Is your villain captivating enough?

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Subject: Is your villain captivating enough?

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Friday, June 26, 2026

Hi Friend,

I have a confession to make.

Writing villains doesn't come naturally to me.

It's been hard over the years.

So, I've learned lots of tips and tricks that I feel help me make compelling, captivating villains that feel complex and real.

I share my my tips in this week's podcast episode.

Next, on to some fun announcements...

Thinking of creating audio books?

I recently made friends with Jessica and was so excited to learn about the new audiobook company she's launching -- she's in beta and gathering interest.

So check out her requests below, both for authors and readers and voice talents. I'm including all three of her announcements here so you can see what she's up to.

Also, I'm so excited to be in Rhonda's Book Finishers Summit talking about "Branding for Novelists: Draft Your Author Branding Statement". So check that out now here. My talk is going up on Monday, June 29 at 8am ET/5am PT date.

Lastly, come to our Substack Live next Monday, June 29 where Gala and I will chat about 3 tips to craft your opening lines.

❤️

Upcoming events for writers and creative entrepreneurs:

🎉 I'll be a speaker again at Rhonda Douglas's 2026 Book Finishers Summit, June 25-29, teaching how to write your author branding statement. Come to get that written! Register here.
Listen to this week's How to Write The Future podcast episode, "Crafting a Compelling Villain: Goals, Motivation, Conflict."
Our Substack Live, Monday, June 29, 10am Pacific on what to do when your characters talk to you... "3 tips to craft your opening lines." Click here to be notified when we goes live.
Get live feedback on your story at Edit Lab! Plus, premium, exclusive content. Next date: July 8, 10am PT. For science fiction and fantasy writers who feel stuck in revision. (Only $5 per month -- Founders price ends June 30! Will jump to $40/month) Join here!
Read the latest Writer's Fun Zone articles.
If you want to browse all our the last 4 years of How To Write The Future podcast -- like on a long trip, there are 200+ episodes waiting for you.

❤️

🎤 Crafting a Compelling Villain: Goals, Motivation, Conflict

How To Write The Future podcast, episode 210

“In addition to your villain’s goal, they need a motivation. They feel like they’re the hero of their own story. They have a good reason for wanting what they want.”

– Beth Barany

In my latest episode, I share how to craft a compelling villain to engage readers, drive the plot of a story, and ways to build an in-depth conflict within their journey.

Use the steps outlined in the episode to plan and draft out your villain and apply it to your story.

Crafting a Compelling Villain: Goals, Motivation, Conflict

How To Write the Future podcast, episode 210

Read | Listen | Watch

❤️

Love audio books? Want to create an audio book?

For Authors:

Coverie is a new audiobook platform where listeners cast their own books - choosing from a roster of real voice performers for each character - and every actor earns a royalty each time they're chosen for a role.

They're launching with public domain titles this summer, with plans to bring indie authors into the model.

If this new way to produce and distribute audiobook versions of your work sounds interesting, Jessica would love to hear from you.

Reach out at jess@hearcoverie.com or follow along on Instagram or TikTok at @hearcoverie.

For Voice actors:

Coverie is a new audiobook platform built on a simple premise: every voice a listener hears was recorded by a real person, and that person earns a royalty every time a listener chooses them for a role.

Listeners cast their own books - picking the performers they want for each character - which means your voice finds the audience that actually wants it.

Auditions open this summer. Join the waitlist at hearcoverie.com or follow along on Instagram or TikTok at @hearcoverie.

For Readers/Listeners:

Coverie is a new audiobook platform where you choose the voice actors for each character in a book - real performers, not AI - and receive a custom-assembled audiobook made from your cast.

If you've ever listened to an audiobook thinking "that's not how that character should sound," this was built for you.

Join the waitlist at hearcoverie.com or follow along on Instagram or TikTok at @hearcoverie.

♥️

Happy Writing!

Best,

Beth

PS. Join the Edit Lab and get live edit support in our monthly calls -- next call is July 8th 10am PT/1pm ET, premium content, and more! Join at the Founder level, only $5/month. Price goes up after June 30th to $40/month.

🌀 Substack Lives most Mondays!

Subscribe to get the notifications.

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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)

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

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

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Filmmaker with a BIG mission: to celebrate warrior women!

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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:

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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.

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