All About Writing

Join Ben and Sara as they drink all the wine and discuss a bit about themselves - mostly, horror movies they find the scariest and have scarred them the most. Granted, neither watch much horror. So these are also sort of like the only horror films they've ever seen.  To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/QJLdKOSDNwM To learn more about Ben visit www.b...

Join Ben & Sara as they discuss the mega-plot. This is mostly for those writing a series - and ideally something you decide before you even write book 1. Learn: what is a "mega-plot" or "story engine" for a series? To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/_4imYSWce88 To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more a...

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about how to make a living as a writer in ways other than writing books. If you have an interest in getting paid to write, there’s plenty of opportunities out there. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/HTooys23pU4 To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Ben & Sara are joined by special Spade Robinson, a professor and industry expert on all things screenwriting. Join us in a wide-ranging discussion about the ins and outs of writing screenplays for the contemporary film industry. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/rrIJv-ncbyc To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about...

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about worldbuilding. Every story, no matter the genre, needs some aspect of worldbuilding, but how much effort should you put into it? To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/dZxgfvZIPao To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Ben & Sara bring back screenwriter, director, and film producer Timothy Boissey to discuss what working with Hollywood looks like, what to expect, and insider realities when it comes to building a career in the film industry. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/6Xq8-OBtS7c To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara...

Valerie Biel returns to talk to Ben & Sara about marketing for authors, and deep dives into author websites: what they are, the best way to utilize them, and what to include online for readers to find and learn about you – the author! To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/SHB1LwjLLnY To discover more about Valerie, her marketing work, and her books, vi...

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about subtitles, how they can help sell your book and when it’s a good idea to use them. And also, when it’s not such a good idea to use them. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/kSC_Cn4Afms To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Ben and Sara discuss the differences between using past tense and present tense in writing fiction and non-fiction, general publishing expectations around certain genres, when and how to use, mix and match, and when you generally don't want to use different verb tenses. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/PiTo3jVzSpY To learn more about Ben visit ww...

Sara interviews Ben, an experienced ghostwriter. He offers the basics and nitty gritty of what it is, what it takes, and the pros and cons of working as a ghostwriter. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/0Q2jr2mHz-8 To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Listen to Ben and Sara talk about expectations of yourself, your writing, and why it's important to give yourself permission to not be perfect as your work on your craft. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/WkDHh0aJIJI To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they discuss the first step in getting your screenplay in front of Hollywood: the pitch deck! To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/B3-jio9Ozt0 To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they sit down with marketing expert Judith Sanvicente to discuss author style. What’s that, you ask? Tune in to find out. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/n_tXnUTtCFM  To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they discuss the implications of using a pseudonym as an author. What are some reasons to use one? What are the pros and cons? To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/HbpF0Jvy2lc To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they discuss the process of uncovering and understanding your main character. How do you decide who is the main character? Can you have more than one? Is it always who you thought it was? To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/Pr0iNONtdm8 To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.co...

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about their favorite books. The most influential, the most enjoyable and the ones they always have ready on the shelf. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/EgpxwCmMEz0 To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about the different points of view (POV) you can use in your writing. First Person, Third Person Limited, Third Person Omniscient and even Second Person are all on the table.  To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/ArLokDKtex8 To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com...

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about how you can draw from your own life and experience to help get your story started. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/rKsOoT9et_8 To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they talk with their guest, Hollywood screenwriter and producer Tim Boissey, about the many ins and outs of writing a pilot and getting it seen. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/DO69Ix_thLU To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they talk with their guest, book marketing guru Valerie Biel, about the importance of reviews. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/G-A_cTgTb04 To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they dive into the murky world of publishing. As professionals familiar with both traditional and indie publishing, they share their stories and their scars. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/ZwmtQwmt87E To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Join Ben & Sara as they talk about the fine art of character creation and offer insights into their own inspirations and processes. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link:  https://youtu.be/Xnyig738HJ4 To learn more Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com   To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com  

Do writers need a designated writer's group? What constitutes one, and what should a writer expect? There are many types of writing groups and experiences to be hand within them, with pros, cons and general expectations to have going in. Ben and Sara dive into what a writer's group is and what it can offer writers of all experiences. To watch this episode instead, check it out at: https:...

We all read books, and especially if we're writers ourselves, books are an important part of our internal clocks when it comes to being inspired. Whether that's a style of writing, world building, a specific genre, or even a singular book that inspired us to become writers in the first place, what is it about other authors and books that both awe us and make us into the writers we are in...

A novelist's dream is to see their books played out on the silver screen. But the adaptation from books to scripts, and then from scripts to film or TV is a long, arduous journey that comes with a lot of two steps back and half a step forward. Ben and Sara discuss their own experiences with book options, production processes and what it takes to let go of the IP (your books and creative) to h...