Collaborcast

You've been dreaming of the day when understanding book contracts and subsidiary rights is the most important thing in the world. Well, we share that dream with you and here's a primer. Hey Collaborist - we recognize that the world around book contracts is often mysterious and getting information about them is only as good as the source (and there are a lot! and they aren't always good!). We got a...

On this week's episode of Collaborcast we talk about the importance of Understanding Your Characters. Hey Collaborist - you spend hours with them on the page and in your head, but how well do you know your characters? How do you introduce yourself? Do you ask them questions? Do they give you answers? How real our characters feel is a critical component of how readers connect with them and with the...

Hey Collaborist - this week we're talking about head hopping in writing and also answering the question of how to approach reading while you write. We go over listener reading lists. And, Ben's got a new studio setup. One of the most common editorial notes first time authors get is that they're "head hopping." Well, what does that mean? How does it happen? And how can you work around it. If you ha...

Hey Collaborist! Welcome to 2023, we've been waiting for you. Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about how to drum up more interest in your writing? Maybe you've come up with some wild ideas about how to sell a truckload of books. Well, we encourage you to make sure that "wild" doesn't equal "bad" because there are plenty of bad marketing tricks that people try to play and ultimately, they'...

Hey Collaborist, In this week's episode, Jason and Ben talk about the birth and growth of Collaborist and Collaborcast, including some of their favorite episodes. Additionally, they read and discuss another query letter submitted by a Collaborist just like you. How about you, Collaborist? What were your 2022 highlights? Featured independent bookstore - Andover Bookstore in Andover, Massachusetts.

Hey Collaborist - today we go back to talking about how much description you need in your writing. We examine the idea using Ernest Hemingway's novel, 'A Farewell to Arms and Don Delillo's novel White Noise! We, once again, examine the idea of why it's important to know the rules before you break the rules. How about you, Collaborist? How much description do you think you need in your writing?

On this week's episode we remind you to trust your reader. No need to go all in on details. We also talk about Jasper's quest to get t-shirts from bookstores all across the country and how he found clarity in writing a scene during November. Also, Bryce talks about the effects painting has had on his writing. Also! There's a request for you, dear Collaboring.

Happy Thanksgiving, Collaborist! On this week's episode we talk about what needs to go into a prescriptive non-fiction book proposal at the corner of Art and Commerce. How to participate in the hashtag publishing world, and Jason tells us about an observation he made on his book while out on a hike.

Hey Collaborist! On this week's episode we help you understand how to know you are ready to query an agent or publisher. You've written a novel. Great! You want the whole world to read it. Also great! Now that you've typed "the end" you should start working on your query letter, right? Well, not exactly. You need to remember that your query letter isn't the only one going out in the world and that...

On this episode of Collaborcast we answer a frequently asked question, "How long should a book be?" And though we both agree that a story should be as many words as it needs to be, the business side of publishing has more specific numbers as far as word count. We go over the numbers. We give examples of books that went way over and a few that snuck in well under. Ben also talks about his side proj...

Jason and Ben discuss Jason's mission to learn about and promote different independent bookstores across the country, a recent Twitter discussion about new books that take place in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and lastly, a brand new query letter review. Also, if you want your query letter to be read and discussed on an episode of Collaborcast, we've got an offer for you. If you're a NaNoWriMo participa...

Jason and Ben discuss who designs a book's cover and why the process is the way it is. We also discuss a FIFTH! POV that nobody ever knew about (except maybe Hemingway). Jason tells us about recent magic in nature with bioluminescence and not kayaking in shark infested waters on windy nights. Also, reminder, if you're participating in NaNoWriMo 2022, we're here to talk to you about your project ah...

In a busy, busy world, how can you make sure to keep tending to your purpose? Jason and Ben discuss how to ease back into the real world after spending mindful time away on your creative project. What lessons can be learned from dedicating days or weeks to hyper focusing on one act? How do we continue to carry those lessons with us once we return to the routine of the 9-5 and the distractions of o...

Jason and Ben sit down on the beach to talk about creative time management, especially as it relates to protecting your time as a writer, storyteller, artist--human. The world is full of potential distractions, but you are under no obligation to be consumed by them. It's okay to prioritize your writing. It's okay to prioritize you. You're the one who has to make sense of your life and your purpose...

Jason and Ben talk about NaNoWriMo in the first ever in person edition of Collaborcast! Planning to write 50,000 words in November? Hoping to find writing community? We've got things for you to think about as you embark on your book writing journey this fall! We're here with writing advice, writing tips, and gentle encouragement for those on the NaNoWriMo journey.

Writing isn't simply typing. It's processing the world around you as you try to understand yourself and what it is you want to say. We live in a world of constant stimulation from all corners, much of it is disposable. So how do you get outside of it? And what should you expect once you do? Is being uncomfortable part of writing? Probably not for everybody, but maybe for you. In this episode of Co...

Jason and Ben talk about the benefits and expectations of a writing retreat and how it differs from a writing conference. Are you looking for alone time and no distractions so that you can write ten thousand words? Are you looking to meet other writers working in your genre? Hoping to learn from your favorite authors and esteemed experts in the business of writing and publishing? Well, Collaborist...

Jason and Ben discuss writing routines that work and why it's important to question the wisdom of anybody telling you they have a formula for success. A lot of writing advice comes off as aggressive and needlessly rigid, pretending that it's practical in a mythical cutthroat literary world. You don't need to hustle and grind. You don't need to write 5,000 words a day. You don't need to produce a n...

Jason and Ben wrap up their How to Write a Novel series with some thoughts about the end of a book and the process of writing. ABOUT THE HOSTS: Jason Buchholz’s acclaimed debut novel, A Paper Son, published by Tyrus Books in 2016, explores themes of migration, borderlands, heritage, and the sometimes hidden stories that bind us all together. He has ghostwritten books and book proposals for a varie...

Should you chase trends when writing a novel? Is there a way to take advantage of the zeitgeist atop the bestseller list? Is there a formula for striking it rich with your writing? Is it more important to write a book according to what's popular now? Or to write the book that's burning in your heart? Do you have to choose? Can you do both? Let's discuss, Collaborist! Also, because of goings on in...

Hey, Collaborist! Have you ever wondered how to do scene building in your novel? How do you weigh a scene vs. a summary? How do you write a scene that is essential and not simply a way to pass the time to get to the good parts? Well, have we got an episode for you! Jason and Ben discuss scene building, what the difference is between scene and summary, what it means to let a moment pass, why some p...

Hey, Collaborist! Have you ever been told that you need to "show, don't tell" in your novel? Did you then run to the internet (overflowing with writing advice) to find out what exactly people were talking about and why they suggested that you "show don't tell?" Even after reading a variety of how to blog posts from people you don't know, were you still just as confused as ever? Well, have we got a...

Jason and Ben discuss the importance of setting, how it does and does not act as another character, the importance of writing with authority about a place, and how setting is not only about the physical location but also the time and context. As always, thanks to Self Help for the intro and outro music! About the hosts: Jason Buchholz has fostered the development of dozens of manuscripts, both in...

Jason and Ben discuss the critical balance between pace, plot, and tension. We discuss the difference between what happens in a book and what a book is about. We talk about the Karate Kid, Mad Max, thrillers, genre expectations, and how to make sure you're paying attention to your intentions and reader expectations. Also! We're now on Patreon. If you'd like to support ongoing Collaborist initiativ...

Jason and Ben discuss what makes an effective antagonist. Is the bad guy always the one in the bushes? Who else can be the person between your protagonist's goals and success? Thanks to Self Help for the intro and outro music.