As a writer, you have your own unique gifts and only you can do the work you’re meant to do, but you’re also part of a larger art form with a long history and an amazing community. Just as we study the work of the writers we admire, we can study the path they’ve taken… Read more »
Plot grids are by far my favorite method of outlining and I can’t write a book without using them. I’m a hardcore plotter. It’s impossible for me to finish a book without knowing where I’m going. I also write mysteries and thrillers, and books in this genre can become overwhelming if a writer doesn’t have… Read more »
First, a statement that is not a confession: I love romance. I always have. But I didn’t embrace it until relatively recently. There are several reasons for this, but suffice it to say that I’m an elder millennial and after a childhood in which the media told me that the best thing to be was… Read more »
Spring is the season of growth, of buds turning into leaves, of new plants emerging from the frozen ground. The same is true of creativity, according to the Five Element Theory of Chinese Traditional Medicine. After quiet reflection during the water energy of winter, spring is the time to transform the ideas that were nourished… Read more »
Have you ever felt like your creative ambition failed you? Writing used to light you up, but not anymore. The want is still there–you want to write your books, you want to do all the things that you think are required to make that happen–but you just can’t. The idea of producing one more thing,… Read more »
So you have some concept and general guidance on what the seven main chakras are, what they represent, and how they can manifest as behaviors and motivations for you (and your characters). Chakras can help you add movement to a static character, or help you identify what within your character you can change to help… Read more »
A few weeks ago, I shared how numbers could improve your writing life. Today, I’m going to discuss how numerical data can improve your story. The suggestions I present here are in the context of novels, but you can apply these principles to other forms as well. As with the previous article, I don’t want… Read more »
In the Summer of 2022, after working in Communications & PR for 22 years, I left my writing job to become a writer. My Comms work was all in technology, 16 years of which I worked at Microsoft in a wide range of roles spanning corporate, product, issues, and executive communications. Over those years, I… Read more »
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Steven James. We’ll be talking about his multifaceted storytelling framework, and his book The Art of the Tale. Have you signed up to be a DIY MFA Radio Insider yet? This is an exciting new monthly newsletter especially for our podcast listeners. Every month, you’ll get an email… Read more »
Content warning: This article mentions and discusses offensive words related to people with disabilities, while offering alternatives to prevent using ableist language in the future in your writing. Wow! That’s “crazy,” I can’t believe that happened. This event was so “lame.” She was “blind” to his ways, and he ended up taking advantage of her…. Read more »
