What I Learned About Money and Writing from Jane Friedman

Jane Friedman is the web editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review, an award-winning national journal, where she leads online and digital content strategy. She also teaches digital publishing at the University of Virginia. Before joining VQR, Jane was the publisher of Writer’s Digest and an assistant professor of e-media at the University of Cincinnati. You… Read more »

What I Learned About Balancing Writing and Life From Elizabeth Craig

Elizabeth Craig’s latest book, “Death at a Drop-In” , released in August and “Quilt Trip” launches this December. Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin/Berkley (as Riley Adams), the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin/NAL, and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She blogs at Mystery Writing is Murder which was named… Read more »

What I Learned About Reading Like a Writer from Erin Harris

Erin Harris is a literary agent at Folio Literary Management who represents literary and book club fiction, YA, and narrative non-fiction. Her clients include Times Magazine contributor Carla Power, New Criterion editor David Yezzi, and debut novelists Daniel Levine and Jennifer Laam. Erin received her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. Outside of… Read more »

What I Learned About Connecting With Readers From Dan Blank

Dan Blank helps writers find and engage readers. He teaches online courses, workshops and does private consulting with authors and publishers. He has written several Writer’s Guides, all available on his website, on blogging, social media and email marketing.  You can find him at WeGrowMedia.com and on Twitter at @DanBlank When writers come to me asking… Read more »

What I Learned About Finding Story Ideas from Julie Duffy

Julie Duffy is a writer and the host of StoryADay May, an annual creativity challenge for short story writers. Julie has also published two books for writers, BECOMING A BETTER WRITER, and BREAKING THROUGH WRITER’S BLOCK. Julie Duffy will be talking about the creative process at Lit Loft. Follow her twitter (@storyadaymay) or find StoryADay… Read more »

If We Don’t Take Ourselves Seriously, Who Will?

Why are writers so reluctant to take themselves seriously? This question has been on my mind a lot lately and it looks like I’m not the only one. One article I read this week answers that question of when to put “WRITER” on your business card (something I still struggle with), plus some other questions… Read more »

CASA: Create a Writing Network that Feels Like Home

Welcome back to the DIY MFA video series designed to help you write more, write better, write smarter. Today you’ll hear about how you can create a writing network that will nurture and support your work. Video 2: Build Your Writing Network Today’s video is all creating that writing network, that safe haven that will… Read more »

What I Learned About Motivation from James Scott Bell

JAMES SCOTT BELL is the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure, and numerous thrillers, including Don’t Leave Me, Try Dying and Watch Your Back. His novella One More Lie was the first self-published work to be nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award. Under the pen name K. Bennett, he is… Read more »

Build Good Writing Habits

To celebrate the upcoming DIY MFA event, Lit Loft 2013, my team and I have put together a series of videos designed to help you write more, write better, write smarter. If you’re on the DIY MFA list, you’ve already gotten a sneak peek but now we’re sharing these videos with the world. We hope… Read more »

Writing Across Genres: Q&A With Kat Martin

We are pleased to host New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin, focuses on romantic suspense in her novels. Her newest book AGAINST THE MARK–the ninth installment of the AGAINST series– releases today! Romance Reviews says of the AGAINST series, “Every book in this series is excellent with hot romance and murder.” You can find Martin’s… Read more »