Writing Roots

There will come a time in your story where your characters don't feel up to the task ahead. Though there are a myriad of reason why this could be, the most common is inferiority. They do not feel good enough, strong enough or powerful enough to take on that final task. Inferiority can also be laced into a character from the beginning. Perhaps they've been bullied for a long time, or perhaps they'v...

In the darkest times, your characters need something to give them a spark of hope. Something to get them back on their feet and willing to continue the fight. That is why as an author, you need to know how to write the emotions of hope and inspiration. From rallying speeches to the physical appearance of a character gaining hope again, we discuss how to represent these key emotions in your story.

Though not exactly an emotion, hunger does have a huge impact on people as they move through their daily lives. Different levels of hunger come with their own emotions. Food can also play a strong role in building companionship and community. If you're struggling with how to get two characters to work together, food may be your answer. In this episode, our hosts talk about the different emotions t...

All characters have secrets. Sometimes it's their true feelings for another character, and sometimes it's about a dark time in their life. You can use the reveal of these secrets through confessions to help drive your story, create twists, and to create tension as you approach the finale. To learn more about how to use confessions and the emotions that go with them, listen to this episode.

Boredom can be a key element for writing your stories, but it is difficult to strike that balance between showing a bored character and making your readers bored. After all, we've said before you should cut scenes where nothing actually happens. So how do you find that balance? How do you use boredom to help move a story forward? Listen to this episode to learn more about the tips and tricks to wr...

Of all the emotions you could include in your story, grief is one of the most common yet most complex options. Many stories address the idea of grief, whether it is the loss of someone they loved, the loss of a limb, a new medical diagnosis, or a loss of something smaller. No matter what is causing the grief, you should be familiar with what grief is, what it means, and how it can impact daily lif...

This whole month has been about helping you understand that when you become an author, you become a public figure of sorts. That means "being cancelled" is a real possibility if you make the wrong move or say the wrong thing. Aside from that, there is also a long-standing debate in the book world about censorship - particularly book banning. In many ways, these are two sides to the same coin. But...

If there is one thing that we collectively stop doing as a bookish community, it should be FOMO marketing and exclusive special editions. Don't get us wrong. We love special editions as much as the next reader. They can be great for authors as a way to draw in readers and really grab attention. Even bonus content can be a great way to keep people engaged. Some publishers, however, have taken it a...

All advertising is good advertising, right? It doesn’t matter if you’re mean or nice, so long as people know your name, right? Wrong. People may know your name, but you could easily do more damage than good. In this episode, Ley and Leigh discuss how to identify rage bait, what to do when you find it, and why it's generally a bad idea to implement on social media if you're looking to become a care...

The idea of writing a memoir pushed me way out of my comfort zone. So instead of trying to eat the whole elephant in one sitting, I took small bites. - Rachel Trotter Whether or not you’re writing a memoir or a piece of fiction, it is well known that writers “write what they know.” In many cases, that translates to using real experiences from the author’s own life to help shape or directly inspire...

Authors often feel pressure to be active on social media, particularly TikTok, in order to get and keep a substantial following. This is largely new territory, and some long-time authors are finding themselves in hot water because they don't understand the spaces they're stepping into. Particularly, they don't understand the support out there for self-published books. When you decide to be an auth...

Your readers are the most important piece of your marketing. If they like your book, they will share it with other readers with similar tastes. Like a pyramid scheme, but better. However, they also hold the potential for your failure in their hands. In recent months, several authors have betrayed reader trust and thus ultimately ended their careers. When you approach the reading communities - espe...

There have been a few authors recently - usually newer authors - who have made a bad name for themselves because of how they interacted with readers. In some cases, it was calling them names for leaving bad reviews. In others, its an unreasonable restriction on the copyright page that completely ignores the legally-established First Sale Doctrine. When you set out to be an author, one thing you ne...

As authors, it is good to engage in reader spaces, but it doesn't come without dangers. When you are looking to leave reviews, you need to look at your purpose and goal. It's not always appropriate for an author to review another author's work - especially if it's negative.  You've likely heard of the author who bombed her career when she review-bombed other authors on Goodreads. This is a prime e...

Bad behavior from authors has been causing all sorts of drama across the online book community recently, and much of it stems from authors interacting within reader spaces. Reader spaces are places like BookTok or Storygraph, where readers go to review, build community, and share their favorite (and sometimes least favorite) books. For authors, those spaces can serve as a great way to find and bui...

Rejection is part of writing. It's a simple fact which, unfortunately, not all writers are prepared to face. Throughout February, we will be discussing author conduct using recent examples of authors behaving badly. If you've been following author circles in the last six months, you've likely heard of more than one author criticizing reviewers for leaving bad reviews. In some of the worst cases, t...

Part of figuring out yourself as a writer is testing different options along the way. Are you a pantser or plotter or something in between? Do you like doing writing sprints? How much time do you spend on each project in order to get it done? Do you write at scheduled times or as you’re inspired? Walk through with us as we talk about the different options of your journey to figure out what kind of...

Funding is one of the most precarious parts of publishing your own books. From the editing to cover design to formatting, it can be an expensive process to undertake on your own. One route many authors have found is through crowdfunding campaigns such as Kickstarter. We talked with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, to talk about how crowdfunding can be a useful tool in getting you...

Each writing journey is a totally unique experience, and it’s not just because each book is unique. When you start along the path of writing and maybe even publishing a book, you have to understand that no other author’s journey is going to be a perfect fit for you as well. Things would be a lot easier if there was some perfect formula to follow, but there simply isn’t. Instead, writing is about d...

When you are writing, we always want you to focus on creating the story for yourself. Inevitably, however, there comes a time when you will likely consider sending that story into the world for readers to consume. Making that choice to monetize – whether through direct sales or as a marketing hook for other stories – isn’t always easy. In this episode, we discuss things you should consider when ap...

Much of writing is having the right tools in your toolbox. Finding those can be complicated, especially if you’re just getting started. It boils down to being open to learn, to grow and to change your perception of your own writing journey. First aired January 18, 2024.

Writing is not a solitary experience. Though you may be alone while you are actually writing, having a community around you of other writers is essential for the process. A community of writers means you have a support system, encouragement when you need it, and even advice when you run up against a wall with your writing. Discover ways to find a writing community for you, whether in-person or onl...

You might think it strange to hear this advice from a podcast based solely on the idea of giving advice to authors, but this idea to take all advice with a grain of salt is embedded into how we operate. After all, isn’t that what writing selfishly means? When getting advice about writing, you should never apply an “all or none” sort of attitude. Your story is not for everyone, so everyone’s opinio...

One of the most common reasons we see for why people don’t finish their books is because they try to edit as they go. While everyone has their own process, trying to edit before the book is done often leads to a never-ending cycle of trying to achieve perfection. In this episode, we discuss the process of writing and publishing, and why it’s important to write now and edit later. First aired Janua...

The world needs your story. More than anything, we want you to keep pursuing your writing goals, whatever that might be. There are several things along the way that contribute to writers giving up their goals, whether it’s frustration, discouragement, or simply time. In this episode, we talk about how you can overcome some of the most common things that get in the way of writing. First aired Janua...