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 lining. You see, now it means I get to share the concepts from my talk with you here on the podcast, which is also being aired as part of the INBOUND online programming.Now, I could just deliver the talk from my session as a solo podcast episode, but that would be boring, so I’ve recruited one of my favorite people and INBOUND party-buddy: Erica Wexler. Erica is the Founder & CEO of Erica Wexler Transforms. She’s the creator of the Transformational Guidance™ Training & Coaching Program she specializes in helping both organizations and individuals play to their strengths, navigate obstacles, and work more collaboratively in today’s diverse, virtual, and fast-paced workplace. Erica has a ton of experience creating positive change in government, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors, including 13 years leading communication, training and outreach efforts at a state-level government agency she helped create. Erica earned her Master’s in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and holds dual certifications in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. She is a published author, a dynamic powerhouse speaker, an avid dancer, and I am lucky enough to call her my friend. I’ve known Erica since 2017, when we both participated in a mastermind group together. Right away, I knew we were going to be fast friends. Since then, we’ve been networking buddies at tons of events and last year we took INBOUND 2019 by storm and it was awesome! As you’ll hear in a moment, Erica is a powerhouse presence on stage, in a meeting, or at happy hour. But she’s also one of those rare people who, while being incredibly dynamic herself, doesn’t let her presence overshadow that of others. She is one of those amazing people who has the ability to amplify the voice of others and adds to their energy. When INBOUND asked me to create a special podcast episode as part of their 2020 conference programming, I knew Erica was the person I wanted behind the mic with me. This episode is part interview, part conversation, but mostly two besties geeking out about all things storytelling. In this episode Erica and I discuss: How the three elements of storytelling apply to marketing Why brands shouldn’t focus solely on what the customer wants to hear The most important thing to consider about storytelling for your brand Plus, my #1 tip for people who want to unleash their Storytelling Superpower! For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/324

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 more info and show notes: diymfa.com/322

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.com/320

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. His books have garnered plenty of attention and acclaim, and his fourth entry in this #1 NYT-bestselling series, titled Tom Clancy Firing Point, is out now. Once again, Mike taps into his incredible background as an author and expert to hit the trifecta of what makes a great Clancy book: Tom’s terrific characters combined with edge-of-your-seat action scenes and the over-the-horizon foretelling about world events. In this episode Mike and I discuss: How to create deeply flawed characters that readers still like Why figuring out the stakes can help you populate your story’s universe His outline process and how it balances creativity and structure Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/319

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  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/316