DIY MFA Radio

Do you ever feel pulled in a million different directions, chasing one sparkly writing project after nother. This episode is all about figuring out where to focus your writing energy so you can get results and finish a project. Finding focus is all about balancing three things: your passions, your strengths, and ROI (return on investment). For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/031

Today is an extra special episode because I'll be interviewing a fabulous author and my good friend: Kathryn Holmes. We're going to be talking about how to create a setting that feels real to the reader, a subject you'll find she knows a lot about. Kathryn's debut novel is out this week and (as you can imagine from the title of this episode) setting and world-building play a HUGE role in her story. In this episode, Kathrny and I do a deep dive on setting, exploring different aspects of it and techniques that writers can use to make the world of their stories come to life. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/030

I have been a long-time follower of author Jeff Goins and his work, so it was an absolute thrill to host him on the show for this episode. In it we discuss his journey as a writer and how he got to where he is now, how he found his purpose (and how other writers can do the same), and the power of building an online platform. We also talked about finding that "sweet spot" between what you're passionate about, what you're good at and what the market wants in order to make maximum impact. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/029

Today's episode is especially for the children's writers out there. Have you wanted to create a picture book, but weren't sure how to translate it from paper to a Kindle eBook? Fear not! Kindle has made some amazing changes lately that make publishing an electronic picture book super-easy. Not only that, now that picture books have gone digital, the flexibility and options available to writers and illustrators have expanded exponentially! In this episode, I talk with Laura Backes, co-founder and publisher of CBI (Children's Book Insider) a newsletter and database filled with valuable information for children's book writers. Not only that, Laura has delved into this wild world of electronic picture books and has become an expert at this new technology. In this interview, she shares insights she has learned and discusses why digital publishing is a fantastic option for indie picture book authors and illustrators. For more details and information, head over to the show notes at DIYMFA.com/028

I am absolutely thrilled for this episode today. Not only is the topic timely and something that's on a lot of writers' minds, but I get to interview two awesome authors about their new book: The Art of Social Media. These authors are, of course, Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick and their book is filled with tips and techniques that will help with your social media, whether you've been on social media since it started, or are just starting out. After having the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of The Art of Social Media, I would would recommend it for newbies and social media junkies alike, though for different reasons. For newbies, this book breaks breaks things down into small, manageable pieces, so even a topic as broad (and potentially overwhelming) a social media can feel totally doable. And for social media junkies, I would recommend this book for its more overarching ideas: like how to continue to generate good content, and create an integrated social media strategy. As someone who spends a lot of time on social media, I found some great actionable tips and ideas that I've already implemented in my own social media strategy. In this interview, the authors share some of their best tips about social media. From big picture ideas about content marketing, to the nuts-and-bolts of social media, listen in for a great interview about social media for writers. For more details and information, head over to the show notes at DIYMFA.com/027

Many people say they want to write a book, but very few actually do it. Stop dream, start doing. I'll show you how. Today's episode is all about getting those words on the page and that book out into the world. During the show I talk about why you need to write this book in the first place. Then I debunk three major myths about writing, plus give you a "secret" formula for how to up your game. Finally I share the #1 writing tool that has changed my writing forever and walk you through the step-by-step of putting that tool into action. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/026

Today's episode was inspired by a question I got from a listener. Got a questions about writing or publishing that you want to hear answered on the show? Just email gabriela[at]DIYMFA[dot]com with "DIY MFA Radio" in the subject line. I can't promise to answer every single question in an episode, but I'll pick the most frequent ones and use them to inspire show topics. Plus, you might just get a shout-out from me on the show. In this episode I talk about motivation and how to keep on writing even when you think you're failing and you feel like a fraud. I share the hard truth about imposter syndrome and give you some actionable tips to help you get motivated and get writing. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/025

Do you set goals only to lose momentum after a few days or weeks? Don't worry, I've been there and I know how you feel. In this episode I share my go-to productivity tool that has helped me get my projects from dream to done. Check out the show notes page for more information and for a free download: DIYMFA.com/024

Crazy fact: Did you know that while 45% of Americans make New Year's resolutions, only 8% actually achieve what they set out to do? Here at DIY MFA we want to see you rock your New Year's resolutions (both for writing and for life) so in this episode I walk you through a simple 5-step process for setting resolutions that really stick. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/023

Happy Holidays! In today's episode, I explore the Santa Claus story, and the five lessons that writers can take from it. Like Santa, writers are creative. We make stories out of words. As you'll hear in this episode, this is not the only thing that writers and Santa have in common. Tune in to find out more. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/022 Season's greetings to all, and to all a good write!