Writing Roots

Authors can always be served by returning to the basics of writing. We spend so much time focusing on the grand scale of books – plot, themes, sequels – that the simple pieces of writing which make a story stand out can be lost. This month, Writing Roots is focusing on the nitty gritty, from writing dialogue and humor to developing character voice.

A character’s voice should be unique compared to the other characters in a story. Part of this comes from the author’s chosen point of view. Whether the book is written in first person or third person makes a large difference in the words and flow, not just in dialogue.

First aired January 16, 2020

The post S6E5 – Character Voice and Point of View appeared first on Writing Roots.

Authors can always be served by returning to the basics of writing. We spend so much time focusing on the grand scale of books – plot, themes, sequels – that the simple pieces of writing which make a story stand out can be lost. This month, Writing Roots is focusing on the nitty gritty, from writing dialogue and humor to developing character voice.

Killing a character can be a difficult decision – or easy, if you’re that kind of author. If you need help, you need only look to simple principles in story structure. There are times in a story that make a death more meaningful to your readers and relevant to the plot. We discuss those principles in this episode, along with if and how to kill main characters.

First aired January 13, 2020

The post S6E4 – When to Kill a Character appeared first on Writing Roots.

Authors can always be served by returning to the basics of writing. We spend so much time focusing on the grand scale of books – plot, themes, sequels – that the simple pieces of writing which make a story stand out can be lost. This month, Writing Roots is focusing on the nitty gritty, from writing dialogue and humor to developing character voice.

Dreams, flashbacks, and prologues are all devices with specific uses in writing. When used correctly, they add flavor and depth to a story. There are, however, too many cases where they are used improperly. It creates a jarring experience that throws the reader out of the story or simply confuses them. In this episode, we discuss these devices and how they can be used properly.

First aired January 9, 2020.

The post S6E3 – The Use of Prologues, Dreams, and Flashbacks appeared first on Writing Roots.

Authors can always be served by returning to the basics of writing. We spend so much time focusing on the grand scale of books – plot, themes, sequels – that the simple pieces of writing which make a story stand out can be lost. This month, Writing Roots is focusing on the nitty gritty, from writing dialogue and humor to developing character voice.

Momentum in a story is what drives the reader to the final pages. Losing it can result in the reader setting aside the book for other pursuits. Momentum can be found even without constant action. Ley and Leigh discuss ways to keep your reader around, and what to avoid so the momentum doesn’t slow.

First aired January 6, 2020.

The post S6E2 – Maintaining Momentum appeared first on Writing Roots.

Happy New Year, listeners! Welcome to 2020.

Authors can always be served by returning to the basics of writing. We spend so much time focusing on the grand scale of books – plot, themes, sequels – that the simple pieces of writing which make a story stand out can be lost. This month, Writing Roots is focusing on the nitty gritty, from writing dialogue and humor to developing character voice.

Dialogue in writing is tricky. So much goes into determining just how spoken words appear in a story. Authors must consider the character, their background, and their situation, while still making it feel natural to the reader. Ley and Leigh discuss the use of dialogue, languages, accents, and more in this episode.

First aired January 2, 2020.

As promised in the episode, here is the link to the XKCD comic “Fiction Rule of Thumb.”

The post S6E1 – Writing Dialogue appeared first on Writing Roots.