DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author and journalist Steven Gaines on the show! Steven is the bestselling author of a number of biographies and nonfiction books including Philistines at the Hedgerow: Passion and Property in the Hamptons and The Love You Make: An Insider’s Story of the Beatles. His journalism has appeared in several major publications such as Vanity Fair and The New York Times, and he is  the co-founder and past vice-chairman of the Hamptons International Film Festival. After decades of writing the life stories of others, Steven’s latest work, his memoir One of these Things First, showcases a defining moment in his own life. Listen in as we chat about the literary art of writing a memoir that is both truthful, and tells an engaging story for readers.   In this episode Steven and I discuss: How to identify the juicy moments of your life to craft into a memoir. Finding, but not clinging, to the “tent pole” of your story. Pushing the story forward and staying true to the events. The role of humor in memoir, and how to do it right. The when, where, and how of releasing your story to the world. Plus, Steven’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/195

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have my good friend and mentor Jane Friedman on the show! Jane has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet (my go-to resource about the industry), is a columnist for Publishers Weekly, and has been interviewed on many prestigious media outlets like NPR, PBS, and The Washington Post. In addition to all these accomplishments, Jane has delivered keynotes and presentations on the digital era of authorship at major writing events and today she is here to share her expertise with an inside look at her new book The Business of Being a Writer. Listen in as we chat about the topic Jane discusses in her book and the ins and outs of the business side of writing most creatives don’t often talk about but need to hear. In this episode Jane and I discuss: Bridging the divide between art and business. Developing your own marketing strategy to make a living as a writer. Understanding the truth about how the publishing industry works. Tips for building your own business model. How to be entrepreneurial in your writing career without being an entrepreneur. Plus, Jane’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/194

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the distinct pleasure of having acclaimed writer and actor Michael Imperioli on the show! Though Michael is best known for playing Christopher Moltisanti in the The Sopranos, a role that earned him an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor, he is also an accomplished screenwriter. He wrote five episodes of The Sopranos and was co-screenwriter for the film Summer of Sam which was directed by Spike Lee. While still acting and writing for film and TV, with several upcoming projects in the works, Michael has also turned his artistic talent to novel writing with his debut The Perfume Burned His Eyes. Listen in as we chat about this amazing book, and how to know when you’ve found the story to take all the way to the end.   In this episode Michael and I discuss: Finding your story and taking it to the finish line. Adding layers to your story with a unique narrative framework. When to use an epilogue and how to do it right. The advantages of novel writing vs. screenwriting. The fine art of book covers and why you need the right one. Plus, Michael’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/193

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have David Plante on the show! David grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, within a French-Canadian parrish, much the same way as Jack Kerouac did in Lowell, Massachusetts, in an area which was known in the 17h century as La Nouvelle France. David has written several books rooted in La Nouvelle France, most notably in The Family, a contender for the National Book Award. He then went on to live in London for fifty years where he wrote several memoirs including Becoming a Londoner and Worlds Apart. David is also the author of the nonfiction book Difficult Women which has recently been republished by The New York Review of Books Press, and has been a regular contributor to the New Yorker with short stories and profiles of people he knew. David is calling in to the show today from his home in Lucca, Italy, to discuss his most recent novel American Stranger. Listen in as we chat about the elements that went into crafting this novel, and how writing can give you a voice and identity belonging to only you. Also, just a quick heads up if you have not yet read American Stranger. We got so excited talking about the book that we may have disclosed a few spoilers… so SPOILER ALERT!   In this episode David and I discuss: How he unboxed Franco-American culture through the eyes of an outsider. Why not having identity can actually be liberating, and can also help you find your writing voice. Crafting a timeless novel by grounding the story with details. The best way to deal with a bad review… (all authors get them!). Drawing inspiration from a writer’s day in Italy. Plus, David’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/192

Hey there word nerds! Today I’m thrilled to have author Kiersi Burkhart on the show! Kiersi is an author and freelance writer living in windy, wild Wyoming. She is the co-author, along with Amber J. Keyser, of the middle grade series Quartz Creek Ranch; four stand alone stories all about a summer horse camp in her own home state of Colorado.   She went to college at a small, and extremely remote school in Portland, Oregon, where she got really plugged into their literary community. The secluded campus and insular culture of this college inspired the setting in Kiersi’s latest book and YA debut, Honor Code. Listen in as we chat about Kiersi’s amazing book, and how to focus on characters in an issue driven book.   In this episode Kiersi and I discuss: Crafting an issue-driven book that doesn’t feel issue-driven. Flipping a known concept on its head to form a more interesting theme. How to use a blog as a device to layer your story with different perspectives. The wider world of writing, ways to get out of your writer’s bubble and into the community. Tips to survive the introvert hangover after an in person event. Plus, Kiersi’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/191

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Chloe Benjamin on the show! Chloe received an MFA in fiction from the University of Wisconsin, and her first novel, The Anatomy of Dreams, received the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and was longlisted for the 2014 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Her latest novel, The Immortalists, received extraordinary pre-publication excitement and has already been optioned for a major U.S. television series. I myself have been buzzing about this book since May 2017 where it was featured in the BookExpo America Adult Buzz Panel. Listen in as we chat about Chloe’s awesome new book, and crafting an overarching narrative in a story with shifting points of view.   In this episode Chloe and I discuss: The art of the prologue, when to use one and how to do it right. Combining shifting character perspectives with a continuous narrative thread. Crafting a multiple protagonist story. Doing justice to your secondary characters while keeping them in a supporting role. How to hit the right emotional notes in your readers. Plus, Chloe’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/190

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing author Georgia Hunter on the show! Georgia’s debut novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, is an emotional story about a Jewish family ripped away from each other at the start of the German and Russian occupation of Poland, and their extraordinary journey back to each other. And if that wasn’t juicy enough, the novel is actually based on Georgia’s grandfather’s (Addy in the book) real Holocaust survival story. Readers from all over the country have embraced this incredible story, leading it to be nominated as a finalist for the Goodreads “Best Books of 2017 Choice Awards” for “Best Debut Goodreads Author.” Listen in as we chat about Georgia’s amazing book, and how to balance real family lore with historical fiction.   In this episode Georgia and I discuss: Crafting suspense into a story when your readers already know the ending. Using the present tense to bring emotions to life in your characters. The distinction between nonfiction and historical fiction and when to draw the line. Flushing out snippets of oral history with believable transitions in your novel. Georgia’s tips on where to start when writing your family’s story.   Plus, Georgia’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/189

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Rodrigo Hasbún on the show! Rodrigo is a Bolivian novelist whose work has appeared in many top literary magazines such as Granta and Words Without Borders. In 2007, he was selected by the Hay Festival as one of the best Latin American writers under the age of thirty-nine for Bogotá39, and in 2010 he was named one of Granta’s Best Young Spanish-Language Novelists. His latest novel, Affections, is his American publishing debut, received an English PEN Award, and has been published in twelve languages. Listen in as we chat about Rodrigo’s amazing book, and how to find the way to your own best writing practice.  In this episode Rodrigo and I discuss: Practicing mindfulness in your writing while not squashing your creative process. Using peripheral first person POV to give your protagonist greater impact. Keeping readers engaged and invested in your work. Translating your writer’s instinct into a reliable editing process. Broader edits vs. fine tuning, how to use the logic of a film editor for both. Plus, Rodrigo’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/188

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Dr. Eucabeth Odhiambo on the show! Eucabeth was born in Kenya and her gorgeous middle grade debut novel, Auma’s Long Run,is inspired by her memories growing up there as well as her own work experiences with children and educators affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.   I read a lot of books for this show and while I’m not supposed to pick any favorites, I have to say it’s not often that a book gets me this excited about the story and the meaning behind it. Listen in as we tease apart the many elements of Auma’s Long Run, and discuss the responsibility that comes along with writing an “own voices” novel.   In this episode Eucabeth and I discuss: Crafting a strong female character young girls anywhere can relate to. Writing a sport centered middle grade novel with a female protagonist. Bringing life to a country and a culture through your characters. Dealing with the fear and responsibility of writing about things others have experienced. How fiction helps in getting over the hurdles of writing an “own voices” novel. Plus, Eucabeth’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/187

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have author Stef Penney on the show! Stef is a screenwriter and author. Her debut novel, The Tenderness of Wolves,was the winner of the Costa Prize for Book of the Year and the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year, and was translated into thirty languages. Stef followed up this success with her next highly acclaimed novel The Invisible Ones, and her latest work Under a Pole Star which was the recipient of the 2017 Wilbur and Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize. An epic tale  of arctic exploration between two rival teams in the 1800’s, writing Under a Pole Star became a journey of its own for Stef, as she mapped out her characters’ lives and took readers across three continents in this amazing work. Listen in as we chat about the creation of Under a Pole Star, and how to best prepare yourself for your own writing exploration. In this episode Stef and I discuss: Using visual aids to add reality to a fictional setting. When to show your character’s back story and how to do it right. Preparing yourself to navigate through your writing and what “tools” to take. Systems to keep track of and order your research into a novel. Dealing with gender roles in a novel without being political. Plus, Stef’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/186