Writing Roots

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 action tags are the best. One camp in this debate, th...

8 Mar 202111min

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 advise others on a certain topic. However, this is oft...

4 Mar 202111min

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 that. Can never do whatever that is. It’s daunting whe...

1 Mar 202111min

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, throwing fists can be great to release some of the bui...

28 Feb 202156min

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 genre, the end of the second act should always result in...

25 Feb 202111min

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 can also use internal conflicts caused by a bad d...

22 Feb 202110min

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 doesn’t have to mean a literal god in your story rea...

18 Feb 202110min

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 dates that end in mishaps or misery. Sometimes it me...

15 Feb 202110min