MFA programs help authors hone their craft. They’re also hugely expensive and, for full-time parents, the residency requirements can be impractical. Introducing the “DIY MFA in Creative Writing”.
Made To Be Broken
Never use the phrase “all hell broke loose” – and other tips for aspiring authors.
Peeling Back The Onion
Writing can be like peeling an onion: there are always more layers, new things to learn. And sometimes you just want to cry.
Local Hero
Searching for a satisfying, complex plot structure for your next story? Look no farther than your front window – the answer might be closer to home than you think.
Conflicted
Sometimes you can find conflict in the most mundane of settings … like the pediatrician’s office.
The Outline
Outlines are for term papers, not works of art … right? Not if you’re trying to stick to a routine and maximize your time.
Get Back, Jack
Looking for a way to channel your inner Jack Kerouac? Or maybe you just feel like having a few drinks and people-watching in a café. Either way – this post is for you.
The Art of the Short Story
Stuck on your short story? This post might help you figure out a way forward.
Run With It
I used to be a pretty good athlete, decades ago. In high school I was the Oklahoma state champion in the pole vault 2 years running, and took second place another year. Over the years, I’ve kept in shape by approaching workouts like eating, or sleeping: something that has to be done almost every day, [...]
Go Big or Go Home
It’s been a trying couple of weeks here in Aspiring Authorland. After plodding along at a pretty regular clip on a novel and completing about 1/3 of the first draft, I submitted it to an editor and asked for some objective input on how it was going.
Needless to say, his eyes didn’t open wide with [...]