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.

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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.

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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].

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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When we communicate with each other, most of what is relayed and understood has nothing to do with the words we actually say. When you’re dealing with a written format, conveying meaning with something like tone or body language is incredibly difficult. Yet it is absolutely essential. That is why we are taking this episode to look at subtext within dialogue specifically.

For a breakdown of what subtext is and how it can be used, you can listen to S16E3 – Between the Lines: Importance of Subtext. In this episode, we look at what it looks like in and around dialogue and the different tools to help you convey the meaning you intended.

First aired January 30, 2023.

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Choices are the crux of your character’s progression through a story. Those choices will paint the picture about who your character is and what is important to them. As the author, it is your duty to actually give your characters an opportunity to choose. Instead of forcing them in the direction that would be good for your story, you need to consider several things.

There are two types of choices you can throw at the character: big ones that impact the plot, and little ones that help define character. Each person is going to make choices based on what they need and want out of life. Consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If your character is in need of shelter, they’re not going to make a decision based on emotional fulfillment. Even then, what they choose should be in-character.

In our bonus episode, we break down how to give your characters choices in meaningful ways to both advance the plot and build the characters.

First aired January 28, 2022.

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