Writing Roots

S3E5 – Murder 101

Every writer has heard the adage “write what you know” at least a dozen times. What does it even mean? As writers, especially of fiction, we constantly write what we don’t know. This month, we explore how to navigate the balance between imagination and reality.
Almost every story (sans children’s books) contains at least one death. Not all writers, though, understand what is actually happening when someone dies. Ley Esses and Leigh Hull discuss death via a range of weaponry, and what happens to a body during death.
Special note: We ended up speaking much longer on this topic than intended. For a more extensive review of death and murder in writing, we will be publishing the Director’s Cut this Saturday, October 19.
First aired October 17, 2019.
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S3E4 – Weather and Architecture

Every writer has heard the adage “write what you know” at least a dozen times. What does it even mean? As writers, especially of fiction, we constantly write what we don’t know. This month, we explore how to navigate the balance between imagination and reality.
Some authors struggle to make their world feel real to the reader. That usually goes back to how much effort – or lack thereof – was put into building the weather and architecture of the cultures. Ley Esses and Leigh Hull talk through how to incorporate accurate weather – and how that influences architecture – into your world to help the reader feel immersed.
First aired October 14, 2019.
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S3E3 – Building Magic Systems

Every writer has heard the adage “write what you know” at least a dozen times. What does it even mean? As writers, especially of fiction, we constantly write what we don’t know. This month, we explore how to navigate the balance between imagination and reality.
While we explored some of the basics of magic in the Worldbuilding, part 2 (aired in August), Leigh and Ley explore deeper into using specific types of magic and what it could do within the bounds of your story.
First aired October 10, 2019.
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S3E2 – Magic and Technology

Every writer has heard the adage “write what you know” at least a dozen times. What does it even mean? As writers, especially of fiction, we constantly write what we don’t know. This month, we explore how to navigate the balance between imagination and reality.
Magic and technology are often seen as opposing forces within fiction. A common trope is one cannot work around the other. Leigh Hull and Ley Esses talk about using both in a story and why they don’t always have to be opposites.
First aired October 7, 2019.
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S3E1 – Writing Outside Your Expertise

Every writer has heard the adage “write what you know” at least a dozen times. What does it even mean? As writers, especially of fiction, we constantly write what we don’t know. This month, we explore how to navigate the balance between imagination and reality.
The first episode focuses on the broader spectrum of writing outside what you know. From research to simple creativity, Ley Esses and Leigh Hull explore ways to make it seem like you know what you’re writing about.
First aired October 3, 2019.
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S2E9 – Release and Launch

What happens after reaching “The End” in a manuscript can be a very difficult and daunting time. In series two of Writing Roots, hosts Leigh Hull and Ley Esses dig into the steps between finishing the manuscript and getting it into the hands of the readers.
It’s time to celebrate! If you’ve reached the time to release your book, you need to congratulate yourself. In this episode, we talk about the celebration process, and then how to follow through to get your book out into the world.
First aired September 30, 2019.
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S2 Bonus – Writing Emotion: Mad, Glad, Sad, and Scared

In this bonus episode of Writing Roots, we’re taking a step away from the Final Draft to discuss emotions.
Most everyone feels emotions, but none of their experiences are exactly the same. Leigh Hull and Ley Esses use this bonus episode to explore emotions using four main categories: mad, glad, sad, and scared. We discuss how to write realistic emotion and how to make your reader feel what your characters feel.
First aired September 28, 2019.
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S2E8 – Preparing the Metadata

What happens after reaching “The End” in a manuscript can be a very difficult and daunting time. In series two of Writing Roots, hosts Leigh Hull and Ley Esses dig into the steps between finishing the manuscript and getting it into the hands of the readers.
Metadata is the necessary evil to self-publishing. Ley walks us through all the different steps of gathering the metadata in order to publish your manuscript, from an ISBN to writing a blurb.
First aired September 26, 2019.
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S2E7 – Audiobooks

What happens after reaching “The End” in a manuscript can be a very difficult and daunting time. In series two of Writing Roots, hosts Leigh Hull and Ley Esses dig into the steps between finishing the manuscript and getting it into the hands of the readers.
Audiobooks are an oft forgotten piece in the self-publishing process. It’s a growing market, especially compared to both e-book and print markets. Listen to learn more about why self-published authors should remember it before sending the manuscript to print.
First aired September 23, 2019.
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S2E6 – Marketing Yourself and Your Book

What happens after reaching “The End” in a manuscript can be a very difficult and daunting time. In series two of Writing Roots, hosts Leigh Hull and Ley Esses dig into the steps between finishing the manuscript and getting it into the hands of the readers.
This episode explores the marketing process. After writing and editing comes actually trying to sell the book. Self-publishing makes this a challenge, simply because it is such a large market. Listen to learn more about how to brand yourself, your books, and get your name out into the world.
First aired September 19, 2019.
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