Subject: How to Ask Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Creativity (and Your Life) ❤️

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🚀 Specializing in supporting science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction writers. 🐉

How to Ask Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Creativity (and Your Life) ❤️

Podcast highlight + Upcoming event!

This week's How To Write The Future podcast episode:

Ep. 147: How to Ask Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Creativity (and Your Life)

https://writersfunzone.com/blog/2025/04/07/how-to-ask-powerful-questions-to-unlock-your-creativity-and-your-life/

Crafting Compelling Romantic Subplots

Hands-on workshop with romance writer and teacher, Gala Russ

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9am PT/12pm ET

https://bethbarany.thrivecart.com/crafting-compelling-romantic-subplots/

❤️

This email is long, so you may need to click to open the full email and read online.

Friday, April 11, 2025

Hi Friend,

My brain is a bit tired because I've been working on a TV pilot script, editing our Behind-The-Scenes video for the short Henrietta film -- and I presented it yesterday.

So if you signed up for that you'll get to see this video!

And I've been coaching clients and editing their books. Fun!

Whew! No wonder my brain is tired.

So, my remedy for that is to rest and take meandering walks in the neighborhood. So that I can recover my creative groove.

Did you know that rest is as important as work?

How do you relax and rest?

Hit reply and let me know.

And check out some ways I relax - taking pics of flowers in my neighborhood and doodling - on Instagram.

🌷

Help shape the podcast, How To Write The Future

Take this poll here:

https://bethbarany.com/htwtfpoll25

Thanks!

I talk about the topics in brief in this previous episode.

So far, the results are pretty evenly split amongst the 8 topics.

Lend your voice! Thanks!

❤️

Crafting Compelling Romantic Subplots

Hook Your Readers!

Master the art of weaving romance into your fiction — build chemistry, tension, and intimacy that keep readers hooked.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to craft undeniable romantic chemistry that keeps readers hooked, ensures relationship progression, and reinforces your story’s core conflict.

With Gala Russ, a book coach, experienced romance author, and publishing strategist.

I'm excited to host Gala for this hands-on workshop.

Here's what she has to say about it:

Romantic subplots can feel like magic when they work and like a cheap trick when they don’t.

In genre fiction, a well-crafted romance thread can elevate the emotional stakes and deepen reader investment, but too often it’s tacked on without purpose or payoff.

In this workshop, I’m pulling back the curtain on the techniques romance authors use to make love stories land.

Whether your story involves magic, murder, or mayhem, I’ll show you how to build romantic subplots that feel essential, not extra, and help you master the art of making your audience believe in the magic of romance.

Join us for this 90-minute hands-on workshop!

Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9am PT/12pm ET

Cost: $67

https://bethbarany.thrivecart.com/crafting-compelling-romantic-subplots/

❤️

On to the weekly podcast...

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 this episode, I explain “How to Ask Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Creativity (and Your Life)” including how they can help with the worldbuilding for your story. I also share my current and upcoming projects and the specialized coaching support I offer to writers.

To listen or read this episode's transcript, go here (Writer's Fun Zone):

Or listen on YouTube

Apple Podcast

Spotify

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.

Enjoy!

In the next episode, Ep. 148, I hand the mic over to my husband and fellow author Ezra Barany where he shares an introduction to creating character groups in fantasy words.

Stay tuned on How To Write The Future podcast.

(All previous episodes listed here.)

Like/Subscribe/Share/Review

Wherever you listen to your podcast, if you're so moved, please Like, Subscribe, or Share the How To Write The Future podcast.

YouTube!

And now How To Write The Future podcast is on YouTube here!

Please subscribe.

We now have 364 subscribers. Wow!

Thank you!

Tell your friends and help us get to 500!!

We're getting there!

Thanks! And since we have an international listenership: Merci , Muchas Gracias, Obrigada, Prego, Arigatō

❤️

Student Upcoming Events!

Fellowship of the Pen Writing Sprints

2nd and 4th Sundays

This coming Sunday! Next sprint: Sunday, April 13, 10am PT/1pm ET

Gather on Zoom to check in and write for 2 20-minute sprints.

-- I email you day-of and I post reminders in Fellowship of the Pen Facebook group. Click to join Fellowship of the Pen group, if you haven't already.

Happy Writing!

Best,

Beth

PS. Want to have a short coaching session and market your books live on my podcast?

✅ Check out the Story Success Clinic details and sign up here.

Spots limited. Currently, dates open through early June.

❤️

📚 Book for writers | 😁 Essential Character Traits Workbook

For fiction writers: planning tools to develop your main characters, secondary characters, and antagonists.

When you're ready to work together, here's some more ways we can do that:

📚 Start (or Finish!) Your Novel 1-1 Mentorship Program

Go from sparkling idea to solid book plan so you can write your novel with confidence.

❤️ 12-month small group mastermind program for Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers!

Unleash Your Story's Potential: Transform Your Draft into a Publish-Ready Masterpiece!

🌟 If you find my resources helpful, please forward them to a friend who may need them too. Thanks!

Beth Barany
Creativity Coach for Writers

Teacher, Speaker, Workshop Facilitator

Creativity is the answer.

bethbarany.com

I not only teach and coach novelists, I am one too!

Author of *Magical Tales of Romance, Mystery, and Adventure*
author.bethbarany.com

Award-winning science fiction & fantasy novelist.

___________________________

Writer's Fun zone blog by and for creative writers, published by Beth Barany

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Beth Barany is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist, and certified creativity coach for writers.

She specializes in helping writers experience clarity, so they can write, revise, and proudly publish their novels to the delight of their readers.

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