From the Issue Published: June 27, 2024

From The Stacks

Book: How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell

It never hurts to brush up on the basics, and even if your book’s dialogue is great, like with any creative writing skill, it can always be made better. How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Any Manuscript compiles lectures from author and writing coach James Scott Bell’s writing seminars to explore what makes dialogue memorable in fiction and teach you how to improve your own.

Tool: Audacity

https://audacityteam.org

For authors exploring ways to record and edit their own audio for audiobooks, podcasts, or transmedia opportunities, Audacity is free, professional-quality editing software with a relatively small learning curve. Users can record directly in the program or import audio files, as well as improve the audio quality with options to reduce noise, re-record sections of audio, or add effects. Finished projects can be exported in several common file types, including MP3 and WAV, with the help of a free plugin.

Podcast: NPR’s Book of the Day

https://npr.org/podcasts/510364/daily-booksEvery writer should also be a reader, but if you’ve hit a slump, NPR’s reader-focused podcast may be the answer. In bite-sized episodes around fifteen minutes or less, NPR’s Book of the Day sums up a different book each weekday, covering a range of genres and writing styles. There are suggestions for nearly every reader, “whether you’re looking to engage with the big questions of our times—or temporarily escape from them,” according to NPR’s website. (And don’t forget to search for any reader-focused podcasts specific to your genre to learn what’s piquing your audience’s interest!)

About the Author
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Nicole Schroeder

Nicole Schroeder is a storyteller at heart. As the editor in chief of Indie Author Magazine, she brings nearly a decade of journalism and editorial experience to the publication, delighting in any opportunity to tell true stories and help others do the same. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Missouri School of Journalism and minors in English and Spanish. Her previous work includes editorial roles at local publications, and she’s helped edit and produce numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including a Holocaust survivor’s memoir, alongside independent publishers. Her own creative writing has been published in national literary magazines. When she’s not at her writing desk, Nicole is usually in the saddle, cuddling her guinea pigs, or spending time with family. She loves any excuse to talk about Marvel movies and considers National Novel Writing Month its own holiday.