Blog

iWriter, Ten lessons from Steve Jobs, Writing

Ten Lessons from Steve Jobs: iWriter

Mona Alvarado Frazier

     I came across this today, titled iMentor, an article by Michael Hyatt, who came across the slideshow on his RSS reader. I really tried to get the slideshow, but could only get the link to it.  The lessons impressed me so much that I wanted to share them with others.

     This is my own take on the slideshow which I now refer to as iWriter. The lessons are simple but profound and I believe they apply to my writing life.

  1. Follow your heart (and pen, just let go).
  2. Make a dent in the Universe (even if it’s your own universe).
  3. Think different (but tell a good story, any way you can).
  4. Sell dreams, not products (books are dreams)
  5. Make products for yourself (write because you love writing) 

6. Say No to 1,000 things (Butt in chair-no excuses).

                                          7. Keep it Simple (one true line…and then another).
                                          8. Go for Excellence ( enough said).
                                           9. Break the Rules (Junot Diaz did).
                                          10. You only Live Once (see photo above & memorize).

Now, enjoy the slideshow. Thanks Steve Jobs and may you be well as long as you possibly can.

Ten lessons from Steve Jobs

Portable MFA in Creative Writing, Writing, Writing Resources

Portable MFA in Creative Writing from NY Writers Workshop

Mona Alvarado Frazier

Today I ran across a writing resource with a very interesting title “Portable MFA in Creative Writing.”   Before we get to that I want you to imagine that guy in the info commercials and hear him say: “but wait, it’s FREEEEEEEE.”

Thank the cool people at GalleyCat for the resource. Now click on the link and start your download  to Kindle or your PC.

“The eBook version of the New York Writers Workshop’s Portable MFA in Creative Writing is currently free on Amazon and on Barnes & Noble. It’s a great value for any writer during these tough economic times.
Check it out: “Get the core knowledge of a prestigious MFA education without the tuition. Have you always wanted to get an MFA, but couldn’t because of the cost, time commitment, or admission requirements? Well now you can fulfill that dream.”


A disclaimer: I haven’t read this yet so can’t comment on the content, yet, but I’ll get to it sometime in the next week or two between the other two books I’m reading: “Ocotillo Dreams,” and “Beyond Fear-A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy.”  
August 24, 2011:

Okay, I couldn’t wait to read “Portable MFA,” so here’s the 411:

 IT’S WELL WORTH THE DOWNLOAD, GET IT NOW IF YOU WANT TO LEARN A THING OR THREE ABOUT WRITING FICTION, (okay, enough yelling).

Tim Tomilison gives an in depth guide to writing good fiction. There are so many gems in these pages that you will find yourself highlighting and making notes. The other sections are:

Personal Essay and Memoir
Magazine Writing
Poetry
Play-writing

The expertise of the NY Writer’s Club is evident in this well put together e-book. Thanks NYWC for your valuable gift to writers.