Writing Roots

S50E2 – Don’t Give Up

The world needs your story.
More than anything, we want you to keep pursuing your writing goals, whatever that might be. There are several things along the way that contribute to writers giving up their goals, whether it’s frustration, discouragement, or simply time. In this episode, we talk about how you can overcome some of the most common things that get in the way of writing.
First aired January 4, 2024.

S50E1 – Addressing Common Excuses

Welcome to 2024! It’s a new year and many people across the world are setting those resolutions and goals. Among those goals to clean up, get fit, or learn a new skill is often a resolution to write a book. We’re here to help with that.
Throughout January, we are going to address the basics of how to write a book, starting with addressing the most common excuses people use to avoid writing at all. This includes not having enough time, having too many distractions, or thinking you simply can’t.
First aired January 1, 2024.

S49 Bonus – Writing Roots Blooper Reel

To end the year with a touch of levity, we decided to collect some of our best bloopers from 2023 and compile them for our final bonus episode of the year. Enjoy a break with us and find out how silly it can get behind the scenes. It’s a good reminder to make sure you have fun in all of your creative pursuits.
First aired December 30, 2023.

S49E8 – What Do I Do If All I’m Writing is Dialogue?

If you find yourself writing only dialogue – or vice versa – it’s not always a bad thing. First of all, you’re writing! That alone is an accomplishment. Keep going and trust yourself to fix it later.
When it is later and it’s time to fix those scenes that are too heavy towards dialogue, there are several tricks you can use to make it smooth. That includes things from acting out the scene to identifying what about the scene isn’t natural.
First aired December 28, 2023.

S49E7 – How Do I Determine Comp Titles for My Book?

A major part of querying and even marketing is finding the right comp titles for your book. It’s a tricky business, though, to find ones that both fit your book and show your knowledge of the current reading market.
When looking for comp titles, you want to find newer books that fit not only the genre and target audience, but the overall vibes of your story.
First aired December 25, 2023.

S49E6 – If I Want to Be a Career Author, Should I Stick to One Genre?

This is a question we see a lot in the writing spaces where newer authors are looking for advice as they set off on their careers. There seems to be a belief that if an author is starting, they cannot branch into other genres – that they should pick one and stick with it in order to build their fanbase.
While there is some truth to that, the answer is not so simple. Especially early on, exploring and testing different genres and styles is actually a good thing. Listen to this episode for more on why, and how the answer to this question changes throughout an author’s journey.
First aired December 21, 2023.

S49E5 – Why Does My Writing Seem Basic Even When I Have a Big Vocabulary?

It’s happened to all of us at some point. We sit down to write, and the only thing our brains can think of in the moment are the most basic words. It’s admittedly frustrating when we know we have a large vocabulary, but every word seems like an elementary school word.
We’re here to tell you that is perfectly okay. In some cases, the more simple the words used, the better the story. What’s more important than using big words to show of your vocabulary is choosing the correct word for the moment.
First aired December 18, 2023.

S49E4 – What is the Difference Between a Complete Monster and a Regular One?

There are a variety of monsters you can have in your writing, and not all of them appear like monsters at first glance. When we dig into what a monster is, we encounter the question “what qualifies as a complete monster?” The answer is rarely its appearance or species. Rather, a complete monster is quantified by actions and choices.
In this episode, we discuss the different kinds of “bad guys” in story, and look at how to write a complete monster.
First aired December 14, 2023.

S49E3 – How Do I Build a Military for a Spec Fic Story?

If you are creating a story that is heavy with war, battles or politics, you may need to build a military structure for your worldbuilding. That will lead you to the question we received from one of our listeners: How do I build a military for a speculative fiction story?
Listen for more on the different steps to development based on what is best for your own story.
First aired December 11, 2023.

S49E2 – Is Having Multiple POVs the Same as Head Hopping?

This is a question we see a lot in the writing forums and discussion groups: Is head hopping the same thing as having multiple points of view within a single story? The short answer is no. These two are very different in how they are presented on the page, and head hopping is rarely seen as acceptable by the reader.
In this episode we break down the differences and look at how to write multiple points of view without crossing into the dangerous territory of head hopping.
First aired December 7, 2023.