Writing Roots

S9E4 – Plagiarism

There are some crimes people can commit that aren’t punishable by law. This series is dedicated to those involved with writing, whether they be committed by the author or the readers. To be clear, this series isn’t designed to help writers better create crimes (murder, theft, etc.) within their novels. The kinds of crimes we’ll talk about range from boring the readers to abusing the control you have over the book and characters.
A writing crime that happens to be an actual crime is plagiarism. Many new authors worry their stories are too similar to ones they’ve read, and are unsure when it crosses from inspiration to plagiarism. This episode talks about the difference: how inspiration is good for all authors and how actual plagiarism is actually very uncommon.
First aired April 13, 2020.The post S9E4 – Plagiarism appeared first on Writing Roots.

S9E3 – “I Have an Idea For a Book”

There are some crimes people can commit that aren’t punishable by law. This series is dedicated to those involved with writing, whether they be committed by the author or the readers. To be clear, this series isn’t designed to help writers better create crimes (murder, theft, etc.) within their novels. The kinds of crimes we’ll talk about range from boring the readers to abusing the control you have over the book and characters.
Writing a book is a venture that should not be taken lightly. It takes a whole lot more than just coming up with the idea to start. But one of the worst writing crimes anyone could commit is to just keep saying “I have an idea for a book” and expect it to magically appear fully finished. This episode helps break down how to go from an idea to a finished product, starting with finding a voice.
First aired April 9, 2020.
The post S9E3 – “I Have an Idea For a Book” appeared first on Writing Roots.

S9E2 – Wasting the Reader’s Time

There are some crimes people can commit that aren’t punishable by law. This series is dedicated to those involved with writing, whether they be committed by the author or the readers. To be clear, this series isn’t designed to help writers better create crimes (murder, theft, etc.) within their novels. The kinds of crimes we’ll talk about range from boring the readers to abusing the control you have over the book and characters.
In a world where instant gratification is standard and entertainment is delivered constantly, writers need to take extra caution. It is no longer a time where an author can spend three pages describing a tree because it is no longer a world where readers have little other choice for entertainment. To waste the reader’s time is a crime that will not gain authors any favor or return customers.
First aired April 6, 2020.
The post S9E2 – Wasting the Reader’s Time appeared first on Writing Roots.

S9E1 – “The Movie Was Better”

There are some crimes people can commit that aren’t punishable by law. This series is dedicated to those involved with writing, whether they be committed by the author or the readers. To be clear, this series isn’t designed to help writers better create crimes (murder, theft, etc.) within their novels. The kinds of crimes we’ll talk about range from boring the readers to abusing the control you have over the book and characters.
It’s a common phrase throughout modern culture: “The book/movie was better.” This is something everyone should stop saying, as both mediums have their use and purpose. Storytelling is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, and not everyone likes to read or stare at a screen for two hours. This episode talks about the benefits of each medium, especially books, and what those who consume stories should remember.
First aired April 2, 2020.
The post S9E1 – “The Movie Was Better” appeared first on Writing Roots.

S8E9 – The Non-Fiction Genre

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.
Non-fiction is another umbrella genre that is widely popular to write. It can cover anything from cookbooks and self-help to biographies and memoirs. While many people want to write in this genre, it does require consideration before attempting to publish with the expectation of making money.
First aired March 30, 2020.
The post S8E9 – The Non-Fiction Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.

S8 Bonus – The Hero’s Journey

Thanks to Joseph Campbell, writers have been able to put a name to a plot structure that has been used in storytelling for centuries. The Hero’s Journey can be seen in ancient mythologies and modern movies. While some new authors are concerned about writing something unique, many have found the benefit of using the Hero’s Journey as a template for their writing.
It’s not just about the twelve steps Campbell described in his book. Knowing the journey can help authors figure out the middle part. We often know how to start the book, and how it’s supposed to end, but new authors tend to falter in the middle. This month’s bonus episode is dedicated to helping writers use the Hero’s Journey template to round out their story with content that matters to the plot no matter the genre.
First aired March 28, 2020.
The post S8 Bonus – The Hero’s Journey appeared first on Writing Roots.

S8E8 – The Horror Genre

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.
It takes a special kind of imagination to write horror well. Unlike the horror movie genre, it is more than bashing people over the head or sawing them in half. Writing horror takes a dedication to description that will captivate the reader and send them glancing into the shadows with a deep fear.
First aired March 26, 2020.
The post S8E8 – The Horror Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.

S8E7 – The Comedy Genre

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.
Comedy is more often a subgenre in writing than a genre of its own. It can be very challenging to write something that is focused on comedy without it being a parody or satire of some kind. However, there is a lot of freedom in comedy. Just look at some of the more popular authors: Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Oscar Wilde. As long as the writing is good, a story in any setting can make someone laugh.
First aired March 23, 2020.
The post S8E7 – The Comedy Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.

S8E6 – The Romance Genre

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.
An element of this genre is in almost every story out there. Love, lust, and loss have been part of the human experience from the beginning of time. It would make sense, then, that one of the most widely-read genres is romance. This episode breaks down the elements of romance and what makes a story fall into this genre rather than others.
First aired March 19, 2020.
The post S8E6 – The Romance Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.

S8E5 – The Mystery Genre

Genres can be tricky things for new authors. The genre often determines the audience, writing style, and even basic themes contained in the book. Many new authors ask in forums across the internet which genre is best for their book. This series is dedicated to those authors, in hopes of answering those questions. Each episode will break down a different genre, from the expected word count to the sentence structure.
Books should be filled with questions and intrigue, but no genre can do it quite as well as mystery. It is in the name, after all. From amateur sleuth to police procedural, the mystery genre is filled with tales of “whodunit.” This episode breaks down what kinds of mysteries are out there and what is expected for authors who venture into the wildly popular genre.
First aired March 16, 2020.
The post S8E5 – The Mystery Genre appeared first on Writing Roots.