One of the things I always tell my students is that the writer’s job is to tell the Truth with-a-capital-T. It’s not always about getting the facts straight, because depending on what you write, there’s wiggle room to shape the facts so that the story rings true. That said, it is the writer’s responsibility not… Read more »
Thanks for joining us! In this episode we’ll talk about books every writer should have in their writing library. In order to grow as a writer, you want to have several different categories of books in your arsenal that will encourage and instruct you in the craft. The key here is to build a collection of… Read more »
Today’s episode is part two in our series, An Insider’s Guide to Critique Groups and we’re talking about techniques you can use to give helpful critique to your fellow writers. Giving critique that is helpful and direct is something you have to practice. Whether you’re working with one critique partner or with a group of writers,… Read more »
My toddler (AKA Little Man) has loved books since he was a few days old. When he was a newborn, I remember holding him with one hand and my Kindle with the other. When he was five months old, he already knew when to turn the pages of his favorite book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric… Read more »
This is a very special episode for DIY MFA Radio because it features a wonderful writer–and one of my writing heroes–Jane Yolen. She has written over 360 books, but what truly sets her work apart is her artristry and versatility. She has written in just about every genre imaginable, and for just about every type of… Read more »
Happy Halloween everyone! Since Halloween is this Friday, I wanted to dedicate this episode to things that go bump in the night by talking about creative monsters in our lives. Creative monsters take many forms and use a variety of techniques to rip our creative ideas and spirit to shreds. In this episode, we’ll learn… Read more »
At the very thought of “medical books” or books about diseases and other health afflictions, we often think of probing, unemotional texts filled with technical verbiage and doctors studying sick humans as if they were machines with a few broken gears. And maybe some are like that. But there are also medical narratives that put medicine into… Read more »
In today’s episode I want to talk to you about writer’s block. Specifically, the 5 stages of writer’s block, inspired by the Kübler-Ross stages of grief. If you’ve ever experienced writer’s block, you know that you have to get through all these stages to be able to get back to writing. Writer’s block is painful,… Read more »
Thanks for joining me for Part One of the DIY MFA Radio series: An Insider’s Guide to Writing Groups. In this episode we’re going to talk about what to do before, during, and after receiving critique on your writing. One very important part of your writer’s journey is receiving feedback on your work. A critique group… Read more »
Reading with purpose is one of the core principles in DIY MFA. Sure, reading for pleasure is great–it inspires you and fuels your passion for writing. But, in order to grow and learn as a writer, you have to read like a writer and use what you read to improve your craft and technique. In today’s… Read more »
