Diy Mfa Radio

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

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 t

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, yoursel

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

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. P

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. t

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 compassion

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

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 remorsele

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 even

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

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

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

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

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. H

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 historica

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

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 gettin

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