An author’s toolbox is essential. Within will be the resources you revert to, time and again, to write, edit, publish, and market your books. While every story you pen will begin from scratch, your toolbox will make putting it all together far simpler. 

In this article you’ll find a list of self-publishing tools, specifically for writing your stories, I highly recommend for your authorial success. Most of these writing tools I use myself, and can confidently say they will be of great service to you as they have been to me for many years.

*Please Note: In this article, we will focus on writing tools. In subsequent articles, I will share the best tools for editing, publishing, and marketing.

Writing Tools

Scrivener

Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. Scrivener won’t tell you how to write—it simply provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing.

I have used Scrivener for many years. It hasn’t always been perfect, but it has been the best tool possible for me when it comes to writing my novels. There are many functionalities I love about it, and this writing tool is always my first suggestion for a writers’ toolbox.

Learn More

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a word processor software developed by Microsoft in 1983. It is the most commonly used word processor software. It is used to create professional-quality documents, letters, reports, resumes, etc, and also allows you to edit or modify your new or existing document.

When I first began writing for publication, back in 2013, Word was the first tool I used, primarily because it was the one tool I knew. I wrote in Word for years before switching to Google Docs, and then finally finding the magic that is Scrivener. Word is wonderful for beginners, especially if you already own the software. Depending on what you’d like to do during the writing process, you may find yourself itching for a more efficient tool for authors. But if you need to get typing right away, Word is a great way to start and go.

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4thewords

4thewords is an online writing game and community. It helps you write more using game mechanics like monsters, item rewards, quests, and a fully immersive world to explore. 4thewords is here to push your daily word count and to help you maintain a consistent writing habit.

I myself have not used 4thewords yet, albeit I plan to. One of my best friends, Angela J. Ford, swears by 4thewords. This is how she has successfully published over 20+ bestselling novels throughout the last several years. If you’re into RPGs, or you’re a gamer of any kind, this tool will help you pen your novel while you’re having a world of fun. If you need something more interactive to get you writing, this writing tool will be a great option for you.

Learn More

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free web-based application in which documents and spreadsheets can be created, edited, and stored online. Users of Google Docs can import, create, edit, and update documents and spreadsheets in various fonts and file formats, combining text with formulas, lists, tables, and images.

After Scrivener, Google Docs is my best friend! But nah, for real. While it may not have all the fun features of Scrivener, it’s quite efficient and is a great tool. I often draft in Scrivener, but I edit in Google Docs. It’s wonderful to use as well if you also have software such as ProWritingAid or Grammarly (more on these in a subsequent article). 

If you don’t have a Google account, I highly recommend creating one so you can have immediate access to Google Docs, whether you want to use it to draft or edit your manuscript. Google Docs is also where most editors will send your manuscript for you to confirm their changes for your polished novel.

Learn More

Pen and Paper

This goes without saying. Most of us are still pen and paper writers. Even if it’s only for the early stages. There’s something about fleshing out ideas in a notebook, or the back of a napkin, or the edges of mail you’ll never read, that stimulates your imagination and fosters your creativity. Keep a few notebooks on hand with working pens close by. Story ideas are always brewing, and you want to be ready when they decide to pay you a visit. 

Here’s your permission to go to Target, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby, and splurge on all the notebooks and stationary your heart desires!

The above writing tools may not seem profound, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the wonders they do for your career as you use them. The longer you use a tool, the more familiar you become with it, the more your creativity will find a home within it. This makes for easier writing and better storytelling.

Soon I will share with you the best editing tools. For now, pick one of the above writing tools and get storytelling. Share with me below which tool is your favorite, which one you use now, and what you will give a go in the future.

Disclaimer: There are no affiliate links in this article that will profit the Columnist, Stephanie BwaBwa. She genuinely loves and uses these tools herself, and sincerely hopes your authorial career benefits from them. If you’re on the fence, don’t be. There are no gimmicks here. Just value.

Tell us in the comments: What writing tools do you use? Are there any not on this list?

Stephanie BwaBwa is a Christian Fantasy Novelist. She’s the creator of the universe: Elledelle – about angels in magical worlds with impressive power that mirror the human condition.

Stephanie is a Canadian-born, Haitian-raised, Congolese descended, North American dweller who lived a colorful life in south Florida that cultivated a perspective on the world as unique as her background.

She’s the author of the YA fantasy series: The Seraphim Resistance Prequels and The Transcendents Serial, as well as the writing guide, Fantasy Fundamentals for Christian fantasy writers.

You can usually catch her going for a walk through a park, or simply binging Disney+ with too many snacks. Get in contact with Stephanie directly at: stephaniebwabwa.com or follow her on Instagram or Goodreads.

The post Your Self-Publishing Toolbox for Authorial Success: Writing Tools appeared first on DIY MFA.

I didn’t even finish the book before I embarked on another “Way”—the Santiago Trail in Spain, which I walked with my parents. The Santiago Trail is meant to be a spiritual pilgrimage, and again I felt that I needed to draw a line in the sand and move away from writing. 

After I reached Santiago, I parted ways with my agent and stopped pursuing writing as a career. I moved back to America (I had been living in London for a decade). I started working with horses again and eventually moved to Los Angeles, which became the inspiration for my recently released novel, Good Rich People. 

For nearly two years I hardly wrote a thing and it was just what I needed to start writing again. I am certainly not advocating for such a long break—although I personally needed it—but I do think that problems with writing and inspiration are rarely about writing itself. 

Here are some exercises to help you become a better writer by not writing:

Reconnect with your childhood self

Part of my problem was that I had lost sight of my identity. I had been recently widowed after a seven-year relationship that was largely focused on survival and my husband’s career. By reconnecting with the things I loved as a child—horses and Los Angeles—I was able to find meaningful inspiration. 

Think about what you wanted to be before you learned whether you could be or not. What were your passions? What made you laugh? Often these things can feel so distant. I’m not that person anymore, you might think, but that person is still buried inside you and often they hold the keys to your true creative self. 

Once you uncover those latent interests, explore them. Is there a way you can meet an astronaut, explore a fire station, visit a zoo? If it makes you feel silly, it may be because it means more to you than you’re willing to accept. 

Disconnect from your phone

I’m convinced that the Internet is one of the biggest killers of creativity. But I need to stay tapped into current trends and culture, you say. A bunch of random Instagram accounts might hold the key to my next idea! But the truth is, the Internet is built on artificial reality and while it may inspire superficial ideas, it is unlikely to inspire anything meaningful enough to be worth your time. 

It’s unrealistic to say that you should disconnect completely but I highly recommend giving yourself off days or large blocks of time where you plan to stay off the Internet—and planning ahead is mega important, so you are not forced back on by something you “need” to do. 

Note that this is not writing time, this is time to be in the moment, whatever that is. Whether you are with your kids, waiting in line, lying in bed, use this time to let your creative mind flow. Remember what it was like to actually be bored—this is why stories were invented!

Tackle a challenge that will take a long time to complete

It can be anything—set a goal to run a marathon, start a garden—but it has to be something that will take weeks or months to complete. The idea is to teach yourself discipline and perseverance. 

Whenever I speak to people unfamiliar with the publication process, I find that they have no concept of the actual time it takes not only to complete a novel but to find representation, a publisher, to go through editing, and finally, see a book through to release. 

Most of my author friends did not have their first story published. In fact, most did not have their tenth story published. Whether you are just starting out or an old hat, one of the hardest things to remember is that writing a novel takes time. The people who finish are the ones who understand that there will be long periods where it feels like nothing is being achieved, like you are just making a mess and getting nowhere, and push through anyway. 

Nearly any great accomplishment in life is done in the same way, and it’s important to remind yourself of this and teach yourself to see something through to the end. 

Go Method

This is one for the truly bold, the method writers! Take a day or even an hour, a hike in the woods, or a trip to the store in character. Choose places where you won’t have to speak to or interact with people, this exercise is about getting into your imagination, not provoking an external reaction! But feel free to dress how the character would dress, even go to a place that the character would go. While you are there, think through the character’s backstory and life up until “now.” Imagine conversations between the character and friends or family that would not appear in any book, scenes without plot or conflict. Get to know your character as a person.

Creativity often functions better when free from the pressures of story structure. Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to put a character to work and we forget to get to know them first. The most enjoyable stories to write are ones about characters we love. 

Read

This one seems obvious, but it’s easy to forget. Read, and do it in a variety of ways. Sometimes read for pleasure. Read the books that you want to read, not the books you think you should read or the ones in your genre. Other times, do the opposite. Read in a targeted way, focusing on popular books in your genre or field of interest, with an eye toward examining what they do well and how you can add to the conversation. 

Sometimes when we are blocked, reading can feel as hard as writing. The key, in this and all of the above, is to make sure we are letting our passion lead. 

It is so easy to get so caught up in writing goals that we lose all inspiration. By tapping into our true creative selves, we can not only write better but we can write more meaningfully. We can write the books that change our lives. 

Tell us in the comments: How are you productively not writing?

Eliza Jane Brazier is an author, screenwriter, and journalist. She currently lives in California, where she is developing her books for television. You can find her on Facebook, or follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

The post How to Write Better by Not Writing appeared first on DIY MFA.

But what about our characters’ jobs? How much thought do we put into that?

We authors recognize the importance of strong characterization, agonizing over the smallest details and collating pages and pages of information about our cast members. But unless the story calls for a certain career, their occupation is often an afterthought. We pick something that’s interesting—a career we admire or think is cool and unique. And we end up with a character who has a cool and unique job that does absolutely nothing for the story.

This is shortsighted. The details are what make a story shine. When we hand-select the ones that tie into numerous elements, they anchor everything together, building a sturdy foundation for a story with depth. One detail that can accomplish this is the character’s job.

But just like in the real world, there are gazillions of jobs your character can choose from. I know, because Angela and I have just written The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers and, honestly, it almost became The Occupation Encyclopedia, because there were so many dang jobs to choose from. It was agony figuring out which ones to include and which ones had to be cut. 

I know how hard it can be to settle on the right job for a character. Today I’d like to share some factors to keep in mind to help you find the perfect job for your character and your story.

What’s My Story About?

This one is obvious, so let’s get it out of the way. Sometimes your story requires a certain job, so the decision about your character’s career is super easy. James Bond had to be a spy. Raiders of the Lost Ark needed an archaeologist. The Wedding Planner…you get the picture.

So if your story is about a person in a certain career field (It’s about a homicide detective who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher), or you’re writing a specific genre such as courtroom drama, espionage, or military thrillers, the occupation choice very often has been made for you.

For most stories, though, it won’t be this simple. There are literally dozens of careers that your character could have. Rather than picking one randomly, choose one that will serve your story by tying into an element of characterization. Consider the following details about your character, and make a list of careers that make sense for each. We’ll discuss what to do with those lists in a bit.

Positive Traits

People choose jobs because they fit their personality, so it’s smart to take this into account. Do you know your character’s dominant attributes? If not, figure that out. Then make a list of jobs that would be a good match for someone with those traits. For more information on how this can work, see the Speed Dating reference at our blog.

Talents and Skills

Unless there’s an underlying reason for doing so, characters will often choose a job that they’re good at, one that plays to their strengths. Athletes are skilled at their respective sports, mechanics are good with their hands, and a chef should be able to make tasty food. Consider your character’s aptitudes and abilities, and see which careers might make sense for them. If that talent or skill will specifically be used to help them achieve their story goal, make note of that. Any detail that does double duty in this way should have more weight in the decision-making process.

Interests

Many people will choose a job in a field that piques their interest: science, antiques, shopping, working with children, etc. What passions or hobbies does your character have that they might naturally turn into a career?

Values and Beliefs

Does your character hold strong ideals that may motivate them to pursue a certain career path? If they want to make a difference in the world, serve a segment of the population, pursue justice, or right a wrong, those desires can drive them toward a particular job. Explore the character’s important values and beliefs to see if this will play into their decision.

Missing Human Needs

This one, I think, may be the most influential (though subconscious) factor when we choose a job. When any of our basic human needs are missing, we start trying to fill the void. Our actions and decisions are driven by missing needs—and this includes choices about work and careers.  

A missing human need will often push the character toward (or away) from a certain job. Based on what you know about your character’s past and who they are at the start of your story, which of those needs is missing? Love and connection? Safety and security? Self-fulfillment? What job might the character pursue to fill that void?

Emotional Wounds

On a related note, emotional wounds from the past can also influence a person’s choice of job. Someone who was a victim of violent crime may choose a career that will enable them to bring criminals to justice or protect the innocent from similar victimization. A character who was raised by a harsh and cruel parent may choose a radically different career path as a way of separating him or herself from that caregiver.

Unresolved Wounds

Unresolved wounds—past ones the character may not have dealt with or even recognize—can also play a subconscious part in this decision. Someone who experienced a humiliating failure may avoid their preferred career and choose something that will allow them to underachieve so they won’t have to risk failing again. A character desperate to please a parent may follow in their footsteps out of a desire to gain their approval, even if it means embarking on a career that will make them miserable. Unresolved wounds are often at the root of a missing human need, so if this kind of past experience is influencing your character, take both factors into consideration.

Putting It All Together

By this point, you hopefully have a few lists of job possibilities that relate to various aspects of characterization. Take a look at your options and circle any careers that appear on more than one list. Those are good prospects because they tie into multiple characterization details, making them realistic options that will provide depth. You now have a shortlist of jobs that make sense for your character and your story.

If pulling multiple characterization details together to find the perfect job seems daunting, we’ve created a tool that simplifies the process. You can download a blank copy of this Career Assessment from our website, and if you’ve picked up a copy of The Occupation Thesaurus, you can see a completed sample there.

Real people don’t typically choose jobs randomly, and characters shouldn’t either. Don’t make careers a background detail. Bring them to the forefront and put them to work for your story.

How have you chosen your characters’ jobs in the past? Were they tied into any aspects of characterization to enhance your story?

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and other books for writers—including her latest: The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers. Her books have sold over 500,000 copies and are available in multiple languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling. 

The post Choosing the Right Job for Your Character appeared first on DIY MFA.

Here are the five biggest takeaways I gleaned from Scratch:

1) Day jobs aren’t bad

Writers dream of the day they can hang up their work clothes and exist solely to write. But the slight issue (if there is an issue sustaining yourself as a writer) is that it can mean that you write to exist. I, too, would love little more than becoming an acclaimed novelist and have the pleasure of writing 9-5, but when your writing has to support you, it can take the magic out of the craft. Author Malinda Lo says that she considers writing an art instead of a means to pay the rent, and that freedom has turned her world upside down (page 220). When the pressure is off – when you’re not racing deadlines or trying to best your other work – creativity seems to be an untapped fountain. If you have a day job, embrace it, because that means you aren’t writing to exist.

2) It’s okay to write for free

Neither Manjula Martin nor the contributors to Scratch would suggest always writing for free, but there can be benefits to it. The best way to get better as a writer is to write, and changing up your writing style in order to fit new formats and target different audiences is good practice that can only contribute to your betterment. Writer Nina MacLaughlin, when talking about writing a book review for free, likens it to keeping her writing muscles flexed (page 10). Being published exposes you to more readers as well, and isn’t that every writer’s goal – paid or not?

3) You don’t need an MFA to be a successful writer

I oftentimes fantasize about going to Iowa Writer’s Workshop or another esteemed school to obtain my MFA in creative writing. It sounds like a dream – you write, spend time with writers, learn about writing and go to readings. The supported environment is likely unparalleled. But the truth is, you can write, spend time with writers, learn about writing and go to readings whether you are enrolled in an MFA program or not. It simply boils down to your dedication to the craft. J.K. Rowling, Jonathan Franzen and John Grisham have all met a lot of acclaim, and not one of them have the letters MFA behind their name. Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t obtained your MFA. If you really want to be a writer, you will find a way, formal education nor not.

4) Be Prepared to Promote

A lot more goes into publishing a book than writing a manuscript, and several essays in Scratch put that into perspective for me. When you publish a book, you make an agreement with a publishing house to get out and promote it, which can include readings, interviews and appearances, just to name a few. Even if you have the ability to quit your job and devote yourself to writing full-time, you will still do a lot of work that isn’t writing. I think this is important to keep in mind when dreaming of becoming a full-time writer.

5) It’s all for the love

The most common theme throughout this book is that writers do it for the love of the craft. Chances are, if you’re reading this, that love runs deep within you as well. Writers face rejection and spend a lot of time working alone, but the rewards of eventually getting our stories out far outweigh the difficulties that we can face.

The reason I liked Scratch so much is because, though the opinions and tones differ from writer to writer, the book is honest. Writing has its ups and downs, but we do it because we love it and because there is nothing we’d rather be doing. Hearing these stories enlightened me to what it’s really like to be on the New York Times Bestseller List, showed me that even the most successful writers have their doubts, and assured me that I am on the right track, even though I haven’t yet been published in the Paris Review. If you are a writer or want to become one, I highly recommend this read.

Kolina Cicero is a writer in Minneapolis. She writes fiction and essays, and is currently working on a collection of short stories. Kolina can be found on Twitter at @KolinaCicero.

The post #5OnFri: Five Tips from “Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living” appeared first on DIY MFA.

It’s not often that I have an author on the show where I’ve read almost their entire body of work. Carolyn Mackler is one of those rare authors. As an MFA student, I wrote a term paper for my YALit class examining the mother-daughter relationships in her first four novels. Since then I’ve been an avid reader of her work and have eagerly awaited her subsequent novels.

Usually, when I interview authors on the show, we focus our discussion on that author’s latest work. This is often a pragmatic consideration because I don’t often have the opportunity to read every book that author has written. But before we dive into today’s interview I want to pose a challenge to my word nerd listeners.

The Challenge

We can’t all read every single book by every single author on the planet, but I want you to try doing this with one or two authors whose work you love. The insights and benefits you’ll get from this practice will amaze you. When you read an author’s body of work, you not only get to enjoy great stories from an author you love, but you get to see that author’s process and creative growth over time. As I interview Carolyn today, we’re not just going to talk about her latest book, but also how different themes and elements of craft have developed in her writing over the course of various books.

But first, a quick intro about today’s guest. Carolyn Mackler is the author of several highly-acclaimed YA novels, one new middle grade novel, and a collaborative novel with bestselling author Jay Asher. Her second book: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things received the Printz Honor and her latest book Infinite In Between has already garnered starred reviews. A fellow New Yorker, Carolyn lives in NYC with her husband and two young sons.

In this episode Carolyn and I discuss:

• Taking the leap into YA, even though the “market” wasn’t great.
• Writing your second book.
• Trying something new. Characterization and craft from one novel to the next.
• The importance of knowing your protagonists.
• Diversity in characterization.

Plus, Carolyn’s #1 tip for writers.

More About Carolyn Mackler

Carolyn Mackler’s latest novel for teens, Infinite in Between, has already garnered several starred reviews. She is also the author of the popular YA novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn’s novel, The Future of Us, co-written with bestselling author Jay Asher, received starred reviews and appeared on bestseller lists.

Her first middle grade novel, Best Friend Next Door, came out in May 2015.  Carolyn’s books have been published in more than twenty countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, and Indonesia. This info-graphic shows how her writing career has evolved over the years. Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons.

If you want to purchase Carolyn Mackler’s books, I hope you’ll consider doing so via the affiliate links below (where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

New to Carolyn’s books? Then, I recommend starting with The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. It’s hilarious and human and totally relatable. Infinite in Between is perhaps her most complex and sophisticated novel thus far, and if you’re interested in multiple POV in YA, this is a fabulous example of that technique at work. My personal favorite, though, is Vegan Virgin Valentine which is quieter and more subtle than some of her other single-POV novels, but powerful nonetheless.

To learn more about Carolyn and her writing, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her website.

Link to Episode 85

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. And if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share! Also, check out the awesome new podcast series from my friends over at Folio Literary Management and the Salt Cay Writer’s Retreat: diymfa.com/saltcay.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 85: Craft Your Body of Work – Interview with Carolyn Mackler appeared first on DIY MFA.

Whenever I’ve heard her speak, Jane Yolen offers the perfect blend of practical advice and pure inspiration. This podcast episode is no exception.

I am overjoyed to share this episode with you today.

About Jane Yolen

Jane Yolen, often called “the Hans Christian Andersen of America”(Newsweek) and the “Aesop of the Twentieth Century” (N.Y. Times) is the author of well over 360 books, including Owl Moon, The Devil’s Arithmetic, and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight. Her work ranges from rhymed picture books and baby board books, through middle grade fiction, poetry collections, nonfiction, and up to novels, poetry collections, and story collections for young adults and adults. She has also written lyrics for folk rock singers and groups, several animated shorts, and done voice over work and talk radio.

Her books and stories have won an assortment of awards–two Nebulas, a World Fantasy Award, a Caldecott Medal, the Golden Kite Award, three Mythopoeic awards, two Christopher Medals, a nomination for the National Book Award, and the Jewish Book Award, among many others. She has been nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize. She is also the winner (for body of work) of the World Fantasy Assn. Lifetime Achievement Award, Science Fiction Poetry Association Grand Master Award, the Catholic Library’s Regina Medal, the Kerlan Medal from the University of Minnesota, the du Grummond Medal, the Smith College Alumnae Medal and the New England Pubic Radio Arts and Humanities Award in 2014. Six colleges and universities have given her honorary doctorates.

Also worthy of note, she lost her fencing foil in Grand Central Station on a date, fell overboard while white water rafting in the Colorado, went dogsledding in Alaska, and her Skylark Award–given by NESFA, the New England Science Fiction Association–set her good coat on fire.

On a more personal note…

I myself have at least a dozen or so of her books in my home library, but her book on writing–called TAKE JOY–holds a place of honor on my bookshelf. In fact, she signed my copy back in 2010 and I’d like to share it now. “For Gabriela, One writer to another. Jane Yolen.” This was the first time a famous writer–someone I looked up to–ever called me a writer. This meant a lot to me and has been source of inspiration whenever I start to doubt myself.

In this interview…

Jane Yolen shared so many precious nuggets of wisdom in our interview that it’s hard to know where to start in listing them all. You’ll have to listen to the episode for all the details, but here’s list with some of the awesome insights and advice we covered:

• Sharing our inner truth, how our perceptions can color our version of the “facts” and how we as writers can communicate Truth-with-a-capital-T.
• What it truly means to put our hearts on the page and why as writers this is our most important work.
• The decision to “go pro,” and how to find a balance between projects that propel your career and those that speak to your heart.
• Failure, why it’s a good thing, and how to give yourself permission to fail.
• How to know when a manuscript is finished (hint: it’s never finished).
• Cultivating a daily writing practice and how to do it on your own terms.

Plus, Jane Yolen’s #1 piece of advice for writers.

Resource Recap

Where can you find Jane Yolen on the web? Visit  her website, JaneYolen.com, as well as her Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads pages.

We talked a bout a TON of books on the interview, and she’s written over 360 of them so it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s a list of selections, both of upcoming books, and a few others that we discussed in the interview.

Recent or Upcoming Releases:

Centaur Rising (Holt)
National Geographic Animal Stories (National Geographic Kids)
The Last Changeling (Viking)
A Plague of Unicorns (Zonderkidz)
The Bloody Tide: Poems of Politics and Power (HolyCow! Press)

Classics and Personal Favorites:

Owl Moon
The Devil’s Arithmetic
Take Joy: A Writer’s Guide to Loving the Craft
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

Link to Episode 15

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share!

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.

The post Episode 15: Master Class with Jane Yolen appeared first on DIY MFA.

Before joining VQR, Jane was the publisher of Writer’s Digest and an assistant professor of e-media at the University of Cincinnati. You can find her online at JaneFriedman.com and on twitter (@JaneFriedman).

After a while being a starving artist gets old.

The art itself never gets old–the writing still makes you feel the way you did when you first picked up pen and paper–but the starving, that you could do without. So many of us accept that we write because we love it, or we write because we’re called to it, or we write because we can’t NOT write. But we often overlook one important fact: the writing life must be sustainable. In order for us to continue making art, we must also  tend to more immediate and pragmatic needs, like paying for health insurance or cutting a rent check.

We don’t write for the money, but we need the money in order to sustain our writing. I’ve discussed the issue of money at DIY MFA before, and the fact remains that the writers who experience the most success are the ones who are aware of money matters. Yes, I know, we write because we love it, but let’s get real: love doesn’t pay the electricity bill. Like it or not, writers have to consider the money as well as the art.

Making Sense of Money

Many writers dream of getting paid to write. After all, who doesn’t want to make money doing what they love? Unfortunately, for many writers that ambition stays firmly planted in dreamland because the steps to take their writing from a private passion to a source of income seem virtually impossible.

More problematic is that sense of taboo around money which leaves many writers uninformed and more likely to undervalue their work. In an internet culture where FREE is the expected standard, it’s hard for writers to know where their work falls on the price-point spectrum.

Because money matters are often kept “hush hush” and behind closed doors, it’s hard for writers (or any artists for that matter) to gauge what financial goals are reasonable, which are the equivalent of giving away the farm, and which are just pie-in-the-sky insane.  I’m not talking about playing the comparison game, here, just giving writers objective information that they can use to make smart choices. After all, how’s a writer supposed to make sense of the business aspects of their job, if nobody talks about the money?

Enter Scratch, a magazine pioneered by Jane Friedman, who I’ll be interviewing at Lit Loft on this very important topic.

Giving Writers the Information They Need

In an industry that’s evolving fast, Jane Friedman always seems to know what’s coming next. She encourages writers to embrace industry shifts as opportunities, and not to be afraid of change. “It drives most people crazy,” she says, “but I love the pace of change in online media, and experimenting with the many new tools, apps, and software that help people write, read, share, communicate, and learn.”

It’s no surprise that Jane is always on the cutting edge of what’s new in our industry, but more impressive is how she manages to keep things human even “at electric speed.” For example, Jane was among the first in our industry to jump on Twitter–a communication tool that most writers now take for granted. Yet even with over 100,000 followers and more than 10,000 tweets to her name, you can tell by following her that there’s a person behind the tweets.

In an online culture where so much of our information is automated and over-polished, it’s refreshing to find someone who keeps things real. Jane is one of my most trusted sources of industry information because she doesn’t just share the next shiny new thing, she cultivates discussion that’s open, honest, and human.

When I learned that Jane was working on the upcoming publication Scratch–a quarterly digital magazine focused on the intersection of writing and money–I knew I had to bring her to speak at Lit Loft on this topic. Money is a touchy subject and in the hands of most people this topic would either fall flat or succumb to the hype.

With Jane at the helm, though, I know Scratch will be an amazing resource for writers. Not only does it fill a niche that has been neglected far too long in our industry, but I am certain that Jane will bring the same open and honest discussion to the subject that she does on her blog and other online outlets. I am so excited to interview her at Lit Loft about money matters in writing and I can’t wait for Scratch to launch later this fall.

In the meantime, here’s a great technique she offered for writers:

“Start a spreadsheet dedicated to your writing-related income and expenses, and carefully categorize each type—e.g., print freelance, online writing, book sales, affiliate income, and so on. This simple task helps you see trends and opportunities you may not have noticed before.” –Jane Friedman

Register for Lit Loft and you’ll hear me interview Jane all about the money-side of writing. Plus, you’ll hear eleven other expert interviews on the craft of writing, creativity, and the state of the publishing industry. Remember, when we’re informed about our craft and our industry, we writers can make wise career choices and, more importantly, create opportunities create opportunities for our work.

I hope you’ll join us at Lit Loft. Sign-ups close next week, but until this Sunday I’m offering 50% savings to anyone on the DIY MFA email list. Not on the list? No problem. Just sign-up here and you’ll automatically get the promo code so you can claim your Lit Loft discount.

Jane Friedman will be speaking at LitLoft 2013
Sign-ups close next week so register today!

The post What I Learned About Money and Writing from Jane Friedman appeared first on DIY MFA.

Agents have long filled an important role in our industry. Their job is so much more than vetting manuscripts and connecting writers with the right publishers for their work. Good literary agents help writers throughout the many stages of their careers, navigating the many important hurdles that writers face.

As I learned at Writer’s Digest Conference East, literary agents aren’t going anywhere. the smart ones are shifting their attitudes towards self-publishing and adapting to fit the new publishing climate. These agents recognize the importance of adapting to the new scene as much as the rest of us and believe that their role is much more of a partnership with authors than anything else.

Reasons to consider an Agent-Author Partnership, even if you self-publish:

1) An agent can help you develop a strategy for your whole career.

Good agents know that the key to an author’s success is not just publishing one book. While you might sign a retainer agreement for one particular project, smart agents know that it’s better all around if they guide the writer in terms of his or her overall career.

In a Q&A session at Writer’s Digest Conference East, agent Barbara Poelle emphasized that while authors have to be the CEO of their career, the agent’s job is to advise the author on how to negotiate the publishing process.

Writers often get so hung up on the nitty-gritty details of their books that they forget to look up and take in the big picture. An agent can keep an eye on the horizon, leaving you free to tackle the immediate tasks, like the book that’s right in front of you.

2) An agent can help you avoid publishing traps and pitfalls.

Like a consigliere to the author-godfather, an agent can help the writer avoid big mistakes that can’t be undone later. Writers often think that having a “friend who’s also a lawyer” look over a contract is enough to help them avoid pitfalls but that’s usually not the case. Unless that lawyer is well-versed in copyright law, he or she won’t be much help in looking over a book contract.

More importantly, a lawyer will think in legal terms but probably doesn’t know a lot about the nuances of the publishing industry. As Kristen Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency) said in her talk about agents and self-publishing, agents look at contracts differently than lawyers do and they think in terms of the industry.

This applies when you self-publish as well. Recently Hugh Howey–author of the best-selling eBook Wool, and a client of Kristen Nelson–signed an unusual book deal with Simon & Schuster for print rights only. Howey continues to retain eBook rights to the novella. To read Howey’s account of how he got his movie deal and print-only book deal for Wool, check out these two links.

3) An agent can be your champion in the publishing process.

While agents used to be called “gate-keepers,” the good ones realize that their job is much bigger than that. When it comes to the agent-author relationship there’s no “us against them.” We’re all on the same side and we have the same goal: to get books in the hands of readers.

As the publishing industry continues to evolve, it’s imperative that writers and agents work together, to make sure that these changes end up being good ones. In her talk Nelson stressed that in order to make change in the publishing industry, there needs to be more conversation and one of the key ways that this conversation can happen is by agents and authors working together in partnership.

In the end, the adaptable writer wins.

There’s been a lot of “either-or” in the industry. Either writers sign with an agent and get a traditional book deal, or they self-publish and go it alone. But as has become very clear, there is no “either-or” anymore. Writers can and do both publish their work themselves and via the traditional path. And these writers are finding much more overall success than their counterparts who choose one avenue over another. (More on that topic in a later article.)

The verdict is still out as to why these hybrid authors seem to find more success in the new publishing climate. Maybe it’s because they have an entrepreneurial streak so they’re constantly thinking of new, innovative ways to get their books in the hands of readers (whether those books are self-published or not). Or maybe it’s because they’ve had to forge their own path so they’ve become more savvy about the business as a whole, rather than just deferring to industry professionals for everything that’s not related to pure writing.

Or maybe, because these writers have had to negotiate their way through a changing industry, they’ve learned to play well with others. It has become clear that in the brave new world of publishing, relationships rule. Publishing is not a machine; it’s a living, breathing organism and the parts depend on each other for the whole body to function.

When the environment changes, what do organisms do? They either die or they adapt. In this case, I’m happy to report that the publishing industry is not dead, but it is most definitely adapting. And the writers who adapt with it will be the ones who find success.

The post Why You Should Consider an Agent, Even If You Self-Publish appeared first on DIY MFA.