The Daily Port of Call: June 20, 2014

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

In today’s Daily Port of Call, you’ll find the nuts and bolts of writing dialogue, four steps to help you create a cleaner manuscript, and how to make the most of the latest Amazon category changes.

Get your characters talking! Here are the nuts and bolts of writing dialogue.

If you can’t afford an editor, here are four fun steps to help you achieve a cleaner manuscript.

One author shares her top five writing tips.

How can you make the most of the changes to Amazon categories?

Discover how to be a writer in the real world. “It’s not writing that I hate, but rather all the challenges that come along with being a writer today, challenges which can ruin the act of writing for us, if we let them.” Don’t let them.

Here are thirty-seven books for creative people to check out.

The Daily Port of Call: June 19, 2014

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

In today’s Daily Port of Call, you’ll find what self-published authors need to know about taxes, how to tell if your story is on track, and tips to take advantage of your backstory.

What do self-published authors need to know about taxes?

You can tell if your story is on track by writing a log-line.

Use these tips to take advantage of backstory. “The story arc is a curve that starts from beliefs rooted in backstory, touching along the way on everything these beliefs take away from the character, and finally ending where the character is able to overcome these beliefs.”

Why do some authors choose pseudonyms? You’ll find a few of the reasons in this post.

Discover how to set up your writing goals in Scrivener.

Make the most of your time spent on social media with these helpful suggestions.

Here are twenty words that once meant something quite different.