Writing Roots

S13E4 – Why Didn’t They Think of That?

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question.
There is possibly nothing more frustrating than seeing characters in a book ignore the obvious answers. Why didn’t the Order of the Phoenix just disguise Harry in the last book, rather than having seven of them dress up as Harry? These are times when the readers are looking at the book and wondering why. Authors are focused on what needs to happen, not necessarily on what could happen in that situation. That is a mistake. This episode is focused on diagnosing when readers might realize there’s a more obvious solution and how to address it to still get the story in the right direction.
First aired August 13, 2020.
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S13E3 – Worrying About Word Count

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question.
Word count is one of those things an author should ignore until they get to the editing phase. As we’re fond of saying, the first draft should be done selfishly, which means hitting however many words is necessary to just get the story out. Once that’s finished then authors and editors both should take time to make sure the word count falls within or close to the generally accepted word count for the genre. Many may say it doesn’t matter, but readers care whether they realize it or not. Some will turn away from a book if it is too long or too short unless they’ve come to trust that author. This episode talk about how to edit to hit those target word counts.
First aired August 10, 2020.
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S13E2 – It’s Just Boring!

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question.
There’s one thing that is guaranteed to turn away nearly every reader, no matter how dedicated. If the writing is dry, dragging, or otherwise boring, no ingenuity in plot or setting will hold their attention. We address the most common problems that create a boring story and how to fix it.
First aired August 6, 2020.
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S13E1 – The Solution to Awkward Dialogue

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it’s one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question.
While some authors excel, many more struggle to write one of the most basic elements of any story: dialogue. Character interaction can easily turn into stiff phrases tossed back and forth like robots programmed to respond only to a select few inputs. There’s a delicate balance all authors must find between realistic conversations and dialogue that can be read easily. Ley and Leigh discuss ways to identify and fix even the most awkward dialogue.
First aired August 3, 2020.
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S12E9 – Awards and Competitions

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book.
Part of successful marketing boils down to having some author name recognition among a target audience. Breaking into the market is difficult, especially in the world of hundreds, if not thousands, of indie and self-publishing authors. One way to bolster an author reputation is to have what could be called bragging rights. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss how entering competitions and aiming for rewards – even for simple short stories – can help in the marketing process.
First aired July 30, 2020.
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S12E8 – Using Sequels During Marketing

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book.
When it comes to marketing, knowing whether or not the book could be a series or have a sequel is essential. If a reader likes a book, they’ll often look for more from that author or even in that world. It’s not so easy to plan for that, though, if it’s the first book ever from that author. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss ways to plan for and use sequels in marketing as an author.
First aired July 27, 2020.
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S12 Bonus – Tips and Tricks for Interviews

One very effective way to begin promoting both a book and an author is to participate in interviews, especially on local radio or television programs. It lets an author talk about themselves, their writing process, and an upcoming or newly-released book, during which hundreds or thousands of people are listening. In that group may be potential new readers and fans. It’s a great way to simply get a name out there and expand an audience.
However, being interviewed can be an anxiety-inducing process, even for those who aren’t shy introverts. Ley and Leigh sat down with a local radio host, Carl Bott, to talk about how to get interviews and how to be interviewed. They discuss things from how to prepare for an interview to how to use a microphone.
First aired July 25, 2020.
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S12E7 – Getting the Most Effective Reviews

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book.
As the quote of this episode says, there is no substitute for quality when it comes to people enjoying a story, but there are certain tricks of the trade to help get the best reviews. It comes down to finding the right audience and making sure they’re the ones that find the book or published work. Additionally, sometimes a bad review or two isn’t a bad thing, so long as you have many good reviews. This episode explains why.
First aired July 23, 2020.
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S12E6 – Where to Sell Your Books

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book.
While the most common places for self-published authors to sell their books are online, it’s not the only option. We discussed in a previous episode how print and audio books are still well within the reach of new authors, even if they don’t have the backing of a large publishing company. While having those other mediums available is nice, it does create some more work to get the books out into the world. Ley and Leigh discuss in this episode the different options for where to sell.
First aired July 20, 2020.
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S12E5 – Writing Effective Ads and Teases

The dream of many writers is to become well-known and bestselling. Unfortunately, just writing the story isn’t enough. In the world of self-publishing, it is up to the author to get their books to sell. Not an easy task when that author is also still trying to write more. This month is focused on marketing, that step just before and after publishing. Topics will include using social media, where to publish and sell, and creating interesting ads that will draw potential readers to a book.
Much of marketing relies on writing, though it’s a different style than what is used to write the book or story. Ads should entice the intended target audience to investigate further and give them a reason to purchase the story. Every tease – a type of ad – should make the reader ask questions which they want to answer. This episode explains how ad writing works and how to effectively write them.
First aired July 16, 2020.
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