The Daily Port of Call: May 8, 2014

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

In today’s Daily Port of Call, you’ll find the one simple truth for being a successful writer, how to write your story in six steps, and the lost art of description.

Here is the one simple truth for being a successful writer.

Here are tips for moms and other busy people to find the time to write your book.

Discover how to write your story in six steps.

Need some inspiration? Try these short story prompts in honor of National Short Story Month.

Uncover the lost art of description in creative writing.

A close-up view of the craft: Compare one writer’s work-in-progress with the revised version.

The Daily Port of Call: May 7, 2014

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.