Writer Fuel: The Three “Rules” of Point of View

Writer Fuel: The Three “Rules” of Point of View

Point of view is one of the trickiest and most technical aspects of writing, but it’s also my favorite. There are so many choices and possibilities—it’s like being in the literary version of a candy store! At the same time, however, this variety of options can be overwhelming, making us feel like we’re being pulled… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Writing Insights from The Twilight Zone

Writer Fuel: Writing Insights from The Twilight Zone

You may not know this about me, but I am a die-hard Twilight Zone fan. The show represents some of the finest writing in television and I especially love that it’s kid-friendly so I can watch with the nerdlings. Sure, a couple of episodes might be duds, but what show doesn’t hit the occasional bump… Read more »

Writer Fuel: The Power of Writing Prompts

Writer Fuel: The Power of Writing Prompts

As a New Year’s resolution in January of 2007, I decided I was a writer and would start acting like one. No more excuses. I was going to stop complaining and saying that I’d start writing “someday.” I would glue my backside to the chair and start writing right now. The problem was, I had… Read more »

3 Things Writers Need to Know About Voice

Writer Fuel: 3 Things Writers Need to Know About Voice

The topic of voice has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s a subject that writers are expected to understand, but rarely does anyone actually explain what it really is. Until now. Voice is the feel, the vibe, the sound, the essence of your writing. It’s that quality that makes your writing unmistakably yours…. Read more »

Episode 475: Craft Jam: Get Your Story to “The End”

Episode 475: Craft Jam: Get Your Story to “The End”

Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I jam about the craft. In these episodes, we do a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.  This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to craft the perfect book ending. Have… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Rethinking the Way We Workshop

Writer Fuel: Rethinking the Way We Workshop

Once upon a time, a workshop was considered a place where you did the work. Think of a carpenter’s workshop, with sawdust covering the tables and coils or scraps of wood littering the floors. Or consider Santa’s workshop, where elves engage in the cheery job of making toys for all the good little children of… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Journaling – My New Writing Habit

Writer Fuel: Journaling – My New Writing Habit

At the end of January, I pulled out an old notebook and started journaling. Eleven months and nine notebooks later, I have written something just about every day since then. (Okay, I’m not counting the week I was on vacation at the end of June. I gave myself a free pass on that. After all,… Read more »

Hook Middle-Grade Readers From Your First Page

Hook Middle-Grade Readers From Your First Page

Hey there, anglers. Imagine luring in your middle-grade readers from the get-go. I’m serious. You can do this.  Today, we will dive into techniques that will captivate your young readers right from your first page. We all know too well that the opening page of your book is super important, and it’s especially crucial when… Read more »