17. 3 Things Your Writing Life Needs to Thrive with DIY MFA's Gabriela Pereira
Do you really need an MFA? No, but you do need a framework for making progress. DIY MFA is a book and community created by author, speaker, and entrepreneur Gabriela Pereira. We chat about the key pillars—write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community—and tackle topics like self-doubt, guilt, and how to survive conferences as an introvert.
Highlights
Why necessity inspired Gabriela to start DIY MFA
How to use an “Angst Jar”
The difference between reading for pleasure and reading for purpose
How to build a writing community (and why you should)
The 10% rule for creating achievable writing goals
Why you need a personalized reading plan (and how to create one)
How to survive conferences and events as an introvert
Guest Bio
Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, her mission is to empower writers, artists and other creatives to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth. Gabriela earned her MFA in writing from The New School and speaks at college campuses and national conferences. She is also the host of DIY MFA Radio, a popular podcast where she interviews bestselling authors and book industry professionals and author of the book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community.
Links + Resources
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman
Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry
Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path
