A Writer’s Holiday Survival Guide by Bess (Cozby) McAllister

This two-part guide is all about being able to celebrate the holidays without “losing your writing muscles, your friends, or your life.” This advice still holds up today! There is so much going on in late December, so many people to see, things to wrap up, and so on that sometimes it’s easy to skip out on your writing time. This guide has advice on scaling back, carving out a little bit of time, and writing on the go—whatever works for you. Part 1 is linked above and here is part 2.

Flash Fiction as Holiday Therapy by Alicia Audrey

Whether you spend time this season with family or friends, the holidays are ripe for awkward situations and interesting drama. Use it! The great benefit of flash fiction is that it is manageable to write in a single sitting. This post helps you turn situations into stories. Even better? Alicia includes an example of a piece written from her own awkward holiday gathering.

#5onFri: Five of Winter’s Gifts to Every Writer by Stephanie Lucas Basile

Sometimes winter gets a bad rap. And I say this as a person who doesn’t do cold and who gets extremely anxious about it getting dark at 4:30 every afternoon for months on end. The point is we CAN find some good things about winter that can help us get to writing. This #5onFri elaborates on some of the “gifts” of the season and how they can translate into inspiration for our writing.

Why You Should Review Your Writing Year by Gabriela Pereira

While writing isn’t bound by a single calendar year, the calendar year makes a neat container for goals and marking progress. Thus, the end of the year makes a great time to stop and reflect on the goals you’ve set for yourself, how they went well, and what could have gone better, so that you can set new (and better) goals for the next year. In this post, Gabriela poses some reflection questions about where your writing journey has taken you and what you’ve learned and offers some guidelines for setting new goals in the future.

Episode 22: Five Lessons About Writing and Life (From Santa Claus)

This is a throwback to an early, early episode of the podcast. Gabriela does a solo show here where she talks about the Santa Claus story, why he is the master of creative motivation, and what we can learn from him about the creative process. She shares five lessons about creativity, writing, and life and a couple of important things to remember if you wind up getting coal. Don’t have time to listen to the full podcast? You can check out this post that shares (and expands upon) the same lessons.

Episode 285: Character-Driven Holiday Romance — Interview with Sarah Morgan

In this episode of DIY MFA Radio, Gabriela interviews Sarah Morgan, bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. It highlights her 2019 release, A Wedding in December. In the interview, Gabriela and Sarah discuss what makes holiday romances so popular, how to navigate stories where a HEA (happily ever after) ending is guaranteed, developing an authentic setting, and so much more.

Cozy Mysteries and the Holidays by Stacy Woodson

There’s just something about the height of winter that makes you want to curl up under a blanket with a book and a hot drink and get cozy (this is literally the only benefit to the cold and darkness, in my opinion). This post is a great introduction to cozy mysteries as a genre, including common elements within the genre, where to find cozy mysteries, and why they are so perfect to read during the holiday season.

Seven Cozy Poems of Winter by Angela Yeh

Continuing our theme of getting cozy, poetry reading columnist and Community Welcome Dragon Angela Yeh wrote this post with the best snow-themed poems. In it, she talks about the magic of winter and getting cozy to help you prepare for the experience of reading about the beauty and stillness of a snow-covered world.

However you use this holiday-themed round-up, we hope you have a happy holiday season!

Lori Walker is the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. Though she’s fallen off the wagon as a writer, she’s hoping to return to writing essays (perhaps even a novel!) through her involvement with DIY MFA. She is also Launch Manager, Web Editor, and Podcast Producer for DIY MFA and a Book Coach. She resides in Smalltown, Oklahoma, with her husband and their cat, Joan Didion. You can follow her on Instagram at @LoriTheWriter.

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So if you feel like you want to throw all of your pages out of the window because you’re not sure where to go, here are 3 ways the holidays can revive your book. It’s time to let the holidays leave you and your book feeling brighter and happier, no matter how you spend them. 

1. Slow Down and Soak in the Moment

One of the best parts of the holidays is the opportunity to slow down. There’s less guilt about enjoying an extra cup of hot chocolate or wine. You’re allowed to linger and savor conversations, meals, and as many old movies as you like. 

Maybe it’s the twinkle lights or heaps of cookies that show up everywhere, but every moment feels thick with magic.

Most of the year is spent rushing off to the next thing, so let yourself soak in everything this season has to give. Take the long way home to look at Christmas lights on your favorite street. Grab your baking sheets and some friends for a gingerbread-making afternoon. Order the kringle from the bakery with the line around the corner—it’s worth the slight frostbite.

You never know what can pop up when you lean into the holidays. The same is true for your book. 

As a writer, there’s pressure to produce pages and to be in a constant creative flow. What if you just soaked in how it feels to write again? Instead of trying to get through it, slow down. Make an extra-large pot of coffee, put on some festive instrumental music, and block out time for writing. 

If you stare out the window for 30 minutes, it’s okay. 

Feel like rereading your entire manuscript? Do it. 

Want to pull out old material just because? No one is stopping you.

Whatever you do with your time is exactly what you should do this season, so enjoy it while it lasts. This act of savoring the feeling of writing can help you revive your book.

2. Get Curious About How Traditions Started

Ever notice how people seem to do the same things every year, but no one knows why? You’re also doing it with your book. For some reason, you have an idea in your head that this is how your story has to be because you’ve always imagined it that way.

Now is the time to get curious and ask questions.

With the holidays, why did your dad never let you eat latkes with applesauce? Why does the next-door neighbor, Connie, make glögg for her annual party when she’s not Swedish? Who started putting walnuts and oranges in stockings and how can you make it stop?

Well, your dad thought applesauce looked like baby food and didn’t want that touching his bubbe’s pristine latkes. Your neighbor used to have a Swedish roommate who would throw dinner parties all throughout December with a kitchen full of glögg ready for anyone with an empty mug. And the nuts and fruits in stockings? Your mom’s great-grandparents started it during the Depression and stuck with the family ever since.

When you get curious about origin stories, it’s easier to see why things happen—which is crucial to reviving your book and writing. 

Ask yourself some of the same questions, including:

• How did this all start?
• Why have you continued with this version of it?
• What (if anything) can you change?

By getting curious, you open the window for fresh ideas, which is exactly what you need to revive your book for this last part.

3. New Places to Go and Things to Eat

Now that you’ve slowed down and gotten curious about your own holiday routines, you can branch out. As tempting as it is to keep things as they are, every tradition starts somewhere. It’s your turn to do something different.

Maybe you channel your year abroad in Japan and invite your family over for a traditional Kentucky Fried Chicken Christmas dinner. Not sure what to bring to your first neighborhood potluck? Ask your uncle for his Groundnut stew recipe. Throwing a New Year’s Party sans the booze? Stock up on non-alcoholic spirits and test out some new mocktail recipes.

And don’t be afraid to shake things up with your book. Grab a stack of index cards and map out your chapters or outline. Rearrange them on the floor or a whiteboard and write new ideas on additional notecards. Let yourself see where your book could go if it started differently or if you cut out a huge chunk. 

Still not sure how to get the creativity flowing? Listen to a writing podcast. Watch the movie version of your favorite book. Grab your headphones and the soundtrack to your favorite musical. Test out a new recipe from your new cookbook.

Implementing different techniques to use for your writing practice will be easier the more you do it. Pretty soon, you won’t be holding onto the one way you write or approach your story. You’ll be open to the endless ways your book could unfold, which will help revive your book. 

Keeping the Holiday Spirit Alive

Wouldn’t it be great if you could bottle up the feelings of the season to keep year-round? Well, the good news is you can. The holidays are just a designated time to slow down, lean into traditions, and be open to what’s around the corner. 

Every project needs a reset, so drop the guilt and lean into everything this holiday season brings to your creative doorstep. Then, when you feel burned out on writing your book throughout the year, remember that you can revisit these three ways to revive your book anytime you want. You can even throw on some Rudolph tunes if need be.

Amanda Polick is a writer and book coach, who guides food folks through the writing process. Her work has been featured by Cooking Light, Food & Wine and Time. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee now, but a piece of her will be in California forever. To connect with Amanda, you can find her on her website.

The post 3 Ways the Holidays Can Revive Your Book appeared first on DIY MFA.

Mr. Claus is a wise man. In fact, when it comes to important things like making toys or writing books (which are almost the same thing, really) he is the head honcho, zen master, Dumbledore and Obi-Wan Kenobi all rolled into one. I myself had the privilege of spending some quality time with him at the North Pole. As we sipped hot cocoa by his giant fireplace, he gave me some secret tips on toy-making, writing and life.

Here are some things he shared.

Writing Lessons from Santa Claus

1) Isolate yourself

The man in the red suit definitely knows something about productivity. Imagine making and delivering toys for all the good little children of the world. That takes serious commitment. The only way he manages to get everything done is because he makes his home on the most desolate real estate the world has to offer. Writers too should follow his lead and engage in some major alone time now and again. It helps us stay focused.

2) Surround yourself with good people

OK, so maybe in Santa’s case these happen be people with pointy ears and twirly-whirly shoes, but they’re still pretty darn awesome. The truth is, Santa would get nowhere if it weren’t for his toy-making comrades, and writers would suffer the same fate if they didn’t have writer friends to help them stay sane. These are the people who read our work, keep us motivated and let us know when we’re being a little bit crazy.  We all need them, and need to let them know how much they’re appreciated.

3) Do it for love

No one in their right mind would dedicate his life to making and distributing toys unless he was seriously committed to his mission. I mean, how thankless is Santa’s job? He makes all the loot, flies it around the world in his sleigh and then on Christmas morning, the kids are all: “Thanks Mom and Dad!” Go figure. The only way he can make sense of it all is to do it out of love. The same is true for writers. Write for love or don’t write at all.

4) Sometimes you have to be a little bit in denial

A while ago, I interned at a literary agency because I wanted to understand how publishing worked. After spending several months reading the slush pile, I couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged as a writer. It wasn’t because the stuff I was reading was horrible; actually it was because the submissions I read were on average really gosh-darn good and I still had to reject most of them. I realized that to stay motivated, I had to preserve the illusion that I could make it to the finish line some day. I needed to let myself be a little bit in denial about the publishing process. Just as Santa has to be in denial about certain things (“Yes, I will fit down this chimney”), I needed to give myself permission to be jolly and optimistic or I would spend all my time criticizing my own work and never get any writing done.

5) After a hard day’s work, have some milk and cookies

Santa knows that even he needs a little recharging snack during the long haul of Christmas Eve, so he makes time for milk and cookies after each stop. We writers also need to remember to be good to ourselves. So go ahead and have some milk and cookies. Or give yourself an at-home spa day. Or buy yourself a pair of super-comfy socks. Whatever you do, just make sure it’s something that will make you feel special and cared for.

In the end, I think Santa’s advice applies pretty much to any calling in life, whether you’re writing a book or making toys or trading stocks or building a space ship. It’s all about staying jolly.

But sometimes Santa doesn’t give you what you want. Sometimes you find coal in your stocking. Then what?

When I got home after my visit to the North Pole, I found the stocking I had hung on the mantlepiece and it was filled with… coal. I thought: “Gee, thanks, Santa.  Coal. That’s just what I wanted.” But then I remembered that song: “You can’t always get what you want. You get what you need” and I realized that maybe Santa was trying to tell me something.

Sometimes rough patches and unexpected disappointments are exactly what writers need to reach the next level in their work. Sometimes a project we thought was fool-proof turns out to be a dead end. And sometimes Santa puts coal in your stocking instead of that iPod you wanted. It happens. We all have to learn how to deal with disappointment.

Just as I was about to toss the contents of my stocking in the trash, a note fell out onto the floor. I picked it up and saw it was penned on Santa Claus stationary with swirly gold lettering. (Obviously the note was written by Mrs. Claus because the Big Man’s handwriting is disastrous–Seriously, I have no idea how he reads the naughty/nice list with all that chicken scratch). It read:

Two important things about coal:

It can make fire,

And it’s just like a diamond, only not as sparkly.

I pondered the note for a bit and realized that these lumps of coal were the best present Santa could have given me. Let me explain.

1) You can burn coal to make fire

So you got a lump of coal (READ: rejection letter, nasty critique, door slamming in your face). So what? Don’t let it get you down. Instead, think about how you can use it to light a fire in your writing. Don’t let naysayers stand in your way. Prove them wrong. A lump of coal isn’t a sign that your writing is bad, it’s a call to action so you can make it better.

2) Coal is basically the same as a diamond, only not as well put-together.

At the molecular level, coal and diamond are essentially the same, just a bunch of carbon molecules. The difference isn’t what each thing is made of but how those molecules are put together.

So suppose your writing is a lump of coal. What can you do with it to turn it into diamond-material? How can you rearrange those molecules to make that dull lump of junk into something sparkly and beautiful? When you find coal in your stocking, think of it as a BIG fat hint from Santa that you need to get to work. After all, a lump of coal is just a lump of coal until you do something with it, but under the right circumstances, coal can become the sparkliest, most beautiful gem of them all.

In the words of the Big Guy himself:

Seasons Greetings to all and to all a good Write!

The post Writing Lessons from Santa Claus appeared first on DIY MFA.

What is a Cozy Mystery?

“An amateur sleuth, an unsuspecting victim, a quirky supporting cast, and trail of clues and red herrings are the main ingredients of a cozy mystery,” says bestselling and Agatha Award winning mystery author Amanda Flower in an article she recently penned for Publishers Weekly. There is no graphic violence, no profanity, no explicit sex. The murder is either bloodless or occurs before the story begins. Books by Agatha Christie and the television show, Murder She Wrote, are often cited as classic examples.

Amateur Sleuths

The protagonist is a likable female heroine—generally a series character—who cares about people, likes puzzles, and has a hobby or job that she uses to solve a crime. Two examples of gutsy cozy mystery heroines are Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson who leverages her baking expertise to crack mysteries, and Dana Cameron’s Emma Fielding who uses her expertise as an archeologist to solve crimes.

Limited Setting

Cozy mysteries often take place in small towns where everyone knows each other. There is a limited suspect list which makes it realistic that the sleuth knows the killer. Towns in cozy mysteries are quaint, charming, and often feel like another character in a series. Lawrenceton, Georgia—the setting in Charlaine Harris’ Aurora Teagarden Mysteries—is one of my favorite fictional towns.

Likeable Villains

The villain in cozy mysteries isn’t a bad person at heart, but rather someone pushed to their limits who makes bad choices—choices that usually include murder. The amateur sleuth’s quest for the truth not only gives us insight into the villain, but offers universal lessons about our own humanity.

Secondary Characters

The role secondary characters play in cozy mysteries are often the same. Cozy protagonists are generally not taken seriously by the police. They usually have a sidekick—best friend, boyfriend—who is a detective, police officer, or law enforcement professional. Through this secondary character, the amateur sleuth gains access to information that normally would not be available. The protagonist is also not the only one who fights the crime or is in pursuit of the truth. The community of secondary characters come together to ensure justice is served.

Fair Play

In cozy mysteries there is “fair play,” meaning the puzzle of the story is solvable before the villain is revealed. Clues are sprinkled through the story—often buried in details and obscured by red herrings—and readers can solve the crime before or along with the sleuth.

Cute Covers with Punny Titles

Cozy mysteries are branded with cute covers and punny-titles that often relate to the mystery or the protagonist’s hobby or story locale. Donna Andrews titles—Gone Gull, Some Like it Hawk, and Toucan Keep a Secret—are some of my favorites.

Beyond the Story

Many cozy authors include bonus material for their readers (recipes, gardening tips, knitting patterns, special content sites, etc). Extras are often related to the protagonist’s job, hobby, or mystery in their stories. A wonderful touch, it’s also a way writers encourage readers to engage in their favorite past times while creating a connection with their fans that goes beyond the story.

Where to find cozy mysteries?

Cozy mysteries are carried in bookstores and the usual online retailers. But cozy mystery publishers also offer unique opportunities too. Kensington, a top publisher in the cozy mystery market, hosts mini-conventions for cozy mystery fans where they can purchase books and meet their favorite authors. The mystery fan convention, Malice Domestic, held annually in the Washington D.C. area, is another unique place to look for great cozy mysteries. And Hallmark publishing recently created their own paperback and e-book cozy mystery line. Reader blogs, like dru’s book musings, are another resource for information on the latest cozy mystery releases and fan favorites.

So, why are cozy mysteries so popular?

“The cozy lesson is an average person can make a difference,” says Amanda Flower. For me, this is an important message in today’s turbulent world. Cozy mysteries give us hope and make us feel that each of our contributions matter. They are also a wonderful reminder of the importance of family, friendship, community, and kindness which is the true spirit of the holiday season.

Do you read cozy mysteries? Which are your favorites?

Stacy Woodson writes crime fiction stories. She is a U.S. Army veteran and memories of her time in the military serve as an inspiration for her stories. A Daphne du Maurier winner and Publishers Weekly contributor, her story, “Duty, Honor, Hammett,” will appear in the Nov-Dec issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. You can find her at www.stacywoodson.com.

The post Cozy Mysteries and the Holidays appeared first on DIY MFA.

It’s hard to find time to write. It’s hard to clear your mind, sit down, sit still and focus. It’s hard to tell family, friends and co-workers, “No. I can’t go to that party, no I can’t have another round, no I can’t marathon Orange is the New Black all weekend. I have to write.”

And with the holidays coming, it’s about to get a lot harder.

There will be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the snow. Okay. Maybe there won’t be caroling. Or snow. Maybe you don’t like marshmallows. Maybe your family, like my family, turns Christmas night into an excuse for public humiliation in a tortured cousin-wide tournament consisting of rounds of hunting for a pickle ornament on your grandma’s Christmas tree (it’s a German thing . . . I think). But, no matter how or what you celebrate, the six weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year’s are packed. Writing time is scarce. And your mom’s not going to like it when you say, “No, I can’t help baste the turkey; I need to re-work the dialogue in chapter 16.”

Do you want those to be your last words?

Of course not! You want to help your mom, or dad or sister or best friend or room-mate. You want to run the turkey trot (or . . . walk briskly). You want to go out for peppermint martinis with your co-workers. You don’t want to miss out on the most wonderful time of year because a side character went AWOL and you have to get her back on track. You’re doing a DIY MFA darn-it, and part of the beauty of Doing it Yourself is doing it on your own time. And making time for the other things that matter.

But you also want to write.

Here’s a few tips for flourishing in the most wonderful time of year without losing your writing muscles, your friends or your life.

Envision the End

The first thing we need to remember is that the holidays are going to end. In Stephen R. Covey’s incredible book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (which I recommend to any writer), the first habit, the bedrock of the other six is “Begin with the end in mind.” And we all know what the end of the holiday season is: January. Miserable, cold January, when we’re all trying to forget that we’re sad about no more ugly Christmas sweater parties by looking toward a fresh, new year.

Picture it: January 1st. You’ve got a list of writing goals. This is the year you’re going to finish the book. The year you’re going to query. The year of the agent. The year the story is going to be in a magazine. This is the year you’re going to develop the habit. This is the year you’re going to read a book a week. And start a blog. Oh, and also lose ten pounds.

And it’s seven in the morning on January 1st. You got a haircut. You’ve just been for a run. You still have an hour before work. You feel incredible. You sit down at your desk to write, because this is the year, and it starts now. 

And you realize you haven’t written in six weeks and barely remember how.

We all know the feeling, the feeling of not having written in a while. The feeling of not knowing where to start. The confusion and listlessness that turns into Twitter scrolling and long hours on YouTube. The dread of the blank page. If that’s not where you want to be, think about where you do want to be. Before Thanksgiving, take fifteen minutes and write down some goals.

Plan to Pull Back

If you’re a writer, you’ve set a goal before. It might be as simple as writing something everyday. It might be a word count. It might be finishing a novel. But if you write, you’ve pictured an accomplishment and worked toward it. If you’re just coming out of NaNoWriMo, you know the power of setting BIG goals and the joy of achieving them.

For the next six weeks, consider setting a few smaller ones.

Writers need to write and read often. Just like athletes, we can’t take long breaks without losing stamina and strength. If we take the next six weeks off, or only work in sporadic bursts, we’re going to get rusty. But if we set too big of goals, and don’t account for the inevitable busy-ness, we’re going to get discouraged. When making your list of goals, try for achievable instead of ambitious. And remember that, come January, there will be plenty of opportunity to reach for the stars.

Here’s a few ideas:

1) Cut down your word count

Shoot for 500 or even 250 words a day instead of 1,000. Getting some words on the page will keep you in the habit of writing without getting you attacked by your sister when she wants help stringing popcorn all over the house.

2) Start a small project

Novels can take up a lot of head-space. Sometimes, it can be hard to work on a book without a set schedule and a good amount of time. Consider setting your book aside and working on a short story or a poem for the next six weeks. You’ll get space away from your story (always healthy!) and yet still be working your writing muscles. Come January 1st, you’ll not only have new stuff, you’ll have a new story.

3) Carry a notebook

Often, we’re on the go during the holidays. We have parties after work or school functions before dinner. It can be hard to find time to sit quietly in your office or at your computer. Plan ahead by doing something old-fashioned (and I don’t mean caroling!). Carry a notebook and a pen. Tell yourself you’re going to fill a page a day. This is doable, even on a crunched schedule. You can fit it in anytime, even waiting in line on black Friday. And you’ll be stretching yourself by writing in a new way.

4) Outline

December is International Plot Writing Month. Writing can be all-consuming, but planning can be a little easier to manage. Have you had another story idea simmering in your head? Put it on paper, but in outline form. You can un-tangle plot problems while you untangle fifty strands of Christmas lights. If you’re naturally a pantser, this can be a good exercise. Come January, you’ll be ready to write the book!

…………….

Check out a few more DIY MFA Holiday articles right here!

• A Writer’s Holiday Survival Guide, Part Two
• DIY MFA Radio Episode 22: Five Lessons About Writing and Life From Santa Clause
• Writing Lessons from Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Making a Holiday Wishlist
• Five Gifts for Your Writing Friends

Bess Cozby writes epic stories in expansive worlds from her tiny apartment in New York City. By day, she’s an Editor at Tor Books, and Web Editor for DIY MFA. Her work is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. Tweet her at @besscozby, contact her at bess@diymfa.com, or visit her website at www.besscozby.com.

The post A Writer’s Holiday Survival Guide: Part One appeared first on DIY MFA.

“So, how’s the writing going?”

Okay. So maybe those aren’t the most terrifying words ever, but they are words that can make a writer freeze. It’s like that moment in Return of the King when the Sauron spotlight zeroes in on Frodo, and he just collapses. Talking about writing can be scary! Or–worse–awkward. It can help to have an answer–and an escape plan–ready. Here’s a few ways to avoid looking like a reindeer in headlights.

1) Think About It. No, Really.

How is the book (or story, or collection) going? Is it ‘going’ at all? Have you been stuck on the same page for two weeks? Have you not written in two weeks because hello? Holidays! Did you just have a breakthrough that requires a complete re-write? Did you just finish a complete re-write but the only “progress” you really have to show for it is 5,000 less words? Writing can be very difficult to explain to people. “Progress” may look like spinning your wheels to non-writers. So take a look at your year. Check up with yourself.  Make a list. Now, you’ve got something to work with.

2) Prepare an Answer.

Even if that answer is just, “I don’t want to talk about it,” it’s good to know, ahead of time, what you’ll say if the conversation turns to writing. Writers are understandably shy about this. We’re introverts. We’re insecure. We’re worried that we’ll say too much, or bore people. But the truth is, generally, friends and family sincerely want to know what’s going on. The problem is they can also get lost in the minutiae. Their eyes start to glaze over if a writer then gives a rambling speech about how, oh, she added a dog, then took the dog out because the dog was too humorous for her story, but then she put the dog back in to humanize the protagonist, at which point her Beta reader suggested turning the dog into a cat and all the sudden the international banking thriller has become a cozy mystery. And no it’s not finished and you may not read it. I’m bored, and I just wrote that! Think of it like a query. You’re summing up your story. And in life as in pitching, conciseness is key.

3) Prepare a Pitch.

The question, “How is the writing going?” is almost inevitably followed by, “What is your book about?” Cue reindeer-in-headlights. Or long, rambling answer. Glazed over eyes. And . . . you’re back to wishing you were in the writing cave. I find it helpful to always have a few ready answers to this question, depending on the person asking it. An agent or editor would get a very different answer than my great aunt Shirley. For holidays, I like to have a short, conversational answer that invites but doesn’t require further explanation. For example, if I were writing The Lord of the Rings, I wouldn’t give the history of middle earth or even try to explain what hobbits are. I’d just say, “I’m writing an epic fantasy, where nine characters go on a quest. I’m having a lot of fun with the world-building.” Another great way to go about this is offering some comp titles. “I’m writing a YA that’s kind of like Lost for teenagers.” If the person asking is interested in more detail about the plot, they can ask, but if they’re just being polite, the answer doesn’t trap them (or me!) in a long, awkward conversation. We can start talking about Lost instead. The Sauron spotlight has moved on.

4) Talk About Other Books.

This is a great answer if the writing is going terribly. Or, if you just don’t want to talk about it. Spin the question around! Instead of talking about your book, talk about other books. What are you reading? What’s selling? And, if you’re like me and don’t really like being the center of attention, turn the question back on the questioner. What are they reading?

5) Talk (And Think!) About Your Goals.

Here at DIY MFA, we’re big on New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, in just a few weeks, we’ll be posting our own here. Setting goals is a great way to jump-start your writing. It’s also a great answer to the “How’s the writing going?” question. When you’re prepping that answer, think about your goals as well. Instead of “OH MY GOSH I WILL BE WRITING THIS BOOK FOREVER,” try, “Well, I’m on draft number four, and really zeroing in on the heart of my main character. I’ve learned a lot. And I’m hoping to finish the fifth draft by May and send it to readers.” It’s an answer that invites more questions, but can also serve to turn the conversation away, if that, too, is your goal.

Bess Cozby writes epic stories in expansive worlds from her tiny apartment in New York City. By day, she’s an Editor at Tor Books, and Web Editor for DIY MFA. Her work is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. Tweet her at @besscozby, contact her at bess@diymfa.com, or visit her website at www.besscozby.com.

The post #5OnFri: Five Ways to Answer the Worst Question Ever appeared first on DIY MFA.

Five Gifts for the Writer in Your Life

 1) The Perfect Pen

Enough could never be said about the perfect pen. Unscented glycerin soap may get the job done, but there’s something of pretty colors and scents that make the shower or bath experience more inviting and luxurious. The same is true of pens. A pen, like the words it writes, is a work of art. Sure, writers can make a tool from a hotel, car rental company, bank, or insurance company can work, but we all appreciate a beautiful pen. Make your writer friends want to sit down and outline her next novel, or edit the first draft of his manuscript. Dream pens vary from writer to writer. Some of us love Pilot P-500 pens while others could really get into fountain pens. Some writers can’t stand anything but a felt tip. Some writers love a bit of style. If you’re going for big impact, opt for a handmade pen. Check out Etsy for amazing choices in wooden pens and handturned acrylic pens in your favorite writer’s preferred type and color.

2) A Writing Journal

No writer ever has enough notebooks or journals. We all welcome more into our offices, homes, and glove compartments. They come in handy for note-taking, free writing, novel planning, doodling, and recording the mini-stories of our daily lives. They come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. From leather-bound to spiral notebooks and snap covers to wrap-around ribbons, the choices are endless. Journals leave a lot of room for personalization. You can write an inspiring message on the first page, or scribble a few writing prompts throughout the pages. If you’re an artist, you may like to draw a few pictures as prompts, or to add a personal touch.

3) Writing software

Writing can be quite the task, especially when there are multiple projects on the go. Luckily, a few geniuses have developed programs and platforms to make it easy for us to plan, organize, write, and export our work. Every writer needs a program to learn, love, and rave about. Among the popular programs in use are Scrivener for novelists and Final Draft for scriptwriters. One of the newest online platforms now available is Novlr. Shop around, read reviews, and choose the best program for your beloved writer and his/her specific needs.

4) Beverage Collection

Who could deny the importance of warm beverages? Customize a beverage package complete with a mug or travel mug, tea bags, loose leaf tea, a strainer, hot chocolate packets, and coffee. Add and delete items as you see fit. Your attention to the mental and physical needs of your favorite writer will not go unnoticed. You will be contributing to the everyday ritual that also provides a bit of an energy boost. You could even earn extra points by tossing in a few brownies or cookies. We – writers – spend a lot of time in our writer caves, ignoring the ticking clock and the rumbling of our bellies. Your generous gift will, no doubt, keep a writer alive, alert, and writing.

5) Subscriptions and Publications

There are numerous magazines, journals, and books on the market just for writers. It can get quite expensive keeping up with more than a couple of them, even if we would like to do a better job of keeping our fingers on the pulse of the publishing industry. Writers Digest and The Writer are among the popular publications for writers. Writer’s Market books are also handy resources, akin to a telephone directory in 1995. Have a valuable resource shipped directly to the home of a writer who will be happy to receive and enjoy it for at least one year.

Now that you’ve seen the list, I’m sure other things have come to mind. It’s just the way the brain works. “A pen, you say? I shall get her a pen and a handy dandy roll up case. Complements and associations have likely grown a list of 10 or more in your mind. For that, you are very welcome! Happy shopping for your writer friends. Enjoy the adoration and extra kindness your perfect gift selection scores you.

Did I miss any perfect writing gifts?
Let me know in the comments! Or using the hashtag #5OnFri

Alicia Audrey is a writer, editor, blogger and social and political commentator living and working in Nassau, Bahamas. She enjoys writing flash fiction, and is currently working on a women’s fiction novel entitled The Whispering Willow. She prides herself on keeping the local post office open by sending far too many penpal letters and packages to friends and strangers alike on a weekly basis. Her favourite things include journals, tea, cupcakes, sarcasm, challenges, and autumn. She tweets her musings to everyone, but no one in particular, as @_AliciaAudrey.

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