That’s what this essay is all about: how to make the most of the resources we have, and how to know what to invest in next. Today, I’ll walk you through my signature “double-take” method for absorbing materials, so you can multitask while you learn, but still zero in on the things that matter. I’ll also give you some suggestions on how to vet resources before you invest in them, so you can make sure your time and money are well spent. Let’s dive in.

The Curse of Being a “Good Student”

I don’t know about you, but I’m a “Hermione” through and through, so when I take classes I go all in. I do all the assignments (including extra credit!) and I turn my schedule upside down so I can attend as many class sessions as possible. I take school very seriously.

But being a good student like this can take its toll. Sometimes, we get so caught up in cramming all that knowledge into our heads that we forget to make sense of it and implement what we learn. This is why at DIY MFA there is no such thing as “falling behind” in our courses. Wherever you are is where you’re supposed to be. The point of workshops and classes is to help facilitate learning and encourage implementation. It’s not about hoarding information while we pet it and whisper to it “my precioussss.” It’s about putting what we learn into practice.

So, if you’re a “good student” like me, I recommend shifting the paradigm. We need to recognize that it’s not the knowledge we acquire, but what we do with that knowledge that makes all the difference. Yes, being a “good student” can be a positive thing. (After all, Hermione and her smarts saved Harry and Ron’s backsides on more than one occasion.) But when that “good student” impulse overshadows implementation, that’s when things can become a problem.

This is why at DIY MFA, we place emphasis on practice rather than just learning the facts. Our courses have lots of implementation exercises, and our focused workshops include writing prompts. The goal is always to give writers ample opportunities to put what they learn into action. Many of us, after all, learn by doing, not just by studying.

We need to make the most of our writing resources—be they courses, books on the craft, webinars, summits, or anything else. But how exactly do we do that? This is where my “Double-Take” Method comes in.

Use the “Double-Take” Method

My daughter, Lady Bug, is in fifth grade and is learning how to annotate her reading. As part of her reading assignments, she’s tasked with highlighting her book in three different colors. One color indicates facts she wants to remember. Another color is for text that conveys the author’s opinions. The third color represents passages that she can relate to her own life. One of the skills she’s had to practice is learning not to highlight everything. After all, the whole purpose of highlighting is for some items to stand out over others, and that won’t happen if you highlight all the words on the page. 

The same thing is true when we take in information. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of trying to capture everything. Like good students, we take copious notes and we try hard not to let any details fall by the wayside. (As someone who is both a recovering “good student” and a perfectionist, this approach is totally my jam.)

The point of the “Double-Take” Method is to break you out of that pattern. With this method you let all the information wash over you and catch just one or two pieces that really make an impact. Here’s how it works.

You start by taking in the information via a format that allows the material to wash over you. For me, that’s listening to lessons in audio form, usually while I’m multi-tasking like riding the subway, out for a walk, or doing things around the house. I multi-task on purpose—not as a distraction, but rather to prevent myself from stopping every thirty seconds to take copious notes. While I’m listening, I’m paying attention and trying to capture 1-2 of the most important points conveyed in that lesson.

After listening, I let the lesson marinate in my brain for a little while, then I go back and revisit it, this time with a notebook in hand. (Hence the name “Double-Take.”) But this time, I don’t consume the entire lesson—I fast-forward through it and stop to listen only to those spots where those 1-2 most important points come up. That’s when I take notes, but I’m not taking notes on everything, just the most important things.

This “Double-Take” Method is based on the Pareto Principle (or 80/20 rule), which is the idea that 80% of results come from 20% of the input or effort. There’s debate about whether those percentages are exact, but the point of the Pareto Principle is that a small percentage of input will yield a large amount of output, while the rest of the input won’t lead to very much. So, when we use the “Double-Take” Method, we’re allowing a small percentage of the information gained to have a big impact on our overall learning.

But how do we know that we’ve picked the right 20%? What if we choose the wrong 20% and then we’re learning something that’s completely irrelevant?

The beauty of writing is that it’s subjective. The 20% of information that’s relevant to you might not apply to me, and that’s okay. The point isn’t to pick the “right” 1-2 pieces of information to focus on, but to prevent ourselves from getting bogged down in our learning. After all, while learning is great, it is time spent away from writing. We want to make sure that the time we spend building our craft is productive, useful, and efficient, so we can get back to writing as soon as possible.

Revisit Your Learning

One of the other habits that can be very useful to us as writers is to revisit things we think we already know. Periodically, I’ll pull up a learning resource I’ve already consumed (maybe a lesson from a course or a PDF download) and I’ll skim through it again. Inevitably, I’ll see something new in that resource, something I hadn’t noticed before.

That’s the great thing about learning. Some pieces of information might not be relevant right this minute, but if we come back and revisit that lesson down the road, those will be the pieces that stand out as most important. This is one of the reasons why we offer continuing access in our signature courses, because we know writers may need to come back to the materials again and again.

One of the things I’ve heard over and over from various course alums is “I skipped such-and-such module the first time I did the class, but now I’m taking it again and that module is exactly what I need.” In other words, different lessons or pieces of information will be relevant to us at different points in our journey. This means every so often we should revisit the writing resources we have to see what new insights we might gain from them.

Vet Resources Before You Invest

If you’re anything like me, your computer is probably overflowing with webinar recordings, writing summit replays, PDF freebies, eBooks on writing, and other learning materials. With so much information at our fingertips, it’s really easy to get overwhelmed, and when that happens most of us end up ignoring those resources altogether. So, how do we know where to invest our time (and money)?

The way I go about it is to find some trusted advisors. There are certain people in the writing space whose taste and judgment I trust, and when they recommend something, I’m likely to give it a second look. You need to find a couple of writing experts whose recommendations you trust. I hope DIY MFA can be that resource for you, but I also encourage you to look to other people so you can get a broader range of perspectives.

Now, I wouldn’t advise you to include too many experts in that inner circle of trust, because then the volume of recommendations and opinions will be dizzying. Choose 2-3 people whose work you really admire and follow them. Watch your inbox for their emails, and when they recommend something, give it a closer look.

Don’t get me wrong, you can still follow other experts and be on other people’s newsletter lists. That’s great! Just choose 2-3 people who really resonate with you and follow them more closely. Those are the recommendations you should really pay attention to, and when they share a resource, there’s a good chance that it may be one where you want to invest.

Again, it’s all about finding that small amount of input that will yield the most output for you. In this case, instead of paying attention to dozens or hundreds of experts, you choose two or three. You can still keep other experts on your radar, but those 2-3 “inner circle” experts are the ones where you’ll really focus your attention.

What you’ll find, when you emphasize a limited number of resources is you’ll actually make more progress than when you scatter your attention across the board. That 20% of effort and attention will yield 80% of your results, and by zeroing in on a few key resources or experts, you’ll actually have the bandwidth and energy to implement what you’re learning rather than simply stuffing your brain with information.

Make Time for Implementation

 The last thing I’ll share with you is about the importance of implementation. All that learning you do will mean nothing if you don’t put it into action. This is why at DIY MFA, we make a point of including implementation exercises in our courses and writing exercises in our workshops. We believe that in order to learn, we can’t just talk about writing, we have to do the writing.

Whenever you take a class, go to a conference, participate in a summit, or consume any sort of writing resource, make sure you schedule time for implementation. Put it on the calendar. Carve out 30-40 minutes after you’ve consumed the information and use that time to implement what you learned. Don’t just take notes, but spend time actually putting the concepts into practice.

There you have it, a series of tips to help you make the most of your writing resources. Use the “Double-Take” Method to zero in on the most important parts of any given lesson or resource. Also, go back and revisit different materials from time to time to see if you get new insights. Make sure you vet the resources you consume, and the best way to do that is to follow a couple of experts whose taste and judgment you trust. Finally, remember to schedule some time for implementation so you can put what you learn into action.

Until next time, keep writing and keep being awesome!

P.S. For more info on Gabriela Pereira, the founder and instigator of DIY MFA, check out her profile page.

The post Writer Fuel: Make the Most of Writing Resources appeared first on DIY MFA.

Still, just because you’re not out with the masses doesn’t mean you wouldn’t mind doing some shopping.

 I feel you.

Over a year ago, I asked to do this specific #5onFri because I wanted to share some of the best items for authors that I could personally vouch for. The items below have endured years of daily use, are the most affordable for their level of quality and – of utmost importance for a gift – are tinged with an edge of cool. 

Writers, get ready to start your wishlists!

Here are #5onFri gifts authors should be asking for:

1. Rocketbook 

You’ve probably heard of Rocketbook by now. They make reusable notebooks that are, in functionality, nothing less than sheer sorcery. How do they work? You write in the notebook, take a photo with your smartphone, check a box on the page and your written document is sent to one of the many locations you can specify (i.e., email, Dropbox, Evernote, One Drive, etc.). It should be noted that you can designate several different destinations per notebook. When you run out of pages, you simply wipe clean with a damp cloth and you’re good to begin again.

If you’ve been looking at Rocketbook products, wondering if they’re really worth the price tag or if your purchase will truly work with your tech, the answer to both is YES!! I was an early adopter and have been using Rocketbook items for a number of years. I really wanted to recommend these because over that course of time, I have changed computers, phones, emails, cloud drives, complete operating systems and Rocketbook has never had an integration problem. It’s as easy as using Bluetooth. 100% worth it.

Their products include lined notebooks, dot grid notebooks, reusable planners, looseleaf pages and now index cards, which are a great way to store (hoard?) all of your plot points while just keeping your current draft handy. 

Before you get too excited, there are two caveats worth mentioning: the sheets feel like you’re writing on plastic and after a couple of years, residue builds up like erasable marker on a whiteboard.

But have I mentioned that you can keyword search your handwritten notes in (at least) Evernote?

Writers, embrace the magic of our times!

2. Erasable Highlighters and Pens by Pilot

We’re all familiar with erasable pens. You know—the ones where you trade your mistaken marks for a slightly more aesthetic smear? 

Word nerds, Pilot has SOLVED this problem. Moreover, they have applied their friction-based technology to highlighters and markers!

I kid you not.

I was introduced to Pilot’s Frixion products through my Rocketbook use. However, they work brilliantly on regular paper as well as on Rocketbook pages. The pens are great, but the erasable highlighters in bold colors are next level – perfect for research. Once you’ve dropped something from your research into your draft, you can erase the flaming color and be assured that you haven’t overlooked anything important. I have even used them on library books (though I recommend underlining or else you will fade the text when erasing). 

There are a variety of Frixion products to choose from. Some work better than others. I have used most of them and IMHO, these are the best highlighters and this is the best pen set, especially if color coding is part of your process. You may be tempted to go for the markers and/or fineliners, but I don’t recommend them. Some colors are simply too light to grab your attention or are too similar to easily differentiate between.

As for the standard blue or black pens, it’s most economical to buy these 6 packs that include refills. However, if you’re simply curious but not yet ready to commit, start here for a set that will see you through a fair amount of writing and revising.

3. Software for Deep Work

Have you ever been writing and then had the need to research just one little thing? Something that will only take a few minutes. You find your answer quickly, but now notice all of the associated things that are just as interesting… and don’t writers need to encourage their curiosity? Shouldn’t you be thorough in your research?

Oh, and why not do a quick email check while you’re at it?

OK, this is not how you should be writing. Yet, it is how very many of us do write or find ourselves writing.

Never before have writers been subjected to so many distractions that are so readily available. Smartphones alone have been likened to carrying a casino in your pocket. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just turn off everything but the program you’re actually writing in?

Cold Turkey is a desktop app that lets you block everything except the previously mentioned work you should actually be doing. It’s a fantastic tool. There are no subscription fees, just a one-time payment of $40. Upon downloading, once you give it the OK to go to work, the most distracting sites will be blocked. (No worries; you can turn this feature on and off.) You can even thwart your unproductive self with an extensive password, one that will be harder to retrieve than simply staying seated and doing your writing. Cold Turkey allows you to schedule your own blackout periods and block specific programs and sites at predetermined times (e.g., no Instagram 9 AM – 5 PM, Mon thru Fri). All standard browsers are supported.

If you’re not yet ready to go Cold Turkey, a nice alternative is the Forest app. This is more of a visual, game-like app that blocks either the entire internet or just those sites that endanger your flow.

You begin with a digital plot of land, plant a digital tree and it grows in the background while you wrack up however many minutes you’ve specified. The more you use it, the more access you have to different botanicals. Now that might sound frivolous, but it’s a great way to see what you’ve done during your deep work sessions. By assigning a certain activity to a given tree or flower, you can tell at a glance how much editing, research, free writing, etc. you’ve done over a day, week or month.

BTW, if you use it enough, a real tree in the real world gets planted. Again, there are no subscriptions, just a one-time fee of $2. Of course, you can purchase more flora, but I have found that there’s no need to, as the basic app supplies enough variety.

As I’ve mentioned, these are products that I actually use. With so many productivity apps out there, I want to assure you that these are the “best of” deep work apps for writers. They are cost-effective and have remained stable over a number of years. Please note that Cold Turkey blocks desktop programs as well as internet sites, whereas Forest blocks only internet sites.

Essentially, these apps turn your computer into a typewriter. What better way to maximize word count?

4. The Splurge—Retro Typewriter Keyboard

Be honest with yourself, have you been a really good writer this year? Are you writing your second or third book? Are you sending your work out but still residing in that gray area, waiting for just the right person to appreciate your words?

Fellow word nerd, it is time to treat yourself.

While the previously mentioned apps turn your computer into a typewriter figuratively, these luxury keyboards do it literally. They scream “THIS IS WHERE I SHALL WRITE MY NOVEL OF GREATNESS!” and I can testify that they will keep that voice up.

This investment is one of those writing rewards that retains the feeling of accomplishment. Even after a couple of years, I’m still incredibly pleased that I get to go to my computer and use this. 

If you have an iPad or tablet, you are still in luck, as these digital devices can transform into typewriters as well. How much, you ask? There are many lower-end lookalikes ~$50, but I can tell you from experience they feel flimsy, almost like toys. Writers with fingers in the game should budget ~$175-200.

After all, you’ve earned it.

5. Books

Ah, those things everyone else thinks you have too many of, yet somehow you disagree.The following books make for excellent gifts or wishlist items because authors love them and find themselves returning to again and again, although they rarely do they purchase them for themselves.

52 Dates for Writers by Claire Wingfield

Give your normal life an exotic makeover. These 52 activities encourage you to get out there and use your Writer’s Senses: observation & imagination. You might even be asked to assume an alias. Each week, there is a prompt that propels writers to explore their normal surroundings, but in a different way – things as simple as taking a different route home or using public transportation – and then write about it upon your return to the real world. 

The Writer’s Desk by Jill Krementz and John Updike

Ever wonder what your favorite author’s office looks like? The Writer’s Desk is a photo collection of famous writers at their desks, simply doing their awe-inspiring work. See Amy Tan, Stephen King and many others with their piles of papers, hodgepodge of reference books, favorite writing supplies and quite often, a cat who steps in to edit. 

This Is My Best: Great Writers Share Their Favorite Work Ed. by Kathy Kiernan and Retha Powers

Is the piece you become famous for actually your best work? This book assures you that you will probably not become known for what you deem your personal best. It’s interesting to see the divide between what the public wants and what the author knows to be his or her crowning yet secret achievement. While I must confess that this is not a new book, I will say that you do get a sneak peek into the standards of renowned professionals such as David Sedaris, Gary Trudeau, and Arthur Miller. Can you imagine better company for your wandering writer’s mind?

*For more books and a great accountability planner to start the year off with, check out this prior #5onFri. 

Note: Neither DIY MFA nor the columnist have a vested financial interest in the products presented. Photos courtesy of Amazon.

BIOMelissa Haas is the Leisure Learning columnist at DIY MFA. She is also the author and illustrator of Catula: The Misadventures of Dracula’s Cat as well as The Night Before Christmas (NOW WITH CATS), among others. Follow Catula’s whereabouts on Instagram @CatulaTheCat. If you’re interested in downloading free coloring pages or seeing Margaret Atwood with a blowtorch, check out Leisure Learning related content at www.MelissaHaasCreates.com.

The post #5onFri: Five Items to Add to Your Writer’s Wishlist appeared first on DIY MFA.

Architecture Meets Literature

In China, each Zhongshuge Bookstore is an architectural feat. In fact, Architectural Digest recently recognized their Chengdu store for being able to create the feeling of falling into an Escher drawing. The photos alone are surreal, and it’s trippy to imagine what it would be like to walk up and down stairways that produce spatial illusions. At another location, Chongqing, books and reading nooks are showcased in a way that feels more like an exhibit than a merchandise display. Finally, if you’d like to see a gravity defying art installation, by which I mean bookshelf, the photos of their Shenzhen location are literally out of this world.  

The Moth (5-15 mins)

The Moth (the radio show/podcast) is one of the best audio productions out there, IMHO. They’ve been around for almost two decades and feature “true stories, told live” by the people who’ve lived to tell them. What separates these stories from similar but lesser compilations is that the editors are very careful about selecting stories that literally glow with humanity. They are short, deeply touching and well told.

As such, there are a couple of reasons why I’m recommending The Moth specifically to the DIY MFA community:

First of all, their story archive (link in heading) is a treasure trove of realistic character inspiration. The life experiences presented here can add unique texture to both your characters and subplots.

Second of all, the stories told are often in a non-linear form, very much the way that meaningful events present themselves in real life. Often, people have to hop-skotch around their lives to make sense of specific experiences and studying these story forms, specifically what makes the realistic story entertaining and how to string together disparate events into a cohesive narrative, are rich sources of short-form study material.

Finally, I know that we have many authors working on memoirs or planning to write one. The Moth’s platform is a good excuse to either revisit an anecdote or jot one down that you think is worth telling and submit it.

One of the reasons The Moth is so well known for having high-quality content owes to professional involvement. If someone submits a story and it is interesting enough, but not put together very well, a pro-writer steps in and helps polish the story up. Here are their tips to help you get started.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company: Complete Works Of… (97 mins, hilarious, occasional swearing)

Since it’s heading-back-to-school time, I wanted to include this theatrical, tongue-in-cheek overview of Shakespeare that parents will be able enjoy along with their middle or high schoolers. The Reduced Shakespeare Company has built a reputation on taking classics from the Western literary canon, summarizing them and turning their key points into a kind of literary comedy routine. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) covers several plays sure to appear on someone’s curriculum this year. 

Now, you don’t have to be well versed in any of the folios to enjoy this production, but you will walk away feeling like you’ve had a fond review of Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits. To get a feel for their “low-brow comedy meets high-brow literary style”, check out this clip of Romeo and Juliet.

If you think Western Civilization: The Complete Musical (Abridged) might be a better fit for your family, you can find all of their productions here.

*Note: searching for the RSC’s work on YouTube yields pretty rich results.

Shelf Portrait – Alanis Morissette

Alright, word nerds. Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a conversation (or many) about the Alanis Morissette song “Ironic.” Remember, this is a safe space.

In 2020, the singer I will forever associate with my younger days put out an album, Such Pretty Forks in The Road, and not too long after that, videos (like the kind from MTV but now on The YouTubes) started coming out and only then did I see what real fame and fortune could get you: a home library rivaling the one in Beauty and the Beast. This is the music video of which I speak and here is Alanis talking about her incredible home library.

WARNING: The singer has mellowed out considerably but, I would also add, admirably. Here it must be said that sometimes getting old can be pretty cool.

The Universe in Verse (5 mins)

For an otherworldly experience, take a few minutes to rekindle your sense of awe with these interdisciplinary collages, pairing the finest minds in science with the finest minds in music and poetry. The Universe in Verse was started by Maria Popova, founder of Brain Pickings (now Marginalian) in 2017 as a pro-science way of celebrating reality alongside the traditional inquiries made by the humanities. 

Although formerly an in-person event, recent times have brought extensions of the evening online. Now everyone can delve into Richard Feynman’s observations accompanied by Yo-Yo Ma’s exquisite cello playing, layered atop quirky and charming visuals. This presentation urges viewers to forget the small things and remember the Big Picture that is continually unfolding.

Melissa Haas is the author and illustrator of Catula: The Misadventures of Dracula’s Cat and The Night Before Christmas (NOW WITH CATS), among others. Follow Catula’s whereabouts on Instagram @CatulaTheCat. If you’re interested in downloading free coloring pages or seeing Margaret Atwood with a blowtorch, check out more Leisure Learning related content at www.MelissaHaasCreates.com.

The post August 2022 Leisure Learning appeared first on DIY MFA.

The autumn wind howls through the bare branches, rattling the dead leaves as the phone lines skip rope overhead. A lanky figure emerges from the gloom, its tattered clothes flapping against its mottled green skin. Slobbering and moaning, it lurches toward the warm glow of a nearby house. Inside, a figure hunches over a computer, her back to the window, unaware of her impending doom.

The thing raises its gnarled hand and drags its ragged fingernails down the windowpane. Startled, the woman turns around, her own finger hovering over the Return key. It freezes, stunned by the harsh light of the confirmation window:

“Would you like to publish your book on Amazon now?”

With a bloodcurdling scream, the creature flees back into the darkness.

Okay, so maybe that exact scenario hasn’t happened (yet…). But as the proud author of six self-published titles, take it from me: The world of self-publishing is full of thrills, chills, and things that go bump in the night.

 In honor of All Hallows Eve eve, let’s spend this #5onFri freaking out over…getting self-published!

1) Shooting a Gun, Throwing a Knife, and Wielding a Chainsaw–At the Same Time

So, you’ve finished writing your book. Now what?

You need an editor. Where do you find one? You want to design your own cover. How do you know what you want to make or which software to use? How do you create an ebook? Should you offer a paperback too? What about advertising? Should you do it, and if so, where? Amazon? Facebook? And what the heck are “keywords”?!

Self-publishing requires a lot more knowledge than how to write a good story. You need to become your own mini-publishing house, and that requires research. But don’t panic—the information is no more than a Help section reference or Google search away. Like most things, it all comes down to attitude.

The Bottom Line: If you love learning, self-publishing is a treasure trove of new skills, experiments, and discoverie

And when it comes to honing your craft, places like DIY MFA make that journey convenient and fun!

2) Falling into a Bottomless Money Pit

I’ve heard it at nearly every writing conference I’ve ever been to. “If you want to make a million dollars, don’t be a writer.”

Turning a profit can be tough. For self-published authors, the challenge starts immediately. Editing, book layout, cover artists, printing—all the things that are baked into the traditional model are pay-to-play for selfies, and that’s just to get the book in your hands. 

After that, ads and marketing can eat up as much as you want to spend, and more. The upside: You get a bigger slice of the royalties. The downside: You’ll spend the first chunk of those royalties covering what you’ve already spent—or worse, you’ll never make enough to recoup them at all.

The Bottom Line: Until you’re well-known enough to cover your budget on presales alone, self-publishing will be a cost-deficit production.

3) Being Branded with a Red-Hot “SP”

I hate to tell you this, but…

Even after you spend all that time learning how to be a publisher and a good writer, there will still be those who turn their noses up at you, simply because you’re self-published. Even in a post-50 Shades era where an indie book can do just as well on the charts as a traditional one, the idea persists that, if you’re not traditionally published, you’re not a “legitimate” author.

This is an outdated notion. Yes, there are still titles out there that could use some quality control, but the myth of throwing your book on Amazon one night and waking up to instant success is dying. To make a career as any type of author, you need to produce quality work. Self-published authors understand that as much as anyone else.

The Bottom Line: Self-publishing is not a shameful act, even if some still think it is. Instead of arguing, prove them wrong by continuing to produce the best work you can.

4) Being Alone in the Woods

 It’s lonely out there for a selfie. You have no agent, no publisher, no release team. Anyone you hire will be contract-based and therefore temporary. And once your book goes live, there is no fanfare or balloon release. Just a click of a button, and a follow up email letting you know your book is live. If you want balloons, you have to get them yourself.

The solution? Social media. There are hundreds of online communities dedicated to supporting self-publishers, and they are full of people who will celebrate, commiserate, and help.

The Bottom Line: You’ll have to look around to find the group that suits you best, but you can find one.

5) Discovering You’re a Pod Person

You know what I’m talking about. The feeling that you’re a fake, a hack, or somehow undeserving of any success you have. Yes, it’s the dreaded Imposter Syndrome, and at one point or another we’ve all come down with a case of it. Combined with that wretched SP brand—someone literally telling you “you’re not a real author”—and you end up with Imposter Syndrome Squared.

The Bottom Line: Many have tried to eradicate the dreaded IS, but its prevalence continues. Just keep on holding your head high. Don’t feed the trolls.

And keep this in mind: Constructive criticism is a critical part of being an author. Sure, it’s not fun to hear that someone didn’t like your book. But it also means that some actually read your book. And if people are reading your book, then how can you be an imposter?

Any Last Words?

The path to self-publication is paved with pitfalls and beset by monsters. However, if you know the challenges before you begin, and approach them with enthusiasm, your journey will be much easier and (dare I say?) even a little fun. So, don your armor, grab your flashlight, and strap on a backpack full of garlic and silver bullets. Because as they say, the only thing we truly have to fear is fear itself. 

And maybe zombies.

Recommended Resources

Please note: I am not receiving any compensation for these recommendations. These are simply outlets I have used and found helpful.

Editorial:

Chimera Editing

Amazon Ads:

 5 Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge Facebook Group (Free Training)

 Kindlepreneur (Free and Paid Tools)

Content/Social Media Marketing:

Community:

#writingcommunity and #writerscafe (Twitter)

Indie Author Coalition Facebook Group

And of course –Word Nerds Unite!

S.G. Tasz specializes in comedy-horror, paranormal fantasy, supernatural realism, and the cross-sections of all three. Her current series, Dead Mall, follows a team of janitors and mall cops who must battle the hordes of hell in a nearly abandoned shopping mall. In addition to writing, she works as a digital content manager and recently founded The Uglycat Press, a resource hub and review outlet for independent authors. She currently lives in Las Vegas. More information about her books and services can be found at www.sgtasz.com.

The post #5onFri: The Five Scariest Things About Being a Self-Published Author appeared first on DIY MFA.

1) Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

The first time I read this book, I was going through a bad bout of depression. It opened my eyes to the magic of being creative, and gave me several pep talks that I needed. I recently re-read this book for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads, which I run. And for the second time, I was inspired. Not everything Elizabeth Gilbert said I agreed with, but the overall impact of her book was amazing, and I noticed it was the same for many of our book club members. While there are things that Elizabeth Gilbert says (or her tone at times) that didn’t work for them, they still got a lot out of her book and the things in it made them think.

“Stop treating your creativity like it’s a tired, old, unhappy marriage (a grind, a drag) and start regarding it with the fresh eyes of a passionate lover. Even if you only have fifteen minutes a day in a stairwell alone with your creativity, take it. Go hide in that stairwell and make out with your art.” – from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

If you need a boost, a reminder, a pep talk, a kick in the pants, if you need your eyes opened or reopened about your art, this book can do it.

2) Method Acting for Writers: Learn Deep Point of View Using Emotional Layers by Lisa Hall-Wilson

This is another selection for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club. If you want to learn how to write deep POV, this book will give you all of the pointers and steps you need to strengthen your writing. Lisa Hall-Wilson walks writers through creating character voice, internal dialogue, emotional layers, and so much more.

3) Children’s Writer’s Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner & Tayopa Mogilner

Children’s Writer’s Word Book is a great tool for writers interested in writing for children. When it comes to writing for children, it is essential to write a story that is age-appropriate. This book is divided into seven sections from kindergarten to sixth grade and middle grade. Under each section is a word list that all children learn at each grade level.

Depending on the audience for your children’s book, you can use the words on the list for that grade level, as well as the words on any previous list for younger grade levels. There are explanations for what children learn in the classroom, publishing information such as what publishers expect in terms of length and content, and also short writing samples to give you an idea of how to write for each level.

At the end of the book, there’s a neat thesaurus that highlights common words and provides synonym alternatives for different grades. So, if you use a word that is too advanced, you can find a simpler word for younger readers. Or, you can swap out weaker vocabulary words for stronger ones, words that older children should know and learn in the middle grade, for instance.

If you want to write for children, this book will assist you greatly.

4) The Grammar Bible by Michael Strumpf

The Grammar Bible is simple and easy to understand, even for those writers who have a hard time grasping grammar rules. The examples that are included for each rule further assist with understanding.

If you struggle with commas, this book will especially help you. I used to hate commas and was never confident when using them. I’d wonder if I was using a comma correctly or if I needed one. Then I discovered this book, and now I am confident.

Each chapter is divided into sections to help you learn. Part one consists of parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Part two is all about dissecting sentences. Part three is for spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.

5) Your One Word: The Powerful Secret to Creating a Business and Life That Matter by Evan Carmichael

Your One Word was written for entrepreneurs and small business owners, but anyone can use the concept of One Word. Even writers. When I read this book and discovered my one word (sparks), I used it for my website, blog, social media sites, everywhere.

Your one word defines you (who you are), your business, what you strive for in all you do, and what you want to give others. Essentially, it’s branding, which is what all authors need to do. Evan Carmichael says, “Your one word is your core. It’s your guiding light. It makes all decisions easier…When you know your one word, you can make decisions that support your path…it will also help you to stay motivated.”

And isn’t that what we all need/want? Read this book to discover your one word and its power—for you, your writing, your life, your career.

What books have helped you through your insecurity as a writer?

Chrys Fey is the author of Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication. She is also the author of the Disaster Crimes series. Visit her blog, Write with Fey, for more tips on how to reverse writer’s burnout, and follow her on Twitter at @ChrysFey.

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Literary

The Veterans Writing Project provides no-cost seminars and workshops—for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and playwriting—led by working writers who hold MA or MFA writing degrees at locations around the country. There is also a mentorship program for students with completed/nearly completed book length projects who would like feedback on finalizing their work. The Veterans Writing Project’s quarterly literary magazine, The Review, is published at their sister website O’Dark Thirty, and is a place where veterans can submit stories.

The University of Iowa publishes The Iowa Review and hosts a creative writing contest for veterans writing in any genre about any subject matter. The contest is made possible by a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet—a Vietnam veteran and antiwar writer and activist. First place is $1,000 plus publication in an issue of The Iowa Review, second place $750, and three runners-up received $500 each. They also host a veterans’ online writing gallery.

Fordham University sponsors cost-free, professional-level writing workshops in the New York City metro area for U.S. veterans. Their ten-week program meets once-a-week and culminates with the publication of their annual print anthology, Afterwords. They also offer public readings and other events where veterans can share their stories.

George Mason University (GMU) provides poetry workshops for veterans and supports the Heroes’ Voices National Veterans Poetry Contest—a venture with Heroes’ Voices in San Francisco, CA. There are monetary prizes and winning submissions are published and featured in public readings in San Francisco, California and at GMU’s Manassas campus in Virginia.

The University of California offers the UC Student Veterans Writing Workshop, a program for their enrolled students. Veterans from ten UC campuses gather for five days during the summer to study and practice the art of storytelling. The workshop is free of charge and includes lodging and meals. Instant Separation, an online journal of military experience from the University of California is a venue for students to publish stories.

Local libraries around the country host community based programs as well. For example, The White Plains Public Library in New York hosts a weekly writing class for veterans. Student compositions are published in an anthology and a reading is held at the library.

Plays and Screenwriting

A non-profit organization founded by Adam Driver, AITAF’s mission is to provide high-quality performing arts programming to active duty service members, veterans, military support staff and their families around the world free of charge. Besides providing incredible programming (like a talk back session with Steven Soderbergh about the movie Jaws), AITAF also offers The Bridge Award to an emerging playwright who served or is currently serving in the military. It consists of a $10,000 prize and an AITAF produced reading of the winning work with a reception and feedback session. The head judge this past year was Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks.

The Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project provides education and mentorship to emerging writers from U.S. military backgrounds. Each year, 40 veterans are accepted into this Los Angeles based, tuition-free, twelve-month program. It’s comprised of a weekend retreat, monthly workshops, special events, and one-on-one mentoring by Writers Guild of America members from successful movies and television series. Many applicants are television writers or screenwriters, but novelists may apply. Students complete a screenplay or TV pilot at the completion of the program and make connections with professionals in the movie and television industries.

The United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance (USVAA) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary non-profit arts organization that highlights work of veterans in the arts, humanities and entertainment industry, and finds funding and support for individual artistic projects in theater, film, television, and the visual/fine arts. USVAA works closely with The Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project and hosts stage presentations of scenes and selected readings from television and movie scripts, novels and memoirs written by veterans.

These are just some of the highlights from the amazing things I discovered—opportunities I hope that benefit DIY MFA readers. I encourage you to explore universities, colleges, and libraries near your homes and let us know what you find.

If you aren’t a veteran, you can still volunteer to support events and connect with some incredible people. You never know who you may meet. It could be someone who inspires your next story.

Stacy Woodson writes romantic suspense and crime fiction. She is a U.S. Army veteran and memories of her time in the military play a role in her stories. A Daphne du Maurier winner and Publishers Weekly contributor, her recent story, “Duty. Honor. Hammett.,” will appear in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She loves staying connected. You can find her at www.stacywoodson.com.

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