Plot grids are by far my favorite method of outlining and I can’t write a book without using them. I’m a hardcore plotter. It’s impossible for me to finish a book without knowing where I’m going. I also write mysteries and thrillers, and books in this genre can become overwhelming if a writer doesn’t have… Read more »
Today, Lori is interviewing Leslie Karst. They’ll be talking about weaving past experiences into your writing and her new book Justice is Served. 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… Read more »
First, a statement that is not a confession: I love romance. I always have. But I didn’t embrace it until relatively recently. There are several reasons for this, but suffice it to say that I’m an elder millennial and after a childhood in which the media told me that the best thing to be was… Read more »
Spring is the season of growth, of buds turning into leaves, of new plants emerging from the frozen ground. The same is true of creativity, according to the Five Element Theory of Chinese Traditional Medicine. After quiet reflection during the water energy of winter, spring is the time to transform the ideas that were nourished… Read more »
Hey y’all. I recently had the opportunity to interview Jane V Blunschi, author of the novella, Mon Dieu, Love. I was really excited about this book because I feel like you don’t come across standalone novellas super often and I was definitely curious about the form. Plus, it has an interesting path to publication. And… Read more »
Sending your story or poem out into the world, whether for critique, publication, or writing contests, is crazy-scary. Will the world accept it with open arms, love and cherish it as much as we do? Or will it be mashed and crumpled, tossed into a corner to whither, forgotten and abandoned? This is a Brobdingnagian… Read more »
Have you ever felt like your creative ambition failed you? Writing used to light you up, but not anymore. The want is still there–you want to write your books, you want to do all the things that you think are required to make that happen–but you just can’t. The idea of producing one more thing,… Read more »
Today, Lori is interviewing Danielle Mitchell. They’ll be talking about the methodology of writing and reading poetry. 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 recaps of the… Read more »
Welcome back, poets! Today I thought I’d do something different and talk about one of my favorite things—book cover design! If you’re planning on traditionally publishing a full-length poetry collection or chapbook, you will typically work with a designer and the publisher to come up with a book cover design you’re all happy with. While… Read more »
So you have some concept and general guidance on what the seven main chakras are, what they represent, and how they can manifest as behaviors and motivations for you (and your characters). Chakras can help you add movement to a static character, or help you identify what within your character you can change to help… Read more »
