#accessible mfa

Last week researchers published some pretty exciting findings for artists. We can set ourselves up for a hot streak by exploring genres and styles, then mastering one. After chronic illness changed how I write, this is wonderful news. #WritingCommunity

Last week was an exciting one for artists interested in scientific studies of creativity. Researchers (Lu Liu, Nima Dehmamy, Jillian Chown, C. Lee Giles & Dashun Wang) published an article in Nature demonstrating that most artistic hot streaks are preceded by exploration as artists try out numerous forms and media. The researchers define exploration as a period of intense “experimentation [as…

I wrote a story recently that, like most first drafts, wasn't very good. So I decided to play with structure. I tried linear time, frame structure, long time, and switchback time (from Joan Silber's book, Art of Time in Fiction). And hey, it helped.

So last week I tried this wacky writing exercise I came up with. Wacky, because it’s time consuming. (If you’re feeling wacky, too, you can check it out on the Fiction Workshop syllabus under Week 4). Basically, I took a short story that wasn’t working. Well, okay, fine. It sucked. It really, really sucked. But something interesting was there under all the crud. So I thought hey, maybe if I cut…

Advanced Fiction Workshop Syllabus

It took me longer than planned after heat waves and migraines, but hey! It’s done! Here at last is the course syllabus for this semester in the Accessible MFA. Currently, I’m hovering around Week 4, but remember in this MFA (not accredited but open to all), each “week” can take as long as you want. As can each semester. Amy Tan and Joyce Carol Oates are our creative writing instructors through…

I'm going to say this once, people: Novels are not in competition with movies. When we want a movie, we watch a goddamn movie. When we want a novel, we read one. So write that novel already! Here are 3 books to help you do just that. #WritingCommunity

Well, it took me long enough! But I did finally get around to finishing and reviewing my final three textbooks from last semester’s fiction seminar in the Accessible MFA. If you’re looking for books on writing craft and philosophy, check out the titles below to see if any of these sound good. (And by the way, all embedded links for these three books take you to Bookshop.org where your purchase…

After chronic illness destroyed one career, I was sure I'd never have another. For some of us with disabilities, slow is the only way we can do anything. Seven months ago I didn't think it was enough. This semester proved me wrong. #WritingCommunity

I entered the first fiction seminar of my Accessible MFA convinced that I will never have a writing career. Five years ago, chronic illness had already destroyed one career. I was in my final year of my master’s program when I became sick. I lost jobs. I lost touch with mentors. I could no longer intern in classrooms. And I couldn’t find positions, or even internships, in my field willing to…

Last day of the writing residency, and here's what I learned: 1) Be consistent in your online persona. 2) Don't follow people to get a follow back. The pros can tell, and it looks foolish. 3) Praise authors you admire. 4) Keep going. #WritingCommunity

That was one hell of a week! I learned a few things. Number one? Do not pack an entire week with only publishing, querying, and marketing workshops. Ever. If I loved business this much, I’d just go be an entrepreneur. Still, it was useful to dig deeper into the entrepreneurial aspects of a writing career. Maybe most importantly, I learned a lot about what to expect as I transition from writer to…