Author: utpress

There exists an expansive array of online resources for MFA students and practicing writers, and one that I find beneficial is Erika Dreifus’ daily dose of e-mail updates of The Practicing Writer.

Each morning, I awaken to an inbox of Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities, which feature available jobs in academia, as well as the publishing market. Here, too, are internships, fellowships, contests, deadlines and more. On Tuesdays, I’m treated to a Quotation of the Week, not only by long-gone or famed authors, but also by emerging and new writers. Wednesdays send me on The Wednesday Web Browser, where I hear about or catch up on all the buzz in the writing world, while Thursday’s Work-in-Progress brings me up-to-speed on what Erika is working on, which usually involves a much-coveted freelancing gig, speaking or writing engagement at a festival or school. Finally, Friday Finds features treasures for practicing writers, such as Twitter tips and other advice.

Whereas most writers’ resources focus on a single or few aspects of a writer’s life, say prompts or contests, Erika encompasses it all. Not only does she send out these daily e-mail updates, she also produces a comprehensive monthly newsletter.

I stumbled upon Erika while researching MFA programs, i.e., the benefits, renowned schools, and so forth. Of all the places I visited, I found her website most informative. Not only did she discuss what one can expect during and after an MFA, she also listed various scholarship, fellowship and funding sources, which I could not find elsewhere.

What makes Erika a relevant resource, especially to UT MFA students, is that she is a graduate of an inaugural MFA program; she understands what it is like to be part of a new writing program with new cohorts.

Most important, she is a practicing writer. Not only is she a resource maven extraordinaire, she is an author, teacher, reader, reviewer and freelance writer. Isn’t this every MFA student’s dream portfolio?

Though at times I hate them, writing prompts can perform a useful function for writers who want to practice their craft, but are struggling to get started. A high quality prompt can offer a catalyst that may later become a published short story or a contest-winning poem.

The following prompts are guaranteed to offer that kind of success, but if they fail you, it’s probably because you just aren’t that good at writing. Remember, these are time-tested techniques to become one of the world’s top writers:

1. Write a short story in which you catch a big fish, but cannot sail back to the port with the fish because it’s too big and you’re too old and drunk and jaded and whatnot.
2. Pretend you are Russian, and write something unmitigatingly depressing.
3. Write a play where two annoying teenagers profess love to each other and their families are total jerks, so the teens drink some poison to show their parents whatfor.
4. Write a novel where the main character has like a flaw or something.
5. Write a story, but make all the characters inanimate objects who can neither move nor emote.
6. Write a poem.
7. Imagine you are a toad. What kinds of crazy things would a toad write?
8. Write a screenplay in which there is a military mining operation impeded by a tribe of natives who happen to be deeply in tune with nature and so the miners send one of their own to become like the natives, but then he leads the natives in a revolt against his own kind — twist!
9. Write another poem.
10. Write the Twilight series, but like with more glitter and angst and dating and vampires.

The time has almost come when we, the editors of TROn, will be able to share with you, our dearest reader, our brave first-adopter, all the excellent prose, poetry and art our artists have generously submitted. In a matter of days we’ll be launching our first selection of works. But as we race toward our publication deadline we want to invite you to explore our blog, which we’ll be updating daily with TROn news and the things we love.

We appreciate your readership, and we can’t wait for you to see what’s in store.

All the best,

– TROn Staff