Writing Roots

S11E4 Extended – LGBT+: Further Discussion of Quality Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community in Writing

Pride Month is the perfect time to address one of the most complicated and oft avoided topics in writing. Many new authors who aren’t part of the LGBTQ+ community find themselves avoiding those characters for fear of misrepresenting the community. That leads to a lack of diversity among the characters. No author, however, should shy away from striving for good representation. It simply means research. This episode addresses many concerns authors may have about having an LGBTQ+ character and how to make sure the representation is accurate and realistic.
The topic of representation is difficult to cover in a single session, especially one that only lasts about ten minutes. We spent a lot more time discussing how to correctly include LGBTQ+ characters, and knew this would need an extended version. This episode does cover some of the same issues as released in the episode released earlier this week, but also goes deeper into the conversation.
First aired June 13, 2020.
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S11E4 – LGBT: Writing Quality Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best.
Pride Month is the perfect time to address one of the most complicated and oft avoided topics in writing. Many new authors who aren’t part of the LGBTQ+ community find themselves avoiding those characters for fear of misrepresenting the community. That leads to a lack of diversity among the characters. No author, however, should shy away from striving for good representation. It simply means research. This episode addresses many concerns authors may have about having an LGBTQ+ character and how to make sure the representation is accurate and realistic.
First aired June 11, 2020. An extended version of this episode will be published Saturday, June 13.
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S11E3 – Kiss: Why and How to Include Romantic Subplots

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best.
It’s one of the most common themes in stories going back to ancient days. Nearly all stories have some kind of romance whether or not it’s the main focus. Part of that is because love and affection are near universal emotions. Everyone at some point has felt it, longed for it, or felt the heartbreak of losing it. Readers can easily connect with the characters if they can understand some of their emotions. But it doesn’t have a place in every story. This episode helps break down when and how to properly use a romantic subplot in all fiction genres.
First aired June 8, 2020.
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S11E2 – Tell: How to Identify and Correct Cases of Telling

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best.
Writers are constantly told to show and not tell, but it can be difficult for new authors to identify the difference. While there are times telling can be useful, it is most often boring. Readers don’t get to discover the intricacies on their own when the story tells them everything. This episode explains how to find and fix cases where showing would be best.
First aired June 4. 2020.
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S11E1 – Sell: How to Decide to Market Your Writing

There are all kinds of four-letter words people consider to be bad. In writing, those four-letter words aren’t the traditional ones most people think about when they hear the phrase. The four-letter words of writing are the difficult topics to consider, write about, or simply just to do. None of the words are bad, but can be frightening for new authors or authors unfamiliar with certain topics. They are all something that needs to be addressed, at least, and decisions made on how to use them to the author’s advantage. Through June, this podcast will be breaking down those difficult words, such as edit, time, LGBT, and best.
Most writers fall in one of two categories: the hobbyist and the “I want to make money” writer. Some are hobbyists that eventually come to the decision to market a book. That decision, however, is not one to be made lightly. It comes with new burdens and expenses. This episode discusses the four-letter word “sell.” It’s now about how to sell, but how to make the decision to market a hobby.
First aired June 1, 2020.
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S10 Bonus – Character Interviews

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers.
It’s time to put the hosts to the test. How well do they know their own characters? Character interviews are useful tools for authors to create, learn about, and refine their original characters. Even if all of the details aren’t included in the text of the story, the knowledge can inform the actions and attitudes of the characters. In this month’s bonus episode, Ley and Leigh quizzed each other about one of their original characters then had to guess which one the other was representing.
First aired May 30, 2020.
Below are some of the questions asked in this podcast. Questions are separated by category based on the podcast episodes from the rest of the month.
Statistics
What are your character’s stats? (age, height, weight, etc.)Does your character have any nicknames?What era/genre is your character in?Do they wear glasses or contacts?Do they have any defining scars, birthmarks, or tattoos?What is their preferred clothing style?Dungeons and Dragons
What is their strongest D&D attribute? What is their weakest?What is their weapon of choice? Armor of choice?Do they have any special training or education?Do they speak any other languages?Do they play any instruments?What is their most treasured possession?How would they like to die?Relationships
Do they have any family still alive?Who is their favorite family member?Is there someone they most admire?Do they have a first kiss or a love they could never forget?Nature
What do they have a knack for?Do they have any hobbies they’re naturally inclined toward?Nurture
What is their cornerstone memory?Is there a moment in their life they wish they could experience again? Is there a moment they’d never return to or wish they could forget?Do they have a favorite form of entertainment? (movies, songs, reading, etc.)Is there something in their past they are ashamed of?What is their first childhood memory?Has anyone saved their life?Flaws
What would they change about themselves?What is their least favorite body part?What is their biggest weakness that keeps them from achieving their goals?Strengths
What do they hope people appreciate about them?Would they attend their own funeral? What would they want people to say?How do they solve problems? (attack head-on, stop to analyze, etc.)Archetypes
Are they a natural leader, or do they tend to follow?What kind of mother/father are they? (Mama bear or “everyone gets the same number of sprinkles”)Do they fight, flee, or freeze when faced with a fight?If they were in a Hogwarts House, which would it be?Do they have a spirit animal?The post S10 Bonus – Character Interviews appeared first on Writing Roots.

S10E8 – Character Archetypes

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers.
Many characters fall into definable categories. The hero, the magician, the jester, the hermit. These are archetypes any author can use as they create and develop their own characters. It’s no longer a time for Greek epics where the heroes seem to be cookie-cutter versions of the same person, but that doesn’t mean similar basics can’t be used to start. Readers can connect more quickly to characters when there’s an archetype they’ve seen before. This episode explains some archetypes and how to correctly use them in a story.
First aired May 28, 2020.
Twelve Common Archetypes – Writers Write
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S10E7 – Developing Character Strengths

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers.
Nothing influences character decisions more than their flaws and strengths. Every character needs a reason to be party of the story and that reason is usually their strength. Sometimes they can first appear as a weakness, but it always defines the character. From physical strengths to mental fortitude, this episode is focused on what makes a character strong in a story.
First aired May 25, 2020.
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S10E6 – Developing Character Flaws

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers.
Nothing influences character decisions more than their flaws and strengths. A protagonist’s flaws will hinder them, slow them, and challenge them to become better than before. Antagonists can use those weaknesses to exploit and torture the protagonist. As Susan Bearman put it, fictional flaws “should be genuine and difficult to overcome.” It’s not simple clumsiness, either. Good flaws consist mainly of psychological weaknesses with some physical manifestations. Leigh and Ley explore different kinds of flaws and how they can be used to create realistic characters.
First aired May 21, 2020.
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S10E5 – Character History: Nurture

Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realistic, believable, and deep characters. It means getting to know them on a personal level. It takes developing more than their powers or strengths, but their flaws. It’s not easy but it is possible, even for those pantsers.
Psychologists have been arguing for decades about what dictates personality. It’s an argument that can help authors develop realistic and deep characters. Last episode was dedicated to nature and how a character’s physiology can determine actions through a story. This episode is the other half of the psychology argument: nurture. Many psychologists believe a person’s experiences as a child are the major factor in who they become later in their life. Hosts Leigh and Ley share how memories and traumas can influence a character, and why knowing some of their backstory is so important for good development.
First aired May 18, 2020.
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