Subject: Question from listener: How Much Science in Your Sci-Fi Stories?

Question from listener: How Much Science in Your Sci-Fi Stories?

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Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

Hi Friend,

Happy New Year!

Do you feel like you're going on an expedition?

That's how I feel writing a novel is like.

Exciting, big, and into the unknown.

What's it like for you?!

I'd love to know. Reply!

And, I'm excited to share this week's podcast episode from a listener.

And an upcoming masterclass with Dr. Bailey Lang

Habits of Mind Masterclass: Finish Your Book

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 11am PT/2pm ET.

Are you a writer who knows what you need to do but can't seem to get yourself to do it?

The habits of mind masterclass on January 21st will show you how to shift your thinking patterns to support your writing practice.

Learn the eight mental habits that successful writers use to finish their books.

Join us for 90 minutes of hands-on learning, plus live Q&A and coaching.

Registration closes soon.

Habits of Mind Masterclass: Finish Your Book Wednesday, Jan. 21, 11am PT/2pm ET

🎤

This week's podcast from one of your questions: thanks!

How Much Science in Your Sci-Fi Stories?

- How To Write the Future podcast, episode 186

“Go ahead and base your sci-fi entirely on your own imagination, whatever science that you want to integrate into your story. And make it feel real.“ — Beth Barany

How Much Science in Your Sci-Fi Stories?

I talk about whether you can base your novel entirely on your imagination, whether studying science is necessary, plus I invites you to ask me more questions.

Read | Listen | Watch

❤️

How Much Science in Your Sci-Fi Stories? Ep. 186, How To Write The Future podcast

Happy Writing!

Best,

Beth

PS. We're already scheduling our 2026 event calendar! Wow!

Here are some of the upcoming events!

🚀 In March, Gala Russ and I will be running our first bootcamp "Find Your Creative Entrepreneur Niche" to help people who want help writers to get clear on which services you can offer that align with your skills, your interests, and that writers will gladly pay for. -- March 20-24. Registration opens Feb. 1st!

📚 I'll be teaching in Lorin Oberweger's Free Expressions: (Topics TBD) (Any special requests let me know! Get 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!

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.

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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: Fiction | Nonfiction

☕️ buy me a coffee

Or share my work with your friends. Thanks!

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.

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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