A good story needs a great ending. No matter how interesting other parts of the story are, without a solid ending, the audience usually remembers the story as boring. This sounds harsh but it is fair. Think of the end as the reward for following you on a journey. After getting to the end of… Read more »
It is often said that authors who write creatively benefit from writing what we know—building characters and developing plots that draw on our own experiences. For example, a lifelong sailor who grew up around water has a better chance of crafting a compelling high-seas adventure tale than they would a story about a landlocked farmer…. Read more »
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Patrice Gopo. We’ll discuss themes in picture books and her book All the Places We Call Home. 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… Read more »
Hello! Today on the Kid Lit Craft column I’m going to be covering my favorite of the many amazing types of kid Lit books: middle grade. But first, what is middle grade? It’s not a name you hear often outside of the publishing world, and if you peruse your indie bookstore or local Barnes &… Read more »
I’ll come right out of the gate and say, publishing is for the birds. If you’ve never published a book before, get ready to take a deep sigh. Several times. Be sure to have your Nespresso geared up. Have a financial cushion available, and prepare yourself for hiccups. If you do all of this, when… Read more »
Have you ever considered becoming a stalker? Not a creepy stalker. A curiosity stalker. You see, not every inspiration appears like a magical bunny out of a hat. In fact, most of those inspiration bunnies spend their time hopping across your lawn, sneaking into your garden to nibble up your lettuce before something else catches… Read more »
When we think about writing a book, images of long hours spent in coffee shops, late nights scribbling in a notebook, or sitting by a window and daydreaming about our characters might come to mind. But I’m here to say that what you should be thinking about is how to market that book you’re working… Read more »
If you’ve checked out my previous posts for this series, Your Best Writing Goal Based on Your Enneagram Number and How to Use the Enneagram to Create Fictional Characters, you know that I’m a huge fan of using the Enneagram as a writer. Today, I’m going to share how I suggest using it to write… Read more »
Today, Lori is interviewing Erin La Rosa. They’ll be talking about tropes in romance and her book For Butter or Worse. 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… Read more »
I’ve needed some extra fun in my life lately and mystery games fit the bill. To be honest, in the past I’ve found many mystery games disappointing, because they didn’t involve evidence and clues. They were board games with mystery themes. While fun, that wasn’t what I wanted. But soon enough Carmen Sandiego swooped onto… Read more »
