Writing Roots

Picking the right name for a book is about more than what sounds good to you or what feels right for the story. It is important to look at the title as part of your marketing. Along with the cover, titles will draw in the readers at first glance. And because it’s part of marketing, you need to consider what that title says about the rest of the book, including genre and general mood. Original episode aired August 11, 2022.

Choreography is usually something you think of in relation to plays and movies. As authors, however, having appropriate choreography as your characters move through a scene is just as important. After all, you’re creating a movie of sorts in the minds of your readers. All you’ll do is create confusion if characters hop from one spot to another or do seemingly impossible moves. In this extended episode of The Confusion Caused by Bad Blocking, we talk about the signs to watch for and how to fix it. Original episode aired September 2022.

The last few pages of a book are what’s known as the denouement or falling action. This is where your main plot gets tied into a neat bow and the characters settle into the new world order. Of course, it doesn’t mean it’s a happily ever after ending, or that there aren’t footholds for the future. First aired June 29, 2023.

The final act is where everything comes together. The main character’s arc reaches its breaking points, and then they succeed. A lot goes into this final piece of the story, from the footholds you’ve created through the story to that comparison of where the character started and ended. Listen to this episode for more on how to write the completion of the interior plot of your story. First aired June 26, 2023.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a hot topic in the world today. From funny TikTok filters to a partial cause for the WGA strike, AI is becoming a larger part of our daily lives and, in particular, creativity. It’s hard to deny there are benefits to technology advancing as it has with AI. It has made reading and writing vastly more accessible with its improved accuracy. However, there has to be a conversation about where the lines should be in regards to using it to create art, whether that’s written or visual. Listen to this episode as our hosts discuss current AI technology, how it can be used to benefit your work, and what to be cautious about moving forward. First aired June 24, 2023.

Everything you’ve been writing has built to this moment. While Act I draws the reader in and Act II keeps them around, Act III is where their perceptions, good or bad, are solidified. When you’re building the final act, you have to consider the footholds you’ve placed throughout the story and the questions you’ve left unanswered. Now is the time to resolve any linking to the main plot. In this episode we talk about how to resolve that main plotline and leave your readers satisfied. First aired June 21, 2023.

Most of a character’s growth will happen during act two. This is where they face the most challenges, have opportunity to doubt the lie they believe about themselves, and really make those lasting bonds with their team. It’s also the time that ends with their darkest hour. While many of us struggle to know how to fill the middle of the book, keeping in mind how your character needs to grow will help. First aired June 19, 2023.

The halfway point is an often overlook key moment in stories and story creation. Yet it is vital for the character arc and the plot as a whole. It’s the turning point when the characters begin to take control of their own path and become actors rather than reactors. In this episode, we break down this midpoint, how to build to it and how to continue after. First aired June 15, 2023.

Act II is where everything happens. It’s when the characters go through the necessary challenges to learn, grow, and change. It’s when the villain accumulates the power they need to accomplish their goals. Yet, for many authors, writing Act II is one of the most difficult steps in creating that first draft. Looking at the exterior plot – that external conflict between your protagonists and antagonists – there are a few things that can help make this process easier for you. That includes working on subplots and keeping an eye on the villain. Listen for more tips and tricks on how to develop your external conflict through the second act of your story. First aired June 12, 2023.

The first act is a key piece in establishing your character. It’s during this time that you need to show who they are, what they want, and what they believe about themselves and the world. The most growth for the character through the story will happen because of the internal struggle you create for them at this point. In this episode, we take a look at how to craft the beginning interior plot for the main characters. First aired June 8, 2023.

Plots often have two aspects: interior and exterior. The exterior part is often the main conflict with a villain or antagonist of some kind. In most kinds of fictional stories, the exterior plot will be the focus, especially near the beginning as we are getting introduced to the characters. It’s the exterior plot that holds the hook and inciting incident. In this episode, we break down what happens in the external plot during Act I of a story. First aired June 5, 2023.

We are on to our third pillar of storytelling: plot. Even pantsers need to have a plot to their story. But what is a plot? What happens when? Throughout this series, we’ll look at the plot in the three act structure, breaking down the steps along the way so you can apply it to whichever structure you’re using. Some things in your story happen before the first chapter even begins. There’s a whole history of how the world came to be and become what it is when the events start. While you don’t necessarily need to put those down on the page, there are some things you should know as you begin. In this episode, our hosts take a look at what happens before the first act, including what happens in a prologue. First aired June 1, 2023.

Not all characters have to have a speaking role to be influential to the plot. One type of character you may consider is an inanimate object. These can have some external influence, such as The One Ring, or simply exist as a comedic relief. Listen to this episode for a breakdown of how to use objects as characters, their common tropes and roles, and why it can help in your storytelling process. First aired May 29, 2023.

Each character needs both successes and failure. This is important especially for your main protagonist(s). They need to struggle, to fight, but they also need the occasional spot of hope that helps them continue on. In this bonus episode, we talk about how to create successes and failures for your characters whether you’re a plotter or pantser. First aired May 27, 2023.

The Greek Chorus is a character type most often used, but least often recognized outright. In a few examples, such as Disney’s Hercules, the Greek Chorus is literal. In others, this type of character is melded with another character type. What you as the author needs to know, is that this character is essential in helping your reader understand what’s happening. Whether they’re asking questions the readers will inevitably be asking, or providing a narrative framework, consider including a Greek Chorus for your readers. First aired May 25, 2023.

A society can be its own kind of character within a story, designed to be the support system for the main character. It can be the team for a heist, the organization of magic users, an underground network, or a leadership council. Whatever role they play within the structure of the world, there are a few things you should know about the typical role of the society that will help you develop one for your story. First aired May 22, 2023.

Bad guys need helpers. These can be characters to help carry out their plan, to be roadblocks for the protagonist, or even to be the comedic relief. There are many uses for the Villain’s Chorus. Like the Greek Chorus, these are usually secondary and tertiary characters. They fill the ranks and help the antagonist appear to have power and control, even if it’s simply one character. They aren’t limited to being minions, though. Listen for more ideas on common tropes and traits to include with the supporting cast of your villain. First aired May 18, 2023.

Even if you’re telling a grim story, having a character to fulfil the role of comedic relief can go a long way in holding your readers. This character breaks tension, is usually likeable, and serves the story in a unique way. In this episode, we talk about common tropes and uses for the comedic relief to help you as you craft the perfect cast of characters. First aired May 15, 2023.

In the process of crafting a story, you may find that you need a character that will turn the tides. Not your main character or maybe not even one of their crew. What you need is a secret ingredient that for one reason or another helps tip the scales. This can be a character whose ability was thought useless, or a mistreated helper to the villain. The secret ingredient character plays an essential role in the end of the story. Listen to this episode for more about how to create that secret ingredient in a way that helps the story come together. First aired May 11, 2023.

You will find in most stories that the main character is surrounded by a supporting cast. These secondary characters often fill specific roles as they help the main character progress through the story. They cheer on the hero, provide key knowledge and skills to the team, and are often the source of much-needed comedic relief. Listen to this episode for more on the common tropes, traits, and archetypes for your secondary characters. First aired May 8, 2023.

Even if you aren’t telling a Hero’s Journey story, you may have a mentor in your cast. They don’t have to be the wizened old person who lives as a hermit. They can simply be a friend or family member who helps guide the character through their trials. In this episode, we talk about what makes a mentor and how their story can grow without interfering with the main character’s arc. First aired May 4, 2023.

This month, we are covering the second of the three pillars of storytelling: characters. Without characters, there is no story. But it’s more than simply the hero and the villain. There is a whole cast of characters who can help you build a story that will draw readers in and keep them interested in the outcome. Our first focus will be on the trusty sidekick. This is an essential piece of support for your main character. They need someone to turn to, to rely on, and to motivate them into taking down the antagonist. A sidekick can take many forms. In this episode, we look at types of sidekicks and what kind of role they can play in your story. First aired May 2, 2023.

Part of your job in worldbuilding is knowing when to stop. Knowing when you don’t actually need to give the information to the readers, or even know it yourself. Knowing when to not worldbuild applies no matter what kind of writer you are. There are a few theories to help you decide what you need to know and what actually needs to go onto the page. We take a closer look at these, as well as give you advice on how to go about showing off your world without the info dump. First aired April 29, 2023.

This is our 400th episode! Thank you to all of our followers and supporters for helping us make it this long talking about writing. The concept of a multiverse is incredibly popular in today’s media. From big names like Marvel to smaller stories that explore extra dimensional concepts, there seems to be plenty of room to play in this particular genre of worldbuilding. Listen to this episode for a look into what a multiverse can be and how you can use it in your own story. First aired April 27, 2023.

When you build your world, you also need to consider how the reader will understand what you’ve created. If you throw a bunch of new words at them with little to no explanation, they get lost. If all you are doing is explain, they get bored. In this episode, we talk about the best ways to make your world accessible to the reader, from making sure you minimize made-up terms to finding ways to connect it to our own world. First aired April 24, 2023.

Fans love getting immersed in the worlds of the media they consume. This can be anything from detailed worldbuilding to providing them with ways to make it their own. As an author, one of the best ways you can make this possible is by leaving room for your world to be explorable. An explorable world can be for you to expand in the future or for your readers to build upon with fanfiction. Listen for more on how. First aired April 20, 2023.

Scene-setting is one of the hardest parts of the author’s job, especially if you’re dealing with made-up worlds and locations. Even if you’re basing the story in the modern, known world, you will need to set the scene for your readers. That can be anything from describing the room they’re in, or a whole country. The problem when it comes to scene-setting is the level of detail involved. Too much and it’s overwhelming or boring, too little and the book becomes a blank stage without any real environment for the characters. In this episode, we talk about finding that balance to make your world immersive. First aired April 17, 2023.

Even if you are writing fantasy, sci-fi or any other speculative fiction, you need to make your worldbuilding feel real. There needs to be reason and order to those cool elements you want to include. As fun as it is to be able to add dragons and magic and incredible artificial intelligence, if you don’t connect it to the world, readers will feel lost. In this episode, we talk about ways to help your world feel real and make it easier to convey those cool concepts without harming your reader. First aired April 13, 2023.

Zooming in is one of the most powerful tools of storytelling. The same goes for the worldbuilding. Authors can, at times, get wrapped up in the expanse and scope of the world they’ve created – on the geography and cultures, the monsters and heroes. It can be easy to forget the most powerful way to show that worldbuilding is to focus on the small pieces. By zooming in, explaining something small, you can show your reader you’ve put thought and attention into creating the world. That allows you to skip over those details which don’t matter to the actual story. (This principle was explained well by TikTok user, studentofwhim.) In this episode, we talk about ways to zoom in, how to go for the emotional impact in large-scale worldbuilding, and focusing on the details that will mean much more to your reader. First aired April 10, 2023.

Readers explore the world through the eyes of your character. This means that if you want to make your worldbuilding real to your reader, you need to make it relevant to your characters. This can be done through having the character learn about the world, such as in a portal fantasy or hidden society story. Or you can simply reveal the world by showing how the world interests the characters. Listen for more about how to make your worldbuilding personal. First aired April 6, 2023.

Storytelling rests on three main pillars: the world, the characters, and the plot. All three should work together to help you craft a story that will capture the reader’s heart and mind. Over the next three months, we will talk about these pillars, starting with worldbuilding. When it comes to creating the world, from the physical locations to the cultures to the magic, you need to know a lot less than you think you do. Trust us. Worldbuilding is an easy trap to get stuck in that will keep you from ever telling the story. In this episode, we talk about what you actually need to know in order to begin writing, and what you can discover along the way. First aired April 3, 2023.

Characters don’t always know what’s happening as the plot unfolds. When they get confused, as the author, it is your job to make sure the reader isn’t also confused. This is why understanding how to convey this emotion is so important. It comes down to a delicate balance of giving a reason for the character to be confused while still making your reader feel comfortable that they know enough – or will soon know enough – to keep them from feeling like they missed something. In this episode, we break down that balance, as well as how you can portray a confused character. First aired March 30, 2023.

While this is one of the four core emotions we have covered before, we wanted to take a deeper dive into it. Happiness is often forgotten in storytelling, especially when the characters are in a world full of war, destruction or constant fighting. Yet happiness is essential in order to show the full range of a character, and for the readers to truly experience the tragedy of losing that happiness. From the nuances of happiness at different levels to how to set up a moment of joy, we talk about everything you need to know to write this emotions. First aired March 27, 2023.

Characters have secrets. It’s a given, really, in the realm of storytelling. Some characters, however, have more secrets than others. In this episode, we are talking about the types of characters who play things close to the chest – where no matter what the subject, they’re likely to hold something back for one reason or another. This often stems from one of two reasons: they’re either just like that naturally (such as introverts and some neurodivergents) or they have a past trauma that has taught them a “lesson” to keep things to themselves. Listen for more about these two different kinds of characters and how to write their secrets in a way that won’t confuse readers. First aired March 25, 2023.

Guilt weights heavily on many protagonists in a story. It’s not often an emotion felt by the villain, though it can be the root for a different emotion which they use to fuel their motivation. Overall, guilt is a useful tool to include in your arsenal of characters. Which means you need to understand it and its companion emotions. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss both guilty and apologetic emotions, how they play into different characters, and what circumstances usually surround them. First aired March 23, 2023.

Whether it’s a lovable but infuriating protagonist or a punchable antagonist, it is quite common to include a character whose defining trait is smugness. In this episode, we take a look at this form of pride and break down the variety of ways to employ it in a story. First aired March 20, 2023.

Much like courage, the emotion of vengeance is easily a plot device. It’s common enough in stories and has seen a rise in popularity with the morally gray heroes. If you want to use it in your own story, it’s important to understand the emotion itself – how it starts and grows into action. Listen for a breakdown of vengeance, what it is, what it means, and how you can use it in your own story. First aired March 16, 2023.

If you ever write a physical conflict, pain will be a key element to the story. Too many authors forget about injuries or gloss over the reality of what a punch or stab would mean for the character. Unless magical healing is involved, any hit will have consequences. In this episode, we break down what pain means, how it affects the body, and how you can accurately include it in your story. First aired March 13, 2023.

While similar, terror and horror are two different ways to represent fear in your story. Knowing when to apply each one is the important part. Most characters will feel some kind of fear during their story. It could be the fear of the unknown future, fear of loss, fear of something they just witnessed, and many more. Listen for more about the specific fear experienced with terror and horror and how you can use it in your story. First aired March 8, 2023.

Courage is one of the niche emotions that nearly every book will contain regardless of genre, age group or tropes. Protagonists especially will have a moment when they need to be courageous despite their circumstances. This emotion, however, is often misunderstood and misapplied to writing. Fear is not the opposite. Courage is best represented by action despite fear. In this episode, we talk about courage, what it looks like in writing, and how you can use it in any genre to help progress a story and develop your characters. First aired March 6, 2023.

Throughout March, we will be covering a variety of specific emotions, starting with reverence. This is not solely a religious emotion. A character can experience reverence towards many things, from a hero the idolize to a place of significant trauma. Listen for more as we break down what reverence is and how you can use it in your story. First aired March 2, 2023. The post S41E1 – Writing Emotions: Reverence appeared first on Writing Roots.

In some ways, releasing a book to the world means it’s no longer yours. The world and its characters belong to the audience. However, the responsibilities still belong to you. The post-launch mindset is a delicate balance of accepting and letting go while doggedly pursuing another success. Listen to this episode for more about what to do after a book launches and the mindset you need to continue growing as an author. First aired February 27, 2023. The post S40E8 – The Post-Launch Mindset appeared first on Writing Roots.

A book blurb is one of the most important steps on the road to publishing. A blurb – that text on the back of your book or in the website description – can make or break any sale. Writing a simple synopsis is not nearly good enough. Blurb writing is an art of its own. We invited Jessie Cunniffe of Book Blurb Magic to join us and discuss the process of writing a blurb. She breaks down the elements of a good blurb, gives advice on what common mistakes to avoid, and explains what kind of content should actually go in a blurb. Find out more about Book Blurb Magic on our Resource page. You can find the Anatomy of a Book Blurb downloadable PDF here. For a discount of Jessie’s services, use code WRITINGROOTS at checkout. The post S40 Bonus – Crafting a Book Blurb with Jessie of Book Blurb Magic appeared first on Writing Roots.

There is a lot of work that goes into publishing a book beyond writing. Getting into the right mindset and having a checklist of things to accomplish can help make the process easier to tackle. In this episode, we breakdown the steps you should take to get it from a final draft to published. First aired February 23, 2023. The post S40E7 – The Pre-Launch Mindset appeared first on Writing Roots.

Having representation in fiction is important. It reflects the reality of our world to have a varied character base. This includes having characters with disabilities, from different races, or of varied sexual orientation and gender identities. When writing those characters, you also need to make sure they’re more than a stereotyped token character. A sensitivity reader can help with that. In this episode, we discuss the process of finding and using a sensitivity reader so you can be inclusive in your representation without causing harm. First aired February 20, 2023. There was a lot to discuss in this episode that had to be cut for time. If you would like an extended version, please contact us at [email protected]. The post S40E6 – Why to Get a Sensitivity Reader appeared first on Writing Roots.

We’ve said before, when you market your books, you want to market yourself as an author. You want people to be as much a fan of you as they are of your writing. Part of this is making sure you have a good author bio. If you’re writing non-fiction, a bio is critical to getting the audience to trust you. For fiction, it’s more about connecting with them. In this episode, we talk about the tips and tricks to help create a memorable bio that will get the readers wanting to know more about you and your works. First aired February 16, 2023. For more on this topic, you can visit Kindlepreneur. The post S40E5 – Writing an Author Bio appeared first on Writing Roots.

Audiences have certain expectations for books, from the plot and themes to how long it should be. And while there is no set standard and plenty of exceptions, there are guidelines to help you know the target word count based on the genre. It’s been a while since we’ve talked about word counts. In Series 13, we discussed how to add or subtract to reach a target, and in our genre episodes, we briefly mentioned them. This episode, we’re taking a deep dive into those targets and why they exist. First aired February 13, 2023. For additional resources on this topic, click here. The post S40E4 – Meeting Target Word Counts appeared first on Writing Roots.

Whether you divide your chapters as you write or do it as you edit, picking the right beginning and end of each chapter is vital. It can dictate the flow of your book, how fast a reader progresses through the story, and often how much they put the book down. Each reader views chapters in a different way. For some, chapters are good breaks. A time to pause and put the book down. For others, especially young readers, chapters are milestones and accomplishments. It’s important to understand your audience as you finalize where those chapters begin and end. Listen to this episode for tips and tricks to knowing when to end and begin each chapter. First aired February 9, 2023. The post S40E3 – What Makes a Good Chapter appeared first on Writing Roots.

Editing your story is vital, but it can be one of the most difficult things to begin. Writers often have a passion, a fire driving them to continue to the end of their manuscript. Editing is where things begin to feel more like work. That’s why in this episode, we’re addressing the topic of finding the motivation to edit. From anxiety over the mistakes you know are there to believing the first draft is already perfect, there’s a wide range of reasons why someone might not want to edit. Listen to this episode to help identify what’s holding you back and how to cultivate ways to make editing easier. First published February 6, 2023. The post S40E2 – Finding Motivation to Edit appeared first on Writing Roots.

When you are getting a book ready for publishing, the first step is going to be accepting that the book will never be perfect. And then you need to accept that just because it’s imperfect doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to making it better. Perfection is a paralytic. Holding ourselves to high and unrealistic standards can keep us from achieving anything. Trying to make a manuscript perfect will lead to a dozen drafts of a book that will never be published. In this episode, Leigh and Ley discuss some of the best ways to accept imperfection in the process yet still achieve a product you can be proud of. First aired February 2, 2023. The post S40E1 – Accepting Imperfection appeared first on Writing Roots.