Subject: Business Advice Creatives Can Actually Use

How To Write the Future podcast ep. 197



Business Advice Creatives Can Actually Use




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Friday, March 27, 2026

Hi Friend,

People watching is one of my hobbies.


I spend lots of time in cafes writing or doing business tasks and I love looking up to watch my fellow humans around me


  • drinking coffee,

  • chatting with their friends,

  • staring at the computer,

  • hunched over their phones,

  • even staring off into space like I'm doing.


What I notice is that some people intrigue me more than others and invite my story brain to kick into weaving a thread into one of my story worlds. So inspiring.


Do you people watch too?


What do you like about it?


We like what we like, and we don't like what we don't like.


That clarity is a filter.


My recommendation: use that clarity filter to guide you in your writing and in the marketing of your writing.




❤️


I share more about filtering business advice in this week's episode on the How To Write The Future podcast.


Before I get to that, I want to share about our recent Find Your Creative Entrepreneur Bootcamp.


It was a wonderful and challenging experience.


I learned a ton, appreciated getting to know the participants, and running the event with my co-teacher, Gala Russ.


We will be integrating our learning into our next steps.


Stay tuned!


If you want to be sure to get all creative entrepreneur news, sign up here and take our Creative Style Quiz.


I also experienced a melt-down, which Gala had never seen me have, and learned about a non-negotiable in my life right now -- what with all the stressful changes I'm going through -- the good and bad kind of stress.


My non-negotiable:


  • to take my body for a walk first thing, i.e., go for a walk.


... before coffee.


And so far, for the last 6 days, I have and I feel so better for it.


What are you non-negotiables around your self-care?


Okay, now on to the podcast...


❤️


🎤 Business Advice Creatives Can Actually Use

How To Write The Future podcast, episode 197

In my latest episode, I'm sharing business advice for creative entrepreneurs, from pitching your work, filtering advice that suits you, as well as reveal an early business struggle of mine.


This episode will inspire you to get creative in your marketing.


Business Advice Creatives Can Actually Use, How To Write the Future podcast, episode 197


Read | Listen | Watch


❤️


Join me Monday, March 20, 10am Pacific for a Substack live!


"Compassionate First Drafts"


with Gala Russ


Sign up here to be reminded:



  • 30 minutes to chat, share, and ask questions

❤️


My friend Julie Trelstad will be teaching a class soon!


Perfect for you if you're wondering how to build your author platform.


From a publishing expert comes a class to finally figure this platform thing out.


The Platform Intensive is a six-week program for authors who want to build a working platform that doesn't just mean posting more on social media. 


Each week covers one piece of the system: 

  • author brand

  • newsletter, 

  • visibility

  • events

  • revenue

  • and a sustainable maintenance plan. 

The pprogram includes:

  • a weekly live Q&A with Julie Trelstad, 

  • a private community of other authors in the cohort, 

  • and full access to all six AI-powered Author Tools. 

The next cohort starts soon: Tuesday, April 7. 

  • $497, one-time. 

Payment plans are available. 



♥️

Announcing the Future-Ready Writer Membership!


For $5/month, you get exclusive access to premium content via audio/video.


I'm launching a membership to help you edit your sci-fi/fantasy stories.


Be a Future-Ready Writer!


For $5/month:

  • Get a weekly lesson to edit your sci-fi/fantasy story via audio: world building, how to handle backstory, POV, and more!

  • Invitation to a monthly live edit and Q&A on Zoom

  • Bonuses and surprises!

Delivered via How To Write The Future podcast. (Private video too.)


The first live call will be: May 6th, 10am PT.


Sign up here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061/supporters/new


Exclusive Launch Bonus!


And I have something special just for you!


The first 5 people to sign up will get a 20-minute private live edit* and coaching session on their sci-fi or fantasy novel.


*I'll look at up to 250 words with you and give you edits on the page while we're together. 


Students and clients tell me this is an invaluable part of working with me.


❤️

Happy Writing!



Best,

Beth


PS. I sent our my Henrietta Film newsletter today about the latest news. And there's news!


If you'd like to get our Film news, sign up here.


Or just watch our Insta: https://www.instagram.com/henriettafilm/


Or join our Facebook Fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/henriettathedragonslayerfans


Donate here. 🐲 Thank you!




PPS. For inspiration -- Congrats to the team of KPop Demon Hunters and winning an Oscar for their song "Golden." (Youtube link) Not my fav tho. I admit - my fav song from the soundtrack is "What It Sounds Like." (Youtube link)


♥️


More upcoming events!



📚 I'll be teaching in Lorin Oberweger's Free Expressions: Settings that Wow Your Readers: in 2 partsGet on her list to get all the details. Save the dates! 


  • April 9, 4:30pm PT

  • May 14, 4:30pm PT


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



🌟 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
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!


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

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


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🎬  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.

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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