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/U2F1zO
Have a question or want to reach out directly? You can email me anytime at heather@manyworldswriting.com
Until next time, keep writing, keep dreaming, and remember: the world needs your stories right now. Don’t give up on your novel—or yourself.
Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel
Writing Age Category: Fix This Before You Query (with Ben Grange) | Episode 52
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Age category feels straightforward… until it really, really isn’t.
In this episode, I sit down with Ben Grange to unpack one of the most confusing (and important) decisions a writer can make: how to position your book in the market—and what “age category” actually means behind the scenes.
We break down the real differences between middle grade, YA, new adult, and adult fiction… and why those lines are far blurrier (and more business-driven) than most writers realize.
We talk candidly about market realities, reader expectations, stakes, voice, theme, and what actually determines where your book ends up on the shelf.
If you’ve ever wondered:
“Does my protagonist’s age define my book?”
“What actually makes something YA vs adult?”
“Can I write a younger protagonist and still have an adult novel?”
“What if I categorize my book wrong when querying?”
“Do publishers decide everything anyway?”
…this episode is for you.
We cover:
✨ What “age category” really means (and why it’s about marketing)
✨ How protagonist age, stakes, and theme actually work together
✨ What makes a story feel YA vs adult (beyond surface-level rules)
✨ How to position your book correctly when querying agents
✨ Why writing the book you love still matters most
We also dive into something every writer needs to hear: rejection.
Because understanding age category is important—but it’s only one piece of a much bigger picture.
And Ben shares a powerful reminder that the only thing you truly control in this industry… is the writing itself.
At the end of the day, the question isn’t just:
“Where does my book fit?”
It’s:
“Am I writing the story I actually want to tell—and am I willing to keep going no matter what happens next?”
You can find Ben Grange here:
https://thirty30k.com
https://www.booksonthegrange.com/
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