DIY MFA Radio

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Claire Stanford. Born and raised in Berkeley, Claire holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in English at UCLA, where she studies science fiction/speculative fiction, narrative theory, and novel theory. Claire’s work has received fellowships and grants from the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, and the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences. Claire is also an avid watcher of BBC mysteries and the author of her debut novel, Happy for You.   In this episode Claire Stanford and I discuss: The meaning of happiness, its relationship with social media, and how that plays out in her novel. Why she classifies her novel as literary fiction as opposed to speculative. How she navigated writing a novel about a character who is strongly opposed to change.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/405

Today, Lori is interviewing Jody Hadlock.   Jody studied journalism and was a television news reporter and anchor serving her community in South Carolina as well as Texas. In addition to writing, her other passion is advocating for people with special needs. For several years Jody served on the board of directors of North Texas Special Needs Assistance Partners (SNAP), a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the fullest lives possible in their communities. She has just released her debut historical novel, The Lives of Diamond Bessie.   In this episode Jody Hadlock and Lori discuss: The research process and how to blend primary and secondary sources. Why finding the right point of view is so important to the writing process. What role context plays in writing about the past and how to integrate it into your plot.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/404

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart. Rob is the author of The Warehouse, a gripping speculative thriller which sold in more than 20 countries and was optioned for film by Ron Howard. He is also the author of the Ash McKenna series, the short story collection Take-Out, and Scott Free with James Patterson. His latest book is The Paradox Hotel, about a hotel at the crossroads of the space-time continuum.   In this episode Rob Hart and I discuss: Why naming characters is important and where he found the names for these characters.  How to write an unlikeable character that your readers will actually like. Using storytelling to shine a light on bad things that are happening in the real world.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/403

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brian Leung. Brian is the author of the novels Lost Men, Take Me Home, and Ivy vs Dogg: With a Cast of Thousands!.  His short-story collection, World Famous Love Acts, won the Asian American Literary Award and the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction.  Born and raised in San Diego County, he is a Professor of Creative Writing at Purdue University as well as Core faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts.  All I Should Not Tell is out now with C&R Press.   In this episode Brian Leung and I discuss: How to turn a real life event into a novel, especially when you are close to the event. Bringing out the emotional truth of a story and remaining true to the characters. Why it can be tricky to write first person narratives and how to make them sound distinct.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/402

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Walker: Jeff is one of the world's most successful online entrepreneurs the creator of Product Launch Formula and the #1 NY Times bestselling author of the book Launch. He has spent the last 15 years helping people launch their online courses, memberships, coaching and books. His students and clients have done over a BILLION dollars in launches in hundreds of niches and markets… and in dozens of countries around the world. Jeff lives in Durango, Colorado and he loves to get outside for all kinds of adventures. On a more personal note, Jeff is someone I am honored to call a teacher and mentor. I’ve been following his work pretty much for as long as DIY MFA has existed and got the first edition of his book Launch when it came out in 2014. I read it cover to cover and still have that paperback edition with all my highlights and mark-ups, which I keep next to my desk. In 2017, I was finally ready to make the investment and do the Product Launch Formula (PLF) Coaching Program. My team and I relentlessly applied the techniques to our flagship DIY MFA 101 course (with epic results!) and since then, we have applied PLF techniques—with our own special word nerd flair—to launch all our DIY MFA programs. Today, we’ll be talking about launching as it pertains to launching a book.   In this episode Jeff Walker and I discuss: Why his first launch was the most important and the role his email list played. How writers of fiction and memoir can apply his Product Launch Formula to their lists. Strategies for determining what your assets are and how to maximize them.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/401

Today, I have the esteemed pleasure of interviewing one of my absolute favorite people, Lori Walker. Lori wears a lot of hats at DIY MFA. Her official title is Operations Maven. However, she is also Podcast Producer, Launch Manager, Web Editor, a Book Coach, and our Resident Reader at DIY MFA. Lori is the writer behind the Book Nook column.  In her spare time, she loves yoga, cooking, traveling, smooth bourbons, strong cabernets, dirty martinis, watching baseball, and of course, reading. She is currently working on an essay collection and a novel. She lives outside of Tulsa with her husband and cat, Joan Didion.   In the 400th Episode Extravaganza, Lori and I: Give listeners a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of DIY MFA. Share what makes a successful podcast pitch and how to be a good guest. Discuss why I started the podcast in the first place and how it evolved over time. Talk about some of the fun things we have in the works for word nerds.   Plus, we share a huge announcement. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/400

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Gillian McDunn Gillian is the author of the middle-grade novels Caterpillar Summer and The Queen Bee and Me, These Unlucky Stars published by Bloomsbury Children's Books. Caterpillar Summer was selected for the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List, and landed on Kirkus Reviews and Parents magazine Best Books of the Year lists. Her favorite thing is spending time with her family. She also loves traveling, board games, and learning about the world we live in. We’ll be talking about Honestly Elliott, a middle grade novel about a big-hearted boy trying to find the way to his best self.   In this episode Gillian McDunn and I discuss: How she created a dynamic depiction of neurodiversity in a novel for middle grade readers. What children can learn from cooking and how it applies to other life skills. Why middle school is an intense time for learning about adult dynamics.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/399

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing JK Ellem. Jack is the author of the Amazon #1 US & UK Best Selling book, Mill Point Road, A Winter's Kill, and the No Justice Series. He was born in London and spent his formative childhood years reading infamous British comics like Action and 2000 AD. He has no agent, no publicist, and no huge publishing house behind him. Yet in 3 short years since he wrote his first thriller novel, he’s  become an Amazon #1 Bestselling Thriller Author in both the UK and the US in 6 crime fiction categories. Today we’re discussing his Ravenwood series (which I read and loved) and how to create mystery and suspense in multiple point of view novels.   In this episode JK Ellem and I discuss: How a wrong turn and a gated community inspired his Ravenwood series. Why he chose to break the rules of POV and how he pulled it off. Creating questions that get the reader involved in the mystery and control the pacing.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/398

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Isaac Fellman. Isaac is the author of Dead Collections, as well as The Breath of the Sun (published under his pre-transition first name), which won the 2018 Lambda Literary Award for queer science fiction, fantasy, and horror. By day he is an archivist at the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. Today we’re talking about his latest book, Dead Collections, which will be out on February 22 (so, in less than one week!).   In this episode Isaac Fellman and I discuss: How he used his day job as an archivist as a metaphor for his characters. Why you should consider writing fanfiction to develop your writing skills. His approach to exploring bigger topics in his writing and why he finds the challenge fun. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/397

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Dalton. Ryan is an author, singer, voiceover artist, amateur chef and lover of all things geek. He’s also the author of the young adult and middle-grade books including the time travel mystery series, the Time Shift trilogy. Today we’ll be discussing his latest novel, This Last Adventure, a middle-grade story about the bond between a teenage boy and his grandfather, how that boy copes with his grandfather’s memory loss, and what it means to live a life worth remembering.   In this episode Ryan Dalton and I discuss: Why he wrote This Last Adventure as a middle grade story, as opposed to YA. How he created a sense of hope when his amorphous antagonist was undefeatable.  Writing group scenes and what to include and what to leave out to make each character distinct.   Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/396