Announcing the Newest Members of the DIY MFA Team

At DIY MFA, we believe in the power of people. We believe there’s strength in surrounding yourself with a great team. Creativity thrives when it’s shared, and even if writers work alone, the writing life doesn’t have to be solitary. This is true for any artist, and it’s true for websites as well. As DIY MFA has grown… Read more »

#5OnFri: Five Books to Kill Your Post-Mockingjay Depression

You may have heard of a little movie coming out today about a dystopian America and a most disloyal band of subjects.Or perhaps you’ve been living under a rock for the past five years?The Hunger Games has become a worldwide phenomenon. It’s brought untold attention to YA literature, and with good reason. It’s an un-put-downable… Read more »

Loving Writers: Two Days with the NJ Romance Writers

I love writing. Huddling behind my laptop means a beautiful day for me. For those of us in the romance genre though, the Romance Writers of America is where it’s at. The national organization has over 10,000 members with more than 145 local and online chapters. Their national conference has over 2,000 attendees, and as… Read more »

What is Theme, and Why is it Important?

Giving examples of themes in literature isn’t too difficult. Love, good versus evil, loss of innocence – and the list goes on. However, what about defining the term “theme”? Or, picking out themes in your own work? That can be more of a challenge, but it’s one you don’t have to confront alone. Today I’m… Read more »

#5OnFri: Five Books To Help You Craft a Stronger Narrative

It’s November and for thousands of writers across the globe, that means one thing: National Novel Writing Month. Also known as NaNoWriMo, the month of November sends novelists into a frenzy of story crafting, their aim a 50,000 word draft in 30 days. Fingers fly across keyboards, and characters magically come to life on the… Read more »

Episode 16: An Insider’s Guide to Writing Groups Pt.2

Today’s episode is part two in our series, An Insider’s Guide to Critique Groups and we’re talking about techniques you can use to give helpful critique to your fellow writers. Giving critique that is helpful and direct is something you have to practice. Whether you’re working with one critique partner or with a group of writers,… Read more »

Crafting the Perfect Twitter Pitch

It’s no secret that my success with Catch Me When I Fall began with a Twitter pitch contest; I’ve mentioned it before in interviews and even wrote about the experience for Writer’s Digest. With the number of pitch contests growing—and the rate of success rising—I thought I would share my Twitter pitch and how you… Read more »

The Pros and Pros of NaNoWriMo

-Are you doing NaNoWriMo? -Huh? -You know, NaNo? -Who? -You’re not a WriMo yet?! -Did you just call me a ‘rhino’? It’s not a secret code or a reference to rhinos or even atomic particles. It’s National Novel Writing Month, and the challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November is about as… Read more »