Subject: The Art of Editing Speculative Fiction with Kristin Noland

Fiction Writers, Tools and Events to Feed Your Creative Soul

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




The Art of Editing Speculative Fiction with Kristin Noland

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Poll: Which workbook shall I work on first? Poll is here in the Fellowship of the Pen Facebook group. (Click to join.) Thanks!

podcast highlight:


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


Ep. 137: The Art of Editing Speculative Fiction with Kristin Noland


https://writersfunzone.com/blog/2025/01/27/the-art-of-editing-speculative-fiction-with-kristin-noland/


Read the rest of this newsletter for news, upcoming events, tips, resources from Writer's Fun Zone blog, and more!


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Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

Hi Friend,

If you're new to this newsletter, I’m Beth Barany!


And if you only know one thing about me and this email list, it's that as much as love Star Trek in all its variations, I love helping writers craft and market your science fiction and fantasy stories and tap into your creative process even more.


(For myself too, as I'm an active writer, like you!)


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What's coming this quarter and beyond!


You're invited! Join us!


🛜


Feb. 1-4, Write Your Own Way Summit, registration open: https://bethbarany.com/writeyourownway


  • I'm excited to be sharing about rituals for getting to your writing during this event. Register to listen to my discussion on this topic and live chat with me. It'll be fun!

🚀


Feb. 17-21, AI Writing online Summit 2.0 - I'll be sharing all juicy details starting Monday, Feb. 3rd. Stay tuned!


  • I have lots of thoughts about the use of the AI tools available to us! I know we'll also learn a lot too.

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Feb. 27, 4:15 – 6:45pm PT/7:15-9:45 PM ET, Heart-Centered Marketing For Fiction Writers: How To Develop And Sustain Your Author Presence and Sell Your Books (Without Social Media) workshop.

$39.

Sign up here: https://www.free-expressions.com/writing-success-series (Search BARANY to jump to this workshop.)


  • In this hands-on workshop, we’ll cover the core principles of heart-centered marketing so you can tailor marketing strategies to your life to sell books to readers and to agents and editors.

🎬


March 15, 4-7pm, Film Mixer and Fundraiser, Oakland, CA. Save the date!


📚


March 29, "Enhance your Scenarios with Fiction Writing Tools" workshop, Benicia, CA. Details forthcoming.


😻


April 30, Hosting Gala Russ "Writing the Romantic Subplot" online workshop. Details coming later.


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Invite me to speak and teach to your group!


It's my highest calling to make art and help others do the same!


I'm available to speak to your writing group or organization for a dynamic, fun, and productive workshop.


For more details and how to hire me, go to my speaking page here. 


I love creating tailored events for you and your community.


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On to the weekly podcast...

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 answers.” – Kristin Noland


In this episode, I'm talking to developmental and line editor Kristin Noland about the definition of speculative fiction, the importance of setting, and how asking “what if” can have a big impact on your world-building and story development.



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



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!


Next in Ep. 138, I talk to bestselling author and editor Lewis Jorstad about how to incorporate real-world elements into your speculative fiction stories.


Stay tuned on How To Write The Future podcast. 

(All previous episodes listed here.)


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


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


Please subscribe.


We now have 332 subscribers. Thank you! Help us get to 400!


And thanks for all your comments. (Bluesky share)


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


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Student Upcoming Events!


Fellowship of the Pen Writing Sprints

2nd and 4th Sundays

Next sprint: Feb. 9, 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.



Next Monthly Q&A Office hours for Barany School of Fiction students

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, 11am PT

-- I send reminder the day before and the day of.


Happy Writing!



Best,

Beth


PS. Ready to transform your unique vision into a compelling novel with expert, tailored guidance every step of the way? Let's talk about how I could support you. Sign up for a Discovery Call here: https://calendly.com/bethbarany/discovery-call-with-beth-barany


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


😁 Essential Character Traits Workbook

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


📚 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.

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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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live in the territory of Huichin, part of the stolen land of the Chochenyo Muwekma Ohlone, the successors of the historic and sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County, in Oakland, California, the San Francisco Bay Area. Northern Hemisphere. Earth.


The Solar System. → Carina–Sagittarius Arm in the Milky Way galaxy. Milky Way subgroup → Local Group → Local Sheet → Virgo Supercluster → Laniakea Supercluster → Local Hole → Observable universe → Universe.


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I stand with people of Ukraine and all peoples 🎗️ in their fight for freedom from oppression and the right to self-determine. Yes, all peoples. Not just some.



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