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A podcast in association with BeingSociety.com, in which Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the politics, ethics, and societal visions of dystopian tv, film, and literature.
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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
Welcome to the Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple Podcast! The show that’s all about how to brainstorm, write, edit, publish, and sell a powerful speculative fiction novel… and maybe just change the world too. I'm your host, Heather Davis. I’m a seasoned book coach, developmental editor, and fellow storyteller. In my work with writers, I always see the same problems and roadblocks standing in their way and preventing them from achieving their dream of becoming a published author. So it’ ...
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In Episode 23 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing the 2023 film, The End We Start From, starring Jodie Comer. Our discussion explores flooding and the climate crisis, and how prevalent these issues already are, especially in the global south, but also worsening in Europe and some p…
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In Episode 22, Clare and Masha are discussing the amazing 1997 film, Gattaca. In our conversation we look at the science and ethics of gene editing, including the advocacy for an update in the law to eliminate hereditary disease. We explore the fascinating theories of genetics and the impact on us of our DNA, with particular reference to Robert Plo…
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6 Key Steps to Finding Perfect-Fit Comp Titles for Your Novel (While You’re Still Writing) | Episode 26
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Click HERE to find Comp Titles Crash Course! $97 for limited time! Comp titles--they might be one of the most dreaded topics in the writing world. After all, most of us are writing novels that feel unique, so trying to find a novel “like” ours is a …
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In Episode 21 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing the miniseries Last Light. We focus on responses to the climate crisis, the difference between eco-activism and eco-terrorism, the role of disruption and violence in social justice and driving change, and how we can bring about an end to fossil fuel…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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—I’m here to …
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In our 20th episode, Masha and Clare are discussing the 2019 film Joker, looking at its presentation of societal impact on mental health, its depiction of the consequences of wealth disparity, and how it reflects ableism in our society. In this episode, we draw on some of the ideas in Daraiseh and Booker's 2020 article: 'Jokes from Underground: The…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 kille…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 flaws that feel real and auth…
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Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs is back! Masha and Clare have returned from our summer break, and we have a new episode out for you on the tv drama Fallout (Amazon Prime). In this episode, we discuss depiction of post-nuclear apocalypse, and the formation of societies within this. We talk about the Golden Rule vs immoral lawless…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 conquer…
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The Timeline for Crafting a Solid Debut Novel: Writing Tips for Your First Book! | Episode 21
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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, one of the ve…
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How to Write LGBTQ+ Characters with Confidence and Care: Special Guest Sam Cameron | Episode 20
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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, explain…
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The Goal, Motivation, Stakes, and Conflict Chain: How to Write with Narrative Drive | Episode 19
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) →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 arc! https://re…
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In Episode 18 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing the iconic and much-beloved 1998 film, The Truman Show. In this episode we discuss the appeal of reality television and what it says about our society. We look at how The Truman Show posits Seahaven as a 'utopia' and the price that Truman is made to…
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In this episode of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing the incredible yet harrowing 1984 film, Threads, a graphic depiction of the aftermath of nuclear attack, set in Sheffield (where Masha lives!). Content warning: violence and sexual violence; still-birth In this episode we discuss the impacts of nu…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/AI Everyone 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 AI for in your writing and what I believ…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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? In this episode I’m going to talk about the self-e…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Snag my FREE workbook: https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/truth Ever wondered why your favorite novels feel so authentic and cohesive? It’s not about all the surface level editing you’ve been driving yourself crazy with. Instead, it’s about the…
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In Episode 16 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing the mind-bending physics-filled Netflix Drama, 3 Body Problem. In this episode, we look at the depiction of Mao's China and the Cultural Revolution, and the Chinese novel on which the show is based. We mention articles from The Guar…
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In Episode 15 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing Oscar-winning film Poor Things, which we absolutely loved. Content Warning: suicide, sexual content, FGM Themes in this episode include: brain transplants, animal and human testing, and medical ethics the legacy of Frankenstein, Gothic literature, a…
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7 Crucial Steps to Creating and Writing a Captivating Magic System For Your Novel | Episode 15
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Snag my FREE workbook: resources.manyworldswriting.com/magic Ever wondered how to create an interesting and compelling magic system that readers will love? In this episode I’m breaking down exactly how to create a magic system that works. In this ep…
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In Episode 14 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are discussing The Way, a recent dystopian drama from the BBC, set in Port Talbot, Wales. Content Warning: this episode includes reference to suicide. In this episode, we talk about divided families and generational trauma, with particular relation to changing ind…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Snag my FREE interiority workbook: https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/interiority Have you ever wondered how to ensure your readers are so engrossed in your protagonist that they can put your novel down? In this episode I'm peeling back the lay…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 protagonist and having a …
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In Episode 13 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are talking about the film Downsizing. Resting on the premise that people can choose to shrink to around 10cm tall as part of a project to reduce overpopulation, this odd comedy is full of themes of science fiction, environmentalism, innovation, social justice, an…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 effects o…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 scene structure and learn: 1) How to know …
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In Episode 12 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha discuss the 2023 Netflix film, Leave the World Behind. As well as themes of cyber warfare, disinformation, privilege in the apocalypse, fear, and the place of trust, we also look at how to see off a f***load of deer, and whether people are really as dreadful as on…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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. 2) Whether a given event in your novel n…
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In our eleventh episode of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are diving into A Clockwork Orange, both the Stanley Kubrick film of 1971 and the novella by Anthony Burgess from 1962. Content Warning: themes of sexual violence, physical violence, and suicide In this episode, we look at multiple layers of dystopian so…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 because they’re afraid of info du…
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In Episode 10 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are discussing Netflix drama The Society. CW: please be aware that this episode makes reference to suicide and domestic abuse. In its single season, this is a drama that covers all aspects of how best a society should be organized and led, without…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 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 that will help you reframe critic…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Nothing grabs readers’ attention like dialogue. That’s why it’s absolutely imperative to make sure that the dialogue in your novel is serving the story and making readers hungry for more. Ready to learn more about dialogue? Don’t forget to access th…
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In Episode 9 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva are welcoming 2024 with a deep dive into Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, on its 20th anniversary. In this episode, we discuss the importance of memory for individuals and communities, and how these are impacted by social media, fake news, an…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Spoiler alert—there’s a whole lot more to POV than just first person, second person, and third person. There are actually 4 layers that you need to master if you want readers and agents to love your novel! So if you’re ready to master POV in 2024, d…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) 📘Access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/better📘 ✨Fill out an application to my Powerful Writers, Powerful Novels Mentorship Program: manyworldswriting.com/mentorship ✨ Join the Many Worlds Writing Facebook Community: …
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Are you overwhelmed and frustrated by the complexity of worldbuilding for your fantasy and science fiction novel? Are things getting too complicated, too bloated, and too scattered? Are you worried that all those complex worldbuilding documents you …
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In Episode 8 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva discuss The Children of Men, both the 1992 novel by PD James and the 2006 film starring Clive Owen. In this episode, we explore the speculative concept of both book and film, in which the human race has long since ceased to be able to have children…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/likable Are you worried that your protagonist might not be likable? Often as writers, we love our protagonists deeply, but readers might not be able to connect with them, which c…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/storytelling Ever found yourself wondering if your novel might be missing a key ingredient, one that could keep readers and agents from fully connecting with your story? It's a c…
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Access the FREE workbook right here: https://www.manyworldswriting.com/point Are you worried that something important is missing from your novel? Something that might lock readers and agents out of the narrative and prevent them from falling in love…
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In Episode 7 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the world of the Hunger Games, through the lens of the prequel novel and latest film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Along with their discussion of the character of Coriolanus Snow and his relationships, they assess the purpose of the …
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Hey, Storyteller! Send me a text message! I'd really love to hear what you think of the podcast! :-) Welcome to the Many Worlds Writing Podcast! The show that’s all about how to brainstorm, write, edit, publish, and sell a powerful speculative fiction novel… and maybe just change the world too.由Heather Davis
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In Episode 6 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha enter the world of the Matrix, considering the themes of AI, authenticity, authoritarianism, and aesthetic. Join in and decide whether you would dare to take the red pill.由Clare Coombe
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In episode 5 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, on the film Don't Look Up, Masha and Clare discuss political agendas, the state of the media, the climate crisis, and brontorocs.由Clare Coombe
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In episode 4 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva discuss the depictions of society in the Barbie film, why Barbieland is a dystopia, the lens on our own society, the patriarchy, and using comedy for social commentary. Oh, and to sum up the film in Masha's words: 'feminism, innit'.…
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In Episode 3 on Years and Years, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva explore the frighteningly prescient view of British society offered by this amazing 2019 BBC drama.由Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva
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In Episode 2 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva discuss Fight Club through the lens of satire, considering themes of gender, capitalism, consumerism, and masculine violence.由Clare Coombe
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In Episode 1 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, a Being Society podcast, Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva discuss season 1 of The Last of Us and its post-apocalyptic view of a society wracked by a fungal pandemic.由Clare Coombe and Masha Yakovleva
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