Writing Roots

There are subtle things in writing that change the flow of the sentences and paragraphs. Punctuation marks do more than denote a stop or pause. They create a flow for the reader much like musical annotations dictate the rises and falls of a symphony piece. There’s also more to their uses in fiction that what is initially taught in grade school. Along with punctuation, how paragraphs are formatted and split can lead the reader to continuing beyond the breaks, pulling them along with little teases for what’s still to come.

Learning these aspects of writing, though, can be difficult. It’s not as easy because no computer program can fill in the gaps for when to use certain punctuation or when to make a new paragraph. This bonus episode breaks down the uses for different punctuation – and when not to use them – and discusses how to use paragraphing to pull the reader further in the story.

First aired November 28, 2020.

The post S16 Bonus – Punctuation and Paragraphing appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

Some characters need to be seen as hard and immovable. For readers to sympathize with a character, however, there needs to be a different side. They need to have a moment we like to call “pet the dog.” It’s that moment where the character shows they really do have emotions and empathy for something else. But there are other uses for these moments as well. Hosts Ley and Leigh discuss how to use this writing tool, and some of their favorite uses in popular fiction.

First aired November 16, 2020.

The post S15E8 – Pet the Dog: Moments to Humanize Characters appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

There are a few tricks authors can use to move the story along in the slog of the middle of the book. On top of having subplots that can develop, there is a device called “yes, but…” that can give the readers satisfaction while still providing obstacles. Going along with the last episode, this device creates caveats to the hero’s successes in the middle. They accomplish something, but something else has gone wrong as a result. Ley and Leigh break down how to use this device in this latest episode.

Hope your NaNo is going well! Don’t forget to enter our giveaway (details here).

The post S16E7 – Yes, But… appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

There’s only about a week and half left in NaNoWriMo, which means writers around the world are in the middle of their stories. This can be the most difficult part to write because things need to happen, but what? We can’t just skip to the end and call it good. But what exactly needs to go in the middle? The answer is simple in saying, but not in execution. Obstacles. Protagonists need to have challenges along the way to their final goal. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss ways to throw obstacles at your characters to make them struggle and pull your readers into the story.

First aired November 19, 2020.

The post S16E6 – Throw in an Obstacle appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

What really makes a story relatable? It’s not the battles on a grand scale. It’s not the politics of planets. It’s not the entire police agencies case load. A relatable story is small. It zooms in on a character – or sometimes a few characters – to tell the tale of their lives as they navigate the world’s troubles. Authors can sometimes struggle with this concept because they want to display the fantastic world they’ve created. But that’s not why readers get invested in a book. They get invested in the characters, then learn to love the world. Listen to this episode to explore ways to make a story small in order to make it big.

First aired November 16, 2020.

It’s not too late to enter our NaNoWriMo giveaway! Click the link for more details.

The post S16E5 – Make it Small appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

Writing is about the details. One thing many authors forget is to tap into all of the senses when trying to submerse the readers in a world. This doesn’t mean describing all the sights, sounds, and tastes at the same time, but it does mean considering more than just what the scene looks like. In fact, there are more than five senses that can make the reader really feel like they are living the story. This episode breaks down those senses and how they can be used effectively in writing to connect with the audience.

First aired November 12, 2020.

The post S16E4 – Using the Senses to Connect with Readers appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

It’s often the small, untyped details that can make a story. If an author wants a reader to understand something without spending a lot of time explaining, subtext is the way to go. Subtext can allow the reader to understand a character’s fears, thoughts, emotions, and pieces of their history without the author having to go into paragraphs of exposition. It’s a cringe as they see a dog, a wince as someone raises their hand too quickly, a nostalgic smile at the mention of a name.

First aired November 9, 2020.

The post S16E3 – Between the Lines: Importance of Subtext appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

Similes and metaphors are devices that have been used in writing for a very long time. Ancient writing used allegories while more modern uses can be single sentences or phrases. In each case, it’s a way to convey a large idea in just a few words. Ley and Leigh break down what they are and how they can be used most effectively in fiction.

First aired November 5, 2020.

The post S16E2 – Using Similes and Metaphors appeared first on Writing Roots.

There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Especially during November, which is National Novel Writing Month, writers everywhere need all the help they can get to hit that 50,000 word count goal. That includes things like how to write right, filling the middle bits of a book, and making sure to also highlight supporting characters.

The first step for any author is to simply write. It can be difficult, though, to accept a first draft as a first draft and not a perfected best-selling novel. It takes time. It takes patience. And it takes a willingness to accept that writing right right now isn’t always writing a perfect draft. Leigh and Ley discuss their struggles with the concept and ways you can overcome one of the most common inhibitions for writers.

First aired November 2, 2020.

Find all the information about our NaNoWriMo giveaway here.

The post S16E1 – Writing Right Right Now appeared first on Writing Roots.

Happy Halloween everyone! We’ve been talking monsters and fantastical creatures for the entire month of October, progressively getting darker and scarier. Hosts Ley and Leigh were in agreement, though, that the worst of all monsters are humans. For centuries, stories have included men and women who have committed far more attrocities than any mindless undead creature.

We start the episode by diving into the mythological human creatures, such as werewolves, then explore the dark world of serial killers. Listen to hear some unusual cases as well as a brief exploration of what science knows of serial killer psychology.

First aired October 31, 2020.

A special thank you goes to Leigh’s sister, Brianna Joy for her contributions to this episode. An interest in true crime must run in the family.

Recommended podcasts for true crime:

• The Murder Squad

The post S15 Bonus – The Worst Monsters: Features of True Crime appeared first on Writing Roots.