"You can't learn editing from a book"

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Subject: "You can't learn editing from a book"

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Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026

Hi Friend,

Happy Halloween!

"You can't learn editing from a book"

I said that.

My experience anyway.

Has anyone ever looked at your work?

Getting your fiction looked at by fellow authors, experienced writers, or a coach can speed up your learning and give you clarity.

When I first started as a novelist, my character work was strong, but my plots weren't there.

I didn't see it until someone in my critique group said, "Your writing is beautiful and your characters are beautiful, but you have to let bad things happen to your sweet characters."

I felt that one in my gut.

You can't learn this from a book.

You need feedback, and you need to try new things.

Join Edit Lab by October 31st, 9pm PT -- today -- and get a 30-minute consultation with me on your 1st five pages, Beth Barany, the novel alchemist.

Plus, come to our monthly call for feedback, learning, and community.

Join Edit Lab here!

❤️

Upcoming events for writers

❤️ Join our Author Substack Live

Monday, November 2nd, 10:15 a.m. Pacific, on:

how setting enhances your character and plot

with me and Gala Russ:

Let's play and brainstorm together.

Click here to be notified when we go live.

❤️

Fancy Fresh Ideas for Upcoming Episodes, How To Write the Future podcast, ep 228

This week on How To Write The Future podcast...

“When I'm working on sci-fi, I'm really thinking about this a lot, and I'm thinking about it from my main character's perspective. What is it like to be looking at the Earth from space and from various distances? That just blows me away.”

– Beth Barany

Read | Listen | Watch

In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, Fancy Fresh Ideas for Upcoming Episodes, I share insight into upcoming podcast episode topic ideas, including discussing what a circular economy is, viewing the world from a non-human mind, and tone versus voice.

I also invites listeners to get in touch about topics they’d like to hear discussed on the podcast. Weigh in!

❤️

ABOUT EDIT LAB

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers,

Ready to do revisions?

Then join our Edit Lab for support and live feedback.

If your goal is to publish your novels, community is one of the best ways to improve.

You know I'm a fan of community for writers.

A writer I spoke with at the World Fantasy Con recently told me how he'd publish without ever sharing his work ahead of time.

Now he's realized that was a mistake, so he's actively searching out a writing community. Good for him!

I hope every writer who wants one finds a nurturing and helpful writing community.

Yes, I have one!

At Edit Lab, you join a community of like-minded writers.

You can bring your stuck scene or revision question, and leave knowing your next move.

Specifically for science fiction and fantasy writers who are preparing or ready to edit their novels.

Our next Edit Lab is:

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern.

Topic: Clarifying your story's location

Only $10/month.

Join Edit Your Future now.

"The lab is a fun and enlightening experience. I look forward to what you will come up with next! Cheers, Phyllis" - Phyllis

A SPOOKILY GOOD HALLOWEEN BONUS

Join by today -- Halloween, Oct. 31, (by precisely 8:59pm PST / 11:59pm EST) -- and get a 30-minute coaching session and manuscript review of your 1st 5 pages by me -- an experienced writer's coach. ($225 value)

Logistics

Once you sign up, I'll send you a schedule link, so we can talk on Zoom.
You'll send me your 1st 5 pages in advance of our call, so I can give you notes on what's working, what I'd like to see more of, and areas to improve.

Join Edit Lab Today!

Sponsored by How To Write The Future podcast with Beth Barany.

"I wasn’t sure I would finish the work when I started, but once I began Beth’s program I was able to progress at a steady pace. [The] schedule helped keep me moving consistently forward in a supportive environment with no episodes of the dreaded block.” - P. Watson, fiction & nonfiction writer

❤️

Join Edit Lab!

Happy Writing!

Best,

Beth

PS. Writers write and writers edit. You got this!

PPS. Hit reply for my fav Halloween candy. Bonus points if you tell me yours too 🎃

🌀 Substack Lives most Mondays -- for Fiction Writers!

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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!

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

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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

☕️ buy me a coffee

🎬 support my Henrietta The Dragon Slayer short film

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

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How To Write The Future podcast with Beth Barany

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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