Gabriela, (age 4) playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the E-String

The violin and I have a love-hate relationship.  I started playing at age 4, and have continued on and off for over 30-or-so years.  Some of the time this was by choice, other times… not so much.  After all, how much choice do you really have when you’re 4?  It scares me a little to think that, with the exception of maybe my parents and siblings, I’ve had a longer relationship with my fiddle than I have with most humans.

The “hate” part of the love-hate relationship is what comes to mind first.  I hate that from the minute I started school until today, everyone thinks of me as “the violin kid.”  I mean, sure, the violin was an important part of my formative years, but it’s not like I was born with the thing strapped to my arm.  Another thing is that I can’t hear a car horn or an elevator “ping” without thinking: d minor 7th chord, or seeing the note in my head.  Most people listen to music to “check out” and relax but I listen to music and my fingers start playing air-violin.  Oh, and the next person to make a violin-hickey joke is seriously going to get smacked.

But for someone like me, playing a musical instrument was probably the best thing that ever happened (even if I hate having to admit it).  I will admit that I’m really shy and playing violin taught me how to get up in front of a crowd.

An Octave of Things I Learned About Public Reading from Playing Violin

1)  Practice.  There’s this old violin joke…

Q: How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
A: Practice, practice, practice.

My violin teacher used to say: “You practice 120% so that if you mess up 30% at the concert, you still get it 90% right.”  I’ve learned that the best way to prepare for reading in public is to read the piece over and over to anyone who will listen.  Read it so many times you practically have the thing memorized.  Of course, there is such a thing as “over-practicing,” where you practice so hard you actually squelch the life out of the piece, but really how many of us have ever had that happen?  When in doubt, learn from the Boy Scouts and err on the side of being prepared.

2)  Pick a piece that shines.  If the goal is to wow the audience, selecting the right repertoire is key.  In particular, try to pick a piece that shows your work in its best light.  It always drove me crazy that I’d play a difficult baroque solo sonata and the audience would snooze but if I chose a short, easy, flashy piece I’d get a standing ovation.  It’s ridiculous, I know, but sometimes the obscure, difficult solo sonata comes across as snobbish and overly-intellectual while the short, flashy piece reads as fun and engaging.  If all you get is one chance to stun an audience, sometimes short/easy/flashy is the way to go.

3)  Remember: the audience is on your side.  Unless you’re defending your thesis in front of a panel of professors or you’re a lawyer giving your closing statements to a jury, chances are are the audience is not there to judge you.  They’re rooting for you.  Make the most of it!

4)  Don’t worry about mechanics.  The fastest way for me to mess up a violin performance is to think about my bow hand, or my posture, or my feet.  The minute I become hyper-aware of some mechanical detail or technique, all bets are off and I start making mistakes left and right.  The same is true for reading.  If you start to think about the actual words or grammar, that’s when fumbles can happen.  Which brings me to #5.

5)  Hear the story in your head.  Whenever I feel myself focusing too much on the mechanics of what I’m playing, I force myself to hear the music in my head.  Same is true for writing.  When I read, I try to get caught up in telling a good story, rather than the minutia of my writing.  Sometimes I’ll even do the voices when reading dialogue.

6)  If you make a mistake, just move on.  Don’t stop or go back.  Pretend it’s part of the piece.  After all, what are the odds that someone will know it’s not?  By the way, this is especially you’re reading something that’s not yet published.

7)  Don’t make faces.  This is a corollary to #6.  I’m queen of face-making when I play.  If I’m playing something difficult, I snarl at the fingerboard.  When I make mistakes, I mouth swear words.  I know this because my parents have oh-so-graciously captured all these moments on video.  My point is, if you act like you’ve made a mistake, everyone’s going to notice that something’s up.  If you just keep going, no one will ever know.

8)  Smile and have fun.  Even if you think this experience is about as enjoyable as getting a root canal, smile at the audience.  If you pretend you’re having fun, chances are, you’ll find yourself enjoying the moment and the audience will respond.

In the end, the key is to let the piece you’re reading become a part of you.  Sometimes, when I’m playing a performance, I have that moment of panic where my mind goes blank and I don’t know what comes next.  If the piece has become a part of me, then my fingers keep playing even if my brain is having a momentary short-circuit.  The same is true for reading in public.  Let the story become a part of you and even if you lose your place or get nervous, you’ll be able to keep going because the story wants to be told.

Finally, don’t forget to thank the audience with a smile or (in the case of a violin performance) a bow.

This week we’ve been talking about using images to spark ideas and capture the heart and soul of your story.  In keeping with this theme, DIY MFA is now on Pinterest, a online pin board that allows you to collect and share pictures that you love.  I’ve decided to use Pinterest to create a library of inspiring images for writers.  When you visit the DIY MFA page on Pinterest, you’ll find pin boards with all sorts of visual goodies for writers:

• Portraits to develop characters
• Images to spark stories
• Surreal and magical settings
• Office eye-candy for writers
• Books to fuel your DIY MFA journey
• Quotes to inspire your writing
• …and more!

The DIY MFA Pinterest page is meant to be a resource for all you fans of DIY MFA, with images that can be inspiration or a starting point for a story.  Click the picture below to check out the page.  Also, the nifty Pinterest widget in the sidebar will show you the latest DIY MFA pins.

It’s been a tough week.  On Thursday, an important member of my personal writing community passed away suddenly.  I’m still reeling from the shock, which accounts for my sudden silence on Twitter and other social media this week.  I apologize for my lapse but somehow it has not seemed right to be tweeting away in the middle of all this.

When a writer dies, stories die with her.  What I keep coming back to are the stories that my writer friend will never finish writing or the ones she never even got a chance to start.  I am honored that I had the privilege of knowing this writer and was able to read to her work before she let the rest of the world see it, but there’s this void where those stories have been ripped out of me.  It’s like I keep turning the pages of her stories to find out how the stories end, and all I see is a blank page.  When a writer dies before finishing a work, we as readers are left with ghosts of stories.  There are millions of possibilities and we’ll never know how it was meant to be.

Which brings me to my (somewhat sad) thought of the week: how often do we all get caught up in meaningless stuff and leave things that really matter to us (writing, for instance) by the wayside?  At the heart of it, DIY MFA has always been about focus and efficiency.  Life is short.  There are many books in the world waiting to be read, waiting to be written.  Sooner or later you have to choose the one that you will focus on.

So my question for you this Sunday afternoon is: which is THE ONE for you?  For me, it’s DIY MFA.

This week, we talked about different types of writing communities and where you can find a community that works for you.  Now we’ll start building our very own writing community right here at DIY MFA.  Aside from the blog, there are many other ways you can connect to DIY MFA and other writers participating in this project.

Twitter: I tweet DIY MFA updates from @DIYMFA so follow me on twitter to get the latest DIY MFA news.  Want to join the conversation?  Just tweet using the #DIYMFA hash tag.

Facebook: DIY MFA has a Facebook page!  If you’re on facebook, “like” the page so you can get updates.  Also feel free to comment, post updates and join the conversation on the Wall.

Google+: I’ve started a DIY MFA Google+ list so if you’d like to be on it, just comment on this Google+ post.  I’ll add you to a DIY MFA circle (and you can create your own DIY MFA circles too!) so we can all stay in touch via Google+.

DIY MFA Mailing List: Join the list by signing up in the sidebar.  You’ll get a weekly email called Writer Fuel and DIY MFA updates.  Also, send your DIY MFA news to contact.DIYMFA[at]gmail[dot]com so I can include it in the mailing and share it with the DIY MFA community.

Weekend Prompt:

Step 1: If you’re on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ and haven’t connected with DIY MFA through those communities, go ahead and follow, “like” or circle away.  If you’re not on the DIY MFA Mailing List yet, consider joining (Writer Fuel launches today at noon so join now and you won’t miss out on the fun!)

Step 2: At some point this weekend, choose one of these social media outlets and try connecting with other DIY MFA writers.  Post updates about what you’re writing.  Ask questions.  Anything goes!  This community is what we make of it, so let’s make it awesome!

Any suggestions of other ways we can make DIY MFA into a community?  Just let me know in the comments.

Trying to find the right community can sometimes feel like ordering from one of those monstrous diner menus: you have way too many options, but can never find the one thing you’re in the mood to eat.  The purpose of this post is to whittle down the choices for you, kind of like the waitress giving you a short list of specials. Here are some basic ways you can connect with the writing community.  This list is by no means comprehensive and there are many more writing resources.  Think of this as a jumping-off point, a place to get you started.

Join a writing association. There are many organizations that help bring writers together and are open to aspiring authors as well as ones who have been published. You have to pay annual membership dues but these associations will offer various benefits exclusively for their members (discounts on association conferences and events, a bulletin with writing news and information, also lectures and talks). Some even have local chapters where you can meet writers living in your area.

Even if you’re not a member, you can still attend some association events, so don’t worry if the dues our out of reach. Also, many of these associations have a comprehensive website with tons of free resources. The list below will give you a place to start (though it is by no means all-inclusive):

Academy of American Poets • American Crime Writers League • Authors Guild • Historical Novel Society • Horror Writers of America (HWA) • Mystery Writers of America (MWA) • PEN American Center • Poetry Society of America • Romance Writers of America (RWA) • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) • Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

Attend a conference. Conferences are an intense but fun way to meet other writers and learn about the publishing process. Think of it, two or three days dedicated to nothing but networking with writers and industry professionals as well as attending talks about writing and publishing. You can find many conferences just by looking up writing associations, but remember that there are also many excellent conferences that are not affiliated with any particular group.

Of course, the big downside with conferences is the cost. Aside from the actual price of the conference, if you’re venturing far from home you have to consider travel expenses and hotel stay as well. These events usually provide hotel discounts but even then, the cost can be prohibitive. My advice: budget enough for one conference and make the most of that event. Take time to research different conferences so that you can be certain that the one you’re saving up to attend is really the right one for you. Also, if you’re traveling, consider getting a writer friend to join you so you can save on hotel and split some of the costs. You can also attend a conference online, like WriteOnCon.com (which is free!)

Go to a reading or open mic night. I’m a big fan of readings for several reasons. First, they’re usually free or at the very least, inexpensive. Add to that, you get to hear awesome literature being read by the author (and maybe even get your copy of the book signed!) Writers love hanging out with other writers so chances are, if you go to an author event, there will be other authors there too even if they’re not reading. Finally, this is a great way to support small, independent literary events and the venues that host them.

Want to find an event in your area? Check local bookstores, libraries or indie coffee shops. Also, check out the events calendar at poets.org for poetry readings.

Take a class. This is a great way to meet writers and you can improve your writing skills to boot! With luck, you might even find yourself with a writing mentor. I met several of my closest writing friends through a writing class and have stayed in touch with them since. While many colleges and universities will offer writing classes as part of their continuing education, don’t be afraid to think outside the academic box. The local YMCA or other community centers may offer many great classes for a fraction of the cost. If you can’t find something in your area, check the internet for online courses.

Connect with writers through the internet. I could write an entire workbook just on different online resources for writers, but here are a few that have worked for me.

• Twitter chats and writing-related hash tags (check out #storycraft, #amwriting, #writechat, and #myWANA, just to name a few.)
• Blogs and blog post round-ups (Adventures in Children’s Publishing does an excellent and super-comprehensive round-up every Friday.)
• Forums like the Absolute Write Water Cooler or Verla Kay’s forums (for children’s book writers).

This is just the beginning and there are many more communities and resources for writers out there.  In fact, there are so many choices that I couldn’t possibly know them all.  Which is where you come in.  Help me fill in the blanks in this list.

Is there a writing community out there (or two, or ten) that you would recommend to other DIY MFA writers?  Please share in the comments!

This week at DIY MFA, we shift gears a little to talk about community.  There’s something about writers that makes them flock together.  Like if you put two writers in a crowded cocktail party, they will inevitably find each other, almost like they have this fine-tuned writing radar.  A “wradar” as it were.

This isn’t just a new phenomenon either.  For as long as there have been writers in the world, there have been communities of them joining together to share their work.  Think of the Abbey Theater in Dublin or the Algonquin Round Table in New York.  And yet, unlike many other arts (music and theater, for example), writing in itself is a very solitary activity.  In the end, no amount of community will sit down and write that novel for you.  Why then, if the bulk of the work must be done on one’s own, is community so important to a writer’s life?

1. It will keep you sane.  Belonging to a community of writers will help keep you centered during those moments of solitary madness (and we all have those from time to time).  Whether this community is a critique group that meets in person or an online network, having other writers around will keep you from getting so sucked into your work that you lose that all-important sense of reality.  (Wait, you mean my characters don’t actually exist?)
2. It will keep you accountable.  Writers know when other writers are working and when they’re just blowing steam.  If you have writer friends who ask you about your work, it will help keep you honest.  After all, there’s only so many times you can say to another writer “well, uh, I’m still stuck on chapter 3…” before you start losing your street cred and start looking like an @$$.  Online networks such as ROW80 or #amwriting on Twitter can help spur motivation and provide accountability.
3. It will give you perspective.  Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is getting published except for you.  In your mind if feels like this is because the whole publishing universe is out to get you and make you feel worse than pond scum.  Um… no.  Contrary to popular belief, published authors don’t just connect their brains to the computer with a USB cord and pour out finished versions of their novels.  Every writer has a moment when they want to give up (either that, or slam their fist through the computer screen).  Seeing other writers try and fail will help remind you of reality: writing is hard work, but worth every bit of it.
4. You’ll have a shoulder to cry on when things get rough.  Let’s face it, writing is tough and publishing is probably even tougher.  Sometimes we all need lock ourselves in our room, play some angry music at top volume and sulk.  (I have a playlist entitled “Bite Me” for this very purpose.)  Having a community will give you a built-in network of people who can sympathize when you’re going through tough times.  These are people who won’t give you weird looks when you tell them that you hear your characters’ voices in your head or that a minor character just hijacked your entire plot.  These are the people who will pat you on the back before they give you that loving shove back to the computer.
5. Finally, you’ll have someone to celebrate the big (and little) victories with you.  Only writers will understand that finishing a short story is just as much reason for celebration as getting a publishing contract for your novel, that it’s just as important to celebrate the small successes as the big ones.  Unlike non-writers, who will probably only “get” it when your book finally hits the shelves, writers know that the journey is a long one, so you might as well celebrate even the tiniest of milestones.  Why do writers know this?  Because they’ve been there too.

In DIY MFA, we’ll be discussing various different types of communities so you can choose what works best for you.  My goal is also that as DIY MFA grows, it can become a community hub for everyone who wants to participate in the project.  This week, think about the writing communities you are part of–or wish you were a part of–and consider how you can build more interaction into your writing life.

There is no one-size-fits-all community that works for every writer.  Some of us prefer live, face-to-face meetings with a critique group.  For others, conferences, writing organizations or classes might be great places to connect.  And let’s not forget the wonders of the internet.  These days you can exchange critique, take classes, even have face-to-face conferences via webcam.  You may even find that community is not for you, that you’re one of those rare birds that just likes to fly solo most of the time.  And that’s totally OK.

The important thing is to recognize the benefits that community can bring to your writing and find ways to connect with like-minded writers that fits your style.

What kind of writing communities work best for you?  Is there any community you’d recommend to fellow DIY MFA writers?