DIY MFA Radio

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

Hey there word nerds! In today’s episode I bring you live to ThrillerFest 2018, where I have once again assembled a panel of five debut authors from this year’s class. I am so excited to be speaking with L.A. Chandlar, Paddy Hirsch, Cheryl Reed, John Copenhaver, and Joanna Schaffhausen, and sharing our panel discussion on the show! Last year’s ThrillerFest debuts’ episode focused on the debut author life and what it’s like to write and publish your debut novel. This year posed a bit of a challenge, however, since it would be repetitive to do something on that same theme. Instead, my team and I selected five debut authors where we saw a common thread running throughout their books. As you’ll hear in the conversation that follows, each of these authors and each of these books are extremely unique, but they all handle questions of time and space in fresh and surprising ways. So listen in as we chat about various ways to play with time and setting in a novel to not only create a stronger story but also to really engage readers. In this episode Laurie, Paddy, Cheryl, John, Joanna and I discuss: Different ways to play with time in your novel, and how to do it right. Techniques to write a story within a compressed time frame. Why you need to choose the right space for the story you’re telling. How to bring your setting to life when you need to keep your pace fast. Using the interplay between character and place to engage your readers. Plus, each of these amazing author’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/211

Hey there word nerds! Today I am thrilled to have Tami Charles on the show! Tami is a former teacher and current full-time author of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, as well as nonfiction. As a teacher, she made it her mission to introduce her students to all types of literature, but especially diverse books. While it was refreshing to see a better selection than what she was accustomed to as a child, Tami felt there weren’t nearly as many diverse books as she’d hoped for. It was then that she decided to reignite her passion for writing, and put those books she longed to see on the shelves herself. Tami is the author of several current and upcoming children’s books, but she is here with us today to share an inside look at her beautiful middle grade novel Like Vanessa. So listen in as Tami and I chat about this awesome book, and the importance for all writers to write what they want in an authentic way. In this episode Tami and I discuss: Pouring your own experiences into your character. The concept of colorism. Crafting a novel in the no man’s land between MG and YA. How to use poetry to pull readers into your character’s emotions. Writing in your authentic voice without being pigeonholed. Plus, Tami’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/210

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Maxine Rosaler on the show! Maxine has had fiction and nonfiction published in some pretty prestigious markets including (but not limited to) The Southern Review, Glimmer Train, and The Baltimore Review. Her stories have also been cited in editions of Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays, and  she is the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for Fiction. Her first published long form work, Queen for a Day, has been called both a short story collection and a novel in stories, and is available now. Listen in as Maxine and I chat about finding the story at your core, and how to meld your unconscious and conscious minds to enhance your writing. In this episode Maxine and I discuss: A novel in stories vs. a short story collection. Tricks to tap into your unconscious during the writing process. Why quality is more important than quantity in what you read. Discovering the right names for your characters. The responsibility of a writer to turn the world’s ugliness into art. Plus, Maxine’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/209

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Gail Honeyman on the show! Gail is the author of the novel Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, which hit shelves in May of last year and made a huge splash with readers. Gail’s debut novel was the star book at the Frankfurt Book Fair and was selected as an Indie Next Pick by booksellers across the country. It soon became one of the most beloved novels of 2017, catching the attention of readers worldwide, including Reese Witherspoon, who made it one of her book club picks and bought the film rights. The love for this book has not let up since its release, and it has been heralded as a must-read for summer by The New York Times, People, and TheSkimm. Independent booksellers were so excited about the book that many of them even participated in an “Eleanor Oliphant Day,” touting this quirky, funny, and heartbreaking novel to their customers both in their stores and across social media. So listen in as Gail and I unpack this quirky, sometimes difficult, but always lovable character of Eleanor Oliphant, and how to craft a story that really puts readers directly into the heart and soul of a character. In this episode Gail and I discuss: Crafting a voice driven novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The learning curve of your first book. Creating empathy for an unlikable character through close first person narration. How to “feel” your way through writing and editing your novel. Building a compelling character with multiple layers. Plus Gail's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/208

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of talking with author Grace Kennan Warnecke on the show! Grace is the daughter of George F. Kennan, one of the most influential diplomats of the 20th century, and as such had a very unique childhood. She grew up in the shadow of the Cold War and her larger than life father, but found her way into the limelight to forge a dynamic career for herself. She is chairman of the board of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a fellow of Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and was the associate producer of the prizewinning PBS documentary The First Fifty Years: Reflections on U.S.-Soviet Relations; just to name a few of her accomplishments. She has now written a memoir titled Daughter of the Cold War, which tells the tale of Grace’s whole life lived on the edge of history. Listen in as Grace and I chat about crafting a broad scope memoir, and owning your own story. In this episode Grace and I discuss: How writing groups can lift you up and help you reach your writing goals. Keeping a memoir enthralling from beginning to end. Crafting your whole life into a story. Ways to navigate writing about others’ lives without censoring yourself. Why you should never turn down an opportunity. Plus, Grace’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/207

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Alison Walsh on the show! And OMG word nerds I am so excited because we’re going to be talking about Alison’s new cookbook: A Literary Tea Party! I first learned about Alison’s book last summer, from my friend and awesome DIY MFA contributor Sara Letourneau. Right away I knew I had to get Alison to come on the show. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I’m obsessed with tea. I drink probably around 3 pots of tea per day, not to mention the gallons of iced tea I consume in the summertime. So when I learned that there would soon be a book of literary-themed teatime recipes I just about died and went to heaven (and I say this as someone who absolutely cannot cook). Alison actually started out as a food blogger at Alison's Wonderland Recipes, a blog dedicated to making recipes inspired by classic literature. She has since been featured on Real Life at Home and MuggleNet, and her cookbook, A Literary Tea Party, is now available. Listen in as Alison and I geek out about books and tea, and dive into the craft behind creating a cookbook that not only gives you tasty treats to try but draws you into a story. In this episode Alison and I discuss: Extrapolating recipes from literature. How to craft a narrative arc in a cookbook. Building a book around your audience. What goes into a nonfiction cookbook proposal. An inside look at crafting a food blog that stands out. Plus, Alison’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/206