Writing Excuses

19.50.5: An Interview with DIY MFA Founder Gabriela Pereira (BONUS EPISODE)

Dec 18, 2024

Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA, shares her revolutionary approach to self-directed writing education. She discusses the pillars of writing, reading, and community that form the foundation of her program. Pereira emphasizes the importance of customizing your writing curriculum and reveals insights on recognizing your weaknesses and learning through reading. She also suggests a fun exercise to map your writing habits, promoting an engaging way to build a supportive writing community.

31:20

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Episode guests

Gabriela Pereira

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The DIY MFA framework emphasizes the importance of three pillars: focused writing, purposeful reading, and community building for writers' growth.

Targeted practice in writing helps identify weaknesses and improve skills incrementally, fostering confidence through non-performance-based exercises.

Deep dives

The Importance of Focused Writing Practice

Focusing on specific aspects of writing is essential for skill development. Writers are encouraged to engage in focused practice rather than general writing, honing in on areas where they feel less confident. This targeted approach allows writers to develop their craft incrementally, enabling them to identify weaknesses and improve their skills over time. Practicing without the pressure of performance, such as through writing exercises, can help to build confidence and technical ability.

Intro

3min

Exploring the DIY MFA Concept and Its Founder

2min

The Playful Path of DIY MFA

12min

Connecting Reading Insights to Writing Practice

2min

Simplifying the Hiring Process with a Matching Platform

3min

Transforming Reading into Writing Practice

15min

Personalized Writing Help and Simplified Hiring

4min

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Gabriela Pereira, founder and instigator of DIY MFA, which is the do-it-yourself alternative to a Master of Arts in Writing. Pereira has some incredible advice for how to put together a writing curriculum for yourself. Using the pillars of writing, reading, and community, she explains how she first came up with the idea for DIY MFA. We also talk about how to build a well-rounded craft, how to know what you don’t know, and what exactly it means to “write with focus.”

Thing of the Week: DIY MFA Starter Kit

Homework: Observe your own habits! Think about your writing time like a pie: 1 slice for writing, 1 slice for reading, and 1 slice for community. Draw a circle at the end of every day and map out how much time you spent doing each of these three things. Do this for several weeks, and watch the patterns that emerge!

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. Our guest was Gabriela Pereira. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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