortex. World Fantasy Award winner T. E. D. Klein called Veins “a crime thriller as intense and fast-moving as a Tarantino movie.”  This fall, Caezik Science Fiction will release his new novel Minute-Men: Execute & Run, a globetrotting adventure that combines elements of military science fiction, gaming, and medical suspense in a thrilling reinvention of the superhero genre. He is collaborating with brother Christopher Connolly and Academy Award-winning producer Jonathan Sanger to develop a feature film based on Execute & Run.  He is also the writer of Mystery Theatre, a podcast produced by Prime Stage Theatre, who premiered his adaptation of Frankenstein in 2022.  His newset commission, a play based on the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, opens in November 2025 at Pittsburgh’s New Hazelett Theatre. More at MinuteMenNovel.com.  Website: https://lawrencecconnolly.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.c.connolly.9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawrence_c_connolly/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    28 min
  2. 10 NOV.

    178. Future Fantasy, Real-World Resilience with Randee Dawn

    “I love plot, I love character, and I just feel like the colors are bolder and brighter and there's more to work with when I'm writing about science fiction and fantasy.” - Randee Dawn In this How To Write the Future episode, “Future Fantasy, Real-World Resilience with Randee Dawn,” podcast host Beth Barany interviews Brooklyn-based author and veteran entertainment journalist Randee Dawn, where Randee shares how her love of “new journalism” started and they discuss how to portray monsters in their novels that leave their readers guessing whether they’re good or evil, how to craft stories with emotional resonance, and the power of a writing community.  ABOUT RANDEE DAWN Randee Dawn is a Brooklyn-based author and veteran entertainment journalist. In 2025, she has two dark rock n' roll fantasies being published through Arc Manor/Caezik: The Only Song Worth Singing (April), and Leave No Trace (September). Born in Virginia, raised in Maryland, she's now based in Brooklyn with her spouse and never enough mangoes. Website: https://randeedawn.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRandeeDawn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randeedawn/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randeedawn/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@randee.dawn RESOURCES RELATED EPISODE: Monsters and Humanity in Fiction with Surekha Davies https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061/episodes/18046744-177-monsters-and-humanity-in-fiction-with-surekha-davies GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    26 min
  3. 3 NOV.

    177. Monsters and Humanity in Fiction with Surekha Davies

    “It all started with too much Star Trek, although you could say that that's a lie because there is never too much Star Trek.” - Surekha Davies In the latest How To Write the Future podcast, titled “Monsters and Humanity in Fiction with Surekha Davies,” host Beth Barany talks to science and art historian, monster consultant, and author, Surekha Davies. Together they discuss why understanding monsters matters, how they function as boundary-markers for humanity, and how writer’s can apply an historian’s perspective on monsters to deepen their storytelling.  ABOUT SUREKHA DAVIES Surekha Davies is a historian of science, art, and ideas, a speaker, and a monster consultant for TV, film and radio. She is the author of "Humans: A Monstrous History" just out from the University of California Press, and writes the free newsletter, "Strange and Wondrous: Notes From a Science Historian." Her first book, "Renaissance Ethnography and the Invention of the Human: New Worlds, Maps and Monsters," won the Morris D. Forkosch Prize for the best first book in intellectual history from the Journal of the History of Ideas and the Roland H. Bainton Prize in History and Theology. Her work has appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, Nature, Science, and Aeon Magazine. For a free excerpt from HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY sign up for my newsletter, "Strange and Wondrous": https://buttondown.com/surekhadavies Website: https://www.surekhadavies.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surekhadavies/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surekha-davies-53711753/ Mastodon: https://hcommons.social/@surekhadavies Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/drsurekhadavies.bsky.social RESOURCES GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    29 min
  4. 27 OCT.

    176. Bailey Lang's Habits of Mind for Writers

    “So the habits of mind are: curiosity, openness, engagement, creativity, persistence, responsibility, flexibility, and metacognition. So that's a whole lot of terms. Metacognition is typically the one where people go, huh, I don't know what you're talking about. So that's the one that I wanna talk about. It is also one of the ones that I think is foundational to all the rest.” - Bailey Lang In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, “Bailey Lang's Habits of Mind for Writers,” host Beth Barany talks to book coach, editor, and ghostwriter Bailey Lang, where they discuss the uses of AI in a creative world, and Bailey shares what the Habits of Mind are and why they are important to writers and how they can help them build sustainable practices.  ABOUT BAILEY LANG Dr. Bailey Lang is a book coach, editor, and ghostwriter. At the Writing Desk, Bailey offers one-on-one coaching and manuscript reviews to support authors in building sustainable, enjoyable writing practices that take their books from draft to done. Bailey pairs a deep knowledge of the writing process with intuitive and highly customized practices that help writers develop confidence, grow in their craft, and produce writing they’re proud of—without burning out. Bailey's free newsletter, Word to the Wise, features writing advice you'll actually use—plus regular interviews with published authors. https://usethewritingdesk.kit.com/ Website: https://usethewritingdesk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bailey-lang/ ABOUT BETH BARANY Beth Barany, an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist, teaches novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSIONALS - BUILD YOUR BUSINESS SERVING WRITERS Sign up to be notified when our training opens and get a short Creative Business Style Quiz to help you create success. https://bethbarany.com/apprenticeship/ Support our work for creatives! Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    26 min
  5. 20 OCT.

    175. Tricking Yourself into Writing Habits with LA Bourgeois

    “I am a horrible little goblin like that, and it's just what happens. So I have to trick myself and the ways that I trick myself are to really let myself see what I want to create.” - LA Bourgeois About this episode In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, host Beth Barany, talks to Kaizen Muse Certified Creativity Coach, end of life doula, and author LA Bourgeois where they define the meaning behind a creativity coach, and LA discusses strategies for establishing writing habits, emphasizing the importance of starting with tiny, manageable steps to overcome resistance. About LA Bourgeois LA Bourgeois is a Kaizen-Muse certified creativity coach, end-of-life doula, and author. Her readers delight in her Diary of a Lesbian Housewyfe and find inspiration & book reviews at The Thriving Creative. FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/housewyfe/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/la.bourgeois/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lahousewyfe/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/la-bourgeois-16b7542b/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@LAHousewyfe Subscribe to the Thriving Creative and get my quick tips on Tricking Yourself into a Creative Habit! https://labourgeois.substack.com/ ABOUT BETH BARANY Beth Barany, an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist, teaches novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSIONALS - BUILD YOUR BUSINESS SERVING WRITERS Sign up to be notified when our training opens and get a short Creative Business Style Quiz to help you create success. https://bethbarany.com/apprenticeship/ Support our work for creatives! Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    21 min
  6. 13 OCT.

    174. Seamless Queer Characters in Fantasy World Building with Chad Grayson

    “I'm not asking for everybody to center queer characters in their narratives in world-building, which would be nice, actually, you know, as nice as that would be. But just to include us and to show that we exist and in whatever ways are appropriate in your world, whether that is a more like marginal existence in some worlds.” - Chad Grayson In this episode on the How To Write the Future podcast, “Seamless Queer Characters in Fantasy World Building,” host Beth Barany talks to sci-fi and fantasy author Chad Grayson about the importance of queer and neurodivergent representation in world building, protecting your creativity, and shares productivity tips for neurodivergent writers. ABOUT CHAD GRAYSON Chad Grayson has worn many hats: tech support flunky, gas station philosopher, reluctant middle school wrangler, and, for one unforgettable night, cheese-mold removal specialist. These days he lives in far Northern California, where he writes hopeful, character-focused sci-fi and fantasy that will break your heart and duct tape it back together. He can usually be found painting tiny fantasy heroes and monsters, wandering the woods in deep narrative contemplation, or yelling at his plot outlines like they’ve personally betrayed him (they know what they did). His superpowers include procrastination, dyscalculia, and making emotionally devastating story beats sound like a perfectly reasonable life choice. Here is a short story collection that showcases my fiction. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/b2p8y4vi0l Website: https://www.chadgrayson.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/c.e.grayson RESOURCES Support our work for creatives! Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST - Sign up for the 30-minute Story Success Clinic with Beth Barany: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/story-success-clinic/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! Invitation to join our Romancing the Subplot Workshop coming soon. Link in the show notes. --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    28 min
  7. 6 OCT.

    173. Revisiting Your Story World Diagnosis: What Stage Are You In?

    “Your biggest challenge is how to start, how to overcome confusion and overwhelm, and maybe how to overcome some procrastination.” - Beth Barany Revisit an informative, positive, and uplifting episode with host Beth Barany to help “Your Story World Diagnosis: What Stage Are You In?” where she will share the five stages of story world building, including common world-building challenges and how to overcome them. In this episode, you will: Be able to identify the main stages of building a story worldGain direction on the symptoms to know which stage you are inLearn solutions on how you can progress through each stage.RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSIONALS - BUILD YOUR BUSINESS SERVING WRITERS Sign up to be notified when our training opens and get a short Creative Business Style Quiz to help you create success. https://bethbarany.com/apprenticeship/ Support our work for creatives! Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST 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/ SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    12 min
  8. 29 SEPT.

    172. In the Age of AI, Think Critically, Write Creatively, Act Compassionately

    Have you stopped to ask yourself: what is it that you want? And dared to listen to the answer.” - Beth Barany  In the latest How To Write the Future podcast episode, “In the Age of AI, Think Critically, Write Creatively, Act Compassionately,” host Beth Barany encourages listeners to critically think about the tools they are using and to create a compassionate place to be curious about the systems they live within. She encourages listeners to learn from their mistakes: “feedback, not failure,” and asks, “Would you dare listen to the answer if you stopped to ask yourself what it is you wanted?” ABOUT THE HOW TO WRITE THE FUTURE PODCAST The 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 and get curious about the future of humanity. ABOUT BETH BARANY Beth Barany, an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist, teaches novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor. RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE WRITING PROFESSIONALS - BUILD YOUR BUSINESS SERVING WRITERS Sign up to be notified when our training opens and get a short Creative Business Style Quiz to help you create success. https://bethbarany.com/apprenticeship/ Support our work for creatives! Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/bethbarany GET HELP WITH YOUR WORLD BUILDING - START HERE Free World Building Workbook for Fiction Writers: https://writersfunzone.com/blog/world-building-resources/ GET SOME FREE WRITING COACHING LIVE ON THE PODCAST 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/  SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2025 BETH BARANY https://bethbarany.com/ Questions? Comments? Send us a text! --- CONNECT Contact Beth LinkedIn CREDITS EDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link) MUSIC: Uppbeat.io DISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

    11 min
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À propos

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.

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