Stop saying you’ll write that book someday.
Start writing it today.

DIY MFA 101 is now open for enrollment!

Hurry! Registration closes at 11:59pm ET on Friday, March 21st.

Many people say they want to write a book. Very few actually do it.

You don’t need a degree in order to write your book and get it published. You don’t need an idea that’s going to be the next “Harry Potter.” And you definitely don’t need to quit your day job, put your life on hold, run away to a log cabin, and immerse yourself in crafting the next great American novel.

What you need is to stop dreaming and start writing.

DIY MFA 101 gives you the structure and insider knowledge you’d get with a traditional MFA, but without the time commitment or the hefty price tag. This is a graduate-style education you can fit around your life.

Here at DIY MFA, we get that everybody is different. That’s why this isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. Instead, we give you the tools to create a personalized writing practice, and because it’s specific to your needs, the results will be sustainable long after the course has finished. DIY MFA 101 helps you become the best writer you can be so you can publish that book you’ve always dreamed of writing.

What are You Waiting for?

Join now!

Registration closes at 11:59pm ET on Friday, March 21st.

Why DIY MFA?

Meet the teacher, Gabriela Pereira — instigator of DIY MFA.

Gabriela helps writers get their words on the page and their stories out into the world.

While sitting at graduation for her traditional MFA, she came to a realization: “this was great, but I could have learned most of it on my own.”

She also thought about all those writers who were serious about their craft but couldn’t get an MFA. Who was helping them? That’s when she decided to create a do-it-yourself MFA-style program: one that could help busy writers get the knowledge they needed, but in a way that fit their schedule. She went home, brainstormed a curriculum, and in a few short hours, DIY MFA was born.

The DIY MFA model incorporates all the best elements of a traditional MFA—things Gabriela learned from the inside—including the study of craft and literature, with a strong focus on building community. It also fills gaps that many MFA programs have by including resources and information about publishing and the business of writing.

DIY MFA 101 will help you get that graduate-level experience without going to school. Rather than putting your life on hold for two or three years and accruing a huge amount of student debt, you can learn to recreate the MFA experience for yourself, and seamlessly incorporate it into your life.

In this class, we can connect you with fellow writers, but we also offer so much more. In addition to helping you build momentum around your writing practice, we also teach you concrete techniques that you can learn quickly.

Fun and Friendly Community

DIY MFA word nerds are a fun, friendly bunch and by joining this program, you’ll be part of an awesome community. This is a dedicated and inspiring group of like-minded writers who love to encourage and keep each other motivated.

Gabriela and her program freed me from countless misconceptions and transformed my relationship with writing. I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished in three months. Gabriela’s infectious enthusiasm and targeted solutions make this course stand out. The value of the course—and the ability to continue with the program and other participants indefinitely—far exceeds the cost.
Jane Alcala

DIY MFA is an amazing tool to keep in your writing toolbox! I love that we have access to the modules indefinitely and can revisit lessons whenever we need to. Gabriela has a style that embraces everyone. Instead of telling us the “way” to write, she helps us find the best practices that work for us at an individual level. At times, I’ve felt something in my own writing, but couldn’t name it until Gabriela expanded on it. Being able to name the thing has helped me add depth to my work and edit like I’m in charge!
Maria Reeves

At DIY MFA, we firmly believe in empowering writers so that they can learn and grow on their own. The goal is to give you the tools so that you can take your writing education into your own hands and become the best writer you can be.

Ready to jump in? Click below to enroll.

Join now!

Hurry! Registration closes at 11:59pm ET on Friday, March 21st.

Course Materials

This 10-week program includes ten modules, full-to-the-brim with material to help you write more, write better, write smarter. Watch this video for a more detailed breakdown of the material.

You’ll also be able to participate in four discussion calls with Gabriela so you can connect with other writers in the class and get your questions answered. As a bonus, you will also have access to our course-only Facebook group, so you can continue the conversation beyond the live calls.

Here’s what you’ll get in the 10 weeks:

10 modules of material, each based on one of the essential components of a writer’s education.
Comprehensive video lessons, with audio recordings, slides, and transcripts so you can digest the material in the way that’s best for you.
Worksheets with each lesson, so you can absorb and understand what you learned.
Membership to a private course website so you can access all the materials anytime, anywhere.
Four group discussion calls, so you can ask questions and connect with other writers in the course.
BONUS: a private Facebook group, so you can continue the discussion outside of class time.

Enroll in the course now and receive continuing access to all the course materials.

Iteration is a huge part of our development process. That’s why each time we run the class, the materials will evolve and we’ll incorporate new features based on feedback from previous runs to keep things as up-to-the-minute as possible.

But we don’t want to penalize you, an intrepid writer taking an earlier version of the class. Instead, we want to reward you so we’re offering an incredible bonus. If you join now, you will receive continued access to all materials for as long as this course is offered. This means that not only will you be able to take the course again free of charge, but you’ll have full access to any subsequent updates.

Your investment for the course and all these awesome bonuses is
one payment of $499 (or 3 payments of $199).

Join DIY MFA 101 today, and you’ll get…

The DIY MFA 101 Online Course

Ten weeks of online lessons, full-to-the-brim with juicy instruction so you can write more, write better, and write smarter. Each weekly module includes video lessons, audio recordings, slides, and worksheets, so you can absorb the material in the way that’s best for you.

Group Discussion Calls

Gabriela takes on only a small number of mentoring clients each year, so this is an opportunity to ask her questions about the craft, literature, publishing, or anything else relating to the work and business of writing. But the group discussion calls aren’t just a way for you to ask questions and get input directly from Gabriela; they’re also a chance for you to connect with fellow word nerds in the class.

Bonus: Continued Access

In addition to comprehensive course materials you will also get continued access to the program, plus any updates for the lifetime of the course. This way, you can come back and review it again and again.

Bonus: A Private Facebook Group for 101 Students Only

This Facebook group is networking gold! Not only will you be able to interact with other writers in your current 101 class, but you’ll also be able to connect with a network of alums who have taken the class in the past. Many friendships and collaborations have started because writers connected in this group.

Ready to DIY your MFA?

Click below to register or learn more.

Click here to join!

Guarantee

We want you to feel confident in your purchase, which is why we offer a 14-day, 100% money-back guarantee, as long as you show that you have done the coursework up to that point. This means you can try DIY MFA 101 out for a full 14 days and if you decide it is not for you, we’ll refund your money.

That said, we believe in this course and we have seen people get epic results and make huge strides in their writing after taking DIY MFA 101. We are confident that if you do the work and apply the tools, you will see results. This is why we will need to see your completed coursework (of modules released to that point) in order to process your refund.

If after trying the course for 14 days, you are still not completely satisfied, we’ll happily refund your money. We want you to invest in the tools that will help you succeed! Just email the support team at support[at]DIYMFA[dot]com to get the ball rolling. It’s that simple.

Plus this juicy bonus!

When you register before Tuesday, March 18th at 12pm ET you’ll get a special early bird bonus: a group critique call where you can get Gabriela’s feedback (and feedback from the group) on your writing.

One of Gabriela’s secret superpowers is being able to look at a small sample of someone’s writing and identify the overarching issues they need to tackle. It’s taken her years to hone this skill, but now she has the ability to look at a short writing sample and extrapolate what you can do to improve your manuscript across the board. She’s used this skill to help dozens (if not hundreds!) of writers develop their craft to the point where they could improve their manuscripts enough to get the attention of an agent or even get published.

This type of feedback is something Gabriela rarely offers, and she does so most often with her one-on-one clients. These writers have gotten phenomenal results. But nowadays, she takes on only a very small number of those clients via a rigorous application process and at premium rates so this type of feedback is not readily available.

But to celebrate this launch and reward our early action-takers, we’re offering a critique to any writer who signs up by the deadline. There’s no limit to the number of critiques. If you sign up by Tuesday, March 18th at 12pm ET, you get to participate, even if it means we have to do a whole bunch of these calls to accommodate everyone who wants it. This is our way of rewarding the writers who are truly engaged and ready to commit to the program.

Ready to take action?

Click here to join!

Don’t wait! This juicy bonus expires at 12pm ET on Tuesday, March 18th.

Here’s what past students have to say:

I particularly like the Q & A and critique sessions. The interaction with other writers was a key reason I joined 101 in the first place. The Write module helped me to see different ways to approach my plot and characters. Also the ability to download the lessons in various formats is a very nice perk.
Jeanne Vincent

Gabriela said in a 101 call, “Everything in its season,” and that’s stuck with me. I was getting overwhelmed with trying to absorb all the new information and put it to use right then and there despite not being ready for it. After hearing those words of advice, I printed out the modules I wasn’t ready for and came back to them when I needed them. I wasn’t ready at the time to start building a community, but almost a year later, I finally am ready and I’m using the module to do just that.
JJ Graham

I learned more in this 10-week course than I have in the past three years doing other courses. Quality resources and course content. Awesome people and community. I don’t normally give testimonials but have no hesitation in doing so for DIY MFA 101. It has given me so much confidence to continue with my writing projects as well as the knowledge and skills to know what’s working and what doesn’t, and why. Thank you, Gabriela and Team!
Karen Treloar

Before DIY MFA, I had abandoned two manuscripts, and my writing lacked the creative flow it once had. My passion had turned lukewarm. I’m so happy I took the DIY MFA course! Gabriela’s contagious optimism, knowledge of the craft, and the course exercises re-ignited my passion and honed my skills. I’m now in the revision stage of a short story I’ll be submitting for publication.
Sandi James

At first I was hesitant to take the class because of the time commitment—I wasn’t sure if I could keep up. I also did not have the flexibility to go to a classroom, so I liked that it was all online. Before taking the class, I thought writing was magic. Now I pay attention to how things are written and I know that writing is craft and practice.

My writing has improved immensely. I have made great friends via my critique group which started with this class, and I have gained some great job skills as well. I would definitely recommend this class. It is flexible, affordable, and gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded writers.
Anel Alberto

Before DIY MFA 101, I barely managed to write. Now I fit in writing sessions three times a week, sometimes every day. This course is packed with great information and comes with access to a great teacher in Gabriela, not to mention a wonderful community of word nerds. The course is well worth the investment of your money and time.
Sara Farmer

Since taking the class, I’m writing more and feeling more like a writer. I’ve joined another critique group and I’m finding more about what’s out there in the writing world. The class materials are really well done and very motivational—especially for someone like me for whom writing can feel solitary! When each workshop came out, they always seemed to address a question I was having or a place I was stuck. It was almost eerie how apt they were.
Joel Knopf

Ready to DIY Your MFA?

Click here to join!

Don’t wait! Enrollment closes at 11:59pm ET on Friday, March, 21.

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve got answers.

This course is called DIY MFA 101. Does that mean it’s really basic and only for beginners?

This course is for writers of all levels. Don’t be fooled by the “101” in the title. It simply indicates that this is a foundational course, one that gives you the fundamental tools for creating your own personalized do-it-yourself writing program. Whether you’re beginning your journey, or you’ve been writing for some time, the concepts in DIY MFA 101 will help you write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community.

What if I don’t write fiction? Will I still benefit from this class?

With the exception of the modules dealing with craft, everything else in the course applies to any type of writing. From productivity and creativity to reading like a writer and building your platform, this class will give you a comprehensive overview of all the things writers need to know. A couple of the craft modules might be better suited for people writing narrative work—i.e. fiction or creative non-fiction. While poets and writers of prescriptive nonfiction (“how-to” books) can still learn a lot from these few modules, it may require a little more creativity in applying the techniques.

This site is called “DIY MFA.” Can’t I just do this all myself?

DIY MFA is about empowering writers to create their own writing plans and expand their knowledge of the craft. With enough time and energy, you could probably put together materials similar to those in this class.

The more important question, though, is wouldn’t that time be better spent writing? We have developed the tools and techniques in DIY MFA 101 so you don’t have to waste time spinning your wheels and figuring it all out on your own. Instead, we give you proven methods that you can implement right away so that you can spend the rest of your time and energy on more important things…like writing.

Will I be able to get through all the material?

Many online courses and programs throw in everything plus the kitchen sink. This might seem like a great value, but it leads to a vicious cycle where people start programs but never follow through. It’s no wonder that over half of information products purchased never get consumed!

With DIY MFA 101, we’re taking a different approach. Don’t misunderstand, you’ll get in-depth, information-packed lessons, but you’ll find the course materials focused and to the point. Our team has curated the materials, polished the lessons and hand-picked the most important information, putting it together in manageable lessons that you can start and finish.

Also, keep in mind that once you join the course, you have continued access to all materials including updates. This means that if you need to take things at a slower pace you won’t miss out on any material.

Remember: traditional MFA programs last 2-3 years. We’ve condensed that curriculum and made it laser-focused so you can cover it all in just over two months. After all, our goal is to help you learn this material fast, so that you develop your skills and then get back to writing.

How much time will I need to fully participate? What if I’m really busy?

DIY MFA-ers are busy. They balance writing with full, hectic lives. We totally get that. Our team carefully crafted this course so that it’s comprehensive but flexible and portable enough so it can fit into your busy lifestyle. Listen to lessons on-the-go. Access the online materials anytime day or night. This course is designed with the busy writer in mind while still giving you maximum value.

As with any course, the more time and effort you put into it, the more results you will get. We’ve tested out the materials and estimate that most people need about 3-4 hours to watch the video lessons and complete the worksheets in each module.

We’ve also provided the lessons in multiple formats (video, audio, and presentation slides). This way you can listen to an audio lesson on your morning commute, jot down notes on the presentation slides, or catch a video from your mobile device. Our goal is to make the course flexible, portable and user-friendly so you can learn the material in the way that’s best for you and can fit that learning into your busy life.

When does it start and how does the course work?

Your course starts the Monday after registration closes. Each week for ten weeks, you’ll get an email with a link to a new module. You’ll want to work through the modules in order. Don’t worry if you can’t get the homework done in a single week. Remember, you have access to all the materials and updates for as long as the course exists.

There will be four Q&A calls spaced throughout the course. This is your chance to chat with Gabriela and get your questions answered. Between these calls, students can stay connected to each other and the DIY MFA team in the private Facebook group.

If you qualified during registration for a special bonus such as a critique call or bonus webinar, these will be delivered after the ten weeks of modules have been released. This way, you can concentrate on the course first.

What if the course doesn’t work for me?

We offer a 14-day, 100% money-back guarantee. If after trying the course out for a full two weeks you are not completely satisfied, we’ll issue a full refund. We do, however, ask that you show that you’ve done the coursework up to that point.

This means you can try DIY MFA 101 out for a full two weeks completely risk free. Just email our support team (email below) if you decide it’s not for you. It’s that simple.

If you’re wondering about something not covered here, email us at support[at]DIYMFA[dot]com.

And don’t just take our word for it:

The entire class was amazing. It empowered me and continues to encourage me to keep on writing. I loved it. The flexible schedule really worked for me since I have a demanding job and need this funny and very inconvenient thing called sleep. I am producing more than I ever have.
Milena Horan Klemens

Before DIY MFA 101 I did a lot of writing but not in a very organized fashion and I CERTAINLY never imagined I could be published one day! DIY MFA 101 gave me the confidence to call myself a writer and to reach out to other writers for support. Thanks to Gabriela and the DIY MFA community I’m now participating in a number of supportive writing groups, working on my first blog AND starting writing groups of my own!
Allison Henry-Plotts

Without the DIY MFA 101 course, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It transformed my writing and prepared me in areas I would have struggled in on my own. It helped me avoid the pitfalls that writers can fall into. It gives me shivers to think of what I would have missed out on if I hadn’t done the course. The course and the support you get from the team and other writers is amazing.
Allan Gallagher

So what are you waiting for? Remember:

Only you can write that story you’ve been dreaming of,
and that story has the power to change someone’s life.