I mean, really, what’s the point of writing? “WTAF?” is a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. What’s the point of crying, of protesting, of sharing my feelings online? What’s the point of trying to make my voice heard when it’s clear no one is interested in hearing it? With everything—and I mean,… Read more »
I’m moving. Which means that in addition to work, I’m spending a lot of my waking hours sorting and packing my possessions into boxes to keep, donate, or trash. Not surprisingly, I’m not getting a lot of reading done. But the nice thing about sorting and packing is that my mind is free to roam…. Read more »
Summer break means warmer temps, later nights, barbecues, popsicles, fireworks, swimming … and kids spending more time at home. While kids may love summer free time, parents sometimes struggle to adapt to the new family dynamic. In particular, writers can find it challenging to maintain their writing life with kids—and extra noise—in the house. If… Read more »
You’ve written a book. You’ve published that book. People who don’t even know you have bought said book! That means it’s time to re-create it as an audiobook. Right? How exactly does that happen, especially when you have a lean-to-zero budget? This article walks authors through the broad strokes of what they need to decide… Read more »
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexis Schaitkin. We’ll be talking about tone, voice, mood, and her book Elsewhere. Have you signed up to be a DIY MFA Radio Insider yet? This is an exciting new monthly newsletter, especially for our podcast listeners. Every month, you’ll get an email from our podcast producer with… Read more »
Trends! TikTok has some, and so does Instagram. And that is perhaps one of the few things writing a novel and social media have in common. Read on for more about the trends in speculative fiction. How trends can help you as an author 1. A Great Place to Start Let’s face it: when you… Read more »
As an author, does the phrase “cultural appropriation” make the tiny hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention? You’re not alone. Some conversations about cultural appropriation can feel about as useful as a pile of hot garbage. However, intentionally making space to listen to experiences with cultural appropriation has the potential to… Read more »
Hello, fellow kid lit writers! I’m coming to you this week with another fantastic author interview. Our spotlight author this time is Ritu Anand, author of the vibrant and heartfelt picture book Kara’s Dreams. I had the pleasure of interviewing her, and I can’t wait to share her incredible insight and experiences writing for kids!… Read more »
The setting of my debut novel, Blithedale Canyon, is Mill Valley, California, a small, leafy suburb just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. But though Mill Valley is a real place—and, as it happens, my hometown—I knew from the start that I wanted to treat it fictionally. In part, this meant that while… Read more »
I’m a summer gal. I love the long days that seem full of possibility. They make me want to make the most out of my waking hours. This means getting my work done more quickly and efficiently so that I have more time to read, write, and do other things I love. Maybe you are… Read more »
