DIY MFA in Creative Writing Timeline

Year 1: Exploration and Foundations

Semester 1: Craft Foundations & Reading as a Writer (Months 1-6)

  1. Craft Foundations (Months 1-3):

    • Focus: Begin with foundational writing exercises and technical reading.
    • Weekly Routine:
      • Writing: 1-2 craft-focused exercises per week (e.g., vignettes focusing on dialogue, character development, etc.).
      • Reading: 1 book per month from the foundational craft list (Story, Elements of Style, etc.).
      • Reflection: Write a 500-word reflection after each exercise—What worked? What didn’t? How can you integrate these skills into your creative projects?
    • Output: By the end of Month 3, you should have several polished exercises and reflections.

  2. Reading as a Writer (Months 4-6):

    • Focus: Read fiction with a critical eye, analyzing how successful authors execute their craft.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Reading: 1 fiction book per month (choose from your genre interests—solarpunk, anarchism, speculative fiction).
      • Journaling: Write a 500-1000 word reading journal for each book, focusing on techniques you want to apply to your own writing.
      • Writing: Begin experimenting with microfiction—1 piece per week (~200-500 words) inspired by what you’re reading.
    • Output: By the end of Month 6, you should have at least 12 microfiction pieces and 3 reading journals.

Semester 2: Specialized Study & Creative Nonfiction (Months 7-12)

  1. Specialized Study (Months 7-9):

    • Focus: Dive deep into your chosen genres and themes—solarpunk mythologies, queer heresy, identity.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Reading: 1 book or collection of essays from writers who focus on similar themes (e.g., Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler).
      • Writing: Write 2-3 flash fiction pieces (500-1000 words) each month that explore your thematic interests.
      • World-building: Begin sketching the broader world of your solarpunk mythologies, incorporating creative exercises like RPG frameworks from Thousand-Year-Old Vampire.
    • Reflection: Write short essays after each month, analyzing how your thematic study is influencing your writing.
    • Output: By the end of Month 9, you should have 6-9 flash fiction pieces and at least 3 reflective essays on thematic integration.

  2. Creative Nonfiction (Months 10-12):

    • Focus: Start blending your philosophical interests with personal narrative.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Reading: Read 1-2 essays or creative nonfiction books per month (Mary Karr, Rebecca Solnit, etc.).
      • Writing: Write 1-2 essays per month (~1500 words), blending your philosophy and personal stories around themes like identity, slow living, spirituality.
      • Reflection: Use daily focus words (e.g., Identity, Reflection) to create journaling prompts that inspire your essays.
    • Output: By the end of Month 12, you should have at least 3-6 essays ready for revision.

Year 2: Deepening Craft & Building Your Portfolio

Semester 3: Experiments in Form & The Business of Writing (Months 13-18)

  1. Experiments in Form (Months 13-15):

    • Focus: Expand your technical range by experimenting with nonlinear storytelling, multimedia writing, and hybrid forms.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Writing: 2 experimental pieces per month (~1000-2000 words) that push boundaries of structure, form, or genre.
      • Reflection: After each piece, reflect on the experience. What challenges did you face in experimenting with form? How did it affect the narrative or voice?
    • Multimedia: Optional—explore digital storytelling tools or experiment with visual storytelling, poetry, or code-driven narratives.
    • Output: By the end of Month 15, you should have 6 completed experimental pieces and reflections.

  2. The Business of Writing (Months 16-18):

    • Focus: Develop a professional strategy for building your writing platform and monetizing your work.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Platform Building: Start focusing on growing your audience. Dedicate 1-2 hours per week to engaging with Farcaster or other platforms. Share microfiction, essays, or reflections to connect with your audience.
      • Submission Practice: Research 5-10 relevant literary magazines or contests and submit work monthly. Track your submissions and revise accordingly.
      • Pitching Essays: Prepare 2-3 essay pitches for publications focused on your niche (queer philosophy, solarpunk, etc.).
    • Output: By the end of Month 18, you should have a growing online presence, a submission tracker, and at least 5-10 pieces submitted.

Semester 4: Capstone Project & Portfolio Development (Months 19-24)

  1. Capstone Project (Months 19-22):

    • Focus: Develop a larger work that integrates everything you’ve learned.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Writing: 2000-3000 words per week on your chosen project—this could be a novella, an essay collection, or a microfiction anthology.
      • Revision: Spend 1-2 hours each week revising previous drafts and incorporating feedback from peers or readers.
      • Workshop: Share sections of your work with a writing group or online community every month for feedback.
    • Output: By the end of Month 22, you should have a full draft of your capstone project ready for deep revision.

  2. Portfolio Development (Months 23-24):

    • Focus: Curate your body of work and prepare it for publication or sharing with a broader audience.
    • Monthly Routine:
      • Revisions: Spend time revising and polishing selected pieces for a professional portfolio (short stories, essays, etc.).
      • Self-Publishing/Querying: Begin exploring self-publishing options for your microfiction anthology or capstone work. Alternatively, start preparing query letters and submissions for larger publications or literary agents.
      • Marketing: Create a plan for marketing your completed works through your platform, whether through a blog, newsletter, or other channels.
    • Output: By the end of Month 24, you should have a polished capstone project, a curated portfolio of your best work, and a strategy for self-publishing or submitting to literary agents.

Flexible Additions: