There’s no shortage of lists telling you how to use the latest writing app to complete your manuscript, but what are you supposed to do once it’s done? Well, it turns out many of those apps (and a few others) are also helpful during the revision process! Here are my top five apps and how… Read more »
When we write every day ideas flock to us like mosquitos. Unlike mosquitos though, we love collecting ideas. However, if we switch gears to repeatedly chase the newest, brightest idea we canlose focus. If we lose focus, our writing slows, then the ideas slow and then we’re pulling out a ladder to get over that… Read more »
We’ve been talking a lot about literary themes here at DIY MFA. And while we’ve developed a better understanding of what themes are and how they emerge in our work, we’ve never touched on why certain themes creep into our stories. The reason for that “why” might be more simple than we think: The themes… Read more »
In my last Five on Friday post, I wrote about what I learned at Hippocamp 2016, a creative nonfiction conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was a smaller conference than those I usually attend, and I partially chose it for that reason. Here are five reasons to attend a smaller writing conference over a big one: 1)… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
