The ABCs of plot is a technique I learned from one of my mentors and it’s very powerful for helping writers map out the plot of their stories. I’ve since borrowed parts of the method, added some of my own flare and have used it in many of the workshops I teach. You can use… Read more »
There are lots of different opinions out there about plot archetypes and how you can represent just about any story with one of a few labels. For instance, John Gardner once said that there are only two plots in all of literature: “you go on a journey”, or “a stranger comes to town.” While most… Read more »
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 »
This week week we talked about ways to kick-start our writing and how to get out of a writing slump. Now, over the weekend, I encourage you to put some of these ideas into action. Namely, I’d like you to do a short brainstorming session. Weekend Prompt: Go somewhere “out” where you can work without… Read more »
Brainstorming. People toss this term around but how many actually know what it means? To most, brainstorming means being creative and coming up with lots of ideas really fast, but there’s more to it than that. There is a method to the madness. The DIY MFA brainstorming process boils down to three steps: Step 1:… Read more »
Writing can be hard sometimes, especially when our creative tank has run dry and we’re relying on fumes to reach our destination. The solution? Fill the tank. When it comes to creativity, one of the best ways to fill the tank is to have a little fun. Julia Cameron of The Artist’s Way fame, advocates… Read more »
Last week we started talking about creativity and ways to boost that part of your brain. This week, we’ll continue that conversation, focusing especially on ways to get over that writing hump. You know what I’m talking about. One minute you’re zipping along down the fast lane and then WHAM! You hit a speed bump… Read more »
The DIY MFA newsletter, Writer Fuel, can help power your ideas and the new workbook Jumper Cables (available to everyone who joins the DIY MFA mailing list) can help you jump-start your writing. But sometimes you need a place to store your ideas and stockpile inspiration to use when the fuel runs dry. That’s where… Read more »
Today’s Halloween, the day we celebrate all things that go bump in the night. But while Halloween boogies might be imaginary, I’d like to talk about some monsters that are very real: creative monsters. What are creative monsters, you ask? Creative monsters are those people in get in the way of our creative journey. Often… Read more »
When it comes to getting a tune-up on your writing, you have lots of different options. In fact, sometimes the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming and it’s hard to recognize what kind of help or feedback you really need. In this post, you’ll get to know some of the choices so you can… Read more »
