DIY MFA Radio

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