Writing Roots
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
S20E3 – Myth Three: Said is Dead
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dialogue tags are one of the more controversial and debated topics in the writing world. Some say they shouldn’t be needed at all while others say a...
S20E2 – Myth Two: Write What You Know
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you are writing non-fiction, the common phrase to “write what you know” is actually sound advice. You need to be an expert if you are going to ...
S20E1 – Myth One: Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Venturing into the world of writing can be overwhelming. New authors are accosted with dos and don’ts at every turn. They must have this. Must do th...
S19 Bonus – Always Add a Fight, featuring Fight Write
28 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best ways to keep the pacing up while adding filler to the middle of a book is to add some kind of fight. While it can be an argument, thro...
S19E8 – Preparing for Act III
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we reach the end of the second act, it’s time to ramp up the preparations for the final conflict. While this changes vastly depending on the genr...
S19E7 – A Leader’s Bad Decision
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Conflict can help propel the middle of the book forward while actively setting up for the final confrontation. While sometimes it can be external, you...
S19E6 – Using the Weather and Other Acts of God
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you find yourself in middle of your manuscript wondering what could possibly happen to get things moving, you might consider an act of god. This do...
S19E5 – Romance and Drunkenness
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
No matter the genre, using scenes that focus on character emotions can help drive a plot through the second act. Sometimes this comes with romantic da...
S19E4 – Creating a Holiday for Worldbuilding
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What can be better for the middle of Act II than a party? Holidays and events are a wonderful way to add some depth to the world while giving the char...
S18E3 – Time for a Casting Change
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One way to help the process of writing the second act is to have a casting change of some kind. This could be bringing back a character introduced ear...
S19E2 – A Secret Revealed
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Every character has a secret. Sometimes it’s something they know about another, and sometimes it’s about themselves. Using these secrets during th...
S19E1 – Using Footholds to Find Direction
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The most challenging part of writing a novel is often the middle. It’s find the pieces to keep the plot moving forward without simply skipping to th...
S18 Bonus – Pearls from the Masters: Brandon Sanderson
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret to anyone that listens to this podcast that Brandon Sanderson is Leigh’s favorite author, but he also has a lot of advice to help n...
S18E8 – Pearls from the Masters: Ernest Hemingway
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ernest Hemingway is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century, his influence expanding beyond just his works alone. His writing is as...
S18E7 – Pearls from the Masters: J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Two of the greatest fantasy writers came from the same writing group. Not only that, but they were known friends as they worked on their individual st...
S18E6 – Pearls from the Masters: Agatha Christie
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Agatha Christie is among the greatest mystery authors of all time. Her stories, though around 100 years old, are still loved and well-read today. Part...
S18E5 – Pearls from the Masters: Aristotle
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While Aristotle is more well-known for his philosophical ideas, he also has many memorable and applicable quotes to writing today. Storytelling in Gre...
S18E4 – Pearls from the Masters: Lee Child
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
No one is as economical with words quite like an action author. Among the best of them is Lee Child, known for his Jack Reacher series. His writing is...
S18E3 – Pearls from the Masters: Neil Gaiman
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One author with almost endless advice for those getting started in their writing careers is Neil Gaiman. Many of his books and other works are lauded ...
S18E2 – Pearls from the Masters: John Green
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Masters of the writing craft come in all forms and all genres. While much of his popularity was gained as a vlogger, John Green was first an award-win...
S18E1 – Pearls from the Masters: Stephen King
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When learning to write, one of the best ways to improve is to look to the ones who have gone before. Like an apprentice blacksmith, new writers can re...
S17E9 – How Do I Learn to Become a Better Writer?
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There is so much advice out there for writers. Some of it is good, some of it is great, and some of it is terrible. However, not all advice can be app...
S17E8 – What Do I Need to Know to Start Writing My Book?
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Starting is the hardest part about writing a novel. You have so many ideas swirling around in your head, but the question remains of how to even get t...
S17 Bonus – How Do I Get Over Writer’s Block?
26 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are all kinds of things that can keep someone from writing. There’s not enough time. Other things need to take priority. Inspiration or the mu...
S17E7 – Can I Mention Copyrighted or Trademarked Material?
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Any book taking place in the real world – especially those in the modern era – will have mentions and references that anchor them into a timeline....
S17E6 – What Software is Good for Writing and Formatting?
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many answers to this frequently asked question. What software and which programs are the best for the different phases of writing and pub...
S17E5 – What Price Should I Set for My Book?
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pricing is not always easy when considering the value of a produce, especially of a book. You may believe it’s worth much more because it’s yours....
S17E4 – How Do I Determine the Genre of a Book?
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The specifics of a genre can be difficult to determine at times. You may know your book is fantasy, but what kind of fantasy? What kind of Young Adult...
S17E3 – To Cliffhang or Not to Cliffhang?
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One question we encounter a lot is about how to keep a reader interested in a story. What devices can be used to make the reader turn the page, or say...
S17E2 – What Makes a Book Impactful and Unforgettable?
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All authors want to make some kind of impact on their readers through their words. Even books written for pure entertainment need to have some kind of...
S17E1 – How Descriptive Should I Get With Appearances?
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The whole purpose of Writing Roots is to help authors achieve their goals. To help them write and to be published, if that is their wish. Along the wa...
S16E9 – Sharing the Spotlight: Including Victories for Secondary Characters
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16 Bonus – Punctuation and Paragraphing
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are subtle things in writing that change the flow of the sentences and paragraphs. Punctuation marks do more than denote a stop or pause. They c...
S15E8 – Pet the Dog: Moments to Humanize Characters
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E7 – Yes, But…
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E6 – Throw in an Obstacle
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E5 – Make it Small
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E4 – Using the Senses to Connect with Readers
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E3 – Between the Lines: Importance of Subtext
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E2 – Using Similes and Metaphors
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S16E1 – Writing Right Right Now
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are some things that can help any author simply write, no matter the genre. We’re sharing with you this month tricks of the writing trade. Esp...
S15 Bonus – The Worst Monsters: Features of True Crime
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Halloween everyone! We’ve been talking monsters and fantastical creatures for the entire month of October, progressively getting darker and sc...
S15E9 – Ancient and Prehistoric Monsters and Gods
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E8 – Ghosts and Hauntings with Lori Juszak
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E7 – Hordes of the Undead
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E6 – Creatures from the Deep
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E5 – Chimera: The Mix-and-Match Monsters
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E4 – Giants and Creatures of Large Stature
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E3 – Man-Made Monsters and Creatures
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E2 – The Fae and Fairies
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S15E1 – Mythical Creatures of Purity
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From those that go bump in the night to ones that offer hope, mythical creatures and monsters are abound in fiction. You can find them in anything fro...
S14E8 – Artists with Travis Micheal
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14BE – We Liked You First: A Podcast for Writers and Performers
26 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One struggle for many new writers is finding a way to get their name out there. This is even more difficult for those aiming to be screenwriters. That...
S14E7 – Performance Arts with Linda Bott
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14E6 – Nursing with Lorainne Woodworth
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14E5 – Martial Arts with Jeremiah
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14E4 – Biochemistry with Megan Browning
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14E3 – Journalism with Julia Avery
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14E2 – Law Enforcement with Patrick O’Donnell
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S14E1 – Firearms with Nick Mangum
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whet...
S13E9 – All Characters Feel the Same
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13BE – Why We Write Selfishly
29 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You hear us say it at least once every episode. Write Selfishly. It’s our motto and goal in writing, but also so much more than that. To celebrate o...
S13E8 – All Sentences Start the Same Way
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E7 – When a Story is Fake or Forced
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E6 – When Continuity Breaks
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E5 – Red Flag Words
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E4 – Why Didn’t They Think of That?
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E3 – Worrying About Word Count
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E2 – It’s Just Boring!
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S13E1 – The Solution to Awkward Dialogue
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. R...
S12E9 – Awards and Competitions
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E8 – Using Sequels During Marketing
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12 Bonus – Tips and Tricks for Interviews
25 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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....
S12E7 – Getting the Most Effective Reviews
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E6 – Where to Sell Your Books
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E5 – Writing Effective Ads and Teases
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E4 – Using Social Media to Market
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E3 – Choosing the Right Medium for Your Book
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E2 – Building an Author Brand
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S12E1 – Finding Your Target Audience
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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-publishi...
S11E9 – Best: Improving Your Writing to Achieve Your Best
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11 Bonus Episode – Read: How to Read as a Writer
27 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There is one thing that can help an author improve their skills above all others. That is to read. New authors say all of the time they don’t have t...
S11E8 – Plan: Basics of Planning a Story from Start to Finish
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E7 – Time: Maintaining Momentum Through a Story
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E6 – Edit: Why Editing is Essential for the Business of Publishing
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E5 – Stop: Making the Decision to Abandon or Pause a Story
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E4 Extended – LGBT+: Further Discussion of Quality Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community in Writing
13 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 LG...
S11E4 – LGBT: Writing Quality Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E3 – Kiss: Why and How to Include Romantic Subplots
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E2 – Tell: How to Identify and Correct Cases of Telling
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S11E1 – Sell: How to Decide to Market Your Writing
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thin...
S10 Bonus – Character Interviews
30 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E8 – Character Archetypes
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E7 – Developing Character Strengths
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E6 – Developing Character Flaws
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E5 – Character History: Nurture
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E4 – Character History: Nature
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E3 – Creating and Developing Character Relationships
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E2 – Using D&D to Create a Story Character
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...
S10E1 – Statistics of a Character
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Characters are the base of any story. Without well-developed characters, the plot will always fall flat. This series is dedicated to creating realisti...