I had attended a local YA Fest in August, met a best-selling author in my genre, Cinda Williams Chima, and vowed to take her advice about focusing on the first draft of my novel.  By end of the year, I knew what I had and what I had left to do.  In January 2020, I joined the local writers’ group that had hosted the YA Fest. 

I started writing new content for a few months, but struggled.  I got discouraged and promptly ignored the advice that I had vowed to take earlier, about just getting that first draft done.  Instead, I researched how to find agents and write queries, which clouded my mind and loomed as such a daunting task!

I signed up for a local conference, starting March 12, excited about making new connections and finding ways to dispel my growing fears.  March 11, the conference was cancelled due to the pandemic.  I was so deflated, but tried to soldier on.  This pandemic thing could be the perfect storm for a struggling author, right?  Wrong!  It worked exactly the opposite for me, because of various factors.  By April, I had flat-lined on writing either one of my works in progress.  Still struggling, I finally decided to take the summer off. 

Come September, I started to attend the local writers’ group monthly meetings via Zoom!  I got a tip about a free event on writing skills, a DIY MFA webinar delivered by Gabriela Pereira.  Inspired, I signed up for and then completed DIY MFA 101 in November.  Now, I am on track to finish the first draft of my novel by end of April 2021.

My hope is that my experience will inspire others, like you, to keep the wolves at bay – those doubts and fears that get in the way of writing.  Ideally, you can apply these ideas in your own way and in your own time, at any point in your process, to realize your dreams.

Setting the Right Context

First, setting the right context involves setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-bound) goals and scheduling regular time to write.  SMART goals were an early lesson in DIY MFA 101.  I had already used them in managing business projects, but I had not tried to apply it to my writing.  Apparently, I thought that the more left-brained practice of setting goals would be a barrier to the more right-brained creative process of writing a novel.  Wrong again!! 

The act of setting a word count goal and reducing that to weekly and daily targets was a huge asset in getting my project – yes, writing a book is indeed a project! – jump started.  Plus, having regular times when I committed to be writing – not researching, not editing, not plotting, not developing characters, but putting new words to the page – was game changing!  I am retired, so I assigned weekdays as my writing space.  Mondays, I do auxiliary activities, like those noted above.  Tuesday through Friday, I schedule two hours in the morning and two more in the afternoon for writing new content, with specific word count goals per day.

Priming the Pump

Second, priming the pump is a phrase that I first “heard” from Sarah Ban Breathnach in her book, Simple Abundance.  She defined it as pursuing “a carefully crafted ritual of comfort” that eases you into the process of creating.  Gabriela calls it “setting the mood.”  For me it means preparing myself for the act of writing, so I can convert the ideas in my mind into scenes for my novel.  My ritual involves first making sure I stay hydrated – having a cup of tea in the morning or a glass of sparkling water with lime in the afternoon.  Next step is entering a creative physical space (my office has Monet prints on the wall and a standing desk in front of a window with a pastoral view) and practicing the mental exercises that open my mind to inspiration.   The mental exercises include some combination of a daily reflection from Sarah’s book, a purge of negativity in my “angst journal,” (my version of Gabriela’s Angst Jar), entries in my “gratitude journal,” a poetry reading, and finally, my beach music playlist, just as I start to write.

Following a Disciplined Writing Process

The third thing that saved my novel from oblivion is following a disciplined writing process.  For me, that starts with the advice that I had ignored early.  The author Chima’s exact words were, “Give yourself permission to write badly.  You can always fix it later.”  That mantra gives me the courage to start the process.  Next, I use a technique that I learned from Gabriela, the Domino Method.  Wherever I am in the novel, I look back to the previous scene, describe what should happen in this one, and look ahead to know what should (probably) happen next.  Finally, I use the Pomodoro Method, a technique I know from both business practices and DIY MFA events, for when the words start to flow.  The cadence of twenty-five intensive minutes, then five minutes to regroup, creates a productive rhythm that makes the planned two-hour sessions just fly by.  

Tracking Progress

Fourth on my list, tracking progress is another trick that I learned from Gabriela.  On a daily basis, I write down the word count achieved and/or the hours spent.   I note whether I was following my process – no fuss, no judgement.  If I’m behind, I make an effort to put more words on the page the next day.  At the end of each week, I tally the week and either celebrate or dole out forgiveness, then adjust the next week’s goals upward, if necessary, but never downward.  Finally, in tracking progress, I plan a monthly review.  At the end of January and February, I reviewed my process to see how well it was working.  So far so good, so I have made no changes to date.  However, I will stay vigilant and continue to iterate monthly.

Building a Writers’ Circle

Last on the list, yet more important than anything else, is building a writers’ circle.  Ours is both a support and a critique group.  We act as each other’s trusted advisors in our writing practices, cheerleaders in our triumphs, gentle but constructive reviewers of our works in progress, and general inspiration when the well goes dry.   We have documented practices, a structured communication platform, a commitment to each other’s success, diverse perspectives, and a deep connection beyond writing.

I have so much more to say about this last element.  If all goes well, I will write another #5onFriday article that shares the story of how and why our writers’ circle works so well.  Until then, find your way and let me know how it works.

Angyne Smith is a second generation American, wife, mother, grandmother, retired business professional, and most recently, a young adult fantasy author.  She is a native Pennsylvanian, who has been living in the Garden State, (that’s New Jersey), for just over 40 years.  Angyne (pronounced like the two names Ann and Jean stuck together) is inspired by Monet paintings and music of all kinds, from classical to classic rock.  She is energized by gentle exercises like Tai Chi and leisurely morning walks, preferable along a warm, sandy beach.  Reading was her passion even before writing, mostly in fantasy, science fiction, and historical adventures. Follow Angyne on Facebook.

The post #5onFri: Five Things That Saved My Novel From Oblivion appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today I have the pleasure of hosting debut novelist Kate Greathead on the show!

Kate is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Her work has appeared in some pretty impressive places such as The New York Times and Vanity Fair, and she is a 9-time Moth Story Slam champion.

Her debut novel Laura & Emma takes place on the Upper East Side in New York City where Kate spent her formative years, though she currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband, the writer Teddy Wayne (who has appeared on DIY MFA Radio previously).

Listen in as we chat about this amazing book, and get an honest look at what being a working author really looks like.

In this episode Kate and I discuss:

• The art of “stealing” your story’s structure.
• Showing the bizarre of a normal setting with micro details.
• Why you should craft a protagonist that makes readers cringe
• Knowing when to use the bulldozer in your revision process.
• Tips to deal with the pain of slashing out scenes.

Plus, Kate’s #1 tip for writers.

About Kate Greathead

Kate Greathead is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. She is a 9-time Moth Story Slam champion and her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and on NPR’s Moth Radio Hour. She was a subject in the American version of the British Up documentary series. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, the writer Teddy Wayne. Her debut novel Laura & Emma is available now.

To connect with Kate check out her website at kategreathead.com.

And listen to Teddy Wayne’s DIY MFA Radio interview and dig into the anti-hero, at DIYMFA.com/117.

Laura & Emma

Laura hails from the Upper East Side of Manhattan, born into old money, drifting aimlessly into her early thirties. One weekend in 1981 she meets Jefferson. The two sleep together. He vanishes. And Laura realizes she’s pregnant. Enter: Emma.

Despite her progressive values, Laura raises Emma by herself in the same blue-blood world of private schools and summer homes she grew up in. She is buoyed by a host of indelible characters, including her eccentric mother, who informs her society friends and Emma herself that she was fathered by a Swedish sperm donor; her brother, whose childhood stutter reappears in the presence of their forbidding father; an exceptionally kind male pediatrician; and her overbearing best friend, whose life has followed the Park Avenue script in every way except for one. Meanwhile, as Emma grows up and aware, she begins to question her environment in a way her mother never could.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 197

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 197: A Real Picture of the Working Author — Interview with Kate Greathead appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today I have the distinct pleasure of having acclaimed writer and actor Michael Imperioli on the show!

Though Michael is best known for playing Christopher Moltisanti in the The Sopranos, a role that earned him an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor, he is also an accomplished screenwriter. He wrote five episodes of The Sopranos and was co-screenwriter for the film Summer of Sam which was directed by Spike Lee.

While still acting and writing for film and TV, with several upcoming projects in the works, Michael has also turned his artistic talent to novel writing with his debut The Perfume Burned His Eyes.

Listen in as we chat about this amazing book, and how to know when you’ve found the story to take all the way to the end.

In this episode Michael and I discuss:

• Finding your story and taking it to the finish line.
• Adding layers to your story with a unique narrative framework.
• When to use an epilogue and how to do it right.
• The advantages of novel writing vs. screenwriting.
• The fine art of book covers and why you need the right one.

Plus, Michael’s #1 tip for writers.

About Michael Imperioli

Michael Imperioli is best known for his starring role as Christopher Moltisanti in the acclaimed TV series The Sopranos, which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Emmy Award. He also wrote five episodes of the show and was co-screenwriter of the film Summer of Sam, directed by Spike Lee. Imperioli has appeared in six of Lee’s films and has also acted in films by Martin Scorsese, Abel Ferrara, Walter Hill, Peter Jackson, and the Hughes Brothers.

Upcoming projects include Bruno de Almeida’s Cabaret Maxime, The Last Full Measure alongside Peter Fonda, Christopher Plummer, and William Hurt, and ABC’s Alex, Inc.

The Perfume Burned His Eyes is, his debut novel, is available now.

To learn more about Michael and his novel check out his profile at www.akashicbooks.com.

The Perfume Burned His Eyes

Matthew is a sixteen-year-old boy living in Jackson Heights, Queens, in 1976. After he loses his two most important male role models, his father and grandfather, his mother uses her inheritance to uproot Matthew and herself to a posh apartment building in Manhattan. Although only three miles away from his boyhood home, “the city” is a completely new and strange world to Matthew.

Matthew soon befriends (and becomes a factotum of sorts to) Lou Reed, who lives with his transgender girlfriend Rachel in the same building. The artistic-shamanic rocker eventually becomes an unorthodox father figure to Matthew, who finds himself head over heels for the mysterious Veronica, a wise-beyond-her-years girl he meets at his new school.

The novel is written from the point of view of Matthew at age eighteen, two years after the story begins, and concludes with an epilogue in the year 2013, three days after Lou Reed’s death, with Matthew in his fifties.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 193

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 193: The Aesthetics of Writing — Interview with Michael Imperioli appeared first on DIY MFA.