Diy Mfa Radio

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 beli

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.

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 ne

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

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 pl

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 u

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. Dealin

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 speculat

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. Deali

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 rea

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.c

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

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.

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: G

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

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

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

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