Subject: Coming Workshops + Science Fiction Brainstorming: Two Essential Tips 💡❤️

Sci-Fi Fantasy Fiction + Genre Writers, Tools and Events to Feed Your Creative Soul

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



Coming Workshops + Science Fiction Brainstorming: Two Essential Tips 💡❤️


Podcast + coming workshops!


Weekly Podcast


This week's How To Write The Future podcast episode (inspired by a client question):



⭐️


Coming events

Student Event

  • You're invited to the twice-month writing sprint this Sunday, May 25, 10am PT/1pm ET.

  • Details emailed day-of and also posted day-of in Fellowship of the Pen FB group.


Writer's Fun Zone blog


❤️

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

Friday, May 23, 2025

Hi Friend,

Hiya and hope your writing is going well.


I'm prepping this newsletter with a cat on my lap, a cool breeze coming in through the open window, and the smell of popcorn popping because movie night! Rewatching Ocean's Thirteen with husband and fellow writer, Ezra Barany.


On to my question for you today! What is the #1 marker of writer success for you?


For me, it's sitting down to work on my book on a regular basis. Today that looked like addressing edits from my critique partners. The day before it was researching Lagrange Point One. And the day before that it was journaling to re-orient myself after a month's break when I re-wrote a TV pilot script.


Hit reply and let me know your #1 marker of writer success.


❤️


On to the newsy parts of this week's Creativity Sparks newsletter....

On to the weekly podcast...

Science Fiction Brainstorming: Two Essential Tips

“Just really let your creativity flow. No censorship, no stopping to, is this right? Is this wrong? It doesn't matter.”


In “Science Fiction Brainstorming: Two Essential Tips,” I highlight the importance of letting your creativity flow and share how my Plan Your Novel Like A Pro, co-written by Ezra Barany, might be a great next step.


Enjoy!


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!


🤩 Sneak peek


In the next episode, Ep. 154, I so excited to share with you my interview with historian, Pamela D. Toler, on world building with women warriors. Pamela is the author or Women Warriors: An Unexpected History and other books about brave women in history.


⭐️ 🎧🎙️ All previous episodes of How To Write The Future podcast 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 386 subscribers. Wow! Yippee!


Thank you! Help us get to 400!! Only 14 more! We're almost there! Share with your friends and ask them to subscribe.


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


❤️


Cozy Mystery Novella Workshop with Natasha C. Sass


I love reading novellas and writing them -- I’ve written two!


Maybe you love writing and reading them too!


June is the perfect time to start writing a Christmas-themed cozy mystery -- just in time to join the holiday book sales rush that kick off in September and run all the way through February.


Join Natasha C Sass’ Cozy Mystery Novella Workshop this June and draft your holiday cozy in just 4 weeks! 


You'll get:

  • Weekly recorded video sessions where you tackle plotting, character development, and those special festive touches that make Christmas cozies irresistible

  • A proven framework specifically designed for novellas (Natasha has a Scrivener Template available so you can start right away)

  • Step-by-step guidance to ensure you won’t get "stuck" with our weekly LIVE office hours

  • A supportive community of fellow mystery writers who have been in your shoes

  • Bonus: Free access to the Halloween Novella Workshop

Whether you're adding to your backlist or starting fresh, this workshop gives you the structure and support you need -- with a little Christmas magic along the way.


And remember, readers love novellas! They make great bonuses for super fans, too.


I am an affiliate for this workshop.


Ready to start?


Register for the workshop here: https://bethbarany.com/cozynovellancs


Sign up deadline: June 3rd! So register today!


Happy writing!


❤️

The HEA Sessions: Join us for the Summer 2025 Live Workshop Series


with Sue Brown-Moore, Danika Bloom, and Beth Barany


** For experienced authors of character-driven fiction stories


Starting in June!


I am so excited to be participating in this trio of hands-on writing workshops.


Especially tailored for writers who have written at least one manuscript and consider themselves comfortable with plot and character in general and want to deepen into your writing craft and career.


The first session: Unearth your characters’ emotional core—elusive Root Fear character core value—to design stories that will stick with your readers.


In June, Sue will be teaching about honing in on your characters worst fear which will help you make a really powerful story.


The second session: Learn how to align your writing process with what matters most so you can consistently sustain your creative momentum.


In July, Danika will really help you focus on your passion and purpose as a writer which will help you in the good times and the bad.


The third session: Use setting as a nuanced, strategic tool to deepen the emotional weight of your story and strengthen its overall structure.


And then in August, I will be teaching a workshop on how to craft immersive settings to make your stories so much more vibrant and lived in and help you create the page turning effect we all want.


Why this may be a good fit for you:


❤️ Sue is running this series and really cares about creating hands-on intimate workshops. So there will be workbooks and an opportunity for an additional Q&A and lots of support with the teachers.


🧡 Danika's down-to-earth teaching style and wealth of experience is so wonderful and enriching.


💚 I love creating hands-on group learning experiences for writers and combine that enthusiasm with my track record as an award-winning author of 12 well-reviewed science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal romance novels.


🐱 Sue has limited the upgraded cohort section to small group (max 20 writers) for three weeks of dedicated story (& personal!) development. 


⭐️ She's running some specials right now that end May 27 so I highly recommend check out this trio of workshops.


☕️ You can get all three live workshops plus the replays plus the workshops plus a three-week follow up intensive cohort all for $697.


😄 Or if you just want the workshops without the three week class that follows each workshop, that's $297, but act now if you wanna jump on this amazing learning series.


‼️ Attention ✒︎

Sale ends May 27 at 10 AM Pacific / 12 PM Central / 1 PM Eastern.


Here's that link:


https://bethbarany.com/hea2025tt


Yes, I am both a teacher in this series and an affiliate.


Let me know if you have any questions and I will pass them on to Sue. She also has a fabulous FAQ section on her landing page.


❤️

Upcoming Student Event! Writing Sprint!


📚 🖊️ 💝 Fellowship of the Pen Writing Sprints

2nd and 4th Sundays


Make time/take time for your writing and use group accountability to focus and get 'er done.


Next sprint, in 2 days:


Sunday, May 25, 10am PT/1pm ET


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


-- I email you the Zoom link day-of and I post it in Fellowship of the Pen Facebook group, too.


Click to join Fellowship of the Pen group, if you haven't already. 


Be sure to answer the 3 questions! Thanks!


❤️


Happy Writing!



Best,

Beth


PS. Do you write or want to write a cozy fantasy or cozy science fiction or another kind of cozy with mystery?


Be sure to check out the workshop here:


https://bethbarany.com/cozynovellancs



❤️


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


😁 Essential Character Traits Workbook


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


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

 


🌟 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. 

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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