17 Sep

DIY MFA: Week 2 In Review

Posted in DIY MFA, Week in Review

I cannot believe we’re already halfway through DIY MFA!  I hope you guys are enjoying it as much as I am because I’m having a blast.  Before I go into the weekly recap, I just wanted to give a huge shout out to my followers.  Yes, all you adorable faces in the sidebar, I’m talking about you.  Every time I log in, I see new smiling faces and you all make me giggle inside.  You rock!  Have a sticker.

Recap of this Week in DIY MFA:

Saturday: Morphological Forced Connections
This writing trick uses a matrix to help you come up with writing prompts or other writing ideas.  Earlier this week my writing group used this technique to come up with ideas for one writer’s title.   You can used MFC for just about any type of brainstorming.

Sunday: Mind Mapping
Use mind map diagrams to brainstorm or outline your story.  This is great for visual thinkers or writers who don’t like traditional outlines.

Monday: Learning from the Masters
Use your reading time to learn to write.  Includes a list of suggested resources.

Tuesday: Author Readings and Literary Events
One great way to connect with other writers is through readings and literary events.  Check out a reading series at a local university or author readings at your local bookstore.

Wednesday: Moving Right Along: Ins and Outs of Plot
Studying plot archetypes can help figure out your story structure.  Figure out what your character wants and what’s standing in his/her way and Voila! You’ve got conflict.

Thursday:
Giving Useful Critiques
Tips for giving strong critiques and a sample passage critiqued by several writers. 

Don’t Forget:  There’s still time to register for iggi U.  Check out the iggi U tab for more information or to catch up on previous posts.  If you register, you automatically get entered in the DIY MFA contest (Prize = 25-page critique!)

Now, please tell me because I NEED to know: how did this week go for you?  Any suggestions or ideas you’d like to share?

7 Comments »

Comments on this post

  1. Merrilee says:

    Err…I'm still catching up with week one… 🙂

    1. Stina Lindenblatt says:

      I can't believe I missed the entire week. Thanks God for you recaps. 😀

      1. Kerryn Angell says:

        I kept up and improved on last week but I still felt a bit iggi-sigh since I only wrote for 20 minutes on my WIP. iggi U… week two review.

        1. Najela says:

          I'm with Merrilee, I'm still catching up with week one, especially the book list, I want to make an informed and diverse decision before I post it online. I should probably stop watching True Blood and get my butt in gear.

          1. salarsenッ says:

            I've been checking in sporadically because my hubs has been out of town for over a week, but it all seems wonderful to me. I love that I can come at my leisure–yeah, not too much of that–and read, study, learn, and gather my thoughts for my post whenever I can.

            Thank you.

            1. Wannabe Writer says:

              I loved the mind mapping, although mine looks more like an architect's plan than a free-form shape. (I shouldn't have used that ruler, huh?)

              1. Portia says:

                I kept up on all the posts—I especially loved the ones about plot and critique! Unfortunately, I didn't get as much writing done as I would have liked, but I've thought a lot about the way I write, which is almost just as good.
                I also started a new blog (with a nom de plume and everything— I was previously Sonia) that will focus on writing and inspiration. Just wanted to let you know about my name change! Fellow DIY MFA-ers, please feel free to come say hi : )

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