Writing Roots

S41E2 – Writing Emotions: Courage

Courage is one of the niche emotions that nearly every book will contain regardless of genre, age group or tropes. Protagonists especially will have a moment when they need to be courageous despite their circumstances. This emotion, however, is often misunderstood and misapplied to writing.
Fear is not the opposite. Courage is best represented by action despite fear. In this episode, we talk about courage, what it looks like in writing, and how you can use it in any genre to help progress a story and develop your characters.
First aired March 6, 2023.

S41E1 – Writing Emotions: Reverence

Throughout March, we will be covering a variety of specific emotions, starting with reverence. This is not solely a religious emotion. A character can experience reverence towards many things, from a hero the idolize to a place of significant trauma.
Listen for more as we break down what reverence is and how you can use it in your story.
First aired March 2, 2023.
The post S41E1 – Writing Emotions: Reverence appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E8 – The Post-Launch Mindset

In some ways, releasing a book to the world means it’s no longer yours. The world and its characters belong to the audience. However, the responsibilities still belong to you. The post-launch mindset is a delicate balance of accepting and letting go while doggedly pursuing another success.
Listen to this episode for more about what to do after a book launches and the mindset you need to continue growing as an author.
First aired February 27, 2023.
The post S40E8 – The Post-Launch Mindset appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40 Bonus – Crafting a Book Blurb with Jessie of Book Blurb Magic

A book blurb is one of the most important steps on the road to publishing. A blurb – that text on the back of your book or in the website description – can make or break any sale. Writing a simple synopsis is not nearly good enough. Blurb writing is an art of its own.
We invited Jessie Cunniffe of Book Blurb Magic to join us and discuss the process of writing a blurb. She breaks down the elements of a good blurb, gives advice on what common mistakes to avoid, and explains what kind of content should actually go in a blurb.
Find out more about Book Blurb Magic on our Resource page. You can find the Anatomy of a Book Blurb downloadable PDF here. For a discount of Jessie’s services, use code WRITINGROOTS at checkout.
The post S40 Bonus – Crafting a Book Blurb with Jessie of Book Blurb Magic appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E7 – The Pre-Launch Mindset

There is a lot of work that goes into publishing a book beyond writing. Getting into the right mindset and having a checklist of things to accomplish can help make the process easier to tackle.
In this episode, we breakdown the steps you should take to get it from a final draft to published.
First aired February 23, 2023.
The post S40E7 – The Pre-Launch Mindset appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E6 – Why to Get a Sensitivity Reader

Having representation in fiction is important. It reflects the reality of our world to have a varied character base. This includes having characters with disabilities, from different races, or of varied sexual orientation and gender identities. When writing those characters, you also need to make sure they’re more than a stereotyped token character. A sensitivity reader can help with that.
In this episode, we discuss the process of finding and using a sensitivity reader so you can be inclusive in your representation without causing harm.
First aired February 20, 2023.
There was a lot to discuss in this episode that had to be cut for time. If you would like an extended version, please contact us at writingroots@aspenhousepublishing.com.
The post S40E6 – Why to Get a Sensitivity Reader appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E5 – Writing an Author Bio

We’ve said before, when you market your books, you want to market yourself as an author. You want people to be as much a fan of you as they are of your writing. Part of this is making sure you have a good author bio.
If you’re writing non-fiction, a bio is critical to getting the audience to trust you. For fiction, it’s more about connecting with them. In this episode, we talk about the tips and tricks to help create a memorable bio that will get the readers wanting to know more about you and your works.
First aired February 16, 2023.
For more on this topic, you can visit Kindlepreneur.
The post S40E5 – Writing an Author Bio appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E4 – Meeting Target Word Counts

Audiences have certain expectations for books, from the plot and themes to how long it should be. And while there is no set standard and plenty of exceptions, there are guidelines to help you know the target word count based on the genre.
It’s been a while since we’ve talked about word counts. In Series 13, we discussed how to add or subtract to reach a target, and in our genre episodes, we briefly mentioned them. This episode, we’re taking a deep dive into those targets and why they exist.
First aired February 13, 2023.
For additional resources on this topic, click here.
The post S40E4 – Meeting Target Word Counts appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E3 – What Makes a Good Chapter

Whether you divide your chapters as you write or do it as you edit, picking the right beginning and end of each chapter is vital. It can dictate the flow of your book, how fast a reader progresses through the story, and often how much they put the book down.
Each reader views chapters in a different way. For some, chapters are good breaks. A time to pause and put the book down. For others, especially young readers, chapters are milestones and accomplishments. It’s important to understand your audience as you finalize where those chapters begin and end.
Listen to this episode for tips and tricks to knowing when to end and begin each chapter.
First aired February 9, 2023.
The post S40E3 – What Makes a Good Chapter appeared first on Writing Roots.

S40E2 – Finding Motivation to Edit

Editing your story is vital, but it can be one of the most difficult things to begin. Writers often have a passion, a fire driving them to continue to the end of their manuscript. Editing is where things begin to feel more like work. That’s why in this episode, we’re addressing the topic of finding the motivation to edit.
From anxiety over the mistakes you know are there to believing the first draft is already perfect, there’s a wide range of reasons why someone might not want to edit. Listen to this episode to help identify what’s holding you back and how to cultivate ways to make editing easier.
First published February 6, 2023.
The post S40E2 – Finding Motivation to Edit appeared first on Writing Roots.