Literary Magazines: How to Find the Right Home for Your Work

One of the most fantastic things about writing short form work is the ability to submit it for publication in a literary magazine or journal. You can write something you’re truly proud of, have it published in print or online, and (in many cases) get paid for your words. It’s exciting to start collecting professional… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Reasons to Join a Twitter Writing Sprint

A Twitter writing sprint is a set time and place where people join together and write. It’s no different than sitting down at your desk, coffee shop, local park, or favorite library to write. You can use any writing method you prefer; computer, pen and paper, dictation, anything. So where does Twitter come in? Well,… Read more »

Seven Reasons Why Being Unpublished is Hard

Being a writer on the brink of publication, in pursuit of the dream, is so exciting. It’s fueled by the hope and desire of sharing your work with the world, and hopefully earning some money for our hard work. But amidst the pricelessness of pursuing our dreams, there are serious difficulties on the way. The… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Ways Your Health Can Affect Your Writing

If the world is lacking anything, it certainly isn’t health advice. Consumers are constantly bombarded with tips for eating right and living an active lifestyle. As writers, we have some unique physical concerns to watch out for. Hours in front of the computer can strain eyes, fatigue wrists and hands, and wreak havoc on our… 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 »

#5onFri: Five Reasons Writers Need Community

When I started writing—which, for me, was a very DIY venture—I subscribed to the popular notion that the craft required solitude. In fact, I think many writers cling to an image of the profession in its classic form: quill in hand, crackling fireplace in a quiet study. And it’s no wonder why. Countless notables have… Read more »

#5OnFri: Five Reasons My Street Team is Amazing!

As writers, there’s a specific moment we all dream about. It’s the moment that motivates us and drives us to write our book in the first place. No, it’s not first holding a copy of our books in our own hands, though that’s a pretty great moment. It’s also not seeing our books on store… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Writing Must-Haves

My first book releases in less than two months. There are so many promo things I’m supposed to be doing, even though the editing was done ages ago. The list of stuff authors are supposed to do for book promotion keeps getting longer. We’re told we need more followers, more reviews. We need a website, a… Read more »