DIY MA in Creative Writing
If you follow this link you will find my suggestions for a:
It probably needs updating. I wrote that document in 2019, and my current self would recommend some streamlining, as there is a lot of stuff there, and overwhelm is a thing.
But for now the DIY MA in Creative Writing might have resources for interested writers making their own way in the world of writing. It seems quite a number of writers have followed it already in some way or another. Some of them have even been published, though as I always stress writing is what’s important, writing is what we return to.
The four books that I recommend as core craft texts are still the first four books I’d suggest to anyone starting out in the study of writing. My favourite, Ursula K. Le Guin’s Steering the Craft, is now available in a UK edition too, yay.
Other writers and teachers and editors will have their own recommendations, but that’s the point: seek out what others have to say, find out what makes sense for you, and develop your own practice in writing.
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I was going to post something else on Substack this weekend (about Charles Dickens). And then I decided not to (N@zis and tech bros). And then I decided to add this post here after all - it directs back to my site anyway, where you can also sign up for my newsletter. If/when I update the DIY MA, I’ll share an update that way for sure.
Yes, my site and my newsletter feel like my own spaces, more utopian and less noisy places where I can be myself. I’m never sure about the activities and algorithms on social media, and like many others I’ve ditched several other platforms in the past. I plan on keeping wille.org going.
I like my blog. It has an innocent 2012 quality, back when, back before. I like to spend time back there.
If you fancy something a little (but not entirely) different, my Tarot For Writers workshop tomorrow is Steering The Chariot, where we’ll summon Love, Strength and Energy to drive and direct our storytelling.
And: isn’t Bleak House a great novel?! My year of reading Dickens now moves on to Little Dorrit. I’ll have to blog about it.
Hi Andrew, I have just come across this and it feels very serendipitous.
Having wanted to do an MA in Creative Writing for years but having neither the time nor the funds, I recently started a 'Writer's Accountability Book Club' in a very similar vein. Using texts that are on my bookshelf and actually reading them (!) with a cohort of like-minded others, we are deepening our learning of the craft of writing. We started with On Writing, and Bird by Bird is on our list too, along with Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldman, Into Being by Lily Dunn, Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd, and Big Magic.
I LOVED Ursula Le Guin's writing as a child - I used to devour the Earthsea novels so I'm very excited to see this book of hers recommended.
I look forward to following your posts, I think we may have much to share ☺️
Thanks so much for sharing @Andy. Really great to see this all in one place. I'm excited to explore the books and subject matter.
@Emma Simpson I'm in a similar position and am wondering where you are based? I'm in London but am open to virtual as well as in person.