Subject: Are you a curious person?

Are you a curious person?

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Friday, April 17, 2026

Hi Friend,

Are you a curious person?

I don't mean curious as in odd. I mean curious as in wondering about all kinds of topics and desiring to have deep, meaningful, and interesting conversations with all kinds of people.

I'd love to know is you are curious because I am a curious person.

Since you're on my Creativity Sparks list I'll make an educated guess and say that you probably are.

But you tell me...

Do you consider yourself a curious person?

And what is one thing (or more!) that you're curious about these days?

The reason I ask is is that I'm genuinely curious about what you're curios about these days.

Curiosity is close cousins to wonder, and scientists say that experiencing wonder is a key element to our happiness.

I believe it.

When I look up at the stars I feel wonder.

When I see the images of the earth from space -- from the satellites, from the ISS, or from the recent Artemis II mission, I am blown away with wonder.

What brings you to wonder?

❤️

We are here. We are crew. Image: NASA.gov

Image source: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/art002e000192.jpg

This week I share 6 upcoming podcast conversations that will be dropping soon on since I love talking to people and spot-lighting their excitement, genius, and passions.

❤️

In this week's newsletter:

Next week's Substack Live on Monday, April 27, 9am Pacific (different time for this week)
This week's How to Write The Future podcast episode
The Edit Your Novel Checklist is now available!
Create Summit for Sustainable Writers by Monica Leonelle starts next week!
Launch Your TV Show in 90 Days webinar with Diane Forster happening soon
The latest Writer's Fun Zone articles

Substack Live with Beth Barany and Gala Russ on Monday, April 20, 10am PDT/1pm EDT on: “What’s Really Not Working in Your Draft? 3 Questions to Find the Real Problem“

I'll be doing another Substack Live with Gala Russ on Monday, April 27, 9am PDT/12pm EDT on:

3 Things Every Scene Must Do (Or It Doesn’t Belong)
How to self-edit your scenes for clarity, tension, and forward movement

Bring your questions, suggestions, and fun ideas!

🌟 Listen to last week's live on "What’s Really Not Working in Your Draft? 3 Questions to Find the Real Problem with Beth Barany & Gala Russ."

❤️

🎤 5 Upcoming Inspiring Interviews

How To Write The Future podcast, episode 201

“Oh my goodness. Sue has so much to say about research and how to use research strategically [to find] conflicts and problems and learning as much as you need to know to be able to move forward. So be sure to listen to our conversation. It was really fun talking with her. I so admire her.”

-Beth Barany

In my latest episode, I'm sharing "5 Upcoming Inspiring Interviews" for the podcast, including with:

a fellow science fiction and fantasy author,
hip hop organizer,
novelist and Masters student,
award-winning science fiction novelist,
creative nonfiction author,
and a long-time publishing professional.

I'm also inviting listeners to become a guest on How To Write the Future.

5 Upcoming Inspiring Interviews How To Write the Future podcast, episode 201

Read | Listen | Watch

❤️

It's here!

Edit Your Novel Checklist!

for Science Fiction/Fantasy Novelists

Built with You in Mind

This Edit Your Novel checklist helps writers:

revise faster with less overwhelm by focusing first on diagnosis, not fixing

❤️

Create Expand Prosper Digital Summit series by Monica Leonelle

Create Summit for Sustainable Writers by Monica Leonelle starts next week!

Dates: April 29-May 2
Cost: Free, plus premium upgrade

I love Monica forward-looking approach to this summit.

It’s focused on creators who want to build sustainable creative careers while the industry around us keeps changing.

I'll be speaking on "Deepen Your Characters and Story for Fandom and Future Success."

You can register for the event here.

Come join us!

❤️

🌟 Launch Your TV Show in Just 90 Days 🌟

There is a woman out there who has built real expertise, a real body of work, and a real message.

And she is still the best-kept secret in her industry.

That ends now.

Join me and Diane Forster LIVE on May 6 (Wed, 5-6PM Pacific) for a free training on how to launch your own TV show and step into the platform you actually deserve.

This is a training Diane typically teaches to her private clients, and she’s offering it to my audience for free, along with an invitation to join her at TV Host Maker Live (June 19–21, 2026 • Television City, Hollywood).

Join us!

May 6, Wednesday 5:00pm Pacific/8:00pm Eastern

Save Your Seat - FREE Live Training

See you there!

♥️

Happy Writing!

Best,

Beth

♥️

💕 But wait there's more!

🎙️ I'm excited to announce that I'll be speaking at Alexa Bigwarfe's Marketing Bootcamp for Authors and Publishing Professionals, on "Heart-Centered Marketing": June 12-13, 2026.

🌟

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

Help me help more writers!

Thanks!

❤️

Beth Barany
Creativity Coach for Writers

Teacher, Speaker, Workshop Facilitator
bethbarany.com

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

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

Including the award-winning, Henrietta The Dragon Slayer (Book 1), and Into The Black, about Janey McCallister space station investigator (Book 1)

__________________________

❤️

Here to empower you with core principles, mindset tools, and doable roadmaps to build your sustainable, thriving creative career on your own terms.

🚀

🐲

Passionate about supporting science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction writers; and creative entrepreneurs serving writers.

🎬

Filmmaker with a BIG mission: to celebrate warrior women!

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

Subscribe to be notified when each blog post goes live. Or wait for the weekly round-up in this newsletter. *Write for us.

Latest WFZ posts

☕️

Support This Creative Entrepreneur

My mission is to support your adventure as a creative and step into your next best self.

If you want to support my mission, I invite you to:

📚 buy my books

☕️ buy me a coffee

🎬 support my Henrietta The Dragon Slayer short film

Or share my products or services with your friends. Thanks!

❤️

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

For the last 20 years, she's been working with writers of all kinds.

She specializes in helping sci-fi and fantasy publishing-oriented novelists experience clarity, so they can write, revise, and proudly publish their books to the delight of their readers.

Here be the legalese: In connection with the operation of this newsletter and business, Creativity Sparks includes affiliate links to trusted partners. Barany Consulting earns a commission from the Affiliate Links which commission is based on the number of sales that are made as a result of users of the Newsletter clicking over to the Affiliate Link and purchasing from the Affiliate Link a product and/or service. Thus endth the legalese.

I 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.

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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