Writing Roots

Welcome to 2024! It’s a new year and many people across the world are setting those resolutions and goals. Among those goals to clean up, get fit, or learn a new skill is often a resolution to write a book. We’re here to help with that. Throughout January, we are going to address the basics of how to write a book, starting with addressing the most common excuses people use to avoid writing at all. This includes not having enough time, having too many distractions, or thinking you simply can’t. First aired January 1, 2024.

To end the year with a touch of levity, we decided to collect some of our best bloopers from 2023 and compile them for our final bonus episode of the year. Enjoy a break with us and find out how silly it can get behind the scenes. It’s a good reminder to make sure you have fun in all of your creative pursuits. First aired December 30, 2023.

If you find yourself writing only dialogue – or vice versa – it’s not always a bad thing. First of all, you’re writing! That alone is an accomplishment. Keep going and trust yourself to fix it later. When it is later and it’s time to fix those scenes that are too heavy towards dialogue, there are several tricks you can use to make it smooth. That includes things from acting out the scene to identifying what about the scene isn’t natural. First aired December 28, 2023.

A major part of querying and even marketing is finding the right comp titles for your book. It’s a tricky business, though, to find ones that both fit your book and show your knowledge of the current reading market. When looking for comp titles, you want to find newer books that fit not only the genre and target audience, but the overall vibes of your story. First aired December 25, 2023.

This is a question we see a lot in the writing spaces where newer authors are looking for advice as they set off on their careers. There seems to be a belief that if an author is starting, they cannot branch into other genres – that they should pick one and stick with it in order to build their fanbase. While there is some truth to that, the answer is not so simple. Especially early on, exploring and testing different genres and styles is actually a good thing. Listen to this episode for more on why, and how the answer to this question changes throughout an author’s journey. First aired December 21, 2023.

It’s happened to all of us at some point. We sit down to write, and the only thing our brains can think of in the moment are the most basic words. It’s admittedly frustrating when we know we have a large vocabulary, but every word seems like an elementary school word. We’re here to tell you that is perfectly okay. In some cases, the more simple the words used, the better the story. What’s more important than using big words to show of your vocabulary is choosing the correct word for the moment. First aired December 18, 2023.

There are a variety of monsters you can have in your writing, and not all of them appear like monsters at first glance. When we dig into what a monster is, we encounter the question “what qualifies as a complete monster?” The answer is rarely its appearance or species. Rather, a complete monster is quantified by actions and choices. In this episode, we discuss the different kinds of “bad guys” in story, and look at how to write a complete monster. First aired December 14, 2023.

If you are creating a story that is heavy with war, battles or politics, you may need to build a military structure for your worldbuilding. That will lead you to the question we received from one of our listeners: How do I build a military for a speculative fiction story? Listen for more on the different steps to development based on what is best for your own story. First aired December 11, 2023.

This is a question we see a lot in the writing forums and discussion groups: Is head hopping the same thing as having multiple points of view within a single story? The short answer is no. These two are very different in how they are presented on the page, and head hopping is rarely seen as acceptable by the reader. In this episode we break down the differences and look at how to write multiple points of view without crossing into the dangerous territory of head hopping. First aired December 7, 2023.

Every December, we try to answer the questions we’ve received throughout the year that don’t quite fit into a normal season theme. This first question – why we have a podcast – is one we get most often at conventions and other live events. The answer is as simple as we love talking about writing. More than that, we have learned a lot through helping each of you avoid the troubles we had when we started. First aired December 4, 2023.

Intentional or not, it is important to recognize when writing is sexist. It can be as simple as how you describe different characters to the stereotypes you use as broad strokes information. Listen for examples and tips on how to know when writing is sexist. First aired November 30, 2023.

Readers want a story to keep moving forward, whether that’s the plot or character development. When we are writing, however, it can be all to easy to write nothing in particular happening. In this episode, we talk about how to identify when you’re writing nothing. Things like someone didn’t do a thing, not showing emotion, or even simply vague phrasing. First aired November 27, 2023.

Every writing journey has to start somewhere. No writer out there started with perfect stories, even the bestselling authors we know and love. One thing we want all of our listeners to know is that writing is a never-ending journey. Each story, each piece of writing, makes you a better writer, even if the writing itself was terrible. We’d be the first to admit our writing is still improving. However, we can also look back on where we started and see the progress. That’s why we’re sharing that with you. Ley and Leigh dredged up their oldest pieces of writing – some dating back nearly 20 years – to share with you. If you take one thing from this, don’t get discouraged. Keep writing, keep trying, keep telling your stories, even if you don’t think it’s very good right now. Simply writing makes you better. First aired November 25, 2023.

Head hopping is one of those problems that, unless you know what to look for, you probably don’t realize you’re doing. Unlike an omniscient point of view, where the narrator is talking about the events from a wide third-person perspective, head hopping happens when you’re trying to write from a third-person close perspective and swap that POV character without a clear delineation. First aired November 23, 2023.

It’s too easy to accidentally create contradictions in your writing. Often it happens at the sentence level, coming through in the form of gerunds or misaligned descriptions. In this episode, we talk about how to identify simple contradictions, and when it’s okay to leave them in. First aired November 20, 2023.

There is a delicate balance to providing descriptions to the readers. Write too little and your characters are empty shapes on a blank stage. Too much and it slows the pace of the book. Of all the problems we talk about this month, this is one of the more difficult to identify. In this episode, we discuss how to spot when your descriptions need work. First aired November 16, 2023.

Nothing can confuse a reader quite like having too many characters in a single sentence. This is especially the case when pronouns get involved. This problem extends beyond just characters, though. Listen for more about how to identify and fix convoluted sentences. First aired November 13, 2023.

If you’re trying to pare down a complicated sentence, you may want to look for any extra adjectives and adverbs. While clarity and descriptions are good, they can also bog down your writing and cause more confusion in the end. In this episode, Ley and Leigh talk about how to identify when those descriptions are causing more problems than they solve. First aired November 9, 2023.

Keeping a cohesive timeline through your story is more than simply maintaining an order of scenes. Even sentences can be out of order, causing little bursts of confusion that send the reader backwards in time. There are a few things you can look for to help you identify when you’re accidentally creating a confusing timeline of events at the sentence level. First aired November 6, 2023.

We talk a lot on this podcast on how to fix problems with your writing or story. The most difficult aspect of that is figuring out if there’s even a problem in the first place. Throughout November, we will be talking about how to identify common problems. We start with good writing. Knowing what bad writing and storytelling is can only get us so far in our writing journeys. We also need to know what makes good writing, even though it is subjective. In this episode, we talk about common ways to identify good writing, as well as our own personal criteria. First aired November 2, 2023.

There may come a time, especially if you’re a pantser or a flexible plotter, that you’ll find yourself needing to add foreshadowing during your editing process. It is easy to accidentally put in too much, or place it in the wrong spots of your story. In this episode, we talk about what to look for when adding in foreshadowing and how to identify when and where would be best. First aired October 30, 2023.

Foreshadowing is a delicate matter when it comes to storytelling, which means there are many ways to do it wrong. In this episode, we talk about the more common mistakes people make when trying to foreshadow. First aired October 28, 2023. NaNoWriMo starts soon! Join our Discord for discussions, sprints, and other writing help all month.

True villainy is about the choices a character makes. If you want to write a story where your main character descends to become the villain, you need to foreshadow it through the choices they make. Listen for more on how to show these changes slowly through the three acts to properly lay the groundwork for the ending. First aired October 26, 2023.

Enemies to Lovers is one of BookTok’s favorite tropes, yet it so often executed incorrectly. To create a relationship progression that doesn’t feel forced, you must foreshadow each step of their relationship. Listen for more on the four steps to progress from enemies to lovers and how to lay the foundation through foreshadowing. First aired October 23, 2023.

One of the ways you can foreshadow is through the use of an unreliable narrator, specifically one who is descending into madness. Throughout the first part of the story, anything odd can be explained away. Slowly, it is revealed those oddities were foreshadowing, hinting at some plot twist on which the whole narrative hinges. Hosts Leigh and Ley discuss ways to carry out this kind of storytelling and share examples where it was done well. First aired October 19, 2023.

Symbolism is a great tool to hint at what it is to come in your story. This is the kind of element your school teachers might have pointed to in classic novels regarding the weather or color of the curtains. Intentional symbolism can set the mood for the rest of your story. Listen to learn more about different ways you can use symbolism to hint at the ending of your story. First aired October 16, 2023.

There are many ways to have prophecies in your story act as foreshadowing, even if they aren’t mystical and blatant events. It could be as simple as a character joking about an outcome, or as subtle as a character expressing concern that turns out to be a poor choice of words. In this episode, we talk about the different ways to use prophecies and narrator omniscience to help guide the foreshadowing in your story. First aired October 12, 2023.

Dialogue can be a powerful way to foreshadow what is to come, whether intentional to the character or not. It can be anything from a joking comment to an active prophecy. In this episode, our hosts talk about the different ways dialogue can be used to help lay the foundation for what is to come in your story. First aired October 9, 2023.

Foreshadowing is a tool that takes careful planning and often shows up a few times through the course of the story before the event it foretells takes place. One way to do this is through breadcrumb foreshadowing: laying down a trail for your readers to follow. However, it doesn’t always need to lead to the right answer. In this episode, we talk about how to foreshadow through misdirection and breadcrumbing. First aired October 5, 2023.

Foreshadowing has been a popular literary tool for centuries. We see it in Shakespeare’s collection and in ancient Greek tales. Good foreshadowing can help hook the reader and keep them invested in the story, even if they have an idea of the outcome already. From giving away the ending, such as in Romeo and Juliet‘s opening lines to a retelling of a known historical event, sometimes it’s about the journey more than the destination itself. In this episode, we talk about passive foreshadowing and how to time dropping those hints for the ending. First aired October 2, 2023. The post S47E1 – Using Passive Foreshadowing appeared first on Writing Roots.

When we got a series of questions from our listeners regarding writing contests, we decided to get in contact with an expert. Rebecca van Laer is a writing contest judge with Reedsy. She sat down with us to answer your questions and talk about submissions, crafting a story for a contest, and more. First aired September 30, 2023.

An anthology is a collection of stories or poems, often by a variety of authors, centered around a common theme. These are a great opportunity for new authors to expand their reader base by joining with other authors who share a similar target audience. Listen for more about anthologies, their purpose, and what to look for when submitting. First aired September 28, 2023.

If you want to enter your stories into writing contests, it’s good to go in knowing what to expect. From having an understanding of the contest and the judges to having an idea of the sequence of events, any bit of information you have can help ease anxieties. Listen for more about the process of judging and what to expect once you hit submit. First aired September 25, 2023.

Most of this month is dedicated to helping you know what to do when writing for and submitting to story contests. In this episode, we want to summarize those things you should avoid. These are common mistakes authors make when creating short stories or interacting with contests. First aired September 21, 2023.

While every contest will have its own rules and guidelines for submission, there are some general standards across the industry that you can follow now to make submissions easier. In this episode, we talk about the tips from Writer’s Digest on how to get your story ready to submit so it doesn’t get rejected out of hand for poor formatting. First aired September 18, 2023.

Before you submit your short story (or any piece of writing) to a contest, you absolutely must edit it. This is more than simply checking for punctuation, spelling, and grammar mistakes. Editing for a contest must be done with the understanding that everyone else is also putting forward their best work. Listen for tips on how to comb through that story and make it the best polished version you possibly can before submission. First aired September 14, 2023.

Writing a short story, especially with the goal of entering contests, means breaking down the standard storytelling structure into its basic parts. It involves focusing on the most important aspects of the character development or plot. In this episode, we talk about how to write a short story that will grab the attention of judges. First aired September 11, 2023. For more on this topic, visit Writer’s Digest.

There are many different writing contests out there, especially in this digital age. Anyone can technically host a contest and charge a fee for submissions. That can make it difficult to find ones that align with both your budget and your writing goals. In this episode, we discuss how to find contests and how to determine if submitting will be worth your time. First aired September 7, 2023.

Writing contests can be a foot in the door or a way to gain experience for authors of all kinds. There are many different contests you can enter, from short stories and poetry to cover design and audiobooks. Throughout this series, we will be talking about contests, how to write for them, how to find them, and the pros and cons of submitting your name. We start by talking about the different kinds of contests and the most common sources. First aired September 4, 2023.

Every editor needs to be prepared with a variety of tools at their disposal in order to help authors. From editing/writing programs to technical knowledge to style guides, each piece in your toolkit will benefit your overall work. Ley and Leigh discuss different options to consider for your own toolkit, and how to determine what belongs based on genre. First aired August 31, 2023.

There are a variety of ways you can make money from editing, but you have to have an honest understanding of your ability, experience and skill. Three things come into play when determining how much editors charge for their work: quality, speed, and cost. Often, editors will be able to meet expectations for two, such as being good quality and cheap, but they won’t be fast. In this episode, we talk about how to balance these, as well as industry standards for freelance editing. First aired August 28, 2023.

A good author/editor relationship is the basis for any good editing project. They need to communicate and coordinate with each other so the story can grow and become its best version. It starts right with the first interview, but continues through both parties actively engaging throughout the process. Authors need to do and understand several things about editing in order to help that process along. From understanding it’s not about you to giving the editor all of the information they need, you want to be the kind of author editors want to work with. In this episode, we talk about how to do that. First aired August 26, 2023.

Editors and authors need to have a good relationship. They need to have open communication and a mutual understanding of the goals for the book or story. That’s why the first interview or meeting needs to be for a purpose. There are several questions you can ask an author to gauge if their book would be a good fit and if you are able to work together. In this episode, we talk about what kinds of questions to ask – and questions authors should be prepared to answer. First aired August 24, 2023.

Even the best editors need reference guides. We all have those words we simply can’t spell (and spellcheck may not be able to fix it) or rules we just can’t remember. That’s why creating your own cheat sheet can save you from wasted time Googling everything. In this episode, we talk about what our cheat sheets look like, how we developed them, and how this information can help you as you delve into the editing world. First aired August 21, 2023.

You’ve probably heard of official style guides, such as Chicago or MLA. These are standardized guidelines for how to format words, punctuation, and more. Each type of writing – whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or journalism – uses one of these standard guidelines. As an editor, you can also create or build upon a custom style guide for a book or series. The rules found in guides like Chicago are flexible, especially when regarding fiction. To keep it consistent across a book and especially across a series, you can create a specific guide. This will hold things like character and place names so the spelling stays consistent, a timeline of events, the structure of worldbuilding, and any details of how you are using punctuation or text formatting. Listen for more on how to create your own style guide. First aired August 17, 2023.

The work of the proofreader is the final filter for a story before it goes out into the world. These are the people whose whole purpose is to catch misspelled words, incorrect punctuation, and any other formatting issue that may arise. More than any others, the proofreader needs to know the manual of style as well as the author’s own style guide. They also need to have a good mindset: the knowledge that they cannot catch every mistake, but they need to catch as many as possible. In this episode, we’ll break down the job of a proofreader and where it needs to be in the whole editing process. First aired August 14, 2023.

When most people think of editing fiction novels, they often think of the line editor. This is the person looking at the sentence structure, word choices and character/narrator voices. They help keep the style consistent. They will also help as much as possible with grammar and punctuation, as well as applying style guidelines (a job sometimes also called copy editing). This is one of the most important stages of editing, as they look at how the story is understood, that each line has purpose and intention, and that the storytelling stays consistent. First aired August 10, 2023.

There are many kinds of roles you can take if you want to become an editor. If you like being involved early in the process, helping guide an author through the plot and past their roadblocks, you may consider the role of a developmental editor. Developmental editors are not about the correct grammar and punctuation. Rather, they are the ones who look at the structure of a story as a whole, checking for plot holes, character arcs and the overall structure. The big picture stuff. First aired August 7, 2023.

Editing is a vital part of the publishing process, whether you’re a self-published author or looking into traditional publishing. But what about those who want to become editors? No matter who you are in this process, there are a things you should know about editors and editing. In this series, Ley and Leigh will be talking about the ins and outs of editing, mostly as it applies to freelance editing. They start by talking about becoming an editor, what their goals should be and what traits they should have that will best serve both the audience and the authors. First aired August 3, 2023.

If you want to captivate your readers, a good beginning is essential. Even more so, however, is the story needs to continue to hold them. When the plot meanders and wanders from place to place without much direction or motivation for the characters. When you look at each scene, consider what purpose it has for the overall story. While not every scene needs to drive the plot itself forward, they should contribute to the development of something. That includes characters and relationships. In this extended episode of Slow Beginnings Ruin Stories, Leigh and Ley go further into how to identify and fix a story that meanders. Original episode aired September 22, 2022.