At DIY MFA, we focus a lot on the craft of writing. It’s our specialty and (truthfully) it’s one of my favorite things to teach. I love coming up with frameworks and structures to help writers learn the craft and implement techniques on the page. But there’s more to writing than just the writing itself…. Read more »
The use of generative AI in writing is a topic that comes up a lot in DIY MFA courses and programs. Let’s face it, this is probably the biggest technological revolution we’ve had in the writing space since movable type. As I’ve shared in the past, I am “AI-cautious.” I don’t like how many LLMs… Read more »
We’re back with another three-act analysis, this time of the French classic, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This book has been a long-time favorite of mine, and like Animal Farm it has a great deal of allegory and symbolism woven into it, though it is decidedly less pessimistic and has a tone that… Read more »
One of the most challenging parts of the creative process is what many writers lovingly call B.I.C. (backside in chair). But productivity isn’t just about getting to the desk and cranking out the words. Many of us often struggle with distractions and all sorts of interruptions so that even if we are able to get… Read more »
Backstory is an essential part of writing. It puts elements of the main narrative into context, helping us understand characters’ motivations and the history of the world or setting. It gives us a better sense for character relationships and also helps us understand why certain objects, events, or institutions are important. There are primarily eight… Read more »
