#diy mfa

[heliotropist]

Award Yourself a Fine Arts Education

Be the dean of your own college, aka, the DIY MFA

[littlewritingdreams]

The Writing Process: DIY MFA - Adding Structure to Your Work

A few days ago, I realized that I have a lot of research, worldbuilding, and craft work to do. I also have a lot of writing to do, editing to do, and community building to do. And, of course, no real structure to my writing, writing research, community-building or editing efforts. Isn't that always the case, though?

Writing is a lot like running. It takes discipline and if you want to run a marathon or write a lot, you have to pace yourself.

So I decided to do my own DIY MFA. My friend and I have often joked that I am "basically" doing my own MFA, albeit with the organizational tactic of a hyperactive dog that can't decide which car it wants to chase. My DIY MFA is an attempt to correct that and add more structure to my work. Ideally, it will help me write more and write faster.

Now, there is an actual DIY MFA program, which helps writers structure their writing into their own MFA program, but I already have the materials I need to go through (coursework) and I already have an idea of what I want, and so I just went ahead and structured my own MFA program for the Fall Semester.

While I have an overall focus area for my Fall Semester, here are the "courses" that I want to stay consistent:

Weekly Podcast Listen: Choose 3 Podcasts to listen to regarding writing. Choose a focus area for each week so you can get different perspectives and your week is ore focused.

Community: As strange as it may seem, a big part of writing involves taking part in a community. This area focuses around writing events, critique groups, workshops, and moments where you can share your writing and build your network.

Reading: Choose 2 books to focus on each semester to hone your craft. Each week, read a chapter of each book.

Writing Research: Each week, focus on a different area to research. This will correspond with the "worldbuilding" coursework.

Worldbuilding: Based on the research for the week, work on a different worldbuilding assignment to help build your writing world. If you aren't writing a fantasy/sci-fi book, your "worldbuilding" could be the assignments that help you with character work, setting, thriller, or more of the researched elements of your story.

Monthly and Weekly Writing Word Count Goals: This is just a simple breakdown of word count to remind you to keep writing and make the actual writing happen.

Writing Project Goals: Writing Project Goals revolve around the projects you want to focus on for each month and, overall, for the semester. If you have multiple writing projects (like me), this can help you really narrow your writing focus.

So that's what I have planned for the rest of this year. This is my first week working on my own program and, so far, it's going pretty well. I will keep you all updated with my progress.

Happy Writing!

[littlewritingdreams]

New This Month: September

See below for This Month’s Rough Content Schedule:

Monday–Writer’s Life: Weekly Progress Update. Just a weekly update about my writing life and my progress so far (WIPs, short stories, creative nonfiction, etc.).

Tuesday–Book Reviews. I’ve read enough books to post weekly this month.

Wednesday–Weekly Instagram Post. Just a little snapshot of my life, books I’m reading, etc.

1st Sunday of the Month–The Writing Process.

2nd Sunday of the Month–The Editing Process.

3rd Sunday of the Month–Bookish.

For my current reading list, please go here.

Goals for the Month:

Write 20,000+ Words

Start DIY MFA

Write 1 Chapter of 2nd Draft

Finish 1 Short Story

Finish the Next Scene in Novella

Worldbuilding: Work on New Map

Worldbuilding: Focus on Food

Go to 1 Writing Event

Volunteer 10+ Hours

Craft 20+ Poems

Run 20+ Miles

Bike 100+ Miles

Yoga Once a Week

Read 3+ Books 

[stevensavage]

The Seventy/Thirty Question

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

There’s a book called DIY MFA which argues you don’t need an MFA to be a writer.  Instead one needs to a roadmap to developing skills, analyzing writing, and networking.  A lofty promise, but one I felt the book fulfilled, though some of it seemed very “standard” to me.

After some thought I realized of course some of the book seemed simple and standard – those were the parts I already knew.  Perhaps seventy percent of the book was things I knew (if not always did), but the other thirty percent was invaluable.  I had to wade through seventy percent to get the thirty I never thought of.

It was totally worth it.

I think this seventy/thirty rule is why writing conferences, guides, and meetups can seem repetitive to many.  Must we have another discussion of grammar, of romance tropes, of cover design?  Why must we hear something that I or we already know?

I myself have had these experiences.  I was wrong.

Writer events and groups cover seemingly repetitive subjects because we all have different seventy percent (do know) and thirty percent (don’t know).  Some of us are operating at fifty-fifty, and others are at ninety-ten and unable to fill in that last ten percent.

As we share with our fellow writers, let’s have some compassion and remember we all know things – and we all have gaps.

That means if you do know something, then share it.  There will be people who want to learn from you, even on subjects you consider pedestrian or repetitive.  Your seventy percent is their thirty percent – and you might just be the person that explains the lessons to them in a way that sticks.

This also means neither you nor anyone else should feel guilty requesting or attending classes on subjects that seem basic or cover the same ground.  You have your thirty percent of ignorance and for others, there’s probably overlap.  Stand up and ask to learn because I guarantee you’re not alone.

Let me close with a suggestion.  Create a list of things you’re competent at as a writer and things you could do better at.  Ask what you can share with your fellow creatives – and where you can boldly ask for help.

Your fellows might not just help you and be helped, but learn about their seventy and thirty as well.

Steven Savage

www.StevenSavage.com

www.InformoTron.com

[kristinastanley]

Founder of DIY MFA, Gabriela Pereira, Tells Us A Secret

Founder of DIY MFA, Gabriela Pereira, Tells Us A Secret

Let me introduce Gabriela Pereira, the founder of DIY MFA. She’s funny. She’s sincere. She’s serious about her work and helping writers. So, I’ve interviewed her.

This is a different kind of interview where I put Gabriela in the hot seat. No boring questions…only ones that give you the inside scoop on the life of a creative entrepreneur.

Let’s start out with a bang.

If you were told you could…

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[iscahmckrae]

Flogging yourself for not writing will not make words magically appear on the page.

Gabriela Pereira, DIY MFA

[kwpisme]

WRITERS OF THE WORLD - THIS PODCAST IS SO ROCKIN’ YOU WILL BE BUSTIN’ TO WRITE

WRITERS OF THE WORLD – THIS PODCAST IS SO ROCKIN’ YOU WILL BE BUSTIN’ TO WRITE

This year I made a commitment to myself in respects to that little thing inside always SCREAMING at me to write. The commitment is to take a deep dive into the world of the art of writing. I mean, if this writing thing tugs so hard it hurts from the inside, I simply must take the time to acknowledge and give this gift to myself to become the best I can be right? I have decided to surround myself…

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[fearlessmvmt]

I Pity The Fool... But Not Really

My favorite supporting character archetype is the Fool. I think it has a lot to do with how highly I value the truth. But the character who is ridiculed and mistreated because of their honesty is the one I want to admire as much as the protagonist.