I stepped into Starbucks this morning and saw a sign for Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Although the weather isn’t exactly Autumn-crisp just yet, it was a stark reminder that Fall–with its themed drinks, sweaters and fantastic foliage–is upon us. For writers, that means NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Are you participating this year? Here are… Read more »
The Writer’s Digest Conference took place a few weeks ago, and I was thrilled to attend with the DIY MFA team. Writing conferences are a wonderful way to invest in your career—they can improve your craft, grow your writing support network and connect you to publishing pros who could end up helping your career along later…. Read more »
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’ve joined me for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Delia Ephron, bestselling author and screenwriter. She’s the writer behind the novel and movie Hanging Up, as well as the screenwriter for movies like You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of… Read more »
As I sit down to write this, I’m still recovering from the whirlwind that was the Writers Digest Conference—as one is likely to do following any really great conference. Part of that is, of course, because I was there with the DIY MFA team supporting Gabriela as she launched the DIY MFA book and offered a… Read more »
I recently attended Hippocamp, a conference for creative nonfiction writers, in Lancaster, PA. It was my first time there, and I’m so grateful I went! The conference has only been running for two years, but it’s clear that it has a long future. It was super well-organized, with fantastic workshop leaders, panelists and speakers. (Mary… Read more »
Hey there Word Nerds! Welcome back to DIY MFA Radio. I can’t wait for you to hear today’s interview with MJ Rose. A fellow New-Yorker, MJ Rose grew up in NYC, exploring the labyrinthine galleries of the Met, wandering the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park, and reading her mother’s favorite books before… Read more »
Last Saturday, my three-year-old son did not take his usual mid-afternoon nap. Most parents wouldn’t think this a very big deal. Kids skip naps all the time, right? Well, my son doesn’t. Ever since my “Epic Battle To Make Baby Sleep” during year one of his life, I’ve been kind of a nap Nazi. His… Read more »
Writer’s love pens that gracefully slide across the page leaving an even line of ink with no globs or faded patches. We love a good coffee or tea mug that fits our hand just right, that keeps our beverage toasty warm and the design that flaunts our personality. We love to stock up on writing… Read more »
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share this episode with you. Today I am thrilled to be interviewing someone who I have honor of calling a mentor and friend: James Scott Bell. Jim is the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure, and numerous thrillers, including his Mike Romeo series,… Read more »
Shortly after a story’s inciting incident, the protagonist must make an important decision: either keep living as she always has, or become involved in the story’s main conflict. This choice, in terms of the three-act story structure, marks the transition between Act I and Act II. Some writers also call it the “point of no… Read more »
