Create a Happy and Healthy Writing Life

Create a Happy and Healthy Writing Life

Writer wellness is a journey, not a goal. It is an attainable path for a sustainable writing routine that is built in small ways of taking care of yourself. I teach at an adaptive sports and fitness center. I wake up every day with the purpose of making Tai Chi possible for anyone in any… Read more »

5 Lessons Learned from 7 Years of Writing Poetry

5 Lessons Learned from 7 Years of Writing Poetry

Welcome back, poets!  This will be my final post as a columnist for DIY MFA. This is a bittersweet departure for me, but I’m excited to begin another chapter of my life! It’s truly been an honor writing for you all and I thought I’d leave you with some of the lessons I’ve learned from… Read more »

June 2023 Leisure Learning: Summer Reading, All Grown Up

June 2023 Leisure Learning: Summer Reading, All Grown Up

Word nerds, please grab a mimosa and join me as I raise a glass to that super special time of year: (to be read with your best Oprah impression)***SUMMER READING SEASON!!***  Like ghost stories in October, summer reading carries with it the indulgence of being simply delightful. It’s a time to break free of books related only… Read more »

The Alchemy of Personalities and Talents in a Writing Group

The Alchemy of Personalities and Talents in a Writing Group

In our last article, we introduced ourselves, described how we formed within the crucible of DIY MFA, and touched on how we’ve benefited. We recognized that our writing group has strengthened our identities as writers. Today we’re exploring how we bring the diversity of our knowledge, skills, and personalities to our metaphorical table and use… Read more »

Episode 467: Craft Jam: Perfect Your Plot

Episode 467: Craft Jam: Perfect Your Plot

Today we have another monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a… Read more »

What Makes an Essay an Essay?

What Makes an Essay an Essay?

An important question, for a column devoted to the essay.  Also, it seems, a rhetorical question, as easily answered as what makes tea, tea. I love both tea and essays. One nourishes my body, the other my soul. I consume both, savoring flavors and words without much thought. Tea was the robust, brown liquid I… Read more »

Develop Self-Confidence for Your Pitch (No Matter Your Age)

Develop Self-Confidence for Your Pitch (No Matter Your Age)

If you’re a writer of a certain age (i.e., not young), pitching face-to-face to a young agent or editor, your understandable anxiety may include the subject of your appearance. Seated across from the agent, you may misinterpret the look on her face, while imagining the agent’s internal voice wondering: “Just how old is she?”  Whether… Read more »