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/3HmJuNdv2B4 To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara visit www.s...

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/Is0A0C8Lpy0 To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara visit www.sara...

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 about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

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/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicemama_/ ACX: https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A1EWXJ462NPW46 To...

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 www.saradahmen.com

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 following link: https://youtu.be/V2lzcx_Z3Gc To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn mor...

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 introspection for our writing careers. To watch this episode on Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/4zncmXwpfQE To ...

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.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

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 Youtube, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/KLT3bCklg0Y To learn more about Ben visit ww...

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 visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

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.be/wIlrf4EyP3A To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara vis...

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/AH7B8zYFXDk To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara visi...

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.bennettrcoles.com To learn more about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

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 about Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

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 Sara visit www.saradahmen.com

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 visit www.saradahmen.com

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, visit: https://valeriebiel.com To learn more about Ben visit www.bennettrcoles.com To learn m...

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