Diy Mfa Radio

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 lin

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

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.co

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. H

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 

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

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 h

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

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

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 interv