The Daily Port of Call: September 30, 2014

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

In today’s Daily Port of Call, you’ll find the basics of story structure, why genre matters, and why authors should be entrepreneurs.

Learn the basics of story structure from Aristotle: pity, fear, and catharsis.

No writing advice about characters’ emotions is perfect. Get to know the elements that alter readers’ expectations.

Learn how to kill your darlings.

“Genres are my “food moods.” Sometimes, I want the comfort of a keeper read, a funny romantic comedy. Sometimes, I want the caffeinated buzz of a twisty thriller.” Discover why genre matters.

“Don’t ask for permission.” Find out why authors should be entrepreneurs.

Check out the writing spaces of nine famous creatives.  

The Daily Port of Call: September 29, 2014

Photo by Alexander Lvov/bigstockphoto.com

In today’s Daily Port of Call, you’ll find the difference between a story and a situation, twenty common issues in fiction, and how to find your book’s ideal audience.

What if your story has no character arc? “Character Arc = Story, No Character Arc = Situation”

Review these twenty common issues in fiction.

Discover these five steps to find your book’s ideal audience.

Find out how order and routine support your writing life. “Taking stock after a couple of months I now realize just how important order, routine (and time!) is to my creativity - and how I have to reclaim them all, in order to re-establish the balance we all struggle to maintain between our writing life and our 'other life'.”

Here are fourteen never-fail tips every writer needs to know.

To keep writing, keep moving!