Like a lot of writers, I’ve contemplated going back to school to get an MFA. The problem is, of course, that there’s no way to make an economic case for the degree. That tuition bill is a pile of money that I would never earn back. So instead I’m DIYing my MFA, following MFA program principles to improve my writing and to scratch my itch to remain a lifelong student.
DIY MFA.com
When I happened across Gabriela Periera’s DIY MFA.com, I gobbled up her advice like it was the last ice cream in the carton. Over the years I’ve listened avidly to her podcasts, read her articles, and implemented some of the tools I found on the site. When I got the chance to write a column for DIY MFA.com, I snatched it up. It also seemed like a good opportunity to rededicate myself to some of the concepts in her book.
Read with Purpose
One facet of her program is Read With Purpose. Reading with purpose means learning something from everything I read (books, of course, but other forms of writing as well). When I come across a passage that makes me laugh, cry, or think, or when I delight in a writer’s turn of phrase, I pick it apart. Why does it draw that response from me? How has the writer constructed the sentence, the paragraph, the story line, to yield this reaction from the reader? I take notes and try to learn one new technique or skill from everything I read.
Choosing books strategically is another key aspect of reading with purpose. As Gabriela points out (and as every reader knows), there are so many books in the world, we’ll never get around to reading everything we want. So how to choose?
List-o-mania
I tend to read what interests me, which doesn’t always overlap with what will challenge me. While reading for pleasure is fine in itself, I also want to learn as much as I can about how to write well, so that means accepting the literary equivalent of eating my spinach. I begin by reviewing publicly available reading lists from established MFA programs, like these:
- UNC-Wilmington,
- Queens College (CUNY),
- VCFA,
- San José State University,
- Old Dominion University (scroll down),
I also check out summaries and popular lists like this list from LitHub, and this list of recommended reads by nonwhite authors, because reading diverse authors gives a writer critically important perspective.
Sometimes I also pull popular lists like PBS’s Great American Read 100 List of the 100 best-loved books of US readers, or lists that pop up regularly recommending the top 20/40/50/1000 books you should read before you die, like this one from the Independent (UK) or this curated collection from the American Library Association. Popular lists serve a different purpose–they tell me what resonates with readers. Many writers would love to write books that find the sweet spot between the two–ones that occupy a position of cultural significance as well as popular appeal.
Then I compare the lists and start making choices. If a book appears on multiple lists, it rises to the top of mine. I select books to ensure I’m reading widely and diversely, that I’m challenging myself, and that I’m exposing myself to new writers, styles, and ideas. Just because Jane Austen‘s on every list doesn’t mean I get to reread Pride and Prejudice for the tenth time. I need to branch out.
Keep it real
I have to think about how much reading I can reasonably accomplish. Setting goals is important, but so is being realistic. If I aim to read 100 books in a year, it’s not going to happen, and I’ll beat myself up about it. That’s not a sustainable practice. It’s important to honor my reality.
Inevitably, I won’t have time for everything I want to read on this year’s list, so some books get deferred to next year. Then I write down my final selections, pin the list to my bulletin board, and get cracking. I’m still working on my list for 2019, but I’ll be sure to share it when it’s ready.
What’s on your to-read list, and why? Leave a comment. I hope we can pick up great ideas from one another.
