Creating Genuine Science Fiction Universes with Devin Blair’s Chemical Rocketeers Present · Author’s Enjoyable Zone

Creating Genuine Science Fiction Universes with Devin Blair’s Chemical Rocketeers Present – How To Write the Future podcast, episode 150

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“Even when I didn’t have this complete podcast construction, which thank God I really do, so I can really deal with one thing throughout my travels.“ – Devin Blair

On this episode of How To Write the Future, host Beth Barany talks to Devin Blair, the creator of the sci-fi podcast Chemical Rocketeers. Collectively they focus on Devin’s present adventures in Afghanistan and why touring is the whole lot to him. Additionally they share the challenges in world constructing and the affect journey can have in your creativity.

“Being on the How To Write The Future Podcast with host Beth Barany was such an energizing expertise. Beth requested considerate questions that allow me dive into the center of my artistic course of, and it actually helped me join the dots between my travels, storytelling, and the universe I’m constructing with Chemical Rocketeers. It was greater than an interview—it was a second to replicate, share, and encourage.” — Devin Blair

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Concerning the How To Write the Future podcast

The How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who need to write optimistic futures and efficiently deliver these tales out into {the marketplace}. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cowl ideas for fiction writers. This podcast is for readers too if you happen to’re in any respect interested in the way forward for humanity.

This podcast is for you if in case you have questions like:

– How do I create a plausible world for my science fiction story?

– How do I work out what’s not working if my story feels flat?

– How do I make my story extra fascinating and alive?

This podcast is for readers too if you happen to’re in any respect interested in the way forward for humanity.

Chemical Rocketeers Podcast Volume 2 Winter 2025 Melodic Playground Magazine - Devin Blair

About Devin Blair

Devin Blair is the creator of Chemical Rocketeers, a sci-fi podcast that blends immersive storytelling, real-world inspirations, and futuristic themes of exploration, survival, and emergence. Drawing from his travels and background in Chemical Engineering Know-how, Devin crafts a richly detailed universe the place factions battle for survival, expertise meets mysticism, and historical past shapes the long run. By podcasting, subject experiences, and multimedia storytelling, he builds an ever-expanding sci-fi universe that connects with followers on a number of ranges.

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/chemicalrocketeers101

Fb: https://www.fb.com/profile.php?id=61566804364795

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemicalrocketeers101/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-blair-8a625a206

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ChemicalRocketeers

Transcript for Creating Genuine Science Fiction Universes with Devin Blair’s Chemical Rocketeers Present

[00:00] Introduction

Welcome to The right way to Write the Future Podcast. I’m your host, Beth Barany. I’m an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Additionally a creativity coach, e-book editor, e-book guide, and oh yeah, what else? Filmmaker. Extra about that later.

[00:16] Visitor Introduction: Devin Blair

So as we speak, actually excited to deliver with you a multi-passionate, multi-talented artistic: Devin Blair.

Devin is coming into the recording as we speak from Afghanistan. Devin Blair is the creator of Chemical Rocketeers, a sci-fi podcast that blends immersive storytelling, actual world inspirations and futuristic themes of exploration, survival, and emergence. Drawing from his travels and background in chemical engineering expertise, Devin crafts a richly detailed universe the place factions battle for survival expertise meets mysticism and historical past shapes the long run. By podcasting subject experiences and multimedia storytelling, he builds an ever increasing sci-fi universe that connects with followers on a number of ranges.

Welcome Devin. I’m so excited to have you ever right here. Actually fascinating venture that you simply’re as much as. Welcome.

An honor and pleasure. Thanks a lot for having me on the platform.

[01:21] Devin’s Present Adventures in AfghanistanActually glad you’re right here. And as we have been getting organized, everybody, for this interview, you have been emailing me from Dubai, and now you’re in Afghanistan.

[01:31] Touring and World Constructing

Can I ask what’s it that you simply’re doing? Are you simply touring, sightseeing, visiting buddies, doing work? What are you as much as?

Sure, that’s really a extremely good query. I used to be really formally invited after I was really networking round, Dubai to discover a method to have my greatest tour going round for Afghanistan. ’trigger Afghanistan’s not likely a spot that you simply simply go and solo tour until you really know locations however I really hit up a bunch that excursions for Afghanistan. and so I hit them up after which I had my visa and a call for participation made up whereas I used to be in Dubai.

And so now I’m in Afghanistan on the visitor home, preparing for my tour for this week.

That’s fairly a possibility. Alright, let’s dive into our interview.

[02:10] Challenges in World-Constructing

Are you able to inform me what are a number of the key challenges in constructing a post-apocalyptic but hopeful future, in fiction?

Sure. So mainly balancing the grit with development and having to indicate the harm, but additionally the drive to rebuild, which really takes the Rocketeers, colony the place they really must rebuild humanity. And within the Rocketeers universe, it’s additionally making an attempt to indicate you even within the ruins, the unity and curiosity because the mission turns into larger than survival itself. ‘Trigger that is mainly the upbringing of humanity making an attempt to be rebuilt. They go discover. It’s not even nearly loss, it’s additionally what may very well be created subsequent.

So, it, the audio is slightly bit uneven .There’s some form of apocalypse that has occurred and humanity is making an attempt to rebuild?

Yeah, so the story goes on planet Earth. Mainly there’s a nuclear catastrophic occasion occurs, and proper earlier than it does occur, the key organizations on the governments, which I haven’t absolutely defined simply but, which I’m nonetheless working the story out for seasons, which will probably be additional defined sooner or later seasons, they mainly despatched this colony that’s chosen by the organizations to a distant planet to rebuild humanity, they usually have to start out from scratch from there.

Okay, cool.

[03:23] Affect of Journey on Creativity

And so how does touring actually affect your method to world constructing and character growth?

Even when I didn’t have this complete podcast construction, which thank God I really do, so I can really deal with one thing throughout my travels. However it even comes with totally different cultures and the whole lot else. even simply redefine your character and really making you extra effectively deserved, so mainly touring is the whole lot for me after I’m really pursuing this venture. And for each nation, for each particular person I meet it will possibly really discover me some components. I can really discover methods to jot down my characters. , it makes them extra really feel actual. Generally it may be an occasion, generally it may be a location and a tradition expertise. It simply actually sparks one thing. It’s like a pageant all through occasion and even all through the nation itself. Even exploring the ruins in Italy might form up a mission setting or how I can pull components from every nation and a go to and mixing the best elements primarily based on tradition historical past.

That’s an enormous one. Historical past. The vibe test even settle out to construct factions, characters, environments, it’s all about balancing one with one other whereas staying constant in my world constructing.

Yeah, consistency is essential. And also you emphasised in your bio, you emphasised historical past and now once more you emphasize historical past. Inform me extra about how historical past helps you form your story.

This really comes from a future episode that I don’t wanna spoil an excessive amount of as a result of it hasn’t been launched but as a result of it’s nonetheless within the manufacturing. However this takes about again in like World Conflict I, the place we really speak in regards to the expertise of the rebellion and all that form of stuff.

And that may really spark an curiosity in one of many international locations I’ve been via. So take for instance, all through Europe the place that they had the crusaders however it additionally takes from the expertise and simply mixing up the best elements from a faction that may be constructed from the Crusaders and they are often constructed into World Conflict I expertise. Yeah, I completely perceive. And particularly that point interval could be very, very wealthy, by way of inspiration.

So what recommendation do you’ve got for aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers who’re making an attempt to create immersive universes?

Sure, that may be a essential query. It’s not even a solution for everybody as a result of possibly not everybody has that form of alternative, as a result of you possibly can have a extremely large thought on your case and concepts could be essential, there’s form of two greatest pillars.

It’s important to create one thing lasting genuine consistency. And you’ll have a robust imaginative and prescient of what you’re constructing.

It’s extra like specializing in one thing that feels to you laying down a strong basis from a core theme to world logic and tone and rising it piece by piece.

Extra like a sluggish and regular race ’trigger I imply, it’s not likely like a race to get to as a result of one thing your life’s ardour. You retain observe of the whole lot, keep current within the artistic circulation and decide to exhibiting up very recurrently.

That’s how immersive universe stays sturdy.

[06:04] Participating the Viewers Past Storytelling

Actually enjoyable. Are you able to share some insights on the way you’re partaking your viewers past simply storytelling? You talked about branding, interactive content material, or different methods that you’re partaking together with your viewers past the podcast itself.

Sure, that’s one other nice query for that case. It has really leaned into, quantity 4, which really for me, it’s about crafting a full circle expertise rooted in- we talked in regards to the two pillars about consistency and being genuine. I didn’t wanna like butcher the phrase ’trigger generally I may very well be slightly struggling about that. It’s really collaborating, networking, and showcasing the work on my totally different platforms so individuals can hear and see it and really feel the Rocketeers’ universe. ‘Trigger even for the 2 platforms I take advantage of probably the most for my work is Fb and Instagram, which is for the artwork and the written storytelling whereas YouTube and Spotify and related podcast, platforms are extra audio experiences the place you hear the primary episodes. So if you hear about season one and the primary episodes,and if you really learn the experiences on Fb and if you learn the sector experiences, these are literally the aspect missions. I really defined the lore between season one and season two. And the purpose is to make it really feel such as you’re stepping proper into the motion. Such as you’re really watching, you watch your favourite film like Indiana Jones and also you’re like, oh, snap, I’m really, it appears like I’m in there. Or it appears like I’m really getting bull whipped by Indiana Jones himself. what I imply? And like every bit simply feels prefer it’s flowing to the subsequent and constructing one thing larger collectively.

I actually love that as a result of, for myself as a author, I write experiences, telegrams, telegraphs, telephone conversations, memos, sayings, quotes. However plenty of that exists in backstory. After which I take advantage of a few of it within the fiction, within the novels that I make, and now I’m transferring into filmmaking and tv and I’m additionally growing these sorts of issues.

And that’s very inspiring to recollect to make use of– some individuals name it interstitial materials– that doesn’t essentially find yourself in what we contemplate the ultimate product, however really is fabulous for interacting with our viewers. So actually, actually enjoyable that you simply’re doing that.

[08:07] Devin’s Background and Profession Shift

Give us a plug for the place we will discover Chemical Rocketeers.

Oh yeah, you possibly can mainly discover wherever you possibly can search Chemical Rocketeers and growth, there you go.

Wonderful. And I’ll be sure you put all these hyperlinks in our present notes, which will likely be on our weblog, YouTube, all of the podcast shops, after which we market all around the socials, so we’ll undoubtedly be spreading the phrase for you.

[08:29] Ultimate Ideas and Farewell

Is there anything that you prefer to our viewers to know? And our viewers are principally writers, science fiction and fantasy writers.

Something that you simply’d like them to remember as, as a parting thought?

If there’s in all probability yet one more factor I can add into it, it’s in all probability at all times had a cross collab with different individuals and all that form of stuff as a result of it will possibly actually- with two sparking minds, it will possibly really make much more, higher floor.

Yeah. Cross collaboration. That’s great. That’s so nice. Nicely, Devin, I wanna thanks a lot for taking your time and your world travels so superior. I’m saying howdy to you from the San Francisco Bay Space, and also you’re all the way in which there in Afghanistan. Keep secure and thanks a lot for being on How To Write The Future.

It’s an honor. Thanks a lot.

All proper everybody. That’s it for this week. Write lengthy and prosper.

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ABOUT BETH BARANY

Beth Barany teaches science fiction and fantasy novelists easy methods to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, instructor, guide, and developmental editor. She’s an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist and runs the podcast, “How To Write The Future.”

Be taught extra about Beth Barany at these websites:

Writer website / Teaching website / Faculty of Fiction / Author’s Enjoyable Zone weblog