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.
Episodes
57 episodes
Fix Your Novel with the Save the Cat Blueprint (Act 2) | Writing Tips & Techniques | Episode 31
Does your novel feel have a saggy middle? Does it just meander around without a lot of momentum? In this episode, I’ll walk you through Act 2 of the Save the Cat story structure—a simple, effective tool to shape your novel into a story r...
Ask Me Anything Thursdays: Can I write a dual Point of View novel using a mixed POV structure? | Writing Techniques & Tips | Episode 30
Ask Me Anything Thursdays: Can I Mix POV Styles in a Dual POV Novel?Have you ever wondered if you can write a dual POV novel where one protagonist is in first person and the other is in third? In this episode, I answer this quest...
Fix Your Novel with the Save the Cat Blueprint (Act 1) | Writing Tips & Techniques | Episode 29
Does your novel feel like it’s wandering aimlessly, struggling to find direction? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the first five beats of the Save the Cat story structure—a simple, effective tool to shape your novel into a story r...
Ask Me Anything Thursdays: How Do I Make Readers Love My Protagonist? | Writing Techniques & Tips | Episode 28
Ask Me Anything Thursdays answering the podcasting question "How do I make sure my protagonist is lovable?"Are you struggling to create a protagonist readers truly care about? In this episode, I share four actionable strategies t...
3 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Writing in 2025 | Episode 27
Are you looking to level up your writing in 2025? In this episode, I dive into three incredibly valuable ways you can improve your writing, get answers to your important writing questions, and get valuable feedback on your work for FREE. Tune i...
6 Key Steps to Finding Perfect-Fit Comp Titles for Your Novel (While You’re Still Writing) | Episode 26
Click HERE to find Comp Titles Crash Course!$97 for limited time!Comp titles--they might be one of the most dreaded...
5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25
The opening scene of your novel is arguably the most crucial part of your book. If it doesn’t capture readers' curiosity and imagination, they won’t keep reading. No wonder the opening scene is notoriously hard to write!But don’t worry—...
9 Tricks to Overcome Writer's Block and Keep Your Writing on Track | Episode 24
Writer's block is one of the most challenging hurdles an author can encounter. It has the power to derail brilliant stories and thwart dreams of becoming a published author. But fear not—there are effective strategies to combat this creativity ...
4 Steps to Writing a Flawed Protagonist Who Readers Love | Episode 23
Most writers understand that creating a character with no flaws is a huge turnoff to readers because it’s hard to feel connected to someone who is perfect and does everything right. But how do you give your protagonist fla...
Quick Tip: 6 Steps to Establish a Writing Habit So You Can Finish Your Novel | Episode 22
The biggest obstacles writers face are overcoming procrastination and avoiding the dreaded writer’s block. In fact, these obstacles are what stand between them and finishing their novel. But what many writers don’t realize is that the key to co...
The Timeline for Crafting a Solid Debut Novel: Writing Tips for Your First Book! | Episode 21
Writing a speculative fiction novel that resonates with readers is tough work. Many writers feel they're doing something wrong when it takes time to create a draft that feels solid and ready to stand on its own two shaky legs.In fact, o...
How to Write LGBTQ+ Characters with Confidence and Care: Special Guest Sam Cameron | Episode 20
Many writers want to include more LGBTQ+ characters in their novels, but they’re afraid of getting it wrong and doing more harm than good. If you’re one of those writers, this podcast episode is for you! My friend and colleague, Sam Cameron,...
The Goal, Motivation, Stakes, and Conflict Chain: How to Write with Narrative Drive | Episode 19
→Sign up for my free workshop Create a Dynamic Character Arc For Your Protagonist. This workshop, which includes live coaching, will help you develop the foundation elements of your novel and bridge the gap between plot and character a...
Exploring The Benefits and Dangers of AI Use in Writing | Episode 18
Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/AIEveryone in the writing world is talking about AI, but should you really buy into the buzz?In this episode I’m going to explore what it’s okay to use ...
8 Essential Hacks for Writing and Self-Editing Your Manuscript to Perfection | Episode 17
Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/edit Almost every writer wants to get better at self-editing their work. But how? And which techniques improve your work the most dramatically?<...
Unlock the 7 Subtle Truths About Writing (That Will Make Your Story Better) | Episode 16
Snag my FREE workbook: https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/truth Ever wondered why your favorite novels feel so authentic and cohesive? It’s not ...
7 Crucial Steps to Creating and Writing a Captivating Magic System For Your Novel | Episode 15
Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/magic Ever wondered how to create an interesting and compelling magic system that readers will...
9 Key Elements of Character Interiority: Writing Reality | Episode 14
Snag my FREE interiority workbook: https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/interiority Have you ever wondered how to ensure your readers are so engro...
7 Key Facts You MUST Know About Your Protagonist (Before Writing Another Word) | Episode 13
What makes a protagonist memorable and unique? What makes readers fall in love with them enough to follow them around for 300-500 pages? Knowing the answers to those questions is the difference between creating a flat, dull p...
Show and Tell: The Secret to Writing Better Scenes | Episode 12
If you're a writer, you've likely encountered the timeless advice: "Show Don't Tell." While intended to enhance scene creation by encouraging vivid depiction over mere narration, this guidance has been misunderstood, leading to detrimental effe...
How to Turn a Narrative Summary into a Full Scene: Expanding Your Writing | Episode 11
The most important skill you can have as a writer is the ability to write a compelling scene, but it’s a skill that few writers have actually mastered. So in this episode we are going to do a deep dive into sc...
The 10 Key Components of Writing a Great Scene | Episode 10
The most important skill you can have as a writer is the ability to write a great scene... but, unfortunately, it’s a skill that few writers have actually mastered.You need to understand: 1) What a scene is.&nbs...
Writing Backstory without Info Dumping | Episode 9
Backstory is an essential part of every novel. Without it, your protagonist doesn’t have a meaningful character arc and your story lacks depth. But writers are (understandably) scared to put backstory in their novel be...
7 Key Understandings to Help You Reframe Criticism of Your Writing | Episode 8
Criticism is one of the hardest things for writers to process and it sometimes leads to writers giving up on the craft or refusing to share their work with the world. If you’re ready explore the 7 key understandings tha...