The Daily Port of Call: May 7, 2014

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

In today’s Daily Port of Call, you’ll find how to pay attention to the gasoline in a scene, authors writing a book live, and what to leave out when building your fictional world.

“Pay attention to the emotional gasoline in a scene.” Donald Maass explores plot vs. heart.

What are stakes, and how can you raise them in your story?

Show and tell: Two authors will show you how to write a book and publish it, live.

Read this interview with Jeff VanderMeer: “Making mistakes is so important to growth as a writer and understanding the arc of your career, and what you want out of your writing and your life.”

Know what to leave out: When to say when with world-building.

Take a peek inside the bedrooms of fifteen writers