Science Fiction &
Fantasy Writers!
Unleash Your
Story's Potential:
Transform Your
Draft into a
Publish-Ready
Masterpiece!
Does this sound familiar?
You want to learn all you can to create a great book, but your mind is stuck, thinking:
- Is my novel any good?
- How do I know when my book is ready to be published?
- How do I get unstuck in the writing process?
- How exactly do I edit my beautiful, precious, confusing first draft?
- How can I market my book when marketing feels so icky?
- Am I the only one confused and overwhelmed by all the steps? How do other writers handle all the things?
Many writers will leave their first draft to sit on their hard drive and it will never see the light of day because they stopped there.
You are different.
You know that this book can touch the lives of your readers and all you need are the steps to craft that published book.
We worked with 1000s of novelists guiding them from draft status to published book in their hands. And we know the dedication it takes.
Introducing...
KERI KRUSPE
Author of Otherworldly Romantic Adventures
To take your science fiction or fantasy first draft and get it publish-ready with two expert teachers and professional novelists in a supportive community.
Because you are unique...
We help you find the creative editing path that works best for you.
As you edit and improve your own writing by giving and receiving feedback and learning in a small highly-interactive group, you will develop mastery.
There is no one right way to edit and revise a novel.
The creative soul that wrote the book can learn how to edit it too.
Come stretch creatively, learning how to befriend the critical judgmental mind and have it work for you.
Trust the unknown.
Gain faith in yourself.
Play.
Respect the muse.
“I had wanted for some time to complete NaNoWriMo and found it a daunting task. Then I took the [Plan Your Novel] 30-Day Writing Challenge from the Barany School of Fiction.
This comprehensive set of classes and group coaching gave me the tools I needed to make it not only to the 50K November goal but far beyond and my story continued."
Hugh Tipping
Author
"I wasn’t sure I would finish the work when I started, but once I began Beth’s program I was able to progress at a steady pace.
[The] schedule helped keep me moving consistently forward in a supportive environment with no episodes of the dreaded block.”
Patricia Watson
Fiction and nonfiction author
benefits
Inside the Mastermind you'll
be a part of a COMMUNITY
Join a community of like-minded novelists eager to help share the journey and give creative feedback so your novel is the best it can be.
Develop YOur CharacterS
Gain insight on how to develop and write your characters so your readers fall in love with them.
gain an ALL-ACCESS PASS TO OVER 20 COURSES
Access over 20 courses in our library so you can go at your own pace.
Craft powerful scenes
Discover how to craft powerful scenes to carry the reader all the way to The End.
TRANSPORT YOUR READER INTO YOUR STORY WORLD
Learn how to create your story’s world so that your reader feels utterly transported to a futuristic or fantastical setting.
CRAFT CAPTIVATING STORIES
Discover how to develop your story so readers can’t put your novel down as they're on the edge of their seat the whole time.
POLISH YOUR PROSE
Uncover how to do line editing - how to make your writing so smooth that the reader forgets they're even reading.
get direct MARKETING SUPPORT
Discover how to market your book so when it’s time to take it to the public you have eager buyers waiting.
access PUBLISHING INS + OUTS
Uncover the ins and outs of the publishing world so you can become a published author.
I went from struggling writer to becoming an ePub’d writer with Beth’s help.
With her invaluable help, I wrote a 1950s Los Angeles Noir Boxing/love story, and it was published...
It was Beth’s belief in me and my talent that pushed me to work harder…
My confidence in my abilities to tell a story has grown phenomenally. I thank God for Beth’s help, caring, kick-in-the-butt techniques and her loving guidance.
Thank you Beth, for helping me to believe in myself, my talent, and my goals.”
CAROL MALONE
-- Author of Pulp-Fiction Romances
There are 3 levels of support:
Call to adventure - BASIC
Call to Adventure is for writers who want access to all the resources at Barany School of Fiction; access to Beth and Ezra connecting with you specifically via the online community; and the live twice monthly group calls. You also have access to Fellowship of the Pen, our student-wide community resources: writing sprints and other resource group calls.
crossing the threshold - Most popular
Crossing The Threshold is for writers who want all the group support and courses; and also want 1-1 support to tailored developmental in-depth edits. At this level, you also get a monthly one-on-one call with Beth. She will read up to 20 pages before the call, sent at least 1 week ahead of your coaching call. Calls are 45-60 minutes long.
RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR - ADVANCED
Return with the Elixir is for writers who want to fast-track their progress. All the group support, plus twice a month editing (as needed edits, including line edits on story, character, word choice, flow, etc.) of up to 15-20 manuscript pages, corresponding to the two 1-1 calls per month. Plus: four 2-hour Mindset Coaching sessions on Writer’s Block, Self-Doubt, and Other Blocks to Getting To Your Writing; Plus: 2 Special VIP Days for an intensive coaching, editing, and masterminding with both Beth and Ezra.
testimonials
What they say
Kate Robertson - Fantasy Novelist
Lucy Curran, Author
We have helped over 100 authors in this intimate group over the last ten years.
How can you be sure this program is right for you?
Great question! Let's talk!
And let's discover together if this program would be a good fit.
This program is designed for writers who have completed a science fiction or fantasy first draft.
Doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to be done!
Click here to contact Beth for a no-obligation no-pressure Discovery Call
From Our Writers
Author
writer
fantasy author
Are you ready to bring your dearest dream of being a published author into your lived, daily life?
Then join us!
Space is limited — we’re only accepting 3 more writers at this time so that we can give our full attention to the group.
They say that the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. And the second best time to plant one is today.
Plant the seed of your author career today. So that you have the full tree of your author career by the end of your (hopefully) long and creative life.
Your Writer's Life Starts Today
Steps to how we work Together
1.
Sign up
Once you join, you'll receive a personalized welcome email with all the details, plus an invitation to fill out a short assessment, so we can keep an eye on your goals for the year.
Additionally, if you signed up for it, you'll be invited to choose a convenient time for the first 1-1 call (phone or Zoom) and send pages in ahead time for your developmental edit.
2.
Grab Your All-Access Pass
Then you can sign up for the school to get access to the 20+ courses and instructions on how to join our community events: the twice monthly calls; the online community group; and the monthly writing sprints.
3.
Show up!
Join the twice monthly small group call so we can support you, celebrate your writing steps, and help move you that much closer to your dream of being a published writer.
Now enrolling!
DATES: January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025
(12-months*)
*Yes, you can join this 12-month program any time during the year. You’ll get a full year of support and join a vibrant and intimate community.
Ready to join the mastermind?
Choose the option that works for you.
12-month Mastermind Group for Science Fiction and Fantasy Novelists
Call to Adventure
$297
Per month
Twice-Monthly Support Calls
All-Access Pass to Barany School of Fiction
Fellowship of the Pen Community
Crossing the Threshold
$497
Per month
Twice-Monthly Support Calls
All-Access Pass to Barany School of Fiction
Fellowship of the Pen Community
One-on-One Coaching and In-Depth Developmental Edits
Return with the Elixir
$1,500
Per month
Twice-Monthly Support Calls
All-Access Pass to Barany School of Fiction
Fellowship of the Pen Community
One-on-One Coaching and In-Depth Developmental Edits
Four 2-hour Mindset Coaching Sessions
2 Special VIP Days
Call to Adventure
$2,970
Per year
Twice-Monthly Support Calls
All-Access Pass to Barany School of Fiction
Fellowship of the Pen Community
Crossing the Threshold
$4,970
Per year
Twice-Monthly Support Calls
All-Access Pass to Barany School of Fiction
Fellowship of the Pen Community
One-on-One Coaching and In-Depth Developmental Edits
Return with the Elixir
$15,000
Per year
Twice-Monthly Support Calls
All-Access Pass to Barany School of Fiction
Fellowship of the Pen Community
One-on-One Coaching and In-Depth Developmental Edits
Four 2-hour Coaching Sessions
2 Special VIP Days
Pay monthly or full-pay for the year and get 2-months off.
Curious about what topics we cover?
We tailor topics to your needs and we have a tremendous library of courses and curriculum to cover a whole range of topics to help you plan, write, edit, publish, and market your science fiction or fantasy novel.
And more! We’re open to your questions, concerns, and are constantly creating new lessons tailored to you.
We’re here to mastermind with you.
You don't need to go it alone anymore!
We currently have a foundation course and a line editing oriented course. The foundation course includes a refresher (or foundations) of character, plot, story structure, pacing, including character and point of view, conflict and story structure, creating a page-turner, developing a strong voice, and what makes for a strong, compelling read.
Due to all the steps involved in getting a book completed, polished, published, and marketed, we offer coaching and mindset tips woven in to all our live calls and all of our courses.
We offer tips, tools, techniques on acknowledging and addressing procrastination, lack of motivation (even though you really want to write, and resistance (as Steven Pressfield calls it in The War of Art). We understand these phases quite well, both the psychology and ways to gently get back to your writing.
We deeply understand the difference between writing and editing and so support you on how to make friends with the internal editor and how to put it to work at the proper time and not a moment too soon.
Each of us has our own. Let’s uncover yours! This belief is woven through all we do. We focus on how you can work with yourself not against yourself.
We have a course on this and are often discussing the particulars in our call, where each person's needs can be addressed.
We cover how to find cover and layout designers, ebook conversion; proof readers; and any other questions you have. We also have a course walking you through step-by-step ebook publishing.
We can discuss how to find the right publisher, how to find a literary agent; how to pitch an agent or editor in person or in writing.
We cover building your social media platform; using social media tools to build your brand; get started with a basic website; learn how to find reviewers.
Book marketing can be your friend.
FAQ
Go here to fill out the short form and schedule a call: https://coaching.bethbarany.com/contact-us/. I look forward to our conversation.
Yes, please have your first draft done - completed - finished - even if it's written out of order.
The reason you need your manuscript completed is that the main focus of the mastermind program is helping you edit and revise, and learn your marketing and publishing options. So you can sell your book.
We designed this program for dedicated science fiction and fantasy novelists who are already doing the work of writing their book and are ready to turn their dear story into a beautiful product for readers to enjoy and cherish.
Wonderful! Both Beth and Ezra have worked on trilogies and quartets. During the program we recommend that you stay focused on editing one book at a time. That way you’ll be able to finish at least one book during the program. Past participants have actually finished their books and often started or even completed a second book.
No. If you sign up for the RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR level do I edit your pages directly. Starting at the CROSSING THE THRESHOLD level, I read your pages and give feedback. You are welcome though to upload your material and ask your cohorts in the circle for specific feedback. We’ll be giving you specific training and support on Beta Reading and Peer Critiques.
Yes, if you sign up for the CROSSING THE THRESHOLD or RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR levels.
The two times a month group calls are generally the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month (currently in the evening: 5:30pm PT/8:30pm ET). All group calls are recorded, in case you can’t make it live. The replays generally go up within 24 hours and you’ll have access to them via our online school, Barany School of Fiction.
Yes, we will be covering how to query agents during the year. We teach you how to do this, so you know the strategies and tactics involved and also get feedback on your query letter.
No, we only publish our own books. But we can make referrals and help you find qualified professionals to help you self-publish, if that’s your chosen route.
No, not at this time. I do have work/trade agreements. If you’re curious about how that might work for you, write Beth to initiate a discussion. Some of the things Beth needs are: marketing support; in-office organizational help; teacher’s assistants in the school (for alumni only.)
Listen to How To Write The Future podcast
For science fiction and fantasy authors who want to create optimistic stories.
A podcast for visionaries, futurists, foresight practitioners, and storytellers.
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