Thrills, Chills, Ups, Downs, Frights and Delights!

Photo by Mateus: https://www.pexels.com/photo/amusement-rides-under-blue-sky-10941793/ 

I’ve almost finished my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a Professional Writing certification. Starting in October 2021 and finishing on June 25, 2023, it’s been classes in Storytelling, Genre Literature, Advanced Genre Literature, Editing and Coaching, the Publishing Ecosystem, Speculative Fiction I and II, Finding an Audience, Social Media Marketing, the Business of Writing, Writing Short Works, Copy and Content Writing, and Thesis I, II, and III.  

Like I said, Phew! No wonder I’m exhausted. 

So Where Do I Go From Here?

After a well-deserved break where I can work on my mediation garden, chill poolside, plan my son’s wedding, and read a book without analyzing it, it’s back to writing. This time, though, will be different because I’ll be using newly acquired skills. I will now work smarter, faster, and with less revision. As a published author coming into this program, I’ll admit to a certain amount of hubris, a ‘been there, done that’ attitude. I know what the literary and publishing landscapes were like. I knew about plot, character, setting, editing, and so forth.

Photo by Katya Wolf: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-brown-long-sleeve-shirt-drawing-on-a-sketchpad-8715874/ 

Or So I Thought… 

Writing is like the proverbial mousetrap; everyone’s always trying to devise a better way. The trick is to find which way suits my personality and my style best. I’ve attended workshops and conferences and lectures. I’ve tried various methods espoused by famous authors, well-known writing coaches, and do-it-yourself books.  

Photo by Skitterphoto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-mouse-trap-with-cheese-bait-on-top-633881/ 

You’re Doing It Wrong… But We Can Help 

I’ll admit to being a pantster when I first started novel writing. When a work-for-hire project required an outline, I outlined. Okay, it made it easier to write the book because I knew where the story and plot were going. But I was still having issues when subbing to editors and agents. As I progressed through the program, I learned how to plan an outline carefully, methodically, in greater detail- and that I should do that FIRST. Now I had a path.

Photo by Simon Berger: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-pathway-surrounded-by-trees-1542857/ 

Will the new path lead me to publishing success? We shall see. I hope you stick around or stop by once in a while to check up on me. Don’t be afraid to shout out if I’ve been silent or absent because I may have my nose in a book—mine. 

But first….  

Congratulations to all 

2023 Graduates! 

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-person-holding-black-academic-hat-7944061/