All About Writing

When working in the film industry, working as a team is highly important. Being prepared to do tandem writing, deep edits, and trading the development of a script, idea, or television season is all about teamwork, and success comes from doing so. Learn from Sara and Ben as they dive into the nuance of the film and television writing process. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following...

Writers often talk about "voice". Often, this means discussing or knowing what you, the writer, sounds like on the page. What makes you unique and your style your own? But there's another layer to voice when writing, and that's to be aware of character voice. Especially if one writers multiple points of view, or have different character heads to live in, it becomes essential to...

The title of a book is one of the single most important elements of the entire work. It identifies the book: it is the name by which the book will be forever known. But it’s also a critical tool for marketing the book, and folks have a lot of questions. How do you choose a title? What do you need to know before you choose? What happens if somebody else already got your title? Join Ben & Sara a...

Ben and Sara invite Dr. Rebecca N Thompson to dive deeper into what it takes to write memoir, especially when covering difficult topics and piecing together many people's real life experiences. Memoir writing is always a unique endeavor, and Dr. Thompson speaks to the hard work, research, and time it takes to pull together true experiences cohesively to create a book that can touch many. To w...

What is a beta reader? Do you need one? If so, what do they do? How much do they cost, and what are the expectations? Join Ben and Sara as they discuss this unique role in the journey to publishing. To watch this episode on YouTube click on the following link: https://youtu.be/-ympPklsDgQ To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com  To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

Is it possible to write books in story universes that were created by other people? Another creator’s work is called their Intellectual Property, or IP, and the answer is… maybe? It depends. Join Ben & Sara as they interview special guest M.K. Wiseman who successfully joined the ranks of published creators in an existing, world-famous IP. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the followin...

What on earth is a trope? It’s a term thrown around in literary circles to describe something really important that every author should understand. Join Ben & Sara to find out what it is. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/xjVN8A-aiWc To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Writing retreats are one of the fabled parts of being an author: a secluded location, a cadre of like-minded artists, inspiration galore and just some peace and quiet… But what are writing retreats really like? Why would you want to attend one? Ben & Sara are joined by special guest Carol Johnson to learn the facts about this amazing tool for writers. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on...

Everyone has a story worth telling. But how do you make sure that your story comes to life on the page? What is a memoir? How do authors approach them? Join Ben & Sara as they take the first steps into the big, wide world of writing memoirs. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/N68DiVlTmqI To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To lear...

Book tours sound like a lot of fun. Don’t they? Are they a worthwhile investment for an author or just a big waste of time? Join Ben & Sara as they discuss the pros and cons of in-person book tours for authors. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/S5QyfGcLhbo To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.sar...

Have you ever thought about joining a writer’s club? What is one, what’s involved, and how do you find one? What’s the time commitment if you do? Ben and Sara invite George Weinstein of the Atlanta Writers Club to discuss the ins and outs of said writer’s club to share all about it. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/k7V8HRjncpo To learn more about our...

So… how DOES one get into screenwriting? We’ve all heard that Hollywood is all about who you know, but what if you don’t know anyone? And what’s the difference between an agent, a rep and a manager? Join Ben & Sara as they dive into the arcane world of getting scripts in front of the right eyes. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/LBLg88k399w To lea...

What is a critique partner? If it sounds interesting – or it sounds scary – then you should listen to this episode. Join Ben & Sara as they welcome special guests Jill Evans and Lauren McGuire to dive deep into this valuable tool for writers. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/CHdD_rGBRLc To learn more about our guest Jill Evans, please visit www.j...

If you're considering attending a writing conference, you might want to learn a bit about what to expect, the costs and who you'll meet. More importantly, what is the point of attending at all? Join Ben and Sara as they discuss their experiences and how to get the most out of your expectations at conferences. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be...

Ben and Sara tackle the ageless question on this Christmas Day episode: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Or...not? Wading into the weeds on this, they discuss how marketing can make or break a book's success when released, which, while not as much fun as discussing Hollywood stars, is hopefully quite useful! To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/Is0A0C8...

Romantasy is one of the most persistently popular book genres in recent years. But what is it? What’s the big deal? And why are millions of readers devouring it? Join Ben & Sara as they dive deep into this fascinating genre of writing. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/4N1xMqiziwA To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more...

Ben and Sara bring in voice actor Sandra Murphy (yup, she's so good, she's SAG!) to talk about the basics of audiobooks - what to expect, how to go about getting one started, what to consider, and the whole overarching introduction to audiobooks in general.  To check out all about Sandra, and find out more about her work, visit any of the following links: Web: https://www.voicemama.com/...

Author newsletters are a big part of getting the word out about your book. But what do you say in them? How often should you create one? Join Ben & Sara as they unpack the intricacies of this essential marketing tool. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/GrY1pomBUik To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit...

Writing movies is different than writing television episodes, and screenwriting for a feature film doesn't have a writer's room. But there's still a ton of collaboration that goes into it, and structure that may be familiar for those who write novels, too. Join Ben and Sara as they discuss in broad strokes the art of writing a film. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the fol...

Sometimes it's important to stop and ask ourselves...why do we write? We ask "why is this character acting like this" but we often forget to look inward, too. Self-reflection is important for writers - it helps us set goals and keep things in perspective, celebrate the wins and strategize for the future. Ben and Sara discuss their own "whys" and how to use our introspectio...

How much to writers actually get paid in the traditional publishing industry? What about self-publishing? And how many books can an author realistically expect to sell? Ben puts on his publisher hat and answers Sara’s questions about the reality behind book sales. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/4SPvsItbKfE  To learn more about Ben visit www.bennett...

Join Ben & Sara as they welcome Rebekah Bryan, who is not only an author but also a fashion consultant specifically for authors to aid them on creating persona and branding. Together, the three of them discuss how one article of clothing or costumes or anything in between can help with your author persona, whether that's on social media or at in-person events.  To watch this episode on Yo...

Join Ben & Sara as they dive into what constitutes a chapter - are there any loose rules, page counts, and requirements? They talk about the ways to break apart plots and pacing, what kind of chapters suit certain genres, and what kind of tool a chapter is for writing books overall. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/C1x11Y_n8cE To learn more about...

Ben and Sara talk researching - and the surprising genres that actually require it. From what consitutes a proper source, and what doesn't, and the unique places a writer can find inspiration and tactile experiences to perform research beyond books, they dive into what researching really means, from a 1000 foot view. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu...

Join Ben & Sara as they discuss the pros and cons of collaborating with another writer. This is not ghost-writing - this is sharing a byline with someone else. They discuss in brief the legalities, but also the most important tips to working with another person and how you can break up the writing duties fairly. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/AH...