Diy Mfa Radio

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

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) Coachin

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 a

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.co

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

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 ma

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 ep

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 char

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.co

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: W

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 M

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