Writing Roots

From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything from horror to science fiction and fantasy. But where do our ideas for creatures to scare or inspire come from? Throughout October, Writing Roots will be delving into the myths of monsters across the world to help bring inspiration for anyone seeking to write a classic creature or one with a bit of a twist. For centuries, cultures across the world have envisioned creatures of light and goodness that are meant to guide and protect the world or gods. From the phoenix to the unicorn, many cultures have something they associate with some aspect of purity. In this episode, Ley and Leigh explore some of the cultural myths and weird history that surround the good monsters of myth, such as the rabbit on the moon. First aired October 1, 2020. The post S15E1 – Mythical Creatures of Purity appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Sometimes you’ll fine yourself needing a character that is a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades (or a Jane-of-all-trades). There’s a reason another term for this kind of character is a renaissance man. We brought Travis Micheal into the studio to discuss his own talents, focusing mostly on music composition. On top of composing, he is also a chef and theater performer. Find Travis on SoundCloud, YouTube, and Instagram. The post S14E8 – Artists with Travis Micheal appeared first on Writing Roots.

One struggle for many new writers is finding a way to get their name out there. This is even more difficult for those aiming to be screenwriters. That’s why we at Writing Roots were excited to find out about a new podcast. It’s called We Liked You First. They bring the worlds of writing and performing together and give them all a way to showcase their talents. We spoke with the creator, Patrick Carlile, to talk about their goals and how their podcast can be a launching point for creative types. This is a good resource for screenwriter and novelist hopefuls, or anything in between. Find We Like You First on Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify. The post S14BE – We Liked You First: A Podcast for Writers and Performers appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Many of the most charismatic characters in a book are performers of some kind. They could be actors, musicians, or teachers with a lot of flare (looking at your, Lockhart). There are certain aspects to a performance artist that apply no matter which category they fit into. We talked with Linda Bott to talk about common attributes and about things authors should know when they tackle these complicated characters. First aired September 24, 2020. The post S14E7 – Performance Arts with Linda Bott appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Whether your characters are working in an ER or they are doing field medicine on the battlefield, nearly every genre of adult fiction will have some need for knowledge of nursing. We sat with a wound nurse to discuss common mistakes in popular fiction and good resources to get things right. First aired September 21, 2020. UPDATE May 2022: Lorainne is no longer available to answer questions. The post S14E6 – Nursing with Lorainne Woodworth appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Whether it’s an action or fantasy novel, nearly every adult fiction book will have some kind of fight. For the flow of a story and the ease of reading, it’s important to have those fight scenes make sense. New authors with no experience with either make continuity mistakes or rely too much on movie physics to present a realistic battle. We talked with a martial arts master, Jeremiah, to find out what authors should know if they decide to tackle a fight scene. First aired September 17, 2020. The post S14E5 – Martial Arts with Jeremiah appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Part of being an author is knowing where to go for advice. If you are writing anything about a real-world profession or area or expertise, it’s best to find someone in that sphere to go to for advice. The guest on this episode is Megan Browning, a Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry at the University of Utah. She is also the person Leigh turned to when writing a scientist character in her upcoming novel. She and Leigh talk with Megan about what Biochemistry is about, how it can be used in fiction, and why it’s important to get the details correct. First aired September 14, 2020. The post S14E4 – Biochemistry with Megan Browning appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Especially in the mystery or police procedural genres, journalists are a very common character. The actual job, though, is not all it appears in popular media. We invited Julia Avery, a local journalist, to join us in this episode to talk about her job, what it takes, and how that knowledge can be applied to writing a journalist character. First aired September 10, 2020. The post S14E3 – Journalism with Julia Avery appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. A very common character, especially in the mystery or action genres, is a law enforcement officer. This can range from a rural Sheriff to an FBI agent and beyond. The problem with writing someone in law enforcement is knowing how things really happen. Too many new authors use popular media as their resource for realistic cop tactics. To help combat this, we sat down with a retired police sergeant and author of Cops and Writers, Patrick O’Donnell. Find Patrick O’Donnell’s book at Amazon, join his group on Facebook, or check out his website. The post S14E2 – Law Enforcement with Patrick O’Donnell appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it’s a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know. Firearms are very common in stories around the world. You can find them in historical to science fiction, from muzzle-loading single-shots to laser blasters. In our first episode, we speak with Nick Mangum, a firearms instructor and enthusiast, to talk about what authors need to know if they want to write a character familiar with guns. We discuss the lingo and general stereotypes of firearms owners. First aired September 3, 2020. The post S14E1 – Firearms with Nick Mangum appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. There is a strong argument for a character-driven story. Plot is essential, but without relatable and developed characters, a story will always fall flat. That problem is compounded if all characters act or talk in the same way. Leigh and Ley discuss in this episode ways to identify when characters are too similar and various ways to fix it, from combining them to creating more conflict. First aired August 31, 2020. The post S13E9 – All Characters Feel the Same appeared first on Writing Roots.

You hear us say it at least once every episode. Write Selfishly. It’s our motto and goal in writing, but also so much more than that. To celebrate one year of the podcast, we wanted to take a look and really explain what we really mean. All month, we’ve been talking about ways to fix common mistakes in writing. This is one of the most common of all. If you write selfishly, it may mean you’re writing terribly, but that’s perfectly okay. Listen to this episode to hear Leigh and Ley talk about what the podcast’s motto means to them and how it has helped improve their writing. First aired August 29, 2020. The post S13BE – Why We Write Selfishly appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. In school, we’re all taught sentence structure. It’s formulaic, and frankly, quite boring. Rigidly following that structure can lead to sentences always starting the same way, especially when pronouns are involved. This episode shares some ways to break up the boring, and how to find it in the first place. First aired August 27, 2020. The post S13E8 – All Sentences Start the Same Way appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. Have you ever found yourself making your characters do or say something only because it needs to happen? This is a sign that a story will feel fake to the reader. This problem is most often seen when a character drops a reference to a backstory that the others in the scene should already know. It also shows when the main character falls into the trope of being a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu. This episode helps walk you through how to identify and fix those parts that are too convenient to be natural story progression. First aired August 24, 2020. The post S13E7 – When a Story is Fake or Forced appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. When a reader hits their stride in devouring a book, the last thing any author wants is to break their concentration. One of the most common ways to pull a reader out of a story is by breaking the continuity. This can happen within a scene – such as a character standing twice – or across the whole book. Continuity problems will confuse or even annoy some readers. In this episode of Writing Roots, we discuss how to find and fix continuity breaks. First aired August 20, 2020. ANNOUNCEMENT: You have two more days for a chance to win a laptop case and a mug of your choice from the Writing Roots store. Click this link, then like and share the post. The contest is a way to thank all of our listeners for supporting us over the last year. It’s also to congratulate Leigh Hull on finishing the first draft of her novel. The post S13E6 – When Continuity Breaks appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. Some words bring clarity and motion to a story. They draw the reader in and paint exquisite details of the world inside the mind. Others are just dead space. Each author has their own set of what we call Red Flag words. These are ones that are used too often, incorrectly, or should simply be avoided by any author. This episode is all about figuring out how to identify these problem words and then how to fix it. First aired August 17, 2020. The post S13E5 – Red Flag Words appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. There is possibly nothing more frustrating than seeing characters in a book ignore the obvious answers. Why didn’t the Order of the Phoenix just disguise Harry in the last book, rather than having seven of them dress up as Harry? These are times when the readers are looking at the book and wondering why. Authors are focused on what needs to happen, not necessarily on what could happen in that situation. That is a mistake. This episode is focused on diagnosing when readers might realize there’s a more obvious solution and how to address it to still get the story in the right direction. First aired August 13, 2020. The post S13E4 – Why Didn’t They Think of That? appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. Word count is one of those things an author should ignore until they get to the editing phase. As we’re fond of saying, the first draft should be done selfishly, which means hitting however many words is necessary to just get the story out. Once that’s finished then authors and editors both should take time to make sure the word count falls within or close to the generally accepted word count for the genre. Many may say it doesn’t matter, but readers care whether they realize it or not. Some will turn away from a book if it is too long or too short unless they’ve come to trust that author. This episode talk about how to edit to hit those target word counts. First aired August 10, 2020. The post S13E3 – Worrying About Word Count appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. There’s one thing that is guaranteed to turn away nearly every reader, no matter how dedicated. If the writing is dry, dragging, or otherwise boring, no ingenuity in plot or setting will hold their attention. We address the most common problems that create a boring story and how to fix it. First aired August 6, 2020. The post S13E2 – It’s Just Boring! appeared first on Writing Roots.

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question. While some authors excel, many more struggle to write one of the most basic elements of any story: dialogue. Character interaction can easily turn into stiff phrases tossed back and forth like robots programmed to respond only to a select few inputs. There’s a delicate balance all authors must find between realistic conversations and dialogue that can be read easily. Ley and Leigh discuss ways to identify and fix even the most awkward dialogue. First aired August 3, 2020. The post S13E1 – The Solution to Awkward Dialogue appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. Part of successful marketing boils down to having some author name recognition among a target audience. Breaking into the market is difficult, especially in the world of hundreds, if not thousands, of indie and self-publishing authors. One way to bolster an author reputation is to have what could be called bragging rights. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss how entering competitions and aiming for rewards – even for simple short stories – can help in the marketing process. First aired July 30, 2020. The post S12E9 – Awards and Competitions appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. When it comes to marketing, knowing whether or not the book could be a series or have a sequel is essential. If a reader likes a book, they’ll often look for more from that author or even in that world. It’s not so easy to plan for that, though, if it’s the first book ever from that author. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss ways to plan for and use sequels in marketing as an author. First aired July 27, 2020. The post S12E8 – Using Sequels During Marketing appeared first on Writing Roots.

One very effective way to begin promoting both a book and an author is to participate in interviews, especially on local radio or television programs. It lets an author talk about themselves, their writing process, and an upcoming or newly-released book, during which hundreds or thousands of people are listening. In that group may be potential new readers and fans. It’s a great way to simply get a name out there and expand an audience. However, being interviewed can be an anxiety-inducing process, even for those who aren’t shy introverts. Ley and Leigh sat down with a local radio host, Carl Bott, to talk about how to get interviews and how to be interviewed. They discuss things from how to prepare for an interview to how to use a microphone. First aired July 25, 2020. The post S12 Bonus – Tips and Tricks for Interviews appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. As the quote of this episode says, there is no substitute for quality when it comes to people enjoying a story, but there are certain tricks of the trade to help get the best reviews. It comes down to finding the right audience and making sure they’re the ones that find the book or published work. Additionally, sometimes a bad review or two isn’t a bad thing, so long as you have many good reviews. This episode explains why. First aired July 23, 2020. The post S12E7 – Getting the Most Effective Reviews appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. While the most common places for self-published authors to sell their books are online, it’s not the only option. We discussed in a previous episode how print and audio books are still well within the reach of new authors, even if they don’t have the backing of a large publishing company. While having those other mediums available is nice, it does create some more work to get the books out into the world. Ley and Leigh discuss in this episode the different options for where to sell. First aired July 20, 2020. The post S12E6 – Where to Sell Your Books appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. Much of marketing relies on writing, though it’s a different style than what is used to write the book or story. Ads should entice the intended target audience to investigate further and give them a reason to purchase the story. Every tease – a type of ad – should make the reader ask questions which they want to answer. This episode explains how ad writing works and how to effectively write them. First aired July 16, 2020. The post S12E5 – Writing Effective Ads and Teases appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. Nearly all forms of social media can be very useful tools for marketing books and authors. It does take some work, though, to create a good following that will benefit rather than harm marketing efforts. This episode goes over some of the main ways to use social media, as well as things to avoid. First aired July 13, 2020. The post S12E4 – Using Social Media to Market appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. Self-publishing authors all need to decide – hopefully early in the process – what mediums they will choose for publishing their books. It’s never an exclusive decision, as you can publish in all three main mediums: print, ebook, and audiobook. There are different things to consider for each one, such as upfront cost and possible return. This episode discusses the benefits and possible setbacks of each one. First aired July 9, 2020. The post S12E3 – Choosing the Right Medium for Your Book appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. A common mistake of new authors is not spending enough time on branding, or focusing on branding the wrong thing. Authors should be focused on making their name recognizable so that a reader will make the connection across all books the author writes. People read Stephen King because it’s Stephen King. This episode explains why it’s important to build an author brand and some tricks on how to accomplish that task. First aired July 6, 2020. The post S12E2 – Building an Author Brand appeared first on Writing Roots.

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book. The first and most important step to marketing is identifying the target audience. No book, not even those written by well-known names, will sell if they are marketed to the wrong audience. This episode helps writers find their target audience in order to start the process of marketing. First aired July 2, 2020. The post S12E1 – Finding Your Target Audience appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Authors almost always want to be the best at their craft, but for new authors that goal can be daunting. It leads to comparing their first works to the professionally edited works of bestselling authors. Reaching for the best can help, though. This episode is dedicated to helping new authors figure out how to achieve their best work by focusing on themselves and improving each step of the way. First aired June 29, 2020. The post S11E9 – Best: Improving Your Writing to Achieve Your Best appeared first on Writing Roots.

There is one thing that can help an author improve their skills above all others. That is to read. New authors say all of the time they don’t have time, or that they would rather focus on their writing. While it is good to keep consistent with writing, only good can be gained by picking up a book. The process of reading as a writer is slightly different than reading for enjoyment. Any genre, any book, can serve as a learning resource. This episode breaks down why it is important to stay reading and how to use that time to develop the skills and instincts all writers nee. First aired June 27, 2020. The post S11 Bonus Episode – Read: How to Read as a Writer appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Planning a story is a daunting task, especially for pantsers (or discovery writers). Even if there’s no official outline, there is a lot to be gained from thinking about how the story arc will flow. In this episode, Ley and Leigh put their heads together to plan a hypothetical story as an example of how simply it can be done. However, no author should feel bound to the plan created at the beginning. The hosts also discuss how to plan an use an outline to make the best story possible. First aired June 25, 2020. The post S11E8 – Plan: Basics of Planning a Story from Start to Finish appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Time is an elusive subject for many writers. It can be difficult to know exactly how to make time feel like it’s passing in a story without listing it out. Momentum is also difficult to maintain if the story is spread out over a long period of time. This episode details some of the ways to maintain momentum and mark the passing of time, such as using the ticking clock method, to make sure a story keeps moving and readers stay interested. First aired June 22, 2020. The post S11E7 – Time: Maintaining Momentum Through a Story appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Self-published books have long had a bad name. It was first seen as the route taken by those whose books no publisher wanted. With the advent of sites like Amazon, it soon became an easy route for thousands of aspiring authors to get their stories out there without going through the hassle of traditional publishing. However, that also meant many of those authors skipped the editing phase. Too many go from first draft directly to eBook. This is a huge problem and has driven many people away from wanting to read any self-published works. This episode is designed to talk about why all authors should take the time to edit. First aired June 18, 2020. The post S11E6 – Edit: Why Editing is Essential for the Business of Publishing appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. It’s not uncommon for writers to hit a point in their work where ideas are slowing and interest is fleeting. Each author deals with these times differently, with some choosing to keep plowing through and others putting aside the work entirely. Neither decision is wrong, but there are things to consider before deciding to set aside a manuscript temporarily or permanently. This episode is designed for authors who are struggling to make the decision between making the process feel like a burden and giving up on something they once loved. First aired June 15, 2020. The post S11E5 – Stop: Making the Decision to Abandon or Pause a Story appeared first on Writing Roots.

Pride Month is the perfect time to address one of the most complicated and oft avoided topics in writing. Many new authors who aren’t part of the LGBTQ+ community find themselves avoiding those characters for fear of misrepresenting the community. That leads to a lack of diversity among the characters. No author, however, should shy away from striving for good representation. It simply means research. This episode addresses many concerns authors may have about having an LGBTQ+ character and how to make sure the representation is accurate and realistic. The topic of representation is difficult to cover in a single session, especially one that only lasts about ten minutes. We spent a lot more time discussing how to correctly include LGBTQ+ characters, and knew this would need an extended version. This episode does cover some of the same issues as released in the episode released earlier this week, but also goes deeper into the conversation. First aired June 13, 2020. The post S11E4 Extended – LGBT+: Further Discussion of Quality Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community in Writing appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Pride Month is the perfect time to address one of the most complicated and oft avoided topics in writing. Many new authors who aren’t part of the LGBTQ+ community find themselves avoiding those characters for fear of misrepresenting the community. That leads to a lack of diversity among the characters. No author, however, should shy away from striving for good representation. It simply means research. This episode addresses many concerns authors may have about having an LGBTQ+ character and how to make sure the representation is accurate and realistic. First aired June 11, 2020. An extended version of this episode will be published Saturday, June 13. The post S11E4 – LGBT: Writing Quality Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. It’s one of the most common themes in stories going back to ancient days. Nearly all stories have some kind of romance whether or not it’s the main focus. Part of that is because love and affection are near universal emotions. Everyone at some point has felt it, longed for it, or felt the heartbreak of losing it. Readers can easily connect with the characters if they can understand some of their emotions. But it doesn’t have a place in every story. This episode helps break down when and how to properly use a romantic subplot in all fiction genres. First aired June 8, 2020. The post S11E3 – Kiss: Why and How to Include Romantic Subplots appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Writers are constantly told to show and not tell, but it can be difficult for new authors to identify the difference. While there are times telling can be useful, it is most often boring. Readers don’t get to discover the intricacies on their own when the story tells them everything. This episode explains how to find and fix cases where showing would be best. First aired June 4. 2020. The post S11E2 – Tell: How to Identify and Correct Cases of Telling appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best. Most writers fall in one of two categories: the hobbyist and the “I want to make money” writer. Some are hobbyists that eventually come to the decision to market a book. That decision, however, is not one to be made lightly. It comes with new burdens and expenses. This episode discusses the four-letter word “sell.” It’s now about how to sell, but how to make the decision to market a hobby. First aired June 1, 2020. The post S11E1 – Sell: How to Decide to Market Your Writing appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. It’s time to put the hosts to the test. How well do they know their own characters? Character interviews are useful tools for authors to create, learn about, and refine their original characters. Even if all of the details aren’t included in the text of the story, the knowledge can inform the actions and attitudes of the characters. In this month’s bonus episode, Ley and Leigh quizzed each other about one of their original characters then had to guess which one the other was representing. First aired May 30, 2020. Below are some of the questions asked in this podcast. Questions are separated by category based on the podcast episodes from the rest of the month. Statistics What are your character’s stats? (age, height, weight, etc.) Does your character have any nicknames? What era/genre is your character in? Do they wear glasses or contacts? Do they have any defining scars, birthmarks, or tattoos? What is their preferred clothing style? Dungeons and Dragons What is their strongest D&D attribute? What is their weakest? What is their weapon of choice? Armor of choice? Do they have any special training or education? Do they speak any other languages? Do they play any instruments? What is their most treasured possession? How would they like to die? Relationships Do they have any family still alive? Who is their favorite family member? Is there someone they most admire? Do they have a first kiss or a love they could never forget? Nature What do they have a knack for? Do they have any hobbies they’re naturally inclined toward? Nurture What is their cornerstone memory? Is there a moment in their life they wish they could experience again? Is there a moment they’d never return to or wish they could forget? Do they have a favorite form of entertainment? (movies, songs, reading, etc.) Is there something in their past they are ashamed of? What is their first childhood memory? Has anyone saved their life? Flaws What would they change about themselves? What is their least favorite body part? What is their biggest weakness that keeps them from achieving their goals? Strengths What do they hope people appreciate about them? Would they attend their own funeral? What would they want people to say? How do they solve problems? (attack head-on, stop to analyze, etc.) Archetypes Are they a natural leader, or do they tend to follow? What kind of mother/father are they? (Mama bear or “everyone gets the same number of sprinkles”) Do they fight, flee, or freeze when faced with a fight? If they were in a Hogwarts House, which would it be? Do they have a spirit animal? The post S10 Bonus – Character Interviews appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. Many characters fall into definable categories. The hero, the magician, the jester, the hermit. These are archetypes any author can use as they create and develop their own characters. It’s no longer a time for Greek epics where the heroes seem to be cookie-cutter versions of the same person, but that doesn’t mean similar basics can’t be used to start. Readers can connect more quickly to characters when there’s an archetype they’ve seen before. This episode explains some archetypes and how to correctly use them in a story. First aired May 28, 2020. Twelve Common Archetypes – Writers Write The post S10E8 – Character Archetypes appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. Nothing influences character decisions more than their flaws and strengths. Every character needs a reason to be party of the story and that reason is usually their strength. Sometimes they can first appear as a weakness, but it always defines the character. From physical strengths to mental fortitude, this episode is focused on what makes a character strong in a story. First aired May 25, 2020. The post S10E7 – Developing Character Strengths appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. Nothing influences character decisions more than their flaws and strengths. A protagonist’s flaws will hinder them, slow them, and challenge them to become better than before. Antagonists can use those weaknesses to exploit and torture the protagonist. As Susan Bearman put it, fictional flaws “should be genuine and difficult to overcome.” It’s not simple clumsiness, either. Good flaws consist mainly of psychological weaknesses with some physical manifestations. Leigh and Ley explore different kinds of flaws and how they can be used to create realistic characters. First aired May 21, 2020. The post S10E6 – Developing Character Flaws appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. Psychologists have been arguing for decades about what dictates personality. It’s an argument that can help authors develop realistic and deep characters. Last episode was dedicated to nature and how a character’s physiology can determine actions through a story. This episode is the other half of the psychology argument: nurture. Many psychologists believe a person’s experiences as a child are the major factor in who they become later in their life. Hosts Leigh and Ley share how memories and traumas can influence a character, and why knowing some of their backstory is so important for good development. First aired May 18, 2020. The post S10E5 – Character History: Nurture appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. It’s an argument almost as old as the study of psychology. What is more influential in someone’s life: nature or nurture? Both of these are aspects of a character an author needs to consider while they’re writing. A character’s history is made of pieces of nature and nurture. This episode focuses on nature: the physical aspects that create what a person is, from brain chemistry to DNA, and how that is applied to writing. First aired May 14, 2020. The post S10E4 – Character History: Nature appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. Much of what makes a character is their relationships with the other characters. Opposition and support can push the protagonist into action or hold them back from their potential. In order for realistic development to occur, an author needs to create realistic relationships. This episode breaks down the types of relationships a character can have, focusing on family, friends, and romantic relationships. First aired May 11, 2020. The post S10E3 – Creating and Developing Character Relationships appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. There are people across the world who, every day, create characters. They aren’t writing novels or short stories. They are playing Dungeons and Dragons, the tabletop role-playing game. Many things about creating a character can be carried over from D&D into a work of fiction. Players know what weapons their characters can and can’t use well, what special abilities they have, their flaws and strengths. These are all things a writer should know about their character. Leigh and Ley break down a character sheet and explain how authors can use it to help create well-developed characters for their stories. To follow along with the descriptions in the podcast, we’ve attached a character sheet below. First aired May 7, 2020. The post S10E2 – Using D&D to Create a Story Character appeared first on Writing Roots.

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers. Creating a character often starts with their basic stats, but goes way further. It also means considering all the characters, making sure there is diversity, not only in personality but in traits such as race and sexual orientation. Authors should also take caution about how they present all of this information. It should never feel like a police suspect description. Ley and Leigh break down the important parts of a character description and how to include it in a story. First aired May 4, 2020. The post S10E1 – Statistics of a Character appeared first on Writing Roots.