Writing Roots

There are some crimes people can commit that aren’t punishable by law. This series is dedicated to those involved with writing, whether they be committed by the author or the readers. To be clear, this series isn’t designed to help writers better create crimes (murder, theft, etc.) within their novels. The kinds of crimes we’ll talk about range from boring the readers to abusing the control you have over the book and characters.

It’s a common phrase throughout modern culture: “The book/movie was better.” This is something everyone should stop saying, as both mediums have their use and purpose. Storytelling is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, and not everyone likes to read or stare at a screen for two hours. This episode talks about the benefits of each medium, especially books, and what those who consume stories should remember.

First aired April 2, 2020.

The post S9E1 – “The Movie Was Better” appeared first on Writing Roots.

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.

Non-fiction is another umbrella genre that is widely popular to write. It can cover anything from cookbooks and self-help to biographies and memoirs. While many people want to write in this genre, it does require consideration before attempting to publish with the expectation of making money.

First aired March 30, 2020.

The post S8E9 – The Non-Fiction Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.

Thanks to Joseph Campbell, writers have been able to put a name to a plot structure that has been used in storytelling for centuries. The Hero’s Journey can be seen in ancient mythologies and modern movies. While some new authors are concerned about writing something unique, many have found the benefit of using the Hero’s Journey as a template for their writing.

It’s not just about the twelve steps Campbell described in his book. Knowing the journey can help authors figure out the middle part. We often know how to start the book, and how it’s supposed to end, but new authors tend to falter in the middle. This month’s bonus episode is dedicated to helping writers use the Hero’s Journey template to round out their story with content that matters to the plot no matter the genre.

First aired March 28, 2020.

The post S8 Bonus – The Hero’s Journey appeared first on Writing Roots.

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.

It takes a special kind of imagination to write horror well. Unlike the horror movie genre, it is more than bashing people over the head or sawing them in half. Writing horror takes a dedication to description that will captivate the reader and send them glancing into the shadows with a deep fear.

First aired March 26, 2020.

The post S8E8 – The Horror Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.

Comedy is more often a subgenre in writing than a genre of its own. It can be very challenging to write something that is focused on comedy without it being a parody or satire of some kind. However, there is a lot of freedom in comedy. Just look at some of the more popular authors: Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Oscar Wilde. As long as the writing is good, a story in any setting can make someone laugh.

First aired March 23, 2020.

The post S8E7 – The Comedy Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.