If you listen to DIY MFA Radio, you already heard me talk about Alexia Vernon’s Spotlight MasterTreat and her online program: Your Spotlight Talk. Last week I even ran a contest for tickets to this incredible retreat+course package. Note: DIY MFA is a proud affiliate for Your Spotlight Talk and Alexia’s Spotlight MasterTreat.

While the contest is now closed (and I’ve edited this post to reflect that) You can still sign up for the free webinar happening this Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8am PT / 11am ET. Read on to learn more.

During this live master class Alexia will share…

• How to develop a spotlight talk, your way, and opportunities for getting booked to deliver your spotlight talk in front of your ideal audience
• How to use public speaking to share your ideas, build your tribe and position yourself as a thought leader
• Why introverts belong on stage (as much as extroverts) – and our top tips for managing “stage fright”
• How public speaking can integrate with your writing practice and the rest of your life (even if you have young kiddos at home!)

Click here to REGISTER for the webinar.

Here are five reasons to attend the Spotlight MasterTreat:

1) You can’t win it if you’re not in it.

I’m not just talking about the contest, but life in general. How many times do we as writers give up on opportunities before we even try? How many manuscripts do you have hiding in your bottom drawer, just waiting for you to be ready to send them out? I’ve got news for you: Ready does not exist. It will never happen. No matter how much prep work or polishing you do, you will never  be ready to take a big leap.

I know because I’ve been there. Do you think I felt “ready” when the DIY MFA book came out? Heck no! I thought I was way out of my league and that at any moment everyone would realize I was a poser and had no business publishing a book. But I was determined to get out on the playing field, and if I benched then at least I could say I tried. And guess what? I didn’t get pulled off the field, but even if I had, that would still be better than sitting on the sidelines thinking. “If only I’d given myself a chance.” Even though the contest may have passed, you can still up your speaking game by watching the master class and (if it feels right for you) checking out Alexia’s programs.

2) Like it or not, writers must practice public speaking.

You might think as a writer and an introvert you have no business being up on a stage. But guess what: If you publish a book (and then another, and another, and another) at some point, people are going to ask you to get up on stage. Wouldn’t it be great if you had already built up your speaking chops at that point? The sooner you start practicing public speaking, the sooner you “get comfortable being uncomfortable” (as Alexia Vernon often says).

Also, if you completely flub it at a small speaking gig you do early on, that’s a whole lot better than being a hot mess while trying to deliver a keynote in front of hundreds of people at a major conference. If you learn how to handle those nervous jitters now, then once you reach the point of speaking to a big audience, you’ll be cool and in control.

3) The MasterTreat is like no other retreat or conference.

Last April, on a lark, I sat in on a webinar Alexia was giving to promote her Spotlight MasterTreat. She and I had taken a class together in the past and we had been friends on social media, so I knew her work was really good, but I wasn’t really sure I was “retreat material.” After all, while I had given some breakout sessions a few conferences, I didn’t see myself as a TED-style speaker who could get up on a stage and inspire people. I thought I was too nerdy, too left-brained.

By the end of the webinar, I realized that there were so many different ways to use speaking in support of my writing career. I signed up for the retreat right away and it was one of the smartest decisions I’ve made. My speaking skills improved by leaps and bounds. Instead of waiting until I thought I was ready, this retreat gave me the tools so I could make myself become ready. Since then, I’ve gotten opportunities—both in speaking and in writing—that I never would have dreamed were possible.

4) Alexia Vernon is like no other teacher in this field.

When it comes to my education, I have extremely high standards. (Don’t believe me? Just ask my college dean about the time I demanded my money back because my classes were too easy. But I digress.) As a student who expects a lot from her teachers and as a teacher myself, it’s not often I find a mentor or instructor who rises to the same standards I expect of myself. Alexia is one of these rare people. Rather than tell you what a great teacher she is, I’d rather show you through a story.

On the second day of the MasterTreat last April, she called a few of us to the stage to do an improv-style exercise. When my turn came up, I froze. And because I’m not used to things being “hard,” I started to freak out. I am unequivocally not okay with having a meltdown in front of my own solitary reflection, much less in front of a room full of people. To say this was a humbling experience would be an understatement.

During our break, Alexia spoke with me privately and said: “Don’t worry. You’ll have a chance to practice again. I’m coming up with another exercise.” Later that afternoon, she called up a small group (including me) and gave the assignment: One person starts singing a song, the next person chooses a word in the lyrics to “steal” the song and sing a different song (kind of like the riff-off in the Pitch Perfect movies).

At first I was terrified. We weren’t just going to improvise but now we had to do it to music? But when the first person started singing it’s like my brain clicked into a different zone. I could hear notes of another song—a song I could riff-off—before I even knew if the lyrics worked. Not only did I do the exercise, but I nailed it. And that breakthrough was something that I carry with me to this day. It reminds me that I can get in my own way when I overthink things, but if I let my instinct kick in somehow my lizard brain (or in this case my “music brain”) knows what to do.

Most teachers are good at delivering information, but not many are skilled at facilitating transformation in their students. Alexia was able to identify the hurdle that was getting in my way and create an exercise that empowered me to break through that hurdle. Most teachers can’t get this kind of transformation in a student through a 15-week semester, much less a 3-day retreat and with 20 other students who need guidance, but Alexia did that for me.

5) You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Even now that the contest has closed, you can still get some great value just by attending the Master Class. I know from experience that Alexia always brings her A-game and gives tons of juicy, valuable information. Plus, if you’re curious about the retreat or Your Spotlight Talk, you’ll get to hear a bit more about these great programs.

Here are some of the things you’ll gain from the retreat…

• Learn how to create a spotlight talk for TED-style talks, keynotes, and more.
• Discover how to tell transformative stories that inspire your audience and engage your audience.
• Explore your vocal range and and learn how to bring your A-game on stage.
• Develop a classy stage offer that makes your audience want to hear more from you (and buy books!).
• Discover the key components of a speaker marketing kit and how to put one together right away.
• Demystify your authentic stage style and explore how to present yourself so your audience wants to hear more from you.
• Create an aggressive and achievable 90-day speaking plan so you can put what you learn into action.

To learn more about this retreat and Your Spotlight Talk, plus get some juicy insights about how to up your speaking game, join me and Alexia for a live master class on Wednesday, January 11 at 11am ET. The class is free and jam-packed with great, actionable info.

Click here to REGISTER for the webinar.

Contest Applications

Note:  The contest is now closed, but you can still attend the free Master Class.

To apply for the contest for Alexia’s Spotlight MasterTreat (April 28-30) and receive the Your Spotlight Talk course, send me your answers to the following questions (500 words or fewer):

• What is your message?
• Why are you the person uniquely poised to deliver this message?
• How will doing the Spotlight MasterTreat and Your Spotlight Talk program help you get this message out into the world?

Email your answers to these three questions to gabriela[at]DIYMFA[dot]com. Make sure your answers are in the body of the email and include “Your Spotlight Talk Contest” in the subject line. Deadline is Monday, January 9, 2017 at 12 noon Eastern. And make sure you register for the webinar. You MUST be present to win!

What I’m Looking For:

Use those 500 words to paint a picture of who you are and how you will use what you learn at this retreat. You can be as creative as you feel inspired to be (if you want to write your application in verse, go for it), but don’t drive yourself crazy.

As you know, I’m a strong believer that writers should use their words for the power of good, but what’s more important to me is the WHY behind your message. Why do the stories and books you write matter, and why do you need to share them with the world? You don’t need to go out and change the world, but tug my heartstrings or make me smile.

Rules and Fine Print:

Winners will be selected at my discretion.

The Spotlight MasterTreat is a women’s retreat, so men are not eligible for this contest (sorry guys!). However, men can definitely attend the webinar and take the Your Spotlight Talk online course.

The prize is a ticket to the Spotlight MasterTreat and access to Your spotlight talk. It does not cover travel expenses or lodging. Prize value is $1,397.

No purchase necessary to participate and void where prohibited by law.

The post 5OnFri: Five Reasons You Should Consider Attending this Retreat appeared first on DIY MFA.

Back in June, I went on my first mini writing retreat right here in my hometown of New York City. I didn’t go far from home–just a couple of miles–but I left the house, went to a hotel and spent about 24 hours immersed in my writing.

In those 24 hours I managed to knock out around 7000 words of the manuscript I’ve been working on. To give you some perspective, on a good week at home I’m happy if I get 4,000 words. That’s in a whole week! I discovered I could hammer out almost double the number of words in a 24-hour writing retreat than I do on a regular week at home. What a huge return on investment! This writing retreat taught me that occasionally putting my life on hold and immersing myself in my writing (even if just for a little while) can have a huge impact on my manuscript. Especially since my first deadline is only a few weeks away.

In this episode, I share some tips so you can create your own mini writing retreat.

How to Create Your Own Mini Writing Retreat

1) Book a hotel.

Until I booked the hotel and actually put the date on the calendar, my mini writing retreat was just a nice idea. Once the hotel was booked, it was a reality. Make sure you find something that is comfortable enough that you could spend lots of time writing there, but not so comfortable that you don’t get anything done.

2) Pack thoroughly.

Even though you’re only going for 1-2 days, packing can be complicated. Basically, bring everything you think you might need and more. You never know what you might wish you’d brought and you want to make sure you make it as easy as possible for you to focus on writing. Bring back ups of your writing, and multiple ways to back it up once you’re done. Bring your chargers (all of them). Print out your outline and anything else you think you might want in hard copy while you’re working. Headphones and snacks are a must.

3) It’s all about early check-in and late check-out.

To give yourself the most time possible to write, see if you can get an early check-in and late check-out at the hotel you’re staying at. Most places are happy to oblige if you give them enough advance notice. Make friends with the concierge, too. You’d be surprised what you can get with very little trouble if you only ask. Bottom line, though, give yourself as much time to write as you can! That’s what this little retreat is for, after all.

4) Make yourself a retreat schedule.

As soon as you check into the hotel, take yourself out for coffee and create a schedule of every minute you’ll be on this retreat, and then stick to it! My schedule included 1-2 hour blocks of writing. In between each writing block I would schedule either a nice walk, a meal, or bedtime. I scheduled time to write in different locations (the hotel lounge, the nearby coffee shop, the hotel room, etc.) because changing scenery helped me recharge.

Remember to make the schedule reasonable, but also challenging so you get the most out of your time. And the stick to it. When it’s time for a break, stop and take your break. When it’s time to write, turn off the internet and write. (In fact, I strongly advise not getting the hotel WiFi password.)

5) Keep a log. Then take stock

During my retreat, I also logged how long I wrote during each session and how many words I produced. Then, being the Type A person I am, I calculated my words-per-hour (WPH) pace. This gave me some interesting insights about my writing habits and patterns. For instance, I discovered that my best writing time was from 8-10:30pm. During that session I hammered out almost 2500 words, giving me a 973 WPH pace. My early morning session, on the other hand, only gave me a measly 440 WPH pace but that rate kicked back up to the 800’s by lunchtime.

If I didn’t keep a log and track my writing patterns, I’d have no idea of what was working. Now I know that even though I would love to be a morning person, I can’t string words together in any coherent way until the morning hours hit double-digits. This means I’ll be rejigging my writing habits and scheduling more afternoon and evening blocks.

Also, now that I know what I can expect of myself on a writing retreat, I can use the iteration method to improve on my results for next time. This time I wrote 7000 words, so next time I’ll raise that goal by 10% and shoot for 7700. Finally, make sure you take stock of what you’ve done when your retreat ends. It’s important to celebrate your wins (both big and small) and challenge yourself to do better next time.

Have you done a writing retreat?

If so, what was it like? How did it go for you? Do you have any tips or insights? I’d love to hear about your experiences so please share them in the comments.

Thanks for letting me share with you about my first writing retreat. If you’re interested in seeing some pictures , check out the DIY MFA Instagram account for images of my writing retreat as well as other writing related images.

Link to Episode 50

(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 50: How to Create Your Own Mini Writing Retreat appeared first on DIY MFA.