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.

Some monsters of legend and myth predate human existence. They are the ones who lived and ruled the earth before mankind came to be. In many stories, they’re simply lurking below, waiting for their time to return and reign supreme. We’re talking gods and ancient monsters in this episode, from the Greek Titans to Lovecraft’s Cthulu mythos.

First aired October 29, 2020.

The post S15E9 – Ancient and Prehistoric Monsters and Gods appeared first on 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.

Ghosts and spirits are a staple for the Halloween season. In some places, though, it’s believed that ghosts are a part of normal existence. Many people have had their own spectral experience. That means there is a lot to work with for authors hoping to venture into the spooky realms of writing. We invited ghost tour guide Lori Juszak to discuss her experiences with ghosts and to get a look into the world of searching for the phenomena.

Ghosts of Fort Collins

Contact Lori Juszak

The post S15E8 – Ghosts and Hauntings with Lori Juszak appeared first on 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.

Stories of people rising from the dead to hunt the living have riddled histories and cultures for centuries. From more modern takes on zombies to ancient stories of vampires who feast on blood, there are so many elements to draw from when creating a story involving the undead. Leigh and Ley discuss some of the more common themes in this episode.

First aired October 22, 2020.

The post S15E7 – Hordes of the Undead appeared first on 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.

Some of the oldest and deepest fears of humankind include the unknown, and there’s nothing more unknown than what’s in the deep abyss we call the sea. In the old tales, creatures from the waters were often massive and destructive, or alluring tempters. They were never benevolent. Leigh and Ley take a dive into the waters in this episode to explore aquatic monsters, from the mermaid to the Kraken.

First aired October 19, 2020.

The post S15E6 – Creatures from the Deep appeared first on 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.

The oldest monsters in the world are mashed-up combinations of creatures familiar to mankind. The Löwenmensch, a figurine that was half-lion, half-man, is the oldest known record of what humans considered monstrous. Since then, stories have been riddled with the mix-and-match creatures that have become known as Chimera. In this episode, Leigh and Ley explore different combinations that haunted stories around the world.

First aired October 15, 2020.

The post S15E5 – Chimera: The Mix-and-Match Monsters appeared first on 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.

It’s time to think on a large scale. Or rather, about the large-scale creatures. Giants have been part of myth and legends for a very long time, though surprisingly, mostly in European-based countries. In this episode, Ley and Leigh explore stories of giants and other creations of large stature.

First aired October 12, 2020.

The post S15E4 – Giants and Creatures of Large Stature appeared first on 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.

Long before Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, people have been imagining and creating counterfeit life. While it is sometimes helpful, most of the stories end with it turning against the maker. In this episode, Leigh and Ley break down common types of man-made creatures and some of the tropes that accompany them.

First aired October 8, 2020.

The post S15E3 – Man-Made Monsters and Creatures appeared first on 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.

Though they may have become wildly popular with young children through characters such as Tinker Bell, stories of the fairies were used to warn children away from wandering too far away. Leigh and Leigh discuss in this episode some of the history of the fae, different types in classical and modern stories, and how to use them in your own creations.

First aired October 5, 2020.

The post S15E2 – The Fae and Fairies appeared first on 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.