Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I jam about the craft. In these episodes, we do a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.  This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to craft the perfect book ending.   In this episode Christa and I discuss: The three major components of an ending Types of endings for your story My top tip when choosing the the right ending For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/475

Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.  This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to Nail Your Narration.   In this episode Christa and I discuss: Why narration is so important in your writing What to keep in mind when choosing a point of view and narrative voice Gabriela’s top tip on how to nail your narration For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/474

Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building, and more.   In this episode, Christa and I discuss: Key aspects and methods to focus on during the revision process. The importance of feedback from others during revision. A helpful type of mindset to keep throughout your progress. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/473

Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into Conferences.   In this episode Christa and I discuss: Should one attend a conference as a beginner writer? How to choose the right conference to attend. The nuts and bolts on how to prepare for a conference.  For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/472

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kathy Reichs. We’ll be talking about her book The Bone Hacker and how to craft a bestselling thriller series. Kathy Reichs’ first novel Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. To date, she has written twenty-two novels featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Kathy was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest running scripted drama, Bones, which was based on her work and her novels. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Kathy divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal, Québec. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Kathy Reichs and I discuss: How to write each book in a series with different aspects while keeping it entertaining.  Keeping the main character consistent but also allowing room for them to grow and change throughout a series.  Adapting a series to television, the differences and challenges of writing a television script vs. a novel.  Plus, Kathy’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/471

Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building, and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into Draft Zero.   In this episode Lori and I discuss: What exactly Draft Zero is and what comes next. Finding a routine that works for you and how to keep it from getting stale. Why you need to practice finishing and what to do when you get stuck. Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on craft books. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/470

We’re back for another episode of our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to weave your story’s world through world building.   In this episode Lori and I discuss: How character, plot, and world are all connected. Using the iceberg technique as your write. Creating a setting that can take on a life of its own. Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on how to weave your story’s world. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/469

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing MT Anderson. We’ll be talking about his book, Elf Dog and Owl Head, and raising your story’s stakes. M. T. Anderson has written stories for adults, picture books for children, adventure novels for young readers, graphic novel adaptations of ancient French tales, and several books for older readers (both teens and adults). His satirical book Feed was a Finalist for the National Book Award and was the winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize. Both Time Magazine and National Public Radio have included it on their lists of the best 100 YA novels of all time. Another satirical science fiction novel, Landscape with Invisible Hand, has been turned into a movie starring Tiffany Haddish and Asante Blackk.  The first volume of Anderson’s Octavian Nothing saga, The Pox Party, won the National Book Award and the Boston Globe / Horn Book Prize. The second volume, The Kingdom on the Waves, was a New York Times best-seller. The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, a tragicomic spy story for young goblins written with Newbery-Honor winner Eugene Yelchin, was a Finalist for the National Book Award in 2018.  Anderson’s nonfiction book Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad was long-listed for the National Book Award.  He has published stories for adults in literary journals like The Northwest Review, The Colorado Review, and Conjunctions. Several of his stories have appeared in the Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror collections. His nonfiction articles and reviews have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Slate, and Salon.  He has curated concerts that bring together text and classical music all over New England.  You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter.   In this episode MT Anderson and I discuss: Weaving events from your real life into a fantastical story Why you need to have rules for the magic you create in order for it to be fun. How to reverse engineer and perfect the opening of your novel. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/468

Today we have another monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to perfect your plot.   In this episode Lori and I discuss: Starting with plot versus starting with a character What an outline really is and how to use it Making sure your plot twist is actually a twist Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on books with great plots. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/467

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, and Carly Watters. We’ll be taking an inside look at the publishing industry. Before diving in, I wanted to make a quick note. Our wonderful guests are the co-hosts of a fantastic podcast that has a particular word in its title. It would be impossible to talk about their show without saying this particular word, so consider this a heads up that there will be salty language in this episode. If you’re listening in public or have little ones around, now would be the time to put on some headphones. Bianca Marais is the author of the bestselling The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, as well as the beloved Hum If You Don't Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, and the Audible Original, The Prynne Viper. She taught at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies where she was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing in 2021. She is the co-host of the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers become published. You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram.   Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, representing adult fiction and non-fiction. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is actively looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over one million downloads.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.   Carly Watters is a SVP and Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary and the sitting VP of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents. Carly Watters has a BA in English Literature from Queen’s University and a MA in Publishing Studies from City University London. Her masters thesis was on the social, political, and economic impact of literary prizes on trade publishing. She began her publishing career in London as an assistant at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. Carly joined Toronto-based P.S. Literary Agency in 2010 and has sold over 100 books during her career. She represents award-winning and bestselling authors in the adult fiction and non-fiction categories, and select children’s books. She is known for her long-term vision for her authors and being an excellent collaborator with a nose for commercial success. She has close ties to publishers in the major markets, is a member of the AALA, and works directly with film agents to option film and TV rights to leading networks and production companies. Her clients’ books have been translated into 40 languages, optioned for TV and film, adapted into podcasts, and have been on every bestseller list from coast to coast, including the New York Times, USA Today, the LA Times, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail. Carly is also an annual judge for the Women’s Fiction Writing Association Rising Star Award. The popular writing podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which Carly is the co-host, has over one million downloads.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, Carly Watters, and I discuss: Common myths about writing and publishing and what’s actually true Writing groups, beta readers, and how to find them What happens after you sign on the dotted line Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/466

Today, Lori is interviewing Mary Pascual. They’ll be talking about her debut novel, The Byways, and creating multi-dimensional characters. Mary Pascual is a writer and artist who believes finding magic is only a matter of perspective. She loves stories about characters with heart and fantastical settings that are more than meets the eye. She grew up in California and enjoys reading, art, traveling, exploring outside, and building elaborate stage sets for Halloween. Writing has taken her on a number of unexpected adventures, including working in high tech, meeting psychics, interviewing rock bands, and even once attending a press conference for Bigfoot. She got hooked on reading adult science fiction and fantasy in the fifth grade—so in retrospect, much of her reading material was completely inappropriate (which probably explains a few things). She lives with her husband, son, and assorted demanding cats in San Jose, California.   In this episode, Mary Pascual and Lori discuss: Finding the inspiration for a retelling and adding a fresh spin. Why she used an urban setting to tell a grittier tale. The importance of avoiding labels and creating multi-dimensional characters. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/465

Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.  This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to create compelling characters.   In this episode Lori and I discuss: Using method writing to get inside your characters’ heads. How to create balanced scenes using the TADA! method. The different types of voice and how to use each. Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on compelling characters. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/464

Today, Lori is interviewing Daniel Weizmann. They’ll be talking about his neo-noir mystery, The Last Songbird. Daniel Weizmann got his start at 13 under the nom de plume Shredder, writing for the legendary Flipside Fanzine. He went on to write for the LA Weekly, LA Times, Billboard, the Guardian, and others. He contributed to several books, including Drinking with Bukowski, Hardcore California, Too Cool, Timothy Leary's last work, and DeeDee Ramone's autobio. He has also written volumes for Def Jam rappers, standup comics, Mad Libs, and more. The Last Songbird is his debut mystery. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Daniel Weizmann and Lori discuss: Why you should resist the urge to explain yourself in your writing. How to use the negative space to maximum effect. The role of music in his process and its impact in his novel. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/463

Today, Lori is interviewing Jolene Mcilwain. They’ll be talking about Sidle Creek and centering a short story collection around a place. Jolene McIlwain’s fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and appears in West Branch, Florida Review, Cincinnati Review, New Orleans Review, Northern Appalachia Review, and 2019's Best Small Fictions Anthology. Her work was named finalist for 2018’s Best of the Net, Glimmer Train’s and River Styx’s contests, and semifinalist in Nimrod’s Katherine Anne Porter Prize and two American Short Fiction's contests. She’s received a Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council grant, the Georgia Court Chautauqua faculty scholarship, and Tinker Mountain’s merit scholarship. She taught literary theory/analysis at Duquesne and Chatham Universities and she worked as a radiologic technologist before attending college (BS English, minor in sculpture, MA Literature). She was born, raised, and currently lives in a small town in the Appalachian plateau of Western Pennsylvania. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jolene Mcilwain and Lori discuss: Why the length of a story doesn’t equate its emotional impact. How to center a collection around a place and add enough grounding details. Taking on stereotypes and going deeper in your writing.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/462

Today, Lori is interviewing Ginny Kubitz Moyer. They’ll be talking about how she started writing her debut novel, The Seeing Garden, with the setting. Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a California native with a love of local history. A graduate of Pomona College and Stanford University, she’s an English instructor and avid weekend gardener.  Her articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including Bella Grace and America Magazine, and she is the author of several books on women's spirituality.  She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and one adorable rescue dog. The Seeing Garden is her first novel.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram.   In this episode Ginny Kubitz Moyer and Lori discuss: Why she prefers the term “discovery writer” instead of “pantser.” The importance of reading widely and re-reading books. How she picked up the tone of her novel, The Seeing Garden.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/461

Today, Lori is interviewing Neely Tubati Alexander. They’ll be talking about Love Buzz and the importance of listening to your intuition when crafting a novel. Neely Tubati Alexander is a first-generation Indian American mother of two. Originally from the Seattle area where Love Buzz, her debut novel, is largely set, she seeks to tell lighthearted, female-driven stories with diverse characters and strong women who pursue both love and careers. If she's not tucked away at the little desk in her bedroom writing, you can find her at some kiddo activity, drinking wine, or watching reality TV, usually the last two together. She lives in sunny Arizona with her family. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.   In this episode Neely Tubati Alexander and Lori discuss: Pansing your way through drafts to gain a deeper understanding of your characters. How to tease out secrets and set pacing based on your intuition. Creating a rich cast to support your main character with purpose.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/460

Today, Lori is interviewing Anne Marie Wells. They’ll be talking about her poetry collection, Survived By: A Memoir in Verse, and using poetry as a method of dealing with heavy emotions. Anne Marie Wells (She | They) is an award-winning Queer poet, playwright, memoirist, and storyteller navigating the world with a chronic illness. She is a faculty member for The Community Literature Initiative through the Sims Library of Poetry and Strategic Partnership Fellow for The Poetry Lab. She earned the 2021 Peter K. Hixson Memorial Award in Poetry, the 2020 Wyoming Writers Milestone Award, and was a 2021 Wyoming Woman of Influence nominee in the arts for amplifying the voices of the LGBTQ and disabled communities with her writing. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems, debuts with Curious Corvid Publishing on April 30, 2023.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Anne Marie and Lori discuss: Choosing poems for a collection and deciding on their chronology. Using poetry as a way to deal with grief and its power to heal. The significance and symbolism behind white space.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/459

Today, Lori is interviewing Donnaldson Brown. They’ll be talking about Because I Loved You, and about how her background in screenwriting has influenced her prose. Donnaldson 's debut novel, Because I Loved You, is due out in April 2023 with She Writes Press. An attorney and former screenwriter, she worked with Robert Redford’s film development company for several years. Her spoken word pieces have been featured in The Deep Listening Institute’s Writers in Performance and Women & Identity Festivals, and in the Made in the Berkshires Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. She’s been awarded several residencies. A longtime resident of both Brooklyn, New York and western Massachusetts, Ms. Brown grew up riding horses on a family ranch in East Texas as well as in her native Connecticut. She is a facilitator and trainer with The Equus Effect, offering somatic based experiential learning with horses for veterans, first responders and others struggling with ptsd, and is also certified to teach meditation and several forms of yoga.  She is a proud mother, and loves to sing, cycle, and hike with her dogs.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Donnaldson and Lori discuss: The impact of secrets on multiple generations. Starting a project with an image and painting it into prose. Directing a reader’s imagination through clues and cues.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/458

Today, Lori is interviewing Leslie Karst. They’ll be talking about weaving past experiences into your writing and her new book Justice is Served.  The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst waited tables and sang in a new wave rock band before deciding she was ready for a “real” job and ending up at Stanford Law School. It was during her career as a research and appellate attorney in Santa Cruz, California, that she rediscovered her youthful passion for food and cooking, at which point she once again returned to school—this time to earn a degree in culinary arts. Now retired from the law, Leslie spends her days penning the Sally Solari culinary mystery series, as well as cooking, gardening, cycling, and singing alto in her local community chorus. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai’i. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Leslie Karst and Lori discuss: Letting go of ego in order to follow your dreams. The importance of perseverance How the writing mindset for memoir is different from that of mystery.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/457

Today, Lori is interviewing Danielle Mitchell. They’ll be talking about the methodology of writing and reading poetry. Danielle Mitchell (she/her) is an intersectional feminist, poet, and teaching artist. She is the Founding Director of The Poetry Lab, an online learning platform that rallies in service of working-class writers around the globe. Danielle is the author of Makes the Daughter-in-Law Cry, winner of the Clockwise Chapbook Prize (Tebot Bach, 2017). Her poems have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Vinyl, Four Way Review, Transom, New Orleans Review, Nailed Magazine and others. Danielle has received scholarships to travel to Patmos Island, Greece to study poetry, as well as grants from Poets & Writers and the Ashaki M. Jackson No Barriers Grant from the Women Who Submit. She is the inaugural winner of the Editor’s Prize from Mary Magazine and the Editor’s Choice Award from The Mas Tequila Review. She has performed on stages all over Southern California including the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Danielle holds bachelor’s degrees in Women’s and Gender Studies and Creative Writing from the University of Redlands and is an alumna of the Community of Writers. She is currently working on a manuscript of poems about misogyny and the Internet. You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram, Tiktok, and LinkedIn. Also, check out The Poetry Lab website or follow The Poetry Lab Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Goodreads.   In this episode Danielle Mitchell and Lori discuss: Adding emotional stakes to poems to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The magic of tapping into things you don’t understand. Her annotative document process. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/456

Today, Lori is interviewing Patricia Leavy. They’ll be talking about her book, Hollyland, and the science behind the art of writing. Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” You can find her on her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Patricia Leavy and Lori discuss: The neuroscience behind reader engagement. How her sociology background influences the way she develops characters. Exploring the beauty of writing by muscle memory as opposed to convention.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/455

Today, Lori is interviewing Jinwoo Chong. They’ll be talking about themes of loss and disconnection and how they relate to his book Flux. Jinwoo Chong is the author of the novel Flux, coming March 21, 2023 from Melville House. His work has appeared in The Southern Review, Chicago Quarterly Review, The Florida Review, CRAFT, and Salamander. He received the Oran Robert Perry Burke Award for Fiction from The Southern Review and a special mention in the 2022 Pushcart Prize anthology, as well as recognition from The Sewanee Review, Tin House and Zoetrope: All-Story. He received an MFA from Columbia University and is an editorial assistant at One Story. You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jinwoo Chong and Lori discuss: Immigration as synthesis. What it means to blend speculative fiction and neo-noir genres How the immigrant experience helped to shape his book.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/454

Today, Lori is interviewing Laurie Buchanan. They’ll be talking about Impervious and the mechanics of writing a series. Laurie writes the Sean McPherson novels—fast-paced thrillers set in the Pacific Northwest featuring a trifecta of malice and the pursuit and cost of justice. As a photographer and avid reader, she carries a laptop, book, and camera with her wherever she goes. Growing up, she wanted to be a magician, international spy, and mad scientist. There’s still time! She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her pilot-husband, Len, where she enjoys yoga, bicycling, and camping. She loves to travel and take walks—long walks! She walked across Scotland, a 211-mile journey from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. At the mid-point, she climbed Ben Nevis, the highest point in the British Isles. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Laurie Buchanan and Lori discuss: The nuances of writing respectfully outside of your own experience. Pantsing through an eight book series. Maintaining a character’s story arc across multiple manuscripts.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/453

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Steven James. We’ll be talking about his multifaceted storytelling framework, and his book The Art of the Tale. Steven James is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels that have won or been shortlisted for more than a dozen national and international awards. His thrillers have been praised by Suspense Magazine, Booklist, and the New York Journal of Books and received starred reviews from both Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, who called his work “thought-provoking” and “riveting.” He has also written two award-winning books on the craft of writing, Story Trumps Structure and Troubleshooting Your Novel. When he’s not writing, he teaches storytelling at events around the globe and hosts the weekly podcast, The Story Blender. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Steven James and I discuss: The importance of what is, not what appears to be. Giving readers what they don’t know they want. How plot isn’t about events, but about the collision of desires.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/452

Today, Lori is interviewing Sorboni Banerjee and Dominique Richardson. They’ll be talking about collaborating on their book, Red as Blood, and the sisterhood they found. Dominique Richardson and Sorboni Banerjee are the coauthors of THE EVERBEACH SERIES—a young adult, romantic suspense series pitched as "Riverdale" meets fairy tale. Full of forbidden romance, deadly twists, and scandalous secrets, this series is sure to keep you turning pages into the night. It's perfect for fans of INHERITANCE GAMES, CINDER, GOSSIP GIRL, and PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. The first book in the series, RED AS BLOOD, comes out February 28, 2023.    You can follow both Dominique and Sorboni on Tiktok.   Dominique Richardson was raised between Jamaica and the United States, and her biracial heritage finds a home in her books. She spends her free time passing on her love of unicorns to her twin boys, running in the Florida heat, and drinking all the coffee. Dominique is the Young Adult columnist for DIY MFA. She now lives in Tampa, Florida with her family. You can find Dominique on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Tiktok.   Sorboni Banerjee is a Bengali-American author and Emmy Award winning television news anchor. With a dad from a small Indian village and mom from Maine, Sorboni’s experiences growing up “mixed” shape her stories. Fueled by coffee and conversation, Sorboni loves the beach, boating and traveling the world with her husband and son. Other books by Sorboni include Hide With Me.   Passionate about all things books and giving back to the community, Sorboni and Dominique co-founded YA by the Bay, a nonprofit young adult reading and leadership festival, dedicated to inspiring teens to “be the author of your own life.” The first annual conference will be held in Tampa, FL on October 13th and 14th in 2023.  You can learn more at www.yabythebay.org, and you can follow Sorboni on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok.   In this episode Sorboni Banerjee, Dominique Richardson, and Lori discuss: The draw of fairy tales, even in contemporary times. How important it is to build community and support fellow writers. Diversifying traditional tales with contemporary values and angst.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/451

Today, Lori is interviewing Thien-Kim Lam. They’ll be talking about writing romance with depth and spice. Thien-Kim Lam writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, makes art, and bakes her feelings to stay sane. Her books Happy Endings and Full Exposure are steamy romances that will make you hungry.Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys. She’s been featured on Jezebel, NPR, BBC America, and Glamour.  You can find her on her personal website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and here is the link to her book coaching site. She can also be found on Bawdy Bookworms’s Instagram.   In this episode Thien-Kim Lam and Lori discuss: Balancing a love story with conflict. Sex education and sexuality as empowerment. Creating banter that isn’t forced.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/450    

Today, Lori is interviewing Courtney Maum. They’ll be talking about honesty in memoir and her book The Year of the Horses. Author of five books, including the game changing publishing guide Before and After the Book Deal and the memoir, The Year of the Horses, (chosen by The Today Show as the best read for mental health awareness), Courtney is a writer and book coach hellbent on preserving the joy of art-making in a culture obsessed with turning artists into brands.  A nominee for the Joyce Carol Oates prize and the host of the monthly “Beyond Fiction” conversation series at Edith Wharton’s The Mount, Courtney’s essays and articles on creativity have been widely published in outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian, and her short story This is Not Your Fault was recently turned into an Audible Original.  A frequent interviewer of high-profile writers such as Anne Perry, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Edouard Louis, Courtney is also the founder of the learning collaborative, The Cabins. You can sign up for her publishing newsletter and enroll in her online writing classes at CourtneyMaum.com, or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. She’s happy to be here.   In this episode Courtney Maum and Lori discuss: The challenges of getting to the absolute truth in nonfiction. How her copy editing career affects her creative endeavors. Using frustration as her muse.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/449

Today, Lori is interviewing Jenna Miller. They’ll be talking about her publishing experience as a debut writer with her book Out of Character. Jenna Miller writes Young Adult books about fat, queer, nerdy girls who deserve to be seen and have their voices heard. When she’s not obsessing over words, she can be found making charcuterie boards, befriending people online, cross stitching, or adventuring in the Minneapolis area.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.   In this episode Jenna Miller and Lori discuss: The complexities of writing a parent / teen dynamic that resonates with today’s YA audience.  How NanoWriMo positively influenced her authorial career. Transcending the traditional love triangle trope with nuance.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/448

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Monte Schultz. We’ll be talking about his book Metropolis, and the intricacies of writing alternative history. Monte Schulz received his M.A. in American Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. He published his first novel, Down by the River, in 1990, and spent the next twelve years writing a novel about the Jazz Age. Monte is also a composer, songwriter, and producer whose most recent album is titled “Seraphonium.” In 2010, he became the owner of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Monte is endlessly curious and well versed in world history and theology. He is fascinated by the style and use of innovative language, and can be caught engaging in provocative, philosophical conversations about big, far-reaching, imaginative ideas and worldly perspectives. His father is the late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. He lives in Santa Barbara, CA. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.   In this episode Monte Schultz and I discuss: How real world events seeded his fictional world. The effects of history’s weight: heavy topics creating ennui in a society and applying that to backstory. That reading widely, from both commercial and literary works, are key, along with a list of suggested authors. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/447

Today, Lori is interviewing Jumata Emill. They’ll be talking about exploring social justice through multi-cultural experiences and his book The Black Queen. Jumata is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his B.A. in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, La. You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jumata Emill and Lori discuss: The importance and long-term effects of character representation in YA novels. Making social justice a relatable topic for young people through engaging and thought provoking prose. How the influence of real life experiences and conversations have woven together to create inclusivity in his work.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/446

Today, Lori is interviewing Jumata Emill. They’ll be talking about exploring social justice through multi-cultural experiences and his book The Black Queen. Jumata is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his B.A. in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, La. You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.   In this episode Jumata Emill and Lori discuss: The importance and long-term effects of character representation in YA novels. Making social justice a relatable topic for young people through engaging and thought provoking prose. How the influence of real life experiences and conversations have woven together to create inclusivity in his work.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/446

Today, Lori is interviewing Kendare Blake. They’ll be talking about her new book One Girl in All the World and writing a reboot series. Kendare Blake is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Three Dark Crowns series, the Anna Dressed in Blood duet, All These Bodies, and others. She lives and writes in Gig Harbor, Washington, from under a pile of dogs and cats. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Kendare Blake and Lori discuss: The pros and cons of writing fan fiction, and how it can up your authorial game. Dealing with the drama that comes with writing a reboot for a beloved series. Orienting new readers into an existing world without bogging things down. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/445

Today, Lori is interviewing Iris Yamashita. They’ll be talking about how her experience as a screenwriter helped her create tension in a closed setting. Iris Yamashita is an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima. She has been working in Hollywood for fifteen years developing material for both film and streaming, has taught screenwriting at UCLA, and is an advocate of women and diversity in the entertainment industry. She has also been a judge and mentor for various film and writing programs, and lives in California. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Iris Yamashita and Lori discuss: How culture has affected the trajectory of her career as a screenwriter and novelist. The way her screenwriting background informed her process for maintaining tension and keeping readers on the edge of their seat. Using a multiple voice format to make a shifting, close third POV work across characters with very distinct personalities. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/444

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mary Robinette Kowal. We’ll be talking about challenging your default assumption about the world and her latest book The Spare Man. Mary Robinette Kowal is the four-time Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award-winning author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost Talkers, the Lady Astronaut Universe, and The Spare Man. She is a cast member of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses and has received the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. Her stories appear in Asimov’s, Uncanny, and Year’s Best anthologies. Mary Robinette is a professional puppeteer, and she also performs as a voice actor (SAG/AFTRA), recording fiction for authors including Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow, and John Scalzi. She lives in Nashville with her husband Rob and over a dozen manual typewriters. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.   In this episode Mary Robinette Kowal and I discuss: How she wrote a mash-up of old Hollywood glamour and a futuristic space setting. Why it was important to use fluid pronouns in this novel and what she learned writing it.  What she has learned over the course of writing ten books and how to reset. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/443

Today, Lori is interviewing Amy Christine Parker. They’ll be talking about coming up with unsettling ideas and Amy’s book, Flight 171. Amy Christine Parker is the author of the critically acclaimed young adult thriller novels: Gated, Astray, Smash & Grab, and most recently the horror novel, Flight 171. When she is not busy dreaming up unsettling stories, Amy loves to read, go to the movies, and travel around the world in search of story inspiration. She lives and works in Tampa, Florida along with her husband, their two daughters, and two very high-maintenance cats. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.   In this episode Amy Christine Parker and Lori discuss: Where she comes up with unsettling ideas and how she deals with fears on the page. The importance of the first line and why the opening chapters are the hardest to write. How she developed the characterization for the ensemble cast in Flight 171. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/442

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Terena Elizabeth Bell. We’ll be talking about experimental fiction and her book of short stories, Tell Me What You See. Terena Elizabeth Bell is a fiction writer. Her debut short story collection, Tell Me What You See (Whiskey Tit), publishes Holiday 2022. Short stories, poetry, and journalism work have appeared in The Atlantic, Playboy, MysteryTribune, Santa Monica Review, Saturday Evening Post, and more than 100 similar publications throughout the US, the UK, Ireland, and Spain. Short fiction has won grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.   She is a 2021 NYFA City Artists Corps winner, a 2018 Arlene Eisenberg Award winner, a 2018 Azbee Award of Excellence winner, and Centre College’s 2014 Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year. Lead editor of the Writing Through the Classics series of books on fiction craft, she has taught creative writing independently and through the New York Society Library, Woodlawn Children’s Home, and Bowling Green State University.   From 2005 to 2015, Bell served as CEO of an international translation company and, in 2012, was appointed to President Barack Obama’s White House Business Council by US Representative John Yarmuth. She holds a BA in English from Centre College and an MA in French from the University of Louisville. Originally from Sinking Fork, Kentucky, she lives in Manhattan, where her landlord once was Philip Roth. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter, TikTok, buymeacoffee.com, and medium.com.   In this episode Terena Elizabeth Bell and I discuss: How she merged images and text and other ways she experimented in her stories. Her advice for managing your mental health when writing about difficult topics. What it means to write what you see and how she applied it to her writing. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/441

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Heloisa Prieto. We’ll be talking about all of the puzzle pieces in her book, The Musician. Dr. Heloisa Prieto is one of Brazil's most celebrated children and YA authors. She has sold over two million books in her native country. Her Mano series of YA novels inspired the Time Warner movie The Best Things in the World. She recently published 1,002 Ghosts, and her book Viajantes do Vento was selected for the PNLD Public Book-Purchasing Programme, the biggest of its kind in the world. She has spent a lifetime researching myths and legends-both ancient and modern-and organizing and curating collections of cross-cultural interest. She has created and organized numerous creative writing workshops for children, teenagers, and adults. Heloisa also has a PhD in French literature from the University of São Paulo, and a master's degree in semiotics from the Catholic University of São Paulo. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Heloisa Prieto and I discuss: The different points of view that she used and why she included journal excerpts. How she incorporated her love of fairy tales, mythology, and magic in The Musician. Her process for keeping her story organized as she pieced it together. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/440

Today, Lori is interviewing Deeba Zargarpur. They’ll be talking about family trauma and her book House of Yesterday. Deeba Zargarpur is an Afghan-Uzbek American. She credits her love of literature across various languages to her immigrant parents, whose eerie tales haunted her well into the night.  If given the choice, Deeba would spend her days getting lost in spooky towns with nothing but a notebook and eye for adventure to guide her. House of Yesterday is her debut novel. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.   In this episode Deeba Zargarpur and Lori discuss: How to write a creepy book your audience will have to read with the lights on. Why she focuses on the grandparent and grandchild relationship in her book. When to edge the supernatural elements of your story toward the chilling.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/439

Today, Lori is interviewing Fran Hawthorne. They’ll be talking about her new book I Meant To Tell You and Broad Topic. Fran Hawthorne has been writing novels since she was four years old, although she was sidetracked for several decades by journalism. During that award-winning career, she wrote eight nonfiction books, mainly about consumer activism, the drug industry, and the financial world.  Ethical Chic (Beacon Press) was named one of the best business books of 2012 by Library Journal, and Pension Dumping (Bloomberg Press) was a Foreword magazine 2008 Book of the Year. She's also been an editor or regular contributor for The New York Times, Business Week, Fortune, and many other publications.  But Fran never abandoned her true love: With the publication of her debut novel, The Heirs, in 2018 and now I Meant To Tell You, Fran is firmly committed to fiction. She’s at work on her next novel and also writes book reviews for the New York Journal of Books. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.   In this episode Fran Hawthorne and Lori discuss: How to use minor details to show your readers exactly who your characters are Why to shift perspective and how to decide when that shift should happen When to provide release and when to build tension in a story   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/404

Today, Lori is interviewing Carolyn Hays. They’ll be talking about the freedom that can be found in a pen name and her new book A Girlhood: Letter to my Transgender Daughter. Carolyn Hays is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, bestselling author who has chosen to publish A Girlhood: Letter to My Transgender Daughter under a pen name to protect the privacy of her family.  Her novels have been published by Hachette, Simon and Schuster, and HarperCollins; her books are also widely translated. A Girlhood will have four overseas editions, including those by Picador UK and Flammarion in France.  Her past books have been listed as New York Times Notable Books of the Year and Kirkus’s Best Fiction of the Year, and she’s written for National Public Radio and the Washington Post. You can find her on her website or follow her publishers on Twitter at @PressShopPR and @BlairPublisher.   In this episode Carolyn Hays and Lori discuss: Why writing in second person is perfect when writing about gender. How to recognize a scene while you’re living through it. When to write out a scene in your memoir and when to summarize it. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/437

Today, Lori is interviewing Amanda Jayatissa. They’ll be talking about secrets and hidden motivation in her new thriller You’re Invited. Amanda Jayatissa grew up in Sri Lanka, completed her undergrad at Mills College, CA, and lived in the UK before moving back to her sunny little island. She works as a corporate trainer, owns a chain of cookie stores, and is a proud dog-mum to her two spoiled huskies. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Amanda Jayatissa and Lori discuss: How to develop your character’s inner life and voice through journaling What to do when the ending you planned for your book changes How to manage misdirection while still keeping your story fair for your reader   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/436

Today, Lori is interviewing Suzanne Parry. They’ll be talking about the power of art and her book Lost Souls of Leningrad. A former European security specialist, Suzanne writes historical fiction about the Soviet Union. She studied Russian in Moscow and earned a Master's from Princeton University before joining the US Department of Defense. While at the Pentagon, she helped negotiate the first security agreement of the Gorbachev era. She raised a large family, taught university, and coached high school cross-country and track for fifteen years before embarking on a writing career. A veteran of several dozen marathons on six continents, Suzanne now runs slowly and not very far.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, and Instagram.   In this episode Suzanne Parry and Lori discuss: Writing a story that people will read about a particularly gruesome event. Structuring the chapter format and perspective to support the story you’re telling. Exploring the bonds that art creates between people.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/435

Today, Lori is interviewing Lenore Borja. They’ll be talking about how she created a natural flow for her characters and her world in her book The Last Huntress. Lenore Borja grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a brief career as an actress, she spent several years working in executive search and human resources in both New York and San Francisco. She now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband and a bossy feline named Maximus. When she’s not writing, she enjoys adventure travel and anything that gets the heart racing, whether it’s hiking, running, or getting lost in a good book.  The Last Huntress is her debut novel. She is currently working on Book 2 of the Mirror Realm  series. You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram.   In this episode Lenore Borja and Lori discuss: Balance the trust you have in your reader with necessary exposition. Creating a fun friendship dynamic that your reader will want to be a part of. Crafting an intriguing, dynamic, and short prologue that will hook your reader.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/434

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Vitalis. We’ll be talking about voice, perspective, pacing and her books The Wolf’s Curse and The Rabbit’s Gift. Jessica Vitalis is a Columbia MBA-wielding writer on  a mission to write entertaining and thought-provoking literature. As an active volunteer in the kidlit community, she’s also passionate about using her privilege to lift up other voices. She founded Magic in the Middle, a series of free monthly recorded book talks, to help educators introduce young readers to new fantasy books. She was recently named a 2021 Canada Council of the Arts Grant Recipient and featured on CBCs Here and Now. Her first novel, The Wolf’s Curse, published in 2021, and a standalone companion novel, The Rabbit’s Gift, comes out October 25th.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Jessica Vitalis and I discuss: Balancing multiple perspectives on the same events without boring your reader Weaving folklore, tradition, science, and spirituality into a middle grade story How to use footnotes and parentheticals without slowing your story’s pace   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/433  

Today, Lori is interviewing S.K. Ali. They’ll be talking about feeling and emotion in YA fiction and her new book Love From Mecca to Medina. S.K. Ali is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including Saints and Misfits, a finalist for the William C. Morris award, winner of the APALA Award and Middle East Book Award, and Love from A to Z, a Today Show's "Read with Jenna" Book Club selection. Both novels were critically acclaimed and named best YA books of the year by various media including Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.  Her novel, Misfit in Love, was a People magazine best book of summer 2021. Her books for younger readers include the widely acclaimed middle grade anthology Once Upon an Eid and the New York Times bestselling picture book, The Proudest Blue. She has a degree in Creative Writing and lives in Toronto with her family, a very vocal cat named Yeti, and a very quiet cat named Mochi. Her newest novel, Love From Mecca to Medina, went on sale October 18, 2022. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode S.K. Ali and Lori discuss: Why she gave her two main characters contrasting perspectives on life. How the constraints of a set structure can lead to creativity. Balancing a light tone with serious topics.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/432

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Susan Austin. We’ll be talking about how she imagines the childhood of a historical figure in her book Drawing Outside the Lines. As an educator, Susan J. Austin knows the minds of young readers. Her first novel, The Bamboo Garden, is set in Berkeley, California, 1923, and describes an unlikely friendship between two girls that is tested by a fierce fire that threatens to destroy their town. Currently, she is writing about twelve-year-old Goldie, a whiz kid in the kitchen who hopes that her culinary magic can help her family’s delicatessen out of a pickle in 1928 Hollywood. Her characters are always brave, strong willed risk-takers. Writing historical fiction offers her a way to educate and excite her readers about the past. She and her husband live in Northern California, surrounded by family, their splendid but fussy rose bushes, and a lifetime collection of books. Learn more at www.susanjaustin.com.   In this episode Susan J. Austin and I discuss: Organizing your historical research for ease of use in your writing. Writing for the specific reading level of your audience.  Re-engaging with a manuscript that you have set aside for a while.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/431

Today, Lori is interviewing Carol Van Den Hende. They’ll be talking about finding purpose and her new book Orchid Blooming. Carol Van Den Hende is the award-winning author of the Goodbye, Orchid series. She’s also a speaker, global marketer, digital strategist, Climate Reality Leader and Board Trustee. One secret to her good fortune? Her humorous husband and twins, who prove that love really does conquer all. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest, YouTube, LinkTree, LinkedIn, Bookbub and Goodreads. You can also get a chapter for free by entering your email here.   In this episode Carol Van Den Hende and Lori discuss: Finding freedom in the different experience that each reader has with a story. Crafting your purpose and gaining energy from it. Creating characters that inspire fondness and familiarity in readers. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/430

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeffrey James Higgins. We’ll be talking about his closed setting thriller novel Furious: Sailing Into Terror. Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, scripts, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times. He is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and has won sixteen literary awards, including PenCraft’s Best Fiction Book of 2021. He was just nominated for Silver Falchion Awards for Best Suspense and Best Thriller and a Claymore Award for Best Mystery.  You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Goodreads, IMDB, Amazon, and BookBub.   In this episode Jeffrey James Higgins and I discuss: How to maintain tension and conflict for your character during slow scenes When to incorporate social and cognitive psychology into your writing How to write about the will to survive in a character that is suffering grief   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/429

Today, Lori is interviewing Helen Scheuerer. They’ll be talking about some of the lessons in her new book How to Write a Successful Series. Helen Scheuerer is the fantasy author of the bestselling trilogy, The Oremere Chronicles and the Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots. More recently, she has also delved into publishing advice for authors with her debut nonfiction book, 'How To Write A Successful Series'. Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a Bachelor of Creative Writing at the University of Wollongong and a Masters of Publishing at the University of Sydney. Now a full-time author, Helen lives amidst the mountains in Central Otago, New Zealand and is constantly dreaming up new stories. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Helen and Lori discuss: How to create, maintain, and use a story bible and style guide. The importance of allowing your writing process to evolve as you change. How to decide whether traditional or indie publishing is right for you.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/428    

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nova McBee. We’ll be talking about the rapid release model and her book series Calculated. Nova McBee is an avid traveler and culture nerd who has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East and Asia for half her life. She speaks multiple languages, including Mandarin, and lived in China for more than a decade. She thrives on complex plots, adventure, making cross-cultural connections and coffee. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and three children. Calculated is currently in development to become a major motion picture. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Nova and I discuss: How to plan a launch by observing book launches you admire. The importance of setting deadlines and maintaining flexibility in writing. What it’s like to have your work adapted for film.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/427

Today, Lori is interviewing Khristin Wierman. We’ll be talking about how she explores the theme of overcoming differences in her debut novel Buck’s Pantry. Khristin Wierman spent twenty years rising through the marketing ranks of Fortune 500 companies, building a career that was lucrative, ego-boosting, and a little bit soul-crushing. So she quit. And had no idea what to do with her life. Writing novels ensued. She was born and raised in a small East Texas town—which means she came into this world a Dallas Cowboys fan and ardently believes “y’all” is a legitimate pronoun. Some things she enjoys are playing golf with her husband and stepson, poker, yoga, chocolate, the Golden State Warriors, and the daily adventure of life with an adorably imperfect cat named Rocco. She lives in San Francisco, California. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook.   In this episode Khristin Wierman and Lori discuss: How to ensure each character has their own distinct voice and mannerisms Seeing the good in people and places you disagree with Untying the knots inside yourself as a path to fulfillment   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/426

Today, Lori is interviewing May-lee Chai. They’ll be talking about understanding lives unlike our own and her book Tomorrow in Shanghai and Other Stories. May-lee Chai is the author of eleven books of fiction, nonfiction, and translation, including her latest short story collection, Tomorrow in Shanghai & Other Stories. Her last story collection, Useful Phrases for Immigrants, won the 2019 American Book Award. She teaches in the MFA program in creative writing at San Francisco State University. Her writing has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, Bakwin Award for Writing by a Woman (selected by Tayari Jones), Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, named a Kiriyama Prize Notable Book, and recipient of an honorable mention for the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights Book Awards.  Her short prose has appeared widely, including in Seventeen, New England Review, Longreads, Paris Review Online, Kenyon Review Online, Los Angeles Times, Best Small Fictions anthology, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and cited as Notable in both the Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays anthologies.  You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter or Facebook.   In this episode May-lee Chai and Lori discuss: Creating a journey through a short story collection using the placement of stories Using short stories to inhabit lives that are different from your own How to evoke a specific mood in a collection of short stories Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/425

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Trigg. We’ll be talking about the intricacies of Silicon Valley and his book Bit Flip. Prior to becoming an author, Mike Trigg was an executive, founder, and investor in various technology start-up companies for over 25 years. Born in Kentucky and raised in Wisconsin, he earned a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. After several years working for a U.S. Senator in Washington, D.C., Mike began his career in the technology industry, working for telecommunications giants MCI and 3Com. He was an early employee of Octane Software, which was acquired by Epiphany during the first dot-com boom. He went on to co-found a data analytics company called Truviso (acquired by Cisco) then became VP of marketing at hi5, one of the world’s largest social networks. More recently, Mike was Chief Marketing Officer and GM at Entelo, a recruiting software company, and Chief Operating Officer at cloud file sharing vendor, Hightail (formerly YouSendIt), which was acquired by OpenText. Mike was an entrepreneur-in-residence at AI Fund and SymphonyAI, both AI-focused, early-stage venture funds, and an advisor at Shasta Ventures. Mike has been a contributor to TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company. He lives in Menlo Park, California, with his wife and two sons. Launching August 16, 2022, Bit Flip is his first novel. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.   In this episode Mike Trigg and I discuss: Ensuring a story about an industry insider has universal appeal. Keeping authenticity in the industry language used after editing. How to balance backstory with the fast pace of your story. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/424

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kathryn Holmes. We’ll be talking about making the transition from YA to a chapter books series and her book Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! Kathryn Holmes is the author of the Class Critters chapter book series, which includes Tally Tuttle Turns Into a Turtle, David Dixon’s Day as a Dachshund, and Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! (publishing August 16th, 2022). She also wrote the young adult novels The Distance Between Lost and Found and How It Feels to Fly. Kathryn grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, daughter, and piles upon piles of books. A graduate of The New School’s MFA in Creative Writing program, Kathryn works as a freelance dance journalist, among other writing gigs.You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Kathryn Holmes and I discuss: The best ways to incorporate learning in a chapter book to fuel kids’ curiosity How to blend grounded worldbuilding with a magical element in a story The role authors must play in amplifying the work of diverse voices   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/423

Today, Lori is interviewing Sarah Adlakha. They’ll be talking about time travel, alternate timelines and her book Midnight on the Marne. Sarah Adlakha is a native of Chicago who now lives along the gulf coast of Mississippi with her husband, three daughters, two horses, and one dog. She started writing fiction shortly after retiring from her psychiatry practice. Her debut novel, She Wouldn’t Change a Thing, was a CNN most anticipated book of 2021. Midnight on the Marne is her second novel. You can find Sarah on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.   In this episode Sarah Adlakha and Lori discuss: The history of language and its importance when writing historical fiction. How to make characters out of real people in a respectful way. Her unusual path to learn the craft of writing and how she stayed focused. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/422

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Patrice Gopo. We’ll be talking about Broad Topic and her book All the Places We Call Home. Patrice Gopo is the child of Jamaican immigrants and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is an award-winning essayist and the author of All the Colors We Will See: Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way (a Fall 2018 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection). Her ties to Jamaica and other parts of the world sparked her early desire to travel to the cities and countries she traced on a globe. In time, as she began writing about her experiences, Patrice became interested in how places contribute to the people we become. Ultimately, she hopes her stories celebrate the beauty of living a multifaceted life. Patrice lives with her family in North Carolina—a place she considers another home. All the Places We Call Home is her first picture book. You can find her on her website, subscribe to her newsletter, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Patrice Gopo and I discuss: Leaving room in your writing for your illustrator to heighten the story. Recognizing the themes that reappear in your life and your work. How to turn an emotionally resonant image into a whole story.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/421

Today, Lori is interviewing Erin La Rosa. They’ll be talking about tropes in romance and her book For Butter or Worse. Erin La Rosa is the author of the upcoming romance novel, For Butter or Worse. She's previously written for BuzzFeed and Funny or Die. She worked as a social media manager for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video before quitting her day job to focus on writing books. You can find her on her website, or follow her on Twitter or Instagram.   In this episode Erin La Rosa and Lori discuss: Where in her real life she draws inspiration from for the locations in her writing. How to suck your readers in when your main characters start out unsympathetic. What special sauce a dual narrative brings to the enemies to lovers trope.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/420

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Stacy Willingham, Carolyne Topdjian, Allison Buccola, and Wanda M. Morris. We’ll be talking about the debut writer experience and their books. Stacy Willingham is the New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark. Before turning to fiction, she was a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her BA in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and MFA in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her novel is currently being translated into over two dozen languages. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, Britt, and Labradoodle, Mako, where she is always working on her next book. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Carolyne Topdjian is the author of The Hitman’s Daughter (Agora/Polis Books), a gothic mystery which Library Journal lauds as a “fast-paced, haunting novel of survival." In addition to writing suspense novels, Carolyne has published short fiction in PRISM International, Dreamers Magazine, and Firewords Quarterly. She is a professor in the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts at Humber College in Toronto. Currently, she lives in a 114-year-old haunted house. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Allison Buccola is the author of the psychological thriller Catch Her When She Falls.  Before she turned to writing fiction, she was a practicing attorney with a JD from the University of Chicago, and she also did a brief stint as a bartender in Brussels.  She now lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and two kids. You can find her on her website or follow them on Twitter, and Instagram. Wanda M. Morris is the acclaimed author of All Her Little Secrets. It was named as one of the “Best Books of 2021” by Hudson Booksellers and selected as the #1 Top Pick for “Library Reads” by librarians across the country. It was selected as a Book Buzz Pick by Good Morning America, serialized in Entertainment Weekly and a Marie Claire book club pick. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Crime Writers of Color. A corporate attorney, Wanda has worked in the legal departments of some of America’s top Fortune 100 companies. As a former President of the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, she established a signature female empowerment program known as the Women’s Initiative. She is married, the mother of three and lives in Atlanta,Georgia. All Her Little Secrets is her debut novel. You can find her on her website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Stacy, Carolyne, Allison, Wanda, and I discuss: Choosing whether to tell a story with multiple timelines, flashbacks, or an epistolary format. How their characters deal with the past, secrets, and lies as the story unfolds. What role the world and the setting play in how characters process their trauma.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/419

Today, Lori is interviewing Natalka Burian. They’ll be talking about time travel, multiple mysteries, and Natalka’s book The Night Shift. Natalka Burian is the co-owner of two bars, Elsa and Ramona, as well as the co-founder of The Freya Project, a non-profit reading series that supports community-based activism and annually awards five unrestricted grants to further the work of women and non-binary writers. She is the author of three novels--her latest, The Night Shift, is out this summer with Park Row--and a cocktail book. Natalka grew up on a farm in Maryland but now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters. You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.   In this episode Natalka Burian and Lori discuss: How to employ flashbacks effectively in your writing without overdoing it. Juggling multiple mysteries in one story while maintaining the intrigue of each. Using your readers’ drive to understand others as an engine for storytelling. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/418

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexis Schaitkin. We’ll be talking about tone, voice, mood and her book Elsewhere.  Alexis Schaitkin is the author of Saint X and her short stories and essays have appeared in Ecotone, Southwest Review, The Southern Review, The New York Times, and elsewhere. Her fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Nonrequired Reading. She received her MFA in fiction from the University of Virginia, where she was a Henry Hoyns Fellow. She lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with her husband and their two children. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter.   In this episode Alexis Schaitkin and I discuss: Writing a story with mystery as a central premise without focusing on solving that mystery. Creating a fable-like feeling through the intentional use of tropes. The nature of community and isolation and how it relates to writing.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/417

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexis Schaitkin. We’ll be talking about tone, voice, mood and her book Elsewhere.  Alexis Schaitkin is the author of Saint X and her short stories and essays have appeared in Ecotone, Southwest Review, The Southern Review, The New York Times, and elsewhere. Her fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Nonrequired Reading. She received her MFA in fiction from the University of Virginia, where she was a Henry Hoyns Fellow. She lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with her husband and their two children. You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter.   In this episode Alexis Schaitkin and I discuss: Writing a story with mystery as a central premise without focusing on solving that mystery. Creating a fable-like feeling through the intentional use of tropes. The nature of community and isolation and how it relates to writing.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/417

Today, Lori is interviewing Shelley Blanton-Stroud. They’ll be talking about historical mysteries and Shelley’s book Tomboy: A Jane Benjamin Novel.  Shelley grew up in California’s Central Valley, the daughter of Dust Bowl immigrants who made good on their ambition to get out of the field. She recently retired from teaching writing at Sacramento State University and still consults with writers in the energy industry. She co-directs Stories on Stage Sacramento, where actors perform the stories of established and emerging authors, and serves on the advisory board of 916 Ink, an arts-based creative writing nonprofit for children. She has also served on the Writers’ Advisory Board for the Belize Writers’ Conference. Her writing has been a finalist in the Sarton Book Awards, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion Award, the American Fiction Awards, and the National Indie Excellence Awards.  She lives in Sacramento with her husband and many photos of their out-of-town sons and their wonderful partners. Copy Boy is her first Jane Benjamin Novel. Tomboy, which we’ll be discussing today, is her second. The third, Working Girl, will come out in November 2023. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   In this episode Shelley Blanton-Stroud and Lori discuss: Creating a contemporary character in a historical fiction novel. How we create our identity versus how we reveal our identity. The important role that reading plays in developing your craft as a writer.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/416

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Michele Scott. We’ll be talking about cozy mysteries and her book Murder Uncorked.  Michele Scott is an American author and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professional’s Choice, Inc. She has written over forty novels in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult mysteries, fantasy, and women’s fiction. Her thriller Daddy’s Home from her Holly Jennings’ series written under her pen name of AK Alexander has sold over one million copies and was the #1 bestselling book in the UK Amazon. Her thriller Mommy, May I? and was number 2 on the Amazon list. Michele’s bestselling mystery series (The Wine Lover’s Mysteries) has gone into multiple printings and has been optioned by a Los Angeles based producer and production company. Michele is a lifelong equestrian, having horses since she was five-years-old. If you don’t find her at her desk writing, you’re sure to find her at the barn! You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads.   In this episode Michele Scott and I discuss: Why you need to be prepared to figure out a way to make it happen with your writing. Common characteristics of cozy mysteries and what keep readers coming back. How she uses outlines and character sketches without getting bogged down.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/415

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Scott Gates. We’ll be talking about his novel, Gone, the Redeemer.  Scott Gates is the author of Hard Road South, published by Blue Ink Press. He is a magazine editor and a second-generation communicator for rural electric cooperatives. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Auburn University and a Master of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Scott grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and currently lives in North Carolina with his wife and three kids, where he enjoys a slower pace of life and reliable barbecue options. He and his brother share perspectives on Southern culture at incidentalist.com. You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.   In this episode Scott Gates and I discuss: Truth in a first-person narrative, especially when the protagonist is unreliable. The traditions of travel literature and including Classical structures in modern literature. How to balance writing and the research rabbit hole so you can maintain your momentum. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/414

Today, Lori is interviewing Taylor Hahn. They’ll be talking about her debut romance novel, The Lifestyle.  Taylor is a second-grade teacher turned lawyer turned author. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, she joined Teach for America and taught in Brooklyn for two years before attending Fordham University School of Law. She then worked as a litigation associate at a firm in Manhattan and then LA while working on her novel in her spare time and taking fiction writing classes. The Lifestyle is her first novel. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and THE best dog in the universe.   In this episode Taylor Hahn and Lori discuss: What makes a sex scene fun to read and her advice on how to write one. How to make a flawed, meddlesome character likable to your readers. The rise of emotional intelligence and communication in Millenial romance. Plus, her #1 tip for writers.  For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/413

Today, Lori is interviewing Taylor Hahn. They’ll be talking about her debut romance novel, The Lifestyle.  Taylor is a second-grade teacher turned lawyer turned author. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, she joined Teach for America and taught in Brooklyn for two years before attending Fordham University School of Law. She then worked as a litigation associate at a firm in Manhattan and then LA while working on her novel in her spare time and taking fiction writing classes. The Lifestyle is her first novel. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and THE best dog in the universe.   In this episode Taylor Hahn and Lori discuss: What makes a sex scene fun to read and her advice on how to write one. How to make a flawed, meddlesome character likable to your readers. The rise of emotional intelligence and communication in Millenial romance. Plus, her #1 tip for writers.  For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/413

Today, Lori is interviewing Rebecca Scherm. They’ll be talking about her science fiction-thriller novel, A House Between Earth and the Moon.  Rebecca Scherm is the author of Unbecoming. She lives in California with her family.   In this episode Rebecca Scherm and Lori discuss: The psychic toll writing near future speculative fiction can take on a parent. Why it is so important to safeguard your passion and her advice for doing so. What she means when she says she has a conversation with a genre. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/412

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer McMahon. We’ll be talking about her genre-defying novel, The Children on the Hill. Jennifer McMahon has been lauded by Chris Bohjalian (The Flight Attendant) as “a worthy literary descendent of Shirley Jackson.” She is the author of eleven novels, including the New York Times bestsellers Promise Not to Tell and The Winter People. McMahon is in the LibraryReads Hall of Fame. She lives in Vermont with her partner, Drea, and their daughter, Zella.   In this episode Jennifer McMahon and I discuss: Why she had multiple false starts on her latest novel and what finally inspired her to finish. How she developed the idea of secrets and her process for layering them throughout the plot. What is a monster, what makes something monstrous, and why that distinction is important. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/411

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brett Riley. We’ll be talking about his YA fantasy/thriller novel, Freaks.  Brett Riley is the author of The Subtle Dance of Impulse and Light (Ink Brush Press), Comanche (Imbrifex Books), Lord of Order (Imbrifex), Freaks (Imbrifex), and Travelers (2022). His short fiction has appeared in journals such as The Baltimore Review, F(r)iction, Solstice, Folio, The Evansville Review, and many others. His nonfiction has appeared in CrimeReads, Role Reboot, Broad River Review, Rougarou, Green Hills Literary Lantern, Literary Orphans, Under the Gum Tree, Wild Violet, and Foliate Oak Magazine. He lives in Henderson, NV.   In this episode Brett Riley and I discuss: How he portrayed and deepened the bond between his main characters. The double-sided nature of superhero powers and why he showed his characters’ weaknesses. Why it’s fascinating to let superheroes be bad and what that exploration reveals. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/410

Today, Lori is interviewing Amy Lea. They’ll be talking about her debut romance novel, Set on You.  Amy Lea is a Canadian bureaucrat by day and contemporary romance author by night (and weekends). She writes laugh-out-loud romantic comedies featuring strong heroines, witty banter, mid-2000s pop culture references, and happily ever afters.   In this episode Amy Lea and Lori discuss: Why representation matters and how the romance genre is helping lead the charge.  How to use family dynamics to develop layered characters. Millennial identity and what they have changed about the dating scene. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/409

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessi Honard and Marie Parks. We’ll be talking about their contemporary fantasy debut, Unrelenting.  Jessi and Marie have been co-writing speculative fiction since 2009, and their 2022 contemporary fantasy debut, Unrelenting, was a finalist in the 2020 Book Pipeline Unpublished Manuscript contest.  Marie is a fantasy, sci-fi, and horror author who landed in New Mexico after traveling full-time in an RV for years. Her writing uses speculative fiction to dive into topics like social justice, the environment, and the power of friendship. Jessi Honard is a speculative fiction author, business owner, and professional coffee inhaler. Her work leans into the power of imaginary worlds as a conduit to exploring common struggles of identity, belonging, and trust.  Together, they've run a successful copywriting agency since 2010. Jessi lives in the Bay Area of California with her partner, Taormina, and Marie lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with all the dogs.   In this episode Jessi, Marie, and I discuss: What qualities make for a successful co-writing partnership and how to decide whom to work with. How to bounce back from early mistakes and why you aren’t always one mistake away from ruin. The importance of interrogating the “why” behind your vision for your book and your career. Plus, their #1 tip for writers.  For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/408

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessi Honard and Marie Parks. We’ll be talking about their contemporary fantasy debut, Unrelenting.  Jessi and Marie have been co-writing speculative fiction since 2009, and their 2022 contemporary fantasy debut, Unrelenting, was a finalist in the 2020 Book Pipeline Unpublished Manuscript contest.  Marie is a fantasy, sci-fi, and horror author who landed in New Mexico after traveling full-time in an RV for years. Her writing uses speculative fiction to dive into topics like social justice, the environment, and the power of friendship. Jessi Honard is a speculative fiction author, business owner, and professional coffee inhaler. Her work leans into the power of imaginary worlds as a conduit to exploring common struggles of identity, belonging, and trust.  Together, they've run a successful copywriting agency since 2010. Jessi lives in the Bay Area of California with her partner, Taormina, and Marie lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with all the dogs.   In this episode Jessi, Marie, and I discuss: What qualities make for a successful co-writing partnership and how to decide whom to work with. How to bounce back from early mistakes and why you aren’t always one mistake away from ruin. The importance of interrogating the “why” behind your vision for your book and your career. Plus, their #1 tip for writers.  For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/408

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Johansen Nack.  Leslie’s newest book, The Blue Butterfly, A Novel of Marion Davies, comes out next week and it’s what we are going to be discussing today. Her debut is a memoir titled Fourteen, A Daughter’s Memoir of Adventure, Sailing, and Survival. It received five indie awards, including the 2016 Finalist in Memoir at the Next Generation Indie Book Award. Leslie says she did everything late in life, including getting her degree in English Literature from UCLA at age thirty-one. Before she started writing, she raised two children, ran a mechanical engineering business with her husband, took care of her aging mother, and dreamed of retirement when she could write full-time. She currently lives in San Diego and—in addition to writing—she enjoys sailing, hiking, and reading.   In this episode Leslie Johansen Nack and I discuss: Why she leaned into fiction for this project as opposed to writing a biography. Her research process and how she chose which scenes to fictionalize. How she balanced writing about the public and private personas of her characters.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/407

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing G.G. Kellner Gayle is a poet, essayist, artist, educator, and Author of Hope: A History of the Future, a novel in which she imagines a peaceful, just, sustainable future based on facts, legal precedence, and historical documents. Gayle lives in a home that has been in her family for five generations. She spends most of her time creating with words, paints, and sculpture, as well as walking the beaches and forests of her island home with her dog.   In this episode GG Kellner and I discuss: How she created the web of complex character relationships and the framework for her novel. Why you need to face your fears in order to open yourself up to the possibilities of life. The relationship between cause and effect in history and its impact on the future.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/406

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Claire Stanford. Born and raised in Berkeley, Claire holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in English at UCLA, where she studies science fiction/speculative fiction, narrative theory, and novel theory. Claire’s work has received fellowships and grants from the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, and the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences. Claire is also an avid watcher of BBC mysteries and the author of her debut novel, Happy for You.   In this episode Claire Stanford and I discuss: The meaning of happiness, its relationship with social media, and how that plays out in her novel. Why she classifies her novel as literary fiction as opposed to speculative. How she navigated writing a novel about a character who is strongly opposed to change.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/405

Today, Lori is interviewing Jody Hadlock.   Jody studied journalism and was a television news reporter and anchor serving her community in South Carolina as well as Texas. In addition to writing, her other passion is advocating for people with special needs. For several years Jody served on the board of directors of North Texas Special Needs Assistance Partners (SNAP), a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the fullest lives possible in their communities. She has just released her debut historical novel, The Lives of Diamond Bessie.   In this episode Jody Hadlock and Lori discuss: The research process and how to blend primary and secondary sources. Why finding the right point of view is so important to the writing process. What role context plays in writing about the past and how to integrate it into your plot.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/404

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart. Rob is the author of The Warehouse, a gripping speculative thriller which sold in more than 20 countries and was optioned for film by Ron Howard. He is also the author of the Ash McKenna series, the short story collection Take-Out, and Scott Free with James Patterson. His latest book is The Paradox Hotel, about a hotel at the crossroads of the space-time continuum.   In this episode Rob Hart and I discuss: Why naming characters is important and where he found the names for these characters.  How to write an unlikeable character that your readers will actually like. Using storytelling to shine a light on bad things that are happening in the real world.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/403

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brian Leung. Brian is the author of the novels Lost Men, Take Me Home, and Ivy vs Dogg: With a Cast of Thousands!.  His short-story collection, World Famous Love Acts, won the Asian American Literary Award and the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction.  Born and raised in San Diego County, he is a Professor of Creative Writing at Purdue University as well as Core faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts.  All I Should Not Tell is out now with C&R Press.   In this episode Brian Leung and I discuss: How to turn a real life event into a novel, especially when you are close to the event. Bringing out the emotional truth of a story and remaining true to the characters. Why it can be tricky to write first person narratives and how to make them sound distinct.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/402

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Walker: Jeff is one of the world's most successful online entrepreneurs the creator of Product Launch Formula and the #1 NY Times bestselling author of the book Launch. He has spent the last 15 years helping people launch their online courses, memberships, coaching and books. His students and clients have done over a BILLION dollars in launches in hundreds of niches and markets… and in dozens of countries around the world. Jeff lives in Durango, Colorado and he loves to get outside for all kinds of adventures. On a more personal note, Jeff is someone I am honored to call a teacher and mentor. I’ve been following his work pretty much for as long as DIY MFA has existed and got the first edition of his book Launch when it came out in 2014. I read it cover to cover and still have that paperback edition with all my highlights and mark-ups, which I keep next to my desk. In 2017, I was finally ready to make the investment and do the Product Launch Formula (PLF) Coaching Program. My team and I relentlessly applied the techniques to our flagship DIY MFA 101 course (with epic results!) and since then, we have applied PLF techniques—with our own special word nerd flair—to launch all our DIY MFA programs. Today, we’ll be talking about launching as it pertains to launching a book.   In this episode Jeff Walker and I discuss: Why his first launch was the most important and the role his email list played. How writers of fiction and memoir can apply his Product Launch Formula to their lists. Strategies for determining what your assets are and how to maximize them.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/401

Today, I have the esteemed pleasure of interviewing one of my absolute favorite people, Lori Walker. Lori wears a lot of hats at DIY MFA. Her official title is Operations Maven. However, she is also Podcast Producer, Launch Manager, Web Editor, a Book Coach, and our Resident Reader at DIY MFA. Lori is the writer behind the Book Nook column.  In her spare time, she loves yoga, cooking, traveling, smooth bourbons, strong cabernets, dirty martinis, watching baseball, and of course, reading. She is currently working on an essay collection and a novel. She lives outside of Tulsa with her husband and cat, Joan Didion.   In the 400th Episode Extravaganza, Lori and I: Give listeners a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of DIY MFA. Share what makes a successful podcast pitch and how to be a good guest. Discuss why I started the podcast in the first place and how it evolved over time. Talk about some of the fun things we have in the works for word nerds.   Plus, we share a huge announcement. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/400

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Gillian McDunn Gillian is the author of the middle-grade novels Caterpillar Summer and The Queen Bee and Me, These Unlucky Stars published by Bloomsbury Children's Books. Caterpillar Summer was selected for the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List, and landed on Kirkus Reviews and Parents magazine Best Books of the Year lists. Her favorite thing is spending time with her family. She also loves traveling, board games, and learning about the world we live in. We’ll be talking about Honestly Elliott, a middle grade novel about a big-hearted boy trying to find the way to his best self.   In this episode Gillian McDunn and I discuss: How she created a dynamic depiction of neurodiversity in a novel for middle grade readers. What children can learn from cooking and how it applies to other life skills. Why middle school is an intense time for learning about adult dynamics.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/399

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing JK Ellem. Jack is the author of the Amazon #1 US & UK Best Selling book, Mill Point Road, A Winter's Kill, and the No Justice Series. He was born in London and spent his formative childhood years reading infamous British comics like Action and 2000 AD. He has no agent, no publicist, and no huge publishing house behind him. Yet in 3 short years since he wrote his first thriller novel, he’s  become an Amazon #1 Bestselling Thriller Author in both the UK and the US in 6 crime fiction categories. Today we’re discussing his Ravenwood series (which I read and loved) and how to create mystery and suspense in multiple point of view novels.   In this episode JK Ellem and I discuss: How a wrong turn and a gated community inspired his Ravenwood series. Why he chose to break the rules of POV and how he pulled it off. Creating questions that get the reader involved in the mystery and control the pacing.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/398

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Isaac Fellman. Isaac is the author of Dead Collections, as well as The Breath of the Sun (published under his pre-transition first name), which won the 2018 Lambda Literary Award for queer science fiction, fantasy, and horror. By day he is an archivist at the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. Today we’re talking about his latest book, Dead Collections, which will be out on February 22 (so, in less than one week!).   In this episode Isaac Fellman and I discuss: How he used his day job as an archivist as a metaphor for his characters. Why you should consider writing fanfiction to develop your writing skills. His approach to exploring bigger topics in his writing and why he finds the challenge fun. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/397

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Dalton. Ryan is an author, singer, voiceover artist, amateur chef and lover of all things geek. He’s also the author of the young adult and middle-grade books including the time travel mystery series, the Time Shift trilogy. Today we’ll be discussing his latest novel, This Last Adventure, a middle-grade story about the bond between a teenage boy and his grandfather, how that boy copes with his grandfather’s memory loss, and what it means to live a life worth remembering.   In this episode Ryan Dalton and I discuss: Why he wrote This Last Adventure as a middle grade story, as opposed to YA. How he created a sense of hope when his amorphous antagonist was undefeatable.  Writing group scenes and what to include and what to leave out to make each character distinct.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/396

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alana Quintana Albertson. Alana is a Latina bestselling romance author whose books have hit the top of several different charts. She has written thirty books and landed a three-book deal for the Latinx romantic comedy series, Love and Tacos. The first book in the series, Ramón and Julieta, has just been released and it has been optioned for television. Like Ramón from her book, Alana has an impressive educational pedigree, with a Masters of Education from Harvard and a Bachelor degree from Stanford. And, like Julieta, she’s a natural leader who is passionate about the things she loves. She’s the former President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, and Chick Lit chapters and she founded the non-profit dog rescue, Pugs N Roses.™ Today we’re talking about her latest book, Ramón and Julieta, which happens to combine three of my favorite things: rom-coms, tacos (and other great food), and of course, Shakespeare references.   In this episode Alana Quintana Albertson and I discuss: What inspired her to turn Shakespeare’s tragedy into a rom-com and how she pulled it off. How she kept raising the stakes for her characters, while keeping it realistic. Using world building to convey deeper elements of culture and community in her story. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/395

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alana Quintana Albertson. Alana is a Latina bestselling romance author whose books have hit the top of several different charts. She has written thirty books and landed a three-book deal for the Latinx romantic comedy series, Love and Tacos. The first book in the series, Ramón and Julieta, has just been released and it has been optioned for television. Like Ramón from her book, Alana has an impressive educational pedigree, with a Masters of Education from Harvard and a Bachelor degree from Stanford. And, like Julieta, she’s a natural leader who is passionate about the things she loves. She’s the former President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, and Chick Lit chapters and she founded the non-profit dog rescue, Pugs N Roses.™ Today we’re talking about her latest book, Ramón and Julieta, which happens to combine three of my favorite things: rom-coms, tacos (and other great food), and of course, Shakespeare references.   In this episode Alana Quintana Albertson and I discuss: What inspired her to turn Shakespeare’s tragedy into a rom-com and how she pulled it off. How she kept raising the stakes for her characters, while keeping it realistic. Using world building to convey deeper elements of culture and community in her story. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/395

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sue Campbell. As founder of Pages & Platforms, Sue is the mindset and book marketing coach writers look to when they are ready to honor their dreams, share their work with the world, and maximize the impact of their words. She has helped hundreds of writers—from newbies to bestsellers—transform their mindset around marketing, and her clients have achieved some pretty epic goals. From exponentially increasing their email lists and book sales, to landing articles in prestigious publications or doing guest spots on popular podcasts, Sue has helped many writers realize their full potential as authors. Today, Sue and I will be talking about mindset, in particular the harmful stories we creative folks tell ourselves, so we can carve out the creative life we've always known we were meant to have.   In this episode Sue Campbell and I discuss: False stories writers tell themselves about marketing and why it isn’t as scary as you think. How to shift your thoughts about marketing—Sue shares some exercises to help! Why getting hard feedback early on is actually advantageous for you later on.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/394

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing William Germano Bill is professor of English at Cooper Union, where he served as dean of the faculty of humanities and social sciences for more than a decade. During an earlier career in publishing, he served as editor-in-chief at Columbia University Press and as vice-president and editorial director at Routledge.  His previous books on writing include Getting It Published: A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious about Serious Books (third edition, 2016) and From Dissertation to Book (second edition, 2013).  He has also written Eye Chart, a book about how we test vision, for Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons series (2017), and The Tales of Hoffmann, a study of Powell and Pressburger’s 1951 opera-film.   Most recently he has co-authored, with Kit Nicholls, Syllabus: The Remarkable, Unremarkable Document That Changes Everything (Princeton UP, 2020) and his latest book on writing, On Revision: The Only Writing That Counts, which we’ll be talking about today.   In this episode William Germano and I discuss: When you should start from scratch and why it’s a great technique for your writing. What skill all writers need to master and how it will improve your writing and revising. Why he believes that if something is worth writing, it’s worth revising as well.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/393

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Vedder. Leslie Vedder is a queer ace author who loves fairytale retellings with girl adventurers and heroes! She grew up on fantasy books, anime, fanfiction, and the Lord of the Rings movies and met her true love in high school choir. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in creative writing and currently lives in Colorado with her wife and two spoiled house cats. When she's not reading or writing, you can find her watching anime and sci-fi shows, walking in the woods and pretending they're enchanted forests, or playing old video games. She always collects all the Skulltulas in Zelda and all the Dalmation puppies in Kingdom Hearts. Her debut YA novel The Bone Spindle released in January 2022.   In this episode Leslie Vedder and I discuss: What genre inspired her and helped her keep a fast pace throughout her novel. Why she loved blending science and magic and how her characters approached each. How she approached varying levels of character relationships—both romantic and friendship.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/392

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ashanti Anderson. Ashanti Anderson (she/her) is a Black Queer Disabled poet, screenwriter, and playwright. Her debut short poetry collection, Black Under, is the winner of the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition at Black Lawrence Press. Her poems have appeared in World Literature Today, POETRY magazine, and elsewhere in print and on the web. In this episode Ashanti Anderson and I discuss: How being an overthinker influences her poetry and the messages she wants to share. Why setting clear boundaries helps her guide the conversation around her writing. When she turns to prose poetry and why she thinks it defies hard and fast craft rules. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/391

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Jane Anders. Charlie Jane is the author of the essay collection Never Say You Can’t Survive along with the short story collection Even Greater Mistakes.  Her other books include The City in the Middle of the Night and All the Birds in the Sky. Her fiction and journalism have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Slate, McSweeney's, Mother Jones, the Boston Review, Tor.com, Tin House, Teen Vogue, Conjunctions, Wired Magazine, and other places.  Her TED Talk, "Go Ahead, Dream About the Future" got 700,000 views in its first week. With Annalee Newitz, she co-hosts the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct.   In this episode Charlie Jane Anders and I discuss: What makes something an “idea” versus a “story” and how to tell the difference. How to keep short stories contained while making them rich and deep. Why she believes endings are hard and what she does to cross the finish line. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/390

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing J.L. Torres. J.L. is the author of a novel, The Accidental Native, as well as the short collection The Family Terrorist and Other Stories, a collection of poetry, Boricua Passport, and Migrations, a short story collection that won the inaugural Tomás Rivera Book Prize.  He has published stories and poems in numerous journals and magazines including The North American Review, Denver Quarterly, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Eckleburg Review, Puerto del Sol, Las Americas Review, and the anthology Growing Up Latino.  Born in Puerto Rico, raised in the South Bronx, he currently lives in Plattsburgh, New York. In addition to the Ph.D., he also holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia University.  He co-founded the Saranac Review and served as its Editor for many years. On a more personal note has no known hobbies, has never been in prison or any gangs, has never had quirky and funky jobs and is notoriously inept with tools.   In this episode J.L. Torres and I discuss: Writing for two audiences and how world building plays a major role in that process. What factors he considers when selecting the order of stories for a collection. His definition of “voice” and why it is so important in keeping readers engaged.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/389

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sacha Black. Sacha is an author, rebel podcaster, and professional speaker. She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing. When she’s not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling about film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules. She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.   In this episode Sacha Black and I discuss: The main types of supporting characters and what you should do with each type. Why you need to create contrast between your supporting characters and your protagonist. How to balance giving supporting characters depth without letting them take over the story.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/388

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mark McGuinness. Mark is an award-winning poet, author, podcaster and host of The 21st Century Creative, as well as a coach for creative professionals. He is also someone I’ve had the pleasure of calling a colleague and friend for nearly a decade. When Mark told me about his latest project, a new podcast titled A Mouthful of Air, I knew I had to bring him on DIY MFA Radio to talk about it. The podcast centers around poetry, and episodes alternate in focus between contemporary works and the classics. For episodes featuring contemporary poets, Mark invites them to read a single poem and talk about the writing process behind it. In other episodes, he reads classic poems and talks about what we can learn from them as writers. This is an awesome podcast, and one that writers of all genres can learn from and enjoy. A Mouthful of Air has been awarded funding for the first 2 years of the show by Arts Council England, and I can’t wait to see where it goes!   In this episode Mark McGuinness and I discuss: What effects a good poem can have on the reader that transcend academic understanding. What method poetry is and the writing processes of contemporary poets. How reading poetry out loud—even just to yourself—enhances the experience.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/387

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing someone very special. Aside from being an author of a hilarious romantic comedy, she is also a mainstay of the DIY MFA community. This person is, of course, Tammy Lough. Growing up, Tammy had dual-career goals, she wanted to be a nurse and a writer. When she was three she played nurse to her dolls when they got sick, fell off her bed, or broke their bones. She also began writing poems and stories and never stopped. In later years, when multiple sclerosis forced her to leave her career as an intensive care nurse-manager, she came back to her writing with the same passion and drive she brings to everything. This past year, Parallel Pathways published her first romantic comedy and debut novel, Lacey’s Deception. Tammy is a mom of two sons and grandma to three adorable grandchildren. She writes a monthly column, “On the Back Page with Tammy,” for Saturday Writers, a Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and South West Writers. She is also the Romance Columnist for DIY MFA.   In this episode Tammy Lough and I discuss: How mistaken identities can be a vehicle for humor, especially in a rom-com. Why she thinks the middle can be the best part of the writing process.  What role the rule of three plays in building the tension and humor in her novel.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/386

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Polick. Amanda is a writer, book coach, and food writing columnist for DIY MFA. She began her career with acting and improv, she shifted focus to food writing which led to her being the first dedicated segment producer of Facebook Live for Time Inc. While in that role, she oversaw more than 300 live segments and created the company’s Food Media Junket, bringing in James Beard award-winning and Michelin-Starred chefs for over a dozen food and lifestyle brands. These days, she helps food folks through the book writing process, helping them craft a story only they can tell.  Her work has been featured by Cooking Light, Time, Southern Living, Food & Wine, and more.. She lives in Nashville, but a piece of her heart will always belong in California.   In this episode Amanda Polick and I discuss: Why food writing can encompass so much more than just the “how-to” element. How to find your own voice and discover what is unique about you in your writing. The importance of challenging yourself as a writer and what you can learn in the process.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/385

Today, I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Marcus Harrison Green. Marcus is the publisher of the South Seattle Emerald, and a columnist with the Seattle Times.  Growing up in South Seattle, he experienced first-hand the impact of one-dimensional stories on marginalized communities, which taught him the value of authentic narratives. After an unfulfilling stint in the investment world during his twenties, Marcus returned to his community with a newfound purpose of telling stories with nuance, complexity, and multidimensionality with the hope of advancing social change. This led him to become a writer and to found the South Seattle Emerald. He was awarded the Seattle Human Rights Commissions’ Individual Human Rights Leader Award for 2020. On a more personal note, Marcus is a word nerd. He is part of our community, and when he reached out to share that he would be publishing his first collection of essays—Readying to Rise—I knew we had to have him on the show.   In this episode ​​Marcus Harrison Green and I discuss: How he achieved a unity of voice as he put together his debut essay collection. The importance of looking honestly at ourselves and how that can make society better. Why he loves living the life of the writer and what it allows him to do in the world.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/384

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Catherine Baab-Muguira. Catherine is a writer and journalist who has contributed to many media outlets, including Slate, Quartz, CNBC and NBC News. She is a frequent podcast and radio guest, with appearances on NPR and Lifehacker’s Upgrade. Catherine currently lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and baby son. Today we’ll be discussing her first book, Poe for Your Problems: Uncommon Advice from History’s Least Likely Self-Help Guru, which came out this past September.   In this episode Catherine Baab-Muguira and I discuss: How Edgar Allan Poe unexpectedly inspired her to write a book about mental health. Why she keeps her day job and how it helps her avoid literary snobbery. The value of learning to write good copy and the art of marketing your book. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/383

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Khanh Ha. Khanh is the author of Flesh and The Demon Who Peddled Longing.  He is a seven-time Pushcart nominee, finalist for the Mary McCarthy Prize, Many Voices Project, Prairie Schooner Book Prize, and The University of New Orleans Press Lab Prize.  He is the recipient of the Sand Hills Prize for Best Fiction, the Robert Watson Literary Prize in Fiction, The Orison Anthology Award for Fiction, and The C&R Press Fiction Prize.  His new novel, Mrs. Rossi’s Dream, was named Best New Book by Booklist and a 2019 Foreword Reviews INDIES Silver Winner and Bronze Winner   In this episode Khanh Ha and I discuss: How he writes death scenes in a way that is comfortable for him and powerful for the reader. The difference between style and voice and how writers can make both unique. Why writers need to stay faithful to their character when creating the POV of the narrative.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/382

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Debbie Macomber. Debbie is the author of many books including: It's Better This Way, A Walk Along the Beach, Window on the Bay, Cottage by the Sea, Any Dream Will Do, If Not for You, and the Rose Harbor Inn series. Thirteen of her novels have been New York Times #1 bestsellers, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel. The Hallmark Channel has also produced the original series Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, based on her Cedar Cove books. With more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide, Debbie is a leading voice in romance and women's fiction.   In this episode Debbie Macomber and I discuss: How our subconscious comes out in writing and directs the topics we explore. The balance between writing light Christmas stories and still providing substance. Why she began her book with a series of letters and flashbacks mixed with the present.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/381

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie BwaBwa. Stephanie is a Jesus-centered, young adult and fantasy author, writing in the universe of Elledelle about black angels in magical worlds with impressive powers that mirror the human condition. She loves writing stories centered around feisty angels with complicated pasts, unexpected futures, learning to take up causes bigger than themselves, who may or may not fall in love along the way. Stephanie is a Canadian-born, Haitian-raised, Congolese descended, North American dweller who lived a colorful life in south Florida that cultivated a perspective on the world as unique as her background. As the author of The Seraphim Resistance Prequels and The Transcendents serial, Stephanie has built her own self-publishing empire. She is also an avid reader of fantasy and fiction, and columnist for DIY MFA.   In this episode Stephanie BwaBwa and I discuss: How comic books helped her develop the world in her YA fantasy universe. Her method for crafting a serial series and dealing with the unknowns. Why she loves world building and how she avoided sharing too many details at once.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/380

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Andy Marino. Andy Marino was born in upstate New York, spent half his life in New York City, and now lives in the Hudson Valley. He works as a freelance writer. The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess is his first horror novel   In this episode Andy and I discuss: Why addiction and recovery provide a rich backdrop for a horror novel. How he crafted a cold open that created a sympathetic bond between his protagonist and readers. Whether horror is a genre or a mood and what characteristics define it.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/379

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kiffer Brown. Kathryn (Kiffer) Brown is the CEO and co-founder of Chanticleer Reviews and Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (The CIBAs) that Discover Today’s Best Books. The company differentiates itself with "under the hood" digital technology that increases the digital footprint of each book review and CIBA winner developed by her super-geek husband, Argus Brown.  Kiffer has presented at events such as: Writer's Digest Conference in NYC, IBPA University, Women in Publishing Summit, Pacific Northwest Writers Conference, RWA National Conference, Historical Novel Society, BEA UpubU, ALLi, Left Coast Crime Conference, and many more.  The annual Chanticleer Authors Conference held in Bellingham, WA features international best-selling authors such as Cathy Ace, Robert Dugoni, J.D. Barker, Ann Charles (and more!). The event focuses on marketing and book promotion, advanced writing craft, and Book-to-Film sessions.   In this episode Kiffer and I discuss: Why there has never been a better time to be an author than NOW. What makes something a review as opposed to a write-up and the four types of reviews. How advanced reviews help in promoting your book and when you should start getting them.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/378

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Philip Lopate. Phillip is the author of over a dozen books:  4 personal essay collections (Bachelorhood, Against Joie de Vivre, Portrait of My Body, and Portrait Inside my Head), as well as Being with Children, Waterfront, and Notes on Sontag 3 works of fiction (Confessions of Summer, The Rug Merchant, and Two Marriages) 3 poetry collections (The Eyes Don’t Always Want to Stay Open, The Daily Round, and At the End of the Day).   He has also edited several anthologies, including one of my personal favorites—Art of the Personal Essay—and he’s the author of To Show and To Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction.  He is a professor in Columbia University's MFA Writing Program, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.   In this episode Phillip and I discuss: Why you need to have some things you haven’t worked out when you begin to write an essay. The ground rules, selection process, and organizational structure for his three volume anthology. What qualities make for a great essay, what can kill a piece, and the role the past plays.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/377

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Gonzalez James. Elizabeth’s stories and essays have appeared in The Idaho Review, The Rumpus, PANK, and elsewhere, and have received numerous Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. She is also a regular contributor to Ploughshares Blog. Her debut novel Mona at Sea was a finalist in the 2019 SFWP Literary Awards judged by Carmen Maria Machado, and is out now. We’ll be discussing her book and her writing process in today’s interview.   In this episode Elizabeth and I discuss: How she wrote about an unemployed character in an interesting and refreshing way. The importance of assembling a good critique group and reading good craft books. Why persistence and patience are major parts of the publishing journey.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/376

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Traci Sorell and Carole Boston Weatherford. Traci is the author of the critically acclaimed book We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga. She is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and lives in northeastern Oklahoma, where her tribe is located. Today we’re talking about her picture book Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer (Illustrated by Natasha Donovan). Carole is the author of numerous award-winning books including the Newbery Honor book Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom (illustrated by Michele Wood), and R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (illustrated by Frank Morrison). Today we’re discussing her picture book Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (Illustrated by Floyd Cooper). When she's not traveling or visiting museums, Carole is mining the past for family stories, fading traditions, and forgotten struggles. She lives in North Carolina.   In this episode Traci, Carole and I discuss: Why they each decided to tell these forgotten stories as middle grade picture books. The deliberate and unique choices they made in structuring their narratives. How they created a distinct sense of time and place to ground their books.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/375

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Finola Austin. Finola Austin, also known as the Secret Victorianist on her award-winning blog, is an England-born, Northern Ireland-raised, Brooklyn-based historical novelist and lover of the 19th century. Her first novel, Bronte's Mistress, was published in 2020. When she’s not writing novels or her blog, she works in digital advertising.   In this episode Finola and I discuss: How household and gender roles have and have not changed since the 19th century. The difference between being “accomplished” and being “clever” and why it’s problematic. Why she created a timeline to help fill in gaps in knowledge as she drafted her novel.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/374

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marissa Levien. Marissa is a writer and artist who hails from Washington State and now lives in New York with a kindly journalist and their two cats. The World Gives Way is her first novel.   In this episode Marissa and I discuss: How current and recent events influenced the dystopian future of her novel. The unique point of view shifts she writes at the beginning of The World Gives Way. Why empathy, human connection, and hope get readers to follow the journey.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/373

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rajani LaRocca. Rajani was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning novels and picture books.  She has always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels, picture books, prose and poetry.  She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks.   In this episode Rajani and I discuss: The importance of showing different approaches to problem solving and thinking. How she represented sibling dynamics in her picture book, Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers. Why she starts with a story and her unique approach to character building.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/372

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kris Clink. Kris writes about relatable characters who rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat. When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mike and an understanding audience. Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two spoiled-rotten pups. She’s also the host of Kris Clink’s writing table, a podcast for writers and book lovers. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy, which is out now.   In this episode Kris and I discuss: Why she writes the flap copy for her next book before she begins drafting it. How she wrote a not necessarily likeable character that readers can engage with. What makes a book one genre versus another and why that can be important.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/371

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman. Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have been great friends for over 20 years and are now co-authors. Their friendship has sustained them through the ups and downs of raising kids, juggling careers, and creating new family traditions. Girls with Bright Futures, their debut novel, out now, is a dark, suspenseful journey into the cutthroat world of college admissions. Between the two of them, they have undergraduate degrees from Princeton University and the University of Michigan, a law degree from UC Berkeley, careers in marketing, non-profit leadership, and biotechnology law, two husbands, and four kids (three of whom have survived the college admissions process without a single parent landing in jail).    In this episode Tracy, Wendy, and I discuss: How focusing on mother-daughter relationships escalated the tension. What they learned from keeping their cowriting process intentionally simple. Why they made their alpha protagonist a bit of an outsider.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/370

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman. Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have been great friends for over 20 years and are now co-authors. Their friendship has sustained them through the ups and downs of raising kids, juggling careers, and creating new family traditions. Girls with Bright Futures, their debut novel, out now, is a dark, suspenseful journey into the cutthroat world of college admissions. Between the two of them, they have undergraduate degrees from Princeton University and the University of Michigan, a law degree from UC Berkeley, careers in marketing, non-profit leadership, and biotechnology law, two husbands, and four kids (three of whom have survived the college admissions process without a single parent landing in jail).    In this episode Tracy, Wendy, and I discuss: How focusing on mother-daughter relationships escalated the tension. What they learned from keeping their cowriting process intentionally simple. Why they made their alpha protagonist a bit of an outsider.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/370

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Elly Griffiths. Elly is the author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series and the stand-alone novels The Stranger Diaries and The Postscript Murders. She is a recipient of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the CWA Dagger in the Library Award. She lives in Brighton, England. Today we’ll be discussing The Postscript Murders, which was released earlier this year. The Night Hawks from her Ruth Galloway series is also out now, and The Midnight Hour (from her Brighton mystery series) is on sale November 2nd.   In this episode Elly and I discuss: Why so many people have been turning to mysteries during the pandemic. How to get readers to take a leap of faith and what you must do in return. Making sure that the right clue appears at the right time in a mystery novel.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/369

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Veronica G. Henry. Veronica was born in Brooklyn, New York, and has been a bit of a rolling stone ever since. Her work has appeared in various online publications. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise Workshop and a member of SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America). She now writes from North Carolina, where she eschews rollerballs for fountain pens and fine paper. Other untreated addictions include chocolate and cupcakes. Today we’ll be talking about her debut novel (which I am reading and LOVING) Bacchanal.   In this episode Veronica and I discuss: Her literary influences and how they each blur the line between real and fantasy. Why she included the downsides to her protagonist having an amazing ability. What scenes were difficult for her to write and how she powered through.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/368

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandie June. Brandie spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as both activities let her live in fantastic stories. She moved to Los Angeles to study acting at UCLA, and eventually branched out into costume design and playwriting. While she spends most of her free time writing, she will still take any excuse to play dress-up, especially if it involves wearing a crown.  She happily promotes more stories as a marketing director for kids' films and anime. When not writing or marketing, she can often be found doing aerial arts, playing board games, drinking too much espresso, and coming up with new art projects. She lives with her husband, two spoiled rescue pups, a spoiled cat, six fish tanks, and five bookshelves. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Gold Spun.   In this episode Brandie and I discuss: How a love of fairytales and a unique NaNoWriMo project led to her debut novel. Why she likes morally grey characters and how she brought that out in Goldspun. What factors influenced her decision to not worry about historical accuracy.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/367

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexander Weinstein. Alexander is the author of the collections Universal Love and Children of the New World, which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and a best book of the year by NPR, Google, and Electric Literature. His fiction and interviews have appeared in Rolling Stone, World Literature Today, Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Best American Experimental Writing. He is the founder and director of The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing and is a Professor of Creative Writing at Siena Heights University. Today we will be talking about his latest story collection: Universal Love.   In this episode Alexander and I discuss: How he balanced hope and cynicism in stories set in the not too distant future. His process for building a short story collection and choosing what was included. Why you should embrace the mess of early drafts and take plenty of risks.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/366

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Emily R. King. Emily is the author of the Hundredth Queen series, along with Before the Broken Star, Into the Hourglass, and Everafter Song in the Evermore Chronicles. Her latest novel is Wings of Fury, which was released earlier this year, and we’ll be discussing it today. It is the first in the Wings of Fury duology; the second book, Crown of Cinders, will be out in October of this year. Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Emily is a shark advocate, a consumer of gummy bears, and an islander at heart, but her greatest interests are her children and three cantankerous cats.    In this episode Emily and I discuss: How she chose which versions of mythology she was going to use in her novels. What she learned about the role and lives of women in Ancient Greece. Why she wrote a duology as opposed to a trilogy or a longer series.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/365

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ana Maria Spagna. Ana Maria is the author of Uplake: Restless Essays of Coming and Going and several previous nonfiction books on nature, work, civil, indigenous, and LGBTQ rights. Her previous books include: Reclaimers, stories of elder women reclaiming sacred land and water, which was a finalist for the 2016 Rachel Carson Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists, the memoir/history Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus: A Daughter’s Civil Rights Journey, winner of the 2010 River Teeth literary nonfiction prize, 100 Skills You’ll Need for the End of the World (as We Know It) which is a humor-infused exploration of how to live more lightly on the planet, and two essay collections, Potluck and Now Go Home.  Her first novel for young people, The Luckiest Scar on Earth, about a 14 year-old snowboarder and her activist father, released in 2017, and her first chapbook of poetry, Mile Marker Six, will appear from Finishing Line Press this fall.  Ana Maria’s work has been recognized by the Nautilus Book Awards, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Awards, and as a four-time finalist for the Washington State Book Award. Her essays have appeared in Orion, Ecotone, Fourth Genre, Creative Nonfiction, Brevity, The Normal School, and regularly in High Country News. After working fifteen years on backcountry trail crews for the National Park Service, she turned to teaching and is currently on the faculty of the low-residency MFA programs at Antioch University, Los Angeles and Western Colorado University.   In this episode Ana Maria and I discuss: How to write, assemble, and edit collections for two genres at the same time. The importance of non-writing work and why it is so valuable to the process. What writers of prose can learn from reading and writing poetry.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/364

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing award-winning debut author Denny S. Bryce. Denny won the RWA Golden Heart® and was a three-time GH finalist, including twice for Wild Women and the Blues. She also writes book reviews for NPR Books and entertainment articles for FROLIC Media. Additionally, the former professional dancer and public relations professional is a self-proclaimed history geek. She credits this obsession to her maternal grandmother, Ella Elizabeth Joseph, who immigrated from Montego Bay, Jamaica, to New York City in 1923. Recently, Denny relocated from Northern Virginia to Savannah, Georgia.   In this episode Denny and I discuss: What she hoped to accomplish by writing about two vastly different generations. Why she loves the third person close POV and what it creates for readers. How she built the world of 1920s Jazz Age Chicago and the Black Renaissance.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/363

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie A. Rasmussen. Leslie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated with a bachelor’s in communications from UCLA and went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, and Ralph Macchio, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. She later earned a master’s degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Most recently, Leslie has written personal essays for online magazines such as Huffington Post, Maria Shriver, and SheKnows. She loves dogs and in addition to having two adorable Labradors, she volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter in Burbank, California. Leslie lives in Los Angeles and has two sons, and a husband she’s been with since college. After Happily Ever After is her debut novel and it is out now.   In this episode Leslie and I discuss: How she captured family dynamics by writing about three different generations. The ways her past as a sitcom writer helped her create a strong supporting cast. Why she chose to write about after the typical “happily ever after” ending.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/362

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tasha Suri. Tasha is an award-winning author, occasional librarian and cat owner. Her books include the Books of Ambha duology and The Jasmine Throne, (which is out now). When she isn’t writing, Tasha likes to cry over TV shows, buy too many notebooks, and indulge her geeky passion for reading about South Asian history. She lives with her family in a mildly haunted house in London.   In this episode Tasha and I discuss: Why she wanted to depict different kinds of strength and how she pulled it off. Her advice for tying together multiple points of view. (Her novel has ten POVs!) How to write a book proposal for a novel and other advice for getting published.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/361

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jas Rawlinson. Jas is a best-selling author, book coach, and resilience speaker who specialises in stories that change lives. Growing up in a small country town, Jas first fell in love with the power of literature as a young girl, and would often disappear into the world of writing to escape from the family violence in her home. It was here that she made a promise to one day find a way to support other survivors and victims of domestic violence; and in 2016, she fulfilled that promise by co-founding Brisbane's first permanent domestic violence memorial. Endorsed by names like Kevin Hines and Lifeline, Jas has been featured across major media outlets including ABC and Authority Magazine, and in 2021, was named as one of Yahoo Finance's top 10 book coaches to watch. She believes that everyone has a story with the power to inspire, impact, and change lives.   In this episode Jas and I discuss: Why good storytelling is so important to successfully conveying your message. Common misconceptions about memoir and create a shared vocabulary. Her advice for writing about difficult memories and the importance of self-care.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. Type For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/360

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Arch. Jeff grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent two of his high school years at a boarding school much like the one depicted in his debut novel Attachments, which we’ll be discussing today. In the ’70s, he studied film/tv/theater production at Emerson College in Boston and then moved to LA, where he worked as a concert lighting designer and toured the country with national rock and reggae acts while teaching himself to write screenplays on the side. Years later, he was teaching high school English and running a martial arts school when heard the call to write again. In 1989, he sold the school he’d built, rented a small office, and gave himself one year to write three screenplays.  The second of those―a quirky romantic comedy where the two lovers don’t even meet until the very last page―sold almost immediately, and Sleepless in Seattle became a surprise megahit worldwide.  For his screenplay, Jeff was nominated for an Oscar, as well as for Writers Guild and BAFTA awards, among others. His other credits include the Disney adventure film Iron Will, New Line’s romantic comedy Sealed With a Kiss, and the independent comedy Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys. His script for Saving Milly, based on Mort Kondracke’s searing memoir, earned the 2005 Humanitas Nomination, an honor he treasures.  Jeff is a father, stepfather, father-in-law, and grandfather and is based in Malibu.   In this episode Jeff and I discuss: His method for moving characters with their own agendas through the plot. How to avoid the dreaded info dump and his advice for what to do instead. Why you shouldn’t focus on the theme, but should worry about the story instead.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/359

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing my dear friend Thien-Kim Lam. Thien-Kim writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. She and I first connected at an entrepreneurship event and instantly bonded over our love of books and our penchant for challenging the status quo of our respective industries. Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys (featured on NPR, BBC America, and NBC). Plus, she also writes about multicultural parenting at I’m Not the Nanny and has been featured on NBC News Asian America, BBC World, and NPR’s All Things Considered. Plus, she has written for Momtastic, YourTango, Frolic, NBC News, and other outlets. Happy Endings is her debut novel and we’ll be discussing it today. Quick heads up before we dive in: when friends like us get together and start chatting about a sexy rom-com featuring a protagonist who sells sex toys… things might go in a non-PG-rated direction. So if you’ve got kiddos hanging around, now might be a good time to put in some headphones. And if listening to two girlfriends talk about steamy romance and sex toys is not your jam… well, you have been warned. Okay folks, without further ado, I am super-excited to introduce you to my friend Thien-Kim!   In this episode Thien-Kim and I discuss: Why she chose to begin her novel with tension between the main love interests. Giving her protagonist a unique career and how that strengthened the character. What she learned from having to relaunch her business after pivoting.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/358

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Suyi Davies Okungbowa. Suyi is a Nigerian author of fantasy, science fiction and other speculative works inspired by his West-African origins. His new novel, Son of the Storm, is the first in the epic fantasy trilogy called The Nameless Republic, and he is also author of the acclaimed and award-winning godpunk fantasy novel David Mogo. His shorter fiction and essays have appeared internationally in various periodicals and anthologies, including Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda and Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy. He has taught writing at the University of Arizona and spoken at various venues and institutions in the US and beyond. In this episode Suyi and I discuss: How to create intricate contradictions within characters and the plot of your story. The role narrator and point of view play in the meaning and importance of a story. Why he used a marketplace as a foundation for building his story’s world.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/357

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rebecca Fish Ewan. Poet and cartoonist, Rebecca's passion is mingling text with visual art, primarily in ink and watercolor, to tell stories of place and memory. Her hybrid-form work has appeared in After the Art, Brevity, Crab Fat, Survivor Zine, Hip Mama, Mutha, TNB, Punctuate & Under the Gum Tree. Her illustrations and essay, “The Deepest Place on Earth,” were published in the Literary Kitchen anthology, Places Like Home. She was also a long-time DIY MFA columnist, writing about books with words and pictures, and she continues as part of our extended team as a contributor at large. Rebecca has an MFA in creative writing from ASU, where she has been a landscape design professor for 25+ years. She grew up in Berkeley, California, and lives with her family in Arizona. Her book-length work includes A Land Between, By the Forces of Gravity, Water Marks, and her new book, Doodling for Writers, which released October 2020.   In this episode Rebecca and I discuss: How writers can get out of their own way and reclaim their love of drawing. Why writers need to embrace searching as a part of the writing process. The importance of finding tools you love (and she shares her favorites!).   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/356

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rena Rossner. Rena hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars Program and holds an MA in history from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her debut novel, The Sisters of the Winter Wood was listed as “One of the 100 Best Books” of the year by Publisher's Weekly. She currently lives in Israel with her husband, five children, and a pug, where she works as a literary agent. Her grandparents and great grandparents are from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania. Their stories inspire her work. Today we’ll be discussing her latest novel, The Light of the Midnight Stars.   In this episode Rena and I discuss: Why narration is the element that most directly connects the reader to the story. Her process for creating different voices and making them each distinct. How she juggles being a literary agent with her writing career (and personal life!).   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/355

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing C.L. Clark. Cherae graduated from Indiana University’s creative writing MFA and was a 2012 Lambda Literary Fellow. In addition to writing, she has had various jobs as she’s traveled the world, including: personal trainer, English teacher, editor, or some combination thereof. When she’s not writing or working, she’s learning languages, doing P90something, or reading about war and post-colonial history. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in FIYAH, PodCastle, Uncanny, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies and she is now one of the co-editors at PodCastle and editor of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) Blog.   In this episode C.L. and I discuss: How to identify which character is the protagonist and whether there can be two. The relationship between magic, religion, and technology and how she uses it. Different ways to handle conflict and the approach she takes in her writing.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/354

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing David Yoon. David is the author of the New York Times bestseller Frankly In Love, as well as the upcoming YA novel Super Fake Love Song and adult thriller Version Zero. He also drew the illustrations for his wife Nicola Yoon's #1 New York Times bestseller Everything, Everything. He and his wife are also heading up a new imprint of Random House Children’s Books called Joy Revolution. This imprint will debut in 2022 and will be devoted to publishing teen love stories by and about people of color.   In this episode David and I discuss: Why he decided to write a book for adults after success in the YA genre. Uncovering your central dramatic question and how to explore it in your writing. His process for “Marie Kondo-ing” his brain and what he does with the space.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/353

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing someone I have the honor of considering both a colleague and friend, Chuck Wendig. Chuck is the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers, Star Wars: Aftermath, the Miriam Black thrillers, and the Atlanta Burns books, as well as Zer0es and Invasive, alongside other works across comics, games, film, and more. He was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and an alum of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and he served as the co-writer of the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus. He is also known for his popular blog, terribleminds, and he’s one of the few people I follow on Twitter and actually read what they post. He has also written books about writing such as Damn Fine Story, and today we’ll be talking about his latest book, a collection of inspirational nuggets titled: You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton!   In this episode Chuck and I discuss: The inspiration behind his latest book, which began as a series of tweets. How good writing subverts readers’ expectations in some way. Why you shouldn’t take any one piece of writing advice too seriously.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/352

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sophfronia Scott. Sophfronia is a novelist and essayist whose work has appeared in Time, People, O: The Oprah Magazine, as well as many other outlets. Her first novel, All I Need to Get By, was nominated for best new author at the African American Literary Awards and Sophfronia was hailed by Henry Louis Gates Jr. as "one of the best writers of her generation." She is a prolific writer whose work spans both fiction and nonfiction, and her other books include Unforgivable Love, Love's Long Line, and This Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World, which she co-wrote with her son Tain. Her essays “The Legs On Which I Move” and “Why I Didn’t Go to the Firehouse” are listed in the Best American Essays series. Her next book is The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton, and is out now from Broadleaf Books. The recipient of a 2020 Artist Fellowship Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, Sophfronia holds degrees from Harvard and the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is currently director of Alma College’s MFA in Creative Writing, which is a low-residency grad program based in Alma, Michigan. This interview is a little bit of a departure from our usual subject matter of authors talking about their latest books and instead Sophfronia and I will be doing a deep dive on MFA pedagogy. As you know, the DIY MFA philosophy is not anti-MFA, and we strive to complement what MFA programs are already doing quite well. And, of course, when I build new curriculum for DIY MFA, I draw from my own experiences as a MFA student, along with several other sources as well. I am beyond thrilled to have Sophfronia on the show to talk about writing, MFA programs, and a writer’s education. Embed Audio Here In this episode Sophfronia and I discuss: How her background in journalism, ghostwriting, and her desire to coach other writers inspired her to pursue an MFA.  What a low residency MFA program can prepare you for as a full time career writer and the logistics and benefits of attending one. Why reading and building community are imperative to the DIY MFA experience as well as a writer’s life and growth.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/351

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Simon Stephenson. Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Simon is a writer and screenwriter now living in LA (with stop-overs in London and San Francisco along the way).  His first book was the memoir Let Not The Waves Of The Sea, about losing his brother Dominic in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. It won Best First Book at the Scottish Book Awards in 2011. His most recent novel, Set My Heart To Five, was released in summer 2020 and this is what we’ll be discussing today.   In this episode Simon and I discuss: His method for writing a “mis-topia” future and how that differs from a dystopia. Why writing a character without feelings allows you to explore feelings more. What role movies played in developing his protagonist and the plot.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/350

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeremy Hance. Jeremy is writer and freelance environmental journalist, who also happens to cohabitate with mental illnesses. He has named his OCD Steve and his depression goes by the name of Malachi. He is the author of the memoir Baggage: Confessions of a Globetrotting Hypochondriac. As a journalist, Jeremy is passionate about wildlife conservation, climate change, forests, animal behavior, and indigenous people and many other topics. His work has appeared in Mongabay, the Guardian, HuffPost, Ensia, YaleE360, Sydney Morning Herald and others. His story on the Sumatran rhino was chosen for the 2019 edition of the Best American Science and Nature Writing. Jeremy has traveled to over 30 countries on five continents and considers himself ridiculously lucky to have spent time with singing rhinos, dinosaur mammals, and angry clown fish. He is graduate of Macalester College with a major in English and minor in History as well as the Great Books Master’s Degree program at St. John’s College. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife, daughter, and pooch. When he’s not writing, he enjoys time with friends, cups of tea, long hikes, longer naps, even longer novels, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.   In this episode Jeremy and I discuss: How he juggled writing about travel, mental illness, and nature in one book. Why he chose to write his memoir thematically as opposed to chronologically. What myths he hoped to dispel by writing so openly about his mental illness.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/349

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Cox. Michelle is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series. She also writes Novel Notes of Local Lore, a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. Her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and more. It’s highly possible that Michell may have once lived in the 1930s and, since time travel has yet to be invented, she has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. She is a lover of board games, period dramas and big band music. Also, marmalade. In this episode Michelle and I discuss: How her experiences working in a nursing home influenced her novel. Her method for writing societal issues revolving around wealth, women’s roles, and mental health. Her decision to use She Writes Press and what sets them apart from traditional and self-publishing. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/348

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing the award-winning author and my friend, Leanna Renee Hieber. Leanna is an actress, playwright and the author of thirteen Gothic, Gaslamp Fantasy novels for adults and teens. Her books have been published by Tor and Kensington Books and they include the Strangely Beautiful saga, the Magic Most Foul trilogy, the Eterna Files trilogy and The Spectral City series. She is a four-time Prism Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. Leanna’s short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and her books have been translated into many languages. She also has a forthcoming serialized work with Scrib’d as well as a project with Serial Box. A woman of many talents, she tours the country performing the one-woman show By the Light of Tiffany: A Meeting with Clara Driscoll, and is also a licensed ghost tour guide for Boroughs of the Dead in New York City. Leanna has been featured in film and television on shows like Boardwalk Empire and Mysteries at the Museum. Her website is a treasure trove of writing resources and you’ll find the link (along with more info about Leanna) on the show notes page of this episode. Find out more about Leanna on her website and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube,  Etsy, and Facebook. In this episode Leanna and I discuss: How it’s important to be nimble when something like a pandemic or something else unexpected upends your schedule and projects. What certain historical events and aspects of the turn of the century show up in her found-family Fantasy narrative Dead Ringer. Why it was important to have discussions with her editor about how to determine stylistic writing choices and how things should end when writing a serial.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/347

  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cynthia Leitich Smith. Cynthia is a New York Times bestselling author known for her award-winning children’s and YA books. She writes both realistic contemporary stories and fantastical narratives, and most recently, she won the American Indian Youth Literature YA Award for Hearts Unbroken published by Candlewick. Today we’ll be discussing one of her most recent projects: Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for kids, a middle grade anthology published by Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperChildren’s where Cynthia is the author-curator. In addition to her work in publishing, she is also on the faculty of the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a citizen of Mvskoke Nation and makes her home in Austin, Texas. In this episode Cynthia and I discuss: How the lack of Native representation in Middle Grade books inspired Cynthia’s writing and the impetus for Heartdrum. What elements are important to include when writing specifically for Middle Graders and how MG is distinct from YA. Why it’s important to create an inclusive feeling  of a “we” not “me” book within diverse literature. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/346

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ellie Cypher. Ellie Cypher grew up in Northern California, received her B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior from UC Santa Cruz and got her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California Davis. She has lived and worked all over the world from New Zealand to Tasmania to the United Kingdom. When she is not writing, you can find her spending her time caring for all manner of creatures great and small, dreaming about traveling, drinking too much coffee or generally wandering about the beautiful Smoky Mountains with her husband and eleven-year-old black lab. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, a YA fantasy titled The Girl from Shadow Springs. In this episode Ellie and I discuss: How the first line is usually what pops into her head first and inspires her to write the book. Why the arctic wilderness was the perfect backdrop for her novel as it has “a sense of being alone in a void...massive expanse and insular isolation”. What part language, vernacular, and modulation of voice play in stretching the boundaries of the speech characters use and building the world around them.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For info and show notes: diymfa.com/345  

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sharon Harrigan. Sharon is the author of the new novel Half, which has received accolades from places like Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Foreword Reviews, and the New York Journal of Books. She earned her a B.A. from Barnard College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University. She is also the author of the memoir Playing with Dynamite and she teaches at WriterHouse in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she lives with her family.   In this episode Sharon and I discuss: What it means to come of age and how her novel Half addresses that. Why it is important to assess what type of point of view to use for a project. How to use voice as a bridge between the writer and the reader.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/344

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tim Waggoner. Tim is a critically-acclaimed author of over fifty novels and seven short story collections. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He’s also the author of a comprehensive book on writing horror called Writing in the Dark. His novels include Like Death, which is considered a modern classic in the horror genre, and the popular Nekropolis series of urban fantasy novels. He’s written tie-in fiction for Supernatural, Grimm, the X-Files, Doctor Who, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien, and Transformers, among other properties, and he’s written novelizations for films such as Kingsman: the Golden Circle and Resident Evil: the Final Chapter. His articles on writing have appeared in Writer’s Digest, The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Writer’s Workshop of Horror, and Where Nightmares Come From. In 2017 he received the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction, and he’s been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award, the Scribe Award, and the Splatterpunk Award. His fiction has appeared several times in the Year’s Best Hardcore Horror, and he’s received numerous Honorable Mentions in volumes of Best Horror of the Year. In 2016, the Horror Writers Association honored him with the Mentor of the Year Award. In addition to writing, he’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.   In this episode Tim and I discuss: Where different kinds of horror writing fit in relation to other speculative genres. How psychology plays into the crafting of a horror story. Why horror is not just plot and what it’s really about instead. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/343

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Julie Carrick Dalton. As a journalist, Julie has published more than a thousand articles in The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Electric Literature, and other publications. She contributes to Dead Darlings, Writer Unboxed, and The Chicago Review of Books. A Tin House alum and graduate of GrubStreet’s Novel Incubator, Julie holds a master’s in literature and creative writing from Harvard Extension School. She is passionate about climate fiction and is a frequent speaker on the topic of writing fiction in the age of the climate crisis. A Mom to four kids and two dogs, Julie is an avid skier, hiker, and kayaker. She also owns a small farm in rural New Hampshire, which is the backdrop for her debut novel, Waiting for the Night Song. In this episode Julie and I discuss: How Julie initially wrote her story, the parts she omitted to get to the heart of it, and how she used Scrivener to put it all back together.  What made one of Julie’s childhood friendships so significant that it inspired the plot of the story. Why Climate Fiction is an important, budding genre that Julie believes needs fostering.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/342

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jason Naylor. Jason is an award-winning artist and designer based in NYC. He is known for his bright colors and even brighter messages. His work has received tons of awards and recognition, including the Golden Novum Design award and two CLIO Fashion&Beauty Bronze medals. He has also been featured on HGTV and the Discovery Channel. In 2018, Jason was named by BUMBLE as one of the 100 Most Inspiring New Yorkers, and his colorful creations have found partnership with brands like Coach, Guess, Pepsi, and Maybelline. Jason’s mission is to spread color and positivity across the globe. His brightly colored designs and positive words reflect his zeal for life, his quest for joy and his love of LOVE.   In this episode Jason and I discuss: The ways his book is a visual version of the perfect mixed tape. How negative space and imagination work together to create a story. Why people see the same colors differently (hint: it’s rooted in science!).   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/341

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Adam Smyer. Adam Smyer is an attorney, martial artist, and mediocre bass player. His nonfiction has appeared in the Johannesburg Review of Books, and his debut novel, Knucklehead, was the sole title short-listed for the 2018 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Adam lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and cats. You Can Keep That to Yourself is his latest work, and we’ll be discussing it today.   In this episode Adam and I discuss: The tremendous amount of luck involved between starting and publishing a book. Why eradicating micro-aggressions is important in eliminating major aggressions. The important role humor can play in addressing a very serious topic.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/340

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Beanland. Rachel Beanland writes fiction and essays, and has recently released her debut novel. Her essays have appeared in Creative Nonfiction and Broad Street, among other places, and she has an MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. With bachelor’s degrees in art history and journalism, Rachel worked in public relations and nonprofit management before focusing on writing full time. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and three children. Her debut novel is Florence Adler Swims Forever, which we’ll be discussing here today.   In this episode Rachel and I discuss: How a family tragedy influenced her approach to writing her debut novel. Why rotating perspectives helped with secret-keeping throughout her story. Her experience with workshopping her novel as she wrote it.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/339

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexandra Monir. Alexandra is an Iranian-American author and recording artist who has published six popular young adult novels. Her internationally-bestselling debut, Timeless was a Barnes & Noble Bestseller and Amazon.com “Best Books of the Month.” In 2018 she published the hit sci-fi novel The Final Six and Sony Pictures optioned the film rights in a major pre-empt deal. More recently, she has followed up with a sequel—The Life Below—which was published earlier this year. Alexandra was chosen as part of a group of global bestselling authors to write for the New York Times-bestselling DC ICONS series. Her book is Black Canary: Breaking Silence, the first-ever YA novel about that DC Comics superhero. Next up, Alexandra is writing a historical fantasy YA for Disney based on Princess Jasmine. In this episode Alexandra and I discuss: How she honors her grandmother in her career, especially in her latest book. Her method for creating a complex cast of villains for Black Canary. Why she incorporated original music into the release of her book. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/338

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brad Fox. Brad is a novelist, journalist, translator, and former relief worker currently quarantined in rural Peru. His novel To Remain Nameless was a Paris Review staff pick, an SPD recommended new fiction title, has been a small press bestseller since its release. It was named by Dennis Cooper as a Best Book of 2020. Brad’s stories, essays, and articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Guernica, and the Whitney Biennial and some of his upcoming work will be featured in “From the Deep,” a major exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art in 2021. Brad left the US in the late 1990s and began working as a feature writer and television producer in the former Yugoslavia. Since that time, he has worked in various countries around the globe, doing different forms of humanitarian and arts-related work. In March earlier this year, he left New York for what was meant to be a twelve-day trip to northeastern Peru, with the goal of studying with a traditional medicine practitioner and completing a book on the bathysphere dives — the first eyewitness account of the deep ocean. That twelve-day trip has extended much longer than those original twelve days, and he’s been doing virtual book launch events from a little table on the edge of the jungle, surrounded by monkeys, hummingbirds and poisonous ants.   Embed Audio Here In this episode Brad and I discuss: How his partner’s experiences as a doula inspired many of the characters and the structure of his book To Remain Nameless. What voice and POV techniques Brad used to transition between past and present to give his language “energy”. Why “writing for no reason” and experimenting in the moment is a large part of Brad’s writing process.   Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/337

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marcella Pixley, the author of four acclaimed books for young people. Her novel Freak was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year for 2007, Without Tess was a Junior Library Guild Selection, and Ready to Fall was a Bank Street of Education Best Book for 2017. Her most recent novel Trowbridge Road was just recently named as one of ten books for children for the National Book Awards 2020. Marcella first began her writing career as a poet and has published in several literary journals including Sow's Ear Poetry Review, Prairie Schooner and Poet Lore, plus she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her fiction has a lyric quality, which makes sense given her roots in poetry, and teaches 8th grade Language Arts at the Carlisle Public Schools. Today we’ll be discussing Marcella’s most recent book, Trowbridge Road. In this episode Marcella and I discuss: How her personal childhood experiences and her diagnosis of OCD inspired her book Trowbridge Road. Why she believes that MG should be written authentically to reflect realistic, traumatic, and difficult childhood experiences. What character voices, detailed moments, and scenes she specifically crafted to reflect her experiences.  Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/336

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Diane Zinna. Originally from Long Island, Diane received her MFA from the University of Florida and went on to teach creative writing for ten years. She formerly worked at AWP—the Association of Writers & Writing Programs—which hosts the largest literary conference in North America each year. In 2014, Diane created the AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship Program, helping to match more than six hundred writers over twelve seasons. Diane lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with her husband and daughter, and The All-Night Sun is her debut novel. In this episode Diane and I discuss: How a dream she had, her experience with grief, and her memories of Sweden inspired the premise of her novel. Why she started the story where she did and why she almost wrote Lauren a completely different ending. What kind of heartfelt teaching Diane feels is imperative to the workshop experience. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/335

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Veena Rao. Veena Rao is the author of Purple Lotus: A Novel (She Writes Press), as well as founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of NRI Pulse, a popular Atlanta-based Indian-American news publication. She is in the Limca Book of Records as the first Indian-origin woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India. Veena Rao has a background in print journalism, having worked on the news desk of The Indian Express in India, and a couple of community publications in Atlanta as editor. She has a Masters’ Diploma in Journalism and Communication from Symbiosis International University and a Masters’ in Economics from Fergusson College, India.  She has been featured in several major Asian print publications including the BBC Telugu, the Hindu, Indian Express, Gulf News, the Khaleej Times, India Review etc. She currently lives in Tucker, GA. In this episode Veena and I discuss: How her life circumstances forced her creative writing to take a backseat and how she got her writing life back. What skills her journalism background afforded her when approaching difficult topics such as domestic abuse and mental illness. Why She Writes Press was a great fit for the kind of book Veena wanted to write. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/334

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sara Schaff. Sara is the author of two short story collections The Invention of Love and Say Something Nice About Me. She is a CLMP Firecracker Award Finalist in fiction and a finalist for the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award for short fiction. Her writing has appeared in Catapult, Kenyon Review Online, Yale Review Online, The Belladonna, Michigan Quarterly Review, LitHub, and others.  A graduate of Brown University and the MFA program at the University of Michigan, Sara has taught at Oberlin College, the University of Michigan, and St. Lawrence University, as well as in China, Colombia, and Northern Ireland, where she also studied storytelling. She lives in the North Country and is an assistant professor of English at the SUNY Plattsburgh. In this episode Sara and I discuss: How approaching her characters emotions more authentically created a significant change in her writing style. What a writer can do to best bring a reader into the story, and help a reader fully get to know their characters. Why feedback from other writers isn’t always helpful if it relies too much on suggestions for fixes and harsh criticisms, and not enough on building community. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/333

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Andi Cumbo-Floyd. Andi is a writer of both magical realism and nonfiction, but in the last year, she has taken on a new persona as ACF Bookens, author of cozy mysteries. Today we’ll be talking about her process and strategy in crafting this series. When she’s not writing, Andi is also an editor and writing coach, and she runs a beautiful, supportive online community. She lives in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains with a number of animals who cannot possibly coordinate their veterinary needs. In this episode Andi and I discuss: Why Andi cautions against writing for the market, but encourages writing in a particular niche that you love. What Cozy mystery tropes readers tend to expect, find funny, and appreciate. How writers of the Cozy mystery genre tend to market themselves, including newsletter writing tips. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/332

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Meg LaTorre. Meg is a sci-fi/fantasy author, YouTube darling, and founder of iWriterly. She is also the creator of the free query critique platform, Query Hack, co-host of the Publishable show, and blogger for websites: Writer’s Digest, Savvy Authors, Writers Helping Writers, and so forth. Formerly, she worked at a literary agency, and she has a background in magazine publishing, medical and technical writing, as well as journalism. For more information about Meg, subscribe to her YouTube channel or follow her on social media. You’ll find all her links on the show notes page. Today we’ll be talking about her latest book, The Cyborg Tinkerer. In this episode Meg and I discuss: How having a rebellious nature allowed her to write the kind of Steampunk novel she wanted to read. What aesthetic elements of the novel help portray issues of “otherness” and discrimination which are integral parts of the narrative. Why she chose the indie publishing route and how other authors can learn from her experience. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/331

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing the author, swordswoman, and falconer, Essa Hansen. Essa is a sound designer for sci-fi and fantasy films at Skywalker Sound, with credits in movies such as Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame.  Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Nophek Gloss. In this episode Essa and I discuss: What Essa does to develop her story’s language using etymology and words with multiple meanings. Why lead characters like Caiden need agency in their own story. How her experiences as a sound designer helped her create an audibly visceral world, and think outside the box creatively. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/330

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Jamison. Laura Jamison is an attorney from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and their four children. When she is not practicing law or writing, she is driving her kids to one of their many activities in her minivan. Laura is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Michigan Law School. All the Right Mistakes is her debut novel and what we will be talking about today. In this episode Laura Jamison and I discuss: How the pressure to compete on social media inspired a character in her book All the Right Mistakes Why having a clear, mathematical structure to her multiple POV story was refreshing to her readers and keeps her on track as a writer. What she did to land an agent and her journey to being published through She Writes Press. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/329

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carol VanDenHende. Carol is an award-winning author who pens stories of resilience and hope. Her debut novel Goodbye Orchid recently won the American Fiction Award for urban fiction, the Pinnacle Book Award for multicultural fiction, and was listed by Buzzfeed as one of its 12 Most Anticipated books this fall. Carol is also a speaker (as well as one of my writing conference buddies) and she often speaks on author brand, visual identity, and marketing plans. With an MBA with 20+ years' experience in marketing and strategy, Carol knows what it takes to market your book (even if you’re a busy author) and she has applied many of these strategies to the launch of Goodbye Orchid. One secret to Carol’s good fortune? Her humorous husband, fun-loving twins, and rescue cat, who prove that love really does conquer all. In this episode Carol and I discuss: How her book Goodbye Orchid is really about hope and resilience.  Why focusing on your message as a writer is the best way to self-promote, even when self-promotion might feel inauthentic. What people often miss about the hard work it takes to be a successful author. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/328

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Fish. Dwayne Booth has been a freelance writer and cartoonist for twenty-five years, publishing under both his real name and the pen name of Mr. Fish with the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly, the Village Voice, the Atlantic, The Nation, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Magazine, MSNBC, Truthdig, HuffingtonPost, ScheerPost and others. He was the subject of a 2017 award-winning documentary by Pablo Bryant called Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End. In this episode Mr. Fish and I discuss: What ambitious idea was the inspiration for Long Story Short. Why he enlisted the help of colleagues to help him accomplish his project. How visual art has a truth that resonates both emotionally and intellectually. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/327

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amy Alznauer. Amy lives in Chicago with her husband, two children, a dog and her four puppies, a parakeet, sometimes chicks and a part-time fish, but, as of today, no elephants or peacocks. Check back. Her writing has won the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction, the Christopher Award, and the SCBWI-Illinois Laura Crawford Memorial Mentorship, and her essays and poetry have appeared in collections and literary journals including The Bellingham Review, Creative Nonfiction and River Teeth. She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She teaches calculus and number theory classes at Northwestern University. She is the managing editor for the SCBWI-IL Prairie Wind. And she is the writer-in-residence at St. Gregory the Great, where she has a little office in a big building with a bad internet connection, where she tries to get work done (in theory). In this episode Amy and I discuss: How the relationship between the Zhou brothers inspired her book. What Amy had to do to find the perfect illustrator for her book. Why Amy believes it is important to get the blessing from the real-life figures that inspire your writing.  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes diymfa.com/326  

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nathan Makaryk. Nathan is the author of Nottingham, which deconstructs the mythology of Robin Hood in a realistic historical context. Nathan is a playwright, theater-owner, director, stage combat choreographer, and comedian living in Southern California. Nottingham was based on his critically-acclaimed original play The Legend of Robin Hood. Today we’ll be talking about the second installment in his epic Nottingham series: Lionhearts. In this episode Nathan and I discuss: Why he initially hated Robin Hood and how that helped him reimagine it How he adapted his own script into a full-length book The difference between pacing and speed and why that shift is important Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/325

Hey there word nerds! Today we’re doing something a little bit different. This is a special episode, created in partnership with INBOUND, one of my favorite marketing conferences where I have had the pleasure of speaking for the past three years. INBOUND is one of those conferences that has become a mainstay in my speaking schedule. I look forward to it every year, and I always have a blast speaking on my signature topic, the Storytelling Superpower. If you want some additional bonus materials about the Storytelling Superpower framework, hop on over to DIYMFA.com/INBOUND and sign up with your email address. You’ll get an archetype cheat sheet along with additional bonuses I’ll send out via email. I was scheduled to speak at this year’s live event and I was counting down the days to my trip to Boston, but as with most live conferences, the folks at INBOUND wisely opted to move the event online. While I’m missing the amazing energy and excitement—and let’s not forget the food trucks (yum!)—there is a silver lining. You see, now it means I get to share the concepts from my talk with you here on the podcast, which is also being aired as part of the INBOUND online programming.Now, I could just deliver the talk from my session as a solo podcast episode, but that would be boring, so I’ve recruited one of my favorite people and INBOUND party-buddy: Erica Wexler. Erica is the Founder & CEO of Erica Wexler Transforms. She’s the creator of the Transformational Guidance™ Training & Coaching Program she specializes in helping both organizations and individuals play to their strengths, navigate obstacles, and work more collaboratively in today’s diverse, virtual, and fast-paced workplace. Erica has a ton of experience creating positive change in government, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors, including 13 years leading communication, training and outreach efforts at a state-level government agency she helped create. Erica earned her Master’s in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and holds dual certifications in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. She is a published author, a dynamic powerhouse speaker, an avid dancer, and I am lucky enough to call her my friend. I’ve known Erica since 2017, when we both participated in a mastermind group together. Right away, I knew we were going to be fast friends. Since then, we’ve been networking buddies at tons of events and last year we took INBOUND 2019 by storm and it was awesome! As you’ll hear in a moment, Erica is a powerhouse presence on stage, in a meeting, or at happy hour. But she’s also one of those rare people who, while being incredibly dynamic herself, doesn’t let her presence overshadow that of others. She is one of those amazing people who has the ability to amplify the voice of others and adds to their energy. When INBOUND asked me to create a special podcast episode as part of their 2020 conference programming, I knew Erica was the person I wanted behind the mic with me. This episode is part interview, part conversation, but mostly two besties geeking out about all things storytelling. In this episode Erica and I discuss: How the three elements of storytelling apply to marketing Why brands shouldn’t focus solely on what the customer wants to hear The most important thing to consider about storytelling for your brand Plus, my #1 tip for people who want to unleash their Storytelling Superpower! For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/324

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen Zuman. Helen Zuman is the author of Mating in Captivity, a memoir of her five years, post-Harvard, at Zendik Farm, a neo-hippie cult with a radical take on sex and relationships. Her memoir has received many honors. It got a starred review from Kirkus and was named Kirkus Best Indie Memoir of 2018, and it was a finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses’ 2019 Firecracker Award. Today we’ll be talking about the craft and process behind Mating in Captivity. In this episode Helen Zuman and I discuss: How blogging and memoir classes got her the feedback she needed to develop her manuscript. What is healing about writing a memoir and how it can help you cope with confusing, painful, and difficult personal experiences. Why she didn’t always use pseudonyms for her characters. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/323

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ace Atkins. Ace Atkins is the author of twenty-six books, including ten Quinn Colson novels and eight New York Times–bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series. HBO has optioned the Quinn Colson novels with a series currently in high development and Atkins’ second novel for Robert B. Parker estate, Wonderland, was just made into a film with Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke. A former newspaper reporter and SEC football player, Ace Atkins also writes essays and investigative pieces for several publications, including Garden & Gun, the Wall Street Journal and Outside. Today we’ll be talking about his latest Quinn Colson novel: The Revelators In this episode Ace and I discuss: How his books stand for social justice but are not necessarily political in nature. Why writers should be willing to voice their opinions and take a stand. What makes a character a hero or a villain. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/322

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Matt Hongoltz-Hetling. Matt is a freelance journalist specializing in narrative features and investigative reporting. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, has won a George Polk Award, and has been voted Journalist of the Year by the Maine Press association, as well as many other honors. His work has appeared in varied publications, like USA Today, Popular Science, and the Associated Press, as well as many others. Today we’ll be talking about his nonfiction book: A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears). In this episode Matt and I discuss: Where he visited to conduct interviews with locals that inspired his book. How to build positive relationships in the publishing industry when you are not naturally outgoing. What fiction and nonfiction have in common. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes diymfa.com/321

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Julia London. Julia is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly best-selling romance author of the popular contemporary romance series, The Princes of Texas, including the Charmer in Chaps, The Devil in the Saddle, and The Billionaire in Boots, as well as the upcoming rom-com, You Lucky Dog. She is also the author of numerous historical series, including the recent Royal Wedding series, which includes The Princess Plan and A Royal Kiss and Tell. She is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. In this episode Julia London and I discuss: The universality of the meet-cute and the role of secondary characters How to keep characters who hate each other together for a romance novel Why you don’t need to give a lot of background information at the outset Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/320

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Maden. Mike grew up working in the canneries, feed mills and slaughterhouses of California’s San Joaquin Valley. A lifelong fascination with history and warfare ultimately led to a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis with a focus on conflict and technology in international relations. Like millions of others, he first became a Tom Clancy fan after reading The Hunt for Red October, and began his published fiction career in the same techno-thriller genre, starting with Drone and the sequels, Blue Warrior, Drone Command and Drone Threat. After spending over a decade in Dallas, Maden now lives in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Tom Clancy and his unforgettable characters have been a household name for as long as I can remember, and since 2017, Maden brought his ideal background and knowledge of war and tech to the family of Clancy co-authors and collaborators, beginning with Tom Clancy Point of Contact. His books have garnered plenty of attention and acclaim, and his fourth entry in this #1 NYT-bestselling series, titled Tom Clancy Firing Point, is out now. Once again, Mike taps into his incredible background as an author and expert to hit the trifecta of what makes a great Clancy book: Tom’s terrific characters combined with edge-of-your-seat action scenes and the over-the-horizon foretelling about world events. In this episode Mike and I discuss: How to create deeply flawed characters that readers still like Why figuring out the stakes can help you populate your story’s universe His outline process and how it balances creativity and structure Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/319

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing R.H. Herron. Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford and she is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. Today we’ll be talking about her thriller Stolen Things. In this episode Rachael and I discuss: Where she believes plot originates The importance of sensitivity readers and what to ask them to do How to navigate voice when writing a novel from multiple POVs Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/318

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Syed M. Masood. Syed M. Masood grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and now lives with his wife and children in Sacramento, California, where he is a practicing attorney. He wrote a few couplets in Urdu when he was a teenager, and his family still tells everyone he is an Urdu poet. He is not. More Than Just a Pretty Face is his young adult debut novel. In this episode Syed and I discuss: Why you need to listen to what your characters want as you write How honoring universal experiences allows readers to understand your reality Ways to keep the romance trope interesting, but also staying within the form Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/317

Hey there word nerds! Our show notes are at DIYMFA.com/316 because it’s episode 316! Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe on iTunes, GooglePlay (you know, all the usual places) and please leave us a review. This will help other word nerds discover the show as well. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Lauren J. Sharkey. Lauren is a writer, teacher, and transracial adoptee. After her birth in South Korea, she was adopted by Irish Catholic parents and raised on Long Island. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in the Asian American Feminist Collective’s digital storytelling project, First Times, as well as several anthologies including I Am Strength! and Women under Scrutiny. Inconvenient Daughter is her debut novel, and is loosely based on her experience as a Korean adoptee. In this episode Lauren and I discuss: Why she decided to write a novel based on her life instead of a memoir How to not get sued when writing memoir The process that led to creating an unconventional narrative timeline  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/316

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Miriam Feldman. Miriam is a painter, writer, and mother originally from Los Angeles, California. After her son, Nick's, diagnosis with Schizophrenia more than ten years ago, she began writing to document and explore the ways this new reality affected her relationship with her children, her husband, and herself. Her blog, https://www.miriam-feldman.com, explores issues of motherhood, mental illness and the politics of our mental health system. She is also the founder and owner of Demar Feldman Studios, Inc., a specialty painting company that focuses on architectural finishes, murals, and decorative art for residential and commercial locations in Southern California and abroad. Clients include Samuel L. Jackson & LaTanya Richardson Jackson , Wolfgang Puck, Patricia Heaton & David Hunt, Tony Shalhoub and Brooke Adams, Jay & Mavis Leno and many more. She has run the company for 30 years. Miriam holds an MFA in fine art from Otis College of Art and Design. Her paintings are in collections across the United States. Today we’re discussing her memoir He Came In With It, in which she chronicles her experiences as she came to grips with her son’s mental illness. In this episode Miriam and I discuss: How she chose what stayed in her memoir and what got cut What her family said about the content of her memoirs Her experience switching mediums from painting to writing Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/315

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Django Wexler. Django graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts. Today we are talking about Ashes of the Sun, the first book in his new epic fantasy trilogy. In this episode Django and I discuss: Which movie franchise inspired Django in his trilogy’s world building How writing fan-fiction can be used as a tool for growing as a writer His method to build an intricate and believable fantasy world Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/314

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Natalie Jenner. Natalie Jenner was born in England, raised in Canada, and graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and Law. She worked for decades in the legal industry and also founded an independent bookstore in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. The Jane Austen Society is the first published novel for this lifelong devotee of all things Jane Austen and is out now. In this episode Natalie and I discuss: How Jane Austen inspired her to begin writing again after a break. Why Jane Austen is an excellent influence for contemporary writers. Her method for getting started on a book (hint: you can do it too!). Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/313

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Hankin. Laura has written for McSweeney’s and HuffPost, among other publications. The viral videos that she creates and stars in with her comedy duo, Feminarchy, have been featured in Now This, The New York Times, and Funny or Die. She has performed off-Broadway, acted on screen, and has sung to far too many babies. Today we’re talking about her new novel Happy and You Know It, which is all about the NYC fancy-moms playgroup scene.  In this episode Laura and I discuss: How to keep readers guessing (in a good way!) throughout your book Her method for creating multiple points of view Why negative feedback can actually be a good thing Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/312

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Henry Clark. Henry is the author of What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World as well as The Book That Proves Time Travel Happens. He has contributed articles to MAD magazine and published fiction in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine in addition to acting at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a living-history museum. Today we’ll be talking about his latest novel: What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon. In this episode Henry and I discuss: The symbolic meaning of numbers and how it interplays with magic. Why a trio of protagonists creates a great dynamic for moving along a story. How to use humor as a vehicle for character development. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/311 

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Pamela Taylor. Pamela brings her love of history to the art of storytelling. An avid reader of historical fact and fiction, she finds the past offers rich sources for character, ambiance, and plot that allow readers to escape into a world totally unlike their daily lives. A history major in college, with minors in French and Spanish, she is also a classically trained musician and believes this has given her a special feel for the rhythm, dynamics, and phrasing of the written word. In addition to creating her own stories, Pamela is active in multiple writing communities. She is a member of the DFW Writers Workshop and is in her third year on the Judges Panel for the Ink & Insights Writing Contest. In 2018, she joined the team at DIY MFA where she writes the Historical Fiction column, “Past Perfect.” She is also a freelance editor and a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. She shares her home with two Corgis who frequently remind her that a dog walk is the best inspiration for that next chapter. In this episode Pamela and I discuss: Techniques to craft compelling secondary characters.  How research and travel can help writers build a realistic historical world.  What a style sheet is--and why it’s an important part of the editorial process.  How to guide new readers into the second or third book in a series.  Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/310

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Susann Cokal. Susann is a moody historical novelist, a pop-culture essayist, book critic, magazine editor, and sometime professor of creative writing and modern literature. She lives in a creepy old farmhouse in Richmond, Virginia, with seven cats, a big dog, a spouse, and some peacocks that supposedly belong to a neighbor. Susann's first young adult novel, The Kingdom of Little Wounds, received several national awards, including a silver medal from the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award series. Her books for adults, Mirabilis and Breath and Bones, received some nice notice too. Her shorter work has been published in a variety of literary journals and anthologies, such as Electric Lit, Prairie Schooner, Writers Ask, and The New York Times Book Review. Today we’ll be talking about her new novel, Mermaid Moon, which is out now and is about a mermaid who leaves the sea in search of her landish mother. In this episode Susann and I discuss: How to craft a “mood” in your story. Using point of view to illustrate character and world-building.  What makes a prologue “work.” Why it’s so important to experiment as you write.  How exploring different possibilities can be a powerful writing tool.  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For show notes and more info: diymfa.com/309

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Abbigail Rosewood. Abbigail was born in Vietnam, where she lived until the age of twelve. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. An excerpt from her first novel won first place in the Writers Workshop of Asheville Literary Fiction Contest. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel: If I Had Two Lives In this episode Abbigail and I discuss: How to persevere after the ‘honeymoon’ stage of writing a book ends. Ways to weave together a protagonist’s internal and external journey.  Why cutting words and characters can actually enhance the world of your novel.  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/308

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mag Dimond. Mag Dimond has been a world traveler since the age of eleven, when her mother took her to live in Italy. She has traveled extensively in Europe and Central America, and ventured to such exotic landscapes as India, Cambodia, Bhutan, Japan, Kenya, China, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cuba. In her seventies now, she continues traveling, the most recent adventure being to Machu Picchu and the Amazon jungle. After a career teaching writing to college students in San Francisco and Taos, she often volunteers as a writing tutor at 826 Valencia, an esteemed literacy program launched by David Eggers. A practicing Buddhist for twenty years, she is a classical pianist, photographer, gourmet cook, animal rescuer, and philanthropist. Today we’ll be discussing her book Bowing to Elephants, which has been honored by Kirkus Review with a starred review as one of the best Indie memoir/biographies of 2019. Prior to publication, excerpts from Bowing to Elephants appeared in American Literary Review, Travelers Tales Solas Awards, the Tulip Tree “Stories that Must be Told” awards, and the 2017 William Faulkner Wisdom awards. Additionally, she has also published essays in Elephant Journal, a prestigious online magazine with a readership of almost two million people. It is truly an honor to have her here at DIY MFA today. In this episode Mag and I discuss: How journaling can lead to memoir-writing. A technique to help writers tap into their memories. Why clear thinking is crucial to clear writing.  How mindfulness and meditation can be powerful writing tools. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mag Dimond. Mag Dimond has been a world traveler since the age of eleven, when her mother took her to live in Italy. She has traveled extensively in Europe and Central America, and ventured to such exotic landscapes as India, Cambodia, Bhutan, Japan, Kenya, China, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cuba. In her seventies now, she continues traveling, the most recent adventure being to Machu Picchu and the Amazon jungle. After a career teaching writing to college students in San Francisco and Taos, she often volunteers as a writing tutor at 826 Valencia, an esteemed literacy program launched by David Eggers. A practicing Buddhist for twenty years, she is a classical pianist, photographer, gourmet cook, animal rescuer, and philanthropist. Today we’ll be discussing her book Bowing to Elephants, which has been honored by Kirkus Review with a starred review as one of the best Indie memoir/biographies of 2019. Prior to publication, excerpts from Bowing to Elephants appeared in American Literary Review, Travelers Tales Solas Awards, the Tulip Tree “Stories that Must be Told” awards, and the 2017 William Faulkner Wisdom awards. Additionally, she has also published essays in Elephant Journal, a prestigious online magazine with a readership of almost two million people. It is truly an honor to have her here at DIY MFA today. Embed Episode Here In this episode Mag and I discuss: How journaling can lead to memoir-writing. A technique to help writers tap into their memories. Why clear thinking is crucial to clear writing.  How mindfulness and meditation can be powerful writing tools. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/307

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marilyn Singer. Winner of the National Council of Teachers of English Award for Excellence in Poetry, 2015, Marilyn Singer has written more than 100 books in many genres. She created a poetry form, the “reverso,” featured in three of her award-winning collections:  Mirror Mirror, Follow Follow, and Echo Echo. She co-hosts the Poetry Blast, which features children’s poets reading their work, at the American Library Association conference and other conventions. Marilyn lives in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, CT with a dog, a cat, and two doves, as well as her favorite dance partner, who also happens to be her husband.  On a more personal note, Marilyn is someone I consider a dear friend. We first met while standing in line for a book signing at BookExpo when I was just a newbie and I remember thinking “OMG this amazing author is talking to little ol’ me!” I’ve had the pleasure of featuring her on this show before (she was one of my very first interviews) and her books are among my children’s absolute favorites. So it is truly a pleasure and an honor to welcome the fabulous poet and children’s book author, Marilyn Singer back to DIY MFA Radio! In this episode Marilyn and I discuss: The inspiration behind Follow the Recipe Tying together the illustrations and poems Structuring a book of poems The reverso form The power of constraint in poetry How to get started writing poetry Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/306

Hey there word nerds! Joe is a bestselling writer, novelist, and a dad. He leads The Write Practice community, an award-winning community of creative writers. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Talia and three kids and enjoys coffee and corpse reviver no. 2s. In this episode Joe and I discuss: The inspiration behind Crowdsourcing Paris A small, but powerful trick to overcoming writer’s block  Finding awe in the ordinary Structuring a memoir Creating risks and stakes in any story Developing a writing practice Plus, his  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/305

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen J. Darling. Helen is the author of two humorous women’s fiction novels: Terms and Conditions and I’ll Know Me When I Find Me. She is also the resident self-publishing expert and columnist at DIY MFA. Helen worked in publishing for twenty years before acknowledging she’d like to write something herself. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she dabbles uncontrollably in hobbies from photography and painting to gardening, carpentry, and home renovations. She reads three or four books at a time. She also keeps bees. That’s why she takes so long to write her novels. You can learn about her latest distractions by joining her mailing list or following her on social media. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two children, a codependent beagle, and a cat who owns them all. In this episode Helen and I discuss: How working in academic publishing led to Helen’s writing career The flexibility that comes with self-publishing How self-publishing has changed Why writers choose self-publishing over traditional The two most important people on your self-publishing team Choosing the right people for your self-publishing team An overview of the editorial and publishing process The main parts of a book launch Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For info and more notes: diymfa.com/304

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sonja K. Solter. Sonja graduated from Stanford University and earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University, with a critical thesis on writing trauma in middle grade and young adult realistic fiction. She is currently a creative writing mentor to youth with the Society of Young Inklings and enjoys writing poetry and prose for children of all ages. When You Know What I Know is her gorgeous debut novel. Visit her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. In this episode Sonja and I discuss: The inspiration behind When You Know What I Know Plot points in a character-driven story Writing a book in verse instead of prose How an ensemble cast effects the main character Writing about trauma in middle grade and YA How attending a conference led to publication Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/303

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie, the “And I Thought” Ladies! Jade is the 2019 Poet of the Year, and Wilnona is Advocate Awarded. Both ladies recently accepted the job as US correspondents for UK TV show Chrissy B on Sky TV. They recently made the list of 20 Iconic Authors according to Every Writers Resource Magazine. This dynamic duo has contributed to eleven books: The And I Thought Series & The Miss-Fit Guides. In addition, Jade and Wilnona are the Co-Founders of The Inspirational Women in Literature Media and Journalism Awards, The Thoughtful Book Festival, the 25 Hottest Authors Magazine & And I Thought Literary Magazine. They starred in docuseries Just Writin Life about authors. They will be starring in the film Create, Aspire & Inspire. They have co-hosted conferences on three continents. They have read poetry for loving fans in Australia, the U.K., Greece, and Canada, by Invitation for a regional poet laureate, and at the U.K. literary book festival. In July they were on their fourth European book tour reading their poetry, promoting their magazine and their movie. In this episode Jade, Wilnona and I discuss: The power of writers championing other writers The myth that you’ll never make money as a poet Understanding the impact of your writing  Using past success as inspiration to keep going Stepping into the limelight Taking a piece from page to stage Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/302

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Garvin. Jeff is an author, musician, and podcaster and his debut novel, Symptoms of Being Human has received a ton of accolades. It is an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, and has garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly.  Before becoming a novelist, Jeff acted on TV and toured as the lead singer of a rock band. He has a BFA in Film from Chapman University and lives in Southern California. Now, I have been looking forward to this episode since last July, when Jeff and I met at a ThrillerFest cocktail party. We connected right away and when Jeff told me about his new novel The Lightness of Hands I knew I just had to have him on the show. This book grapples with some heavy topics, but one in particular that really hits home for me: mental health. I am so thrilled to be recording this interview (finally! After 8 months!) and to introduce Jeff and his moving (sometimes gut-wrenching) YA novels to my word nerd listeners. In this episode Jeff and I discuss: How real life experiences inspired Lightness of Hands Living with Bipolar II Breaking the stigma around mental illness Starting a book with a question you can’t answer Writing a character that is hyper-attuned to her inner life The power of mindfulness meditation The hero’s journey, applied to writing and life Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/301

Hey there word nerds!  Welcome to the three hundredth episode of DIY MFA Radio! The original plan for this episode was to unveil our first-ever DIY MFA live event—Writer Igniter LIVE—which we were planning for October. In light of current events, we’ve put the planning  for that on hold. That said, we still wanted to honor this special milestone episode by doing something a little bit different. To that end, I’ve gathered Team Awesome together to talk about a new approach we’ve been taking with DIY MFA. While from an outside perspective DIY MFA has been chugging away as it always has been, over the past three months the team and I have been doing a lot of internal work, getting our house in order and making key shifts to how we approach the work that we do. One of these key shifts is the concept of building mental theme parks.  Now, theme parks hold a special significance for me. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with theme park design. Most kids go to Disney World for the rides; I was that weirdo kid begging her parents to let her take the behind-the-scenes tour of the underground tunnels.  When I was twelve or so, I decided I wanted to design a ride for Epcot Center. You see, while the World Showcase features many different countries, there isn’t a single one from South America. (Sorry Mexico, but you’re not in South America). I thought it was a travesty that an entire continent would be overlooked like that, so I decided to design the Brazilian Pavilion (I mean, the marketing copy practically writes itself. Most normal kids spend their summers traveling or going to camp. I spent my summer researching 18th century Brazilian architecture, drafting up design drawings, and brainstorming possible corporate sponsors. I even mapped out a ride. I designed everything, from the menus of the pavilion restaurants to the types of souvenir shops and what they would sell. Then I packaged everything together and mailed the envelope to Mr. Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney. A few months later, I got a reply with a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo about not being able to consider unsolicited submissions, blah blah blah.  The result was disappointing. As a kid, I didn’t care about the money, I just wanted to see my idea out in the world and getting the envelope sent back without them even considering the concept was hard. Still, that one experience has shaped my life in many unexpected ways. I continue to be obsessed with theme parks and other themed environments (Las Vegas, etc.) and this idea of “theming” is woven into everything I do as an author, teacher, and entrepreneur. To this day, I think of everything I build—whether it’s a book, a course, or a podcast—I think of it as an experience I’m creating for the audience (i.e. you, my word nerds). This idea of DIY MFA as a theme park for the mind has become central to our team and what we do at DIY MFA. Listen in as Team Awesome and I jam about DIY MFA and building theme parks for the mind. In this episode Jeanette, Bess, Lori and I discuss: How DIY MFA is like a theme park for your mind How this DIY MFA theme park is designed and operates The different roles of Team Awesome in the park How we’re moving forward as a team and a business during Corona Virus and beyond Team Awesome’s tips for being creative in spite of Corona Virus Free DIY MFA resources to help writers right now What’s ahead for DIY MFA this year Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/300

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Chris Banks! Chris Banks is the CEO and Founder of ProWritingAid. In his varied career, he has built neural networks to model language learning, worked on the BBC’s scriptwriting product, written books, been a ski guide, and given talks on creativity, artificial intelligence, and language technologies. He started ProWritingAid to help with his own writing, but he soon saw how useful it was for everyone else. Now, he wants to help more people put their ideas into words and those words into the hands (and hearts) of readers. In this episode Chris and I discuss: How a broken ankle led to the creation of the ProWritingAid Software How ProWritingAid can help improve your writing  Approaching writing like building a building Taking your writing from good to great How a thesaurus can be a powerful writing tool Plus, his  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/299

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandy Colbert, the critically acclaimed author of several YA and Middle Grade novels. Her books include Pointe, Stonewall Award winner Little & Lion, Finding Yvonne, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, and her 2020 releases, The Only Black Girls in Town, and The Voting Booth. Her short fiction and essays have also been published in several critically acclaimed anthologies for young people. Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Brandy spent a few years living in Chicago before relocating permanently to Los Angeles. She is very active on social media and also works as a copy editor for magazines and books. She is also on faculty at Hamline University’s MFA program in writing for children. In this episode Brandy and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Revolution of Birdie Randolph Exploring black friendships and experience in The Only Black Girls in Town How books can functions as both mirrors and windows Exploring the theme of family over multiple books Grappling with race in the context of a contemporary story Moving into middle grade after writing YA   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/298

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing E.J. Wenstrom J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. Her award-winning fantasy series Chronicles of the Third Realm War (City Owl Press) features a peculiar mashup of Greek mythology, Judeo-Christian folklore, and an extra dash of her own special brand of chaos. The series includes Florida Writers Association’s 2016 Book of the Year Mud, Rain (which is the prequel), Tides, and—most recently—Sparks, which concludes the series. In this episode E.J. and I discuss: How an internship led E.J. to discover a love of writing How research on monsters became the inspiration for finding Adem’s voice Finding hope in the midst of a seemingly hopeless story Setting up a satisfying series ending How E.J. uses an “ugly draft” to facilitate writing a book a year The benefits of publishing with a small press Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/297

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Curdella Forbes. Curdella is a Jamaican writer who lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, and teaches at Howard University. Her latest novel, A Tall History of Sugar, has been praised by BuzzFeed, Essence, Bookish, The Rumpus, Electric Lit, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, SyFy, and many others. Writing for the New York Times Book Review, Veronica Chambers said of the novel: "Forbes’s writing combines the gale-force imagination of Margaret Atwood with the lyrical pointillism of Toni Morrison.” In this episode Curdella and I discuss: The inspiration behind A Tall History of Sugar Writing about the experience of not belonging Moving between third and first person The dark origins of fairy tales The story behind the title “A Tall History of Sugar” Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/296

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Claire Waller. Claire is a secondary school teacher who works with teenagers with mental health issues. She has had two adult horror novels (Predator X, Nine Eyes) published by Australian indie publisher, Severed Press. FUGLY is her first YA novel. Claire lives with her husband, two daughters, a cat called Hiccup, and various dinosaurs. Her interests include drawing, baking, palaeontology, horror, and roleplaying. In this episode Claire and I discuss: The very personal inspiration for Fugly The toxic love of cruelty online Writing a character that behaves in a problematic way Expectations for negative female characters verses male ones Bringing personal experience to a fictional character Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/295

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing H.R. Hobbs. H.R. Hobbs (or Heather Hobbs, as I know her) is the Amazon-bestselling author of a series of compassionate and empowering stories for middle-grade readers. Set in a typical middle school, her books address the topics of belonging, friendship, and bullying. A lifelong learner and teacher, Heather started writing in 2015 as a retirement project. Recently, she began taking art lessons with the hopes of illustrating her own children’s books in the future. Heather is the mother to three grown sons and grandmother to three little darlings. She lives with her husband in the small prairie town where she was born and raised. Also, Heather and I have been part of the same mastermind group for just about two years (shoutout to our third group member Angelica!). For those who don’t know, a mastermind group is basically like a critique group but instead of giving feedback on each other’s writing, we brainstorm around each other’s careers and business plans. When Heather and I first met, she was still teaching and she was juggling her writing alongside a busy teaching schedule. In the years since, she has doubled down on her writing and built a strong career as a self-published author (in a niche that isn’t necessarily easy to break into with self-publishing). I have had the benefit of hearing Heather’s insights pretty much every other week for two years and I am beyond thrilled to have her on the show so she can share her insights with the word nerd community. In this episode Heather and I discuss: Choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing Successfully self-publishing in the children’s market The freedom of self-publishing Delegating tasks and developing a publishing team Building a launch team Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/294

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Abel. Cartoonist and coach Jessica is the founder of the Creative Focus Workshop, and author of Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You're Drowning in Your Daily Life, the graphic novel La Perdida, and two textbooks about making comics, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures and Mastering Comics. Her book Out on the Wire is about how the best radio and podcast producers in the world use story to keep us listening. Jessica’s latest work of fiction is the Eisner-nominated Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars. She is chair of the illustration program at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In this episode Jessica and I discuss: The inspiration behind Growing Gills The myth of the muse and “right brain versus left brain” The power of time tracking Dealing with external and internal nay-sayers The power of planning and creating your own rules Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/293

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing K.S. Villoso who writes speculative fiction with a focus on deeply personal themes and character-driven narratives. Much of her work is inspired by her childhood in the slums of Taguig, Philippines. She now lives amidst the forest and mountains of Vancouver, Canada with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novel, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a gripping adventure about a queen, trying to unite her divided kingdom, even though everybody hates her. In this episode K.S. and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Wolf of Oren-Yaro Building on a previous series Creating a deeply flawed character that readers can still root for The interplay between the external and internal journey of the protagonist Meeting genre expectations in a new way Building a world through character Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/292

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Robert Dugoni. Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Internationally Best-Selling Author of 17 novels in The Tracy Crosswhite police detective series set in Seattle, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and the Charles Jenkins espionage series. He is also the author of several standalone novels including The Eighth Sister and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, both #1 Amazon kindle downloads, as well as The 7th Canon and The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post best book of the year. Several novels have been optioned for television series. Robert is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for fiction and many other awards. We’ll be talking about his book A Cold Trail which is out now. In this episode Robert and I discuss: The power of dedicated, daily work Revisiting an old crime in a new book The particular appeal of a small town as a mystery setting The interplay between setting, theme and characters The myth of originality Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/291

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Samuel Shem, a novelist, playwright, and activist. He is a Professor in Medical Humanities at NYU School of Medicine, and Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome. His novels include The House of God, Fine, Mount Misery, In the Heart of the Universe, and The Spirit of the Place (which won two national "Best Literary Novel" awards in 2008 and 2009). He is coauthor with his wife, Janet Surrey, of The Buddha's Wife, and the award-winning Off-Broadway play Bill W. and Dr. Bob, about the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, and also We Have to Talk: Healing Dialogues Between Men and Women. Also, just a quick heads up, we have a teeny bit of explicit language towards the end of the interview. Due to the nature of the discussion I decided not to bleep anything out, but I wanted to let you know in case you have small children in the room or you, yourself, are not comfortable with explicit language. In this episode Samuel and I discuss: The desire that inspired the novel  Putting parts of yourself into a novel Fictionalizing true things Writing -- or not writing -- for a specific audience The necessity of character change How computers depersonalize medicine  Writing a sequel that still stands alone Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/290

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Constance Sayers talking about her debut novel, A Witch in Time, which is forthcoming in February. A finalist for Alternating Current’s 2016 Luminaire Award for Best Prose, her short stories have appeared in Souvenir and Amazing Graces: Yet Another Collection of Fiction by Washington Area Women as well as The Sky is a Free Country. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She received her master of arts in English from George Mason University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She attended The Bread Loaf Writers Conference where she studied with Charles Baxter and Lauren Groff. Currently, she is a media executive at Atlantic Media (publisher of The Atlantic).  She lives in Maryland and is the co-founder of the Thoughtful Dog literary magazine.  In this episode Constance and I discuss: How a painting inspired A Witch in Time Blending together multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative Managing pacing with different storylines Balancing writing and researching Novel-writing lessons from writing short stories Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/289

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Janae Marks! Janae is an award-winning children's book author living in Connecticut. She has an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School, and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her debut is the middle grade novel,  From the Desk of Zoe Washington, which we’ll be discussing today. Janae also happens to be one of my dearest writing besties. She’s known me since before DIY MFA was even a twinkle in my eye, like back when it was still just a “crazy idea” I was kicking around on my personal blog. She and I were also in the same thesis critique group so she has seen my writing in all its many forms: from the good, to the bad, to the… what the heck were you thinking, Gabriela? One of my favorite things—one of the things that brings true joy to my heart—is when I get to introduce my favorite people to the word nerd community. I’ve known Janae for a long time; I know how much of her heart and soul she’s poured into this book and I am so excited for the world to discover Zoe Washington and this sweet, heart-felt middle grade novel. Without further ado, welcome Janae! It’s so great to have you here. In this episode Janae and I discuss: How Serial and Making a Murderer inspired From the Desk of Zoe Washington Aging a character down from YA to middle grade Weaving serious, real-world issues into a middle grade story Balancing parenting and writing Different types of writing friends and communities Finding a community-focused writing conference Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/288

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kiley Reid! An Arizona native, Kiley Reid is a recent graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she was the recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship. Her short stories have been featured and are forthcoming in Ploughshares, December, New South, and Lumina. With the latter publication, her short story won first place in the 2017 Flash Prose Contest. In Summer 2018, Kiley attended the Cuttyhunk Island Residency as the recipient of the Paul Cuffee Scholarship. Such a Fun Age is her debut novel, and the film and TV rights have already been acquired. In this episode Kiley and I discuss: How the idea of awkwardness and ownership inspired Such a Fun Age Using the imbalance of three characters to create a charged scene Creating complex and multi-faceted protagonists An in-depth analysis of a pivotal scene Using external and internal wants to deepen characterization Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/287

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marie Force. Marie is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than seventy contemporary romances, including the Fatal Series. Thirty of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and she has sold more than nine million books worldwide. Today we’ll be discussing book #15 in the Fatal series—Fatal Accusation—and the craft of putting together a romantic suspense series. In this episode Marie and I discuss: How a news story inspired the Fatal series Building a romance series around one couple The difference between romance with suspense and romantic suspense Managing writing multiple series at once Balancing indie and traditional publishing Plus, her #1 tip for writers For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/286

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Morgan. A USA Today bestselling author Sarah writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin. Romantic Times has described her as “a magician with words” and nominated her books for their Reviewer's Choice Awards and their “Top Pick” slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. Today we’ll be discussing the art and craft behind her latest novel A Wedding in December. In this episode, Sarah and I discuss: How one character inspired A Wedding in December What makes holiday romances so popular Navigating writing a story where “happily ever after” is guaranteed Developing an authentic setting Balancing family secrets in a multi-pov story Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/285

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan. Virginia Loh-Hagan is an educator and author. She is the 2016 recipient of California Reading Association’s Marcus Foster Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in reading. Currently, she is directing the Liberal Studies program at San Diego State University. She has a B.A. in English and a Masters in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education, specializing in Learning Disabilities (K-12), from the University of Virginia. She earned her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Literacy and her dissertation was a qualitative study on the cultural authenticity of Asian-American children's literature. She serves on various book award committees and is the Cover Editor and Book Nook columnist for "The California Reader," the premier professional journal for the California Reading Association. She has published over 300 children's books and academic publications. She especially likes to write about her Chinese-American heritage. After all, she was born on Flag Day in the Year of the Dragon. She's also interested in writing fun facts about monsters, weird bodily noises, urban legends, hot dogs, and anything else that’s strange and awesome. In this episode Virginia and I discuss: The inspiration behind Nian the Chinese New Year Dragon How a career in teaching informed Dr. Loh-Hagan’s writing Reading for comprehension versus reading for craft Using the rule of three in a picture book Staying true to the world you create Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/284

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carolyn Crimi and Corinna Luyken, the author and illustrator behind the buzz-worthy middle grade novel Weird Little Robots. Carolyn Crimi is the author of several books for children, including Where’s My Mummy?, Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies, Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates, and There Might Be Lobsters. Weird Little Robots is her first novel and she lives in Illinois. Corinna Luyken is the author-illustrator of the NY Times Bestseller, My Heart; as well as The Book of Mistakes, which received four starred reviews and has been praised by Entertainment Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and more.   She is the illustrator for Weird Little Robots, written by Carolyn Crimi and Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse, written by Marcy Campbell. She lives in Olympia, WA with her husband, daughter, and two cats. In this episode Carolyn, Corinna and I discuss: The inspiration behind Weird Little Robots Shifting from writing picture books to full length novels How to maintain creative momentum Building characters that feel alive and real How throwing away eighty pages of work inspired a stronger story and characters Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/283

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sam Hooker and Seven Jane.  Sam Hooker writes darkly humorous fantasy novels about things like tyrannical despots and the masked scoundrels who tickle them without mercy. He knows all the best swear words, though he refuses to repeat them because he doesn't want to attract goblins.  Seven Jane is an author of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. Seven is a member of The Author's Guild and Women's Fiction Writing Association. She also writes a column for The Women's Fiction Association and is a contributor to The Nerd Daily.​ They are both authors of stories included in the anthology A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, six stories of not-so-merry yuletide whimsy, from Blackspot Books. In this episode Sam, Seven and I discuss: Writing a short story when you usually write novels Adjusting your writing process to fit a new category Creating suspense in an insular, character-driven story Using winter as the inspiration for a short story Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/282

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristyn Merbeth. Kristyn is an author who’s obsessed with SFF, food, video games, and her dog. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, and her book Fortuna launches a new space opera trilogy that will hook you from the first crash landing. In this episode Kristyn and I discuss: How a NASA discovery and a TV show inspired the world and story of Fortuna Techniques for building multiple worlds Creating complex family and cultural dynamics Using dual perspectives to create balance and expand world-building How to grapple with real-world issues in a speculative story Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/281

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam, author and illustrator of the I Need My Monster picture book series. Amanda Noll was born and raised in Canberra, Australia and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. After marrying her college sweetheart, she began working in the purchasing division of a private university (which is ironic, since she despises shopping). She left the business world to attend to the business of raising children and concentrate on her writing. As her kids grew up, she completed a Master’s degree in Education and became an Elementary School Librarian.  Amanda blames her fundamentally twisted sense of humor on either genetics or being raised on a steady stream of Australian humor and sci-fi. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. Howard McWilliam left his career as a U.K. financial magazine editor and journalist in 2005 to concentrate on illustrating. He is cover artist for The Week in the U.S. and U.K. and has illustrated dozens of children’s novels, puzzles, and picture books, including the bestselling I Need My Monster series. He lives in Cheltenham, England, with his wife Rebecca and three young sons. In this episode, Amanda, Howard and I discuss: The inspiration behind the My Monster series How one book turned into a series  How the author-illustrator relationship works Navigating the line between safe and scary for kids Making picture books accessible for boy and girl readers Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/280

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing my friend and fellow New Yorker, Amanda Slavin. Amanda is the founder and CEO of the award-winning brand consulting firm CatalystCreativ, the author of The Seventh Level book, and the creator of the Seventh Level Engagement Framework. She uses this framework to guide brands like Coca-Cola, Google, and HubSpot to connect more meaningfully with their customers and improve their bottom lines. So you may be wondering, “How does this apply to us writers?” Amanda and I were chatting over coffee some time ago, and as she described the 7th Level framework, I started to see connections between this marketing framework and how we as writers create books as an experience for our readers. Amanda has spoken at events like SXSW, TED, and INBOUND about the Seventh Level and her writing has been featured in places like Inc., Forbes, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and Time. She lives in New York City with her husband and her cockapoo. In this episode Amanda and I discuss: How the “Seventh Level” framework applies to writers The origins of the Seventh Level How a Seventh Level statement applies to literary themes Using levels 1-3 keep your target readers engaged Using character change to inspire and connect with readers Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/279

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Megan McDonald, the author behind the popular Judy Moody series. Megan grew up the youngest of five sisters, so knows a thing or two about speaking up for herself. Before she became a writer, she worked in museums, libraries, and bookstores; she has also made a living as a storyteller and a park ranger. In addition to the best-selling Judy Moody and Stink series, she is the author of three Sisters Club stories, two books about Ant and Honey Bee, and many other books for children. Today we’ll be talking about the latest Judy Moody book, #15 Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz. In this episode Megan and I discuss: The personal origins of the Judy Moody books The question from kid readers that helped inspire the series Tailoring vocabulary for an early reader How to keep a story super focused Keeping a series fresh, new and exciting for readers Plus her #1 Tip for Writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/278

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brenda Jackson. Brenda Jackson is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over 100 novels and novellas, including two that have been turned into films—One Special Moment and Truly Everlasting. Brenda is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award and an NAACP Image Award nominee for Outstanding Literary Fiction for her book, A Silken Thread. She is an advocate for diversity in romance and was the first African American author to make both the USA TODAY and New York Times bestseller lists in series/category romance genre. Today we’ll be talking about her Catalina Cove series, and its third book Finding Home Again is out now. In this episode Brenda and I discuss: Structuring a series around a setting Starting with plot instead of character Building a world that comes alive for readers Keeping track of an evolving fictional world How to make a tried and true romance plot feel fresh Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/277

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Valentine. Nicole Valentine earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches the Brain Trust Workshop at the Highlights Foundation in Honesdale, PA. Before shifting to writing, she used to work at CNN.com in NYC where she helped build the first web publishing tool for a newsroom, so science and innovation have been a huge prat of her career from the get-go. She is also the former chief technology officer at Figment.com (now called GetUnderlined.com) and Space.com. But her talents don’t stop there. A fellow crafter, when she was placed on bedrest pregnant with her daughter, she designed a line of literary needlework samplers that got picked up by a national distributor and became very popular for a number of years. Nicole loves science and as a writer enjoys pondering the times when science falls short of explanation and magic has room to sneak in. She’s the founder of steaMG.org, The Middle-Grade Sci-fi Authors Alliance. A Time Traveler’s Theory of Relativity is her debut novel. When not engaged in fictional world-building, Nicole can often be found with a hawk on her arm. She lives in Pennsylvania with her human family, two giant dogs named Merlin and Arthur, and two small cats named Tink and Pickwick. In this episode Nicole and I discuss: The origins of A Time Traveler’s Theory of Relativity  Using “real life anchors” to create a realistic magical worlds Using adults in middle grade fiction Time travel as a metaphor for grief Carving a place for upper middle grade Bringing real science to time travel Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/276

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristan Higgins. Kristan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly twenty novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have received many awards and accolades, and she is a six-time nominee for The Kirkus Prize for best work of fiction. Today we’ll be discussing her new novel Life and Other Inconveniences. In this episode Kristan and I discuss: Exploring forgiveness, loss and complicated families in writing Balancing dual protagonists Using a compressed timeline How to handle heavy topics in a lighter book The power of asking, “Why?” for character development Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/275

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart about his latest book The Warehouse. When I heard Rob’s editor talk about this book at the BookExpo Editors’ Buzz Panel, I knew I had to have Rob on the show. Now, if you guys don’t know about Book Expo, it’s a big literary trade show that happens every May in New York City. They have these panels where they feature a selection of books that are getting a ton of buzz. There’s a panel all about books for adults, and another featuring YA and Middle Grade. Now, when I used to go to Book Expo, I’d get very overwhelmed with all the books! But these days, after many Book Expos, I’m a little more measured, and it takes a bit more for a book to grab my attention. The Warehouse was one of the books that really made me sit up and take notice.  But first, a little bit about our guest. Rob Hart is the author of the Ash McKenna series, as well as the short story collection Take-Out, and the novella Scott Free, which he co-wrote with James Patterson. His latest book, The Warehouse, has sold in more than 20 countries and has been optioned for film by Ron Howard. A fellow New Yorker, Rob lives in Staten Island, NY, with his wife and daughter.   In this episode Rob and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Warehouse How adding a third point of view strengthened the story Crafting an immersive world without info-dumping Under-writing instead of over-writing a draft Using a map to plan a world Moving from outlining and research to writing Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/274

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Aaron Becker. Born in Baltimore, Aaron moved to California to attend Pomona College where he scored his first illustration job designing t-shirts for his water polo team. Since then, he's traveled around the world, from Kenya to Japan, Sweden to Tahiti, looking for good things to eat and feeding his imagination. He now lives with his family in Amherst, MA where he's busy at work on his next book project. You can find out more about what he's been up to lately at storybreathing.com. Aaron and I will be talking about his wordless picture book trilogy, Journey, Quest, and Return, as well as his picture book A Stone for Sascha and his newest picture book, You Are Light. In this episode Aaron and I discuss: The story behind the Journey, Quest, Return trilogy Navigating second book syndrome How different age groups approach wordless picture books Changing tones for a second story arc Crafting a picture book inspired by stained glass Using different mediums to craft picture books Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/273

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Archer Mayor. Archer is the author of the highly acclaimed Vermont-based series featuring detective Joe Gunther, which the Chicago Tribune describes as “the best police procedurals being written in America.” He has won the New England Independent Booksellers Association Award for Best Fiction — which is the first time a crime fiction author has received this honor — and in 2011, his 22nd Joe Gunther novel, Tag Man, earned a place on The New York Times bestseller list. Before trying his hand at fiction, Archer wrote history books. His most well-known is Southern Timberman: The Legacy of William Buchanan, which is all the lumber and oil business in Louisiana from the 1870s to the 1970s. When he’s not writing, Archer is a death investigator for Vermont’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Over the past thirty years, he has also been a detective for the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, a volunteer firefighter/EMT, the publisher of his own backlist, and a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers. In this episode Archer and I discuss: Using practical experience for writing research Using curiosity and questions for story inspiration The historical origins of the title Bomber’s Moon Keeping a character and world fresh over thirty books The power of treating the reader as a co-storyteller Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/272

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing RJ Barker. Now, according to the bio that either he or his publicist submitted when we set up this interview, RJ Barker is a softly-spoken Yorkshireman with flowing locks. He lives in the frozen north with his wife and son, and divides his time between writing and looking after his son. According to the about page on his blog, RJ Barker is (and I quote) “Probably more ridiculous than you already believe.” RJ is the author of The Wounded Kingdom series, which comprises Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins, & King of Assassins and his newest book is The Bone Ships which is the first in The Tide Child series. In this episode RJ and I discuss: The story behind The Bone Ships Hearing and creating the voice of a fantasy world Working with a copyeditor while breaking the writing rules Deciding when and how to break writing rules Creating an awesome opening line Balancing immersing a reader and explaining a world Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/271

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing NoNieqa Ramos. Now if you’re a die-hard word nerd and fan of the show, you probably remember NoNieqa from her previous interview with us (Episode 202). I had such a blast talking with her that when I heard she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to have her back on the show. I mean, how often do I get to geek out about the literary merits of the F-bomb with a fellow writer? NoNieqa and I are definitely birds of a feather. NoNieqa is an educator and literary activist. She’s the author of the YA novel The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary, which was named a 2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens, and a 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection. She believes Halloween is a lifestyle, not a holiday (which I totally agree with by the way). Today, we’ll be discussing her latest book, The Truth Is…, as well as the important (but often difficult-to-talk-about themes) that come up in this story. In this episode NoNieqa and I discuss: The power of forgiveness and empathy Writing inclusive narratives The writer’s responsibility to write three-dimensional characters Writing invisible as well as visible marginalizations The power of a respectful question Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/270

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cadwell Turnbull. His novel, The Lesson is a work of speculative fiction is about what happens when a spaceship arrives at the US Virgin Islands with a race of super-advanced aliens on a research mission on board. This story grapples with the tensions between these newcomers and the local Virgin Islanders and explores various themes, including: the nature of belief, the impact of colonialism, and how far are we willing to go for progress? This book breaks new ground as one of the first science fiction novels to be set on Saint Thomas, in the Virgin Islands. It’s a combination of literary social fiction and speculative fiction, and it also paints a vivid picture of Charlotte Amalie, which is Cadwell’s hometown. Cadwell has an MFA in fiction from North Carolina State University, as well as Master’s degree in Linguistics. He was the winner of the 2014 NCSU Prize for Short Fiction and attended Clarion West 2016. His short fiction has appeared in The Verge, Lightspeed, Nightmare, and Asimov’s Science Fiction and several of his stories have received honors or been nominated for Best-Of lists. I have been reading his debut novel, The Lesson, and it is absolutely un-put-downable.  In this episode Cadwell and I discuss: How a dream inspired The Lesson Keeping a story character-driven while also adding speculative elements The power of using--and sometimes withholding--multiple points of view  Using speculative fiction to grapple with contemporary social issues Blending past, present and a speculative future Writing speculative fiction in an MFA program Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/269

Hey there word nerds! Today, we’re doing another one of our live-from-a-conference interviews, this time from RWA annual conference, which is the big event that the Romance Writers of America put on each year. I had the pleasure of speaking at this event a few years ago in San Diego, and this year because it’s back in New York, I’m delighted to be attending it once again. For this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nisha Sharma, whose YA novel, My So-Called Bollywood Life, has just won the RITA award, which is one of the top awards for romance writing, for best young adult r omance. Nisha is also the author of the adult contemporary romance The Takeover Effect. Now, because I can’t resist a good YA story, and because it’s been nominated for a RITA, our discussion focuses particularly on My So-Called Bollywood Life. But before we get to the interview, let me tell you a little more about our guest.  Nisha’s writing has been praised in NPR, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, Hypable and more. She credits her father for her multiple graduate degrees, and her mother for her love of Shah Rukh Khan and Jane Austen. She lives in New Jersey with her Alaskan husband, her cat Lizzie Bennett and her dog Nancey Drew. In this episode Nisha and I discuss: The inspiration behind My So-Called Bollywood Life How minor characters influence and develop the main character Building a real world as opposed to a fantasy world How Bollywood structure conventions influenced the book Using blog posts at the beginning of each chapter as an anchor for writing The similarities between Jane Austen and Bollywood Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: diymfa.com/268

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Todd Herman, who I am honored to count as one of my mentors. I first met Todd about five years ago, when he gave a talk at an entrepreneurship event, and right away I could tell that he was speaking my language. You see, Todd is a performance coach who specializes in the mental game. He works with ambitious entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders who want to achieve wildly outrageous goals, like building a multimillion-dollar business, reaching an Olympic podium, or launching an international brand. He’s run his own sports science training company for over twenty years, and his signature performance system, 90 Day Year (which I use regularly in my work and my writing) has been named the world’s top leadership and skill development program—not once, but twice!  Todd is also the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book The Alter Ego Effect which we’ll be discussing today. In this episode Todd and I discuss: The great superpower that all humans have The thing all top performers do How seeing that you have many selves can lead to greater mental health and performance The trap of the “authentic self” How to choose and activate an alter ego Why this technique is so useful for writers Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/267

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Natasha Scripture. Natasha is an author, poet, humanitarian, and former aid worker. As a spokesperson for the United Nations, she covered humanitarian crises around the world and before the UN she worked for a variety of organizations, including the BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera English, the World Bank, TED, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Publications.  She has been published in the New York Times, the Telegraph, Glamour UK, the Sydney Morning Herald, HuffPost, New York Post, and the Atlantic, among other publications. She has also been featured in Marie Claire, Women’s Health, and the Sunday Times Style magazine.  Natasha has lived in several different countries, travels frequently, and seeks to inspire and empower women everywhere with her writing and her storytelling. Her first book is Man Fast: A Memoir, which we’ll be discussing on the show today. In this episode Natasha and I discuss: The journey from writing a self-help book to writing a memoir. How to use writing to process grief.  The process of structuring a memoir’s outward and inward journey. Creating space for self-discovery. Saying, “No” to others to say, “Yes” to yourself. The power of being fully present. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/266

Hey there word nerds! You might be doing a double-take right now because this episode is airing on a Thursday and not on Wednesday like our usual schedule. In fact, this is a bonus episode to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of DIY MFA. That’s right… exactly five years ago today, we announced this podcast to the world. Since then, we have released a new episode every single Wednesday like clockwork. It’s been a wild and crazy ride and I am so happy and grateful that you’re celebrating this podcast-iversary with me! In the last five years, we’ve hit some major milestones. We are at 265 episodes (and counting!) and we hit the top of the iTunes New & Notable Arts section in our second week. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing over 200 authors, editors, agents and industry professionals. These interviews have run the gamut: from debuts to bestsellers and award-winners representing pretty much every major genre award, as well as Pulitzer Prize winner. Last year I even conducted my first official celebrity interview. (Insert fangirl squeal here.) If you’re a DIY MFA super-fan you’ll probably notice something else if you look closely at our line-up. Very few of our interviews are repeats with the same guest. This is because we have such a long waiting list to get authors on the show that we had to start limiting the number of times an author could come back. In fact, this is one of the reasons I created the Writer Igniter Summit Series, as a way to feature some of my favorite authors multiple times. In this half-decade of podcasting, I’ve had a chance to interview some of my personal literary heroes, and it has truly been a rewarding experience. Which brings me to lessons learned. In this episode I discuss Why it’s so important to commit and be consistent How to lead with value to connect with listeners All about systems and why they are so vital for success Making podcasting easy--on your guests and yourself! For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/265

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to our guest, the award-winning journalist, essayist, and poet Marybeth Niederkorn. Marybeth’s work has appeared in The Gasconade Review, Trailer Park Quarterly, Red Fez, and others. A Southeast Missouri native, her work is expressive of her background and roots while still managing to be kind of hilarious. Educated at Southeast Missouri State University, she holds degrees in philosophy and in professional writing, and makes her living as a copywriter for Recruiters Websites. She and her husband Dave live in rural Missouri. Her first full-length poetry collection, Times Knew Roamin’, which we’ll be discussing today. In this episode Marybeth and I discuss: How traveling can affect the writing process Using poetry to capture a mental space How poetry can reflect meaning in a way unique from prose The beauty of structure to push your creativity  Grammar--how important is it?  Using writing to build community Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/264

  Hey there word nerds! Today is one of my absolute favorite episodes of the year because it’s our annual ThrillerFest Debut Authors panel and I am so delighted to have August Norman, D.A. Bartley, Paula Munier, and John McMahon on the show. Every year, I have the pleasure of attending ThrillerFest, which is a fabulous conference put on by the International Thriller Writers (ITW). I’ve attended every year since 2012 (except 2014 because Lady Bug had just been born) and this is one of my favorite conferences of the season. It’s a very collegial event, with seasoned writers and debuts supporting each other. This particular debut authors panel has been a tradition at DIY MFA Radio for a few years and I always have a blast chatting with the debut authors about the craft and business of writing. Each year, we choose a theme and this year it’s “when big suspense happens in small town settings.” As you’ll hear in this interview, each of these authors has a unique take on this topic. In this episode August, D.A., Paula, John and I discuss: Building a compelling setting for suspense. The fine art of choosing what to leave in and leave out. Pacing techniques to ratchet up suspense. Challenges of small town settings. The debut author experience. Plus, each of their #1 tips for writers. For more info and shownotes: DIYMFA.com/263

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Fonda Lee on the show. Fonda is a recovering corporate strategist, black belt martial artist, and an action movie aficionado as well as the author of several highly acclaimed books of fantasy and science fiction, such as the young adult sci-fi novels Zeroboxer, Exo, and Cross Fire.  Her work has been nominated for several awards, including the Nebula and Locus Awards, and been featured on Best of Year lists such as NPR and Syfy Wire. She also won the Aurora Award, Canada’s national science fiction and fantasy award, twice in the same year for Best Novel and Best Young Adult Novel.  Fonda’s latest writing project is the fantasy/crime drama series the Green Bone Saga. The first book in this series, Jade City (which I am loving!), won the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and the second book in the series, Jade War, has just been released. So listen in as Fonda and I chat about this amazing series, and the numerous strategies and decisions that go into crafting the world of your story.   In this episode Fonda and I discuss: How to choose the right way to build your world. The “iceberg effect” of worldbuilding. How to put your reader into the middle of your story from page one the right way. Using a fantasy element to make your story feel more real. How to manage the powerful tool of multiple point of view. Plus, Fonda’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/262

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Aileen Erin on the show. Aileen is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd. From Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek, she has a severe fascination with the speculative and supernatural.  This fascination led her into writing, but after Twilight, Aileen was told that nobody wanted to read another vampire or werewolf story. She didn't agree and wrote one anyway. She proved her critics wrong as her independently published Alpha Girl series, has sold over 1.5 million copies. She earned a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and went on to earn her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She has since founded an independent boutique publishing house Ink Monster. Aileen’s latest novel, Lunar Court, is the eighth installment of her USA Today bestselling series Alpha Girl, and is available now. So listen in as Aileen and I chat about this awesome fantasy series and how to successfully write and publish your books through indie publishing. In this episode Aileen and I discuss: Using reader input to help you decide what story to write next. How to change the point of view character throughout a series the right way. Planning your world organically. The series strategy in indie publishing, and why it works. Producing a book as an indie boutique publisher from beginning to end. Plus, Aileen’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/261

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Mark Mayer to the show. Mark is an author and has an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where he was a Michener-Copernicus Fellow, and holds a PhD from the University of Denver. He was also the Robert P. Dana Emerging Writer-in-Residence at Cornell College’s Center for the Literary Arts from 2012-2014. His stories have appeared in American Short Fiction, Kenyon Review, Guernica, Colorado Review, and Mid-American Review. Mark’s debut is a short story collection titled Aerialists, in which classic circus figures become ordinary misfits seeking grandeur in a lonely world. In this collection, Mark examines familiar tropes—like the strongman, the elephant keeper, the clowns—and reinterprets these myths by placing them in everyday contemporary life. So listen in as Mark and I chat about this amazing book and how to gain a deeper understanding of a story by falling into its world over and over again.  In this episode Mark and I discuss: The intimacy of a short story. Creating a unique reading experience in your writing. How to use the theme of your book as a marketing tool the right way. Advice on how to approach short stories of literary fiction as a reader. How to use language and imagery to anchor readers in your story. Plus, Mark’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/260

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Dan Stout on the show. Dan is an author who writes about fever dreams and half-glimpsed shapes in the shadows. His prize-winning fiction draws on travels throughout Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim as well as an employment history spanning everything from subpoena server to assistant well driller.  Dan's stories have appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Nature, and Intergalactic Medicine Show and his debut novel, Titanshade, a noir fantasy thriller, is available now. So listen in as Dan and I chat about this amazing book and how to combine the plot of a police procedural with the worldbuilding of fantasy.  In this episode Dan and I discuss: Character driven stories vs. issue driven stories. How to set a speculative fiction world in a “retro” time period. Following predictable story tropes in unpredictable ways. How to discover your author’s Achilles' heel. Presenting the world of your story to readers in an authentic way. Plus, Dan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/259

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have  Dylan Meconis on the show. Dylan is a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator. While she has pursued visual art since she could hold a crayon steady, her formal education has been concentrated in the liberal arts. She studied Western history, literature, philosophy, and French in the College of Letters at Wesleyan University, where she soaked up in-demand, market-ready skills like reading Chaucer in the original Middle English. (She has no regrets.) Her comparatively practical career as a professional comics artist actually began in college with the online publication of her first book, Bite Me!. She also spent several years daylighting as a visual communications consultant and designer, before she transitioned to work as a full-time comic book creator and freelance designer. In 2012 her short story “Outfoxed” was nominated for an Eisner Award in the category of Best Digital Comic, and in 2014 Family Man was nominated for a Reuben Award in the category of Best Digital Comic–Longform. Her latest project is the middle-grade graphic novel Queen of the Sea, and is now available. So listen in as Dylan and I chat about this amazing book and how to craft a story in multiple art forms. In this episode Dylan and I discuss: How to bring the day to day life of a historical setting to the page. Comic scripts, what they are and how to use them the right way. Constructing a story both visually and textually without confusing your readers. How the layout of each page determines pacing in a graphic novel. Privileging the story’s tone over a single visual style. Plus, Dylan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/258

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kelsey Ramsden on the show. I have long admired Kelsey’s work as she moves the earth, literally and figuratively. She has been named Canada’s top female entrepreneur by PROFIT, not once but twice. And Forbes calls her a “master builder of ideas, businesses and sky’s the limit futures.” She has received numerous awards for her businesses in civil construction and real estate where she builds highways, airports and communities. Her latest project is the internationally bestselling book Success Hangover: Ignite your next act. Screw your status quo. Feel alive again. and it is available now. So listen in as Kelsey and I chat about this amazing book and how to commit to your dreams even when the world pushes back. In this episode Kelsey and I discuss: The many ways a success hangover can manifest in your life. How to know when you’re stuck in the “mediocre zone”. The difference between love and lust for your career. Turning a sense of discomfort into a sense of discovery. Why so many people fail at their goals, and the steps to take so you succeed. Plus, Kelsey’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/257

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lenore Appelhans on the show! Lenore is the author of several books for children and teens. Her work has received honors such as appearing on the Bank Street Best Books list, winning a SCBWI Crystal Kite award, and getting featured on boxes of Cheerios. Her newest book the YA novel, The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project, (which I devoured in practically one sitting!) simultaneously pokes fun at YA literature while also celebrating everything that is awesome about the category. So listen in as Lenore and I chat about this amazing book and how tropes are used in literature. In this episode Lenore and I discuss: The manic pixie dream girl trope. Metafiction, what it is and how to craft it right. Tropes vs. stereotypes, and how to recognize each in your own writing. The mechanics of writing a group scene without confusing your reader. How to get your mind and your writing to open up to diversity. Plus, Lenore’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/256

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lee Tobin McClain on the show! Lee is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of eight contemporary romances for Harlequin Love Inspired as well as twenty independently-published novels and novellas. She also recently contracted with Harlequin HQN to write three mainstream romance novels, the Safe Haven series, of which the first and second of these books, Low Country Hero and Low Country Dreams, are out now.   When Lee is not writing, she’s probably cheering on her daughter at a gymnastics meet, teaching writers in Seton Hill University’s MFA program, and probably not cleaning her house. So listen in as Lee and I chat about her amazing Safe Haven romance series and how to use your creative writing side to make marketing fun and successful. In this episode Lee and I discuss: Balancing the predictability of romance with keeping your readers in suspense. Popular fiction vs. literary fiction in MFA programs. Brainstorming techniques to help keep your story moving forward. What types of marketing you’ll have to do in indie vs. traditional publishing. How to build up your writing community, even if you’re an introvert. Plus, Lee’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/255

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of having Rob Eagar on the show! Rob is a marketing consultant and author who has coached over 600 authors and helped both fiction and nonfiction books hit the New York Times bestseller lists. He is the author of The Author’s Guide book series which includes The Author’s Guide to Email Marketing, The Author’s Guide to Write Text that Sells Books and The Author’s Guide to Marketing Books on Amazon, which will be the focus of our discussion today. Aside from talking about marketing books on Amazon, Rob will share some juicy info for how you can get access to three free eBooks to help jumpstart your book sales. I don’t know about you, but when I hear the words “free books” I’m all “yes please!” And stay tuned because toward the end of this interview we’re going to share something extra-special that Rob has cooking just for DIY MFA word nerds. So listen in because this interview is going to be AWESOME! In this episode Rob and I discuss: How mastering Amazon can increase your book sales. Exclusive vs. wide, which is the best way to sell your books? An inside look at three highly valuable marketing tools Amazon has for writers. How to craft the most persuasive marketing copy for your book. Why you need to grow your own email list, and techniques to help you do it. Plus, Rob’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/254

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Jodi Thomas on the show! Jodi is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels and countless short story collections. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Jodi has proven her skill as a master storyteller, and in July 2006, was the 11th writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Her latest novel The Little Tea Shop on Main, while still focusing on love, diverts slightly from the romance genre into women’s fiction. So listen in as Jodi and I chat about this amazing book and how to get so deep into your characters that both you and your readers feel that they are real people. In this episode Jodi and I discuss: Giving each viewpoint character a distinct voice. How to craft three equally weighted protagonists in one story. Creating characters that extend beyond the page for your readers. How to use supporting characters for more than just a plot twist. Painting a realistic picture on the page by “walking the land” of your story. Plus, Jodi’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/253

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Sam Sykes on the show! Sam is the author of multiple books of fantasy, including the Bring Down Heaven trilogy, the Affinity for Steel trilogy and comics such as Brave Chef Brianna. He currently lives in the United States with his two hounds and, at any given time, is probably yelling at something inanimate. Sam looks forward to being one of the sole providers of fantasy entertainment. Assuming no other authors are actually discovered in the next forty years. His latest book, Seven Blades in Black, is the start of his new fantasy series The Grave of Empires and is now available. No one can verify where he was on the night of October 17th, 2003. So on that ominous note, listen in as Sam and I chat about his awesome new book and the secrets to getting your audience emotionally invested in your story. In this episode Sam and I discuss: How to build a world that fits and impacts your characters. Leaving certain things in your world unexplained, or “The Kessel Run Principle” by Sam Sykes. The importance of creating a diversity of attitudes among your characters. Why escalation in your story is more important than balance. Trusting your readers to draw their own conclusions from your writing. Plus, Sam’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/252

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Patrice Gopo on the show! The daughter of Jamaican immigrants who was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Patrice is a personal essayist and often writes about topics of race, immigration, and belonging. Her essays have appeared in numerous publications including Catapult and The New York Times. She also has had radio commentaries appear on her local public radio station, and is the recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Literature Fellowship. Her essay collection All the Colors We Will See was a Fall 2018 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and is available now. So listen in as Patrice and I chat about this amazing book, the personal essay form, and finding your own personal reason for why you write. In this episode Patrice and I discuss: What elevates a personal anecdote to a personal essay. Techniques to find your go-to essay form. How to overcome the fear of putting your personal stories out in the world. Balancing the responsibility you have to others and to yourself. The importance of knowing who you are as a writer. Plus, Patrice’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/251

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Patricia Davids on the show! Born and raised in Kansas, Pat was an NICU nurse for forty years, before switching careers to become an inspirational writer. She is now a USA Today best-selling author of Amish romance, enjoys playing with her dogs (who think fetch should be a twenty-four hour a day game) and happily dreaming up new stories. Her latest book, The Wish, is the first in her new romance series The Amish of Cedar Grove, and is now available. So listen in as Pat and I chat about this amazing book and how to craft a realistic and romantically charged Amish romance. In this episode Pat and I discuss: Crafting the feeling of anticipated grief within your characters. How to weave Amish culture into your romance naturally. Why you should drop your reader directly into the story and how to do it right. Adding romantic tension when your characters can’t be physical with each other. Tips and techniques to put emotion on the page internally instead of verbally. Plus, Pat’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/250

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of hosting Jon Land on the show! You may remember Jon from a previous episode where he took part in a round table interview  live from last year’s ThrillerFest along with two other bestselling thriller authors: Lisa Gardner and Karin Slaughter. Today though he’s here solo to let me pick his brain and give you his own nuggets of writing wisdom. Jon is the USA Today bestselling author of over 44 books, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning Caitlin Strong series, whose ninth installment, Strong to the Bone, won the 2017 American Book Fest Award for Mystery/Suspense. Also in the mystery genre, Jon took over writing the Murder She Wrote series in 2018 with A Date with Murder as his first entry. His latest novel, the most recent installment of his Caitlin Strong series, Strong as Steel, is available now, and his next entry in the beloved Murder She Wrote series, Murder in Red, will be released in May of 2019. So listen in as Jon and I chat about these two amazing books and the ways in which cozies and thrillers converge. In this episode Jon and I discuss: How to juggle writing two very different series at the same time. The structural elements of the thriller vs. the cozy mystery. How the scope of your world supports the character’s quest. The mechanisms used to craft a cozy thriller. Being genuine and honest with your readers. Plus, Jon’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/249

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Tiffany Reisz on the show! Tiffany is the USA Today bestselling author of the Romance Writers of America’s RITA®-winning Original Sinners series from Harlequin's Mira Books. She has also received a Lambda Award in Gay Fiction for her novel The King and two Romantic Times Editor's Choice Awards for Best Erotic Romance and Best Series Romance. Her erotic fantasy The Red—self-published under the banner 8th Circle Press—was named an NPR Best Book of the Year, a Goodreads Best Romance of the Month, and received a coveted starred review from Library Journal. Her latest book, which is set in the world of The Red, is the erotic fantasy The Rose. Tiffany lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, Andrew Shaffer (who I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with previously on the show), the New York Times Bestselling author of Hope Never Dies. She has two cats. The cats are not writers. So listen in as Tiffany and I chat about her amazing new novel, The Rose, and why embracing the delete key, no matter how many words you must trash, can be the thing that takes your book from good to great. In this episode Tiffany and I discuss: Using a framing device to craft an erotic romance. Elements to consider when writing a sex scene. How to discover your own erotic vocabulary. Finding the key that opens up your story and lets the words flow. How to know when you need to trash your existing draft and start over. Plus, Tiffany’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/248

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Janet Pocorobba on the show! Janet is a former features writer and editor at Metropolis magazine in Tokyo, whose memoirs, essays and reviews have appeared in many notable publications such as The Rumpus, The Writer, and Kyoto Journal. She is the author of the memoir, The Fourth String: A Memoir of Sensei and Me, which is now available. In the memoir Janet shows the relationship between her and her sensei in the initial years of her apprenticeship learning to play the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese instrument. So listen in as Janet and I chat about this awesome book and how to defy writing structures both in the classroom and on the page.   In this episode Janet and I discuss: Presenting the self in relation to others in a memoir. How training in music gives you structure and form for your writing. The role absence plays in a narrative. Using the practice method to grow your craft. The relationship between the word mind and the content mind. Plus, Janet’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/247

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Rowenna Miller on the show! Rowenna is a midwestern born and raised fantasy author and has a Master's in English Film and Literature because she can't shut up about stories. She is also a historical reenactor and seamstress, specializing in the late eighteenth century, and writes fantasy shamelessly inspired by her love of history, especially the history of ordinary people. Her debut novel, Torn, released in March 2018, is the first in her The Unraveled Kingdom series, and the second book, Fray, will be available in June 2019. So listen in as Rowenna and I chat about this amazing series and constructing an intricate history inspired fantasy world. In this episode Rowenna and I discuss: Character centric world building. Different ways to play with magic in fantasy. How to layer aspects of your world naturally into the story. Pitfalls to avoid when crafting your magical system. Intertwining politics, history, and magic when building your fantasy world. Plus, Rowenna’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/246

Hey there word nerds! Today’s episode is extra-awesome because I’m speaking with not one, not two, but three fabulous ladies, who have had hand in bringing a truly buzz-worthy novel to life, on the show! First we have author Samantha Downing, whose debut novel My Lovely Wife has been getting a lot of attention. When she was a kid, Samantha’s mom brought her to the library every two weeks, where she would check out a stack of new books that she couldn’t put it down. She walked around with a book in front of her face, often walking into walls and stubbing her toes because she never watched where she was going. In her adult life she decided she wanted to be the one telling stories that would make people walk into walls and My Lovely Wife, is one such book. Next we have Samantha’s agent Barbara Poelle who began her publishing career as a freelance copywriter and editor before joining the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in 2007. Barbara also did a brief stint as a standup comic in Los Angeles and if you’ve ever bumped into her at a conference or literary event, you know she is hilarious. Barbara has found success placing thrillers, suspense, young adult and upmarket fiction, She is actively seeking her next great client in those genres, but is passionate about anything with a unique voice. Jen Monroe is the editor behind this fabulous book. She joined Berkley in November 2016 and edits psychological suspense, upmarket fiction, speculative fiction, and narrative nonfiction. Previously, Jen spent two years at HarperAudio where she handled all editorial needs, and produced the in-house podcast HarperAudio Presents. Jen also pursued journalism interning for places including The New York Times and The San Francisco Examiner. So listen as Samantha, Barbara, Jen and I chat about the amazing novel MY LOVELY WIFE, and the teamwork involved between an author, agent, editor to bring a book into the world. In this episode Samantha, Barbara, Jen and I discuss: The matchmaking experience of publishing. Why communication is vital to a successful author-agent-editor relationship. Crafting an unreliable narrator while still maintaining your readers’ trust. Advice to help navigate disagreements in the editorial process. The most important thing querying writers need to know. Plus, each of these lovely ladies’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/245

Hey there word nerds! Today we have a little change of pace in store for you. As you may recall, when I’m at different conferences, I’ll sometimes record a live-from-the-conference interview, and this happens to be one of those episodes! This interview was recorded in front of a LIVE studio audience at INBOUND 2018. Now, if you’re not familiar with INBOUND, it’s a fantastic conference hosted by HubSpot and takes place in Boston every fall. INBOUND has featured some truly incredible keynote speakers during the years I’ve attended like Michelle Obama, Brene Brown, and Deepak Chopra. I know right! Now if you’re a marketing nerd like me, or your day job happens to be in marketing, social media, or design, this is the conference to attend. And the INBOUND team has graciously given us a discount code, which will give you $150 off a 4-Day, All-Access pass to this year’s event. Check out our show notes page for the info to take advantage of this amazing deal! So why do I love INBOUND so much? Well over the years I have been attending, I have had the awesome opportunity to speak at this event, and have been able to foster several friendships. And one of the people I’ve connected with happens to be today’s guest, Strother Gaines. Strother is a business and personal coach for creative entrepreneurs and those who want to become one. He is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, and his coaching business has just about the best name of all time: “But I'm a Unicorn, Dammit!” In his business, Strother works passionately to help as many people as possible own up to the fact that they're a unique f($!@& snowflake. He also served as the event director for the DC Chapter of Network Under 40 and he recently spoke at the TEDx MidAtlantic Festival on on the topic of storytelling. I have also had the opportunity to hear Strother speak at INBOUND on networking, and after hearing his talk I knew I had to have him on the show to discuss this very topic. If you’re anything like me, you might look forward to networking about as much as you look forward to a deadline. It’s both terrifying and invigorating at the same time. So listen in as Strother and I chat about why networking is so freaking hard, and how the best way to make it easy is to show up as authentically you. In this episode Strother and I discuss: Tools to access your authentic self. Clamping down on what you share vs. keeping your privacy boundaries up. The benefits of getting a “no”. Networking pitfalls to avoid. Ice breakers and best practices in networking environments. Plus, Strother’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/244

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of hosting New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Graham on the show! A theater arts major at the University of South Florida, Heather began her career with several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals and bartending. After the birth of her third child, she decided to stay home and that’s when she began to write. Since then, she has written over two hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, sci-fi, young adult, and Christmas family fare. She has been published in twenty-five languages with about 60 million books in print and has been honored with just about every major writing award under the sun, including the  prestigious Thriller Master Award, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romance Writers of America. Heather has also been featured in several media outlets including People and USA Today, as well as on newscasts such as Today and Entertainment Tonight. Her newest book, A Lethal Legacy, is a chilling thriller which I read cover-to-cover because I could not put it down! So listen in as Heather and I chat about this amazing book, and how to craft a fictitious setting that feels real. In this episode Heather and I discuss: Building your world’s lore and mythology. How to use your setting to create impending peril and suspense in your plot. Why you need to make your readers care about the supporting cast. Crafting your villain’s motivations so they ring true for readers. Using alternating point of view characters to give a broader view of your story. Plus, Heather’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/243.

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with co-authors Anita Sarkeesian and Ebony Adams on the show! Anita is an award-winning media critic and the creator and executive director of Feminist Frequency, an educational nonprofit that explores the representations of women in pop culture narratives. She is best known as the creator and host of the highly influential video series Tropes vs. Women in Video Games, and she dreams of owning a life-size replica of Buffy’s scythe. Ebony Adams is an author, activist, and former college educator whose work foregrounds the lives and work of black women in the diaspora. She writes widely on film criticism, social justice, and pop culture, and lives with a steadily-increasing collection of Doctor Who memorabilia. On top of all this these ladies are now co-authors of the YA nonfiction book History vs. Women: The Defiant Lives that They Don’t Want You to Know, which is a fascinating (and aesthetically beautiful) book highlighting the lives of women who made an impact on the world. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this book! First off, with its gorgeous illustrations, my inner graphic design geek went off the charts. Then there is the subject matter, which is something I feel super-passionate about, and the fact that it’s YA makes this book even better. When we share the stories of strong, impactful women throughout history with the young women of today, we’re not just empowering the young generation. We’re empowering everybody to help make our culture and our society better. So listen in as Anita, Ebony, and I chat about this truly awesome book, and the importance of challenging our own perspectives through what we read and what we write. In this episode Anita, Ebony and I discuss: The research technique of “insistent archaeology”. How to translate scholarly texts into exciting stories. The dangers of passive reading. Advantages of the YA genre to get unknown stories out there. Why stories about women should be shared with young children of all genders. Plus, both of these lovely ladies’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/242

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Glynn Stewart on the show! Glynn was liberated from a bleak future of being an accountant by his unstoppable writing habit which led him to write several science-fiction, space opera, and fantasy series. He is the author of the Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible—but only because of magic. His other works include science fiction series Exile and Castle Federation, as well as the urban fantasy series ONSET and Changeling Blood. Glynn is also the author of the space opera trilogy Duchy of Terra as well as its sequel series Light of Terra, the first book of which (Darkness Beyond) was released in October of 2018. I am in the midst of reading the first book in the original Duchy of Terra series, and OMG it is so awesome! It combines my two favorite things, pirates and outer space, into one epic story. So listen in as Glynn and I talk about this amazing series, and turning the tropes of military science fiction upside down. In this episode Glynn and I discuss: Crafting a strong female protagonist in military science fiction the right way. The art of using a point of view that is both limited and omniscient. How to create alien species that don’t feel earthbound. Worldbuilding through phased info dumps. Using history to inform your science fiction. Plus, Glynn’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/241

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author B.J. Daniels! After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, B.J. wrote and sold over 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, Odd Man Out, which went on to be nominated for Best First Book and Best Intrigue for 1995 in the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards. Since then she has sold more than 40 short stories and over 100 books, and has won numerous awards including a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award in 2002 with her novel Premeditated Marriage, and a Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense in 2002 from the Romantic Times. Her latest novel, Stroke of Luck, kicks off her newest romantic suspense series, Sterling’s Ranch.So listen in as B.J. and I chat about this awesome book and how to weave together the suspense of mystery with the tension of romance into one amazing story. In this episode B.J. and I discuss: Using a compressed space to amplify the tension between your characters. How to craft the “fool” supporting character archetype the right way. Happily ever after, making the inevitable romance ending surprising every time. Bringing a unique world to life through the eyes of your characters. How to write a series for new readers and loyal fans at the same time. Plus, B.J.’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/240

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Dan Grant on the show! Dan is an author with a background in electrical engineering who has always loved the world of stories and intriguing tales, especially suspense and thrillers that weave science, medicine, or technology into the fabric of the drama. As a licensed professional engineer he’s had the unique opportunity to work with a variety of medical and technological projects and to get behind the scenes at military facilities. And as you read his debut thriller, The Singularity Witness, you can definitely see how his engineering background has filtered into the narrative to form a broader storytelling tapestry. Dan is currently hard work on his next thriller entitled Thirteen Across, as well as the next book in his Singularity series. Now listen in as Dan and I chat about his awesome debut The Singularity Witness, and how to balance hard science with the fast pace of thrillers. In this episode Dan and I discuss: How to use research for a science based thriller without info dumping. Showing your story’s world through the perspective of an outsider. How to add depth to your characters without slowing down the plot. Worldbuilding in a unique setting grounded in today’s reality. Choosing the path of self publishing. Plus, Dan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/239

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to be hosting Brazilian author Tony Bellotto on the show! As some of you may know, my parents are from Brazil and my first language is actually Portuguese. Though I was raised in the U.S. I consider myself as much Brazilian as American so I am super thrilled to have a Brazilian author here today! Tony is the author of the best-selling Bellini mystery novels, which have been released as major feature films and translated widely, establishing him as the preeminent writer of Brazilian detective fiction. He is also a guitarist and songwriter for the famed Brazilian rock band Titãs (The Titans), which has released twenty albums and sold over six million copies. On top of all that, Tony is also the editor of Rio Noir and São Paulo Noir, both published by Akashic Books, who are also releasing the English translation of his Bellini mysteries starting with his debut novel, Bellini and the Sphinx, which is now available. Now listen in, and get ready to hear a little Portuguese, as Tony and I chat about the two awesome anthologies he edited and what it really means for a story to be noir. In this episode Tony and I discuss: The broad definition of “noir”. How to create a crime fiction anthology with non-crime fiction writers. Using humor to create the noir atmosphere. Why you should divide an anthology into sections, and how to do it right. International publishing and the translation process. Plus, Tony’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/238

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kevin Brooks on the show! Kevin is a critically acclaimed young adult novelist whose first book, Martyn Pig, was named a Publishers Weekly “Flying Start” selection. Kevin has written many books since then including Black Rabbit Summer, which was shortlisted for the 2009 Carnegie Medal, and The Bunker Diary, which won the Carnegie Medal in 2014. His most recent novel, Born Scared, is a terrifying thriller about a 13-year-old boy named Elliot confined to his home by incapacitating fear. But then on Christmas Eve, a mixup at the pharmacy leaves him with not enough pills. His mother must go out into the snowstorm to get more, and when she doesn’t come back Elliot has to venture out after her on his own. This book really resonated with me on so many levels and I’m sure it will resonate with many of you as well. So listen in as Kevin and I talk about this amazing book, and learning how to embrace the fear of writing not just on the page but as writers. In this episode Kevin and I discuss: Tackling the deeply, dark reality of mental illness on the page. How to deal with “analysis paralysis” and keep writing. Creating drama and suspense when your character is in a very confined space. The technique of shifting between 1st and 3rd person POV, and how to do it right. How to use the design aspects of writing to enhance your story. Plus, Kevin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/237

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Somers on the show! I first met Jeff at BookExpo this past spring and had the opportunity to hear him speak at the Writer’s Digest Conference this past summer, and the moment we crossed paths I knew that we were going to be instant writing besties. First off, he’s hilarious. Second, he’s an iconoclast, so not really into following the rules, which is totally my jam. Plus, his wife is also super-awesome which means he has great taste. This is why I just knew I had to have him on the show so we could geek out about his book Writing Without Rules. But first, a little more about Jeff. Jeff began writing by court order as an attempt to steer his creative impulses away from engineering genetic grotesqueries. He has since published nine novels, including the noir-scifi novels in the Avery Cates Series, the darkly hilarious crime novel Chum, and most recently tales of blood magic and short cons in the Ustari Cycle, which includes the novel We Are Not Good People and four novellas. He has also published over thirty short stories, including “Ringing the Changes,” which was selected for inclusion in the Best American Mystery Stories 2006, writes about books for Barnes and Noble and about the craft of writing for Writer’s Digest, which also published his book on the craft of writing Writing Without Rules in 2018. He considers pants to always be optional. So listen in as Jeff and I geek out about this awesome book, debunk some of the greatest writing myths in history, and discover exactly why pants should always be optional. In this episode Jeff and I discuss: Why only writing what you know creates boring books. What “show don’t tell” really means. Write every day, the god-emperor of bad writing advice. Solving the mystery of “kill your darlings”. How to expand your vocabulary, without a thesaurus. Plus, Jeff’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/236

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Ashley and Leslie Saunders on the show! Ashley and Leslie are award-winning filmmakers, twin sisters, and authors. Hailing from the suburbs of Dallas these two honed their love of storytelling at The University of Texas at Austin. While researching their debut novel, The Rule of One, Ashley and Leslie fell in love with America's national parks, as they traveled the path of their main characters (also twin sisters) Ava and Mira. I’m reading The Rule of One right now, and OMG it is soooooo good! I was delighted to learn that this book will be followed by a sequel, The Rule Of Many, releasing in spring of 2019. So listen in as Ashley, Leslie, and I chat about this awesome book, and crafting a visually stunning near-fi dystopia on the page. In this episode Ashley, Leslie, and I discuss: Crafting a realistic twin sister relationship. Worldbuilding techniques for “near-fi” stories. The challenges of writing a novel vs. a screenplay. How to build a visual story on the page. Why connecting with other writers can motivate you to keep writing. Plus, Ashley’s and Leslie’s #1 tips for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/235

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting David Corbett on the show! I know David as a highly sought-after instructor at ITW’s Master CraftFest and CraftFest, and it’s easy to see why as he is the award-winning author of six novels, the story collection Thirteen Confessions, and the writing guide The Art of Character which has been called “A writer’s bible.” His short fiction has been selected twice for Best American Mystery Stories, and his non-fiction has appeared in several places including Writer’s Digest magazine where he is a contributing editor. David’s latest novel The Long-Lost Love Letters of Doc Holliday (OMG best alliterative title EVER!) about the possible discovery of the most notorious love letters in American history was released in 2018. So listen in as David and I discuss this awesome book and how to ratchet up the realness of your story’s world through its characters. In this episode David and I discuss: Choosing the right details to include that will pull your readers in. How to inject verisimilitude into your story. Why you should use real people as the basis for character creation. Crafting deeply flawed and relatable characters. Weaknesses, wounds and flaws, what they are and how to use them right. Plus, David’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA/com/234

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure and honor of hosting David Morrell on the show! David is the bestselling author of numerous books including First Blood, the award-winning novel in which Rambo was created, and the classic spy novel, The Brotherhood of the Rose, which was the basis for the only television mini-series to be broadcast after a Super Bowl. In his over forty years of writing experience David has received many well deserved awards and honors, including the Thriller Master award from the International Thriller Writers organization and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bouchercon, the world’s largest convention of mystery and thriller enthusiasts. He holds a Ph.D. in American literature from Penn State and was a professor in the English department at the University of Iowa. He is truly a phenomenal teacher of writing and every time I hear him teach or speak on a subject, I learn something new and different. And today he’s here to talk with us about his latest novels, the Thomas De Quincey Victorian Mysteries triad Murder as a Fine Art, Inspector of the Dead, and Ruler of the Night. So listen in as David and I chat about these awesome books, and how to craft a novel with just enough detail to keep your readers enthralled in the story. In this episode David and I discuss: How to avoid the info dump, while still keeping your readers in the story. Framing details around the characters to bring them to life on the page. How to play with point of view to create verisimilitude in your story. Becoming the omniscient narrator. Why inserting journal entries can enhance your story, and how to do it right. Plus, David’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/233

Hey there word nerds! Today’s show is our last episode of 2018 so Happy New Year everybody! And this episode is an especially awesome one because it features three members of my awesome DIY MFA team. I am so excited to have DIY MFA columnists Melanie Marttila, Brenda Joyce Patterson, and Stacy Woodson on the show! I also want to take a moment to mention that these three amazing women are only a tiny sample of the awesome members of DIY MFA. We currently have 21 members on our team, from columnists who contribute articles to people who work their magic maintaining our archives and helping to curate all the voices we feature on our site. So a big thank you to all the members of the team for another awesome year! Now, let me introduce the three amazing ladies I’ll be chatting with in this interview. Melanie Marttila is a certified corporate trainer by day and fantasy writer by night. She writes the DIY MFA column Speculations, which is all about science fiction and fantasy. Her own works of scifi and fantasy have appeared in several places such as Bastion Science Fiction Magazine and On Spec Magazine. Brenda Joyce Patterson is a poet, writer, librarian, and lover of short writing forms. Her column at DIY MFA, Writing Small, focuses on the various different short forms of writing such as short stories, poetry, and essays. She is a mentee in the Association of Writers & Writing Programs' Writer to Writer Mentorship Program for Fall 2018—which is a very prestigious and selective mentoring program—and her poetry and flash fiction have been published in numerous literary magazines such as Vayavya. She has also had a travel essay published (along with works by Maya Angelou and Gwendolyn Brooks) in the anthology Go Girl: The Black Woman's Guide to Travel and Adventure. Stacy Woodson writes crime fiction and is the columnist behind Hook, Line, and Dagger, which dives into all things thriller and mystery. She is a U.S. Army veteran and memories of her time in the military are a source of inspiration for her writing. Stacy is a Daphne du Maurier winner and a Killer Nashville Claymore finalist. She also has several short fiction pieces forthcoming in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Malice Domestic’s Mystery Most Edible, and Chesapeake Crimes: Invitation to Murder. Didn’t I tell you my team was amazing?!?! But I’ll stop gushing and let you hear from these fabulous women themselves. So listen in as Melanie, Brenda, Stacy and I chat about the aspects of genre writing and give you a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes of DIY MFA. In this episode Melanie, Brenda, Stacy and I discuss: An inside look at the Speculations, Writing Small, and Hook, Line, and Dagger columns. The different conventions within genres and writing forms. Why reading with purpose in your genre is so important. Pitfalls to avoid when writing thriller, scifi/fantasy, and short forms. Book recommendations to help you dive into each of their genres. Plus, all these lovely ladies’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/232

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Caroline Donahue on the show! Caroline is an American writer living in Berlin, and the host of The Secret Library Podcast (where I’ve had the good fortune of being a guest!). She is also the co-editor, with Dal Kular, of the essay anthology I Wrote it Anyway, which is all about writers overcoming obstacles in order to do the work they love. Proceeds from this anthology benefits Arts Emergency in the UK and 826 LA in the US. I happen to be a huge fan of 826, having volunteered for several years at the NYC branch, so when Caroline put out a call for submissions, I immediately raised my hand. Now listen in as Caroline and I chat about this amazing project, and do a deep dive into the process of crafting an anthology from beginning to end. In this episode Caroline and I discuss: A step-by-step process of putting an anthology together. The importance of choosing your editorial stance early on. How to handle the submission process. The biggest hurdles to look out for when crafting an anthology. Tricks to help you overcome blocks and write anyway. Plus, Caroline’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/231

Hey there word nerds! I have to admit that today I’m having a major fangirl moment because I’m interviewing Orson Scott Card on the show! Orson Scott Card is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game and has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. In fact, his Ender novels are read widely by adults and young readers alike, and are increasingly used in schools. However his latest work of fiction, A Town Divided by Christmas, reads more like a Hallmark Christmas  movie than the science fiction and fantasy work he has become known for.  This novel is about a small, rural town divided by a decades-long feud over which newborn baby should be the baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant. But at its core is a Christmas time romance. So listen in as we chat about this awesome book, and how to craft a well told story for Christmas or any time of the year. In this episode Orson and I discuss: What makes a good Christmas story. Why writing within a formula can help you focus in on the heart of your novel. The importance of good dialogue. How to get readers emotionally invested in your characters. Worldbuilding techniques, large and small. Plus, Orson’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/230

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Traci Lambrecht, of the mother-daughter writing team P.J. Tracy, perhaps most well-known for their Monkeewrench thriller series. Traci spent most of her childhood riding and showing horses, then graduated with a Russian Studies major from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She then began writing in order to finance her propensity for travel and, much to her mother’s relief, found that writing was her true calling. Traci and her mother P.J. wrote several books together and had a long, prolific career as a team. Sadly, P.J. passed away in December 2016, but Traci continues to write and carry on this amazing legacy. So listen in as we chat about the newly released ninth volume in their Monkeewrench series, The Guilty Dead, and how to ratchet up suspense throughout a story to keep readers on the edge of their seats.   In this episode Traci and I discuss: Multiple protagonists vs. a single protagonist How to pull off a killer prologue. Creating vivid descriptions without slowing down your plot. How to use reading to inform your writing. Dealing with the “muggles” in your life. Plus, Traci’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/229

Hey there word nerds! Today I am pleased to have Kallie Falandays on the show! Kallie is a poet and the founder of Tell Tell Poetry, a poetry resource site and editing company that helps poets get published.   Her own poetry has appeared in numerous places such as Black Warrior Review and The Journal. She is also the author of the poetry collection Dovetail Down the House available now from Burnside Review Books. Listen in as Kallie and I chat about crafting a poetry collection that will keep readers flipping pages, and the specific of the poetry publishing process. In this episode Kallie and I discuss: Using titleless poems to immerse your readers in the heart of your collection. How to combine three different poetic formats in one book. Why there is no right or wrong way to read poetry. Characters and narrative arcs in poems. The specific details of publishing in the poetry world. Plus, Kallie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/228

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited—and I’ll admit I’m also having a bit of a fangirl moment—because I’m interviewing Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano on the show! Together, they comprise the powerhouse team behind the heart-wrenching and powerful graphic novel Illegal. You probably already know Eoin Colfer as the bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series (one of my favorite middle grade series of all time!). What you might not know about him is that before becoming a full-time writer he worked as a primary school teacher and he spent four years working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Italy. Eoin’s co-author, Andrew Donkin, has written more than sixty books and graphic novels for children and adults, including collaborating with Eoin on the Artemis Fowl graphic novels. His books have been translated into thirty languages around the world and have sold more than eight million copies in the last decade. And the master behind the artwork of Illegal,Giovanni Rigano, is an Italian artist and illustrator, who may be most well known for his role in the creation of the Artemis Fowl graphic novels. He has also created graphic novels for Disney books, including The Incredibles. Now listen in as we all chat about their latest and amazing graphic novel, and how the comic format offers ways to draw readers in unlike any other media. In this episode Eoin, Andrew, Giovanni and I discuss: The different steps in creating and completing a graphic novel. Combining words and pictures to create a greater emotional response in readers. Structuring a story with alternating timelines, and how to do it right. Why it is necessary to represent the perspective of children in books. How to use the graphic novel layout to control the pace of your story. Plus, each of their #1 tips for writers and artists. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/227

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Camille Perri on the show! Camille is an author who has also worked in numerous book related fields. She has been a books editor for both Cosmopolitan and Esquire, a ghostwriter, and a reference librarian. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Assistants, was released in May of 2016 and was said to have captured the spirit of a generation: Millennials encumbered by student debt, struggling to rise through the ranks of their chosen careers, and completely fed up with the system. Camille’s newly released second novel, When Katie Met Cassidy, is a bit of a divergence from her first, but still holds the same wry humor and discerning eye she has become known for. This time she turns those talents to questions of gender, representation, and sexuality in an exhilarating romantic comedy with a twist: A “girl meets girl” love story between two very different women. So listen in as Camille and I chat about this awesome book, and how writing a fun read can be the greatest act of resistance. In this episode Camille and I discuss: Using alternating point of view to get readers inside all of your characters’ heads. The importance of worldbuilding in contemporary fiction. Showing the fun side of the queer community. Subtle activism in romantic comedies. Why you can make a difference with your writing without being political. Plus, Camille’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/226

Hey there word nerds! I’m sooooo excited for today’s interview because I have Andrew Shaffer on the show! Andrew is the bestselling author of several humorous works of fiction and nonfiction including the parody Fifty Shames of Earl Grey. He is also the owner and creative director of Order of St. Nick, the quirky greeting card company whose cards have been featured on The Colbert Report, and is the publisher of 8th Circle Press. Andrew’s latest humourous yarn is Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery. Part noir mystery, part bromance, and part parody, this novel features Obama and Biden teaming up to solve a grisly murder. Hooked yet? Well then listen in as Andrew and I chat about this awesome book, and the art of combining the dark elements of noir with the comedy of bromance. In this episode Andrew and I discuss: Why choosing the right point of view character is so important to your story. Crafting characters not caricatures. How to use public figures in your book without hindering your writing (or getting sued). Parody, what it is and how to do it right. Using comedy to your story’s best advantage. Plus, Andrew’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/225

Hey there word nerds! And welcome to our extra special Halloween episode, as today I have the pleasure of having the amazing mother-daughter writing team of P.C. and Kristin Cast on the show! P.C. and Kristin are both New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, most known for their wildly successful House of Night series. This mega popular series spanning numerous novels and novellas, celebrated its ten year anniversary in 2017. In honor of this milestone, P.C. and Kristin dove back into this awesome world and created the all new House of Night: Other World series. The first novel, Loved, was released in 2017, with the second, Lost, just releasing in July of this year. So listen in as we chat about these awesome Other World novels, and get a window into the whole House of Night series. In this episode P.C., Kristin and I discuss: Tag team brainstorming. Worldbuilding techniques to expand your story’s world over multiple books. P.C.’s alternative universe character building exercise. How to stand out in an oversaturated market. Why you need to get graphic with your characters’ feelings. Plus, both P.C.’s and Kristin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/224

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Moyer. Melanie is a debut author and veteran ghostwriter. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied Creative Writing, Religious Studies, Folklore, and Russian History. She regularly co-hosts a horror pop culture podcast called Splatter Chatter, serves as a co-host on the animation podcast Overly Animated, and regularly contributes pop culture pieces to Just About Write. Today we’ll be talking about her debut YA novel The Rules of Me, a fascinating novel with a unique point of view choice. In this episode Melanie and I discuss: The process of going from a short story drafted in college to a novel written years later. Point of view challenges that come with making the narrator be the main character’s imaginary friend. How this unconventional point of view choice ultimately enriches the narrative experience. The different pairs of characters that frame the story. The art and craft of world building and how to create rules for your characters. Navigating the workshop experience, with both its pros and cons. Writing for a YA audience and how to respect that reader’s point of view. Plus, Melanie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/223

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ruth Spiro on the show! Ruth’s journey as a writer is one I think many word nerds can relate to. She never imagined she’d be a writer…until she started doing it! And now she writes innovative books for kids about science, technology, engineering and math…or STEM as is the buzzword right now. Her debut picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist won awards from Writer’s Digest, Willamette Writers, and was a Bank Street College of Education Best Book. Ruth followed up this success with her awesome Baby Loves Science board book series. This groundbreaking series includes books on a number of different topics including: coding, green energy, quarks, and my personal favorite quantum physics, which explains the Schrodinger’s cat thought experiment in language that a toddler can understand. This amazing series has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Popular Science and Working Mother. And the series features iconic and adorable illustrations by Irene Chan. When an illustrator can make Quarks look cute…OMG! So listen in as Ruth and I geek out over this awesome series, and give you an inside look into the exciting niche of board books. In this episode Ruth and I discuss: Techniques to craft a book that is engaging to both children and adults. How to make abstract ideas accessible to young children. Breaking into a specific publishing niche. Why you need to be smart in how you network. A step by step guide to producing a board book. Plus, Ruth’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/222

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of having Jennie Nash on the show! Jennie is the founder of Author Accelerator, a book coaching service that has helped hundreds of writers complete their book projects by giving them the sustained editorial support they need. She has spent 30 years on all sides of the publishing industry and is the author of four novels, three memoirs, and one self-help book for writers, titled The Writer’s Guide to Agony and Defeat. Listen in as we chat about working through the agony of writing to create a book you’re proud of, and how to make your writing a priority in life no matter how hectic things get. In this episode Jennie and I discuss: Making the right mindset shift needed to write a book. How to get through the pain points of the writing process. Fear of failure vs. fear of success. Why hard work is more important than raw talent to succeed as a writer. An inside look at Jennie’s book coaching process. Plus, Jennie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/221

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Laurie Petrou on the show! Laurie is an author, maker, educator, tea drinker, and avid reader… so basically she’s my kind of people. She is an Associate Professor at Ryerson's RTA School of Media, where she is also the Director of the Masters of Media Production program, and has given TEDx talks in the past.   Laurie’s first novel (second book), Sister of Mine, won the International Half the World Global Literati Award. This novel is a fascinating thriller about two sisters bound together by a series of secrets. Listen in as Laurie and I chat about this awesome book, how to craft gripping suspense, and how to always keep yourself writing. In this episode Laurie and I discuss: The unreliable narrator and how to do it right. Using supporting characters to throw a wrench into your protagonist’s world. Techniques to breathe life into your setting. Pacing a thriller over several decades. How to handle the waiting periods in between writing and publishing. Plus, Laurie’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/220

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Elisabeth Potts on the show! From her time as a student protesting the Vietnam war to her five year fight to save a pristine Central California coast habitat from an over-zealous developer, Elisabeth’s passion for social justice has inspired her actions and her writing. In fact it was her experiences at U.C. Berkeley in the late 1960's that formed the background for her book Berkeley Girl, which she self published in 2017. During the 60’s, she joined thousands of other students to brave tear-gassing and police riots, trying to end the U.S. involvement in a long and senseless war. Listen in as Elisabeth and I chat about her novel, and the steps necessary to self publish and get your book out there. In this episode Elisabeth and I discuss: The value and importance of having a writing group you can depend on. Finding the right book cover design and the right cover designer. Steps to format your book for publication. Crafting a marketing strategy that works for you. How to toot your own horn and get your book into the world. Plus, Elisabeth’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/219

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Anne Sibley O’Brien on the show! Anne is a children’s book writer and illustrator who has created thirty-seven books, some of which she has written, some she’s illustrated, and some for which she has done both. Her focus is on diverse children and cultures and this passion comes from being raised in South Korea as the daughter of medical missionaries. The most recent books she has written and illustrated are the companion picture books, I’m New Here and the just-published Someone New. These books look at the story of three just-arrived immigrant children both from the perspective of those children themselves and from the point of view of their new classmates. As the daughter of immigrants who has spent her life straddling two very different cultures, these books had a powerful impact on me. And I’m not the only one. Both titles have received starred reviews from Kirkus, and I’m New Here has gotten numerous accolades including being named a Kirkus Review's Best Book of the Year. In addition to all her amazing work as a writer (as if that weren’t already enough) Anne is also the cofounder of I’m Your Neighbor Books, an online searchable database of children’s literature that shines a spotlight on the contemporary immigrant experience. Listen in to hear me and Anne chat about these amazing picture books, the modern immigrant experience, and how to open up the world to children (and everyone else) through books. In this episode Anne and I discuss: Showing the experience of immigrant children from both sides. Mirror books, window books, and why we need to read both. How to represent a culture that is not your own authentically in your writing. Developing empathy in children through diverse books. An inside look at I’m Your Neighbor Books, what it is and how to take part. Plus, Anne’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/218

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Yang Huang on the show! Yang is an author and former engineer. She grew up in China’s Jiangsu province where she  participated in the 1989 student uprisings, and moved to the U.S. to attend Boston College. Her debut novel, Living Treasures, won the Nautilus Book Award silver medal in fiction, and her essays and short stories have appeared in several notable magazines and journals including The Margins, Asian Pacific American Journal, and Porcupine Literary Arts Magazine just to name a few. Her latest book, My Old Faithful, is a collection of interlinked short stories centered around the five members of one totally ordinary yet thrillingly singular Chinese family. So listen in as Yang and I chat about this amazing story collection, and how and why you should always write dangerously. In this episode Yang and I discuss: The benefits of writing in your non-native language. Interlinked short story collections vs. multiple P.O.V. novels. How to immerse yourself in your character’s world, why you should. Why diverse readers need diverse writers. Risking it all, pushing your writing (and your readers) to the edge. Plus, Yang’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/217

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Steven James on the show! Steve is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of sixteen novels. Best known for his psychological thrillers, he has received more than a dozen honors and awards for his books, including 3 Christy Awards and being nominated as a finalist for an International Thriller Award.He is also the author of the groundbreaking book on the craft of fiction, Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules, which won a 2015 Storytelling World Award. He also hosts the podcast "The Story Blender," where he interviews great storytellers from the world of cinema, oral performance, and writing about the craft of great storytelling (and where I’ve had the honor of being a guest!). Steve’s most recent novel, Every Wicked Man, is another exhilarating installment of the Bowers Files featuring his iconic character FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers. I have to admit, this book kind of scared the living daylights out of me and had me frantically turning the virtual pages on my Kindle. Listen in as we chat about this awesome suspense-filled story, and how to craft a novel that will keep your readers guessing until the very end. In this episode Steven and I discuss: How to craft a dynamic relationship over the course of a series. Four questions to ask yourself to help shape your story. Why you shouldn’t plan out surprising twists before hand. Breaking down the four elements of the perfect plot twist. How to pivot your story to give readers what they want or something even better. Plus, Steven’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/216

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Rebecca Behrens on the show! Rebecca is not only a fabulous middle grade author but also a dear friend. In fact, we live directly across the street from each other here in New York City, and we were part of the same “Write Nite Ladies” kidlit writing group for years. Rebecca is the author of the middle grade historical fiction novels When Audrey Met Alice, Summer of Lost and Found, and most recently The Last Grand Adventure. All of her books have garnered high praise from sources like Kirkus, BookPage, and School Library Journal, and some of her favorite things include: the beach, history, running, doughnuts, and laughing. So listen in as we chat about Rebecca’s newest middle grade novel, and how to blend fact and fiction together when writing historical novels for young readers. In this episode Rebecca and I discuss: Weaving a famous historical figure into your fiction the right way. How to work around legal red flags when writing historical fiction. Crafting supporting characters in a road trip story. The importance of representing real people accurately in your novel. How to use your setting to develop your main character’s arc. Plus, Rebecca’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/215

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Adam Cayton-Holland on the show! Adam is an author and national touring comic who has appeared on shows including Conan, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, and Happy Endings just to name a few. He has also been named one of Esquire’s “25 Comics to Watch” and Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch.” Adam has been described as “genial” and “with pretty decent teeth”, and co-created, writes, and stars in truTV’s show Those Who Can’t along with his fellow members of the comedy troupe, The Grawlix. His writing has appeared in places such as Spin and The Atlantic as well. Adam is also the author of the new heart-wrenchingly gorgeous memoir Tragedy Plus Time. Listen in as we chat about this amazing book and how to tackle a tragic event with humor on the page. In this episode Adam and I discuss: The art of weaving someone else’s life along with yours in a memoir. How to create moments that feel real on the page and get readers to respond. The broader impact of memoir, and how to navigate that responsibility. Knowing what to cut out and what to fight for in revision. How to choose the right structure for your memoir. Plus, Adam’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/214

Hey there word nerds! In today’s episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2018! This time I’ve assembled a panel of bestselling thriller authors who all know how to write powerhouse female protagonists.I am so excited to be speaking with Lisa Gardner, Jon Land, and Karin Slaughter, and sharing our panel discussion on the show! As you’ll soon hear, not only do all these awesome authors craft strong female protagonists, but they know how to bring that strength to life on the page. This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart, and I am so glad to be able to share these authors’ amazing insights with you. So listen in as we chat about how to craft strong female protagonists that will bring readers back to your books again and again. In this episode Lisa, Jon, Karin and I discuss: The problem with writing strong female characters, and how to deal with it. Crafting the interplay between your character’s internal strength and the external conflict. Why growing with your character makes you a better writer. The different ways of defining strength, and how to show them in your characters. How our writing ripples out beyond the page. Plus, all of these amazing authors’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/213

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so honored to welcome David L. Harrison to the show! David is an award winning American children’s author and poet. His poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for young readers have been anthologized in more than 185 books, translated into twelve languages, sandblasted into a library sidewalk, and painted on a bookmobile. His poetry collection, Pirates, represented Missouri at the 2013 National Book Fair in Washington, D.C. He is also the poet laureate of Drury University, and he actually has an Elementary School named after him! David is here with us today to discuss one of his latest works, a picture book poetry collection he did with artist Giles Laroche called A Place to Start a Family: Poems About Creatures that Build; which combines the science of how animals build their nests to mate and reproduce with the art of poetry. So listen in as David and I chat about crafting beautiful poems from equally beautiful science, for young readers. In this episode David and I discuss: The challenges of crafting scientific facts as a poem, and how to do it right. How to focus your research to inform your writing. Why the need for accuracy in children’s books is even more important than in adult books. Matching the poetic structure and rhythm to the theme of the poem. Using spatial poetry in picture books to enhance the reading experience. Plus, David’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/212

Hey there word nerds! In today’s episode I bring you live to ThrillerFest 2018, where I have once again assembled a panel of five debut authors from this year’s class. I am so excited to be speaking with L.A. Chandlar, Paddy Hirsch, Cheryl Reed, John Copenhaver, and Joanna Schaffhausen, and sharing our panel discussion on the show! Last year’s ThrillerFest debuts’ episode focused on the debut author life and what it’s like to write and publish your debut novel. This year posed a bit of a challenge, however, since it would be repetitive to do something on that same theme. Instead, my team and I selected five debut authors where we saw a common thread running throughout their books. As you’ll hear in the conversation that follows, each of these authors and each of these books are extremely unique, but they all handle questions of time and space in fresh and surprising ways. So listen in as we chat about various ways to play with time and setting in a novel to not only create a stronger story but also to really engage readers. In this episode Laurie, Paddy, Cheryl, John, Joanna and I discuss: Different ways to play with time in your novel, and how to do it right. Techniques to write a story within a compressed time frame. Why you need to choose the right space for the story you’re telling. How to bring your setting to life when you need to keep your pace fast. Using the interplay between character and place to engage your readers. Plus, each of these amazing author’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/211

Hey there word nerds! Today I am thrilled to have Tami Charles on the show! Tami is a former teacher and current full-time author of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, as well as nonfiction. As a teacher, she made it her mission to introduce her students to all types of literature, but especially diverse books. While it was refreshing to see a better selection than what she was accustomed to as a child, Tami felt there weren’t nearly as many diverse books as she’d hoped for. It was then that she decided to reignite her passion for writing, and put those books she longed to see on the shelves herself. Tami is the author of several current and upcoming children’s books, but she is here with us today to share an inside look at her beautiful middle grade novel Like Vanessa. So listen in as Tami and I chat about this awesome book, and the importance for all writers to write what they want in an authentic way. In this episode Tami and I discuss: Pouring your own experiences into your character. The concept of colorism. Crafting a novel in the no man’s land between MG and YA. How to use poetry to pull readers into your character’s emotions. Writing in your authentic voice without being pigeonholed. Plus, Tami’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/210

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Maxine Rosaler on the show! Maxine has had fiction and nonfiction published in some pretty prestigious markets including (but not limited to) The Southern Review, Glimmer Train, and The Baltimore Review. Her stories have also been cited in editions of Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays, and  she is the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for Fiction. Her first published long form work, Queen for a Day, has been called both a short story collection and a novel in stories, and is available now. Listen in as Maxine and I chat about finding the story at your core, and how to meld your unconscious and conscious minds to enhance your writing. In this episode Maxine and I discuss: A novel in stories vs. a short story collection. Tricks to tap into your unconscious during the writing process. Why quality is more important than quantity in what you read. Discovering the right names for your characters. The responsibility of a writer to turn the world’s ugliness into art. Plus, Maxine’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/209

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Gail Honeyman on the show! Gail is the author of the novel Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, which hit shelves in May of last year and made a huge splash with readers. Gail’s debut novel was the star book at the Frankfurt Book Fair and was selected as an Indie Next Pick by booksellers across the country. It soon became one of the most beloved novels of 2017, catching the attention of readers worldwide, including Reese Witherspoon, who made it one of her book club picks and bought the film rights. The love for this book has not let up since its release, and it has been heralded as a must-read for summer by The New York Times, People, and TheSkimm. Independent booksellers were so excited about the book that many of them even participated in an “Eleanor Oliphant Day,” touting this quirky, funny, and heartbreaking novel to their customers both in their stores and across social media. So listen in as Gail and I unpack this quirky, sometimes difficult, but always lovable character of Eleanor Oliphant, and how to craft a story that really puts readers directly into the heart and soul of a character. In this episode Gail and I discuss: Crafting a voice driven novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The learning curve of your first book. Creating empathy for an unlikable character through close first person narration. How to “feel” your way through writing and editing your novel. Building a compelling character with multiple layers. Plus Gail's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/208

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of talking with author Grace Kennan Warnecke on the show! Grace is the daughter of George F. Kennan, one of the most influential diplomats of the 20th century, and as such had a very unique childhood. She grew up in the shadow of the Cold War and her larger than life father, but found her way into the limelight to forge a dynamic career for herself. She is chairman of the board of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a fellow of Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and was the associate producer of the prizewinning PBS documentary The First Fifty Years: Reflections on U.S.-Soviet Relations; just to name a few of her accomplishments. She has now written a memoir titled Daughter of the Cold War, which tells the tale of Grace’s whole life lived on the edge of history. Listen in as Grace and I chat about crafting a broad scope memoir, and owning your own story. In this episode Grace and I discuss: How writing groups can lift you up and help you reach your writing goals. Keeping a memoir enthralling from beginning to end. Crafting your whole life into a story. Ways to navigate writing about others’ lives without censoring yourself. Why you should never turn down an opportunity. Plus, Grace’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/207

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Alison Walsh on the show! And OMG word nerds I am so excited because we’re going to be talking about Alison’s new cookbook: A Literary Tea Party! I first learned about Alison’s book last summer, from my friend and awesome DIY MFA contributor Sara Letourneau. Right away I knew I had to get Alison to come on the show. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I’m obsessed with tea. I drink probably around 3 pots of tea per day, not to mention the gallons of iced tea I consume in the summertime. So when I learned that there would soon be a book of literary-themed teatime recipes I just about died and went to heaven (and I say this as someone who absolutely cannot cook). Alison actually started out as a food blogger at Alison's Wonderland Recipes, a blog dedicated to making recipes inspired by classic literature. She has since been featured on Real Life at Home and MuggleNet, and her cookbook, A Literary Tea Party, is now available. Listen in as Alison and I geek out about books and tea, and dive into the craft behind creating a cookbook that not only gives you tasty treats to try but draws you into a story. In this episode Alison and I discuss: Extrapolating recipes from literature. How to craft a narrative arc in a cookbook. Building a book around your audience. What goes into a nonfiction cookbook proposal. An inside look at crafting a food blog that stands out. Plus, Alison’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/206

Hey there word nerds! Welcome to the 2018 Epic BookExpo Recap episode! If you don’t already know what BookExpo is, it’s the big industry trade show that takes place in the United States every year, and today it’s going to be just me talking to you about this awesome event! This year, the big thing was the idea of the Reimagined BookExpo, so I wanted to give you a rundown of what’s new, what’s still the same, and what I think all these things say about the book industry as a whole. Listen in as I chat with you about what the Reimagined BookExpo looks like, and some new and exciting trends I saw in the publishing industry. In this episode, I give you an inside look at: Then and now, how BookExpo has changed over the years. Knowing your audience, BookExpo vs. BookCon. New trends and themes in the publishing industry that jumped out at me. The broadening definition of diversity. Plus a teaser about the types of books I was most excited to check out, and why. For more info an show notes: DIYMFA.com/205

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Michael Zadoorian on the show! Michael is an author and recipient of numerous awards such as the Michigan Notable Book award, and the Kresge Artist Fellowship. His writing has appeared in several prestigious journals including The Literary Review and American Short Fiction, as well as in multiple anthologies including Detroit Noir. He is the author of The Leisure Seeker—which was recently made into a film starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland—as well as the novel Second Hand and the story collection The Lost Tiki Palaces of Detroit. His latest novel, Beautiful Music, is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of his hometown of Detroit in the 1970’s and is available now. Listen in as we talk about this amazing book, and how to enrich your story with sensory writing. In this episode Michael and I discuss: How to determine the genre label for your story by finding your audience. Conveying sound through your characters’ emotions. Engaging all five senses of your reader. The role of parents in a literary coming of age story. Creating a strong sense of place in your writing. Plus, Michael’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/204

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cynthia Grady on the show! Cynthia has earned master’s degrees in Children’s Literature, Library Science, and the Classics. She taught elementary school in her home state of California and was a children’s librarian for seventeen years before relocating to New Mexico where she now writes books for young readers. She is the author of a book of poetry for children and two nonfiction picture books. The latest of her picture books, Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind, is the story of Clara Breed the librarian who offered hope and comfort to Japanese American children through books during their internment in World War II. Listen in as we talk about this beautiful book, and how the power of story can comfort and connect us. In this episode Cynthia and I discuss: Using primary sources to assemble a picture book biography. How to strategically negotiate for your illustrations as an author. Tips to write engaging nonfiction for young readers. Tackling serious topics in picture books. The benefits of productive procrastination. Plus, Cynthia’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/203

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to be speaking with NoNieqa Ramos on the show! NoNieqa is an award-winning educator, literary activist, and writer of “intense” young adult literature. She is also a passionate supporter of the #weneeddiversebooks and #ownvoices movements. Her debut novel The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary has gotten stunning reception including a  Booklist starred review that called her “a voice to watch” with “exceptional writing and compassionate realism.” NoNieqa is currently joining us live from the school where she teaches (and where her book is set). Listen in as we chat about her amazing debut and how to create strong characters that elicits an emotional response from readers. Also, just a quick heads up, for the first time ever on DIY MFA Radio we have a teeny bit of explicit language towards the end of the interview. Due to the nature of the discussion I decided not to bleep anything out, but I wanted to let you know in case you have small children in the room or you, yourself, are not comfortable with explicit language. Now let’s dive into the interview! In this episode NoNieqa and I discuss: Tips for getting inside your character’s mind. Why you should make the reader work to piece the story together. The art of writing a realistically flawed character. Using language to show a character’s true voice without losing your reader. The importance of knowing what you are not willing to surrender in your writing. Plus, NoNieqa’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/202

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have debut author Kimmery Martin on the show! Kimmery is an emergency medical doctor and, like me, a life-long literary nerd. On top of being a doctor, an author, and a mom, she writes book reviews and volunteers with the library foundation in her home of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her debut novel, The Queen of Hearts, has been named one of the most anticipated books of 2018 by Southern Living, Elite Daily, and Writer’s Digest. Set against the backdrop of hospital rounds, Kimmery’s medical knowledge and quirky sense of humor makes the story pop right off the page. Listen in as we chat about this amazing debut novel, and get an inside look at Kimmery’s revision process. In this episode Kimmery and I discuss: Translating your real life experience to a fictional world. Tips to bring your minor characters to life. Why you need to find the revision process that works for you. Finding the right voice for your novel. How to restructure your life to prioritize (not find) writing time. Plus, Kimmery’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/201

Hey there word nerds! OMG DIY MFA Radio is 200 episodes old! Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning of this journey or are just tuning in now, thank you for listening. Since this is our 200th episode, we’re doing things a little bit differently. Instead of being the interviewer, my producer Marielle Orff takes over the show and puts me in the hot seat. In case some of you don’t know her yet, Marielle is the content strategist at DIY MFA. As such she as her fingers in pretty much every piece of content that gets sent out by us. She edits the podcast and helps curate the lineup, manages the articles that go up on the website, and helps curate the newsletter and our social media. As such it seemed only natural to have her interview me for your 200th episode extravaganza! Listen in as Marielle and I geek out about podcasts, platform building, and give you an inside look at what’s coming up in DIY MFA. In this episode Marielle and I discuss: Getting from no to yes with publishers, agents, and podcasts. Pitching faux pas, and how to avoid them. Sustaining a huge project for the long haul. Putting yourself out there while still finding your voice. An inside look at the wish list of DIY MFA Radio! Plus, both of our #1 tips for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/200

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of talking with Dharma Kelleher on the show! Dharma Kelleher is the author of several gritty crime fiction novels from a transgender/queer perspective. She has worked as a radio news director and is a current member of Sisters in Crime, the International Thriller Writers, and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Dharma traditionally published her first series, the Shea Stevens biker series, before deciding to go the indie route for her latest thriller. Her new book, Chaser, is the first book in her Jinx Ballou Bounty Hunter series and is available now. Listen in as we chat about this awesome book, and giving accurate voice to transgender communties in literature. In this episode Dharma and I discuss: Crafting a multifaceted and realistic transgender character. The need for accuracy not sensitivity when portraying a marginalized community. Dharma’s two-pronged attack for avoiding the echo chamber of niche marketing. Marketing challenges in indie publishing vs. traditional publishing. How to build your following with an email newsletter. Plus, Dharma’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/199

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to be talking with Will Dowd on the show! Will Dowd is a writer and artist from the Boston area. He earned a BA from Boston College, an MS from MIT,and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. His writing and art have appeared in many notable places, including LitHub and Tin House online. Will’s debut collection of essays, Areas of Fog, which takes readers on the whimsical and unpredictable journey of one year of New England weather, was released by Etruscan press in November 2017. Listen in as we chat about this thought-provoking essay collection, and staying true to your voice even when the world tries to dampen it. In this episode Will and I discuss: Finding the unique but universal concept for your writing to latch on to. Learning to turn down the volume of your inner critic. How the argumentative nature of the internet affects the personal essay. What techniques to use to craft an essay, with an example from Will. The importance of being compassionate with yourself as a writer. Plus, Will’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/198

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting debut novelist Kate Greathead on the show! Kate is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Her work has appeared in some pretty impressive places such as The New York Times and Vanity Fair, and she is a 9-time Moth Story Slam champion. Her debut novel Laura & Emma takes place on the Upper East Side in New York City where Kate spent her formative years, though she currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband, the writer Teddy Wayne (who has appeared on DIY MFA Radio previously). Listen in as we chat about this amazing book, and get an honest look at what being a working author really looks like. In this episode Kate and I discuss: The art of “stealing” your story’s structure. Showing the bizarre of a normal setting with micro details. Why you should craft a protagonist that makes readers cringe Knowing when to use the bulldozer in your revision process. Tips to deal with the pain of slashing out scenes. Plus, Kate’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/197

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting award-winning author Nathaniel Philbrick on the show! Nathaniel is the New York Times bestselling author of Valiant Ambition, Sea of Glory, and The Last Stand, as well as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his book Mayflower. His book In the Heart of the Sea which not only won the National Book Award, but was made into a major motion picture a few years back starring Chris Hemsworth. Nathaniel is also the author of Second Wind, which is a memoir chronicling a pivotal moment in his writing career. This book was originally published way back in 1999 by a small New England Press and has now been given another publication run by Penguin. Listen in as we chat about the return of this awesome book, and get an inside look into Nathaniel’s meticulous writing process.   In this episode Nathaniel and I discuss: Reading the room, and other skills to cultivate when speaking about your book. The challenges of writing memoir vs. nonfiction. Why you need to be remorseless in editing. Ways to escape being landlocked on your own writing island. How to make your memoir universal. Plus, Nathaniel’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/196

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author and journalist Steven Gaines on the show! Steven is the bestselling author of a number of biographies and nonfiction books including Philistines at the Hedgerow: Passion and Property in the Hamptons and The Love You Make: An Insider’s Story of the Beatles. His journalism has appeared in several major publications such as Vanity Fair and The New York Times, and he is  the co-founder and past vice-chairman of the Hamptons International Film Festival. After decades of writing the life stories of others, Steven’s latest work, his memoir One of these Things First, showcases a defining moment in his own life. Listen in as we chat about the literary art of writing a memoir that is both truthful, and tells an engaging story for readers.   In this episode Steven and I discuss: How to identify the juicy moments of your life to craft into a memoir. Finding, but not clinging, to the “tent pole” of your story. Pushing the story forward and staying true to the events. The role of humor in memoir, and how to do it right. The when, where, and how of releasing your story to the world. Plus, Steven’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/195

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have my good friend and mentor Jane Friedman on the show! Jane has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet (my go-to resource about the industry), is a columnist for Publishers Weekly, and has been interviewed on many prestigious media outlets like NPR, PBS, and The Washington Post. In addition to all these accomplishments, Jane has delivered keynotes and presentations on the digital era of authorship at major writing events and today she is here to share her expertise with an inside look at her new book The Business of Being a Writer. Listen in as we chat about the topic Jane discusses in her book and the ins and outs of the business side of writing most creatives don’t often talk about but need to hear. In this episode Jane and I discuss: Bridging the divide between art and business. Developing your own marketing strategy to make a living as a writer. Understanding the truth about how the publishing industry works. Tips for building your own business model. How to be entrepreneurial in your writing career without being an entrepreneur. Plus, Jane’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/194

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the distinct pleasure of having acclaimed writer and actor Michael Imperioli on the show! Though Michael is best known for playing Christopher Moltisanti in the The Sopranos, a role that earned him an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor, he is also an accomplished screenwriter. He wrote five episodes of The Sopranos and was co-screenwriter for the film Summer of Sam which was directed by Spike Lee. While still acting and writing for film and TV, with several upcoming projects in the works, Michael has also turned his artistic talent to novel writing with his debut The Perfume Burned His Eyes. Listen in as we chat about this amazing book, and how to know when you’ve found the story to take all the way to the end.   In this episode Michael and I discuss: Finding your story and taking it to the finish line. Adding layers to your story with a unique narrative framework. When to use an epilogue and how to do it right. The advantages of novel writing vs. screenwriting. The fine art of book covers and why you need the right one. Plus, Michael’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/193

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have David Plante on the show! David grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, within a French-Canadian parrish, much the same way as Jack Kerouac did in Lowell, Massachusetts, in an area which was known in the 17h century as La Nouvelle France. David has written several books rooted in La Nouvelle France, most notably in The Family, a contender for the National Book Award. He then went on to live in London for fifty years where he wrote several memoirs including Becoming a Londoner and Worlds Apart. David is also the author of the nonfiction book Difficult Women which has recently been republished by The New York Review of Books Press, and has been a regular contributor to the New Yorker with short stories and profiles of people he knew. David is calling in to the show today from his home in Lucca, Italy, to discuss his most recent novel American Stranger. Listen in as we chat about the elements that went into crafting this novel, and how writing can give you a voice and identity belonging to only you. Also, just a quick heads up if you have not yet read American Stranger. We got so excited talking about the book that we may have disclosed a few spoilers… so SPOILER ALERT!   In this episode David and I discuss: How he unboxed Franco-American culture through the eyes of an outsider. Why not having identity can actually be liberating, and can also help you find your writing voice. Crafting a timeless novel by grounding the story with details. The best way to deal with a bad review… (all authors get them!). Drawing inspiration from a writer’s day in Italy. Plus, David’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/192

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m thrilled to have author Kiersi Burkhart on the show! Kiersi is an author and freelance writer living in windy, wild Wyoming. She is the co-author, along with Amber J. Keyser, of the middle grade series Quartz Creek Ranch; four stand alone stories all about a summer horse camp in her own home state of Colorado.   She went to college at a small, and extremely remote school in Portland, Oregon, where she got really plugged into their literary community. The secluded campus and insular culture of this college inspired the setting in Kiersi’s latest book and YA debut, Honor Code. Listen in as we chat about Kiersi’s amazing book, and how to focus on characters in an issue driven book.   In this episode Kiersi and I discuss: Crafting an issue-driven book that doesn’t feel issue-driven. Flipping a known concept on its head to form a more interesting theme. How to use a blog as a device to layer your story with different perspectives. The wider world of writing, ways to get out of your writer’s bubble and into the community. Tips to survive the introvert hangover after an in person event. Plus, Kiersi’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/191

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Chloe Benjamin on the show! Chloe received an MFA in fiction from the University of Wisconsin, and her first novel, The Anatomy of Dreams, received the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and was longlisted for the 2014 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Her latest novel, The Immortalists, received extraordinary pre-publication excitement and has already been optioned for a major U.S. television series. I myself have been buzzing about this book since May 2017 where it was featured in the BookExpo America Adult Buzz Panel. Listen in as we chat about Chloe’s awesome new book, and crafting an overarching narrative in a story with shifting points of view.   In this episode Chloe and I discuss: The art of the prologue, when to use one and how to do it right. Combining shifting character perspectives with a continuous narrative thread. Crafting a multiple protagonist story. Doing justice to your secondary characters while keeping them in a supporting role. How to hit the right emotional notes in your readers. Plus, Chloe’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/190

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing author Georgia Hunter on the show! Georgia’s debut novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, is an emotional story about a Jewish family ripped away from each other at the start of the German and Russian occupation of Poland, and their extraordinary journey back to each other. And if that wasn’t juicy enough, the novel is actually based on Georgia’s grandfather’s (Addy in the book) real Holocaust survival story. Readers from all over the country have embraced this incredible story, leading it to be nominated as a finalist for the Goodreads “Best Books of 2017 Choice Awards” for “Best Debut Goodreads Author.” Listen in as we chat about Georgia’s amazing book, and how to balance real family lore with historical fiction.   In this episode Georgia and I discuss: Crafting suspense into a story when your readers already know the ending. Using the present tense to bring emotions to life in your characters. The distinction between nonfiction and historical fiction and when to draw the line. Flushing out snippets of oral history with believable transitions in your novel. Georgia’s tips on where to start when writing your family’s story.   Plus, Georgia’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/189

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Rodrigo Hasbún on the show! Rodrigo is a Bolivian novelist whose work has appeared in many top literary magazines such as Granta and Words Without Borders. In 2007, he was selected by the Hay Festival as one of the best Latin American writers under the age of thirty-nine for Bogotá39, and in 2010 he was named one of Granta’s Best Young Spanish-Language Novelists. His latest novel, Affections, is his American publishing debut, received an English PEN Award, and has been published in twelve languages. Listen in as we chat about Rodrigo’s amazing book, and how to find the way to your own best writing practice.  In this episode Rodrigo and I discuss: Practicing mindfulness in your writing while not squashing your creative process. Using peripheral first person POV to give your protagonist greater impact. Keeping readers engaged and invested in your work. Translating your writer’s instinct into a reliable editing process. Broader edits vs. fine tuning, how to use the logic of a film editor for both. Plus, Rodrigo’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/188

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Dr. Eucabeth Odhiambo on the show! Eucabeth was born in Kenya and her gorgeous middle grade debut novel, Auma’s Long Run,is inspired by her memories growing up there as well as her own work experiences with children and educators affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.   I read a lot of books for this show and while I’m not supposed to pick any favorites, I have to say it’s not often that a book gets me this excited about the story and the meaning behind it. Listen in as we tease apart the many elements of Auma’s Long Run, and discuss the responsibility that comes along with writing an “own voices” novel.   In this episode Eucabeth and I discuss: Crafting a strong female character young girls anywhere can relate to. Writing a sport centered middle grade novel with a female protagonist. Bringing life to a country and a culture through your characters. Dealing with the fear and responsibility of writing about things others have experienced. How fiction helps in getting over the hurdles of writing an “own voices” novel. Plus, Eucabeth’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/187

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have author Stef Penney on the show! Stef is a screenwriter and author. Her debut novel, The Tenderness of Wolves,was the winner of the Costa Prize for Book of the Year and the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year, and was translated into thirty languages. Stef followed up this success with her next highly acclaimed novel The Invisible Ones, and her latest work Under a Pole Star which was the recipient of the 2017 Wilbur and Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize. An epic tale  of arctic exploration between two rival teams in the 1800’s, writing Under a Pole Star became a journey of its own for Stef, as she mapped out her characters’ lives and took readers across three continents in this amazing work. Listen in as we chat about the creation of Under a Pole Star, and how to best prepare yourself for your own writing exploration. In this episode Stef and I discuss: Using visual aids to add reality to a fictional setting. When to show your character’s back story and how to do it right. Preparing yourself to navigate through your writing and what “tools” to take. Systems to keep track of and order your research into a novel. Dealing with gender roles in a novel without being political. Plus, Stef’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/186

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have bestselling co-authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi on the show! Angela and Becca co-founded the popular Writers Helping Writers site, a hub where authors can hone their craft, as well as One Stop for Writers, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling. I happen to be part of their current cohort of Resident Writing Coaches on Writers Helping Writers and have been a longtime fan of their work. They are also both writing coaches and international speakers, and their books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. Angela and Becca’s popular Writer’s Thesauruses series is now up to fourteen books in total with their latest edition, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus, which is available now. Listen in as we chat about their latest thesaurus, and dig deep into what an emotional wound is and how to use to create more believable characters.   In this episode Angela, Becca, and I discuss: Tips to find and use a character’s emotional wound to draw your readers in. Avoiding the research rabbit hole, finding what you need to know to write the story. What “show don’t tell” really means and how to do it right. Backstory, when to use it and why. The want, the wound, and the desire,how to combine them in your characters. Plus, each of these ladies’ #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/185

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have bestselling author Kat Martin on the show! Kat is the author of sixty-eight historical and contemporary romantic suspense novels, and with over sixteen million copies of her books in print in twenty countries outside the US, you could say Kat knows a thing or two about building a long-term career as an author. The first book of her most recent series The Texas Trilogy, also known as the Beyond— series,    Beyond Reason, received a coveted starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. The second installment, Beyond Danger, hit shelves on January 30, 2018, and the third, Beyond Control, is coming in June 2018. Listen in as we chat about not only Kat’s latest series, but the strategic decisions she made on her career path to bestselling author. In this episode Kat and I discuss: How to keep yourself motivated in the early days of your writing career. Knowing when to say goodbye, how to change agents and publishers. Who owns the rights? What to look for in contracts. Matching your writing pace to the voracious romance reader without going crazy. Kat’s tips for staying in control of your series. Plus, Kat’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/184

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author and editor Joe Fassler on the show! Joe earned his MFA from the University of Iowa Writing Program and is a senior editor at The New Food Economy. His writing has appeared in many journals including The Boston Review, Electric Literature, and Creative Nonfiction, but he’s probably most well-known for the author interviews he conducts as part of The Atlantic’s “By Heart” series. Joe’s latest work, Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process, is a compilation of numerous authors’ answers to one simple but profound question: What inspires you? Light the Dark is available now. I’ve been reading it and all I can say is if you’re a writer, you must put this book on your To-Be-Read list for 2018! Listen in as we chat about this amazing book, and some of the best ways to keep inspired and motivated to write.   In this episode Joe and I discuss: Learning to the draw the line, how to find your catch-all creative time. Why you need to celebrate your zero moment. Balancing what publicists want and what writers want in an interview. Techniques to help find that quiet place of creativity in your mind. The importance of the written word and the transformative power of books. Plus, Joe’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/183

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Howard Kaplan on the show! Howard is a native of Los Angeles, but he has lived in Israel and traveled to numerous places across the world, including Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. He also has had some incredible adventures in the former Soviet Union which, along with his time in Syria, inspired bestselling thriller The Damascus Cover. Published forty years ago to rave reviews, The Damascus Cover is finally coming to the big screen. The movie debuted in September 2017 at the Boston Film Festival, and is scheduled for release everywhere this spring. Listen in as we talk about this bestseller, the art of film, and how to take a story from page to screen. In this episode Howard and I discuss: The importance of endings, and how to do them right. How to use film to elevate your story. Kill your darlings, knowing what to cut on the page vs. the screen. When your characters come to life, what to expect when working with actors. Setting the right tone in scene one for a book and a movie. Plus, Howard’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/182

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have award-winning author Joan Dempsey on the show!   Joan’s writing has been published in numerous places including The Adirondack Review and  Alligator Juniper, and she is the author of This is How it Begins. For this fascinating novel, that is a mix of literary fiction and mystery, she received a significant research grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation which took her to Warsaw for a month (no, she doesn't speak Polish), and to Washington, D.C. for ten days, to study in the archives at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Listen in as we discuss the multiple layers of This is How is Begins, and get some of Joan’s best writing techniques for juggling plot and characters. In this episode Joan and I discuss: Avoiding the caricature, finding your way into every character’s head. Using omniscient POV in contemporary fiction the right way. Staying neutral, how to keep from steering your readers to any one opinion. Balancing the interplay between characters and plot. Method writing, and other craft techniques from Joan to get to the heart of your story.   Plus, Joan’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/181

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have author D.P. Lyle on the show! In his writing career, Doug has received a Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Silver Award and has been nominated for a gazillion others including, but nowhere near limited to, the Edgar, Agatha, and Silver Falchion. He is the author of 17 books, including the thriller series of Samantha Cody, Dub Walker, and Jake Longly (which is the one highlighted on the show!). He has also worked with writers of numerous popular T.V. shows like, Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Monk, and the list goes on. As if all that wasn’t impressive enough, Doug is also the VP of Education for International Thriller Writers. This means he is in charge of CraftFest, Master CraftFest, and ITW’s online Thriller School. Listen in as we discuss his latest Jake Longly thriller, and the art of crafting a thriller series to keep all your readers, both new and super fans, coming back for more. In this episode Doug and I discuss: The importance of settings, and how to use them right. What the two types of series are, and how to write them both. Tips to overcome the challenges of the thriller series character. Less is more, knowing what to leave in and what to leave out. An inside look at ITW’s educational programs, and ThrillerFest 2018. Plus, Doug’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/180

Happy Holidays word nerds! To help you enjoy this special week between Christmas and New Year’s, we’ve got an awesome show for featuring author Stephen Morris! Stephen holds degrees in medieval history and theology from Yale and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Academy. He is also a former priest of the Russian Orthodox Church. He has written several historical and contemporary fantasy books as well as the nonfiction book When Brothers Dwell in Unity: Byzantine Christianity and Homosexuality. What drew me to this book in particular is how Stephen approached his research through close reading. Listen in as we talk about Stephen’s research methods, and how to dissect and truly understand texts. In this episode Stephen and I discuss: What do these words mean? Understanding the context and time period of texts. Stephen’s research methods: The art of index cards. What to do when faced with contradictions and a lack of answers to your questions. Battling confirmation bias and how to safeguard against it. Dealing with push back when writing and publishing a controversial topic. Plus, Stephen’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/179  

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of talking with author Ada Palmer on the show! Ada is an intellectual historian and the author of the four part science fiction series Terra Ignota. The first book in the series (also Ada’s first science fiction novel), Too Like the Lightning, was a Hugo Best Novel Finalist in 2017 and is followed by Seven Surrenders and The Will to Battle which just released this month. In addition to writing these awesome books, Ada composes fantasy, Sci-Fi, and mythology-themed music, performs at conventions with her vocal group Sassafrass, researches anime and manga, and blogs about philosophy and travel. Listen in as we chat about Ada’s epic series, and the art of world building in speculative fiction.   In this episode Ada and I discuss: How to avoid being pigeonholed by your books and your brand. Why thinking like a historian aids world building. Ada’s personal techniques for building multiple worlds at once. Avoiding the info. dump, crafting an opening scene of speculative fiction the right way. Fiction burn, what it is and how to avoid it in your novel. Plus, Ada’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/178

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have author Ayobami Adebayo on the show! Ayobami’s stories have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies. She holds BA and MA degrees in literature in English as well as an MA in creative writing, and has received numerous fellowships and residencies. Her debut novel, Stay With Me, is set in her home country of Nigeria and was one of the Buzz Books at Book Expo 2017. Listen in as we discuss Ayobami’s debut novel, and how to find the right narration for your story. In this episode Ayobami and I discuss: Writing alternating first person POV, and how to do it right. How to discover your characters’ reasons for their actions. Tips and techniques to keep from breaking your novel. Ways to shift your reader’s perspective with your story’s framework. Deciding what to leave unsaid in your novel. Plus, Ayobami’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/177

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of chatting with author Danya Kukafka on the show! Danya’s stunning debut novel, Girl in Snow, received rave reviews right out of the gate from masters of the thriller genre like Paula Hawkins and Lee Child. This achievement is made even more remarkable when you consider that Danya is only 25 years old! After reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Virgin Suicides, Danya became fascinated by unstable teens in voyeuristic communities. She set out to explore the idea of what would happen if you had a teenage boy who truly doesn’t know if he’s killed someone. How could the reader find empathy for him? Listen in as we tackle this question and the even bigger question of deciding where the line between YA and adult lies as we discuss Girl in Snow. In this episode Danya and I discuss: Adult or YA? Deciding which way is right for your story. Writing teenage characters that feel real. Knowing when to choose a multiple point of view and how to do it right. Dealing with the publishing world as an editor and an author. How to win the comparison game by sticking to your own writing path. Plus, Danya’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/176

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have doctor and writer Robin Cook on the show! Robin started his medical career as a general surgical resident and finished with an ophthalmology residency at Harvard. His literary career, however, began as he wrote his debut novel, The Year of the Intern, underwater inside a nuclear submarine. He followed this up with his novel Coma, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and created the medical thriller genre. Robin is the author of thirty-four previous international bestselling novels, and is now back with his latest work Charlatans. Listen in as we dive into Robin’s latest medical thriller, the genre itself, and get an inside look at how to turn firmly held beliefs of the medical profession on their heads. In this episode Robin and I discuss: What makes a medical thriller. How to balance keeping an issue present without creating an issue-driven book. Why fiction is better at influencing public policy than nonfiction. Using little details to drag readers into the story from page one. Prologues, when you should use them and the reasons why. Plus, Robin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/175

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Jarett Kobek on the show! Jarett published his first novel, I Hate the Internet, last year with a small indie publisher and it immediately took on cult status and received rave reviews. His new book, The Future Won’t Be Long, centers on one of the characters (Adeline) featured in I Hate the Internet and is set in my favorite city, New York! Listen in as we discuss Jarett’s latest novel and his techniques to keep a book based around technology relevant even when the tech in the story becomes obsolete. In this episode Jarett and I discuss: The art of explaining everything, and why you should use the technique. His tips and tricks for keeping the technology in a book relevant for future generations. When to set a project aside and how to go back and edit it later. How to grow your characters through multiple books as well as in a single book. Why readers want to read multivolume stories. Plus, Jarett’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/174

Hey there word nerds! I am having the biggest fangirl moment of all time because today I have author A.J. Jacobs on the show! I was first introduced to A.J.’s work back when I was just an itty-bitty baby writer, and heard him give a talk on “faking it until you make it.” DIY MFA was barely a twinkle in my eye at that point, so to say I hadn’t yet made is a massive understatement. His talk was a lightbulb moment for me, and from there on “fake it until you make it” became my mantra. The rest, as they say, is history. Now A.J. is here to talk about his latest book It’s All Relative, which follows the same vein of experimental journalism as his other works showing in great detail his quest for “self-improvement” in the most hilarious of ways. Listen in as we chat about his books, the structure he uses to write them, and maybe you'll get your own lightbulb moment from A.J.! In this episode A.J. and I discuss: Nailing down your hook, and how to structure your book around a concrete goal. A.J.’ personal techniques for brainstorming and finding the “sticky ideas.” How to find your writing groove to get through the daily grind. Tips on preparing for a speaking presentation vs. writing something on the page. Ways to balance writing about your own life and other people’s (without annoying anyone or getting yourself in trouble). Plus, A.J.’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/173

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting author Kathleen Hill on the show! Kathleen teaches in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College, and has also taught and lived in the country of Niger which is also where her debut novel Still Waters in Niger is set. Her debut received many accolades including being named a notable book by the New York and Los Angeles Times. Kathleen is also the author of the novel Who Occupies This House, and now of the memoir She Read to us in the Late Afternoons: A Life in Novels. Listen in as we discuss Kathleen’s latest book and how to make the shift from fiction to memoir. In this episode Kathleen and I discuss: Writing literal truth versus emotional truth and when to use both. How to work around constraints of reality in fiction vs. memoir. Ways to tackle “blind spots” of your characters when using an “I” narrator. How to use certain language to make your memoir feel like a novel. Tips on finding your memoir’s hook, and weaving a narrative through your life. Plus, Kathleen’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/172

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have author Gin Phillips on the show! When I received the pitch for Gin’s most recent book, Fierce Kingdom, it took my breath away. Not “oh this is cool” kind of take your breath away but punched-in-the-gut, heart-wrenching, “I don’t think I can put this book down” kind of take your breath away. Fierce Kingdom is a book about a mother and her son, trapped in a zoo that has been taken over by armed gunmen, and the lengths this mother will go to protect her child. Hooked yet? Listen in as Gin and I chat about her novel, and how to balance a fast paced plot with a strong and realistic mother-son bond. In this episode Gin and I discuss: How to bring a realistic mother-son relationship to the page. What nuances to use to create a three dimensional child character. Why you should use specific details instead of generalities to connect with your readers. How to bing plot and character development together in every single scene. When to speed up and when to slow down: Gin’s techniques to balance pacing in the tightest story timeframe. Plus, Gin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/171

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking to middle grade author William Meyer! From the Indus River to the Italian Renaissance, no topic has piqued the imagination of this high school history teacher’s students as intensely as the study of Ancient Egypt. As a result of both their interest and his own childhood curiosity about the mysteries of that era, he wrote the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. Listen in as we chat about his fantastic series and how to keep consistency and momentum going in a story. In this episode Bill and I discuss: How to keep your momentum going to write your second book. Tips and tricks to write a novel under a deadline. Why middle grade readers want the same but different story, and how to write it  for them. The nuts and bolts of worldbuilding in historical fiction with magic, and how to create and stick to your own rules. How to balance giving children characters agency to be the hero and grounding them in the reality of our world. Plus, Bill’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/170

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and cofounder of 100 Word Story, Grant Faulkner, on the show! His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, like Tin House and The Southwest Review, plus his essays on creativity have been published in places like the New York Times and Writer’s Digest. Grant’s latest collection of essays, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, is now available and none too soon with NaNoWriMo just around the corner. Listen in as we discuss Grant’s book and get some tips on how to push through your blocks to reach your writing goals using the NaNoWriMo philosophy. In this episode Grant and I discuss: NaNoWriMo: what it is, why you should take part, and how to rise to the challenge. Why you should adopt a “beginner” mindset no matter the stage of your writing career. Failing better, and how to bounce back when you stumble and fall. Why you need to avoid perfection to discover your creative process. What three of the biggest creative blocks are, and how to smash through them. Plus, Grant’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/169

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting novelist and screenwriter Augustus Rose on the show! Augustus has a strong passion for numerous weird, esoteric, and fringe concepts, and found a way to thread them all together in his stunning debut novel, The Readymade Thief. Listen in as we pick apart the many layers of Augustus’s strange yet relatable novel, and learn how weave together different points of view to create one compelling narrative. In this episode Augustus and I discuss: How to transform high concept and strange ideas into a relatable story. Why starting with a prologue is necessary in some scenarios. What narrative distance is, and how to manipulate it. When to break the “rules” intentionally, in order to jar your reader in the right way. World building, and how to create a world based on different ideas instead of different landscapes. Plus, Augustus’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/168

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute joy of hosting my dear friend, Jodi Kendall, on the show! Jodi and I go way back, to those days when DIY MFA was just the glimmer of an idea tickling the back of my brain. Jodi has nurtured a lifelong passion for animals, and has now turned that passion into a beautiful middle grade novel. I am so excited to share Jodi’s debut, The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, and her inspiring story of a tough road to publication with you. Listen in as we geek about animals and middle grade fiction, and hear some of Jodi’s tips on growing through rejection to reach your publishing goals. In this episode Jodi and I discuss: How funneling your passion into your writing helps you find your voice. Outlining for pantsers, what Jodi’s techniques are. Why making a simple matter feel like life and death stakes for your character creates a page turning experience. How Jodi battles through years of rejection on her road to publication, and why you can do it. How to tap into your own emotions to create characters and themes that impact middle grade readers. Plus, Jodi’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/167

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting author and illustrator Trinka Hakes Noble on the show! Trinka is the award-winning author of over thirty picture books, and has been hailed as the champion of the picture book genre. Her latest book, Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade, is a historical fiction starring a young girl named Rettie in 1918 America during the deadly influenza pandemic. Listen in as we get the inside scoop on how Rettie’s world was created, and geek out about the picture book genre.   In this episode Trinka and I discuss: Crafting historical fiction that places children in the shoes of the characters. How to use big moments in history to anchor your story. Why it’s so important—both in general, but most especially in children’s books—that the main character not come across as a victim. The important differences between a “story book” and a “picture book” and distinguishing features in each of these forms. Why it’s so important to trust your illustrator when you write picture books, and how your art director and illustrator can elevate your book to new heights. Plus, Trinka’s #1 tip for writers.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/166

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Zinzi Clemmons on the show! Zinzi’s gorgeous debut novel, What We Lose, has already taken the literary world by storm establishing her as a strong new voice to watch. Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs by a South African mother and American father, Zinzi has much in common with the main character of her novel, Thandi, so much so that What We Lose has been described as autobiographical fiction. Listen in as we dive into Zinzi’s novel and how to craft fiction and reality in a novel that defies normal expectations. In this episode Zinzi and I discuss: Autobiographical fiction, and how to decide what pieces of reality to include in your novel. How to weave big topics—such as race and identity—into your novel organically. What to do when you receive pushback about your story, and how to preserve that emotional truth. Why art and literature can shine a light on the grey areas of life. When to keep pursuing a novel and when to throw it out. Plus, Zinzi’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/165

Hey there word nerds! In today’s episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2017! This time I’ve assembled a panel of authors all published by Quercus books and who all start their very different books with a bang. I am so excited to be speaking with Adam Hamdy, K.J. Howe, and Sam Wiebe, and sharing our panel discussion on the show! Listen in as we discuss the process of writing a high paced first chapter and the many facets of the Thriller genre. In this episode Adam, K.J., Sam, and I discuss: How to start a book with a bang that pulls the reader in and introduces your character. The “silence” after the bang, and how to craft that moment so that it holds the reader’s interest. Dramatic tension, and how to raise the stakes in scenes that might not be life or death. How to craft opening scenes that hook your readers, whether you start with a group, a one-on-one interaction, or inside a single character’s head. What the authors’ favorite opening scenes are and why. Plus, each of these fabulous authors’ #1 tips for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/164

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so delighted to have Nancy Pearl on the show! Nancy is a book world legend. From her more than three decades of experience as a librarian and a bookseller, to her worldwide speaking engagements on the importance of reading she has become the go-to person for all things literary. Now with the publication of her debut novel, George and Lizzie, Nancy throws her own words onto the fiction bookshelf. Listen in as we discuss how being a good reader makes you a good writer, and the sensation of moving from the person who recommends books to being the author of a book that is recommended. In this episode Nancy and I discuss: How to nudge yourself to read outside your comfort zone, and why doing so can help your writing. The difference between reading for pleasure and reading with purpose and how to shift gears between the two. How to do know when to quit on a book, and why it aids you when you do. Letting your characters tell their story and drive your novel to the correct conclusion. The difference between ideas in your head and what actually gets written on the page, and why this distinction is so important. Plus Nancy's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/163 

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Sebastien de Castell on the show! Sebastien is the author of the four part Greatcoats series which includes Traitor's Blade, Knight's Shadow, Saint's Blood, and most recently Tyrant's Throne. Before coming to writing Sebastien bounced around from careers as diverse as archaeologist and fight choreographer, and with the Greatcoats series completed can now add author of swashbuckling saga to his list. Listen in as we discuss how to craft a series from beginning to end and how to use dramatic tension between characters to build a more entertaining world. In this episode Sebastien and I discuss how to: Tap into your writing flow and find the method that works for you. Write a true “swashbuckling” story. Build a world that feels real and forms organically on the page. Craft a series by building on what’s happened in previous books through dramatic tension between characters. Create plot twists that work, and how to know when they’re not working. Plus Sebastien's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/162

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Gina Cascone and Bryony Williams Sheppard on the show! This mother-daughter powerhouse team has co-authored the picture book Around the World Right Now, a multicultural adventure through our world's 24 time zones. Gina is the author of 30 books in several different genres, and Bryony is a teacher at heart and loves bringing stories to life for her students, making them the perfect duo to bring this story to life. Listen in as we dissect the writing elements of Around the World Right Now and the exciting, often daunting, task of crafting a picture book. In this episode Gina, Bryony, and I discuss: What the important things you must consider when writing a picture book. The delicate balance between not fixating too much on the images while also giving the illustrator something to work with. How to craft a good story that can also be a great learning tool. Why it is much more difficult to write for children than adults. How to craft a picture book that can engage and entertain children while not being flashy. Plus both of these ladies' #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/161  

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have debut novelist Katherine Nouri Hughes on the show! Katherine is publishing her debut, The Mapmaker's Daughter, at the age of 67. Her book is a remarkable feat not only in its scope, but in its depth. Listen in as we discuss the different and largely unknown (in western culture) historical framework of Katherine's novel, and the craft of writing the truth in fiction through your own experiences. In this episode Katherine and I discuss: How to piece together facts of an unknown person in history to create an exciting and believable novel. How to reveal the core truth of your story through showing instead of telling. How to keep the proportions of your story's narrative in check. Why learning to be calm and relaxed with your novel helps you write better. The challenges and advantages are of writing a novel later in life. Plus, Katherine's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/160  

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of having bestselling author Jane Green on the show! Jane has written 17 New York Times bestsellers, and her books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. While her latest book The Sunshine Sisters might be pegged as a "beach read" there is a depth and richness to the relationships between the characters that makes it so much more. Listen in as we discuss Jane's latest novel and the craft of writing intricate characters relationships. In this episode Jane and I discuss: How to craft a story around a large issue, such as the right to die, without writing an issue driven book. How to craft characters with very different personalities all striving to find their "happiness" in a way readers will love, and the poem that inspired Jane to write about mother-daughter relationships. How to balance the tug-of-war between writing for the market and writing from your heart. Why you need to hear feedback, and how to know whether you need to listen to it. How using a unique POV framework can crystalize who the characters are, and keep things exciting for you as a writer. Plus, Jane's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/159

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Joseph Finder on the show! Joseph is The New York Times bestselling author of thirteen previous novels, including the international bestseller Killer Instinct, which won ITW's Thriller Award for Best Novel in 2006, and two novels- Paranoia and High Crimes- which became major motion pictures. Listen in as we talk about his new book, The Switch, in which a simple mix-up at airport security throws an innocent man into the crosshairs of sinister government secrets, and the craft elements behind creating a realistic suspense novel and a likeable antagonist. In this episode Joseph and I discuss: What to include when writing a mistaken identity story. How to craft an unlikeable character that is relatable to readers. How to keep a story gripping when the audience knows more than the character. How to use dual point of view to craft a sympathetic antagonist and protagonist. How to create a sense of reality in a suspense novel. Plus, Joseph's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/158

Hey there word nerds! In today's episode I bring you live to ThrillerFest 2017 where I have assembled a panel of five, that's right five, debut authors. Not only are all these fabulous authors debuts, they are also all women and represent different sub-genres in the broad category of thriller. I am so excited to be speaking with Jennifer Soosar, Christina Kovac, Lili Wright, Shelia Sobel, and Alexia Gordon, and sharing our panel discussion on the show! Listen in as we discuss the life of a debut author and take away some nuggets of wisdom for your own debut experience. In this episode Jennifer, Christina, Lili, Shelia, Alexia, and I discuss: What sub-genre they each tackle in the broad scope of the thriller genre. What the best and worst parts of being a debut author are. How to use writing conferences to your best advantage to network and find your publisher. How to navigate both the expected and unexpected hurdles of first time publication. How to tackle marketing and self-promotion as a debut. Plus, the #1 tip for writers from each of these talented ladies. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/157

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Courtney Maum on the show! Courtney is the author of I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, and pieces of short fiction an essays that have appeared in places such as New York Times. Her latest novel, Touch, is the satirical story of Sloane Jacobson a trend forecaster who sees a move against electronics and toward in-person interaction ahead. Listen in as we discuss the strange yet believable world of Touch, an dhow limiting our electronic usage can be beneficial to our creativity. In this episode Courtney and I discuss: Why a huge emphasis on electronics is damaging to your writer's intuition and creativity. How to craft a "blind spot" for a character who's job it is to know everything, thus giving readers a reason to read on. How to best research and craft a story of speculative fiction. Why it is important to find friends outside the writing community. How learning to write copy can help you in other writing endeavors. Plus Courtney's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/156

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Ann Kidd Taylor to the show! Ann first broke on to the literary scene in 2009 with the New York Times bestselling memoir Traveling with Pomegranates, co-written with her mother Sue Monk Kidd. She returns this summer with her debut novel, The Shark Club, which has received glowing early praise and is available in bookstores now!  Listen in as Ann and I tease apart The Shark Club and discuss both its unique characters and setting. In this episode Ann and I discuss How to write a character driven novel with a plot that will keep readers turning pages. Why writing an abnormal protagonist not only makes a story unique but adds tension. How to craft multisensory scenes that bring to life a setting, such as underwater, which differs so much from your own experience. How to write realistic animal characters without inferring human qualities on to them. How to prepare yourself to write something outside your area of expertise. Plus, Ann's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/155

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have bestselling author of contemporary YA, Sarah Dessen on the show! Sarah has twelve previous novels to her name, and discusses with us here her latest teen read, Once And For All. Listen in as we chat about the ins and outs of Sarah's writing process, and how she keeps her momentum going to create characters and stories that resonate with teens. In this episode Sarah and I discuss: How to craft a story with a balance of light and dark scenes. What challenges arise after you've published multiple books, and why some books are more challenging to write than others. How to use a "skeleton" of your story to draft a manuscript, and how this technique can let you know a book is not working. How to craft realistic and engaging stories that keep teens coming back for more. How to push through the bad writing times and forge ahead. Plus Sarah's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/154

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Karen Dionne on the show. Karen was the first author I ever interviewed on DIY MFA Radio, and is now the first author that I've brought back for a second solo interview because she’s just that awesome. In this episode we discuss Karen’s novel The Marsh King’s Daughter, the very book she was working on way back in 2014 when I first interviewed her, and I have a feeling this book will be one of the summer’s biggest hits.     In this episode Karen and I discuss: How to write the book that’s in you by mining what you know, and why this can make a bizarre setting not only unique but memorable. How to write complex characters that will jump off the page for readers. How to write a relatable villain, and why showing that your bad guy isn’t all bad makes the story more engaging and keeps readers flipping pages. How to hit your reader with a major shift in chapter one. How switching gears in what you write can help you reach your writing goals. Plus, Karen’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/153

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m so excited to have middle grade author and fellow New School alumni, Lisa Preziosi on the show. In our interview, Lisa and I talk about nesting stories within stories, and the various craft elements—such as setting and theme—that make up the fairy tale framework. Listen in to hear us geek out over how to craft a fairy tale for modern middle grade readers.   In this episode Lisa and I discuss: What defines a character as the protagonist, and how viewing a story through different angles can change the character’s role. How to use setting as metaphor for your story’s theme or your characters’ arcs. Why having older characters in a middle grade book can work in a fairy tale framework. How to modulate voice during transitions in a nested story so readers are never jolted out of the story’s world. How to pick a title for your book so it connects with all the different layers of your story. Plus, Lisa’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/152

Hey there word nerds! Today we’re doing something a little different.  I have here with me in person, author and DIY MFA Romance columnist, Robin Lovett! Robin is the author of two dark, sexy, romance novels, and is a super advocate for the romance genre.  Her next series, of three dark stalker suspense romances,  releases this summer through St. Martin's Press Swerve, beginning with Stranger. In our interview, Robin and I dive into the rarely spoken of domain of sex in romance writing, and tease apart the numerous craft elements of this complex and often overlooked genre.   In this episode Robin and I discuss: Why sex should or should not be included  a romance novel, and how to craft sex scenes the right way. How to create tension and faster pacing by switching back and forth between the hero and the heroine. How to craft a sympathetic anti-hero your readers will want a happy ending for. How to use the inner conflict within a character—the wanting and not wanting—to create steamier love scenes. What the business and legal aspects of romance writing entail, and how organizations like the Romance Writers of America (RWA) champions the genre. Plus, Robin’s  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/151

Hey there word nerds! Welcome to the 2017 Epic BookExpo Recap episode. If you don’t already what BookExpo is, it’s the big industry trade show that takes place in the United States every year. This year, things at BookExpo were a little bit new and different so I wanted to give you a rundown of what’s new, what’s still the same, and what I think all these things say about the book industry as a whole.   In this episode, I give you an inside look at: The new vibe at BookExpo, and why I’m really digging the new, smaller, industry focus. What really happens at BookExpo and what this trade show is all about. Why I attend BookExpo, and what I look for as I walk the show. Plus I share a teaser about the types of books I was most excited to check out at the show, and why. For more info and show notes, head to DIYMFA.com/150

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to have literary agent Mark Gottlieb on the show!    Mark is an agent at Trident Media Group, where he has worked with the agency’s chairman.  He is now working on building his own client list because he wants to help manage and grow authors’ careers using the amazing resources Trident has available. In our interview, Mark and I discuss the topic that both excites and terrifies writers--- The Pitch.  Mark gives us the inside scoop on how to work the Pitch Slam and what makes or breaks a spoken pitch.   In this episode Mark and I discuss: What the dos and don’ts of a spoken pitch are, and how writers can use a Pitch Slam to their best advantage. What the framework of a query letter includes, and how to craft a creative hook and strong pitch that will make agent’s want to read more. Why using comp titles can strengthen your pitch, and how to weave them together with your book’s details, with example pitches from Mark! How studying current titles in the marketplace can place your query a step above the crowd. Plus, Mark’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/149

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Jay Swanson on the show. Jay is the creator of the world's first real-time fantasy blog, Into the Nanten, and has written a handful of other fantasy and science-fiction novels along the way. He’s also a daily vlogger and has been posting a photo per day for the past six and half years! In our interview we dive into the creation of Into the Nanten, and the best ways to use different forms of media to craft a unique storytelling experience.   In this episode Jay and I discuss: How to craft an interactive storytelling experience for your readers. What the challenges of blogging a story in real time are, and how to stay ahead. How to use various forms of media to add an extra dimension to your story. Challenges that occur when creating a multimedia story, and why understanding how people read a blog versus a book can help keep more readers coming back. How to build your community on different platforms and across different media. Creative ways to raise money for your projects, and how these initiatives can make your story more real to readers. Plus, Jay’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/148

Hey there word nerds! Today we’re doing something a little bit different. I have the pleasure of interviewing both a debut author, Jenni Walsh, and the editor who helped bring the book to life, Bess Cozby!  Bess may be familiar to some of you in the word nerd community, since aside from being an editor at Tor/Forge Publishing Bess is also the web editor at DIY MFA. Today this awesome author-editor team gives us a window into the side of publishing we rarely get to see, as we discuss what went into bringing Jenni’s debut novel, Becoming Bonnie, to the shelves. In this episode Jenni, Bess, and I discuss: How to expand a concept to a broader audience, and how an editor can help you strategize for a long term career. How to use pieces of historical information as “guide posts” to shape your narrative and write a historical figure, like Bonnelyn Parker, who lacks a lot of historical documentation. How to create a strong author-editor relationship and why this can make your book even stronger. The less glamorous—but still important—parts of the publishing process, like what the editor does (aside from editing) to bring an awesome book to the shelves. How to juggle several writing projects, a full time job, and a family all at the same time. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/147

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to have K.M. Weiland on the show. K.M. Weiland is an award winning and internationally published author with a passion for helping writers become published authors. Through her award winning website, Helping Writers Become Authors, she has mentored numerous writers. She is also the author of several books on the craft of writing. In our interview, we dive into her book Creating Character Arcs, and the craft elements that make characters of all types pop off the page. In this episode K.M. Weiland and I discuss: How to create a strong character arc that works with your plot, and why there is danger in not structuring your characters. Why theme is an important element in your story, and how to use for maximum effect. What the three types of character arcs are, and how to recognize and craft each type. How change occurs in a flat arc, and why these characters resonate with readers. How to fix a story with no character arc, and why a no arc story can work. How to craft change in a story on both internal and external levels, and why the power of choice is important to all types of character arc. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/146

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m pleased to have Katherine Neville on the show. Katherine’s colorful, swashbuckling adventure novels, in the epic “Quest” tradition, have graced the bestseller lists in forty languages. In fact, her works—including The Eight which we discuss in the interview—have “paved the way” for books like the The Da Vinci Code and others in that genre. In our interview, Katherine and I dive into her book The Eight and the craft elements she used in writing the expansive quest novel. This episode is brought to you buy our amazing word nerd fans and supporters on Patreon. If you’d like to help support this show, hop over to patreon.com/DIYMFA.   Embed Episode Here In this episode Katherine and I discuss: How influences as varied as The Odyssey, the French Revolution, and chess inspired The Eight’s intricate plot and kept readers turning pages. What defines a quest novel, and how Katherine adapted this structure in her writing. Katherine’s unexpected strategy for introducing the main protagonist in chapter two, and why draws readers into the story. How to hook readers and build tension with a subtle but powerful opening line. Plus, Katherine’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Katherine Neville’s swashbuckling adventure novels have graced the bestseller lists in forty languages. In fact Publisher’s Weekly described Katherine’s works, such as her book The Eight which we discuss in the interview, as having “paved the way” for books like the Da Vinci Code. Neville herself has been dubbed “the female” Umberto  Eco, Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, and Stephen Spielberg. Her work has been reviewed and has received awards in categories as diverse as Mystery, Thriller, Historical, Romance, Science Fiction as well as classical literature. Despite writing across many genres and categories, Neville’s books remain hard to pigeonhole. Katherine Neville has been an invited speaker at many universities and other venues around the world, including the Today show, National Public Radio, and the Library of Congress. In a national poll by the noted Spanish journal, El Pais, her novel, The Eight, was voted one of the top ten books of all time.She is the co-creator of several awards and grants, including most recently: Art in Literature: the Mary Lynn Kotz Award presented by the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Neville-Pribram Mid-Career Grant presented by the Smithsonian Libraries. Neville resides in Washington DC and Virginia, where she is restoring a fabled Japanese house from the 1960s while writing her new novel set in the art world of the 1600s. To learn more about and connect with Katherine Neville check out her website here:www.katherineneville.com The Eight New York City, 1972—A dabbler in mathematics and chess, Catherine Velis is also a computer expert for a Big Eight accounting firm. Before heading off to a new assignment in Algeria, Cat has her palm read by a fortune-teller. The woman warns Cat of danger. Then an antiques dealer approaches Cat with a mysterious offer: He has an anonymous client who is trying to collect the pieces of an ancient chess service, purported to be in Algeria. If Cat can bring the pieces back, there will be a generous reward. The South of France, 1790—Mireille de Remy and her cousin Valentine are young novices at the fortress like Montglane Abbey. With France aflame in revolution, the two girls burn to rebel against constricted convent life—and their means of escape is at hand. Buried deep within the abbey are pieces of the Montglane Chess Service, once owned by Charlemagne. Whoever reassembles the pieces can play a game of unlimited power. But to keep the Game a secret from those who would abuse it, the two young women must scatter the pieces throughout the world.     For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/145

Hey there word nerds! This episode is brought to you buy our amazing word nerd fans and supporters on Patreon. If you’d like to help support this show, hop over to patreon.com/DIYMFA Today I’m thrilled to have Herb Freed on the show. Herb started his adult life as an ordained rabbi and became the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Lake Mahopac, New York, at the same time producing and directing three shows at the Maidman Playhouse in New York City. Eventually, he resigned his pulpit to become a movie director. Today we’ll be speaking about his book Bashert, which is out now.   In this episode Herb and I discuss: When you’re writing based on true events, which elements do you change for the book? Which things do you keep the same? What are some of the considerations that drive these choices? Why tell a story as a novel instead of a memoir, if it’s based on true events? What do you need to consider when you are deciding between telling the absolute truth versus the conceptual Truth? Write about things you are passionate about. Write the story you can’t not tell. How screenwriting can shape a novel writer’s process. What skills transfer over? What aspects don’t translate? Plus, his #1 tip for writers. About the Author Herb Freed started his adult life as an ordained rabbi and became the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Lake Mahopac, New York while producing and directing three shows at the Maidman Playhouse in New York City. Eventually, he resigned his pulpit to become a movie director. He has directed and produced 15 feature films most of which have had psychological, spiritual and/or social themes in spite of their commercial categories. He is best known for Graduation Day, a horror film, and Tomboy, a teenage romp, as well as the psychological drama Haunts, and CHILD2MAN, a story of survival during the Watts riots. You can find out more about Herb Freed at herbfreed.com Bashert Would you recognize your soul’s complement in another? Beyond the bliss of actually finding your soul mate, there is a belief that the universe hinges on predetermined people finding their other half, their bashert, to maintain cosmic balance. In Bashert (Bellrock Press; February 14, 2017) author, screenwriter, director and former rabbi Herb Freed immerses us in the heady intoxication and thunderous losses of what it really means to be bashert. Dan Sobol and Marion Gladstone meet by chance at a screenwriter’s event in Los Angeles. He’s a rabbi turned director known for his cinematic television commercials; she’s a writer and film editor who is recovering from a tabloid-headline screaming Hollywood divorce. From the moment Marion hears Dan’s voice, she knows—and so does he. It’s bashert. But when did the course of true love ever run smooth? Dan and Marion are soon partners in business as well as life, traveling the world to create movies. He directs, she writes and edits, and life becomes an amazing adventure—until Cancun. There, among the ruins of the Mayan civilization, Marion has an eerie premonition that has the potential to change everything. Drawing upon his own personal experience, Freed spins a tale unflinching in its examination of life, but weaving along the edge of magical realism. From the bright lights of Hollywood to Mexico, Israel, Paris and the dreamy exhilaration of Jamaica, Bashert is a love story about transcending life, loss and the boundaries we mistakenly place on our lives and our hearts. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/144

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m pleased to have K.J. Howe on the show. K.J. is the executive director of Thrillerfest, the annual conference of International Thriller Writers. This is one of my favorite genre conferences and I look forward to it every year. Today I'm talking to Daphne du Maurier Award winner, K.J. Howe about her debut thriller, The Freedom Broker and how to craft a strong female lead in this genre. We also talk about why it's important to give even the most heroic characters a flaw or personal obstacle and for the first time ever on this show, I share a behind-the-scenes look at a personal obstacle I have in my own life. This was such an honest and deep conversation and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed interviewing K.J. Howe. In this episode K.J. and I discuss: Some of the challenges of writing a strong female character. How do you walk that line between over-masculinizing her or making her seem like a “token” character in a male-dominated world? Giving your characters limitations that help them feel more realistic on the page. Weaknesses, flaws, and the ability to recognize the limits of their power are important aspects of your characters that keep them from tipping over the edge into indestructible superhero territory. Weaving invisible disabilities into stories. Creating characters who are real, who struggle with real health and mental health issues, but who are not defined by their disabilities. The dynamics and tension between characters and how to bring their relationships to life for the reader. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About the Author K.J. Howe is the executive director of Thrillerfest, the annual conference of International Thriller Writers. A three-time Daphne du Maurier Award winner, she completed her MA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. She is an avid traveler who has raced camels in Jordan, surfed in Hawaii, and dove with the great whites in South Africa. She became fascinated by the kidnap and ransom (K&R) world after meeting Peter Moore, a British computer consultant who became the longest-held hostage in Iraq and the only person to survive of the five men who were taken that day. The Freedom Broker is her debut novel. The Freedom Broker There are twenty-five elite kidnap and ransom (K&R) specialists in the world. Only one is a woman: Thea Paris. And she's the best in the business.Twenty years ago, a terrified young boy was abducted in the middle of the night by masked intruders while his sister watched, paralyzed with fear. Returned after a harrowing nine months with his captors, Thea's brother has never been the same.This life-shattering experience drove Thea to become what she is today: a world-class freedom broker. Most hostage-recovery work is done at the negotiation table, but when diplomacy fails, Thea leads Quantum Security International's black-ops team on highly sensitive rescue missions to political hot spots around the globe.Her childhood nightmare resurfaces when her oil magnate father, Christos Paris, is snatched from his yacht off Santorini on his sixtieth birthday, days away from the biggest deal of his career. The brutal kidnappers left the entire crew slaughtered in their wake, but strangely, there are no ransom demands, no political appeals, no prisoner release requests-just obscure and foreboding texts written in Latin sent from burner phones.Knowing the survival window for kidnap victims is small, Thea throws herself into the most urgent and challenging rescue mission of her life-but will she be able to prevent this kidnapping from destroying her family for good? For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/143

Hey there word nerds! Today we’ll be doing something a little bit different on the show. I am so delighted to welcome Kathleen Audet. Kathleen is a brilliant image consultant and is president and owner of Your Authentic Image. She is also a good friend and someone who has helped me turn my own mindset about clothing and image upside down (in a good way). Today we’ll be talking about how to use components of image to make your characters come to life and also help you shift your own mindset and attitude.   In this episode Kathleen and I discuss: Why is what we wear important? If we’re just hiding in our writing cave, why does it matter what we wear? The work you do around choosing your four words, how to do that, and what to do with those words once we have them. Using paint chips to represent different characters. Interestingly enough when you put characters of opposite sides of the color wheel in same scene, that’s usually when tension and conflict happens. Designing your characters visually. Think about what details you can include to make your character pop off the page. Clothing, including accessories. Grooming, including body hygiene, hair, skin, nail care, and makeup. Body language, including figure/body type, posture, eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, manners and etiquette. Semiotics and how clothing functions as a system of signs. Plus, Kathleen’s #1 tip for writers. About Kathleen Kathleen Audet is president and owner of Your Authentic Image. For more than 20 years she has been studying color, design and image management. Kathleen’s degrees in education and English form the foundation for her insatiable curiosity about people and ability to teach women on a deeply profound level. Having trained on both coasts of the United States, Kathleen’s image and style evaluations are thorough and comprehensive. Kathleen received image consultant training from the Conselle Institute of Image Management. She is a member of Association of Image Consultants International. She lives northern Nevada and works with clients locally and around the world through her virtual coaching programs.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/142

Hey there word nerds! Today I am excited to interview author and creative writing professor, Susan Perabo. Susan is the author of two short story collections and the novel, The Broken Places. Her fiction has been anthologized in Best American Short Stories, Pushcart Prize Stories, and New Stories from the South, and has appeared in numerous magazines, including One Story, Glimmer Train, The Iowa Review, The Missouri Review, and The Sun. She is a writer-in-residence and professor at Dickinson College, and her new book, The Fall of Lisa Bellow, is out now. In this episode Susan and I discuss: How we get to know characters through little glimpses of their lives (in writing workshop terms, we get a lot of “showing” rather than “telling”). We dive into one of those moments in Susan’s process and unpack how writers can give readers a full perspective of the characters by showing them in a scene. Why it is important for writers to be able to write short form as well as book-length fiction. We also discuss some of the challenges and some of the advantages that short form brings to the craft of writing. The use of imagery (both in simile and metaphor) to convey complex ideas or emotions. When using simile or metaphor in this way, we talk about what writers need to think about. Plus, Susan’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Susan Perabo is the author of two short story collections, Why They Run the Way They Do and Who I Was Supposed to Be, and the novel, The Broken Places. Her fiction has been anthologized in Best American Short Stories, Pushcart Prize Stories, and New Stories from the South, and has appeared in numerous magazines, including One Story, Glimmer Train, The Iowa Review, The Missouri Review, and The Sun. She is Writer in Residence and Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Her new book, The Fall of Lisa Bellow, is out now. The Fall of Lisa Bellow When a masked man with a gun enters a sandwich shop in broad daylight, Meredith Oliver suddenly finds herself ordered to the filthy floor, where she cowers face to face with her nemesis, Lisa Bellow, the most popular girl in her eighth grade class. The minutes tick inexorably by, and Meredith lurches between comforting the sobbing Lisa and imagining her own impending death. Then the man orders Lisa Bellow to stand and come with him, leaving Meredith the girl left behind. After Lisa’s abduction, Meredith spends most days in her room, slipping from her world into Lisa’s. As the community stages vigils and searches, Claire, Meredith’s mother, is torn between relief that her daughter is alive and helplessness over her inability to protect or even comfort her child. Her daughter is here, but not. Like Everything I Never Told You and Room, The Fall of Lisa Bellow is edgy and original, a hair-raising exploration of the ripple effects of an unthinkable crime. It is a dark, beautifully rendered, and gripping novel about coping, about coming-of-age, and about forgiveness. It is also a beautiful illustration of how one family, broken by tragedy, finds healing.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/141

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce you to Jessica Strawser, the editorial director of Writer’s Digest magazine, and author of the stunning debut novel Almost Missed You. As editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, she has interviewed luminaries like David Sedaris and Alice Walker and her debut novel—released yesterday from St. Martin’s Press—has already garnered early accolades from a humbling list of bestselling authors like, Garth Stein, Adriana Trigiani, and Jacquelyn Mitchard. Her second novel is slated for release in Spring 2018. In this episode Jessica and I discuss: Strategies for setting up your first chapter. Jessica and I unpack ways to craft your first chapter for maximum effect. Shifting POV between multiple main characters. Picking which elements of the characters’ stories you want to show, and which you want to keep hidden. Tapping your personal perspective, emotions, and experiences to help illustrate character experiences in your novel. Balancing work, writing, and family in such a way that sets you up to be successful, and helps you channel the strongest emotions possible to your characters. Knowing and being clear about your priorities to meet your goals. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About the Author Jessica Strawser is the editorial director of Writer’s Digest magazine, North America’s leading publication for aspiring and working writers since 1920, where she counts her cover interviews with such luminaries as David Sedaris and Alice Walker among her career highlights. Her debut novel, Almost Missed You, is forthcoming in March 2017 from St. Martin’s Press and has garnered early accolades from a humbling list of bestsellers, including Chris Bohjalian, Garth Stein, Adriana Trigiani, Lisa Scottoline and Jacquelyn Mitchard, and a second novel is slated for a Spring 2018 release. Her diverse career in the publishing industry spans more than 15 years and includes stints in book editing, marketing and public relations, and freelance writing and editing (with work published in The New York Times and other fine publications). She blogs at WritersDigest.com and elsewhere, tweets @jessicastrawser and enjoys connecting at Facebook.com/jessicastrawserauthor. Learn more at jessicastrawser.com. Almost Missed You Violet and Finn were “meant to be,” said everyone, always. They ended up together by the hands of fate aligning things just so. Three years into their marriage, they have a wonderful little boy, and as the three of them embark on their first vacation as a family, Violet can’t help thinking that she can’t believe her luck. Life is good. So no one is more surprised than she when Finn leaves her at the beach—just packs up the hotel room and disappears. And takes their son with him. Violet is suddenly in her own worst nightmare, and faced with the knowledge that the man she’s shared her life with, she never really knew at all. Caitlin and Finn have been best friends since way back when, but when Finn shows up on Caitlin’s doorstep with the son he’s wanted for kidnapping, demands that she hide them from the authorities, and threatens to reveal a secret that could destroy her own family if she doesn’t, Caitlin faces an impossible choice. Told through alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin, ALMOST MISSED YOU is a powerful story of a mother’s love, a husband’s betrayal, connections that maybe should have been missed, secrets that perhaps shouldn’t have been kept, and spaces between what’s meant to be and what might have been. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/140  

Hey there word nerds! Today I am excited to interview Dan Blank, founder of WeGrowMedia and author of the new book Be The Gateway that just came out a few weeks ago. Dan helps writers and creative professionals share their stories and grow their audience. He has worked with hundreds of individuals and some amazing organizations who support creative people, such as Random House, Hachette Book Group, Sesame Workshop, Workman Publishing, J. Walter Thompson, Abrams Books, Writers House, The Kenyon Review, Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, And more. His work has been featured by Poets & Writers magazine, The National Endowment for the Arts, Professional Artist magazine, Compose Journal, and 99u. To read the post titled “Be the Gateway” where Dan first talked about the gateway idea, click here. Embed Episode Here In this episode Dan and I discuss: Sometimes setting limits helps you make something big out of something small. We talk about the ups and downs of writing this book and how Dan landed on this particular project The idea of being the gateway (instead of focusing on specific metrics) is a radical shift from how many people think about platform. We discuss why creative people get so hung up on the numbers and how can they get past that and focus on what really matters. Be the Gateway touches on these three themes: Story, Creator, and Topics. We talk about these three components and how they contribute to creating that gateway for an audience Why the “visualization” myth so dangerous and why people buy into it. We also talk about what people can do instead. Plus, Dan's #1 tip for writers. About the Author Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers and creative professionals share their stories and grow their audience. He has worked with hundreds of individuals and amazing organizations who support creative people, such as Random House, Hachette Book Group, Sesame Workshop, Workman Publishing, J. Walter Thompson, Abrams Books, Writers House, The Kenyon Review, Writer's Digest, Library Journal, and many others. Dan's work has been featured by Poets & Writers magazine, the National Endowment for the Arts, Professional Artist magazine, Compose Journal, and 99u. Be the Gateway Many people feel the drive to do creative work, but get overwhelmed by the process of connecting with an audience. They follow “best practices” in marketing that never seem to pan out, don’t produce results, and make them feel lost and oftentimes, frustrated. Be the Gateway offers a powerful way to have an impact. If you want to share your voice and inspire people with your writing, art, craft, or creative idea, you have to be the gateway for them. Instead of throwing “products” out into the marketplace, you open them up to a new way of looking at the world, of knowing themselves, and connecting with others. You unlock new experiences for them — not just through what you create, but through the unique way in which you share it with the world. Too often we think about the creative process as being separate from the marketing process. Instead, view them as the same. Replace the inclination to “promote” with the desire to share and engage. How and why you create is a story — and is the best asset you can use to truly engage people. Be the Gateway shows you how to use that gift with joy and confidence. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/139.

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to interview journalist and statistician, Ben Blatt, about his new book Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve. Ben is a former staff writer for Slate and The Harvard Lampoon who has taken his fun approach to data journalism to topics such as Seinfeld, mapmaking, The Beatles, and Jeopardy! His previous book, co-written with Eric Brewster, is I Don't Care if We Never Get Back, which follows the duo’s quest to go on the mathematically optimal baseball road trip, traveling 20,000 miles to a game in all thirty ballparks in thirty days without planes. Blatt’s work has also been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and Deadspin. In his latest book, Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve, he offers a playful and informative look at what numbers have to say about our favorite authors and a wide range of books, from bestsellers and classics to guilty pleasures. He sets up a slew of original analytical experiments and uses big data to answer some of our most persistent questions about literature. In this episode Ben Blatt and I discuss: The Adverb Question: Do great writers use more adverbs (or fewer) than their non-great counterparts? Should writers avoid adverbs altogether? Do men and women write differently? What does this say about our literary culture? His biggest finding is a sweeping disparity in male and female characters across all genres of writing: women write equally about men and women, but men write overwhelmingly more about men. Are books getting “dumber”? Blatt’s findings show that the grade level of #1 bestsellers has fallen by two levels—from 8th grade to 6th—in the past 50 years. Although this might be worrying, it might not necessarily damning—simple can be good at getting a wider audience reading, and the trend doesn’t mean that every book is being written at a lower level. What are our favorite writers’ favorite words? Using text analysis and setting up his own original experiment, Blatt develops a lengthy list of our favorite author’s favorite words. Among them: Nabokov’s favorite word is mauve, Jane Austen’s favorite is civility (of course it is), EL James’s is murmurs. What makes a great opening sentence? When in doubt, keep it short. Of twenty of the “best opening sentences” in literature, 60% of them are short and 40% are long (when compared to the author’s average sentence). Plus, Ben's #1 tip for writers. About the Author Ben Blatt is a former staff writer for Slate and The Harvard Lampoon who has taken his fun approach to data journalism to topics such as Seinfeld, mapmaking, The Beatles, and Jeopardy! His previous book, co-written with Eric Brewster, is I Don't Care if We Never Get Back, which follows the duo’s quest to go on the mathematically optimal baseball road trip, traveling 20,000 miles to a game in all thirty ballparks in thirty days without planes. Blatt’s work has also been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and Deadspin. He lives in Los Angeles. Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve There’s a famous piece of writing advice—offered by Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, and myriad writers in between—not to use -ly adverbs like “quickly” or “fitfully.” It sounds like solid advice, but can we actually test it? If we were to count all the -ly adverbs these authors used in their careers, do they follow their own advice compared to other celebrated authors? What’s more, do great books in general—the classics and the bestsellers—share this trait? In Nabokov’s Favorite Word Is Mauve, statistician and journalist Ben Blatt brings big data to the literary canon, exploring the wealth of fun findings that remain hidden in the works of the world’s greatest writers. He assembles a database of thousands of books and hundreds of millions of words, and starts asking the questions that have intrigued curious word nerds and book lovers for generations: What are our favorite authors’ favorite words? Do men and women write differently? Are bestsellers getting dumber over time? Which bestselling writer uses the most clichés? What makes a great opening sentence? How can we judge a book by its cover? And which writerly advice is worth following or ignoring? Blatt draws upon existing analysis techniques and invents some of his own. All of his investigations and experiments are original, conducted himself, and no math knowledge is needed to understand the results. Blatt breaks his findings down into lucid, humorous language and clear and compelling visuals. This eye-opening book will provide you with a new appreciation for your favorite authors and a fresh perspective on your own writing, illuminating both the patterns that hold great prose together and the brilliant flourishes that make it unforgettable. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/138

Hey there word nerds! Today I am thrilled (pun intended) to have award-winning and bestselling author, Clare Mackintosh on the show. Clare spent twelve years in the Thames Valley Police Department, during which time she worked on criminal investigations. After leaving the police force in 2011, she worked as a freelance journalist and social media consultant before writing her bestselling debut novel I Let You Go. She is the winner of two major international Crime Awards and for one of them, she even beat out J.K. Rowling’s pseudonym Robert Galbraith to win. She is the Director of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival and lives in the Cotswolds with her husband, a police officer, and their three children. In this episode Clare and I discuss: Balancing work and life and knowing how to give your best where it’s needed most. How work and life can influence your writing, both in terms of the topics you write about and the detail you give to certain aspects of the story. And some not-so-obvious ways that your experience can filter into your storytelling. Suggestions for how writers can use more “detective thinking” in their own work, and build up those investigative skills that they can then apply to their writing projects What you do when you feel your story has two strong protagonists. We discuss my theory on protagonists and then about how two strong characters can serve as counterpoints for each other. Sharing bits about the antagonist, the villain, to enhance the reader’s experience of the overall story. It’s a tricky thing to pull off a slow build-up in a thriller without losing your readers. Plus, Clare’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Clare Mackintosh spent twelve years in the Thames Valley Police Department, during which time she worked on criminal investigations. She left the police force in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant. She is the winner of two coveted international Crime Awards: Prix Polar International, France’s foremost crime fiction award, and The UK’s Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award, beating J.K. Rowling’s pseudonym Robert Galbraith to win. She is the Director of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival and lives in the Cotswolds with her husband, a police officer, and their three children. Visit Clare Mackintosh online at claremackintosh.com, Facebook.com/ClareMackWrites and at twitter.com/claremackint0sh. I See You You do the same thing every day. You know exactly where you’re going. You’re not alone. That’s the nerve-tingling premise behind Clare Mackintosh’s second novel I SEE YOU, already a #1 London Times bestseller in the author’s native UK.  Like Mackintosh’s stunning debut I Let You Go, the book with the plot twist heard ‘round the world that was picked as one of New York Times’s “10 Best Crime Novels of 2016,” her new thriller kicks into high-gear from the first chapter and never lets up. When Zoe Walker discovers her own picture in the local newspaper’s classified ads, she’s shocked.  A photo from her Facebook page accompanies a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com.  All Zoe’s efforts to discover what the ad means lead to dead ends.  And then a second woman whose picture appeared in a similar ad is assaulted.  When a third woman is murdered, Zoe’s unease turns to fear and paranoia.  The only thing the three have in common is their daily commute on the London subway system. Someone is methodically tracking down these women...and Zoe is next on the list. The follow-up to the international phenomenon I Let You Go—a debut that sold more than half a million copies in the UK—I See You confirms Clare Mackintosh’s growing reputation as one of the most accomplished crime writers at work today.  Before turning to writing, Mackintosh spent twelve years as a detective and her police work informs her remarkably realistic, pulse-pounding thrillers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/137  

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m interviewing Dale Wiley, author and Missouri attorney, who has some fascinating credits to his name. For starters, he has had a character named after him on CSI, owned a record label, been interviewed by Bob Edwards on NPR's Morning Edition and made alternative fuel motorcycles for Merle Haggard and John Paul DeJoria. He is also one of the few people to who have met Ronald Reagan and Flavor Flav. Dale has three awesome kids and spends his days working as a lawyer fighting the big banks. He has als0 written three novels and is currently developing two original scripted projects for TV: the gritty drama, The East Side with Andréa Vasilo; and the sitcom, Confessions of a Bunny Smuggler, with Fayr Barkley. In this episode we discuss: The subgenre of metafiction, how it works to tell a story, and how it might not work, as well. Writers writing about writing for writers. Finding ideas and inspiration from the fact that the elements of story are, in fact, universal. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. About the Author Dale Wiley is a Missouri attorney, who has had a character named after him on CSI, owned a record label, been interviewed by Bob Edwards on NPR's Morning Edition and made motorcycles for Merle Haggard and John Paul DeJoria. He is also one of the few people to who have met Ronald Reagan and Flavor Flav. Dale has three awesome kids and spends his days working as a lawyer fighting the big banks. He has als0 written three novels and is currently developing two original scripted projects for TV: the gritty drama, The East Side with Andréa Vasilo; and the sitcom, Confessions of a Bunny Smuggler, with Fayr Barkley. Southern Gothic Misery meets Gone Girl, SOUTHERN GOTHIC is Dale Wiley’s latest page-turner. Not since his incendiary thrillers, Sabotage and The Intern, has Wiley treated readers to his heady brew of hair-trigger suspense and dark secrets. In this twisted and delightfully disturbing novel, one woman learns the true price of making a deal with the devil. Lovely Meredith Harper is living a life of lonely indifference – shuttling between her beloved Savannah, Georgia bookstore and her empty house, pining after a dream of being an author that now seems out of reach. Publishers had resoundingly passed on her only novel, Red Ribbon. In spite of herself, she’s haunted by her ex-husband’s insult – that she’ll never be a real writer, only a fan. Everything changes when Meredith finds a red ribbon tied to the inside of her doorknob. No one in her life would do such a thing. There is only one possibility: Michael Black, her favorite author, who was the only person besides friends and publishers to receive a copy of her manuscript. But he vanished years ago and was even rumored to be dead. Meredith races to uncover the truth behind the mysterious visitor, and her suspicions about his identity are confirmed. But how? Why now? Why her? And, most confusingly, why is Michael Black offering her a completely rewritten manuscript of Red Ribbon to publish under her own name? Exploring the dangerous divides between fame, fandom, romance, murder, and possession, SOUTHERN GOTHIC fascinates until the novel’s final breath. It makes the offer you can’t refuse—and shackles you to the demons of your fantasies.    For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/136

Hey there word nerds! Today’s interview features Brian Meehl, author of four novels that have garnered several awards and starred book reviews: Out of Patience, Suck It Up, Suck It Up and Die, and You Don’t Know About Me. His latest genre-bending novel, Blowback ‘07, transports readers back to 19077, a time when legendary coach Pop Warner, future Olympian Jim Thorpe, and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School’s team the “Redmen” revolutionized America’s most popular sport—football. In a former incarnation, Brian was a puppeteer on “Sesame Street” and in Jim Henson films, including The Dark Crystal and he also wrote for television shows like “The Magic School Bus” and “Between the Lions,” for which he won three Emmys. He lives in Connecticut and is currently working on Blowback ’63 and Blowback ’94, the second and third installments of the Blowback trilogy. In this episode Brian and I discuss: Using history to inspire and inform your writing, and the wealth of ideas that come from true events that have come from the past. The importance of research in capturing details that help your story’s world feels real. Using your research, your area of interest, and the specific idiosyncrasies of your particular topic to fuel your blog and platform building. Balancing close points of view with an omniscient narrator, the strengths and the challenges. Keeping your own growth and process in mind when you write. You’re not going to publish everything that you write. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. About the Author Brian Meehl has published four novels with Random House: Out of Patience, Suck It Up, Suck It Up and Die, and You Don’t Know About Me. His books have garnered a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Blue Ribbon from the Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly. In a former incarnation, Brian was a puppeteer on “Sesame Street” and in Jim Henson films, including “The Dark Crystal.” His transition from puppets to pen included writing for television shows such as “The Magic School Bus” and “Between the Lions,” for which he won three Emmys. He lives in Connecticut and is writing Blowback ’63 and Blowback ’94. For more information about Brian Meehl and his books, please visit www.brianmeehl.com and www.blowbacktrilogy.com. Blowback ‘07 It has become infamous for stripping children of their language and culture, but most people forget that the Carlisle Indian Industrial School also gave birth to America’s most popular sport as we now know it—football. In Brian Meehl’s genre-bending novel Blowback ’07; readers are transported back to 1907 where legendary coach Pop Warner, future Olympian Jim Thorpe, and the Carlisle “Redmen” change the game. Their plays and formations like the modern “spread” and “shotgun,” have since become mainstays in high school, college, and professional football. Clashing twins have one thing in common: an ancient musical instrument left to them by their mother.  When Iris plays the strangely curved woodwind, the trouble begins: the school’s star quarterback, disappears. Transported to 1907 and the Carlisle Indian School, Matt, one of the protagonists, is forced to play football for Coach Pop Warner as the Carlisle “Redmen” revolutionize Ivy League football. His struggle to “play his way home” is complicated when he falls in love with an Indian girl. Meanwhile, there are a cache of secrets that might help bring back someone very dear trapped in the past.   Blowback ’07 launches a century-spanning trilogy to be continued in Blowback ’63 and Blowback ’94.  Books two and three propel the characters to another illuminating past, and transform them in ways they never imagined. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/135

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Sally Parry, the Executive Director of the Sinclair Lewis Society. She earned her PhD in American Literature (as well as 19th Century British Fiction and Medieval Literature) from Fordham University in NYC and wrote her dissertation on Sinclair Lewis (Sinclair Lewis: The Darkening Vision of His Later Novels). She is currently the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Affairs at Illinois State University. In this interview, we’re going to talk about Sinclair Lewis’ novel It Can’t Happen Here. Originally published in 1935 as a response to the rise of Hitler and Mussolini in Europe, It Can’t Happen Here has renewed relevance in the wake of Donald Trump’s campaign and election. In fact, sales numbers for this title have gone through the roof, with mass market sales up 2,611% over last year, and eBook sales have jumped 1,528%. Not only that, this book has gotten a lot of buzz in the media in the past year, and this momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down. I’m excited to speak with Dr. Sally Parry about this book and the role that literature plays in politics and activism.   In this episode Sally and I discuss: Literature and activism, and how to Author intentions versus audience perceptions The social responsibilities of writers Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About Sinclair Lewis About the Sinclair Lewis Society:The Sinclair Lewis Society was formed to encourage study of, critical attention to, and interest in the work, career, and legacy of Sinclair Lewis. The Society works to facilitate a broader discussion of his writing among scholars, critics, teachers, students, book collectors, and readers everywhere.Members of the Sinclair Lewis Society receive the bi-annual Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter. We encourage scholarship concerning Sinclair Lewis, and we have provided a bibliography of primary and secondary sources concerning Lewis on our scholarly works page, as well as transcripts from an exclusive interview with Richard Lingeman, author of Sinclair Lewis: Rebel from Main Street. We also meet every few years in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, Lewis' hometown, for conferences and usually in connection with the annual Sinclair Lewis Days.Sinclair Lewis Bio:Harry Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. His childhood and early youth were spent in the Midwest, and later he attended Yale University, where he was editor of the literary magazine. After graduating in 1907, he worked as a reporter and in editorial positions at various newspapers, magazines, and publishing houses from the East Coast to California. He was able to give this work up after a few of his stories had appeared in magazines and his first novel, Our Mr. Wrenn (1914), had been published. Main Street (1920) was his first really successful novel, and his reputation was secured by the publication of Babbitt (1922). Lewis was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Arrowsmith (1925) but refused to accept the honor, saying the prize was meant to go to a novel that celebrated the wholesomeness of American life, something his books did not do. He did accept, however, when in 1930 he became the first American writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. During the last part of his life, he spent a great deal of time in Europe and continued to write both novels and plays. In 1950, after completing his last novel, World So Wide (1951), he intended to take an extended tour but became ill and was forced to settle in Rome, where he spent some months working on his poems before dying. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/134

  Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interview award-winning author Sebastian Barry, about his latest book Days Without End. Sebastian Barry is the author of seven novels, including A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture (now a major motion picture starring Rooney Mara and Vanessa Redgrave). He has won the Costa Book of the Year Award, the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year Award, and the Walter Scott Prize. His work has twice been short-listed for the Man Booker Prize. He lives in Ireland. Days Without End is a historical novel set during the Indian Wars in the American west, and the Civil War, about two young men who are brothers in arms and also lovers. It’s a story where the gay relationship is the only consistently joyful thing against the otherwise bleak background of war, genocide and the American empire.   In this episode we discuss: Recognizing how your real life becomes infused in your best writing. Shaking off the self-consciousness of writing. Being aware of what’s not in the books you’re reading and striving to create what’s not “out there.” Plus, Sebastian’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Sebastian Barry is the author of seven novels, including A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture (now a major motion picture starring Rooney Mara and Vanessa Redgrave). He has won the Costa Book of the Year Award, the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year Award, and the Walter Scott Prize. His work has twice been short-listed for the Man Booker Prize. He lives in Ireland. Days Without End The book is inspired by and dedicated to Barry’s son, who came out as gay recently and on whose behalf Barry advocated for LGBT marriage rights during the Irish marriage referendum. The letter he wrote for the Irish Times on the subject went viral, and was read aloud in the Irish and Australian parliaments. The character of John Cole is a portrait of his son Toby’s boyfriend, Jack. Writing gay love was new territory for Barry, and part of his historical research for the novel was looking into the (elusive) history of gay life during that time through primary sources. There is a seriously researched and utterly moving history of proto drag on the frontier. John and Thomas, the main characters, first find work crossdressing, working as dance partners in saloons for lonely miners in frontier towns. Barry takes on the psychology of drag from Thomas’ point of view—what his costumes mean to his identity, which is split between his occupation as a soldier and the secret family he has built with John. Days Without End shifts the narrow expectations of what “masculine” literature can be and do. The book is in dialogue with and in some ways a rebuttal to Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain, in that the gay relationship is the only consistently joyful thing in otherwise bleak novel about genocide and American empire, rather than the source of anguish and frustration it is in Proulx’s novel. With John and Thomas, Barry wanted to portray the joy that he observes in his son’s relationship with his boyfriend, rather than shame and persecution. In Days Without End, Thomas McNulty, a “wren-sized” young man barely seventeen and an Irish refugee of the Great Famine, signs up for the U.S. Army in the 1850s with his brother in arms John Cole. The two friends are sent to fight in the Indian Wars against the Sioux and Yurok, and ultimately in the Civil War. Fans of Sebastian Barry’s subtly interconnected novels will rediscover the McNulty family—based on members of Barry’s own family—in the New World, as Thomas McNulty travels from the contested frontier plains of Wyoming, to the Union battlegrounds of Virginia and Maryland, to the starving remains of scorched earth towns in Tennessee. Days Without End is a powerful literary portrait of a time when Americans were pitted against Americans in bloody struggles fought to define the borders and identity of the nation. Barry writes of this period as it was experienced by common soldiers: men who did not determine or even necessarily understand the wars they fought, but who fought anyway, merely to survive them. Not just a war novel, Days Without End is also a poignant love story, about two men and the unlikely family they form with a young Sioux girl, Winona. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/133

  Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Shanthi Sekaran, author of the new novel Lucky Boy, a book that has been getting a lot of pre-publication buzz and is an Indie Next Great Read pick for January 2017.   In this episode Shanthi and I discuss: The importance of fiction in humanizing different groups of people by bringing them and their experiences to life on the page. Using both research and imagination to create a vivid experience for your readers, and in particular how she crafted the dramatic immigration scenes in her book. Connection to the point of view of the characters and how to capture their experiences and emotions with authenticity. Crafting her book around the theme of motherhood, and how “mother” can mean very different things to different people. The universality of the “immigrant experience” in America, and how there are many common threads between immigrants from wildly different experiences. How there are also stark differences between immigrants with different levels of privilege, and how it’s important for us to understand these varied experiences. Why it’s important that writers live their lives and be present in the world. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About the Author Shathi teaches creative writing at California College of the Arts, and is a member of the Portuguese Artists’ Colony and the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. Her work has appeared in Best New American Voices and Canteen, and online at Zyzzyva and Mutha Magazine. A California native, she lives in Berkeley with her husband and two children. Lucky Boy Lucky Boy is a moving story about two unforgettable women in California: an undocumented Mexican woman and an Indian-American wife. Both love the same child but can’t have him. The novel beautifully weaves together the themes of motherhood, immigration, infertility, adoption and minority life in America (and tackles immigrant detention centers) and is a must-read in our current political environment. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/132

  Hey there word nerds! Today, I’ll be sharing a recap of all the exciting things I discovered at Digital Book World (or DBW) last week. 2017 marks the eighth year of this industry-focused event, with a shift toward solution-focused strategies paired with insightful in-depth programming. This year was also the the first time DBW has run a segment of the conference exclusively for indie authors. While this event is intended for the members of the publishing community—it truly is an industry event—there are a lot of things author can learn from DBW in order to thrive in today’s evolving landscape. And this doesn’t mean you need to be an indie author; even if writers planning to go the traditional route, there were a lot of important takeaways I got from digital book world this year. Three Main Themes at DBW While I heard a lot of fascinating statistics and gained so many new insights into publishing, there were three main themes that rose to the top.   Innovation: Cool new stuff that both publishers and authors are doing to connect with their audience and enhance the reading experience. Efficiency: To succeed in this business, it’s not just about working harder, it’s about working smarter, and this conference was brimming with awesome strategies and cool new tools I can’t wait to try. Sales: Let’s face it, if we want to create a sustainable career as writers, we have to understand sales. This means both knowing what the trends are now, and where the next opportunities might be.   This last piece is extremely important. It’s only when we understand the money piece that we can develop creative new ideas for earning a sustainable living from our writing. If we don’t know what’s going on in the industry around us, then we’re operating in a vacuum. As I go through each of these three themes from DBW, I’m also going to give you a little piece of homework—an assignment with each one—so you can implement these concepts with concrete, actionable steps. Let’s get started! Innovation What cool new stuff is the industry up to? Hands down, one of the places where I saw the most creative thinking was in platforms, and I don’t mean your author platform, but social media and other tech platforms where both authors and publishers are doing cool creative things. Trends include... Audio! By far the biggest buzz at DBW is around audiobooks. Using Facebook ads to build your email list as well as to sell directly. Platforms that are offering unique reading experiences (like Crave) or increasing authors’ reach (like Wattpad). Efficiency How can you work smarter? The two big areas of focus when it comes to efficiency focus creation and promotion. Finding new opportunities for your intellectual property (e.g. branded stories on Wattpad, capitalizing on audio rights, etc.). Agents play a huge part in helping authors make smart choices with their IP. While the query process can be tough, agents are still hungry to discover great talent. “Any given Thursday, you can walk into a bar and hear people singing karaoke who are pretty decent. But as agents, we’re not looking for ‘pretty good,’ we’re looking for someone who can sing at the Met or who can sell out Madison Square Garden.” —Regina Brooks, Lead Agent and President of Serendipity Literary Agency Understanding how to reach out to the media for publicity, and developing a multi-faceted PR approach. Take a “sniper rifle approach” to marketing and promotion, instead of a shotgun. Patience and persistence were common themes, especially at DBW Indie. You need to try different approaches but give them time to build traction (especially with SEO and digital tools). Sales What’s happening in our industry and what does this mean for authors? Perhaps my favorite session was given by Peter Hildick-Smith, Codex Group founder and president. He broke down the sales process into three steps, then talked about different strategies pertaining to each one. These steps are: Discover, conversion, and sourcing.   Discovery: Do readers know the book exists? How can we make potential readers more aware of books? Readers need two or more “exposures” to the book before they want to buy it, and that number goes up if the price of the book is higher. The good news is that the author’s connection to his/her audience can be a big influencer at this stage. Conversion: Now that readers are aware the book exists, do they want to read it? This is where cues like the cover and messaging around the book can make a big difference at this stage. Price and reviews/recommendations can also be a big influencer here. Sourcing: Readers know about the book, they want to read it, but will they buy it? Here is where things vary based on the specific book. Delivering a varied mosaic of information about the book (and where to buy it) from day one improves chances of sales.   About Digital Book World Starting with the only conference designed to address the radically changing commercial publishing environment, Digital Book World has evolved into a year-round platform offering educational and networking resources for consumer publishing professionals and their partners — including agents, booksellers and technology vendors — online and in person. You can keep up with Digital Book World and what they’re up to by following them on Twitter. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/131

  Hey there word nerds! Today’s DIY MFA Radio guest has a fantastic double life. Author Frédérique Molay began her career in politics and administration as chief of staff for a commission of the French National Assembly. She then worked for local government in Burgundy, ran in the European elections, and was elected in Saône-et-Loire. She also writes crime novels and won France's prestigious crime fiction award the Prix du Quai des Orfèvres for The 7th Woman, which went on to become an international bestseller. We had our conversation through a translator, a different format than you’re used to from DIY MFA Radio, but I hope you’ll stick with it. Molay has some brilliant insights about writing and I’m so excited to share our interview. In this episode we discuss: Publishing foreign titles in the United States with Le French Book Vulnerability and idealism in writing Work life - family life - writing life balance. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. About the Author Writing has always been a passion for Frédérique Molay, author of the award-winning international bestselling Paris Homicide series. She graduated from France’s prestigious grande école the Institut d'Études Politique and has a Master's degree in Business Administration. She began her career in politics and administration as chief of staff for a commission of the French National Assembly. She then worked for local government in Burgundy, ran in the European elections, and was elected in Saône-et-Loire.At the height of this brilliant political career, Molay was also writing crime novels and won France's prestigious crime fiction award the Prix du Quai des Orfèvres for The 7th Woman, which went on to become an international bestseller. She took a break from politics to write Crossing the Line and The City of Blood, two other titles in the Paris Homicide series.       In addition to being a knight in the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin—an order of wine lovers who promote Burgundy wines—Frédérique also taught French in middle school for a short time, sharing her passion for writing with young teens.The political virus never left her, however, and in June 2015, while writing Looking to the Woods, Frédérique returned to politics, as chief of staff for a newly elected senator. She now splits her time between Paris and Chalon-sur-Saône, between police procedurals and politics. Looking to the Woods When a ten-year-old girl's mutilated body is found in a public park in Paris, chief of police Nico Sirsky takes action. But his elite team of homicide detectives isn't on the case for even twenty-four hours before a second child is found murdered and left to rot inside a middle-school classroom. With the City of Light on edge awaiting another gruesome discovery, the clock starts ticking for Sirsky to catch the elusive killer who calls himself the gamemaster. As the pressure mounts, Sirsky is also confronted with a conundrum in his personal life: his girlfriend is inexplicably pulling away from him. But he must once again put his own problems aside when the investigation turns up nothing but taunts from the killer. It will take an entire team of police psychologists, forensic specialists, and criminal investigators to uncover the truth hidden in a web of murder more tangled than any of them could have imagined. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/130

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m thrilled to welcome Manjula Martin on the show. Manjula is editor of Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living from Simon & Schuster. She’s the creator of the blog Who Pays Writers? And was the founder and editor of Scratch magazine, an online periodical focused on the business of being a writer. Her work has appeared in various publications like the Virginia Quarterly Review, Pacific Standard, SF Weekly, The Billfold, and The Toast, plus, she is the managing editor of Zoetrope: All-Story. Today, Manjula and I will be talking about writers and money, how to make ends meet, and generate revenue from your writing. In this episode we discuss: Why it’s so difficult—but so important—for writers to talk about money. Also why it doesn’t have to be difficult. Different options and strategies for how writers can make a living beyond a book deal. The pros and cons of working for free, and the broader implications this has on the publishing landscape. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses and leveraging them to help you make a living. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About the Author Manjula Martin is editor of Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living (Simon & Schuster, January 2017). She created the blog Who Pays Writers? and was the founder and editor of Scratch magazine, an online periodical that focused on the business of being a writer. Her writing has appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Pacific Standard, SF Weekly, The Billfold, The Toast, and other publications. She is the managing editor of Zoetrope: All-Story and lives in San Francisco. You can learn more about Manjula Martin at her website: https://manjulamartin.com/. Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living A collection of essays from today’s most acclaimed authors—from Cheryl Strayed to Roxane Gay to Jennifer Weiner, Alexander Chee, Nick Hornby, and Jonathan Franzen—on the realities of making a living in the writing world. In the literary world, the debate around writing and commerce often begs us to take sides: either writers should be paid for everything they do or writers should just pay their dues and count themselves lucky to be published. You should never quit your day job, but your ultimate goal should be to quit your day job. It’s an endless, confusing, and often controversial conversation that, despite our bare-it-all culture, still remains taboo. In Scratch, Manjula Martin has gathered interviews and essays from established and rising authors to confront the age-old question: how do creative people make money? For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/129

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to someone who has been instrumental in helping me up my speaking game. Whether you’ve been hearing me speak on this podcast or have seen me speak on stage, this person has had a tremendous impact in helping me become the speaker that I am. This person is Alexia Vernon. Alexia has been branded a “Moxie Maven” by the White House Office of Public Engagement because of her unique and effective approach to developing female leaders, for a decade she has been a go-to speaking coach to CEOs, New York Times bestselling authors, media personalities, and scores of visionary entrepreneurs and change-makers who are ready to go from best-kept secrets to hotshot, transformational speakers.   Her unique background as a former Miss Junior America, public speaker, professor, actor, dancer, TEDx organizer, and corporate trainer has enabled Alexia to speak on stages such as the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women, INBOUND, and the Association of Talent Development (ATD). She has appeared on major media outlets like CNN, NBC, Inc., and Women’s Health Magazine. Her clients have spoken on stages like the World Domination Summit, Transformational Leadership Council, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Off the Charts Live, and at TEDx’s around the world, not to mention scoring some amazing media coverage in publications like The New York Times, TIME, and Vanity Fair, and networks like OWN and Good Morning America.   In this episode Alexia and I discuss: The importance of public speaking for authors Finding your voice as a speaker How speaking can help you hone your ideas Plus, Alexia's #1 tip for writers. About Alexia Vernon Branded a “Moxie Maven” by the White House Office of Public Engagement for her unique and effective approach to developing female leaders, for a decade she has been a go-to speaking coach to CEOs, New York Times bestselling authors, media personalities, and scores of visionary entrepreneurs and change-makers who are ready to go from best-kept secrets to hotshot, transformational speakers. Her unique background as a former Miss Junior America, public speaker, professor, actor, dancer, TEDx organizer, and corporate trainer has enabled Alexia to speak on stages such as the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women, INBOUND, and the Association of Talent Development (ATD). She has appeared on major media outlets like CNN, NBC, Inc., and Women’s Health Magazine. Her clients have spoken on stages like the World Domination Summit, Transformational Leadership Council, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Off the Charts Live, and at TEDx’s around the world, not to mention scoring some amazing media coverage in publications like The New York Times, TIME, and Vanity Fair, and networks like OWN and Good Morning America. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/128

  Hey there word nerds! Thanks for being here with me today. I’m so excited to share this interview with you. It’s a little bit different from what I usually do. Instead of being the one hosting the interview, in this episode I’m sharing an interview that I gave for my friend Joanna Penn on The Creative Penn Podcast. You might remember Joanna from episode 106 when she came on DIY MFA Radio and I got to interview her! She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes nonfiction for authors. She’s also a professional speaker and award-winning entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com, is regularly voted one of the Top 10 sites for writers. She is a self-publishing superstar and I’m thrilled that she had me on her show. Embed Episode Here In this episode Joanna interviews me about: How I started DIY MFA, where I got that first glimmer of the idea, and how I built it into what you see today. The writer’s need for validation and why that “stamp of approval” needs to come from within. Honoring and understanding your process, and how there’s no right way to be a writer. The importance of author identity, and being the best version of yourself, but still be authentically you. I also share some of my signature DIY MFA techniques, like: The Angst Jar—what it is and why it’s my go-to tool for handling rejection, imposter syndrome, and any other curve ball my inner critic throws at me. The Revision Pyramid and how to use it so you can rock your post-NaNoWriMo revisions and make your manuscript sing. Visual outline techniques and why I’m so obsessed with design and graphics. Hint: It comes from my former life as a toy designer and psychology researcher. DIY MFA (the book!) Have you ever... Dreamed of writing a book but had no idea where to start? Started a writing project, but couldn’t stay motivated? Struggled to carve out time in your life for your writing? Searched for a writing community, but didn’t know where to look? Been overwhelmed by all the writing and publishing advice online? Order your very own copy direct from the publisher by clicking this affiliate link. As with any affiliate products we promote on this site, when you purchase via this link, DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you supporting DIY MFA! DIY MFA is the definitive guide for writers who can’t–or don’t want to–go back to school. Inspired by material I’ve created and compiled since the inception of this website, this is more than a writing guide in book form. Based on proven techniques and graduate-style curriculum, DIY MFA won’t just help you improve your writing skills, it will empower you to take control of your creative life. If DIY MFA were a school, this book would be the student handbook. It’s a one-stop-shop with all the fundamental elements from the website in one place. If you are new to DIY MFA, this book is the perfect springboard to get you going, and if you’ve taken one or more of our courses, this book will supplement and expand on what you learned. DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community will help you get that graduate-level experience without going to school. Don’t put your life on hold for two or three years and accrue a huge amount of student debt. Instead, learn to recreate that MFA experience for yourself and seamlessly incorporate writing into your life. This book will show you how. I wrote this book for word nerds of all stripes, but particularly with these three particular writer groups in mind. Writers in the trenches: If you’re one of these writers, then you are in the thick of it, actively engaged in a writing project at this very moment. You work hard to improve your craft and are hungry to learn tools and skills you can apply to work-in-progress. This book will give you the techniques you crave. Serious newbies: Just because you’re new to writing doesn’t mean you’re not serious. If you’re one of these serious newbies, then you are motivated to learn all you can, so you can start your writing journey on the right foot. Learn how with this book. Career authors who need a boost: No matter how experienced a writer you are, sometimes you lose “that loving feeling” and it’s hard to get those words on the page. This book can help shake up some of those stale habits and get you pumped up about your writing again. Warning: If you are dabbler or dilettante looking for a “magic bullet” solution or a shortcut to success, this book is not for you. Seriously, it might spontaneously combust in your possession. (Just kidding. Sort of.) For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/127

Hey there word nerds! Thanks for joining me for DIY MFA Radio! I’m especially excited for this episode because today I get to interview agent Mitch Hoffman. I first met Mitch at ThrillerFest earlier this year, where I heard him speak on a panel and later got a chance to talk further at one of those conference mix-and-mingle shindigs. Right away, I knew Mitch was someone I wanted to bring on the show, not only because of his unique background both as a former editor at a major publisher and now as an agent, but also because of his measured, thoughtful approach toward publishing. Given how much has changed (and continues to change) in our industry, I wanted my word nerds to hear from someone who has been on both sides of the agent-editor realm, and also who’s been in the industry long enough to know where the book business has been, where it is now, and where it could be going. And from getting a chance to chat with him for a bit at ThrillerFest, I happen to know that he’s a pretty cool guy to talk to. Mitch joined the Aaron Priest Literary Agency as a Senior Agent in 2015. A 20-year veteran of the publishing industry, he was most recently Vice-President, Executive Editor at Grand Central Publishing.  As an editor, Mitch published over 200 books, more than 60 of which were New York Times bestsellers.  Prior to joining Grand Central Publishing in 2007, Mitch held editorial positions at Dutton and Dell Publishing, and began his career as an intern at Farrar, Straus and Giroux (or FSG).  So, basically, he’s worked at three of the “Big Apple Five” publishers.   Embed Episode Here In this episode Mitch and I discuss: The difference between an agent and an editor, and why he made the switch from the latter to the former. The acquisitions process from a publisher’s perspective, and what really happens after an editor gets a submission letter from an agent. All the different people in a publishing house who help determine whether to acquire a book or not. What an agent can do for an author trying to get published, and how agents can help authors beyond that single book deal. Plus, Mitch’s #1 tip for writers. About the Agent Mitch Hoffman joined the Aaron Priest Literary Agency as a Senior Agent in 2015. A 20-year veteran of the publishing industry, he was most recently Vice-President, Executive Editor at Grand Central Publishing.  As an editor, Mitch published over 200 books, more than 60 of which were New York Times best sellers.  Prior to joining Grand Central Publishing in 2007, Mitch held editorial positions at Dutton and Dell Publishing, and began his career as an intern at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Mitch is actively building a list of authors writing across the spectrum of fiction and nonfiction, including thrillers, suspense, crime fiction, and literary fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction, politics, popular science, history, memoir, current events, and pop culture. If you think your book might be a good fit, visit the agency website, read the submission guidelines and send him a query. Make sure you mention in your query that you heard him speak on DIY MFA Radio. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/126

  Hey there word nerds! Today I’m speaking with Elisabeth Barrett, a romance author living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Elisabeth spends her days teaching, editing, writing sexy contemporary romance, and enjoying time with her sometimes-bearded husband and three spirited kids. She is constantly perfecting that juggling act between home/work/writing, but in her free time she loves to hike open space preserves, grow orchids, bake sweet things her husband won't eat, and sing in grand choruses. Her latest book Anywhere You Are is out now from Random House and she also has an indie published West Coast Holiday Series box set that is out just in time for the holidays.   In this episode we discuss: Crafting a series for the Romance genre and all the considerations that go with sustaining a story across multiple books. Different ways that series can play out. In Romance, one of the big trends is having series consist of “companion novels” focusing on a different romantic couple in each one. How characters can change over the course of a series, and how to adapt the story as your characters grow and evolve. Finding that work/life balance, especially when you have a family or a “day job” that compete with writing for your attention. Plus, Elisabeth Barrett’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/125

Hey there word nerds! If you subscribe to the DIY MFA newsletter, then you know I’ve had a lot to say lately. In this episode, I reflect on some of the recent themes I’ve been considering, themes like service, responsibility, gratitude and love. I also talk about some of the obstacles I’ve faced when building my author platform. These aren’t just external roadblocks that got in my way, but also internal factors and limiting mindsets that kept me from sharing my work. Listen in to the full episode below. In this episode, I talk about several things, including: Why it’s so important for you to share your stories, and how in doing so you not only empower yourself, but you also empower others to do the same. The “filter question” I use to assess all of my creative work, and how this one question helps me go from making a million tiny decisions every day to seeing  on the big picture. Bonus: This year, instead of doing New Year’s resolutions, challenge yourself to craft a filter question for your writing, your work, or even your life as a whole. In this episode, I also allude to several recent newsletters and articles from DIY MFA. In case you’ve missed them, I have linked to these articles below. Dream Big, Execute Small — how to reframe marketing from being all about you to being in service of your readers. Use Your Words — why now more than ever, writers have the responsibility to use their words with integrity and purpose. The Radicalism of Our TIme — in which I share a “big, scary thing” from my life, and talk about the tension between fear and love. Enjoyed this episode? Check out the webinar! I’m offering a FREE webinar next Monday, December 12th at 1pm ET designed to help you find and connect with your readers. This is all in preparation for the launch of my new course: Pixels to Platform, designed to help you build your platform and share your work in a way that is both authentic and effective. Connect with Readers, Build Your Platform Monday, December 12th at 1pm Eastern Time Register at: DIYMFA.com/PlatformWebinar For more info and show notes go to: DIYMFA.com/124

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to have Britt Alan on the show, talking about self-publishing his debut novel: Tiananmen Ascending. But before we dig into the nuts and bolts of writing and self-publishing, let me share a short anecdote that I think captures Britt’s longtime passion for that intersection between world politics and writing. When he was eight years old, he wrote the a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran protesting the hostage crisis. Since that time, he’s had 23 years of experience in international relations, communications, and the federal government. This knowledge has very much informed his debut novel, as well as his decision to self-publish. In this episode Britt and I discuss: How he came up with the idea for the inciting incident of his book, and how he’s able to get inside the minds of his villains and truly understand their motivations. Why he proactively chose self-publishing and how he worked through the process of bringing his book to life. A few of the nuts and bolts decisions he had to make as part of the self-publishing process, and why he made those choices. Deciding which aspects of self-publishing (e.g. editing, cover design, interior design, etc.) to outsource and which ones to do yourself. How he juggles a day job, a family, and self-publishing his books. (Hint: It’s all about discipline.) Plus, Britt’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Britt Alan’s interest in and concern about world politics started early when, as an eight-year-old child, he wrote the Islamic Republic of Iran to protest the Iran hostage crisis. The response sent to him by the Islamic Republic’s charge d’affaires, which he includes in the preface to his novel, introduced him to propaganda and years later inspired him to write Tiananmen Ascending.Alan has twenty-three years of experience in international relations, communications, the federal government and Department of Defense Science and Technology agencies and programs. He is active in the defense science and technology community and is a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, the Project Management Institute, the American Marketing Association, and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.Alan lives in Washington, DC, with his wife of nineteen years and two children, and is currently at work on his next novel of Chinese aggression and deception. His debut novel Tiananmen Ascending is out now. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/123

Hey there word nerds! Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub-genre is much more challenging than it seems. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cate Holahan about her latest book The Widower’s Wife. In this episode, Cate gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting a story of suspense and intrigue set in in everyday suburbia. In this episode Cate and I discuss: How she crafted the point of view for the story and why she chose to use certain characters’ point of view and not that of others. World-building in domestic suspense, and why a close setting (like a house) can be especially interesting for writers. The cultural details of the protagonist’s Brazilian heritage (like me!) and the research that went into making the details spot-on. How she wrote the investigator in this story, and why she gave this character’s role a particular twist. The artistry behind the supporting characters of the book, and why she wrote these characters in this way. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. About the Author Catherine "Cate" Holahan is an award-winning journalist, former television producer, and author. Her second novel, The Widower's Wife, was praised in a starred Kirkus review as "one of those rare thrillers that really will keep you reading all night." Her articles have appeared in BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record and on web sites for CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com and CNBC. Her first novel, also published by Crooked Lane Books, is Dark Turns. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dog.   The Widower’s Wife Ana Bacon, a young housewife, tumbles off a cruise ship into the dark and deadly waters, but did she take her secrets with her? Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten million dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall. So the official ruling seems to be substantiated. Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall. Cate Holahan looks at the dark underbelly of a marriage from the perspectives of the detective and the victim in her tense and enthralling page-turner, The Widower's Wife.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/122

Hey there word nerds! Boy are you going to love this episode. It’s a bit of an adventure for me, because I have not one, not two, but three wonderful guests joining me on the show. Today, I’m speaking with Anne Trager, founder of Le French Book, and two members of her team: Amy Richards and Sally Pane. Together, these three ladies have adapted the Winemaker Detective Series, authored in France originally by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen, and have brought these wonderful books to the United States. As we discuss the ins and outs of translating and adapting books to an American audience, you’ll get an inside look at all the nuances and details that go into bringing the Winemaker Detective Series to life for a new readership. In this episode Anne, Amy, Sally, and I discuss: What Le French Book is, and what inspired Anne to start this company. We also discuss the collaboration process of these three women. The Winemaker Series, and why it is such a perfect choice for Le French Book. How one small shift in the adaptation timeline has led to some interesting and fun changes in the series translation. The translation process and how this particular team translates and adapts this series to an American audience. How you can preserve the voice of the authors, even when translating a text from one language to another. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. About Le French Book When I read this manifesto of sorts on the Le French Book website, I knew Anne Trager and I were of the same mind. What we believe Entertainment is key. A book is a book is a book, whatever the format. It's the story that counts. Readers want to read, so they should have easy access to our books. Publishing is changing and all ways of getting books to readers are worth exploring. Reaching out and engaging with readers is where it’s at. Learn more at www.lefrenchbook.com, or follow Le French Book on Facebook and Twitter. You can also download a free copy of the first in the series Treachery in Bordeaux. Anne Trager loves France so much she has lived there since 1985 and just can’t seem to leave. What keeps her there is a uniquely French mix of pleasure seeking and creativity. Well, that and the wine. In 2011, she woke up one morning and said, “I just can’t stand it anymore. There are way too many good books being written in France not reaching a broader audience.” That’s when she founded Le French Book to translate some of those books into English. The company’s motto is “If we love it, we translate it,” and Anne loves crime fiction, mysteries and detective novels. WAmy Richards is the translation editor at Le French Book and she loves a good story, whether it’s reading it, telling it or helping someone else write it. She has spent the better part of her career as a writer and editor at both small-town and major metropolitan newspapers. Her award-winning work has ranged from capturing the economic decline of Rust-Belt communities on Lake Erie to distilling the essence of food stories in well-turned headlines. Her entrée to manuscript editing was a chance encounter in a thrift store. She overheard a first-time author talking about his novel. “Do you need an editor?” she asked. “Why yes, I do,” he answered. Since helping him polish his first two novels, she has edited more than two dozen English-first and translated works for independent authors and Le French Book. Sally Pane studied French at SUNY and the Sorbonne before receiving her Masters Degree in French Literature from the University of Colorado. Her career includes more than twenty years of translating and teaching French and Italian at  University of Colorado Boulder. She also served as the interpreter for the government cabinet of Rwanda and translated for Dian Fossey’s Digit Fund. Sally has translated a number of titles in the Winemaker Detective series. In addition to her passion for French, she studied Italian at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Rome and Siena. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband. Winemaker Series An immersion in French countryside and gourmet attitude with two amateur sleuths gumshoeing around French wine country.  The Winemaker Detective series delves into the underworld of a global luxury industry, where there’s money, deceit, death, crime, inheritance, jealousy—all the ingredients needed to distill a fine detective series! That and a decent dose of Epicurean enjoyment of fine food and beverage. It follows master winemaker Benjamin Cooker and his sidekick Virgile Lanssien in their adventures solving mysteries in vineyards throughout France and beyond. Each book is a homage to wine and winemakers. This series—written by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen—has been made into a television series in France, Blood of the Vine. The series is a huge success in France, Belgium and Switzerland, attracting an audience of over 4 million. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/121  

Hey there word nerds! I am so excited to share this new episode with you. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with author John Sandford. This, of course, is the pseudonym of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp and he is the author of 45 books and counting! In case you’re curious, his writing credits include twenty-six Prey novels; four Kidd novels; nine Virgil Flowers novels; three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook; and three standalone books, most recently Saturn Run. In this episode John and I discuss: Why he chose to base a series around a supporting character from his Prey novels, Virgil Flowers, and how humor plays into this spin-off series. How his three series tie together by existing in the same world, and the contrast between the protagonists in each. Why thrillers with a criminal as the protagonist tend to be less popular than those with sleuths or law enforcers as the focus, and where antiheroes fit into that picture. How to create antiheroes who are compelling (even if they’re unlikeable) by focusing on their motivations and using humor. Crafting a great heist story, and why it’s important for the target of the heist to be even more reprehensible than the thieves stealing the money. Where he gets inspiration for his characters’ names, and it’s not how you would expect. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. About the Author John Sandford is the pseudonym of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author to twenty-six Prey novels; four Kidd novels; nine Virgil Flowers novels; three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook; and three standalone books, most recently Saturn Run. Nine years ago, he brought Virgil Flowers, a supporting character in his Prey series, to life launched a spin-off series around this character. The result was another riveting #1 bestselling series. Over the course of the Virgil Flowers series, Sandford’s novels have achieved enormous popularity, both among fans and reviewers, and the ninth installment in the series, ESCAPE CLAUSE, does not disappoint. For more info and complete show notes: DIYMFA.com/120

Hello hello word nerds! Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with author Diane Saxton. As a journalist, Diane has written for Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Holiday Magazine and Greenwich Review and she has covered everything from torture victims to physics, animal rights activists, exotic travel, and movie producers. She brings this same passion and gift for storytelling to her debut novel, PEREGRINE ISLAND, which we’ll be discussing today.   In this episode Diane and I discuss: Building a story from a theme and a few core characters. The contrast between the male and female characters in the story. How sometimes writers don’t realize they’re making artful choices until after they’ve made them. The long and winding path that brought her to finding the perfect home for her book with She Writes Press. How writers can use their craft to honor the lives of those no longer with us. Finding your writing rhythm, even if it’s totally different from what works for other writers. Plus, Diane’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Diane Saxton was a journalist with Vanity Fair UK, Holiday Magazine, and Greenwich Review, and covered everything from torture victims to psychics, animal rights activists, exotic travel, and movie producers. A new chapter opened up for her after interviewing Amnesty International US founder Hannah Grunwald. Alarmed that the stories of incredible and influential lives such as Grunwald’s could be lost as the Greatest Generation passes, Saxton began capturing their histories and compiled them into a 1,000 page biographical collection, which became the inspiration for her next book. She brings the same gift for storytelling with illuminating subtext to her debut novel, Peregrine Island. Saxton divides her time between New York City and the Berkshires, where she lives with her husband, dogs and horses. Peregrine Island Have you ever wondered what the impetus was to start a certain painting? Why the artist chose to immortalize a particular subject? What if you suddenly discovered that the painting in question, your painting, was valuable? In Peregrine Island, the Peregrine family’s lives are turned upside-down one summer when so-called “art experts” appear on the doorstep of their Connecticut island home to appraise a favorite heirloom painting. When incriminating papers—and other paintings—are discovered behind the painting in question, the appraisal turns into a full-fledged investigation. Flattered at first by the art museum’s unanticipated interest, the family members quickly change their attitudes with the arrival of detectives on their terrace and the illusory but repeated appearance of a stranger reported to be concealed in a cove. The now-antagonistic family—grandmother, mother, and child—consequently begin to suspect one another, as well as the shady newcomers in their midst. As the summer progresses and the investigation reveals facts about the Peregrines’ past that even they didn’t know, they learn that people are not always who they appear to be—themselves not excluded—and art is often a reflection of their own lives. More important, in uncovering the secret of the painting they come to realize that the love each unconsciously sought has been right in front of them all along. Though Peregrine Island is driven by a mystery, it is as much characterized by its ever-present sense of spiritualism, accentuated by the symbolism of the Sound, the soul of relationships, and the wisdom of the very young and the very old. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/119

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to welcome Todd Harra to the show. It seemed fitting to have Todd as our guest for our Halloween episode, since he is the author of Mortuary Confidential: Undertakers Spill the Dirt and Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid. As writers’ we’re often advised not to quit our “day jobs,” usually because people think having a sensible, reliable profession is safer than trying to have a creative career. In this episode, I speak with an author who not only hasn’t quit his “day job” but his profession is part of the inspiration behind his books, and helped get his start as a writer. And for the record, no, his “day job” is not in publishing or a field related to writing. This author happens to be an undertaker. In this interview we’re going to talk about drawing inspiration from our “day jobs,” using writing to process what we experience in our jobs, and--most important--how we as writers can use our words as a way to honor the lives of others. In this episode Todd and I discuss: How he got started in his “day job” and how he connected with his co-author. The collaborative process of writing not one, but two books together. Why persistence pays off, and why it’s so important for writers to be flexible and try different approaches. How the structure of his day job affected the structure of these particular books. How he uses writing to process his experiences in his “day job” and how his “day job” also fuels his writing. How he picked up and learned the business of writing, and how writers can educate themselves about the industry. Plus, Todd’s #1 tip for writers. About the Authors Todd Harra has working in the funeral profession since 2004. He is a fourth generation funeral director, working for his uncle at McCrery & Harra Funeral Homes and Crematory in Wilmington, DE. His great great great grandfather was a cabinet maker and tradesman undertaker in Milford, Delaware prior to the Civil War. Todd graduated from Elon University and the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He received certification in Advanced Post Mortem Reconstruction from the Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills, and is a Certified Crematory Operator. Todd appeared on the cover of the 2008 "Men of Mortuaries" calendar, a fundraiser for the KAMM Cares breast cancer foundation, where he met Ken and they decided to collaborate on a non-fiction mortuary series of books. Todd is currently working on several fiction based projects. To learn more about him and his writing, visit his website, www.toddharra.com. Kenneth McKenzie first became interested in the death care industry at the age of twelve, following his father's suicide. He has been a funeral director for over 22 years and a funeral home owner for 14. In 2007 Ken created and published the well-received Men of Mortuaries calendar, also the inspiration for this book, to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness, and he received California's Outstanding Funeral Director of the Year Award. He resides in Long Beach, CA. For more information please visit www.MenOfMortuaries.org. Links and Resources If you want to check out both of Todd’s books, visit the book websites below or purchase them via our Amazon affiliate links (where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you). As always thank you for supporting DIY MFA! Mortuary Confidential: Undertakers Spill the Dirt  |  Book Website: www.mortuaryconfidential.com Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid  |  Book Website: www.overourdeadbodies.com For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/118  

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so pleased to have Teddy Wayne on the show. Teddy  is the author of several books, most recently his novel Loner, which is out now. Teddy has won numerous writing awards, is regular contributor to several prestigious publications, and has taught at Columbia University in NYC and Washington University in St. Louis. In this interview, we talk about Teddy’s newest book and the craft behind bringing an anti-hero to life on the page. During the episode, we geek out about anti-heroes, Hitchcock movies, and how trying to understand reprehensible characters can help expand our humanity. Listen below.   In this episode we discuss: What writers can learn about crafting an anti-hero from the TV show All in the Family, and how to create a character who is deeply flawed but also relatable. How much of an anti-hero’s character is shaped by internal qualities versus environmental or situational factors. How to avoid making an anti-hero seem over-simplified and make readers feel connected to an evil character. The difference between an extraordinary character’s slow descent into darkness, and a regular character making a terrible choice and having to “fix” the situation. The two components that writers can infuse into literary fiction to make it come to life and hook readers. Plus, Teddy’s #1 tip for writers. About the Teddy Wayne Teddy Wayne is the author of the novels Loner, The Love Song of Jonny Valentine, and Kapitoil. He is the winner of a Whiting Writers’ Award and an NEA Creative Writing Fellowship as well as a finalist for the Young Lions Fiction Award, PEN/Bingham Prize, and Dayton Literary Peace Prize. A columnist for the New York Times, he is a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and McSweeney’s and has taught at Columbia University and Washington University in St. Louis. He lives in New York. About the Book With the same knack for voice and piercing social commentary Wayne gave readers in The Love Song of Jonny Valentine and Kapitoil, LONER is a riveting, frighteningly believable portrait of obsession on a college campus. Much like Claire Messud’s The Woman Upstairs, Herman Koch’s The Dinner, and Charlotte Rogan’s The Lifeboat—and, further back, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Lolita, and Notes from Underground—it is one of those rare novels where, as the pages fly by, readers feel everything from fear to rage to empathy for characters they might not like, but nevertheless find completely mesmerizing. Wayne’s New York Times column the last couple of years, “Future Tense,” has demonstrated his critical talents for dissecting the alienating effects of contemporary culture, and LONER continues this with the misfit David Federman at the center of the novel. An academically gifted yet painfully forgettable member of his New Jersey high school class, the withdrawn, mild-mannered freshman arrives at Harvard fully expecting to be embraced by a new tribe of high-achieving peers. But, initially, his social prospects seem unlikely to change. Then Veronica Morgan Wells enters his life. Immediately struck by her beauty, wit, and sophisticated Manhattan upbringing, David falls feverishly in love with the woman he sees as an embodiment of what he’s always wanted to be: popular, attractive, powerful. Determined to stop at nothing to win her attention and an invitation into her glamorous world, he begins compromising his moral standards. But both Veronica and David, it turns out, are not exactly as they seem. Links & Resources Check out these previous podcast episodes talking about systematic and deliberate practice in writing. These interview share some great insights about how to practice as a writer. Episode 61: How to Write Spellbinding Sentences–Interview with Barbara Baig DIYMFA.com/061 Episode 89: The Power of Deliberate Practice – Interview with Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool DIYMFA.com/089 For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/117

  Hey there word nerds! Today I am thrilled and delighted to be speaking with author Amor Towles about his latest book A Gentleman in Moscow. If you’ve ever struggled with world-building, this book is a master class on how to navigate the multiple layers of setting and that’s what we talk about this interview today. As you’ll hear in this conversation, world-building is not just relevant for writers of historical fiction, science fiction, or fantasy. Setting and world-building is important for any type of story. As we discuss in this interview, world also exists on multiple levels. Like ripples in a pond, where the setting can influence your character, but your character can also affect your story’s world. In this episode Amor and I discuss: The premise latest book, and how world-building factored in from the very beginning of his writing process. How to avoid the biggest world-building mistake in writing, and how to work around these constraints wit your setting. Using supporting characters to add layers of interest to your setting, when your main character is confined in a limited space. Why it’s important to understand all aspects of a time period or culture, so you can convey multiple layers of complexity to your story. The ripple effect of world-building and how setting operates on both micro and macro levels. Why applied research and artificial details don’t capture the emotional truth of a scene or description, and how to use character to make setting come to life. Creating characters and stories that seem to extend beyond the pages of the book. How the world of your story impacts your character, and how your character can affect your story’s world. Plus, Amor’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Amor Towles was born and raised just outside Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University and received an MA in English from Stanford University. For many years a principal at an investment firm in Manhattan, he now devotes himself full time to writing. His first novel, Rules of Civility, published in 2011, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Towles lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children. To learn more about Amor and his writing, visit his website, AmorTowles.com , or follow him on Instagram or Facebook. A Gentleman in Moscow A big novel that embodies the grandiloquent style and spirit of Russia’s Golden Age of literature, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is a captivating story of personal and emotional discovery. This novel immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Though stripped of most of his personal possessions and his dignity, the Count remains determined to preserve his passion for life, and finds his days propelled in profound and unanticipated directions through his encounters with the hotel’s staff and guests, which unlock the doors to larger worlds within the hotel and ultimately himself. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/116  

Hello hello, word nerds! Welcome to our latest episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m speaking with Chad Dundas, the debut author of the historical sports novel: THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. When publishing their debuts, writers have to contend with many different hurdles. They need to grab the attention of agents and editors. They need to hook readers from the very first page. And they must do all of this at a time when they don’t yet have a track record of success and a huge fanbase to rely on. Some authors might be tempted to play it safe, but not Chad Dundas. He chooses a topic--professional wrestling--that not many people are interested in. He sets his book in a world that most people don’t know much about: the traveling carnivals of the 1920s. And he opens his book with a chapter where at the end it’s unclear whether the point-of-view character is even still alive. As writers, I think it’s so important for us to hear not just from major bestselling authors with dozens (if not hundreds) of books under their belts. I also want you to hear from authors who are just a few steps ahead of where you are. I want you to know that you can take risks in your debut novel, and I want to introduce you to writers who are doing just that. In this episode Chad and I discuss: Starting your novel when something happens Researching to get the historical elements just right The craft of writing on a chapter level Reality versus fiction in your writing and your life Plus, Chad’s #1 tip for writers. More about Chad: Chad Dundas earned his MFA from the University of Montana, and his short fiction has appeared in the Beloit Fiction Journal, Sycamore Review, Sou’Wester, and Thuglit. Since 2001, he’s worked as a sportswriter for national outlets including ESPN, NBC Sports, Sporting News, Bleacher Report, and the Associated Press, as well as local and regional newspapers. A fourth-generation Montanan, he lives with his wife and children in Missoula. To learn more about Chad check out his website, or follow him on Twitter. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/115

Hey there, Word Nerds. Welcome to this week’s episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Steven Rowley, the author of the novel LILY AND THE OCTOPUS about an important topic in writing: the author's voice. There are so many different voices that authors have to sift through when writing, from authorial voice to character voice to the critical voices that try to hold you back. Steven and I talk about how to differentiate between the voices, how to find what is useful for you, and how to shed what is weighing you down. In this episode Steven and I discuss: Working through hard emotions via writing. Articulating the distinct voices of different characters in a story. “Finding” your authorial voice. Protecting yourself from the voices in your own head. What to read when you need to replenish the well. Plus, Steven’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author: Steven Rowley has worked as a freelance writer, alternative weekly newspaper columnist, and screenwriter. Originally from Portland, Maine, he is a graduate of Emerson College and currently lives in Los Angeles. For more information about Steven and his ongoing projects, check out his website, or follow him on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/114

Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. You’re gonna love today’s guest. Today I’m speaking with one of the most prolific writers working in modern fiction: Dean Wesley Smith. A USA Today bestselling author, Dean has published far over a hundred novels in forty years, and hundreds upon hundreds of short stories across many genres. In total, he has over seventeen million copies of his books in print.His monthly magazine called Smith’s Monthly, consisting of only his own fiction, premiered in October 2013 and has not missed an issue yet. With over 60,000 words per issue, including a new and original novel every month, this magazine goes to show that consistency is king when it comes to modern publishing, especially indie publishing. In this episode Dean and I discuss: How to get out of your own way and get writing. Killing the sacred cows of publishing Giving your creative voice permission to play and putting the critical voice away. Running a small publishing company. Training yourself to shift gears from creative work to business work. Plus, Dean’s #1 tip for writers. More about Dean: Considered one of the most prolific writers working in modern fiction, USA Today bestselling writer, Dean Wesley Smith published far over a hundred novels in forty years, and hundreds and hundreds of short stories across many genres. He has over seventeen million of his books in print.At the moment he produces novels in four major series, including the time travel Thunder Mountain novels set in the old west, the galaxy-spanning Seeders Universe series, the urban fantasy Ghost of a Chance series, and the superhero series starring Poker Boy. His monthly magazine called Smith’s Monthly, consisting of only his own fiction, premiered in October 2013 and has not missed an issue yet, with over 60,000 words per issue, including a new and original novel every month.During his career, Dean also wrote a couple dozen Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, Spider-Man and X-Men novels, plus novels set in gaming and television worlds. Writing with his wife Kristine Kathryn Rusch under the name Kathryn Wesley, they wrote the novel for the NBC miniseries The Tenth Kingdom and other books for Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.He wrote novels under dozens of pen names in the worlds of comic books and movies, including novelizations of almost a dozen films, from The Final Fantasy to Steel to Rundown. Dean also worked as a fiction editor off and on, starting at Pulphouse Publishing, then at VB Tech Journal, then Pocket Books, and now at WMG Publishing where he and Kristine Kathryn Rusch serve as executive editors for the acclaimed Fiction River anthology series. To learn more about Dean’s books and ongoing projects, check out his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/113

Hey there Word Nerds! Welcome back for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jerry Jenkins, author of 189 books with sales of more than 70 million copies. He’s had 21 New York Times bestsellers, including the Left Behind series and he now shares his writing knowledge on his blog. Earlier this year, he launched his brand new Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, a writing program that helps serious writers finish their book and get traditionally published. The Guild is already over 1500 members strong, and it is opening its doors to new members on September 19 for the final time this year. In this episode Jerry and I discuss: What inspired him to start writing Learning the business of publishing before you dive in Myths that come up about the process of writing and publishing The importance of editing for good writing and learning from the critique that others receive Plus, Jerry’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Jerry Jenkins is the author of several novels, including both series and stand-alone. While most people know him as the author of the Left Behind series, Left Behind was actually his 125th book. His insatiable pursuit of great stories has also motivated him to write biographies of icons such as Hank Aaron, Orel Hershiser, Walter Payton, Meadowlark Lemon, Nolan Ryan, Mike Singletary, B.J. Thomas, and many other men and women. For the full list of his published books, click here. To learn more about Jerry or to check out some of his resources for writers, visit his website, or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. His writer's guild--which we discussed on the show--will be opening for registration soon. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/112  

Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking with debut author Erin Petti. Her debut novel, The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee, us out now and it just might be one of my new favorites. Right away when I chatted with Erin, I felt like I had found a long-lost bestie. She lives in Massachusetts and loves to read about the same things I do: magic, dinosaurs, folklore, and ghosts. With a Masters in Education and a background in improv comedy, it’s no wonder that her fiction debut is part magic, part science, and totally hilarious. If you are a fan of Middle Grade fiction or have young people in your life who love to read, I highly recommend this book. In this episode Erin and I discuss: Writing characters’ “coming of age” moments The importance of setting to the narrative Incorporating real-life details into your fictional settings Plotting your middle grade series Diversity in books for young people Plus, Erin’s #1 tip for writers. About the Book: The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee is a fantastical adventure-mystery, where science and magic intertwine. Eleven-year-old Thelma Bee is never bored; in fact, she has curiosity and adventure in her blood. She spends her time running science experiments, practicing Spanish, and daydreaming about exotic landscapes. But Thelma gets more than she bargained for when a strange woman sells a jewelry box at her father's antique shop. That night, a ghost kidnaps her father, and the only clue is the jewelry box and a word a ghost whispered in her ear: "Return". Now it's up to Thelma to get her dad back, and it might be harder than she thought because here's someone wielding dark magic, and Thelma is pretty sure they're coming after her next. About the Author: Erin Petti lives by the ocean in Massachusetts and loves to read about magic, dinosaurs, folklore, and ghosts. She has a Masters in Education and a background in improvisational comedy. Erin lives with her husband, excellent toddler, and cat (who she suspects likes her better than she's letting on).  You can follow Erin on Twitter, or check out her website erinpetti.com for more information about her and her writing. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/111    

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’ve joined me for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Delia Ephron, bestselling author and screenwriter. She’s the writer behind the novel and movie Hanging Up, as well as the screenwriter for movies like You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Michael. She’s also a journalist and playwright, with her articles appearing in major markets like The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Vanity Fair, and her hit play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (co-written with Nora Ephron) running for more than two years off-Broadway and performed all over the world. Her newest novel, Siracusa, is a haunting drama about two failing marriages and how the lives of these two couples (and one pre-teen girl) unravel on a trip to Italy. In this episode Delia and I discuss: Keeping track of details when writing multiple points of view Getting into the heads of your characters and bringing that to the page. Knowing what details to share and what to withhold. Writing people who are real and complicated. Adapting stories versus creating new material. Plus, Delia’s #1 tip for writers. About SIRACUSA Bestselling author Delia Ephron wields her keen understanding of the human psyche to mine the ruins of relationships in SIRACUSA, a thrilling emotional opus set in Italy and performed by a pitch-perfect choir of four voices. New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist whose professional life is crumbling, travel in Italy with their friends from Maine – Finn, his wife Taylor and their daughter, Snow. “From the beginning,” says Taylor, “it was a conspiracy between Lizzie and Finn to be together.” Written Rashomon-style in alternating points of view, we see friendships and relationships bend and break as secrets are exposed and the couples careen toward Siracusa and disaster. “Couples collaborate,” says Lizzie, “hiding even from each other who is calling the shots and who is along from the ride.” Snow--Taylor’s lookalike daughter--drawn into the adult drama, moves to the center of the story and is the catalyst for conflict between the women (Taylor a mother, Lizzie not) as well as a pawn between Finn and Michael. She is the mystery at the heart of SIRACUSA. Is she shy or she is cunning? Do we want to protect her or should we fear her? Ephron’s masterful writing renders each adult character in stark detail--their inner monologue revealing darker truths about disappointments, envy and ambition. In a story that unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller, Ephron also delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. As the vise tightens, Lizzie ponders: Is loyalty a more honorable pledge than love? Pinging between multiple points of view and painting a detailed landscape of both the human heart and the Ionian seaside, SIRACUSA is an electrifying novel about marriage and deceit. As it spins to its shocking and unexpected end, Ephron effortlessly shape-shifts between personalities, offering insight from every character, infusing each chapter with equal parts wit and mystery, and leaving it up to the reader to untangle the truth from a wide net of lies.   Delia Ephron is a bestselling author and screenwriter. She has written novels, including The Lion Is In and Hanging Up; humor books for all ages, including How to Eat Like a Child and Do I Have to Say Hello?; and nonfiction, most recently Sister Mother Husband Dog (etc.). Her films include You’ve Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Hanging Up (based on her novel), and Michael. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. Her hit play Love, Loss, and What I Wore (co-written with her sister, Nora Ephron) ran for more than two years off-Broadway and has been performed all over the world. She lives in New York City. To learn more, follow her on Facebook and Twitter, or visit her website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/110

Hey there Word Nerds. I can’t wait for you to hear today’s interview with MJ Rose. A fellow New-Yorker, MJ Rose grew up in NYC, exploring the labyrinthine galleries of the Met, wandering the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park, and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed. She’s the author of over a dozen novels and co-president and founding board member of ITW (International Thriller Writers). She’s also the founder of the first marketing company for authors (AuthorBuzz.com) and is a book marketing mastermind. People throughout the book industry consider her an innovator and publishing pioneer. I had the pleasure of hearing her talk about book buzz and promotion at the most recent ThrillerFest and she most definitely knows her stuff. Today we’ll be talking about her new book The Secret Language of Stones and how she has put her own marketing genius to work in promoting her latest book. In this episode MJ and I discuss: The importance of buzz for your book in getting it published. Whether you should market your own book or hire an expert to market it for you. The best thing you can do to market your book. Interpersonal etiquette, or how best to approach other authors on social media and ask for help marketing your book. Plus, MJ’s #1 tip for writers. Resources You can follow MJ Rose on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads, or visit her website for more information about her and her books. Watch the TED Talk that MJ mentions about figuring out your brand. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/109  

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’ve joined me for this episode. Today I am so thrilled to be  interviewing someone who I have honor of calling a mentor and friend: James Scott Bell. Jim is the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure, and numerous thrillers, including his Mike Romeo series: Romeo’s Way. He is also a wonderful teacher who has taught writing at numerous conferences and I’ve had the pleasure of hearing him speak about writing at several events. Each time I come out learning a valuable new technique that I can apply to my work right away. As a teacher, his superpower lies in the way he explains plot and story structure. Whenever I have questions about how to structure a book or plot a story, I always look first to his books or the notes I took in one of his conference sessions. So get those pens and notepads ready, people because you are going to learn a LOT during this episode. Today Jim and I talk about what is perhaps one of the most important, and yet most often overlooked elements of your story: the midpoint. In this episode Jim and I discuss: The difference between plot and story The midpoint (or mirror moment) of your story and why it’s important How to use the middle of the story to make the beginning and ending make sense Pre-story psychology of your main character Using Scrivener to help structure your story Plus, Jim’s #1 tip for writers. More about James Scott Bell: JAMES SCOTT BELL is the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure, and numerous thrillers, including, Romeo’s Rules, Try Dying, and Don't Leave Me. In addition to his traditional novels, Jim has self-published in a variety of forms. His  novella One More Lie was the first self-published work to be nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award. He served as the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine and has written highly popular craft books including: Write Your Novel From the Middle, Super Structure, The Art of War for Writers, and Conflict & Suspense. Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and at numerous writers conferences in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver, and graduated with honors from the University of Southern California Law Center. To learn more about Jim and his writing, hop on over to his website, www.jamesscottbell.com, or follow him on Twitter and Facebook. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/108

Hey there Word Nerds! I am so glad you've joined me because today’s episode is going to be epic. In this interview, I speak with Andrew Piper, Associate Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at McGill University. Andrew is the director of .txtLAB (a digital humanities lab at McGill) and is the leader of the multinational research consortium, “NovelITM: Text Mining the novel.” Basically he uses quantitative data to gain a more in-depth understanding of thematic and stylistic elements within the novel as an art-form. Andrew and his colleague Richard So wrote an article earlier this year in The Atlantic that got a lot of people riled up. They shared research on novels written by authors either with or without an MFA and found that there wasn't any significant difference between writers in both categories. This article added depth to that perennial MFA debate. Should you (or shouldn't you) get an MFA? As you know, this is a subject near and dear to my heart. And now it turns out that there's actual data suggesting that an MFA degree isn't a very good predictor of whether someone will become a published author, or even write a great book. It seems especially fitting for this episode to air this week, just a few short days before the official NYC launch event for my own book. Embed Episode Here In this episode Andrew and I discuss: How a computer might (or might not) be able to differentiate between novels of various qualities, versus various genres. The extent to which racial and gender diversity in writing shows up in the literature produced by MFA programs (the Whiteness factor) The role of data analysis in uncovering bias in the publishing industry. Embracing data and computation in the process of growing as a creative. Plus, Andrew’s #1 tip for writers. Andrew Piper is Associate Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at McGill University. He is the director of .txtLAB @ McGill, a digital humanities laboratory, as well as leader of the multinational research consortium, “NovelTM: Text Mining the Novel,” which brings together 21 partners across North America and Europe to undertake the first large-scale quantitative and cross-cultural study of the novel. He is the author most recently of Book Was There: Reading in Electronic Times (Chicago 2012) as well as Dreaming in Books: The Making of the Bibliographic Imagination in the Romantic Age (Chicago 2009), which was awarded the MLA Prize for a First Book and honourable mention for the Harry Levin Prize for the American Comparative Literature Association.     For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/107

Hey there Word Nerds! Today's episode is especially dear to my heart because I'm interviewing Joanna Penn, author and creative entrepreneur. She is the mastermind behind The Creative Penn, one of the top 10 sites for writers and has penned several nonfiction books helping writers build their platforms. She also writes thrillers under the pen name J.F. Penn. She is a self-publishing superstar and I am so thrilled to have her on the show To hear me and Joanna geek out over writing, marketing and all things bookish, listen in here: In this episode Joanna and I discuss: Deciding to self-publish and how to learn the ropes Defining what you consider success in your craft The business side of writing How marketing can be creative and collaborative Figuring out the target audience for your book Plus, Joanna’s #1 tip for writers.   Check out Joanna's fabulous books on the business of writing. Joanna's books on marketing are among my go-to resources. My favorite thus far is Business for Authors: How to Be an Author Entrepreneur, which breaks down the business aspects of writing into small, manageable chunks. While I recognize that not all authors want to be entrepreneurs per se, we all need to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and treat our writing both as an art and as a business. Joanna's books can show you how to do just that. Her latest book, The Successful Author Mindset, digs deep and unpacks all those hurdles that writers face, to help you break through those barriers. A writer after my own heart, Joanna is not one to waste time (or words) on fluff. Every book I've read by her is to the point and jam-packed with actionable advice. As with most of the to books we recommend at DIY MFA, the above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one or more of Joanna's books via those links (which you totally should, by the way) then DIY MFA will get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting DIY MFA and our featured authors! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA/com/106

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so thrilled that you're joining me for this episode. Today I’ll be talking to Julie Zickefoose, an artist and author of three books, the latest being Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest. In today’s interview, we’ll be talking about how to turn your passion for a subject into a book (or something more), and how to keep up the motivation to pursue that passion, even when you’re not sure where it might lead. In this episode Julie and I discuss: Taking a wild idea from concept to concrete Developing your skill set to enhance your work Bringing your unique perspective to the subject Relying on your passion to help you push through the project’s obstacles Being open to the possibilities that come from the problems you face Plus, Julie’s #1 tip for writers. If you love nature writing, you can order a copy of Julie's latest book Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest, with her gorgeous watercolor artwork and written accounts following the first days of these hatchlings. It's really quite a spectacular project. And if you order via this Amazon affiliate link, DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA and our featured authors! Writer/artist Julie Zickefoose, author of Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest (2016), The Bluebird Effect (2012), and Letters from Eden (2006), is a Contributing Editor to Bird Watcher’s Digest and her blog entertains more than 32,000 visitors each month. Julie loves to introduce people to birdwatching, and now leads natural history excursions abroad. She travels to speak for nature festivals, clubs and horticultural societies, and lives with her family on an 80-acre sanctuary in Appalachian Ohio. Indigo Hill has hosted 194 bird species and 78 species of butterflies as of 2016. To learn more about Julie, her writing and her artwork, check out her website. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.     For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/105

Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today's awesome DIY MFA Radio interview with author Ryan North. When one of my contacts over at Penguin told me Romeo and/or Juliet and asked if I wanted to bring the author on the show, my immediate reaction: “Shakespeare meets choose-your-own adventure? Yes please!” The fact that the play being parodied was Romeo and Juliet clinched it for me. Why? Because Romeo and Juliet is perhaps Shakespeare’s most overrated (and ridiculous) play. On one hand, this play features one of Shakespeare’s most complex, interesting and all-around badass characters (i.e. Mercutio). On the other hand, this play also centers around the star-crossed lovers--Romeo and Juliet--who might just be the two most banal, boring characters in all of literature. (In case you haven't noticed, have very strong opinions about Shakespeare.) I simply HAD to see how Ryan was going to apply his choose-your-own-path model to this particular play. Let's just say, the result did not disappoint. In fact, it was even more awesome than I anticipated. If you aren’t familiar with Ryan North’s work, he is a NYT bestselling author and cartoonist, and his first choose-your-own-path Shakespeare book, To Be or Not To Be, became Kickstarter’s most-funded publishing project when it first launched. Now with Romeo and/or Juliet he has crafted a story with over 40 quadrillion possible journeys for a reader to take. It’s sort of like a book-meets-video-game with over one hundred possible endings and original illustrations from amazing artists.   Embed Episode Here In this episode Ryan and I discuss: The power of memorizing poetry Choose-your-own-adventure and the art of storytelling Shakespeare's big mistake Keeping track of everything when your story has many moving parts Making sure that your characters have choices that feel real and have an impact while coping with the reality of the world they live in. Engaging readers in with the text Plus, Ryan’s #1 tip for writers. Romeo And/Or Juliet In this choose-your-own-path version of Romeo and Juliet, you choose where the story goes every time you read! Romeo and/or Juliet has over 40 QUADRILLION possible journeys for a reader to take. Readers can choose to play as Romeo or Juliet, as Romeo and Juliet together, as Juliet’s nurse, or even as an unlockable fourth mystery character. All of the endings—there are more than a hundred—feature original illustrations from incredible artists. Written with the unique humor that fans of Dinosaur Comics and the Adventure Time comics know and love, Romeo and/or Juliet turns the Bard's beloved play into fodder for madcap comedy. Shakespeare has never been this entertaining, or this weird. We can’t think of a better way to… “celebrate” the 400th anniversary (2016) of Shakespeare’s death. To learn more about Ryan, visit his website or follow him on Twitter. If you want to get your very own copy of Romeo and/or Juliet (and you totally should because it's hilarious!) we hope you'll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting DIY MFA! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/104    

Hello hello, word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with fellow New Yorker and awesome author, Emma Straub. I had so much fun doing this interview because it was almost like talking to a parallel universe version of myself. After the interview, Emma and I figured out that we had grown up in fairly close neighborhoods (she's a West-Sider, I'm East) and we even went to very similar schools. Talk about crazy coincidence! But now, let's get down to business. Emma Straub is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Vacationers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. Her fiction and nonfiction have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Elle, and Conde Nast Traveler, and she is a contributing writer for Rookie. Straub’s work has been published in fifteen countries, and her newest book Modern Lovers is out now.   In this episode Emma and I discuss: Point of view as a story vehicle How to decide who the true protagonist is in a multiple POV narrative Writing as collaboration with the reader Letting the characters lead the story How your real life experiences inform your writing Time as a focal point for character Plus, Emma’s #1 tip for writers. About Modern Lovers A smart, highly entertaining novel about a tight-knit group of friends from college—their own kids now going to college—and what it means to finally grow up well after adulthood has set in. Like in The Vacationers, Straub again brings her keen observation and subtle wisdom to a story of relationships that explores ambition and pleasure, the excitement of youth and the shock of middle age, all while maintaining throughout that perfect balance of amusement, substance and tenderness. Elle confirms that Modern Lovers “has the smart, cool sensibility of Straub’s other novels,” and promises that “you’re sure to love this one just as much.” If you decide to purchase a copy of Modern Lovers we hope you'll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting DIY MFA! To learn more about Emma and her books, follow her on Twitter or Facebook. You can also visit her website at: www.emmastraub.net.   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/103  

Hey there Word Nerds! Today I’m delighted to welcome back the founder and principal of Book Architecture, Stuart Horwitz, and his collaborator Dave Stebenne. You can listen to my previous interview with Stuart here. Stuart has spent over fifteen years helping writers become authors and his clients have reached wow-worthy levels of success. You can read the details in his bio below. More personally, though, Stuart is also a trusted colleague of mine and a good friend. When we first met over drinks at a Writer’s Digest Conference back in 2013, I knew right away that I had met a fellow writer and writing teacher whose perspective both aligns with and complemented my own. Stuart’s books are among my top go-to resources, both ones that I recommend to my students and that I use for my own writing. The newest installment of the Book Architecture trilogy–Finish Your Book in Three Drafts: How to Write a Book, Revise a Book, and Complete a Book While You Still Love It–just might be my favorite one yet. For this book, he teamed up with Dave Stebenne who created the stop-motion shorts to accompany the Book Architecture 5-year tour to create a cross between a non-fiction how-to guide and graphic novel. The result is nothing short of awesome.   In this episode Stuart, Dave, and I discuss: How the idea for this book came about The importance of both spontaneity and planning in writing Form, function, and continuity in the development of an idea Creating something that has a life beyond you Plus, Stuart’s and Dave’s #1 tips for writers. About Stuart Horwitz Stuart has spent over fifteen years helping writers become authors. His clients have signed with top literary agencies, sealed deals with coveted publishing houses, or forged a successful path as indie authors. Book Architecture’s clients have reached the New York Times best-seller list in both fiction and nonfiction, and have appeared on Oprah!, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, and in the most prestigious journals in their respective fields. Stuart’s approach is a synthesis of academic theories of narrative structure and his hands-on experience as an independent editor, book coach and ghostwriter. He has written three highly acclaimed books which together comprise the Book Architecture trilogy (affiliate links): Blueprint Your Bestseller: Organize and Revise any Manuscript with the Book Architecture Method Book Architecture: How to Plot and Outline Without Using a Formula Finish Your Book in Three Drafts: How to Write a Book, Revise a Book, and Complete a Book While You Still Love It Stuart is an award-winning essayist and poet, who has toured the Book Architecture Method through over seventy venues in North America and taught writing at Grub Street of Boston and Brown University. He holds two master's degrees—one in Literary Aesthetics from NYU, which helps him a lot with this work—and one in East Asian Studies from Harvard with a concentration in Medieval Japanese Buddhism, which helps him get out of bed in the morning. To learn more about Stuart and his work, visit his website, or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. About Dave Stebenne Dave is a 23-year veteran of the creative business, as an art director, editor and animator. Dave is responsible for the stop-motion shorts featuring action figures that are hands-down the best part of the Book Architecture 5-year tour. Having worked in broadcast media, the toy industry, advertising, publishing, and the corporate design world, he has a wide base of expertise to draw from in his work with Chick ’n Coop Pictures. He and his wife, the photographer Kristin Stebenne, live in Lincoln, RI with their two incredibly cool, sweet and adorable kids. Dave is responsible for the stop-motion shorts featuring action figures that are hands-down the best part of the Book Architecture 5-year tour. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/102    

Hey there Word Nerds! I'm so glad you've stopped by today because I've got a great DIY MFA Radio interview for you. In this episode, I interview thriller author Steve Hamilton about his new book: The Second Life of Nick Mason. This book is a fascinating study on what happens when a fundamentally decent character makes some very bad choices. In this episode Steve and I discuss: Significant experiences for writers that inform your fiction Building stories around situations versus characters Projecting characters' arcs through a series Plus, Steve’s #1 tip for writers. About the Author Steve Hamilton is the two-time Edgar Award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Alex McKnight series and two standalone novels. His debut, novel  A Cold Day in Paradise, won both an Edgar and a Shamus Award for Best First Novel, and his standalone novel The Lock Artist won an Edgar for Best Novel of the Year, a CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller, and an Alex Award, given out by the American Library Association to those books that successfully cross over to the Young Adult market. He has either won or been nominated for every other major crime fiction award in America and the UK, and his books are now translated into twenty languages. His new book The Second Life of Nick Mason is the first in a new series and it's out now.  To learn more about Steve Hamilton, visit his website or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. About the Book A career criminal from Chicago’s South Side, Nick Mason got his start stealing cars and quickly graduated to safe cracking and armed robbery. But he left that life behind when he got married and settled down with his wife and their young daughter–until an old friend offered him a job he couldn’t refuse. That fateful night at the harbor landed him in prison with a 25-to-life sentence and little hope of seeing his wife or daughter ever again. When Nick is offered a deal securing his release twenty years early, he takes it without hesitation and without fully realizing the consequences. Once outside, Nick steps into a glamorous life with a five-million-dollar condo, a new car, ten grand in cash every month, and a beautiful roommate. But while he’s returned to society, he’s still a prisoner bound to the promise he made behind bars: whenever his cell phone rings, day or night, nick must answer it and follow whatever order he is given. It’s the deal he made with Darius Cole, a criminal mastermind serving a double-life term who still runs an empire from his prison cell. Whatever Darius Cole needs him to be–a problem solver, bodyguard, thief, or assassin– Nick Mason must be that man. Forced to commit increasingly more dangerous crimes and relentlessly hunted by the detective who brought him to justice in the past, Nick finds himself in a secret war between Cole and an elite force of Chicago’s dirty cops. Desperate to go straight and rebuild his life with his daughter and ex-wire, Nick will ultimately have to risk everything–his family, his sanity, and even his life–to finally break free. Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules for Good Writing Check out the original article from Elmore Leonard in the New York Times. The last rule (after #10) is what inspired Steve Hamilton's writing tip. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/101

Hello hello Word Nerds! Welcome back to DIY MFA Radio. OMG, you guys! It’s episode 100! I can’t even believe how excited I am that we’ve come this far. Today’s show is special because not only is it episode 100 and the first solo show I’ve done in quite a while, today I’m going to introduce a concept to you. I’ve been kicking this around for a long time, and I think it’s a direction that I’m going to be taking DIY MFA, so you get a sneak peek as to where DIY MFA is going. As you’ve probably already noticed, if you follow the website or the show, a few months ago I released the Storytelling Superpower quiz, a personality quiz like you see on Buzzfeed that will tell you your storytelling personality. Head on over and take the quiz if you haven’t already. When you finish the quiz, you’ll be prompted to sign up a video series. This video series is a mini master class that I put together to celebrate the launch of the DIY MFA book! In this episode I’m going to give you an overview of where the Storytelling Superpower concept came from, what it is, and where it might be going in the next few months. Embed Episode Here The Birth of an Idea I had this idea over the winter holidays. I started sketching out some ideas in my brainstorming notebook. I like to break things into categories, to put order to very complex concepts. For a while I had been asking myself how you really know what you’re good at as a writer. This is a fundamental piece to DIY MFA. I don’t believe in copying and pasting someone else’s success plan onto your own life. You never know if that thing that worked for someone else will work for you. This is where that iteration concept comes from. It’s so important that you figure out what you’re already good at as a writer, how you behave under natural circumstances and then you improve on the things that are working well instead of overhauling your whole process all the time. I started wondering how can a writer figure out what they’re good at? Wouldn’t it be great if we had a writer’s personality test that would help you figure out who you are when you’re on the page? I’m also a huge fan of personality tests. I have a masters in psychology from Cornell, and one of the things I loved studying was personality. I started thinking about what this assessment would look like. The Myers-Briggs test, you know the E/I N/S F/T J/P one, is basically a bunch of binary spectrums. People answer yes or no questions based on those four binary spectrums that then determine whether you’re introverted or extroverted, whether you’re a thinker or a feeler. Once you figure out where you fall on those spectrums, you get your personality composite, lumping together the parameters and synthesizing who you are based on your scores on the test. The Heart and Soul of Your Story I wanted to adapt that concept for writers, to take the framework and adapt it to the way writing works. What I came up with were the different types of factors that now make up the Storytelling Superpower quiz. I decided to focus on the character component because characters are the heart and soul of your story. You can have no plot whatsoever, you can have the most mundane world for your story, you can have really messy dialogue or description, you have something. If you don’t have solid characters, even if everything else is perfect, you’re not going to be able to get that book past square one. So that’s where we start. How do we determine what the character piece of the puzzle would be? I’ve mentioned the everyman versus larger-than-life heroic character. In a previous episode, I talked about the Opposite-is-Possible Theory, the idea that you need to show that the everyman character can do something grand, and that the heroic character can be vulnerable. But I started thinking that there had to be more than just those two elements to character. The other thing that drives character is what they want. That can be kind of hard to boil down to a binary thing. The character could want to go out on an adventure and see the world, or to find the love of their life, or to not be beat up by the bully at school. So I started looking at books that I loved to see if I could discover anything in common with the characters and their wants. At first it looked like they were all over the place. And then it hit me, people (and characters) want one of two things in their life. They either want to change something or they want to preserve something. This might seem really basic, but if you think about it, every single motivation that is at the crux of a book boils down to either change or preserve. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy wants to go home, to go back to the way things were. In the Hunger Games, Katniss wants to get her family out of the horrible situation they are in and she wants to survive the games. At the beginning of the series, Katniss wants to preserve her own life, but by the end she wants systemic change. I talk in the video series about how the character’s want changes and how you can use that to modulate a character from one archetype to another. Even if you find that one archetype speaks to you more than the others, you can shift things around and adapt characters by shifting their wants. Four Character Archetypes You can have a regular joe character who just wants to change or preserve something, or you can have a larger-than-life character who wants to change or preserve something. That gave us four archetypes. So why are these archetypes important? The key isn’t to box characters in. You don’t have to shove your character into a particular category and then stick to that category come hell or high water. Instead, you can use these frameworks to understand what your characters are about at their most basic level. Then you can break the rules, shake things up. But if you don’t know what the rules are in the first place you can’t break them. Underdog The underdog is an ordinary Joe or Jane who wants to change something. This character doesn’t have a whole lot of amazing superpowers or skills or assets, but they want to move up, to change their life and the status-quo. You can play this dynamic out in any number of circumstances, like the classic “rags-to-riches” makeover story or a comeback story where a powerful character has a major setback and has to pick themselves back up. So even though the underdog character happens to be an everyman who wants to change, you can make that story play out in a lot of different ways depending on the situation you put that character in. Disruptor The disruptor is my favorite. It’s a larger-than-life character who wants to change something, whether that’s something small in their life or something large in the world around them. Usually the disruptor is the revolutionary, the character that wants to change the world. What I find interesting is that, when I look at the data for of all the archetypes in the quiz, the disruptor is the smallest slice of the pie. Why that is, I think, is because disruptors are very hard to like. So if you’re writing a disruptor character, help the reader find something in that character that they can relate to. Survivor The survivor is the same everyman character as the underdog, except that instead of wanting to change something, they want things to stay the same. The classic survivor stories are battles against nature, where some big disaster happens and the character has to struggle to survive. What makes this archetype so relatable is the everyman-ness of the survivor character. If the survivor can get through this, then so can we. Survivors are characters that have hope woven into them. No matter how bad things get, survivors believe that they can get back to when things were good. They don’t just give up, and that makes them compelling. Protector The protector is your typical superhero, larger-than-life, using their superpowers to protect the world, to protect others. What’s so great about these characters is that they’re noble and heroic, out there saving the world. They don’t have to be superheroes, either. It could be a doctor or a lawyer, someone who wants to save those that can’t save themselves. The thing you have to watch out for is that, because they are protective, they can sometimes overstep their bounds. Like the disruptor, the protector is larger-than-life, so the key is to show some vulnerability. With the protector it’s a little easier to do, though, because their goal is to protect those around them. Putting it all together The storytelling superpower goes way beyond just the character piece of the puzzle. When I had originally sketched out this idea, I had 32 or 64 possible archetypes because of how many different factors you can consider in connection with the character element, like the type of story structure, or the way the character’s want plays out throughout the story. In the future this could go into a lot of different directions! At some point I’d like to create a full assessment to see how writers perceive themselves based on these factors versus how their stories play out when you feed stories into a computer. Later this summer I interview a professor who is doing exactly that, so listen out for that! I could get really geeky with the stats and we could get all down in the weeds about this project. But then I remind myself of what the purpose is behind the Storytelling Superpower project. It’s about helping writers find their focus. The Storytelling Superpower is a tool to help you figure out what you are uniquely good at, what characters speak to you, and how you can implement these characters on the page and adjust them so that you can make your story even better. It can also help you choose which projects to work on, and which to put aside for now. The only way to improve as a writer is to dig into your own process and understand the way you operate as a writer. Then improve on that. So go, take the quiz. Then sign up for the video series. Or if you’ve already taken the quiz, you can sign up for the video series here. The course will be available until the big book launch event in NYC this August. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/100  

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share this week’s DIY MFA Radio episode with you. But first, some news. OMG word nerds, our next episode will be number 100 and I have something really exciting planned so make sure to watch your iTunes for that release. That episode will kick-off our weeklong Storytelling Superpower video series designed to help you figure out what stories and what characters you’re BEST at writing. To access the video series and download our cheat sheet describing all the Storytelling Superpower archetypes, sign up with your email at DIYMFA.com/STSPvideo. and get all those materials. You an also take Storytelling Superpower QUIZ to discover your unique superpower as a writer. Now onto today's episode. Today I'm delighted to interview Susan Breen. In addition to being the author of the new Maggie Dove mystery series, Susan is also a wonderful writing teacher and one of my very first mentors. Many listeners have heard me tell the story about how I took a horrendous writing workshop in college. By the end of that semester I was so shaken to my core that I did touch pen to page for seven (yes, seven!) years. Susan was the wonderful teacher who coaxed me back in to writing, and she's very likely the one responsible for my wanting to be a writing teacher myself. In this episode, Susan and I talk about one of my favorite writing topics (and likely a favorite of hers too, I suspect): Characters. Embed Episode Here In this episode Susan and I discuss: Where characters come from. Navigating stereotypes while writing characters. Character flaws as character development Making sure your characters think and using description to convey emotion Naming characters Plus, Susan’s #1 tip for writers. About Susan Breen: Susan Breen is the author of a new mystery series about Maggie Dove, a Sunday School teacher turned detective. The first book of this series–titled Maggie Dove–came out yesterday and the second will be out on October 4, 2016 Susan also teaches creative writing at Gotham Writers in Manhattan, where I took my very first writing class post-college. Her first book, The Fiction Class, was published by Penguin in 2008 and it’s a fabulous read. She’s also published stories and articles in places like Best American Non-Required Reading, ComposeJournal.com, and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. Mother of three children who are now grown up and flourishing, Susan lives with her husband, two dogs and one cat in the Hudson Valley. To learn more about Susan, you can visit her website, or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/099  

Hey there Word Nerds! I'm so glad you're here with me today because have a great interview to share with you. Today Matthew Palmer and I talk about balancing writing and life and creating compelling characters. Matthew is a twenty-five-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has worked as a diplomat all over the world and is currently serving as the Director for Multilateral Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs For his most recent book, The Wolf of Sarajevo, he taps his own considerable experience in the turbulent region to tell a based-in-reality story that feels like it could almost be ripped from the headlines. In this episode, Matthew Palmer and I talk about what it’s like to pull inspiration from your own life’s work and craft it into gripping fiction. In this episode Matthew and I discuss: The parallels between writing and diplomacy Understanding others’ points of view Developing distinct characters Finding the time to write Plus, Matthew’s #1 tip for writers. Link to Episode 98 (Right-click to download.) Resources: About The Wolf of Sarajevo: Twenty years after the end of the wars in the Balkans, the fighting has stopped in Bosnia…but the war is far from over. In his latest riveting international thriller, The Wolf of Sarajevo, career American diplomat and acclaimed novelist Matthew Palmer taps his own considerable experience in the turbulent region to tell a based-in-reality story that could be on the verge of grabbing international headlines. With close personal ties to the Balkans, Palmer portrays a scenario of violent conflict where peace is fragile and nationalism runs deep. If you want to purchase The Wolf of Sarajevo, we hope you'll consider doing so via this Amazon affiliate link, where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA! Matthew Palmer is a twenty-five-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and is currently serving as the Director for Multilateral Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs. He has worked as a diplomat all over the world and while on the secretary of state's Policy Planning staff, he helped design and implement the Kimberley Process for certifying African diamonds as "conflict free." Matthew's career as a diplomat has certainly informed and inspired his fiction and he can certainly speak to the challenges of juggling writing with a very busy "day job." Writing is also practically woven into his DNA, since he comes from a family of excellent thriller authors, including his father Michael Palmer, and brother Daniel Palmer. To learn more about Matthew Palmer, you can visit the Penguin Random House website, or follow him on Facebook. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/098

In this interview I talk with writer Pamela S. Turner and illustrator Gareth Hinds about their book Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune. Pam has written historical fiction, biography and science for young readers and has won numerous awards. Gareth is the creator of the critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics like Beowulf, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. Together they make for a powerhouse team in bringing to life the amazing story of legendary samurai: Minamoto Yoshitsune. In this episode Pamela, Gareth, and I discuss: The development of an author/illustrator partnership Inspiration born of personal interests Bringing the story to life on the page Knowing your audience and writing for children The importance of having a crack design team in creating quality books Plus, Pamela’s and Gareth’s #1 tip for writers.   About the Author and Illustrator Pamela S. Turner has written historical fiction, biography, and science on diverse topics. She the author of five books in the Scientists in the Field series, including The Frog Scientist (AAAS Science Writing Prize winner) and The Dolphins of Shark Bay (a Kirkus and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year). Her newest book is Samurai Rising, a biography of famed Japanese warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune. She lives in Oakland, California and is a black-belt practitioner of kendo (Japanese swordfighting). For more about Pamela, visit her website at www.pamelasturner.com Gareth Hinds is the creator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics, including Beowulf (which Publisher’s Weekly called a “mixed-media gem”), King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens), The Merchant of Venice (which Kirkus called “the standard that all others will strive to meet” for Shakespeare adaptation), The Odyssey (which garnered four starred reviews and a spot on ten "best of 2010" lists), Romeo and Juliet (which Kirkus called "spellbinding"), and Macbeth (which the New York Times called "stellar" and "a remarkably faithful rendering"). Gareth is a recipient of the Boston Public Library’s “Literary Lights for Children” award. His books can be found in bookstores and English classrooms across the country, and his illustrations have appeared in such diverse venues as the Society of Illustrators, the New York Historical Society, and over a dozen published video games. To learn more about Gareth, visit his website, or follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, or Pinterest. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/097

  Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you joined me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio because it's going to be a juicy one. Today I’m speaking with L.S. Hilton, author of Maestra. She grew up in England and has lived in Key West, New York City, Paris, and Milan, and after graduating from Oxford, she studied art history in Paris and Florence. She has worked as a journalist, art critic, and broadcaster and is presently based in London. In this episode L.S. Hilton and I discuss: Writing a flawed, yet sympathetic anti-hero. Weaving intense elements like violence and sex into the narrative without making it gratuitous. The role of art as an influence in narrative. The difference between the British and the American editorial processes. Plus, L.S. Hilton’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: ABOUT Maestra Judith has come a long way from her mother’s grimy flat in Liverpool. She has taught herself French and Italian, consumed literature, and traveled through Europe learning to squash her accent and blend in with the cultured set. When she lands a job at British Pictures, one of the best auction houses in London, she believes her hard work and hard won knowledge has finally paid off, but quickly realizes the job is mostly fetching coffee for her odious boss Rupert. A chance encounter with a girl from her past leads to a gig moonlighting at a champagne bar as a well-compensated companion for lonely drinkers, because her best Sandro suit has been worn to bits and honestly, she could use some attention. When Judith believes Rupert has mistakenly purchased a forgery she sees her chance to distinguish herself in the department and save the House from a major faux pas. Yet, when Rupert discovers her closely examining the painting he instantly fires her. With nowhere else to turn and her perfect future in ruins she turns to an old friend from her youth: Rage. Feeling reckless, Judith accompanies one of the champagne bar’s biggest clients to the French Riviera, but something goes terribly wrong and she decides to shed her identity completely. Tired of striving and the slow crawl to the top, Judith realizes: If you need to turn yourself into someone else, loneliness is a good place to start. And she’s been lonely a long time. It’s time for a new woman, with much better clothes, to take whatever she wants, however she can get it. A glamorous, ferocious thriller, Maestra (G.P. Putnam’s Sons; On Sale April 19, 2016) is the beginning of a razor-sharp trilogy that introduces this darkly irresistible femme fatale whose vulnerability and ruthlessness will keep you guessing until the last page If you want to know more about L.S. Hilton, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/096

Hey there Word Nerd! Today I’m thrilled to interview Megan Dowd Lambert, author of Reading Picture Books with Children and children’s literature expert. Megan is a senior lecturer at Simmons College, where she earned her master’s degree in children’s literature after completing a B.A. at Smith College. She writes for Horn Book Magazine, served on the 2011 Caldecott committee, and worked at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for many years, where she led Whole Book Approach story-times and trained others in her methods. She is the author of Reading Picture Books with Children (Charlesbridge) which is all about her Whole Book Approach and a new picture book titled Real Sisters Pretend (Tilbury House). The mother of six children, Megan lives with her family in Amherst, Massachusetts. In this episode Megan and I discuss: The Whole Book Approach Integrating design elements into the publishing process Teaching interaction between reader, text, and author Being intentional to convey diversity on the page of your book Plus, Megan’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: To learn more about Megan Dowd Lambert and her Whole Book Approach, visit her website or follow her on Twitter or Facebook. If you have children in your life and would like to learn more about reading picture books and how to use the Whole Book Approach, check out Megan's book: Reading Picture Books with Children (This is an affiliate link. Thank you for supporting DIY MFA!) For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/095  

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited because to share today's interview with you. I had the awesome chance to speak with Charlaine Harris, NYT bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series (TRUE BLOOD), the Aurora Teagarden, Harper Connelly, and Lily Bard mystery series; and the Midnight, Texas novels. Seriously, I thought my inner fangirl was about to explode. This month, Charlaine's latest Midnight, Texas novel, NIGHT SHIFT, comes out. This series is set in the same world as her Sookie Stackhouse novels—which were the basis of HBO’s phenomenally successful hit drama series True Blood, and the Midnight, Texas books feature everything readers love about Harris’s writing: humor, mystery, fabulous characters, and a quirky small town setting where paranormal creatures and humans exist side-by-side. In this episode Charlaine and I discuss: Revisiting characters in a series Writing your own world with your own rules and then sticking to them Balancing different parameters between genres to help create the best story possible Writing strong women in fiction Nancy Drew and the role of mothers in fiction   Plus, Charlaine’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/094  

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’re here! Today's interview will be a juicy one. I’ll be talking to Stephen O’Connor about his debut novel Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings, a profound exploration of the ways in which the institution of slavery warped the human soul, as seen through the story of Jefferson and Hemings. In this episode, we discuss how to approach controversial topics in your writing while treating the subjects with grace and respect. In this episode Stephen and I discuss: Mindful writing about controversial topics and marginalized groups Idea evolution from short story to novel Writing outside your experience Accessing the unconscious mind as part of the writing process Issues of point of view Plus, Stephen’s #1 tip for writers.   Resources: About Stephen O'Connor Stephen is the author of two collections of short fiction, Here Comes Another Lesson and Rescue, as well as Orphan Trains, an acclaimed history of a pioneering nineteenth-century child welfare effort, and Will My Name Be Shouted Out, a memoir. His fiction has appeared in many publications, including The New Yorker and The Best American Short Stories. He lives in New York City and teaches at Sarah Lawrence. About the Book Historians have shed invaluable light on the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, yet their internal feelings and motivations remain a mystery. In Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings, O’Connor’s protagonists are rendered via scrupulously researched scenes of their lives in Paris and at Monticello that alternate with a harrowing memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson’s death, dreamlike sequences in which Jefferson watches a movie about his life, and a chance encounter where Hemings and Jefferson run into each other "after an unimaginable length of time" on the New York City subway. O’Connor eschews easy answers, aiming to illuminate the horrors of slavery and the hypocrisy of the Founding Father who wrote “all men are created equal,” while allowing both Hemings and Jefferson their full human complexity. Jefferson—at once admirable and despicable—becomes a vehicle for understanding a destructive imbalance of power that persists today. Hemings emerges as a powerful force, asserting her right to freedom of body and mind. To learn more about Stephen O’Connor, visit his website or follow him on Facebook. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/093  

Hey there word nerds! Thanks for joining me. Today I’m talking with New York Times bestselling author, C.J. Box, author of sixteen Joe Pickett novels, five standalones, and the short story collection, Shots Fired. He’s also won numerous awards including and won the Edgar Award for Best novel for his first standalone, Blue Heaven. Off the Grid is his sixteenth Joe Pickett novel and it’s told with pulse-pounding urgency and insight. It’s a timely look at how terror is found—and fought—in the wild expanses of Wyoming, one of the most untouched parts of the United States. This is a part of the United States that Box knows well. A Wyoming native, has has worked on a ranch and as a small-town newspaper reporter and editor. He lives outside Cheyenne, WY with his family.   In this episode C.J. and I discuss: The importance of setting in a novel How to research setting for your novel and capture the details. Using journalistic techniques to get the information you need for your story. Infusing technology into natural and low tech settings. Plus, C.J.’s #1 tip for writers.   About OFF THE GRID This latest installment begins not long after the terrifying events of Endangered, which left Pickett and his best friend, Nate Romanowski, separated and out of touch…not to mention very lucky to be alive. Nate, in fact, is living off the grid entirely, relying on survival skills he’s garnered as a rugged outdoorsman, master falconer and ex-special operator, and leaving no visible trace behind after any of his movements. That is, until an ultra-secretive government agency discovers him and corrals him (blackmails might be a better word) into finding a rogue journalist named Muhammed Ibraaheem. Ibraaheem, it seems, has gone off the grid too…but in a way that the government suspects could lead to bloodshed and mayhem. Meanwhile, Pickett’s daughter Sheridan, a college student, receives a mysterious invitation from her roommate—a nighttime gathering in the wilderness with a group of strangers who may or may not be political activists. Curious—and perhaps against her better judgment, and everything she has learned as Joe Pickett’s daughter—Sheridan agrees to go. It’s a decision that will place her directly in the middle of danger, as well as in the camp of Ibraaheem and his associates, all of whom are willing to kill for their beliefs. Yet a persistent question remains: Just what are those beliefs? Are they rooted, as Ibraaheem claims, in American individualism and freedom? Or is he truly manifesting a plot more sinister and terrifying than can be imagined? And what of Joe Pickett himself? Conducting a series of unrelated investigations, Pickett soon finds himself in Wyoming’s beautiful but unforgiving Red Desert. Unfortunately for him, he’s also about to stumble across Ibraaheem’s plans, and it will leave him stranded, miles from any civilization, without water. Even if he makes it out alive, he may be too late to save his daughter and his friend. To learn more about C.J. Box, visit his website or follow him on Twitter and Facebook. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/092  

  Hey there Word Nerd! Today I have the great pleasure of hosting Julie Duffy on the show. Julie is the founder of the StoryADay May creative writing challenge, which is basically like the short story version of NaNoWriMo. This challenge happens in May, which is only a few short weeks away, and it’s an incredible experience. More personally, though, Julie and I both started our respective projects (her StoryADay, my DIY MFA) the same year and only a few months apart. You could say we’re part of the same creative cohort and we’ve “come up through the ranks” together. Julie is one of my most trusted colleagues, probably the person I most frequently turn to for advice and insights outside the DIY MFA team, and I’m also lucky to count her as one of my good friends. Today it is an honor and pleasure to introduce my word nerds to someone who I’ve known is AWESOME for quite some time. Embed Episode Here In this episode Julie and I discuss: Whether writing one story a day for a month is easier or harder than writing a novel in a month. How to keep the creative well from running dry. Setting limits and how they can help you be more creative. Barriers to overcome in order to be more creative. Plus, Julie’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: About Julie Duffy Julie Duffy is the founder of StoryADay.org and a experienced public speaker on topics such as creativity, productivity for writers, self-publishing – with an emphasis on ebooks and print on-demand, and short stories. Her first ebook, 21st Century Publishing, was published in 2001 and grew out of her popular newsletter and website of the same name. She has been sharing tools and insights with authors ever since, in publications such as Writer’s Digest and Writers’ Journal. Julie has hosted StoryADay May since 2010 and StoryADay September since 2012. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Julie was Director of Author Services at Xlibris, the first company to offer print on-demand services directly to authors. In this role she frequently spoke at writers’ conferences about the new age of publishing that was dawning and is now shaking apart the publishing world. She personally worked with a couple of thousand authors from first-time writers to best-selling authors such as Piers Anthony and Daniel Pinkwater. She knows writers. She knows about the new world of publishing. She is happy to introduce them to each other. If you want to learn more about Julie and StoryADay, visit her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Links from the Episode Interested in signing up for StoryADay? Go here to sign up! You can also sign up for email updates to get reminders about upcoming challenges and other StoryADay info. And don’t forget to order your copy of A Month of Writing Prompts 2016 (affiliate link). Need inspiration to jumpstart your story writing? Check out Writer Igniter. We mentioned That Guy in Your MFA during the show. Don’t forget! Sign up for the Storytelling Superpower Summit. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/091  

  Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Anna Harwell Celenza, a music professor of Georgetown University where she teaches courses in music history, radio journalism and the music industry. She has written several scholarly books, is a writer/commentator for National Public Radio’s Performance Today, and her work has been featured on nationally syndicated radio and TV programs like BBC’s “Music Matters and C-Span’s “Book TV.” But the section of Anna’s work that I’m most familiar with are her wonderful picture books: Once Upon a Masterpiece, where she tells the story behind a famous musical masterpiece, explains the meaning of the music. In this episode Anna and I discuss: Looking for the gap on the shelf, for what is not there. The process of research and creating historical fiction that jumps off the page. How shifting point of view can enhance the story you are trying to tell. The impact of technology on music and publishing. The self-powered, targeted platform   Plus, Anna’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/090

Hello, hello word nerds! I’m so excited to share today’s DIY MFA Radio episode with you! I’m speaking with Anders Ericsson and his co-author Robert Pool about their new book Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise (affiliate link). Anders Ericsson is a Conradi Eminent Scholar and Professor of Psychology at Florida State University, where he studies how people become experts in various fields like music, chess, nursing, law enforcement and sports. More important, he looks at how expert performers achieve excellence by acquiring specific, complex cognitive mechanisms–ways of training their brain–through extended, deliberate practice. Today we’re going to talk about how writers can use similar techniques to improve their craft and take our writing from average to awesome. Robert Pool is a nonfiction writer specializing in science and technology and has worked as staff for both Science and Nature. He is the author of three previous books before co-authoring this one with Anders Ericsson. In this episode Anders, Robert, and I discuss: The biggest myths about talent. How to beef up your brain. The ceiling of achievement. The components of deliberate practice. Plus, Anders’ and Robert’s  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/089

  Hey there Word Nerds! This is our last solo show before the Storytelling Superpower Summit in June. We just rolled out the Storytelling Superpower Quiz and we’ll be having a series of podcasts in June that dig deeper into the storytelling superpower archetypes. We’re focusing on figuring out what type of character really drives you so that you can dive in and get the most out of the story you decide to tell, both for your readers and for you as a writer. Today I want to talk with you about how to learn a creative skill. And this ties in nicely with the Great MFA Debate that is going on now, and that goes on every year. Usually in the spring, because that’s when people are deciding whether to enroll into programs they’ve been accepted into, a debate crops up on the internet about the pros and cons of getting a traditional MFA. Recently an article appeared in the Atlantic where a couple of researchers used computer analysis of texts to come to the conclusion that there was no distinct difference between the writing of those with formal MFA training and those without. I wanted to weigh in on this debate for two reasons. One, because it kinda goes with my territory as the instigator of DIYMFA and two because I feel like people in this debate often miss the mark and end up arguing about things that don’t actually help you evaluate whether or not getting an MFA is actually right FOR YOU. So let’s take a look at the benefits and the costs of getting a traditional MFA.   The Benefits It gives you time to write.Truthfully, committing to an MFA means you really don’t have any more excuses not to put in the time and create the content you are required to for the course. It is one path toward publication.An MFA can help you make connections in the publishing and writing world that you might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue. It helps you become a better writer.An MFA makes you practice, and practicing your craft will help you improve in the long run. These are all good points, I’ve taken advantage of a traditional MFA myself, and each of these things rings true for me. But what happens when you become too dependent of assignments and external motivators? You might find that you’re unable to write without those external motivations. The Costs Financially, an MFA program can be prohibitive.There are many literal costs to consider, and while a lot of programs have funding for participants, most do not have total funding or funding for all their participants equally. Opportunity costsThese include having to give up a day job, moving to be closer to your program, and travelling (even for low residency programs). The Genre ProblemIf you write “genre fiction” (i.e. sci-fi, fantasy, YA, or anything other than what is considered “literary” fiction) finding an MFA program that specializes in your area is EXTREMELY difficult. You may have to put aside the writing that you really love in order to obtain this education, and that can set you back as far as time spent on the work of your heart, and can also make you feel like an outsider in your own program. What if you don’t get in anywhere? Is DIYMFA the “anti-MFA”? I get asked this a lot, especially around this debate. And the answer is emphatically no. As I said before, I have an MFA and I don’t regret the decision to get one. MFA serves a particular group of writers very well. What DIYMFA exists for is those who don’t fit into a traditional MFA. Whether it’s because you can’t afford to take time off from your job or your life, or because you can’t get accepted into the program you want to join, DIYMFA exists for you. So what does it mean to be a DIYMFA Word Nerd? If you’re part of this community, It means that you’re committed not just to becoming a better writer, but to becoming a better learner. Applying the DIYMFA concepts to your writing is awesome, but applying them to your LIFE? That’s solid gold. “In a time of drastic change, the learners inherit the future.” Eric Hoffer The publishing world is RIGHT NOW in a time of drastic change. We are in the thick of it. Every creative niche is. This age of sharing ideas and the internet has turned all creative industries on their head. Learning how to learn better means we can adapt, we can roll with the punches and embrace new ideas more quickly. So how dothe principles of DIYMFA help you learn? Write with focus. This isn't’ just about putting words on the page. This is about creative output. This principle encourages you to create a body of work. Try different skills, master them. Take a project from beginning to end whether it’s a short story or a photo series. Read with purpose. Be strategic about the information you consume. Balance your reading list to focus on what you’re interested in and also what, in your field, has stood the test of time. Dig in and think about why the pieces of each work were created the way they were. Build your community Connect with others in your niche and exchange ideas. When people exchange ideas, it’s multiplicative, not additive. When two people each have an idea and they exchange those ideas, then each person will come up with a totally different combination of those ideas. From two ideas you get four. Now imagine how many ideas you’d get from ten people sharing. A few caveats about community: WorkshopsI find that workshops, while they are useful in an educational environment, can also be reactive. Instead of giving a writer the chance to get things right before they receive critique, they expect you to get it wrong first. Feedback can be a useful tool, but not before you’re ready. Build your skills first, practice, and create something stronger than you otherwise would. Then when you get critique you’ll be ready for it. Creative distractionFinding creative friends can be a blessing. Finally people who understand you! But it can also be a curse. You can spend so much time talking about the process that you forget to actually do the creative work in the first place. Don’t forget, you can’t exchange creative ideas if you haven’t spent time developing them first. Develop your learning superpower The MFA debate a perennial conversation. But I think we should all put aside our differences of opinion and just write! If an MFA is right for you, if it helps you to be the best writer you can be, then awesome! Go do it! If you can’t or don’t want to get into an MFA program, there are worthy alternatives. You can do the same things yourself and do them just as well. Above all, let’s focus on learning. That’s what will make us adaptable as writers, as creators, as human beings. Resources: Article in the Atlantic Storytelling Superpower Summit DIYMFA book! Storytelling Superpower quiz For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/088  

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you can join me for today’s interview with Jen Calonita. Jen is a YA and Middle Grade author, and in this episode, she and I talk about writing what you know (and what you don’t know) and also how to make the shift from one writing niche to another. We dig into the various twists and turns of her writing career and discuss Charmed, the next installment of her Fairy Tale Reform School series and also her new contemporary middle grade series called VIP. The first book I’m With the Band, is out now. Embed Episode Here In this episode Jen and I discuss: Switching from magazines to fiction. Getting connected with other authors. Writing series for middle grade versus YA. Keeping the story fresh.   Plus, Jen Calonita’s  #1 tip for writers. About Jen Calonita It's no secret how Jen knows the inside scoop on Hollywood. As a former entertainment editor at a teen magazine, she started her career chronicling backstage life at Justin Timberlake concerts and interviewing Zac Efron on film sets. This work inspired her first series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life which has been published in 9 countries. Jen tackles worlds she finds familiar, from summer camp stories like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind (she was a camp counselor as a teen), to reality TV (which she also covered in magazines) in Reality Check. But it wasn't until she wrote Belles (about two polar opposite girls who share one life-altering secret) that she entered a world different from her own. It was so much fun creating a new world that Jen jumped into the fairytale world and wrote middle grade novel, Flunked. To find out more aboutJen Calonita follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, GoodReads, Pinterest, and Facebook, or visit her website: jencalonitaonline.com.     For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/087

  Welcome, welcome Word Nerds! Today I’m delighted to host Lisa Gardner on the the show. Lisa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen previous novels, including her most recent, Crash & Burn. Her Detective D. D. Warren novels include Fear Nothing, Catch Me, Love You More, and The Neighbor, which won the International Thriller of the Year Award. She lives with her family in New England. More personally though, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Lisa Gardner speak about creative consistency at Thrillerfest/Craftfest 2012. Her talk made a very deep impression on me back when I was just beginning to find my footing with DIY MFA. In preparing for this interview, I went back and reviewed my notes from her talk, and I realized that I internalized many of the techniques she talked about, and that in a roundabout way many have inspired and shaped elements of DIY MFA. Today I am thrilled to have Lisa Gardner on the show to discuss her newest book, Find Her, and also hear her talk about the writing process as a whole. In this episode Lisa Gardner and I discuss: Understanding your writer’s process. Committing to the time it takes to write. Incentivizing your writing process. Research to make your writing come alive. Wearing your writing and your marketing hats. Plus, Lisa’s #1 tip for writers. Lisa Gardner and her writing: Every once in a while an author writes something that is clearly set apart from anything they’ve written before. Find Her is that book for Lisa Gardner. A household name for any fan of mysteries and psychological thrillers, Gardner’s books land on the New York Times bestseller list year in and year out. Find Her stemmed from an article Gardner read about the FBI’s Office of Victim Assistance, a little-known arm of the FBI that assigns specific agents to families going through trauma. Gardner was able to set up two interviews with victim specialists whose jobs are to be at the scene of the crime, yes, but more importantly they are there when the lights and reporters are long gone and the victim is left to be “normal” again. From there she created her character Flora Dane. Lisa Gardner has always researched a lot more than your typical thriller writer. From riding along with police officers, attending the writer's police academy, handling weapons and learning defense tactics, Gardner does all of this so she can get every nuance exactly right – making her thrillers utterly believable and utterly frightening. But with the creation of Flora Dane, she takes us into the mind of a victim and of the professionals coming to save the day, giving readers her most visceral book yet. About FIND HER Flora Dane is a survivor. After being kidnapped and held by her captor for over a year, anyone would say that her matriculation back into a “normal” life was an all-around success. But normal isn’t exactly how Flora feels. When a college student–who reminds her far too much of herself–goes missing in a strikingly familiar fashion, Flora knows that she must do something to help, despite that fact that it could mean putting herself in danger. Flora is the only one who knows what a captor is capable of, even after all these years. The search to find the kidnapper at large and unravel Flora’s past twists together in a compelling dual-narrative. Gardner dives into the dark underbelly of Boston’s nightlife while also casting light onto one of the lesser-known branches of the FBI, Victim Specialists. It’s these men and women, who stick by victims long after the initial rescue, that are often the victims’ only true confidant. But all of the personnel in the world can’t keep revenge at bay, and in the end everything comes down to Flora and the ghosts from her past. If you want to learn more about Lisa Gardner, you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter (@LisaGardnerBks) visit her website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/086  

  Hey there word nerds! I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you. It’s not often that I have an author on the show where I’ve read almost their entire body of work. Carolyn Mackler is one of those rare authors. As an MFA student, I wrote a term paper for my YALit class examining the mother-daughter relationships in her first four novels. Since then I’ve been an avid reader of her work and have eagerly awaited her subsequent novels. Usually, when I interview authors on the show, we focus our discussion on that author’s latest work. This is often a pragmatic consideration because I don’t often have the opportunity to read every book that author has written. But before we dive into today’s interview I want to pose a challenge to my word nerd listeners. The Challenge We can’t all read every single book by every single author on the planet, but I want you to try doing this with one or two authors whose work you love. The insights and benefits you'll get from this practice will amaze you. When you read an author’s body of work, you not only get to enjoy great stories from an author you love, but you get to see that author’s process and creative growth over time. As I interview Carolyn today, we’re not just going to talk about her latest book, but also how different themes and elements of craft have developed in her writing over the course of various books. But first, a quick intro about today’s guest. Carolyn Macker is the author of several highly-acclaimed YA novels, one new middle grade novel, and a collaborative novel with bestselling author Jay Asher. Her second book: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things received the Printz Honor and her latest book Infinite In Between has already garnered starred reviews. A fellow New Yorker, Carolyn lives in NYC with her husband and two young sons. In this episode Carolyn and I discuss: Taking the leap into YA, even though the “market” wasn’t great. Writing your second book. Trying something new. Characterization and craft from one novel to the next. The importance of knowing your protagonists. Diversity in characterization. Plus, Carolyn’s #1 tip for writers. More About Carolyn Mackler Carolyn Mackler’s latest novel for teens, Infinite in Between, has already garnered several starred reviews. She is also the author of the popular YA novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn’s novel, The Future of Us, co-written with bestselling author Jay Asher, received starred reviews and appeared on bestseller lists. Her first middle grade novel, Best Friend Next Door, came out in May 2015.  Carolyn’s books have been published in more than twenty countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, and Indonesia.Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons. To learn more about Carolyn and her books, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/085  

Hey there word nerds, I’m so glad you’re here! We’re doing something different for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. This week I'm speaking with Steve Berry and Raymond Khoury about the art of collaboration. As you may remember, Steve Berry has appeared on this show before, and this time I'm thrilled to welcome him back with a twist. Today I’m talking both with him and with fellow thriller author Raymond Khoury, about their recent ebook collaboration: Shadow Tag. In case you've been off the grid and don't know who these two awesome authors are... Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of several history-driven thrillers and his latest book The 14th Colony which will be out on April 5. Raymond Khoury is a former screenwriter and now the author of five consecutive New York Times and #1 international bestsellers. His latest book The End Game will be out on March 10. Their collaborative eBook is a phenomenal example of how two authors can work together to increase both their platforms and reach new readers. In this episode Steve, Raymond, and I discuss: The myth of “original” material The logistics of collaboration Cross-pollinating reader bases as a marketing strategy How to find a collaboration partner Plus, Steve’s and Raymond’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: Shadow Tag is out now, and you can pre-order Raymond Khoury's The End Game and Steve Berry's The 14th Colony. If you decide to purchase, we hope you'll consider doing so via these amazon affiliate links, where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this podcast! Steve Berry: History lies at the heart of every Steve Berry novel. It’s his passion, one he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, which led them to create History Matters, a foundation dedicated to historic preservation. Since 2009 Steve and Elizabeth have crossed the country to save endangered historic treasures, raising money via lectures, receptions, galas, luncheons, dinners and their popular writers workshops. To date, over 2,500 students have attended those workshops. In 2012 and 2013 Steve’s devotion to historic preservation was recognized by the American Library Association, which named Steve it’s spokesperson for National Preservation Week. Among his other honors is the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award; the 2013 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award given by Poets & Writers; the 2013 Anne Frank Human Writes Award; and the Silver Bullet, bestowed in 2013 by International Thriller Writers for his philanthropic work. A 2010 NPR survey named The Templar Legacy one of the top 100 thrillers ever written. Steve was born and raised in Georgia, graduating from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He was a trial lawyer for 30 years and held elective office for 14 of those years. He is a founding member of International Thriller Writers—a group of more than 2,600 thriller writers from around the world—and served three years as its co-president. To learn more about Steve, you can visit www.steveberry.org, or follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Youtube. His new book The 14th Colony will be out on April 5. Raymond Khoury: Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which includes the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US). THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as an original screenplay written in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a $500,000 advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, something people get excited about." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential paycheck from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries. Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much." Raymond's 7th novel, THE END GAME, is released on March 10, 2016. To learn more about Raymond visit his website, or follow him on Facebook. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/084  

  Hey there Word Nerds! Today I’m talking to Nicholas Petrie, author of the stunning debut THE DRIFTER, an explosive thriller written with a strong literary sensibility. In our conversation, we tackle a topic that many authors often struggle with: how do we write about something when we have no first-hand experience with it? This question goes deeper than "how do you write what you don't know?" After all, it's one thing to write historical fiction about a time period long ago and fill in those gaps using library research. But how do you write about characters whose experiences and backgrounds are different from your own without crossing the line and appropriating that experience in some way. We all know we should include diverse characters in our stories, but how does a writer actually do that without appropriating those experiences? In this episode, Nick opens up about his process, and talks about how he portrayed the experiences of war veterans on the page even he has never been in the military himself. If you've ever worried about this question of appropriation, this podcast interview is a must-listen! In this episode Nicholas and I discuss: The winding road to getting published. The importance of research in nailing your plot. The importance of language in nailing your prose. Writing characters who are different from you. Plus, Nicholas’s  #1 tip for writers. About THE DRIFTER: THE DRIFTER draws its considerable strength from Petrie’s uncompromising portrayal of shattered war veterans, returned home and trying to reintegrate into the civilian world they left behind. The unforgettable protagonist, Peter Ash, came home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with only one souvenir: what he calls his “white static,” buzzing claustrophobia due to post-traumatic stress. Ash is drawn back to the past when an old friend from the Marines commits suicide. When he goes to Milwaukee to help the man’s widow, Ash makes a discovery—a suitcase filled with money and explosives—that leads him into an investigation of his friend’s death, which may take him back to the world he thought he’d left behind. Suspenseful and thrilling, and featuring a compelling new hero, THE DRIFTER is an exciting debut from a fresh voice in crime fiction. This is a gorgeous book, and if you're into crime fiction with a strong literary bent, this one will be right up your alley. If you choose to buy this book, we hope you'll consider doing so via this affiliate link (which gives DIY MFA a small commission at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting DIY MFA! About Nicholas Petrie: “I was never in the armed forces, but I swung a hammer for a living for many years,” Petrie writes in talking about the genesis of Peter Ash and THE DRIFTER. As part of his extensive research, Petrie says he “talked with a number of veterans about their experiences. In the course of these conversations, I felt like I came to understand these men and women in a way that I hadn’t before, and to truly admire them. Over and over, I encountered that extraordinary quality of character I tried to capture in Peter Ash—a happy warrior who sees every difficulty as a challenge to be overcome, and every challenge as an adventure. The more research I did, the more interested I became in the idea of what to do after your war is over. After the largest set of sustained military operations in decades, this is one of the singular challenges of our time. Many veterans come home and overcome these challenges, but some veterans have more difficulty, some due to physical injuries, some with the less tangible but no less real injuries of PTSD. I’ve tried to find both sides in this book.” A debut author, Nicholas received his MFA in fiction from the University of Washington and won Hopwood Award for short fiction while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. His short story “At the Laundromat” won the 2006 Short Story Contest in the Seattle Review. A husband and father, he runs a home appraisal business in Milwaukee. To learn more about Nicholas read his blog here, follow him on Facebook, or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/083  

  Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’re here with me today. I am so excited to talk to you about this topic today, about the power of starting small and embracing the power of zero. A lot of people resist starting at all because we have to start and zero. There are so many mental blocks that get in the way of starting small, and for good reason. Going from small to big, from rough to polished, from amateur to professional, is not as hard as you might think. As Austin Kleon says in his book Show Your Work, technically it’s all on the same creative spectrum. Going from nothing to something is WAY more difficult. In a way, that’s good news. it means that whatever that very first step is that you have to take, it’s the hardest one. Still, taking the hardest step first is really rough, when you don’t have a support network yet, when you don’t have a track record of success to help you stand up to the negative self-talk that is filling your head. Today we’re going to talk about a few of the myths about starting small that might be keeping you from getting started. 3 Myths About Starting Something I have to wait for the right time. I can’t do it. Something (or someone) else is blocking me from getting started. One thing that’s important to defeating these mindset blocks is understanding the difference between resistance and blocks. I personally believe that blocks don’t actually exist. If I’m having a hard time getting myself to sit down and work on something, I either trick my brain into working on it or I take away any other options until I get through it. But resistance is different. Resistance is much deeper. It’s based on fear or some other emotion deep in you that is causing you not to want to address a certain project. Resistance always exists for a reason. It’s up to you to discover where it’s coming from and then use that resistance as a compass to show you which way to go. When you have a project and you are feeling the pain of having to take the leap from not being on the spectrum of creative progress to finally being on that spectrum, you need to be able to tell the difference between a block that you can blast through and resistance that you need to be mindful of and press into. The Power of Zero All of these myths are things we tell ourselves when we are trying to step onto the creative spectrum at the zero point. We have no words. We have no followers. It’s easy to give in to the fear of being at zero. The zero moment, that first glimmer of an idea that you have, it’s the power of potential energy. But most of us don’t realize when we’re in it. When you’re at zero you can do anything. You have nothing but uncharted territory ahead of you. The more people you have watching your creative process, the more aware you are of being watched. Remember, zero is the great equalizer. So I challenge you to embrace your zero moment! Head over to Twitter and tweet out what you did to celebrate your zero moment, or what you plan to do if you haven’t gotten there yet! Make sure to include the hashtag #zeromoment so that I can follow and celebrate with you. And keep an eye out. There’s awesome stuff coming, guys. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details. If you’re not on the list yet, you can sign up here. Also, don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes! If you need a tutorial on how to leave a review (it’s ridiculously complicated, folks) I’ve made one for you here. And thanks in advance! The more good reviews I get, the better my chances of getting more amazing people to come on the show. Great reviews means I can bring you even more awesome episodes. OMG, everybody wins! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/082

  Hi there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Meredith Maran about her latest book: Why We Write About Ourselves. Following up on her previous collection: Why We Write, Meredith's most recent book is a collection of essays from memoirists, talking about why they write memoir in the first place. The lineup of authors featured in this book is a veritable who’s who of the memoir world, and the insights they share are no less awesome. Today I’m delighted to speak with Meredith and hear her take about writers love to write (and read) memoirs. In this episode Meredith and I discuss: Writing memoir and embellishing the truth How our perspective changes over the course of our lives, but our writing stays constant Pros and cons of being truly authentic in your writing The writer’s responsibility to protect the innocent (or the guilty) in their writing Plus, Meredith #1 tip for writers. About Meredith Maran: Meredith Maran is  a passionate reader and writer of memoirs, and the author of thirteen nonfiction books and the acclaimed 2012 novel, A Theory Of Small Earthquakes. Meredith writes book reviews, essays, and features for newspapers and magazines including People, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, Salon.com, and More. A member of the National Book Critics Circle, Meredith lives in a restored historic bungalow in Los Angeles. Her next memoir, about starting over in Los Angeles, will be out from Blue Rider Press in 2017. To learn more about Meredith and her work, follow her on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website. Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature is the follow-up to editor Meredith Maran’s last collection, Why We Write, this new book tackles one of the most popular literary genres: memoir. Meredith's new book features some of its most-read authors, including Cheryl Strayed, Anne Lamott, Nick Flynn, Sue Monk Kidd, and James McBride. Contributors candidly disclose the origins of their memoirs: a traumatic experience, like Darin Strauss or Ishmael Beah; family relationships, like Sue Monk Kidd, Edwidge Danticat, or Pat Conroy; or simply a knack for personal storytelling, like Sandra Tsing Loh or Anne Lamott. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/081

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so happy you’re here! Today I’m talking to Rachel Hulin, photographer and writer. Her photographs have been shown at Jen Bekman Gallery, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Wallspace Gallery, The New York Photo Festival, and ClampArt Gallery, by which she is represented. She’s also worked as a photo editor in New York for many years at places like Rolling Stone, Radar Magazine, and Nerve.com. Her personal essays and art writing have appeared in The Daily Beast, Huffington Post, PDN, and The Photography Post, which she co-founded.  She has lectured about her own work, professional practices, and about the role of social media in photography at ICP, SVA, Parsons, Brown University, RISD, and MIAD. Rachel's Flying Henry photograph series is also a children’s book of the same name, released by PowerHouse Books in 2013. She has a BA from Brown University and an MA from NYU, and her new project is a novel, Hey Harry Hey Matilda. You can follow the escapades the story of Harry and Matilda on instagram (@HeyHarryHeyMatilda).   In this episode Rachel and I discuss: The birth of a new idea. Refining an idea and the process of platform building. Crafting a narrative on social media. Marketing your book. Plus, Rachel’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: If you want to know more about Rachel’s work you can visit her website. And don’t forget, we’ve got some really exciting things brewing at DIY MFA as we gear up for the book release this summer. If you want to be “in the know” hop on over to DIYMFA.com/join and sign up for our email list. You’ll get a free starter kit, a subscription to our free “sort-of weekly newsletter,” plus you’ll be among the first to hear about any awesome new things we’ve got in the works. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/080

  Hey there, Word Nerds! So excited to have you here for a new episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m interviewing the New York Times bestselling thriller author, Brad Taylor. We'll be talking about the fiction vs. reality. As writers, we've all been told to "write what you know" but as with everything, there are pros and cons to incorporating our real-life experiences into our stories and novels. Brad Taylor's novels are a great example of finding that balance between fact and fiction. A former member of the Special Forces and now a security consultant, Brad uses his knowledge both of the military world and obscure international news, to craft thrillers that seem almost to anticipate real-world events. In this episode, he shares insights about his process: how he gets inside the skin of his characters and brings readers into the world of stories, making that world feel totally real.   In this episode Brad and I discuss: Writing what you know and balancing fiction and reality. How to get into the shoes of your character. Deciding which details and information to unpack for the reader. Plotting versus pantsing. Plus, Brad’s #1 tip for writers. About Brad Taylor: Brad Taylor served for more than twenty years in the US Army, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force. He also holds a Master’s of Science in Defense Analysis and, in addition to his writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats. Brad pays close attention to obscure international news stories before mainstream media picks them up, so his books can read like prophecies, almost anticipating real-world events. He is a trusted and mediagenic expert who has been called to comment on breaking news for FOX, CNN, MSNBC, Al Jazeera America, and Newsmax on stories as diverse as the Charlie Hebdo attack, ISIS, the Sony hack, the death of Osama Bin Laden, and Tom Clancy. Brad is the New York Times bestselling author of eight previous Pike Logan novels. His latest book The Forgotten Soldier, is a fascinating departure from this series, where the characters (a close-knit group in a military Taskforce) face their most emotional challenge yet—hunting one of their own. If you want to know more about Brad you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/079  

Hey there Word Nerds! Welcome back to DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Kirsten Oliphant, a writer with an MFA in fiction from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been blogging for eight years and has a lifestyle blog focusing on food and parenting. This year she launched the Create If Writing blog and podcast, which provide inspiration and authentic platform building tools for writers and bloggers. She also shares interviews with bloggers, writers, social media experts, and publishing insiders.  Kirsten is the mastermind behind the Free Email Course, where she helps demystify email lists for writers and bloggers, along with her signature course (Own Your List) that helps people grow, monetize, and manage their lists.When she’s not busy taking the email list world by story, Kirsten lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and four kids. In this episode Kirsten and I discuss: Why an email list is your most important communication option in a world full of options. The personal touch of email versus other social media. 15 Step Intensive List Growth Checklist Finding the email tech that’s right for you. Do's and Don't's to help keep your subscribers happy and engaged once you have an email list. Plus, Kirsten’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: If you want to know more about Kirsten, you can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter or visit her website and join her email list! Email client options for you to consider when building your list (in alphabetical order): Aweber Convert Kit Mad Mimi Mailchimp Other awesome resources include The Persistence of Email Marketing for Book Publishers and the Creative Profitability Course. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/078  

Hello there Word Nerds! Today I’m interviewing the awesome Zachary Petit. Zac is the editor of the National Magazine Award-winning publication PRINT. He is also a freelance journalist, a lifelong literary and design nerd, and a friend. Formerly, he was the senior managing editor of HOW magazine and PRINT, the longtime managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, and executive editor of the newsstand magazines Writer’s Workbook, Writer’s Yearbook and Writing Basics. Alongside the thousands of articles he has penned as a staff writer and editor, covering everything from the secret lives of mall Santas to creative legends, his words regularly appear in National Geographic Kids, and have also popped up in the pages of National Geographic, Melissa Rossi’s What Every American Should Know book series, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and many other outlets. Zac is the author of The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing: How to Write, Work and Thrive On Your Own Terms (which is out now) and co-author of A Year of Writing Prompts: 366 Story Ideas for Honing Your Craft and Eliminating Writer’s Block. He is obsessed with all things writerly (even down to his nerdy tattoos), and is a firm believer that anyone can break into any facet of the writing world—they just need to know the appropriate way in. Once that has been demystified, anything is possible. In this episode Zac and I discuss: Why a writer would want to freelance. How and why to adapt your voice when freelancing. How to break into freelancing. Debunking major myths about freelance writing. How to expand your professional network. The pros and cons of pitching an idea versus pitching an article on spec.   Plus, Zac’s #1 tip for writers. To learn more about Zachary Petit, follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit his website. Also, if you're interested in building your freelance writing career, check out his latest book. Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/077

Hey there Word Nerds! So glad you could be here with me for this awesome episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today we’re here with pop culture and sci-fi guru, Ryan Britt, talking about his new book Luke Skywalker Can’t Read, And Other Geeky Truths. This book is a blend of nerd-ilicious, mind-bending awesomeness, and fall-out-of-your-chair hilarity and as soon as I heard about it I just knew I had to have Ryan on the show. Listen in to hear us geek out about life, literature, and all things nerdy.  In this episode Ryan and I discuss: The differences between writing for and reading online vs. writing and reading a book What it actually means to be a geek now What benefits there are to being a geek now as a writer Plus, Ryan’s #1 tip for writers. Don’t forget, if you want to dig deeper, join me for a "Stop Dreaming, Start Doing" workshop on January 12 at 8pm ET. You can find more information at DIYMFA.com/openhouse. Also, DIY MFA 101 is open for enrollment. Learn more at DIYMFA.com/DIYMFA101 About Ryan Britt If the ghost of Marshall McLuhan were to merge with Chuck Klosterman, you’d have essayist Ryan Britt. Ryan has never met a monster, alien, wizard or superhero that didn’t require further discussion, and in his book he answers questions you’ve probably never thought to ask (but now that he’s brought them up, you’re probably wondering about them too). In his book, he tackles topics like: Does anyone in the Star Wars universe read books? Is Pete Best the Bilbo to Ringo Starr’s Frodo? And, what ever happened to Biff Tannen’s parents? If you’re a geek like me (and even if you’re not) you’re going to get a kick out of this entertaining manifesto for modern geekdom. But seriously, Ryan has written for The New York Times, Electric Literature, The Awl, VICE and The Morning News and is a consulting editor for Story. He was the staff writer for the Hugo Award-winning web magazine Tor.com, where he remains a contributor. About LUKE SKYWALKER CAN'T READ Britt recounts personal stories of coming of age amid the influence of 80s and 90s pop culture; how he learned to take his interests seriously from a big box store manager he nicknames Captain Space Pirate because of he was reminiscent of Harrison Ford; how his first “the birds and the bees” conversation came from asking his father about the pictures in an Omni magazine article entitled “Tyrannosaurus Sex: A Love Tail”; and how his next lesson in sex was from watching Jane Fonda in Barbarella, which quickly evolved into a life-changing epiphany. Britt’s thoughtful and fun meditations on everything sci-fi and pop culture spins insights on what many of us have not known about our favorite stuff. He shows us how monster movies are just romantic comedies with commitment issues, claims nobody should get mad about super hero remakes, and argues that killer robots are probably harmless authenticity-seeking hipsters. Luke Skywalker Can't Read tears down the wall between hardcore sci-fi readers and the mainstream, making it perfect both for cosplayers, or those who haven’t worn a costume since grade school. If you want to learn more about Ryan, follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website.   Also, if you liked this episode… Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/076 Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.  

Hey hey! Thanks for joining me for our very last episode in 2015. Today I'm talking about why I stopped making New Year’s resolutions and what I do instead. It’s been an amazing year here at DIY MFA. I’ve interviewed some awesome people this year and have gotten to share some major milestones with you, not the least of which is the DIY MFA book! OMG, word nerds, I wrote the book this year! How crazy-pants is that? But now down to business. Let’s talk about goal setting and why I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore. Get all the deets by listening to this episode. OK, before I dive in, let me give you some backstory. Once upon a time I loved brainstorming. I would get a huge high from dreaming up new ideas. I had tons of projects I’d started and never finished. But over the years I’ve started to shift away from being a dreamer to being a doer. To get a full picture of then vs. now, check out this chart.  I wish I could say there was a pivotal moment where I realized everything was different. But this shift was gradual. I don’t think I’m finished yet, either. This is just the beginning of a much longer journey. What I've discovered, though, is that New Year’s resolutions don’t work for me. Here's what does work... Caveat: There are lots of gurus and experts on the internet spouting "best practices" and magic-bullet solutions. But you're a word nerd, so I'm guessing you see through all that B.S. At DIY MFA we believe that the only "best practice" is the one that actually works for you. So I'll share some strategies that have worked for me, but it’s up to you to test them for yourself and decide if they work for you. And don't be shy about tweaking and adapting techniques to your own unique style. That's the DIY MFA way. Cool? Cool. My New Approach to Resolutions and Goal-Setting In my new approach, the huge leap no longer matters. There’s no more “I’m going to write a book next year,” or “I’m going to lose x pounds.” Instead of making sweeping goals that seem enormous and unreachable, I now set goals to take small incremental steps and repeating that action over and over and over. Where before the giant goal was the focus, now the repeated action takes center stage. I’ve noticed after working with hundreds of writers, when you stop focusing on the end goal and start emphasizing the repeated action, that’s when you make a breakthrough. Letting go of that end goal gives you the space and focus to do the work and actually reach that goal. As a writer, I find that irony kind of delicious. These days, I've stopped looking at writing as a short-term push and instead see it as a war of attrition. The truth is that the writers who want overnight success are not the ones who will stick with the process long enough to see it through.  The writers who have the tenacity to stick with it the writing gets tough, those are the ones who succeed. You just have to survive long enough so you're the only one left standing on the battlefield. Writing and creativity might be a battle, but remember that we aren't fighting each other; we’re all on the same side. In the end, the only person we're fighting against is ourselves. Our obstacles are internal and the battle is about trying to get out of our own way. So how do I do it? 7 Simple Steps: After working at this for a few years now, I have come up with a process for getting through my ideas and my goals as efficiently as possible. Again, this is just my own crazy process. Take in the ideas, test them out, then use what works for you and discard the rest.   Figure out your big picture.Lots of people get stuck focusing all their energy on this step alone. While I concede it’s important to know where you’re headed, I only spend, like, 10 seconds here, then I move on to step 2.  Take stock of recent progress.If you want to feel successful, you can’t compare yourself to the big vision, to where you want to be. You have to compare yourself to where you’ve been. That way you always come out ahead. Not only does it help motivate you to move forward, it helps you build mastery. In order to succeed, you need to feel that mastery of your craft. Use concrete data here, too. Don’t BS yourself over your accomplishments. How many words did you write last year? How many guest posts/blog posts/freelance articles? That’s the number to beat.  Iterate, iterate, iterate.I talked about iteration last year at this time, so I won’t spend a lot of time here. Just remember that iteration is vital and basically boils down to these five things:V = variables.  What will you measure to see your progress?I = information.  Collect your data. Track how much you’ve done each session.T = tripwire.  This is the signal for you to stop and take stock.A = analysis.  Look at the data you’ve collected and find the overall pattern.L = learning.  Take that information, figure out what it means, and then try something new. If something is not working for you, don’t keep repeating it because someone told you it was a “best practice.” Instead, make a small shift and try something a little different to see what works best for you. The key here is to (a) understand your baseline, how you operate in your natural state, and (b) shape your process within those constraints. Set your sights on a short-term target.What can you do in a 4 to 8 week period? Your "big vision" inspires this target goal, but it must be shorter term and more contained. Seriously, if you can't hit that target within 3 months (tops!) it's too big. Reverse engineer your action steps.The inspiration for this step came from Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher. Her process revolutionized the way I look at setting my goals. You need a plan to get from point A to point B, so take some time and work backwards from that goal.Don't start at the start, but with the goal, then figure out what you need to do just before you just before that. Keep working your way backwards until you've figured out your immediate next step. Remember to break your steps down to the smallest increments. Set your ground rules for success.This is another place you’ll find “best practices” galore, but you need to figure out what works for you.F ind ways to make the most out of your writing time. Remember, your time is precious! Here are some things that work for me: I focus on one thing at a time. I set a time limit so I know when I can stop and move on to something new. I make everything else off limits until I reach my goal. I bribe myself with a reward for success. Keep future projects on the radar without letting them get in your way.You want to know what’s coming next, but sometimes holding brain space to remember it can sap your mental energy. So make a space to write down your ideas and next projects and keep them for later. This will free up the brain space you need for what you’re working on right now. And sometimes getting ideas out on paper will help you to recognize what is worth pursuing and what will ultimately be unproductive. Remember, where you want to be down the road is not nearly as important as the path you take to get there. These steps focus on the day to day process. Getting your head around what you need to do today is vital to helping you move toward your goal without being weighed down by it. As you look forward to 2016, I want to challenge you to stop dreaming and start doing. Don't worry so much about the big vision, but focus on one incremental action that you can repeat again and again until you reach your goal. No more dreaming. This year I am DOING this: [insert goal here] http://ctt.ec/51x8H+ #DIYMFA  Tweet this. If you enjoyed this episode, I have included some links below to previous episodes that can help you with building your best practices. And if you want to dig deeper, join me for a "Stop Dreaming, Start Doing" workshop on January 12 at 8pm ET. You can find more information at DIYMFA.com/openhouse. Resources It's been a great year for DIY MFA Radio and we've had some great episodes. If you want to check out some past episodes but don't know where to start, don't worry. Here are a few best-of-2015 solo shows that will help you get that book from dream to done. Episode 23: Make Writing Resolutions that Stick Episode 24: My Go-To Productivity Tool Episode 26: Write Your Book This Year Episode 31: Finding Your Focus in Writing Episode 47: Honor Your Reality   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/075

Hey there Word Nerds! It’s the week before Christmas, and I wanted to do something a little bit different from the interviews we’ve had these many weeks. This week’s topic is something I’ve been wanting to talk about for a while and then I received a question via email from one of our listeners and I decided it was time to dive in. Shout-out to Kayla for sharing a great question. I'll paraphrase it here, but it essentially came in three parts: How do I know if my writing is good? Is there a certain amount of “literary-ness” I need to include in my writing for it to be good? What are the people who judge my writing (editors, agents, critics, etc.) looking for? In the past I have wondered the same thing. What did the readers want me to say? What am I supposed to write? And what if people don't like what I have to say? Having a strong, authentic voice boils down to who you are. Remember, too, that you are not alone in wondering about this. At some point every writer asks themselves: Is my work any good? What do people want from me? This question isn’t about getting published. It’s about being true to yourself. Who are you as a writer? Is your author identity being authentic to who you are? You may hear a lot of advice from writing gurus telling you to “craft your authentic voice” as a way to promote your work, to better connect with people who will want to buy your book. Authenticity is not a marketing strategy. It's about being who you are. Authenticity at it’s heart is being vulnerable, being honest with your readers. And it’s scary! Every time I share anything remotely vulnerable with you all on the podcast or in my newsletter, I’m afraid that you will like me less for doing so. But it’s never a marketing strategy for me. Vulnerability, authenticity, it’s who I really am. And it should be who you really are, too. It’s not a schtick. Should I put on a persona as my author voice? So should you put on a persona as you develop your author voice? Well, I have answers for both sides of this question. Mainly, don’t try to fake your voice. You’ll end up sounding phony, and that will come across to your readers. Who are you? What does your natural voice sound like? That is the voice that will sparkle. Share that voice. What happens if you "put on" a voice and it's actually successful? Are you prepared to stick with this voice forever? What if your agent or editor loves that persona that you’ve created? What if your readers love it? Are you going to leave them in the lurch? If you decide to drop this not-you voice, are you prepared to face the consequences? Suppose you "put on" a voice for a while, then you decide to flip the switch. Your readers might feel like you've pulled bait-and-switch on them and many might ditch you then and there. More importantly you will have to work hard to earn back the trust of those readers who decide to stick with you through the switch. When you try to be someone you’re not, when you’re not being true to your voice and your own goals, it will come back later to haunt you. You’ll have to ‘fess up eventually. So how do you “craft” your author brand then? “Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of someone else.” Judy Garland The best version of yourself, that’s what I call your author identity, your author brand. The person you put on the page is still you, but a more focused, more coherent, less wacky and hairbrained version of you. Your author identity is like a laser beam. A laser is focused light, and your author brand is focused, crafted, still you but the strongest version of you. Crafting the narrative of your author identity Can an “author identity” be truly authentic? The way you present yourself online will, of course, alway have some manner of crafting and shaping. The goal is to be as naturally you as possible. “To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up.” Oscar Wilde As a writer, if you try to write in a voice that isn’t really your own, you’re going to become exhausted. But in beith authentic, you can’t just let your voice and your focus be scattershot. You have to find your voice and your focus, the best version of yourself. That’s the person that you put on the page. I’ll be who I am. You be who you are. And we’ll be authentic together. Have a wonderful holiday season. We’ll see you soon! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/074  

Hey there, Word Nerds. Thanks for joining me for another installment of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Drew Chapman. Drew is a thriller author. His debut novel, The Ascendant, was published in 2014 and the sequel The King of Fear is currently being released as a serialized eBook and will be out in paperback come February 2016. A fellow New Yorker, Drew grew up in NYC, got a BA in History from the University of Michigan, then eventually moved to LA to work in the movie business. He directed an indie film Stand Off, was a writer on the animated feature Pocahontas for Disney, and most recently wrote and co-executive produced the second season of Legends (a spy show for TNT). Now working mostly in television, he has been writing for networks like ABC, Fox, and TNT. Drew lives in Seattle with his wife and kids. In this episode Drew and I discuss: The difference between writing for TV and film and writing novels. What his process is like for writing his characters. How the craft of storytelling differs based on the medium you choose. Writing serial fiction. The art of the info-dump. When to use back story and when to leave it out. "The thing that writers need to worry about is finding their voice. Know what you want to say about the world." ~Drew Chapman Resources: If you want to know more about Drew you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/073  

Hey there word nerds! Thanks for joining me today for DIY MFA Radio. I’m so excited to share this episode because I’m interviewing literary agent Janet Reid, AKA the Query Shark. *Cue shark music from Jaws in 3... 2... 1...* Janet is a literary agent at FinePrint Literary Management in NYC, where she represents mostly crime novels and thrillers, with some narrative non-fiction in history and biography as well. Her list of clients reads as a veritable who’s-who of bestselling authors. When she’s not doing busy being an agent, she blogs at JetReidLiterary.blogspot.com, and answers questions from writers, talks about what she loves about her job and the city, and (occasionally) rants about things that drive her crazy in publishing. Janet also runs the Query Shark blog, where she posts and critiques query letters submitted to “the shark” (with permission from the writers, of course). Writers have the opportunity to revise their queries based on her comments, and you can see the step-by-step revisions that took a query letter from meh to a resounding “YES.” Want to know what an agent really thinks about a query letter? The Query Shark blog will give you that inside look. IMHO, this site is hands-down the most valuable query resource available to writers online. Most importantly, Janet is a kind, sensible human being who helped make the publishing world a slightly less scary place for me, when I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed newbie writer. It is truly an honor to have Janet Reid, AKA Mme. Shark, on DIY MFA Radio today. In this episode Janet and I discuss: What inspired the Query Shark blog. What a query letter is and why you need one. Query pitfalls and pointers so you can make yours shine. What happens after your query gets accepted. When persistence pays off and when it doesn’t. Plus, Janet’s #1 tip for writers. To learn about Janet, follow her on Facebook and Twitter, or visit her literary agency blog or her website. You can also find her query-related pearls of wisdom on her Query Shark blog. For more information about FinePrint Literary Management visit their website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/072  

Hello hello Word Nerds and welcome to Episode 71 of DIY MFA radio. Today I’m talking with Lorin Stein, editor of The Paris Review  and we'll be talking about literature and reading, and what makes stories great. We'll also be discussing the book he recently edited called The Unprofessionals: New American Writing from The Paris Review. Lorin joined The Paris Review as its third editor in 2010. During his tenure, the Review has received two National Magazine Awards, as well as Webby honors, Pushcart Prizes, and O’Henry Awards. Stein’s criticism and translations have appeared in The New York Review of Books, the London Review of Books, n+1, and Harper’s. He is also an editor-at-large at FSG (an imprint of MacMillan) and he lives in New York City.   In this episode Lorin and I discuss: Literary fiction What he looks for when discovering new voices in literature. The importance of reading as a writer. What makes interesting writing. The benefits that writers can gain from writing and reading short form literature. Plus, Lorin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/071

Hey there Word Nerds. I’m so excited to bring you this interview today with Robert Crais, a #1 New York Times bestselling author of crime fiction. In this episode, we talk about how to persevere as a writer, and let me tell you, if anyone can speak to this subject it's Robert Crais. He began his career as a TV writer, working on some of the biggest crime dramas. This experience has shaped his perspective on writing novels, and has taught him numerous writing skills. Listen in hear Robert's insights about what you can learn from writing outside your comfort zone. You'll hear about his journey from writing for TV to writing novels, and what writing for the screen taught him about crafting stories for the page. Plus, animal lovers (especially dog-lovers) will get a kick out of this this episode because you'll hear Robert talk about how captured the POV of Maggie, the K9 hero in his latest book The Promise. Unlike other books that anthropomorphize animals, making them seem like humans in an animal body, Maggie feels very real. The sections in her point of view are quite true to how you would imagine a dog perceives the world. I think Office Cat could sense the animal-friendly vibe during this interview, because she cuddled up to the mic while we were recording this episode. (Bonus points to anyone who can hear her purring in the background.) In this episode, Robert and I discuss: Capturing animal characters’ perspectives in your writing. The process of optioning the film rights for your writing. How writing for TV prepared Robert for writing novels. The challenges of writing a novel versus writing for the screen. Plus Robert's #1 Tip for Writers. About the Author Robert Crais is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen previous novels, fifteen of them featuring private investigator Elvis Cole and his ex-cop, ex-Marine partner Joe Pike. His novels have been translated into more than forty languages and are global bestsellers in more than sixty nations. Nominated for every major crime-writing award (for a total of twenty nominations), Robert has won the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Macavity, Gumshoe, and Ross Macdonald awards, among others. In 2014, he received a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, which represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing. A native of Louisiana from a family of police officers and oil refinery workers, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife, three cats, and many thousands of books.  If you want to learn more about Robert and his amazing books, follow him on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/070

Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share with you today my conversation with Mark McGuinness. Today we’re talking about motivation and creativity, two very important topics here at DIY MFA. About Mark McGuinness Mark is a poet and coach for creative professionals. He’s based in London, UK, and coaches creative professionals worldwide via the magic of the internet. He has also published a popular blog for creatives for the past 10 years, and has just finished his second book titled Motivation for Creative People. In this episode Mark and I discuss: Myths and misconceptions that creative people have about motivation. Strengths and challenges that creative people have. How motivation works. Being ready to capture inspiration when it hits. Plus, Mark’s #1 tip for writers: "Write for love. Always write for love." For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/069

Hello Hello Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share my interview with author Elizabeth George. Today we’ll be talking about writing psychological suspense and what it takes to build a great suspense novel with a lot of interesting psychological twists and turns. I hope you enjoy our conversation. In this episode Elizabeth and I discuss: Why it’s important to know where your story needs to start. Writing deeply flawed yet deeply sympathetic characters. Writing complex female characters and their different attitude toward feminism and female-ness. How point-of-view helps strengthen the reader's understanding of and sympathy for characters. Plus, Elizabeth’s #1 tip for writers. Elizabeth George is the author of highly acclaimed novels of psychological suspense. She won the Anthony and Agatha Best First Novel awards in America and received the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere in France. In 1990 she was awarded the prestigious German prize for international mystery fiction, the MIMI. Her novels have now been adapted for television by the BBC. An Edgar and Macavity Nominee as well as a New York Times and international bestselling author, Elizabeth George lives on Whidbey Island in the state of Washington. Her latest novel, A Banquet of Consequences, is out now. To learn more about Elizabeth George and her fantastic books, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/068  

Welcome, welcome Word Nerds! I am so excited to share today's interview with author Ken Murray with you all. Ken Murray is a writer and creative writing teacher. He teaches multi-genre, using fiction, nonfiction and poetry to help students get started, listen to their work, and amplify the opportunities therein. Ken teaches at University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and also at Haliburton School of the Arts. He is a graduate of the MFA program at The New School (like me!), and also the Teaching Artist program at Community Word Project. Ken writes mostly fiction and Eulogy is his first novel. Originally from Vancouver, Ken grew up in Ottawa and has lived in various locations across Canada, and also New York City. He now divides his time between Prince Edward County and Haliburton Ontario, and teaching at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. Beyond reading and writing, he can most often be found dabbling in various sports, or doing broadcast work with 99.3 County FM in Prince Edward County. In this episode Ken and I discuss: the impetus for Eulogy the process of going from writing shorter pieces to writing a book-length work teaching writing and writing workshops "Get started and be open to whatever comes out of your pen." ~Ken Murray Plus, Ken’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: If you want to know more about Ken Murray, you can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/067  

Hey there word nerds! Today's episode features one of my most favorite authors EVER: Austin Kleon. If you don’t know who he is, Austin is the New York Times bestselling author of three illustrated books: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, Newspaper Blackout, and Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered. His latest project is The Steal Like an Artist Journal: A Notebook for Creative Kleptomaniacs and it's in stores now. If you haven't read Austin's books yet, go to it! Seriously, these books will change the way you think about creativity, writing, and--most importantly--life. In this episode Austin and I discuss: Honoring your reality, both the world around you and your personal reality. Learning from your mistakes instead of focusing on your failures. Practicing by copying other people’s work by hand. Different tools for different types of writing. How practicing “less is more” can help your craft. Plus, Austin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/066

Hi there Word nerds! I’m so excited for today’s interview with bestselling author JoJo Moyes on the art of the sequel. Jojo Moyes is the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You, One Plus One, The Girl You Left Behind, The Last Letter from Your Lover, Silver Bay, The Ship of Brides and Honeymoon in Paris. She lives with her husband and three children in Essex, England.Me Before You was truly a word-of-mouth sensation, launching Moyes to worldwide acclaim. It spent more than 65 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and worldwide sales exceed five million copies. Reviewers, booksellers, and readers all raved about Me Before You for its unforgettable romance and emotional, challenging storyline. Moyes’ books are now available in 36 foreign languages and have sold more than nine million copies in total. Her newest book, After You: A Novel, sequel to Me Before You, is out now. In this episode JoJo and I discuss: Sequels, and how they are not always planned. How to write that sequel that can stand alone. Writing grief in your characters. Switching point of view in your novel. The experience of working on the screen adaptation of her novel, Me Before You. Plus, JoJo’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/065  

Today's episode is all about the m-words of writing: marketing and money. These topics are often hard for writers to discuss, but I wanted to address them for a couple of reasons. First, they are super-important. And second, I believe that all writers can be awesome at both at the creative and the business sides of their work. As writers, we tell ourselves a lot of lies. Sometimes these lies are just part of getting through what needs to be done, but sometimes they can hold us back. I’ve heard many authors say “I don’t care if I make money, I just want to write,” or “I don’t want to sell out. I can’t promote myself.” It’s as if we equate suffering and starvation with good art. Finally, I hear some writers say “If I make something amazing it’ll just sell itself.” What a lot of us don’t realize is that we’re living in a paradox. On the one hand we say “I don’t wanna corrupt my art” but on the other hand we say “If only I could make money doing what I love…” How do we reconcile this contradiction? That's what this episode is all about. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/064

Hello word nerds! Today I'm interviewing Ken Zak about writing poetic prose and the process behind his book, The Poet's Secret. Kenneth Zak is an aquatic nomad of Bohemian-Polish ancestry. As a lad, he dove into Lake Erie in search of a silver coin. Decades later, he surfaced off the island of Crete with a tale filled with mystical sea turtles, sunken treasure and a young woman’s search for a reclusive poet, his muse and the myth of eternal love. A summa cum laude graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Business and concentration in Art History, Zak went on to receive his JD and follow the waves to California. He eventually shut down a successful law practice in quest of a deeper purpose, freeing his creative self in a mountaintop village in Crete where he began his debut novel, The Poet’s Secret. Since his time in Crete, he continued work on the manuscript and his poetry in Bali, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia and South America. An avid surfer and free diver, Ken’s passions also include reading, music, ocean swimming, the Tibetan Rites and yoga. He currently serves as General Counsel for a large private brokerage company and resides in San Diego, California. In this episode, Ken and I discuss: Juggling real life and writing. Building a support system to help you achieve your goals. The role of poetry in writing prose. Being a guy who writes Romance. The decision to self-publish and why you should build a publishing team. Plus, Ken's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/063

Hey Word Nerds! Today’s episode is going to be so awesome because I'm talking to debut author Kim Liggett, a fabulous YA author and good friend. Her book, Blood and Salt, is out now, and in this episode she and I chat about taking this project from concept to bookshelf.   In this episode Kim and I discuss: World-building, sensory detail, and creative descriptions. Having an obsession and using it to fuel your writing. Organizing the plot to build suspense, with shifting timelines and surprise reveals. Navigating the revision and edit process to get the best result. Creative promotion for books. Plus her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/062

Hey there, Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode. Today I’ll be interviewing Barbara Baig about how to write spellbinding sentences, based on her new book by the same title. This episode was so much fun to record because as soon as Barbara and I started chatting, I knew I had found a likeminded word nerd and writing teacher. Her approach to writing as a practice and as a teachable skill goes hand in hand with the DIY MFA philosophy and her focus on sentence-level craft will compliment the more "big picture" techniques you learn here at DIY MFA. I hope you get as much out of this conversation as I did, and if you want to learn more about how to use language in a way that moves and resonates with your readers, check out her books below or enter to win her latest book in a Goodreads giveaway! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/061

Hey there, Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share this interview with you today. I’ll be talking to Linda Fairstein about the world she built in her famed "Alex Cooper" series. Linda is a former Manhattan prosecutor and New York Times bestselling author. Her books are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Her latest (the 17th in the series) is Devil's Bridge, which is out now. Before turning to writing, Linda was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney’s office in Manhattan for more than two decades, so basically she's like an SVU prosecutor, but for real. Not only that, she is America’s foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Linda lives in Manhattan and on Martha’s Vineyard. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/060

Hey there word nerds! Gabriela here with another exciting interview episode on DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m thrilled to share my recent conversation with Alka Dhillon, author of The OM Factor: A Woman's Spiritual Guide to Leadership. Alka Dhillon is the founder and CEO of Technalink, one of the leading companies in the Washington Metropolitan area providing Information Technology and Management Consulting services to both government and commercial clients. She has won numerous awards and honors, and she blogs at The Spiritual CEO. In this episode Alka and I discuss: Accessing your creative potential through meditation. (Everyone has two minutes) Being able to release your creative agenda to meet your creative inspiration. How to be more responsive than reactive. Writers and leadership. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/059

Hello Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me today. Man, it's been a while since I've done a solo show. It feels like it's been forever since I've had a chance to chat with you. We’ve been doing so many awesome interviews, and we have a bunch more coming up, but today I felt like it was time to have more of a heart-to-heart. In this episode, I've decided to share some mindfulness tips that turned my approach to writing on its head. I call this my Mindfulness Manifesto for Writers. This was a very tough episode for me. I had been resisting the idea for a while. You see, I’m very pragmatic and my creative process is very linear. Plus (how do I put this nicely) I always felt like the whole idea of mindfulness, of meditation, all that mind/heart/soul was a little to “woo woo” for me. The thing is, being intentional about where your thoughts go is really important to writing. This skill is the essence of mindfulness and challenging myself to be open to it has changed my writing for the better. I used to really hate meditation. I thought that sitting and breathing and clearing my mind was so boring. What I didn’t really realize then was that mindfulness is more about being present, about not thinking about what is coming or what has passed (I call this time travelling). And being fully present can be exciting. Especially when you’ve got a lot going on. To learn more about my mindfulness manifesto for writers plus the show notes, head on over here: DIYMFA.com/058

Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. I’m so glad you’re here! Today I’m interviewing Jandra Sutton, the digital media coordinator for PR by the Book, a boutique literary PR firm based in Austin, TX and Nashville, TN. While her job title might not make sense, it's helpful to know that she is essentially a social media publicist. Her job is to connect authors with their online audiences in a meaningful way, whether that's managing a full social media campaign for the author or teaching him/her how to navigate the ins and outs of social media (DIY Social Media!) In this episode, Jandra and I will geek out over one of my favorite topics: social media. She'll share some pro tips specifically for writers and show you how to use social media to build your author brand and your career. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/057

Hi there Word nerds! I’m so excited to share today’s interview with bestselling author Tana French and her process in crafting series and writing literary mysteries. Tana French has been called “one of the most talented crime writers alive” by the Washington Post. With four bestselling, critically acclaimed, and award-winning novels in print worldwide, she excels in portraying fallible, deeply human detectives, as broken as the cases they investigate. In her new book, The Secret Place, she revisits characters from a previous book, plus she gives readers an inside look at a all-girls prep school. It turns out that the private underworld of teenage girls is more mysterious and more dangerous than it appears. In this episode Tana and I discuss: Different elements of crafting a series. Using viewpoint to structure your narrative. The writing and rewriting process. Recurring characters. Sticking to genre conventions or bucking the trends. Plus, Tana shares her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/056

This is our one-year anniversary of DIY MFA Radio and for this episode, Elisabeth and I decided to change things up. Since I'm usually the one doing the interviewing, this time around Elisabeth interviewed me about DIY MFA, writing, and other fun things. We also celebrated this milestone by doing a live Periscope broadcast of the unedited recording session and it was SO MUCH FUN. While you can't catch the Periscope recording anymore (they're only available for the first 24hours after the broadcast) we WILL be doing these live recording sessions again in the future. Stay tuned because it's going to be epic! For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/055

I’m so excited to interview Sara Paretsky, author of 20 books, including the renowned V.I. Warshawski novels. In 1982 she introduced the world to  private eye V.I. Warshawski in her book Indemnity Only. V.I. – tough, credible, street-smart, and feminine – challenged the stereotypes of women in fiction as victims or vamps and Paretsky made it possible for a new generation of crime writers to thrive. In, Brush Back,  the latest book in this series, V.I. must uncover the truth about a crime that hits very close to home, and forces her to take a good look into her family’s past. As V.I. digs for clues and tries to piece the story together, she must put her life—and career—on the line until she can finally discover what happened on a fateful night many those years ago. It could be the biggest case of her career—if V.I. manages to survive. Sara Paretsky was named 2011 Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and is also the recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award given by the British Crime Writers’ Association. Paretsky is currently president of the Mystery Writers of America.  She lives in Chicago. Listen in as Sara and I discuss: Creating a unique and strong protagonist. The mystery writing scene and how it’s changed now. Setting as character in writing. Personal limits to detail in topics such as sex and violence in writing. Plus, Sara's #1 tip for writers! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/054

Hello and welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! I’m so excited to be sharing this interview with you from Thrillerfest! I met with Le French Book founder Anne Trager, and Le French Book authors Eric Giacometti, and David Khara to talk about writing thrillers for French and American markets. We had an amazing conversation andI can't wait to share it with you in this episode. Le French Book is a company that translates French mysteries and thrillers for the American audience. These books have been wildly popular in Europe and now they are available here in the United States, thanks to Le French Book and its founder, Anne Trager. I don't know about you, but after speaking with these fascinating authors, I can't wait to check out these books! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/053

Hi Word Nerds! Thanks so much for joining me. In this episode, I'm thrilled to interview debut author Susannah Marren. She and I talk about her process for writing her debut novel, her inspiration and the different thematic elements in her writing Get ready to be inspired by this lovely interview. Susannah is originally from Long Beach Island, New Jersey. She currently lives in Manhattan with her family and still spends her summers on the Jersey Shore. Between the Tides is her first novel. In this episode, Susannah Marren and I discuss:   What inspired her to write Between the Tides. Different thematic elements in her writing. The most enjoyable and most challenging parts of being a writer. How knowing the ending can drive your story forward. How to let your experience inform your writing. What the publishing process looks like for a debut author. Plus, Susannah shares her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/052

Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m interviewing Calee Lee, the founder and CEO of Xist Publishing, the largest independent digital-first children's publisher. She is also the author of more than 15  books for children. Dedicated to helping kids develop a lifetime love of reading, she founded Xist Publishing in 2011 to provide beautiful books for the touchscreen generation. Today she’ll share insights about alternative paths to publishing. For writers who don't want to go with abig 5 publisher but also don't want to self-publish, there is an alternate route. In this episode Calee tells us about medium and small press publishers, in particular her own company, Xist Publishing, which is a digital-first independent children's publisher. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/051

Hey Word Nerds! Welcoem to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Back in June, I went on my first mini writing retreat right here in my howntown of NYC. I didn't go too far, just a couple of miles, but I got a hotel and spent about 24 hours immersed in my writing. In those 24 hours, I managed to knock out around 7000 words of the manuscript I've been working on. To give you some perspective, on a good week at home, I'm happy if I get 4000 words. And that's in a whole week! I discovered I could hammer out almost double the number of words in a 24-hour writing retreat than I do on a regular week at home. What a HUGE return on investment! This retreat taught me that occasionally putting my life on hold and immersing myself in writing (even if just for a little while) can have a huge impact on my manuscript. Especially since my first deadline is only a few weeks away. To learn more about this retreat, and get some actionable tips to help you create one of your very own, check out this episode. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/050

Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I'm so excited to interview Beatriz Williams. She is the author of international best sellers Overseas, A Hundred Summers, and The Secret Life of Violet Grant. Her new book, Tiny Little THing, hit bookstores on June 23 and is out now. I'm reading it right now and let me just say, it's incredible! In his episode, Beatriz and I talk about her creative decisions as she crafted this fascinating book. DIYMFA.com/049

Today I want to talk to you about a crucial part of my own creative life: The Brain Book. It's my portable office. When I have the Brain Book with me, I know I can be creative and productive anytime, anywhere. Not only does the Brain Book contain my book's outline, my to-do list, etc., it also carries little totems and mascots so that I don't have to be attached to any place in particular when I want (or need) to write. In this episode, I'm going to give you a quick rundown of what my brainbook looks like. Then I'm going to challenge you to build your own Brain Book and share pictures of it with me! To see pictures of the Brain Boon in action, follow me on Instagram. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/048

Hey Word Nerds! Thanks so much for being here with me today. We're going to talk about a bit of DIY MFA's core philosophy and I'll teach you a game-changing techique that has helped writers turn their writing lives around completely. I usually only share this technique with my DIY MFA 101 course, but it is SO important that I wanted to talk about it on the podcast today. If you take only one lesson away from DIY MFA, I hope this is the one. This small change can have a HUGE impact on your writing. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/047 

Welcome to our official Book Expo America (BEA) 2015 recap. In this episode, I pull together insights I gained from attending various sessions at BEA this year, plus trends I observed while exploring the show. Overall, I can sum up the direction that publishing is going in two words: identity and community. In this episode I dig into different reasons why these themes will dominate the industry in comming years and what they mean for us as writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/046

Welcome to another interview episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m so excited to introduce you to author Joe Wenke, and share this interview with him. But first, a little background info. Joe Wenke is a writer, social critic and LGBTQI rights activist who has written several books. His most recent book--The Human Agenda--is about sexual orientation and gender identity, with a special focus on "finding common ground in our shared humanity."  In this interview, Joe shares insights and tips he learned about writing a piece of narrative nonfiction based on conversations and interviews. There is a lot of invisible craft behind this style of nonfiction and he pulls back the curtain and gives us a glimpse of how he put this book together. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/045

Hey word nerd! Thanks for joining me. Today’s episode is all about how to take your writing from a hobby to something more. This episode was inspired by an email I received from a fellow word nerd named Emily. She wrote: "I want to be a writer when I grow up, and I've been told that I'm even good at it. I love writing, I really do, I just... I feel like I'm never going to get past writing essays, fanfiction, and short stories for local contests. Do you have any advice?" Emily, thanks for asking this very important question. This is a big topic that a lot of writers struggle with, but don't fret! I have a few suggestions that will help you stay on track and maybe even turn your writing hobby into something more. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/044

Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I want to share with you some survival tips for Book Expo America (BEA), the publishing industry’s premier trade show in the US. BEA 2015 is the Big Kahuna of trade shows in the US. If you’re in the book business, this is where you want to be. This event is centered on BOOKS, but writers can get a lot out of the expo as well. Because there’s so much going on, though, it can be a little overwhelming. Fear not! This Book Expo survival guide episode will give you all the inside details on how to make the most of this event. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/043

Hello and welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m so excited to interview bestselling author Steve Berry. Steve Berry is a New York Times and internationally bestselling thriller author and creator of the Cotton Malone series. His books have been translated into 40 languages, with more than 19 million printed copies in 51 countries. A 2010 NPR survey named one of his books--The Templar Legacy--one of the top 100 thrillers ever written. Clearly when it comes to writing books that captivate readers, Steve Berry knows his stuff. Listen in to learn how this bestselling thriller polished his craft and hear him share some of his top tips for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/042

Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I'm doing things a little bit differently. Instead of an interview, I'm bringing one of my team members on the show as a co-host and we'll have a conversation about books, writing and the creative life. This episode is part of a new series I'll be doing called "Behind DIY MFA," where I'll bring members of my team on the show as a co-host and we'll talk about what they do, both at DIY MFA and beyond. My goal with these behind-the-scenes episodes is for you to get to know the different people who help make DIY MFA awesome, plus hear their insights about books and all things literary. As you probably already know, I see DIY MFA as a collaborative and collective venture. While I may be the instigator, DIY MFA would not be nearly as great if it weren't for all the amazing people who have partnered with me on this project. My hope is that this series will showcase the incredible talent we have on this team, and help you get to know these awesome people. Our co-host today is the fabulous Sara Letourneau, author of the DIY MFA column Theme: A Story’s Soul. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/041

Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today we’re going to talk about a super important topic for any author: Social Media. Social media can be tricky for writers because there’s so much to wrap your head around. We’re going to talk about the nuts and bolts, basic information that you can put into practice right away. Social media, for better or worse, is here to stay. It’s fully integrated into our lives and has changed the way we communicate radically. As writers, our best approach is to embrace the opportunities that social media affords us, rather than trying to fight against it. In this episode, I’ll give you 7 steps to help you get a handle on social media, but in a way that's totally doable and won't take over your life. Most importantly, if you’re just learning these platforms, be gentle with yourself. Social media is constantly changing. You don't have to do all of it, or get everything perfect right away. You just need to understand enough so that you can use social media to bolster your writing career. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/040

Hello and thank you for joining me today! Today’s episode is all about the seven essentials for a writer’s education. I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while, and after I wrote this article a few weeks ago about my philosophy of teaching writing, I thought it was time to share these seven essentials with you. Whenever I write, I keep with me a “brain book” filled with tools and inspirational totems that help me find my focus. Honestly, I could do a whole episode on the “brain book” alone and the significance of each of the items I keep in it. But there’s one item in particular--an unsharpened pencil--that has a special significance. It was given to me by a teacher who told me to always carry it with me as a symbol of my untapped potential. I still have that pencil almost fifteen years later, and I keep it as a reminder of how important my education is to my writing. It also remindes me that I should always be open to new ideas. Each time I launch a new class on DIY MFA, I get that same giddy feeling of anticipation and untapped potential. Since DIY MFA 101 starts next week, I this got me thinking about all the pieces that go into a writing life and how important each one is to your writing life as a whole. In this episode, I share my seven essentials of a writer's education, and show you how to build each aspect into your writing life. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/039

Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. So glad you're here! Today I’m so excited to interview Stuart Horowitz from Book Architecture. Stuart is someone who is as excited about connecting with writers and helping them reach their goals as I am. We'll be talking about planning your novel and how to plot without a formula. Listen in for the interview and check out our show notes at DIYMFA.com/038. Take-home message: intelligent planning is not the enemy of creative genius.

Today is part two of the query critique series with my awesome agent, Jeff Kleinman. In this episode, Jeff and I look at a few more query letters, giving feedback and line-by-line critique so you can see what works and what could be improved. As with Part 1 of this series, you'll want to check out the show notes and follow along with the queries as you listen to the critiques so you know exactly what Jeff's feedback refers to. Head over to DIY MFA.com/037 for all the details.

Today I have an exciting announcement at DIY MFA: we are launching an Anthology! Our goal with this anthology is to address both the Read with Purpose and Write with Focus components of DIY MFA, by bringing together an interesting collection of prose and poetry that shows various writing techniques in action. We also want to encourage creative outside-the-box thinking, so writers must use a prompt from writerigniter.com to inspire their submissions. Interested in submitting to the anthology? Check out our submission guidelines. In this episode, I chat with Anthology Co-Editor Elisabeth Kauffman about how to submit to anthologies or literary magazines. She and I shine light on all those nitty-gritty details you want to know about submitting your work but were afraid to ask. So even if you're not planning to submit to this anthology, check out this episode for lots of info about the submission process. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/036

I'm especially excited to share today's episode with you because it features my awesome agent, Jeff Kleinman. In this episode, Jeff and I talk about query letters: what they are, why you need one, and how to make yours stand out from the slush. After asking Jeff about the nuts-and-bolts basics of query letters, we then launch into a query critique session in which he gives feedback on queries submitted by people in the DIY MFA audience. You'll want to read the show notes for this one, and also follow along reading the queries as you listen to the critiques. Head on over to DIYMFA.com/035 for all the details.

Supporting characters are an essential ingredient for crafting your story. Not only do these characters add depth and further the plot, they also help support the protagonist's character arc. In this episode, I'll share five supporting character archetypes, who they are and why they exist. While in writing there are no hard and fast rules, these archetypes can serve as a jumping off point so you can create dynamic, interesting characters in your story. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/034

Voice is one of those topics in writing that is so hard to pin down and define. The one thing that we can be certain of with voice, though, is that we know it when we hear it. When we read a story or book with a particularly strong voice, we can tell right away. Today's episode was inspired by a question from a listener about how to keep character voices distinct and engaging. In this episode, I share my go-to techniques for voice, but in making your characters come to life, and for finding your voice in the narrator. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/033

One of the biggest game-changers for my writing career has been attending writers' conferences. In this episode, I share some insider conference tips to help you get the most out of the experience and help you network like a pro (even if you're an introvert, like me). I used to be terrified of live events because I'm painfully shy, but with practice I've learned how to bring my A-game to every conference I attend, and now I'm speaking at them too! In this episode I reveal the #1 thing you must do at a conference in order to get the most out of it. I also walk you through the before, during, and after stages, with practical tips of what to do at each point. I share a simple 4-step formula to help you connect with bigwigs in any situation, plus I'll give you insights on what NOT to do so you always put your best foot forward. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/032

Do you ever feel pulled in a million different directions, chasing one sparkly writing project after nother. This episode is all about figuring out where to focus your writing energy so you can get results and finish a project. Finding focus is all about balancing three things: your passions, your strengths, and ROI (return on investment). For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/031

 Today is an extra special episode because I’ll be interviewing a fabulous author and my good friend: Kathryn Holmes. We're going to be talking about how to create a setting that feels real to the reader, a subject you'll find she knows a lot about. Kathryn's debut novel is out this week and (as you can imagine from the title of this episode) setting and world-building play a HUGE role in her story. In this episode, Kathrny and I do a deep dive on setting, exploring different aspects of it and techniques that writers can use to make the world of their stories come to life. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/030

I have been a long-time follower of author Jeff Goins and his work, so it was an absolute thrill to host him on the show for this episode. In it we discuss his journey as a writer and how he got to where he is now, how he found his purpose (and how other writers can do the same), and the power of building an online platform. We also talked about finding that "sweet spot" between what you're passionate about, what you're good at and what the market wants in order to make maximum impact. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/029

Today's episode is especially for the children's writers out there. Have you wanted to create a picture book, but weren't sure how to translate it from paper to a Kindle eBook? Fear not! Kindle has made some amazing changes lately that make publishing an electronic picture book super-easy. Not only that, now that picture books have gone digital, the flexibility and options available to writers and illustrators have expanded exponentially! In this episode, I talk with Laura Backes, co-founder and publisher of CBI (Children's Book Insider) a newsletter and database filled with valuable information for children's book writers. Not only that, Laura has delved into this wild world of electronic picture books and has become an expert at this new technology. In this interview, she shares insights she has learned and discusses why digital publishing is a fantastic option for indie picture book authors and illustrators. For more details and information, head over to the show notes at DIYMFA.com/028

I am absolutely thrilled for this episode today. Not only is the topic timely and something that's on a lot of writers' minds, but I get to interview two awesome authors about their new book: The Art of Social Media. These authors are, of course, Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick and their book is filled with tips and techniques that will help with your social media, whether you've been on social media since it started, or are just starting out. After having the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of The Art of Social Media, I would would recommend it for newbies and social media junkies alike, though for different reasons. For newbies, this book breaks breaks things down into small, manageable pieces, so even a topic as broad (and potentially overwhelming) a social media can feel totally doable. And for social media junkies, I would recommend this book for its more overarching ideas: like how to continue to generate good content, and create an integrated social media strategy. As someone who spends a lot of time on social media, I found some great actionable tips and ideas that I've already implemented in my own social media strategy. In this interview, the authors share some of their best tips about social media. From big picture ideas about content marketing, to the nuts-and-bolts of social media, listen in for a great interview about social media for writers.  For more details and information, head over to the show notes at DIYMFA.com/027

Many people say they want to write a book, but very few actually do it. Stop dream, start doing. I'll show you how. Today's episode is all about getting those words on the page and that book out into the world. During the show I talk about why you need to write this book in the first place. Then I debunk three major myths about writing, plus give you a "secret" formula for how to up your game. Finally I share the #1 writing tool that has changed my writing forever and walk you through the step-by-step of putting that tool into action. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/026

Today's episode was inspired by a question I got from a listener. Got a questions about writing or publishing that you want to hear answered on the show? Just email gabriela[at]DIYMFA[dot]com with "DIY MFA Radio" in the subject line. I can't promise to answer every single question in an episode, but I'll pick the most frequent ones and use them to inspire show topics. Plus, you might just get a shout-out from me on the show. In this episode I talk about motivation and how to keep on writing even when you think you're failing and you feel like a fraud. I share the hard truth about imposter syndrome and give you some actionable tips to help you get motivated and get writing. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/025

Do you set goals only to lose momentum after a few days or weeks? Don't worry, I've been there and I know how you feel. In this episode I share my go-to productivity tool that has helped me get my projects from dream to done. Check out the show notes page for more information and for a free download: DIYMFA.com/024

Crazy fact: Did you know that while 45% of Americans make New Year's resolutions, only 8% actually achieve what they set out to do? Here at DIY MFA we want to see you rock your New Year's resolutions (both for writing and for life) so in this episode I walk you through a simple 5-step process for setting resolutions that really stick. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/023

Happy Holidays! In today's episode, I explore the Santa Claus story, and the five lessons that writers can take from it. Like Santa, writers are creative. We make stories out of words. As you'll hear in this episode, this is not the only thing that writers and Santa have in common. Tune in to find out more. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/022 Season's greetings to all, and to all a good write!

I used to hate outlines, but now I love them. In this episode I share my five go-to outline techniques: mind maps, scene cards, story mapping, story sketch and mood boards. I'll give you the inside scoop on which technique to use in different types of projects and scenarios. My hope is that with several different outline methods in your arsenal, you'll always have the right tool available for every job. This episode is very heavy on the visuals so head on over to the show notes page to see examples of these outline tools in action. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/021

Today we have Daniel Milnor, photographer at large for Blurb, Inc., joining us. Dan and I talked about how the book has evolved, what it means for something to be a book, and what these changes mean for authors. I’m so excited to share our conversation with you. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/020

It's December and if you did NaNoWriMo, you've probably got a big pile of pages that need shaping and editing. But where do you start? This episode will give you a simple 3-step process to help you take your book from draft to done. This method isn't just for NaNos, though. Anyone can use these tips to polish up their work and get it submission-ready. All you need is a complete (or almost complete) draft. Not writing a novel? No problem. You can use these techniques on short stories or any other work of fiction too. For show notes, head over to DIYMFA.com/019.

Happy Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving, everyone! I’m so thankful that you are all here and going on this podcast journey with me! This week, I wanted to share something else that I'm super-thankful for: the ability to Shakespeare in the original English. In this episode  I will be deconstructing one of my favorite poems, Shakespeare’s Sonnet #90. I’m so glad you’re here to enjoy this wonderful work of literature with me. For show notes and more info: diymfa.com/018

If you're like me (and most writers) you probably love acquiring new books. But how do you know if a writing book will teach you what you need to know? Or will it just collect dust on your bookshelf. That's where the Essentials come in. Using a simple ABC formula, I show you which essential books you must absolutely have in your writing library. And since this is DIY MFA, you can adjust these selections to suit your individual style. For more information and show notes: DIYMFA.com/017

As a follow-up to our previous episode on Writing Groups, this time we discuss how to give useful critiques. The key to giving critique is to be specific, and to think of the critique relationship as a partnership, rather than an adversarial face-off. For show notes and additional info, visit DIYMFA.com/016.

This is a very special episode for DIY MFA Radio because it features a wonderful writer--and one of my writing heroes--Jane Yolen. Known as the "Hans Christian Andersen of America" Jane Yolen has written over 360 books. But what truly sets her work apart is her artristry and versatility. She has written in just about every genre imaginable, and for just about every type of reader. Whenever I've heard her speak, Jane Yolen offers the perfect blend of practical advice and pure inspiration. This podcast episode is no exception. I am overjoyed to share this episode with you today. For show notes and more information, visit DIYMFA.com/015.

In our Halloween episode, we talk about creative monsters and how to evade them. I'll share was to trick (or treat) your way around these monsters so you can stay confident and creative. The key to avoiding creative monsters is remembering that it's not you, it's them, and not giving them any ammunition. Finally, you have to be kind to your creative self and celebrate your own victories in small but meaningful ways. For more info and show notes go to DIYMFA.com/014.

Inspired by the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief, this episode walks you through the five stages of how writers process and get through writer's block. Just as people might grieve a loss, when writers are not writing they grieve too. In this episode, I discuss the five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Then I'll show you how you can push through writer's block and beat it once and for all. For more info and show notes go to DIYMFA.com/013.

When new writers join DIY MFA, one of the biggest challenges they face is finding a writing group, and what to do when they finally join one. I've been in several writing groups so I thought I'd share some tried and true techniques I've learned from the process. In this episode, I share some tips for finding a group that's right for you, and I walk you through the three stages of receiving critique. For more info and show notes go to DIYMFA.com/012.

Do you love to read? If you're at all like me, chances are your list of books TBR (to be read) is much bigger than the number of books you could ever read in a lifetime. This means that your reading time is precious and you have to be super-smart about how you choose books and approach your reading, so it has maximum impact on your writing. I call this "reading with purpose" and that's the topic for today's show. For more info and show notes go to DIYMFA.com/011.

Sooner or later you're going to have to ask for something. Whether it's asking readers to buy your book, or asking someone to help you promote it, at some point you'll find yourself in a place where you need to ask for help. Having been on both the asking and helping sides of this equation, I've learned that there's a specific WAY of asking that automatically opens people up to helping you. In this episode, I break down the "Art of the Ask" and share the 3-step process I use whenever I ask for help. For more info and show notes go to DIYMFA.com/010.

I came to poetry fairly late as a writer, and now I'm on a mission to bring other writers to poetry as well. In this episode, I interview poet and children's book author extraordinaire: Marilyn Singer. You'll hear us dish about our love of poetry, the magic of words, facing criticism, and more! For more info and show notes, check out DIYMFA.com/009.

We often think of writing purely as an art but when it comes to POV, there’s definitely a science to it. When I first started writing I had no idea what POV was all about so I created a nifty POV cheat sheet to help me remember which was which. When other writers started raving about the cheat sheet, I knew I had to share it with my listeners on this podcast. For more info and show notes check out DIYMFA.com/008

When it comes to building a writing community, Karen Dionne knows where it's at. Co-founder of Backspace--an online community for writers of all genres--and organizer of many conferences, Karen knows exactly what goes into creating and maintaining a writing community. In this interview, Karen shares writing community tips for success and avoiding pitfalls. She also gives great advice about choosing and attending conferences, and how community can be a HUGE factor in helping writers improve their craft. For more info and show notes, check out DIYMFA.com/007

The first five pages are super-important for setting the tone of your novel. In those pages, you make five key promises and delaying or breaking those promises will create tension in the story. In this episode, you'll learn what these five promises are and when or how to artfully break them. For more info and show notes check out DIYMFA.com/006

As writers, we must look at who the character could be, not necessarily who the character already is. That’s the key to writing characters with depth. For more info and show notes check out DIYMFA.com/005

Some people think unlimited possibilities leads to unlimited creativity. Not so. In this episode, you'll find out why it's important to limit your options in order to take decisive action. For more info and show notes check out DIYMFA.com/004

Learn seven good reasons why you should include prompts in your writing practice. You'll also discover a simple three-step process to help you pump up your writing with prompts. This is a tried and true system thta will help build your stamina and get you tangible results. Find out why you should build prompts into your writing and how to make them work for you. Show notes at: DIYMFA.com/003  

In this episode I'll tell you why you want to build a writing practice, what this writing practice can look like and how to do it. For show notes and more details go to DIYMFA.com/002

Welcome to the first episode of DIY MFA Radio! I am so happy to share this creative adventure with you. This weekly podcast will offer tips and techniques that you can apply to your writing practice right now. In this episode, I will tell you just how and why I started DIY MFA, and how it can help you to write more, write better, write smarter. For show notes and more details, DIYMFA.com/001