The topic of voice has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s a subject that writers are expected to understand, but rarely does anyone actually explain what it really is. Until now. Voice is the feel, the vibe, the sound, the essence of your writing. It’s that quality that makes your writing unmistakably yours…. Read more »
I have played the violin since I was four years old, and my son and daughter play piano and violin respectively. They both go to a Suzuki music school—the same school I attended from ages 4-18. In fact, my daughter’s violin teacher was my orchestra conductor and chamber music coach when I was a teen…. Read more »
Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I jam about the craft. In these episodes, we do a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to craft the perfect book ending. Have… Read more »
Once upon a time, a workshop was considered a place where you did the work. Think of a carpenter’s workshop, with sawdust covering the tables and coils or scraps of wood littering the floors. Or consider Santa’s workshop, where elves engage in the cheery job of making toys for all the good little children of… Read more »
At the end of January, I pulled out an old notebook and started journaling. Eleven months and nine notebooks later, I have written something just about every day since then. (Okay, I’m not counting the week I was on vacation at the end of June. I gave myself a free pass on that. After all,… Read more »
Hey there, anglers. Imagine luring in your middle-grade readers from the get-go. I’m serious. You can do this. Today, we will dive into techniques that will captivate your young readers right from your first page. We all know too well that the opening page of your book is super important, and it’s especially crucial when… Read more »
If plot is the skin and bones of a story, then character is its beating heart. A story isn’t truly alive until the characters it is about are compelling and real, raw with want, and propelled by desires shaped by their past experiences. This is true in all genres, no less for thriller and horror… Read more »
I read essays with a cup of tea in one hand and a cream scone in the other. Ask me to write an essay, however, and my inner perfectionist (aka Ms. Prickleberry) balks, crosses her arms, and refuses to move words from my head to the page. I coax, plead, beg. She won’t budge until… Read more »
It may appear to be a tiny little mark, barely bigger than a period. YET, the usage or omission of a comma can make a huge difference in your meaning and maybe even your wallet. Let’s take a look at three times when a comma could have or did change the course of history. Tariff… Read more »
Yes. The answer is yes. I give you permission to be creative. If you’re looking for a sign, this is it. I grew up a few hours’ drive from cozy PEI, the crags and cliffs of Newfoundland, and the bustle and hustle of Halifax, Nova Scotia. People from this part of the world pride themselves… Read more »
