You Don’t Need an MFA to Write a Great Book

You want to tell an amazing story, one that grips the hearts of your readers. You dream of the day you can hold your book in hand and finally share it with the world. You are so ready to tell this story, but you know your writing skills need development before you can. Character arcs, plot events, worldbuilding, narrative drive, balanced prose, Show, Don’t Tell—all of these concepts seem a little overwhelming when you think about trying to weave them together. Theoretically they make sense, but in practice? Maybe not.

You know that the best way to craft the book you envision is to learn how to write. So you consider signing up for an MFA (Master of Fine Arts). The best way to learn to write is to study it in a classroom setting, get feedback from the pros to hone your craft, and earn the credibility that comes with a degree. With an MFA, you’ll finally have the skills you need to achieve your writing dreams. Right?

Wrong. You don’t need an MFA to write an incredible book.

If you’ve got lots of time and money on your hands, have an obsession with academia, and want to write literary fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry then an MFA might be perfect for you. We have nothing against MFA programs (in fact, we’ve considered them!), but if you’re looking to save time or cash, or want to write anything commercial (like fantasy, young adult, crime, romance, or any kind of novel that’s not literary), then an MFA program might not be the best fit for you.

But if not an MFA program, what can you do?

Well, let’s break down the reasons you might have wanted to enroll in the first place:

• You want to improve your craft
• You want to write an incredible story
• You want feedback and guidance from the pros
• You want regular accountability, through deadlines

If any or all of these desires ring true, then you should actually consider hiring a Book Coach.

What’s a Book Coach?

A book coach is a personal writing teacher that you hire to work with you on your manuscript on a regular basis.

Like an MFA professor, we are trained writing professionals. We’ll provide you with detailed resources and training to help you level up your skills. But perhaps unlike an MFA professor, we’re trained in commercial story craft. We can help you build exactly the kind of story you want, without the constraints of academic expectations.

Like in an MFA course, we can teach you how to write an incredible story. Unlike in an MFA course, we’ll work with you on any project of your choice. The best way to learn is by doing. The fastest way to write your dream book is to spend your time and money on learning how to write with your dream book as the course material.

Like an MFA professor, we’ll provide you detailed and targeted feedback to help you improve your writing. Unlike an MFA professor, this guidance will be tailored where you are in your personal writing journey. You won’t waste time on craft elements you already understand, and we can dig deep into those that are particularly difficult for you.

Like an MFA course, we provide regular guidance and accountability. Unlike in an MFA course, we’ll work with you one-on-one, giving you our full and undivided attention during coaching sessions. We’ll look at your pages weekly, provide feedback, and give you assignments to keep you on the most efficient and targeted track to achieve your writing goals.

Next Steps