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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:
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.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Writing Age Category: Fix This Before You Query (with Ben Grange) | Episode 52
|
Apr 01, 2026 |
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Writing Scenes: How to Build Mini Stories That Work | Episode 51
|
Mar 25, 2026 |
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Writing Your Novel Your Way: The Hybrid Publishing Option (with Megan Sells, Atmosphere Press) | Episode 50
|
Mar 04, 2026 |
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Do You Need an MFA to Succeed in Writing? | Episode 49
|
Feb 25, 2026 |
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Writing Strong Pitches for Querying Success (with Julie Artz) | Episode 48
|
Feb 18, 2026 |
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Stop Playing Nice: The Secret to Writing a Great Scene Is Conflict | Episode 47
|
Feb 11, 2026 |
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The Secret to Powerful Writing: Three-Act Structure Demystified with Gabriela Pereira | Episode 46
|
Feb 04, 2026 |
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The Art of Writing Irresistible First Lines | Episode 45
|
Jan 28, 2026 |
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Writing That Sells: What New York Times Bestseller J.D. Barker Did Differently | Episode 44
|
Jan 21, 2026 |
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Writing Backstory That Actually Works (5 Guidelines You Must Know!) | Episode 43
|
Jan 14, 2026 |
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Writing Fantasy, Building Worlds, and Navigating the Publishing World with Leslye Penelope | Episode 42
|
Dec 10, 2025 |
|
Make Your Writing Unputdownable Through Interiority | Episode 41
|
Dec 03, 2025 |
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Writing as a Business: Self-Publishing Like a Pro (with Alexa Bigwarfe) | Episode 40
|
Nov 19, 2025 |
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Brain-Friendly Writing Strategies for Writers with ADHD (with Nicole Bross) | Episode 39
|
Oct 22, 2025 |
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4 Types of Writing Feedback Every Author Must Understand | Episode 38
|
Oct 08, 2025 |
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The 4 Non-Negotiable Writing Foundations Every Novel Needs | Episode 37
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Sep 25, 2025 |
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Debunking Harmful Writing Myths With Lisa Cron | Episode 36
|
Aug 13, 2025 |
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Writing An Identity Not Your Own With Alex Temblador | Episode 35
|
Jul 30, 2025 |
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Writing with Publishing in Mind: The Traditional Publishing Pathway Explained | Episode 34
|
Apr 24, 2025 |
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Fix Your Novel with the Save the Cat Blueprint (Act 3) | Writing Tips & Techniques | Episode 33
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Feb 26, 2025 |
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Ask Me Anything Thursdays: Why are agents rejecting my novel? | Writing Techniques & Tips | Episode 32
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Feb 20, 2025 |
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Fix Your Novel with the Save the Cat Blueprint (Act 2) | Writing Tips & Techniques | Episode 31
|
Feb 13, 2025 |
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Ask Me Anything Thursdays: Can I write a dual Point of View novel using a mixed POV structure? | Writing Techniques & Tips | Episode 30
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Jan 31, 2025 |
|
Fix Your Novel with the Save the Cat Blueprint (Act 1) | Writing Tips & Techniques | Episode 29
|
Jan 23, 2025 |
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Ask Me Anything Thursdays: How Do I Make Readers Love My Protagonist? | Writing Techniques & Tips | Episode 28
|
Jan 16, 2025 |
|
3 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Writing in 2025 | Episode 27
|
Jan 09, 2025 |
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6 Key Steps to Finding Perfect-Fit Comp Titles for Your Novel (While You’re Still Writing) | Episode 26
|
Aug 22, 2024 |
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5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25
|
Aug 08, 2024 |
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9 Tricks to Overcome Writer's Block and Keep Your Writing on Track | Episode 24
|
Aug 01, 2024 |
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4 Steps to Writing a Flawed Protagonist Who Readers Love | Episode 23
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Jul 25, 2024 |
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Quick Tip: 6 Steps to Establish a Writing Habit So You Can Finish Your Novel | Episode 22
|
Jul 18, 2024 |
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The Timeline for Crafting a Solid Debut Novel: Writing Tips for Your First Book! | Episode 21
|
Jul 10, 2024 |
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How to Write LGBTQ+ Characters with Confidence and Care: Special Guest Sam Cameron | Episode 20
|
Jun 20, 2024 |
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The Goal, Motivation, Stakes, and Conflict Chain: How to Write with Narrative Drive | Episode 19
|
Jun 13, 2024 |
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Exploring The Benefits and Dangers of AI Use in Writing | Episode 18
|
May 09, 2024 |
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8 Essential Hacks for Writing and Self-Editing Your Manuscript to Perfection | Episode 17
|
May 02, 2024 |
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Unlock the 7 Subtle Truths About Writing (That Will Make Your Story Better) | Episode 16
|
Apr 25, 2024 |
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7 Crucial Steps to Creating and Writing a Captivating Magic System For Your Novel | Episode 15
|
Mar 28, 2024 |
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9 Key Elements of Character Interiority: Writing Reality | Episode 14
|
Mar 21, 2024 |
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7 Key Facts You MUST Know About Your Protagonist (Before Writing Another Word) | Episode 13
|
Mar 07, 2024 |
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Show and Tell: The Secret to Writing Better Scenes | Episode 12
|
Feb 29, 2024 |
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How to Turn a Narrative Summary into a Full Scene: Expanding Your Writing | Episode 11
|
Feb 22, 2024 |
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The 10 Key Components of Writing a Great Scene | Episode 10
|
Feb 08, 2024 |
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Writing Backstory without Info Dumping | Episode 9
|
Jan 25, 2024 |
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7 Key Understandings to Help You Reframe Criticism of Your Writing | Episode 8
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Jan 18, 2024 |
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The 7 Golden Rules of Writing Great Dialogue | Episode 7
|
Jan 10, 2024 |
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Master the 4 Essential Layers of Writing POV | Episode 6
|
Jan 03, 2024 |
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How to Become a Better Writer | Episode 5
|
Dec 27, 2023 |
|
The 7 Principles of Simple Worldbuilding in Fantasy and Science Fiction | Episode 4
|
Dec 20, 2023 |
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The Surprising Key to Making Any Protagonist "Likable" | Episode 3
|
Dec 10, 2023 |
|
Use This Simple Technique to Write Your First Novel | Episode 2
|
Dec 10, 2023 |
|
The Most Important Part of Writing Your Novel (That You're Probably Missing) | Episode 1
|
Dec 10, 2023 |
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The Many Worlds Writing Podcast Trailer
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Nov 25, 2023 |