Gabriela Pereira

Instigator and Founder

Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and self-proclaimed word nerd who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. Her mission is to empower writers to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to their professional growth.

Gabriela earned her MFA from The New School, in New York. While undercover as a graduate student, she learned the inside scoop on MFA programs, invented a slew of writing tools all her own, and developed a new, more effective way for writers to learn their craft. Now she shares what she discovered and helps writers around the world get the “knowledge without the college.”

In a past life, Gabriela worked in the toy industry, creating educational activities and games for toddlers, preschoolers, and tweens. She has taught several writing courses in New York City at organizations like: 826NYC, Everybody Wins, EHTP, and even at a local writing workshop she built from the ground up. While Gabriela now teaches exclusively via DIY MFA, she continues to lead workshops at national and international writing conferences. She also gives keynotes on college campuses, and offers training programs on creativity in the workplace.

Her favorite thing to do is come up with dastardly plans for new writing courses, and create innovative resources to share with her word nerds. When she’s not building cool stuff, Gabriela loves to write middle grade and teen fiction, with some “nerdy fiction for grown-ups” thrown in for good measure. She is represented by Jeff Kleinman at Folio Literary Management and her book, DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community, was published in spring 2016 from Writer’s Digest Books. As always, Gabriela has several other top secret plans in the works and the best way to stay in the loop is to sign up for her email list.

Gabriela lives in NYC with Lawyer-Hubby, Little Man, Lady Bug, and Office Cat.

For more information check out her LinkedIn profile or follow her on social media.

Twitter: @AuthorGabriela
Instagram: @AuthorGabrielaPereira

To book Gabriela to speak on your campus or for an upcoming conference or workshop, visit her speaking page.


Info for Press

Short Bio

Gabriela Pereira is a writer, teacher, and self-proclaimed word nerd who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, her mission is to empower writers to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth. Gabriela earned her MFA in creative writing from The New School and teaches at national conferences, local workshops, and online. She is also the host of DIY MFA Radio, a popular podcast where she interviews bestselling authors and offers short audio master classes. Her book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community is out now from Writer’s Digest Books. To join the word nerd community, go to: DIYMFA.com/join.

Super-Short Bio

Gabriela Pereira is the founder of DIYMFA.com, the do-it-yourself alternative to a Masters degree in writing. She is also a speaker, podcast host for DIY MFA Radio, and author of the forthcoming book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community (Writer’s Digest Books, July 2016).

Author Photos

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