Writer Igniter Thriller Summit

OMG word nerd, I am so excited to share today’s post with you. For months, my team and I have been secretly working behind-the-scenes on a new project that is truly epic. It’s called the Writer Igniter Thriller Summit and it happens one week from today. This Thriller Summit is essentially like a free online… Read more »

Epic Book Club Round-Up — Part 3

Holy guacamole, word nerds, it has been such an incredible few weeks! The Facebook group has been hopping with all the discussion threads and comments. Personally, I’ve had a blast getting to know so many word nerds and having a window into your creative process. This book club has been so much fun, and it… Read more »

Epic Book Club Round-Up — Part 2

Hey hey word nerds! I’m back with another round up of DIY MFA Book Club prompts. Just in time, too, because the month-long challenge will be wrapping up soon! Join us in the Facebook group for a celebration and collective happy dance on Monday. Before we dive into the round-up, I have to take a… Read more »

Epic Book Club Round-Up — Part 1

Hey there word nerds! If you haven’t already noticed, our Facebook community has been hopping lately and it’s all because of the DIY MFA Book Club. If you’re not already a part of it, there’s still time to join! Just go to DIYMFA.com/BookClub and sign up. The book club was inspired by the DIY MFA… Read more »

How to Read like a Writer

Here at DIY MFA, we talk a lot about writing, but reading is also an important part of the program. And reading isn’t about just sitting on the beach with a book in one hand and a Mai Tai in the other. You have to read like a writer. That’s where this post comes in. Most… Read more »

Why You Should Review Your Writing Year

Every so often, it’s important to pause for a moment and take stock of where you’ve been and where you’re going. I like to do this around holiday time, particularly around Thanksgiving, because it reminds me of all the things I have to be thankful for… things I’ve overcome in my writing journey as well… Read more »

Writing Lessons From the Santa Claus

Just in time for the holiday! Here are some writing lessons from Santa and insights about how the Big Guy in the red suit tackles obstacles and maintains his creative momentum, even during the chaos of the holiday season. Mr. Claus is a wise man.  In fact, when it comes to important things like making… Read more »

Writing Advice from a Red-Nosed Reindeer

Some holiday inspiration for your writing and creative life! Sending you all loads of literary love this holiday season! Recently, I had a chance to visit the North Pole and chat it up with Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. Let me tell you, that is one optimistic little squirt if I ever saw one.  And a… Read more »

How to Make the Most of a Critique

When it comes to receiving critique, I’ve found that the more you put into the process, the more you get out of it. Here are some tips to help you make the most of a critique before, during and after the process. Before You Submit: Proofread and eliminate typos. If your submission is as tight… Read more »

#5onFri: Pros and Cons of NaNoWriMo

It’s October once again, and a familiar question is floating around: Should I do NaNoWriMo? For those who don’t know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. In a nutshell, it is a writing challenge that takes place every November where the goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. That comes out to… Read more »