DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Caroline Donahue on the show! Caroline is an American writer living in Berlin, and the host of The Secret Library Podcast (where I've had the good fortune of being a guest!). She is also the co-editor, with Dal Kular, of the essay anthology I Wrote it Anyway, which is all about writers overcoming obstacles in order to do the work they love. Proceeds from this anthology benefits Arts Emergency in the UK and 826 LA in the US. I happen to be a huge fan of 826, having volunteered for several years at the NYC branch, so when Caroline put out a call for submissions, I immediately raised my hand. Now listen in as Caroline and I chat about this amazing project, and do a deep dive into the process of crafting an anthology from beginning to end. In this episode Caroline and I discuss: A step-by-step process of putting an anthology together. The importance of choosing your editorial stance early on. How to handle the submission process. The biggest hurdles to look out for when crafting an anthology. Tricks to help you overcome blocks and write anyway. Plus, Caroline's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/231

Hey there word nerds! I have to admit that today I'm having a major fangirl moment because I'm interviewing Orson Scott Card on the show! Orson Scott Card is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender's Game and has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. In fact, his Ender novels are read widely by adults and young readers alike, and are increasingly used in schools. However his latest work of fiction, A Town Divided by Christmas, reads more like a Hallmark Christmas movie than the science fiction and fantasy work he has become known for. This novel is about a small, rural town divided by a decades-long feud over which newborn baby should be the baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant. But at its core is a Christmas time romance. So listen in as we chat about this awesome book, and how to craft a well told story for Christmas or any time of the year. In this episode Orson and I discuss: What makes a good Christmas story. Why writing within a formula can help you focus in on the heart of your novel. The importance of good dialogue. How to get readers emotionally invested in your characters. Worldbuilding techniques, large and small. Plus, Orson's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/230

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Traci Lambrecht, of the mother-daughter writing team P.J. Tracy, perhaps most well-known for their Monkeewrench thriller series. Traci spent most of her childhood riding and showing horses, then graduated with a Russian Studies major from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She then began writing in order to finance her propensity for travel and, much to her mother's relief, found that writing was her true calling. Traci and her mother P.J. wrote several books together and had a long, prolific career as a team. Sadly, P.J. passed away in December 2016, but Traci continues to write and carry on this amazing legacy. So listen in as we chat about the newly released ninth volume in their Monkeewrench series, The Guilty Dead, and how to ratchet up suspense throughout a story to keep readers on the edge of their seats. In this episode Traci and I discuss: Multiple protagonists vs. a single protagonist How to pull off a killer prologue. Creating vivid descriptions without slowing down your plot. How to use reading to inform your writing. Dealing with the "muggles" in your life. Plus, Traci's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/229

Hey there word nerds! Today I am pleased to have Kallie Falandays on the show! Kallie is a poet and the founder of Tell Tell Poetry, a poetry resource site and editing company that helps poets get published. Her own poetry has appeared in numerous places such as Black Warrior Review and The Journal. She is also the author of the poetry collection Dovetail Down the House available now from Burnside Review Books. Listen in as Kallie and I chat about crafting a poetry collection that will keep readers flipping pages, and the specific of the poetry publishing process. In this episode Kallie and I discuss: Using titleless poems to immerse your readers in the heart of your collection. How to combine three different poetic formats in one book. Why there is no right or wrong way to read poetry. Characters and narrative arcs in poems. The specific details of publishing in the poetry world. Plus, Kallie's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/228

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited—and I'll admit I'm also having a bit of a fangirl moment—because I'm interviewing Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano on the show! Together, they comprise the powerhouse team behind the heart-wrenching and powerful graphic novel Illegal. You probably already know Eoin Colfer as the bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series (one of my favorite middle grade series of all time!). What you might not know about him is that before becoming a full-time writer he worked as a primary school teacher and he spent four years working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Italy. Eoin's co-author, Andrew Donkin, has written more than sixty books and graphic novels for children and adults, including collaborating with Eoin on the Artemis Fowl graphic novels. His books have been translated into thirty languages around the world and have sold more than eight million copies in the last decade. And the master behind the artwork of Illegal,Giovanni Rigano, is an Italian artist and illustrator, who may be most well known for his role in the creation of the Artemis Fowl graphic novels. He has also created graphic novels for Disney books, including The Incredibles. Now listen in as we all chat about their latest and amazing graphic novel, and how the comic format offers ways to draw readers in unlike any other media. In this episode Eoin, Andrew, Giovanni and I discuss: The different steps in creating and completing a graphic novel. Combining words and pictures to create a greater emotional response in readers. Structuring a story with alternating timelines, and how to do it right. Why it is necessary to represent the perspective of children in books. How to use the graphic novel layout to control the pace of your story. Plus, each of their #1 tips for writers and artists. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/227

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have Camille Perri on the show! Camille is an author who has also worked in numerous book related fields. She has been a books editor for both Cosmopolitan and Esquire, a ghostwriter, and a reference librarian. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Assistants, was released in May of 2016 and was said to have captured the spirit of a generation: Millennials encumbered by student debt, struggling to rise through the ranks of their chosen careers, and completely fed up with the system. Camille's newly released second novel, When Katie Met Cassidy, is a bit of a divergence from her first, but still holds the same wry humor and discerning eye she has become known for. This time she turns those talents to questions of gender, representation, and sexuality in an exhilarating romantic comedy with a twist: A "girl meets girl" love story between two very different women. So listen in as Camille and I chat about this awesome book, and how writing a fun read can be the greatest act of resistance. In this episode Camille and I discuss: Using alternating point of view to get readers inside all of your characters' heads. The importance of worldbuilding in contemporary fiction. Showing the fun side of the queer community. Subtle activism in romantic comedies. Why you can make a difference with your writing without being political. Plus, Camille's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/226

Hey there word nerds! I'm sooooo excited for today's interview because I have Andrew Shaffer on the show! Andrew is the bestselling author of several humorous works of fiction and nonfiction including the parody Fifty Shames of Earl Grey. He is also the owner and creative director of Order of St. Nick, the quirky greeting card company whose cards have been featured on The Colbert Report, and is the publisher of 8th Circle Press. Andrew's latest humourous yarn is Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery. Part noir mystery, part bromance, and part parody, this novel features Obama and Biden teaming up to solve a grisly murder. Hooked yet? Well then listen in as Andrew and I chat about this awesome book, and the art of combining the dark elements of noir with the comedy of bromance. In this episode Andrew and I discuss: Why choosing the right point of view character is so important to your story. Crafting characters not caricatures. How to use public figures in your book without hindering your writing (or getting sued). Parody, what it is and how to do it right. Using comedy to your story's best advantage. Plus, Andrew's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/225

Hey there word nerds! And welcome to our extra special Halloween episode, as today I have the pleasure of having the amazing mother-daughter writing team of P.C. and Kristin Cast on the show! P.C. and Kristin are both New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, most known for their wildly successful House of Night series. This mega popular series spanning numerous novels and novellas, celebrated its ten year anniversary in 2017. In honor of this milestone, P.C. and Kristin dove back into this awesome world and created the all new House of Night: Other World series. The first novel, Loved, was released in 2017, with the second, Lost, just releasing in July of this year. So listen in as we chat about these awesome Other World novels, and get a window into the whole House of Night series. In this episode P.C., Kristin and I discuss: Tag team brainstorming. Worldbuilding techniques to expand your story's world over multiple books. P.C.'s alternative universe character building exercise. How to stand out in an oversaturated market. Why you need to get graphic with your characters' feelings. Plus, both P.C.'s and Kristin's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/224

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Moyer. Melanie is a debut author and veteran ghostwriter. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied Creative Writing, Religious Studies, Folklore, and Russian History. She regularly co-hosts a horror pop culture podcast called Splatter Chatter, serves as a co-host on the animation podcast Overly Animated, and regularly contributes pop culture pieces to Just About Write. Today we'll be talking about her debut YA novel The Rules of Me, a fascinating novel with a unique point of view choice. In this episode Melanie and I discuss: The process of going from a short story drafted in college to a novel written years later. Point of view challenges that come with making the narrator be the main character's imaginary friend. How this unconventional point of view choice ultimately enriches the narrative experience. The different pairs of characters that frame the story. The art and craft of world building and how to create rules for your characters. Navigating the workshop experience, with both its pros and cons. Writing for a YA audience and how to respect that reader's point of view. Plus, Melanie's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/223

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ruth Spiro on the show! Ruth's journey as a writer is one I think many word nerds can relate to. She never imagined she'd be a writer…until she started doing it! And now she writes innovative books for kids about science, technology, engineering and math…or STEM as is the buzzword right now. Her debut picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist won awards from Writer's Digest, Willamette Writers, and was a Bank Street College of Education Best Book. Ruth followed up this success with her awesome Baby Loves Science board book series. This groundbreaking series includes books on a number of different topics including: coding, green energy, quarks, and my personal favorite quantum physics, which explains the Schrodinger's cat thought experiment in language that a toddler can understand. This amazing series has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Popular Science and Working Mother. And the series features iconic and adorable illustrations by Irene Chan. When an illustrator can make Quarks look cute…OMG! So listen in as Ruth and I geek out over this awesome series, and give you an inside look into the exciting niche of board books. In this episode Ruth and I discuss: Techniques to craft a book that is engaging to both children and adults. How to make abstract ideas accessible to young children. Breaking into a specific publishing niche. Why you need to be smart in how you network. A step by step guide to producing a board book. Plus, Ruth's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/222