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 help simplify and clarify the progress! In this episode, you’ll discover: <ul><li>5 Essential Questions you MUST answer when writing your opening scene</li><li>Whether backstory and context are essential or just a recipe for info dumping</li><li>Why character flaws and problems are key to an engaging opening scene</li><li>And so much more...</li></ul> Sign up for my FREE Mini Course:  ✨4 Secrets To Crafting a Powerful Character Arc for Your Protagonist✨ 👉<a href='http://resources.manyworldswriting.com/5XyYsI'>resources.manyworldswriting.com/5XyYsI</a><a href='https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jBSbjDy8Qzy242Vs1i0rhg'>Join Momentum Writing Sprints! ✍️🏃🏽‍♀️😎Come write with us for FREE every Saturday from 11 am  to 12 pm ET! </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2329635/open_sms">Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗</a><a rel="payment" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/heatherdavisbookcoach">Support the show</a>

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 help simplify and clarify the progress! In this episode, you’ll discover: 5 Essential Questions you MUST answer when writing your opening sceneWhether backstory and context are essential or just a recipe for info dumpingWhy character flaws and problems are key to an engaging opening sceneAnd so much more... Sign up for my FREE Mini Course: ✨4 Secrets To Crafting a Powerful Character Arc for Your Protagonist✨ 👉resources.manyworldswriting.com/5XyYsI Join Momentum Writing Sprints! ✍️🏃🏽‍♀️😎Come write with us for FREE every Saturday from 11 am to 12 pm ET! Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗 Support the show

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 help simplify and clarify the progress! In this episode, you’ll discover: <ul><li>5 Essential Questions you MUST answer when writing your opening scene</li><li>Whether backstory and context are essential or just a recipe for info dumping</li><li>Why character flaws and problems are key to an engaging opening scene</li><li>And so much more...</li></ul> Sign up for my FREE Mini Course:&nbsp; ✨4 Secrets To Crafting a Powerful Character Arc for Your Protagonist✨ 👉<a href="http://resources.manyworldswriting.com/5XyYsI" rel="noopener noreferrer">resources.manyworldswriting.com/5XyYsI</a><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jBSbjDy8Qzy242Vs1i0rhg" rel="noopener noreferrer">Join Momentum Writing Sprints!&nbsp;✍️🏃🏽‍♀️😎Come write with us for FREE every Saturday from 11 am&nbsp; to 12 pm ET!&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2329635/open_sms" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ask Me Anything Thursdays👋 Send me your writing question! I'll answer it in an upcoming episode. Include your name if you want a shout out! 🤗</a><a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/heatherdavisbookcoach" rel="noopener noreferrer">Support the show</a>

5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25

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:<ul><li>What is show don't tell?</li><li>What's the difference between scenes and chapters?</li><li>How do I use Save the Cat to structure my novel without it feeling formulaic?</li><li>How do I include backstory without info-dumping?</li><li>Why isn’t my magic system working in my story?</li><li>How do I revise a novel without getting overwhelmed?</li><li>How do I write character driven stories?&nbsp;</li><li>How do I develop my author Voice?</li><li>How do I write fantasy, romantasy, dystopian, science fiction, magical realism, paranormal, horror, or other speculative genres?</li><li>How do I develop my protagonist?</li><li>What is interiority?</li><li>How do I determine the these and Point of my novel?&nbsp;</li><li>How do I create a character arc for my protagonist?&nbsp;</li><li>etc.&nbsp;</li></ul> 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: 👉 <a href="https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO">https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO</a> 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.

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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: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.

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:<ul><li>What is show don't tell?</li><li>What's the difference between scenes and chapters?</li><li>How do I use Save the Cat to structure my novel without it feeling formulaic?</li><li>How do I include backstory without info-dumping?</li><li>Why isn’t my magic system working in my story?</li><li>How do I revise a novel without getting overwhelmed?</li><li>How do I write character driven stories?&nbsp;</li><li>How do I develop my author Voice?</li><li>How do I write fantasy, romantasy, dystopian, science fiction, magical realism, paranormal, horror, or other speculative genres?</li><li>How do I develop my protagonist?</li><li>What is interiority?</li><li>How do I determine the these and Point of my novel?&nbsp;</li><li>How do I create a character arc for my protagonist?&nbsp;</li><li>etc.&nbsp;</li></ul> 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: 👉 <a href="https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO</a> 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.

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5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25

5 Essential Questions You MUST Answer When Writing Your Opening Scene | Episode 25

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