PodcastsAnleitungenSpeculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

Heather Davis, Writing Coach, Book Coach, and Developmental Editor, Many Worlds Writing
Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel
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51 Episoden

  • Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

    Writing Your Novel Your Way: The Hybrid Publishing Option (with Megan Sells, Atmosphere Press) | Episode 50

    04.03.2026 | 39 Min.
    Hybrid publishing gets talked about a lot… and misunderstood even more.
    In this episode, I sit down with Megan Sells (Acquisitions Manager and Developmental Editor at Atmosphere Press) to unpack what hybrid publishing actually is—how it differs from traditional publishing and self-publishing, why it’s often confused with vanity presses, and how authors can decide if it’s the right path for them.
    We talk candidly about money, rights, marketing, selectivity, speculative fiction word counts (yes, we went there), and what success really means in today’s publishing landscape.
    If you’ve ever wondered:
    “Is hybrid publishing legit?”
    “Do I keep my rights?”
    “How selective are hybrid presses really?”
    “What kind of marketing support would I actually get?”
    “Can I still control my cover, edits, and audiobook narrator?”
    …this episode is for you.
    We cover:
    ✨ The difference between traditional, self-, and hybrid publishing
    ✨ Why “vanity press” is not the same as true hybrid publishing
    ✨ How selective Atmosphere Press really is (spoiler: around 1–2%)
    ✨ What authors actually invest in—and what they receive in return
    ✨ Editing, cover design, marketing, distribution, and collaboration
    ✨ Why hybrid publishing can protect your IP rights (film, audio, merchandise)
    ✨ The surprising flexibility around word count
    ✨ Why success isn’t just about bestseller lists
    ✨ The power of continuing to publish 
    We also dive into something I care deeply about as a speculative fiction writer: voice.
    Hybrid publishing can create space for niche, diverse, genre-bending, or non-trending books that might not fit traditional commercial molds—but absolutely deserve readers.
    And we talk about ownership.
    Not just of your book—but of your rights, your long-term IP, and your creative decisions.
    Because at the end of the day, the question isn’t just:
    “Can I get published?”
    It’s:
    “What path aligns with my goals, my values, and my definition of success?”
    👉 Learn more about Atmosphere Press (and read their full contract + services):
     https://atmospherepress.com/
    Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗
    🌻🌻🌻Sign up for Master the Art of Writing Powerful Scenes!🌻🌻🌻
    Support the show
  • Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

    Do You Need an MFA to Succeed in Writing? | Episode 49

    25.02.2026 | 26 Min.
    Think you need an MFA or a creative writing degree to become great at writing? Don't be so sure. 
    In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many aspiring authors believe formal education is the key to success, what MFA programs actually teach versus what commercial fiction truly requires, and how to build a smarter, more intentional path to mastering writing on your own.
    If you’ve been wondering whether you’re “qualified enough” to pursue writing seriously, this episode will show you exactly what actually matters.
    In this episode, I walk you through how to create your own powerful writing education—the kind that develops real craft skills, sharpens your storytelling instincts, and prepares you for the business side of being an author.
    We’ll dig into the difference between literary training and commercial storytelling, why plot and character arc matter more than a diploma, and how to design a self-directed learning plan that works better than a traditional creative writing degree.
    You’ll learn:
    ✨ Why an MFA is not a prerequisite for great writing
     ✨ The critical difference between literary writing and commercial fiction craft
     ✨ The three pillars of building your own writing education
     ✨ How to study novels intentionally to accelerate your growth
     ✨ Why feedback is non-negotiable if you want to level up your writing
    If you’ve been hesitating to pursue writing because you don’t have a creative writing degree, or you’ve been wondering whether an MFA is the missing piece, this episode will help you rethink what actually creates mastery.
    By the end, you’ll have a clear, practical roadmap for improving your writing skills with purpose, confidence, and strategy—no degree required.
    👉 Join my email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies!
     https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO
    Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗
    🌻🌻🌻Sign up for Master the Art of Writing Powerful Scenes!🌻🌻🌻
    Support the show
  • Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

    Writing Strong Pitches for Querying Success (with Julie Artz) | Episode 48

    18.02.2026 | 58 Min.
    Feeling overwhelmed by querying—or stuck in the rejection cycle with no clue what’s “wrong”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Julie Artz (author, editor, book coach, and dragon 🐉) to demystify what agents actually want—and how to build a pitch package that makes them want to read more.
    We break down what’s inside today’s modern pitch package (including the two pieces Query Manager made way more common), why your synopsis must spoil the ending, and how to avoid the biggest query traps—especially for speculative fiction writers who love their worldbuilding (hi, it’s us).
    Julie also shares her go-to framework for tightening your pitch from the inside out: Four Essential Questions that should be clear in your logline, your query, your synopsis, and your pages. Because if you can’t articulate the story in short form, it might be a sign the story itself needs a stronger foundation.
    You’ll learn:
    ✨ Who actually needs to query—and why pitch skills still help self-publishing authors
    ✨ What’s in a modern pitch package (query, sample pages, one-sentence pitch/logline, synopsis)
    ✨ Why your synopsis should spoil the ending (and why agents need that)
    ✨ How to avoid “genre soup” (and what to say when your book is both sci-fi and fantasy)
    ✨ The Four Essential Questions—and how they reveal what your story might be missing
    If querying has been making you feel confused, discouraged, or like you’re shouting into the void, this conversation will help you get grounded, get strategic, and start pitching with way more clarity and confidence.
    👉 Grab Julie’s FREE Four Essential Questions Workbook (mentioned in the episode):
     https://www.julieartz.com/four-essential-questions-workbook?utm_source=spec-fic-made-simple&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=guest&utm_content=episode&utm_campaign=get-to-yes

    👉 Join Heather's email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies!
     https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO
    Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗
    🌻🌻🌻Sign up for Master the Art of Writing Powerful Scenes!🌻🌻🌻
    Support the show
  • Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

    Stop Playing Nice: The Secret to Writing a Great Scene Is Conflict | Episode 47

    11.02.2026 | 13 Min.
    Struggling to make your scenes feel tense, gripping, and impossible to look away from? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many scenes feel flat even when the stakes seem high, what writers often get wrong about conflict, and how to build the kind of tension that keeps readers glued to the page. If your scenes feel a little too easy on your characters (and your readers), this episode will show you exactly how to fix that.
    In this episode, I walk you through how to create meaningful, effective conflict in your scenes—the kind that feels natural, purposeful, and emotionally charged rather than forced or melodramatic.
    We’ll dig into why conflict is the engine of great storytelling, what happens when it’s missing, and how to design scenes that actively push back against your protagonist at every turn.
    You’ll learn:
    ✨ Why scenes with clear goals and stakes can still feel boring—and what’s actually missing
     ✨ The five essential elements every high-tension scene needs to create friction and suspense
     ✨ How opposing goals instantly raise tension between characters
     ✨ How to use stakes, constraints, and escalating obstacles to make scenes feel dangerous and alive
     ✨ Why ticking clocks and hard decisions are so powerful—and how they turn scenes into true story moments
    If your scenes tend to resolve too neatly, your characters get what they want too easily, or your conflict feels muted and safe, this episode will help you rethink how you’re building tension from the ground up.
    By the end, you’ll have a clear framework for crafting scenes that force your protagonist to struggle, choose, and change—and that make readers eager to race into the next chapter.
    👉 Join my email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies!
     https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO
    Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗
    🌻🌻🌻Sign up for Master the Art of Writing Powerful Scenes!🌻🌻🌻
    Support the show
  • Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

    The Secret to Powerful Writing: Three-Act Structure Demystified with Gabriela Pereira | Episode 46

    04.02.2026 | 1 Std.
    Struggling to make sense of story structure—or wondering if you’re doing it “wrong”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA, to talk about story structure in a way that feels empowering instead of intimidating. We zoom in on the classic three-act structure (and why it’s classic, not universal), break down the role of pivot points, and explore how structure works best as a crosscheck rather than a paint-by-numbers formula.
    You’ll learn:
    ✨ Why the three-act structure works—and why it isn’t universal or rigid
     ✨ Gabriela’s “3 + 2 = 1” framework (three acts, two pivot points, one cohesive story)
     ✨ How to navigate Act Two without falling into the dreaded “and then… and then…” trap
     ✨ What the midpoint and Dark Night of the Soul are really doing for your protagonist
    ✨ How different types of endings work (and how to choose the right one for your story)
    If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by story structure or unsure why something in your draft just isn’t working, this episode will help you move from instinct to intention—and finally see where your story needs support.
    👉 Join Heather's email list for FREE and paid writerly goodies!
    https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO
    👉DIY MFA Starter Kit at DIYMFA.com/join 
    Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗
    🌻🌻🌻Sign up for Master the Art of Writing Powerful Scenes!🌻🌻🌻
    Support the show

Weitere Anleitungen Podcasts

Über Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

Have you ever had a story idea you love—a vivid world, compelling characters, big themes—but every time you sit down to write, something just… isn’t working?If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.Welcome to Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple.In each episode, I tackle one specific problem standing between you and a cohesive, compelling book—whether that’s character arc, plot structure, backstory, worldbuilding, magic systems, genre clarity, revision, or the publishing path. Some episodes are focused teaching sessions where I break down craft and process step by step, and others feature in-depth conversations with industry experts—authors, editors, agents, and publishing professionals—who share real-world insight into what actually works.No vague advice. No craft mysticism. Just concrete, actionable strategies you can apply immediately (often with free companion workbooks linked right in the show notes).This podcast is here to help you stop spinning your wheels and start making confident, intentional story choices—so your novel feels grounded, emotionally powerful, and readable all the way through.I’m your host, Heather Davis—Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, developmental editor, host of the WorldShift Writing Summit, podcaster, and fellow speculative fiction writer. I’ve spent over a decade helping writers untangle messy drafts, fix stories that almost work, and build novels from the ground up in a way that’s sustainable and actually makes sense.And let’s be honest: writing a good novel—the kind readers want to finish, recommend, and come back to—is hard. This podcast doesn’t promise shortcuts or overnight success. Instead, it embraces the real, messy, challenging work of storytelling—and gives you the tools to do it well.If you’ve ever found yourself typing questions like these into Google, this show is for you:What is show don't tell?What's the difference between scenes and chapters?How do I use Save the Cat to structure my novel without it feeling formulaic?How do I include backstory without info-dumping?Why isn’t my magic system working in my story?How do I revise a novel without getting overwhelmed?How do I write character driven stories? How do I develop my author Voice?How do I write fantasy, romantasy, dystopian, science fiction, magical realism, paranormal, horror, or other speculative genres?How do I develop my protagonist?What is interiority?How do I determine the these and Point of my novel? How do I create a character arc for my protagonist? etc. So if you’re ready to write a novel you’re proud of—one that holds together, makes readers think, and earns their trust—go ahead and follow or subscribe. It’s the easiest way to support the show and make sure you don’t miss what’s coming next.Next steps: If you want to go deeper, get on my email list so you don’t miss my free and paid classes, workshops, and free writing sprints: 👉 https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zOHave a question or want to reach out directly? You can email me anytime at [email protected] next time, keep writing, keep dreaming, and remember: the world needs your stories right now. Don’t give up on your novel—or yourself.
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