DIY Mini Kidlit MFA
Christine designs a free(ish) do-it-yourself MFA
I’ve contemplated completing a MFA course for years but I have never had the time (hello family, part-time job, and being an author) or the budget. So I put the idea aside. But along came the new Writing for Young Readers MFA in San Francisco and the instagram pics of the residency in the city made me feel major FOMO! So near (geographically) and yet so far…
So, I’ve decided to set up a DIY MFA program just for me. It won’t be the same of course! No advisor, no workshopping, no 10-day residency. But I’m hoping this personal curriculum will kickstart my new project that I’ve been really stuck on. In fact I haven’t written anything other than substack posts for weeks. Methinks I may be blocked! Hopefully this will help. Plus by the time you read this I will have just gotten back from vacation so I’m hoping I’m feeling well rested!
Christine’s DIY Mini Kidlit MFA
These are the elements that I’m bringing into my DIY Kidlit MFA syllabus.
Reading List
Books about writing
I have all of these either on my bookshelves or I can borrow them from the library
(note: the links that follow are mostly Bookshop.org affiliate links and I may earn a small percentage from your purchase when you use them)
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life byAnne Lamott - a classic for a reason and one I need to re-read.
Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell
Invisible Ink: A Practical Guide to Building Stories that Resonate by Brian Macdonald
Mentor texts
These are a couple of the books that are related to the book I’m hoping to write and contain elements of craft I want to work on. I need to add to this but here are the initial books on my list. I will need to “read like a writer” instead of just reading just for fun (or hopefully both!)
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
The First Rule of Climate Club by Carrie Firestone
Online resources
Erin Entrada Kelly’s substack for the bitesize craft analysis
Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling and Pixar in a Box (also see Vicky’s revision post)
Workshops
I struggle to find workshops or classes that are pitched at the right level these days. I’m not a beginner writer but I also feel far from an expert in middle grade writing. I’m going to do some more research but let me know in the comments of any classes you know of that I should check out. I prefer one-off classes or maybe a short series as committing to weeks of classes or traveling doesn’t work for my schedule at the moment.
Community
I’m lucky enough to already have a fantastic critique partner (and substack partner) of course! I also have another critique group who are writing similar stories to me. So when I’m ready I’ll definitely be sharing this work with all of them. And, once my kids are back in school in August, I’ll arrange some co-working sessions with my local writing friends (if you’re a local writing friend and want in, let me know!
DIY Retreat
TBD but I really hope it involves meeting Vicky somewhere by the ocean! Let’s make this happen, Vicky!!
Final Project
This will be a new middle grade manuscript draft! 🤞
Resources
DIY MFA by Amy Stewart (found via Amy Makechnie)
I’ll update as I progress! Let me know if you have any questions or ideas for other resources.
Yes to all the things! Let’s do it!
This is awesome and so inspiring, Christine. It makes me want to try a mini version someday! Will you keep us updated on your progress? Hope it lights you up with all the sparks.