Collaborcast

Hey Collaborist -

Have you ever read a memoir and wondered how much of it was true and how much of it was "true?" On this episode of Collaborcast we discuss reader expectations and author intentions in the matter of retelling the story of a lived life. Is truth important in memoir? Is it possible to be 100% accurate with an unreliable memory? Does it matter?

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 variety of authors and as an editor he has fostered the development of dozens of manuscripts, both in fiction and nonfiction. He has also worked as a journalist and a travel writer. A current nonfiction project has him hiking and kayaking deep into the quiet landscapes of the many wilderness areas of Northern California, where he lives. When he’s not writing or reading he spends his time playing and traveling with his son and daughter. Jason graduated from UC Berkeley and holds an MFA from the University of San Francisco.

Ben LeRoy has long been fascinated by the power of words and story to connect and expand the world. He was the founder and publisher of the critically acclaimed publishing companies Bleak House Books (2000-2009) and Tyrus Books (2009-2017) until the latter was sold to Simon & Schuster. During his time in publishing, Ben was a frequent speaker at conferences and routinely interviewed for pieces about the industry. In 2014, after the suicide death of a friend, Ben did volunteer work in all 50 states as part of the Be Local Everywhere project.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Need an Editor, Ghostwriter, or Coach? Hire a Collaborist! – https://collaborist.org/services/

More about Jason Buchholz - http://www.jasonbuchholz.com/

More about Ben LeRoy – http://www.thebenleroy.com

Hey Collaborist - Are you wanting to tell your life story, or, at the very least, part of it? Well, we have an episode for you. Jason has put on his fanciest college professor gear to explain the difference between a memoir and an autobiography!

Hey Collaborist, do you ever find yourself asking just exactly what is an MFA in Creative Writing and what can you do with it? You're not the only one. On this episode of Collaborcast, we talk with Jennifer Reimer, the Program Director of the Low Residency MFA program at Oregon State University Cascades Campus. What can you get out of an MFA for your education? For your writing community? What to look for in terms of expenses and environments.

We've had multiple people email us in the past asking -- What is an MFA in Creative Writing and Do I Need One? Hopefully, after this episode, you'll know more and know more detailed questions to consider.

Thanks to Jennifer for joining us. Thanks to the world's coolest producer, Katelyn. Thanks to Self Help for the music.

If you enjoy this podcast in video form, you'll be super jazzed to know you can watch it on YouTube.

We've all been handed the advice "Write What You Know" at one point or another on your writing journey. But what does that mean? How will people know if we're writing outside of that?

Good questions. We'll address them and others like, "What does it mean in today's publishing environment?" Experience or research? Both? What are the pitfalls that might expose us? Does it matter? Are different genres equipped with different rules?

All that and more on this episode of Collaborcast with hosts Jason Buchholz and Ben LeRoy.

Thanks to Katelyn Ferral for producing and Self-Help for the music.

#amwriting #writingadvice #beginnerwriter #writewhatyouknow #amediting #publishing #howtowrite #fiction #fictionwriting

Hey Collaborist –

Ever find yourself wondering how to take criticism when people give you feedback on your work? In this episode of Collaborcast we talk about some of the emotional things that might pop up, how to process them, and how to get the most out of reader opinions. Whether you're meeting with your local writers’ group or knee deep in an MFA program, part of the process is handing over the precious work you've been doing for months or years so it can be judged by others. Is that scary? Hell yes, it is. Should it stop you from sharing? Absolutely not. Provided you're around the right group, the feedback you get isn't a personal attack on your personhood, but a series of helpful suggestions for how to be a better writer by learned readers.

Hosts:
Jason "Birthday Boy" Buchholz
Ben LeRoy

Producer:
Katelyn Ferral

Opening theme:
Self Help

#writingadvice #newwriter #writingcommunity #howtotakecriticism

Hey Collaborist -

Ben's been hanging out on Reddit (r/writing) and noticed A LOT of young writers who have unrealistic expectations for their lives and their writing in the moment. What would young Jason and young Ben say to themselves when they started writing decades ago? Guess you'll have to tune in to find out.

Big thanks to Katelyn for joining the Collaborcast crew as a producer. This podcast is about to get really good, gang.

#writingadvice #writingtips #newwriter #writingcommunity #howtowrite

Hey Collaborist. Welcome to Season Two of Collaborcast. It's wonderful to see you, please excuse the dust. On this episode of the podcast we'll be talking about reading Cormac McCarthy, Barry Lopez, and Philip K. Dick. We'll also discuss what we do and don't do as coaches, editors, ghostwriters, and book doctors. #publishing #writing #writingadvice #editing #editingadvice #cormacmccarthy #barrylopez #philipkdick #bloodmeridian #valistentertainment

Hey Collaborist!

We've got a super brief episode to let you know that we've been collecting new equipment, recording techniques, and ideas for the podcast. However, if YOU didn't know that, you might think some terrible fate had befallen us because we have been quiet for a bit and the last time you listened to us, Ben was...under the weather.

BUT! We're coming back in July with season two (arbitrarily decided upon) of Collaborcast and it will feature special guests from the writing and publishing worlds! But not in interviews that go on too long about things you're not really interested in. Unless you're interested in that kind of thing (hit us up on AOL Messenger if that's your thing!) in which case...

We hope your writing is going well.

During this very brief episode we mentioned a YouTube version of Collaborcast that we did featuring Jason's daughter, Hazel as she joined us to talk about her book called NATURE. If you haven't already seen it, it would do your heart some good to watch it.

Just go to the Collaborcast YouTube channel.

See you in July, Collaborist!

Love,

Jason and Ben

Hey Collaborist - the good news is, by the time you start this episode, it'll almost be over. We talk about back cover descriptions and the importance of finding the sweetspot between book report and teaser. And then the Covid gets Ben and ... zzz.

Hey Collaborist - ever find yourself stuck in your book?

Don't know how to get your character from Point A to Point B? Confused about your setting? Trying to figure out the emotional tone of where you are in the book?

Sometimes we try to force ourselves over the hurdle, but it doesn't always work. We often say on the podcast that "Writing isn't simply typing." Is it possible that writing is...painting? Ben talks about his recent experience collaborating with authors at the Wellstone Center in the Redwoods to see if there isn't a different way around the same old roadblocks.