DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited to have author Gin Phillips on the show! When I received the pitch for Gin's most recent book, Fierce Kingdom, it took my breath away. Not "oh this is cool" kind of take your breath away but punched-in-the-gut, heart-wrenching, "I don't think I can put this book down" kind of take your breath away. Fierce Kingdom is a book about a mother and her son, trapped in a zoo that has been taken over by armed gunmen, and the lengths this mother will go to protect her child. Hooked yet? Listen in as Gin and I chat about her novel, and how to balance a fast paced plot with a strong and realistic mother-son bond. In this episode Gin and I discuss: How to bring a realistic mother-son relationship to the page. What nuances to use to create a three dimensional child character. Why you should use specific details instead of generalities to connect with your readers. How to bing plot and character development together in every single scene. When to speed up and when to slow down: Gin's techniques to balance pacing in the tightest story timeframe. Plus, Gin's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/171

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking to middle grade author William Meyer! From the Indus River to the Italian Renaissance, no topic has piqued the imagination of this high school history teacher's students as intensely as the study of Ancient Egypt. As a result of both their interest and his own childhood curiosity about the mysteries of that era, he wrote the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. Listen in as we chat about his fantastic series and how to keep consistency and momentum going in a story. In this episode Bill and I discuss: How to keep your momentum going to write your second book. Tips and tricks to write a novel under a deadline. Why middle grade readers want the same but different story, and how to write it for them. The nuts and bolts of worldbuilding in historical fiction with magic, and how to create and stick to your own rules. How to balance giving children characters agency to be the hero and grounding them in the reality of our world. Plus, Bill's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/170

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and cofounder of 100 Word Story, Grant Faulkner, on the show! His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, like Tin House and The Southwest Review, plus his essays on creativity have been published in places like the New York Times and Writer's Digest. Grant's latest collection of essays, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, is now available and none too soon with NaNoWriMo just around the corner. Listen in as we discuss Grant's book and get some tips on how to push through your blocks to reach your writing goals using the NaNoWriMo philosophy. In this episode Grant and I discuss: NaNoWriMo: what it is, why you should take part, and how to rise to the challenge. Why you should adopt a "beginner" mindset no matter the stage of your writing career. Failing better, and how to bounce back when you stumble and fall. Why you need to avoid perfection to discover your creative process. What three of the biggest creative blocks are, and how to smash through them. Plus, Grant's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/169

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting novelist and screenwriter Augustus Rose on the show! Augustus has a strong passion for numerous weird, esoteric, and fringe concepts, and found a way to thread them all together in his stunning debut novel, The Readymade Thief. Listen in as we pick apart the many layers of Augustus's strange yet relatable novel, and learn how weave together different points of view to create one compelling narrative. In this episode Augustus and I discuss: How to transform high concept and strange ideas into a relatable story. Why starting with a prologue is necessary in some scenarios. What narrative distance is, and how to manipulate it. When to break the "rules" intentionally, in order to jar your reader in the right way. World building, and how to create a world based on different ideas instead of different landscapes. Plus, Augustus's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/168

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the absolute joy of hosting my dear friend, Jodi Kendall, on the show! Jodi and I go way back, to those days when DIY MFA was just the glimmer of an idea tickling the back of my brain. Jodi has nurtured a lifelong passion for animals, and has now turned that passion into a beautiful middle grade novel. I am so excited to share Jodi's debut, The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, and her inspiring story of a tough road to publication with you. Listen in as we geek about animals and middle grade fiction, and hear some of Jodi's tips on growing through rejection to reach your publishing goals. In this episode Jodi and I discuss: How funneling your passion into your writing helps you find your voice. Outlining for pantsers, what Jodi's techniques are. Why making a simple matter feel like life and death stakes for your character creates a page turning experience. How Jodi battles through years of rejection on her road to publication, and why you can do it. How to tap into your own emotions to create characters and themes that impact middle grade readers. Plus, Jodi's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/167

Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting author and illustrator Trinka Hakes Noble on the show! Trinka is the award-winning author of over thirty picture books, and has been hailed as the champion of the picture book genre. Her latest book, Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade, is a historical fiction starring a young girl named Rettie in 1918 America during the deadly influenza pandemic. Listen in as we get the inside scoop on how Rettie's world was created, and geek out about the picture book genre. In this episode Trinka and I discuss: Crafting historical fiction that places children in the shoes of the characters. How to use big moments in history to anchor your story. Why it's so important—both in general, but most especially in children's books—that the main character not come across as a victim. The important differences between a "story book" and a "picture book" and distinguishing features in each of these forms. Why it's so important to trust your illustrator when you write picture books, and how your art director and illustrator can elevate your book to new heights. Plus, Trinka's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/166

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have author Zinzi Clemmons on the show! Zinzi's gorgeous debut novel, What We Lose, has already taken the literary world by storm establishing her as a strong new voice to watch. Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs by a South African mother and American father, Zinzi has much in common with the main character of her novel, Thandi, so much so that What We Lose has been described as autobiographical fiction. Listen in as we dive into Zinzi's novel and how to craft fiction and reality in a novel that defies normal expectations. In this episode Zinzi and I discuss: Autobiographical fiction, and how to decide what pieces of reality to include in your novel. How to weave big topics—such as race and identity—into your novel organically. What to do when you receive pushback about your story, and how to preserve that emotional truth. Why art and literature can shine a light on the grey areas of life. When to keep pursuing a novel and when to throw it out. Plus, Zinzi's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/165

Hey there word nerds! In today's episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2017! This time I've assembled a panel of authors all published by Quercus books and who all start their very different books with a bang. I am so excited to be speaking with Adam Hamdy, K.J. Howe, and Sam Wiebe, and sharing our panel discussion on the show! Listen in as we discuss the process of writing a high paced first chapter and the many facets of the Thriller genre. In this episode Adam, K.J., Sam, and I discuss: How to start a book with a bang that pulls the reader in and introduces your character. The "silence" after the bang, and how to craft that moment so that it holds the reader's interest. Dramatic tension, and how to raise the stakes in scenes that might not be life or death. How to craft opening scenes that hook your readers, whether you start with a group, a one-on-one interaction, or inside a single character's head. What the authors' favorite opening scenes are and why. Plus, each of these fabulous authors' #1 tips for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/164

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so delighted to have Nancy Pearl on the show! Nancy is a book world legend. From her more than three decades of experience as a librarian and a bookseller, to her worldwide speaking engagements on the importance of reading she has become the go-to person for all things literary. Now with the publication of her debut novel, George and Lizzie, Nancy throws her own words onto the fiction bookshelf. Listen in as we discuss how being a good reader makes you a good writer, and the sensation of moving from the person who recommends books to being the author of a book that is recommended. In this episode Nancy and I discuss: How to nudge yourself to read outside your comfort zone, and why doing so can help your writing. The difference between reading for pleasure and reading with purpose and how to shift gears between the two. How to do know when to quit on a book, and why it aids you when you do. Letting your characters tell their story and drive your novel to the correct conclusion. The difference between ideas in your head and what actually gets written on the page, and why this distinction is so important. Plus Nancy's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/163

Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Sebastien de Castell on the show! Sebastien is the author of the four part Greatcoats series which includes Traitor's Blade, Knight's Shadow, Saint's Blood, and most recently Tyrant's Throne. Before coming to writing Sebastien bounced around from careers as diverse as archaeologist and fight choreographer, and with the Greatcoats series completed can now add author of swashbuckling saga to his list. Listen in as we discuss how to craft a series from beginning to end and how to use dramatic tension between characters to build a more entertaining world. In this episode Sebastien and I discuss how to: Tap into your writing flow and find the method that works for you. Write a true "swashbuckling" story. Build a world that feels real and forms organically on the page. Craft a series by building on what's happened in previous books through dramatic tension between characters. Create plot twists that work, and how to know when they're not working. Plus Sebastien's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/162