Science Fiction &
Fantasy Writers!
Do you want to
learn how to take
your story from
first draft to
ready-to-publish?
WHAT WE DO
We supports writers with:
Hands-on, customized tools so that you can confidently self-publish or submit your book for publication.
We help you create a clear path with all the steps to take you from first draft to polished book.
Polish and publish!
We help you polish and publish your fabulous novel, so that you can grow your author career.
It may be your ultimate dream to write a bestseller and be a professional author and you're looking for someone who can help you with that.
KERI KRUSPE
Author of Otherworldly Romantic Adventures
You are Creative. Quirky. Positive. Unique.
You've finished your first draft. Congrats! That is a big achievement!
But don’t know your next step to fulfilling your dream...
... and you want an editing program that sees you for you.
Now what?
You have so many questions.
And you're not 100% sure what kind of story you've written. We don't always know what we've written in a first draft.
As in: What kind of book is this?
As in: What genre is this?
Maybe it looks like an adult or young adult fantasy, science fiction, solar punk, or post apocalyptic, maybe with elements of romance, mystery, adventure, thriller, or suspense. Or a mashup of these...
As in: What themes?
It may be themes of hope, growing up, bravery, love, redemption, self-confidence, justice, or self-discovery.
As in: What tropes?
Maybe with tropes like found family, enemies to friends, heroic quest, or saving oneself.
You're ready to learn and strengthen your writing chops and fill in the gaps in your understanding.
And learn things like:
So that your readers will stay up late into the night reading your mind-bendy, out-of-this-world page-turning novel.
“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
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.
Introducing our...
For Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers who want to take their first draft from messy to ready-to-publish in a supportive community
Because you are unique...
We help you find the creative editing path that fits you.
We believe that you learn to edit and improve as a writer by giving and receiving feedback on your own work and learning in a small group.
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.
You 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.
benefits
Our Mastermind Program's Main Benefits
COMMUNITY
Connect with like-minded writers and know you're not alone because while we write alone we publish in community.
MASTERMIND CALLS
Come for the targeted lessons, the expert feedback on your writing and get inspired and return to your book with insight and renewed motivation.
ALL-ACCESS PASS TO OVER 20 COURSES
Learn the art and craft of writing fiction, plus publishing and marketing how-to's and fill in any gaps at your own pace because you're in control and get to decide what you want to learn next.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Stay on track with your writing goals because you yearn to have a polished, ready-to-publish novel.
get FEEDBACK ON YOUR WORK
Learn the craft by focusing on your own work, and not via something abstract because then the learning is personal and meaningful. Plus, giving feedback is valuable too. You learn when you give feedback not just when you receive it.
BRAINSTORM Your Story IDEAS
When you're stuck you can get a new perspective because it's hard to know what you don't know.
MARKETING SUPPORT
Discover how to market your work because marketing a novel uses a different muscles than writing one.
PUBLISHING INS + OUTS
Make an informed choice because this is your author career.
Join us!
Why Join Our 12-Month Group Mastermind Program
HOW OUR PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOUR AUTHOR GOALS
12-MONTH PROGRAM
It takes time to develop new skills and habits. We're with you every step of the way and walk the talk. Insider knowledge. Real talk.
TAILORED LEARNING
We help you fill the gaps in your knowledge.
PEER SUPPORT
We may write alone but we edit and publish in community. Learn from each other in a collegial, respectful, fun environment in our twice monthly calls and online community.
TAILORED FEEDBACK
Concepts are abstract but working on your own manuscript cements the learning and accelerates progress.
Each writer gets a turn in our group calls to edit their words collectively.
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 August 2013!
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
We have 3 levels of support for you.
Call to adventure
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
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
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!
Click here to contact Beth for a no-obligation no-pressure Discovery Call
and let's discover together if this program would be a good fit.
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 20 writers 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 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.
Ready to join the mastermind?
Pricing
Choose the option that works for you.
CALL TO ADVENTURE
We support you in our twice monthly live group calls. Plus, learn at your own pace at Barany School of Fiction.
Click BOOK NOW to sign up for the Call To Adventure level
$2,970/year
(2 months off)
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
Join the twice monthly live group calls; self-paced courses at Barany School of Fiction; and get monthly one-on-one tailored developmental in-depth edits.
Click BOOK NOW to sign up for the Crossing The Threshold level.
$4,970/month
(2 months off)
RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR
For writers who want to fast-track their progress. All the group support, plus the self-paced courses at Barany School of Fiction; plus twice a month editing sessions; Plus: four 2-hour Mindset Coaching sessions. Plus: 2 Special VIP Days.
By application only. Click BOOK NOW to apply.
$15,000/month
(2 months off)
CALL TO ADVENTURE
We support you in our twice monthly live group calls. Plus, learn at your own pace at Barany School of Fiction.
Click BOOK NOW to sign up for the Call To Adventure level
$297/month
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
Join the twice monthly live group calls; self-paced courses at Barany School of Fiction; and get monthly one-on-one tailored developmental in-depth edits.
Click BOOK NOW to sign up for the Crossing The Threshold level
$497/month
RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR
For writers who want to fast-track their progress. All the group support, plus the self-paced courses at Barany School of Fiction; plus twice a month editing sessions; Plus: four 2-hour Mindset Coaching sessions. Plus: 2 Special VIP Days.
By application only. Click BOOK NOW to apply.
$1,500/month
Curious about what topics we cover?
We tailor topics to your needs and we have a tremendous library of courses and curriculum (over 20 courses) 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 no longer need to go it alone!
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, done or almost done. (Or equivalent.) This program is for dedicated novelists who are already doing the work of writing their book.
Wonderful! Both Beth and Ezra have worked on trilogies and quartets. During the program we recommend that you stay focused on 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, and can download them for your private use.
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.
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.
My Recommended Resources
Self-paced courses for fiction writers.
Monthly membership available.
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