Podcasts by DIY MFA Radio
Take your writing from average to awesome, and learn tools of the trade from bestselling authors, master writing teachers, and publishing industry insiders. This podcast will give you tools and techniques to help you get those words on the page and your stories out into the world. Past guests include: Delia Ephron, John Sandford, Steve Berry, Jojo Moyes, Tana French, Guy Kawasaki, and more.
Further podcasts by Gabriela Pereira
Podcast on the topic Bücher
All episodes
474: Craft Jam: Nail Your Narration from 2023-11-15T13:15
Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like...
Listen
473: Craft Jam: Revise Your Writing Like a Pro from 2023-10-18T12:15
Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into ...
Listen
472: Craft Jam: Conferences from 2023-09-13T12:15
Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into ...
Listen
471: A Behind the Scenes Look at How to Craft a Bestselling Thriller Series— Interview from 2023-08-30T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kathy Reichs. We’ll be talking about her book The Bone Hacker and how to craft a bestselling thriller series.
Kathy Reichs’ f...
Listen
470: Craft Jam: Draft Zero from 2023-08-09T12:15
Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into var...
Listen
469: Craft Jam: Weave Your Story’s World from 2023-07-12T12:15
We’re back for another episode of our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a dee...
Listen
468: Raise Your Story’s Stakes with Tension and Surprise - Interview from 2023-06-28T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing MT Anderson. We’ll be talking about his book, Elf Dog and Owl Head, and raising your story’s stakes.
M. T. Anderson has written storie...
Listen
467: Craft Jam: Perfect Your Plot from 2023-06-21T12:15
Today we have another monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into vari...
Listen
466: An Inside Look at the Publishing Industry - Interview from 2023-06-14T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, and Carly Watters. We’ll be taking an inside look at the publishing industry.
Before diving in, I ...
Listen
465: Complex Characters, Dark Retellings, and Urban Settings - Interview from 2023-06-07T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Mary Pascual. They’ll be talking about her debut novel, The Byways, and creating multi-dimensional characters.
Mary Pascual is a writer and artist who believes...
Listen
464: Craft Jam: Create Compelling Characters from 2023-05-31T12:15
Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep div...
Listen
463: Revealing a Character through Their Survivors - Interview from 2023-05-24T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Daniel Weizmann. They’ll be talking about his neo-noir mystery, The Last Songbird.
Daniel Weizmann got his start at 13 under the nom de plume Shredde...
Listen
462: Organize a Short Story Collection as a Full Experience - Interview from 2023-05-17T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Jolene Mcilwain. They’ll be talking about Sidle Creek and centering a short story collection around a place.
Jolene McIlwain’s fiction has been nomin...
Listen
461: Start with a Setting: Creating a Rich World for Your Story - Interview from 2023-05-10T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Ginny Kubitz Moyer. They’ll be talking about how she started writing her debut novel, The Seeing Garden, with the setting.
Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a Ca...
Listen
460: Pantsing Your Way to Dynamic Characters — Interview from 2023-05-03T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Neely Tubati Alexander. They’ll be talking about Love Buzz and the importance of listening to your intuition when crafting a novel.
Neely Tubati Alex...
Listen
459: The Power of Poetry to Survive, Heal, and Connect — Interview from 2023-04-26T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Anne Marie Wells. They’ll be talking about her poetry collection, Survived By: A Memoir in Verse, and using poetry as a method of dealing with heavy emotions.
458: Intuitive Writing: Capture Your Character's Energy and Paint with Your Words — Interview from 2023-04-19T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Donnaldson Brown. They’ll be talking about Because I Loved You, and about how her background in screenwriting has influenced her prose.
Donnaldson 's...
Listen
457: Take the Leap: Chase Your Passion, Quit Your Job, and Write a Memoir — Interview from 2023-04-12T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Leslie Karst. They’ll be talking about weaving past experiences into your writing and her new book Justice is Served.
The daughter of a law professo...
Listen
456: Therapy for Poets: On Reading and Writing Poetry — Interview from 2023-04-05T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Danielle Mitchell. They’ll be talking about the methodology of writing and reading poetry.
Danielle Mitchell (she/her) is an intersectional feminist,...
Listen
455: The Magic and Science of Writing — Interview from 2023-03-29T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Patricia Leavy. They’ll be talking about her book, Hollyland, and the science behind the art of writing.
Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, be...
Listen
454: Exploring Themes of Grief and Loneliness in a Neo-Noir Speculative Novel — Interview from 2023-03-22T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Jinwoo Chong. They’ll be talking about themes of loss and disconnection and how they relate to his book Flux.
Jinwoo Chong is the author of ...
Listen
453: Turning One Book into Eight: Planning and Writing a Thriller Series — Interview from 2023-03-15T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Laurie Buchanan. They’ll be talking about Impervious and the mechanics of writing a series.
Laurie writes the Sean McPherson novels—fast-paced thrill...
Listen
452: Pivot, Payoff, and the Geometry of Story — Interview from 2023-03-08T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Steven James. We’ll be talking about his multifaceted storytelling framework, and his book The Art of the Tale.
Steven James is the be...
Listen
451: Collaborating on a Fairy Tale-Inspired YA Series — Interview from 2023-03-01T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Sorboni Banerjee and Dominique Richardson. They’ll be talking about collaborating on their book, Red as Blood, and the sisterhood they found.
Dominiq...
Listen
450: Double Entendres, Meet Cutes, and Smart Sex: Writing Contemporary Romance — Interview from 2023-02-22T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Thien-Kim Lam. They’ll be talking about writing romance with depth and spice.
Thien-Kim Lam writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash ster...
Listen
449: Genre Hopping, Process, and Time Management: The Life of a Working Writer — Interview from 2023-02-15T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Courtney Maum. They’ll be talking about honesty in memoir and her book The Year of the Hors...
Listen
448: From Drafting to Marketing: A Debut Author’s Journey — Interview from 2023-02-08T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Jenna Miller. They’ll be talking about her publishing experience as a debut writer with her book Listen
447: Flying by the Seat of Your Pants: Writing without an Outline — Interview from 2023-02-01T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Monte Schultz. We’ll be talking about his book Metropolis Listen
446: Exploring Social Justice Topics in a YA Thriller – Interview from 2023-01-25T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Jumata Emill. They’ll be talking about exploring social justice through multi-cultural experiences Listen
445: IP, Fandoms, and Nostalgia: Rebooting a Beloved Series - Interview from 2023-01-18T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Kendare Blake. They’ll be talking about her new book One Girl in All the World ...
Listen
444: Lies, Secrets, and Tension in a Closed-Setting - Interview from 2023-01-11T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Iris Yamashita. They’ll be talking about how her experience as a screenwriter helped her create tension in a closed setting. Listen
443: Writing Diverse Characters via Nuanced Shifts in Language - Interview from 2023-01-04T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mary Robinette Kowal. We’ll be talking ab...
Listen
442: Opening Lines and Characterization: Maximize Your Opening Chapters - Interview from 2022-12-28T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Amy Christine Parker. They’ll be talking about coming up with unsettling ideas and Amy’s book, Listen
441: Writing an Experimental Short Story Collection - Interview from 2022-12-21T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Terena Elizabeth Bell. We’ll be talking about experimental fiction and her book of short stories, Listen
440: Music and Magic: Writing a Brazilian Story for an English-Speaking Audience — Interview from 2022-12-14T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Heloisa Prieto. We’ll be talking about all of the puzzle pieces in her book, Listen
439: Blending Family Trauma with the Supernatural - Interview from 2022-12-07T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Deeba Zargarpur. They’ll be talking about family trauma and her book House of Yesterday....
Listen
438: The Stories We Tell and the Secrets We Keep in Family Sagas - Interview from 2022-11-30T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Fran Hawthorne. They’ll be talking about her new book I Meant To Tell You
437: The Freedom of a Pen Name and the Power of Voice in Memoir - Interview from 2022-11-23T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Carolyn Hays. They’ll be talking about the freedom that can be found in a pen name and her new book Listen
436: Secrets, Quirks, and Hidden Motivations in Thrillers - Interview from 2022-11-16T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Amanda Jayatissa. They’ll be talking about secrets and hidden motivation in her new thriller Listen
435: Family, Soviet History, and the Power of Art in Historical Fiction - Interview from 2022-11-09T13:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Suzanne Parry. They’ll be talking about the power of art and her book Lost Souls of Leningr...
Listen
434: How to Let Your Characters and World Building Flow in YA Fantasy - Interview from 2022-11-02T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Lenore Borja. They’ll be talking about how she created a natural flow for her characters and her world in her book Listen
433: Voice, Point of View, and Other Unique Narrative Techniques for Middle Grade Novels - Interview from 2022-10-26T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Vitalis. We’ll be talking about voice, perspective, pacing and her books Listen
432: Accessing Feeling and Emotions in Young Adult Romance - Interview from 2022-10-19T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing S.K. Ali. They’ll be talking about feeling and emotion in YA fiction and her new book Love From Mecca to Medina.
431: Writing the Imagined Childhood of a Historical Figure for Middle Grade Readers - Interview from 2022-10-12T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Susan Austin. We’ll be talking about how she imagines the childhood of a historical figure in her book Drawing Outside ...
Listen
430: Finding Inspiration and Writing Purpose-Driven Fiction - Interview from 2022-10-05T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Carol Van Den Hende. They’ll be talking about finding purpose and her new book Orchid Bloom...
Listen
429: World Building an Pacing in a Closed Setting Thriller - Interview from 2022-09-28T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeffrey James Higgins. We’ll be talking about his closed setting thriller novel Furious: Sailing Into Terror. Listen
428: A Masterclass in Planning and Writing a Series - Interview from 2022-09-21T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Helen Scheuerer. They’ll be talking about some of the lessons in her new book How to Write a Successful Series.
427: Path to Publishing: An Author’s Experience with the Rapid Release Model - Interview from 2022-09-14T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nova McBee. We’ll be talking about the rapid release model and her book series Listen
426: Overcoming Differences and the Ability to Change in Novels - Interview from 2022-09-07T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Khristin Wierman. We’ll be talking about how she explores the theme of overcoming differences in her debut novel Buck’s Pantry....
Listen
425: Understanding Lives that Are Not Our Own through Short Stories - Interview from 2022-08-31T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing May-lee Chai. They’ll be talking about understanding lives unlike our own and her book <...
Listen
424: The Mythos and Lexicon of Silicon Valley in a Tech Industry Drama - Interview from 2022-08-24T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Trigg. We’ll be talking about the intricacies of Silicon Valley and his book Listen
423: Making the Shift from YA to a Chapter Book Series - Interview from 2022-08-17T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kathryn Holmes. We’ll be talking about making the transition from YA to a chapter books series and her book ...
Listen
422: Time Travel and Alternate Timelines in Historical Fiction - Interview from 2022-08-10T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Sarah Adlakha. They’ll be talking about time travel, alternate timelines and her book Midn...
Listen
421: From Essays to Picture Books: Applying Tools of the Craft Across Genres and Forms - Interview from 2022-08-03T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Patrice Gopo. We’ll be talking about Broad Topic and her book All the Places We Call Home.
Listen
420: Fake Dating and Enemies to Lovers: Tropes in Romance - Interview from 2022-07-27T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Erin La Rosa. They’ll be talking about tropes in romance and her book For Butter or Worse Listen
419: When Past and Present Collide - 2022 Debut Roundtable from 2022-07-20T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Stacy Willingham, Carolyne Topdjian, Allison Buccola, and Wanda M. Morris. We’ll be talking about the debut writer expe...
Listen
418: Flashbacks, Time Travel, and Multiple Mysteries: Learning the Rules - Interview from 2022-07-13T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Natalka Burian. They’ll be talking about time travel, multiple mysteries, and Natalka’s book Listen
417: Setting the Tone for Your Novel Through Voice, Mood, and Point of View - Interview from 2022-07-06T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexis Schaitkin. We’ll be talking about tone, voice, mood and her book Els...
Listen
416: Costumes, Performance, and Identity in Historical Mysteries - Interview from 2022-06-29T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Shelley Blanton-Stroud. They’ll be talking about historical mysteries and Shelley’s book T...
Listen
415: Cozy Mystery as a Series, a Subgenre, and a Touchpoint of Joy - Interview from 2022-06-22T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Michele Scott. We’ll be talking about cozy mysteries and her book Murder Unc...
Listen
414: The Travel Novel, the Unreliable Narrator, and Forgotten Slices of History - Interview from 2022-06-15T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Scott Gates. We’ll be talking about his novel, Gone, the Redeemer Listen
413: Self-Knowledge, Sex-Positivity, and Empowerment in Romance—Interview from 2022-06-08T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Taylor Hahn. They’ll be talking about her debut romance novel, The Lifestyle
412: Climate Change and Big Tech: Writing the Near Future—Interview from 2022-06-02T00:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Rebecca Scherm. They’ll be talking about her science fiction-thriller novel, Listen
411: Monsters, Mystery, and Multiple Timelines: Writing a Modern Horror Novel - Interview from 2022-05-25T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer McMahon. We’ll be talking about her genre-defying novel,
410: Writing a YA Series Inspired by Superhero Stories—Interview from 2022-05-18T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brett Riley. We’ll be talking about his YA fantasy/thriller novel,
409: Social Media Influencers and the Millennial Romance Novel—Interview with Amy Lea from 2022-05-11T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Amy Lea. They’ll be talking about her debut romance novel, Set on You Listen
408: Using the "Loop Method" to Co-Write Your Novel, an Inside Look at the Writing Process—Interview from 2022-05-04T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessi Honard and Marie Parks. We’ll be talking about their contemporary fantasy ...
Listen
407: Public vs. Private Personas: Crafting a Novel Based on Historical Figures - Interview with Leslie Johansen Nack from 2022-04-27T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Johansen Nack.
Leslie’s newest book, Listen
406: Using History to Write About the Future and Change the Present - Interview with GG Kellner from 2022-04-20T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing G.G. Kellner
Gayle is a poet, essayist, artist, educator, and Author of Listen
405: Change vs. Stasis: Character Development in Literary Fiction - Interview with Claire Stanford from 2022-04-13T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Claire Stanford.
Born and raised in Berkeley, Claire holds an MFA in Crea...
Listen
404: How to Turn Historical Figures into Characters for Your Novel - Interview with Jody Hadlock from 2022-04-06T12:15
Today, Lori is interviewing Jody Hadlock.
Jody studied journalism and was a television news reporter and an...
Listen
403: Setting as Character in Speculative Fiction - Interview with Rob Hart from 2022-03-30T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart.
Rob is the author of Listen
402: Writing About Difficult Subjects with a Distinct First Person Voice - Interview with Brian Leung from 2022-03-23T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brian Leung.
Brian is the author of the novels Listen
401: Marketing Strategies to Help Launch Your Book - Interview with Jeff Walker from 2022-03-16T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Walker:
Jeff is one of the world's most successful online entreprene...
Listen
400: The 400th Episode Extravaganza with Gabriela Pereira and Lori Walker from 2022-03-09T13:15
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 Op...
Listen
399: Neurodiversity, Family Dynamics, and Cooking: Adventures in Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction - Interview with Gillian McDunn from 2022-03-02T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Gillian McDunn
Gillian is the author of the middle-grade novels
398: Trust Your Reader and Trust Yourself: Writing a Multiple Point of View Thriller - Interview with JK Ellem from 2022-02-23T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing JK Ellem.
Jack is the author of the Amazon #1 US & UK Best Selling book,<...
Listen
397: Archives, Fandoms, and Committing Your Obsessions - Interview with Isaac Fellman from 2022-02-16T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Isaac Fellman.
Isaac is the author of Listen
396: When Fantasy and Reality Intersect: Writing Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction - Interview with Ryan Dalton from 2022-02-09T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Dalton.
Ryan is an author, singer, voiceover artist, amateur chef an...
Listen
395: The Many Levels of Character and World Building in a Rom-com - Interview with Alana Quintana Albertson from 2022-02-02T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alana Quintana Albertson.
Alana is a Latina bestselling romance author wh...
Listen
394: What Stories Are You Telling Yourself? Marketing Mindset Shifts for Writers - Interview with Sue Campbell from 2022-01-26T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sue Campbell.
As founder of Pages & Platforms, Sue is the mindset and boo...
Listen
393: The Craft of Revision - Interview with William Germano from 2022-01-19T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing William Germano
Bill is professor of English at Cooper Union, where he se...
Listen
392: World Building and Character Friendships in a YA Fairy Tale Retelling - Interview with Leslie Vedder from 2022-01-12T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Vedder.
Leslie Vedder is a queer ace author who loves fairytale re...
Listen
391: The Medium and the Message: How Poetry Communicates a Deeper Truth - Interview with Ashanti Anderson from 2022-01-05T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ashanti Anderson.
Ashanti Anderson (she/her) is a Black Queer Disabled po...
Listen
390: Idea to Premise to Story: Crafting a Dynamic Short Story - Interview with Charlie Jane Anders from 2021-12-29T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Jane Anders.
Charlie Jane is the author of the essay collection Listen
389: A Master Class on Short Fiction, Voice, and Opening Lines - Interview with J.L. Torres from 2021-12-22T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing J.L. Torres.
J.L. is the author of a novel, Listen
388: How to Craft Your Supporting Characters - Interview with Sacha Black from 2021-12-15T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sacha Black.
Sacha is an author, rebel podcaster, and professional speake...
Listen
387: A Mouthful of Air: Poetry as a Spoken Artform - Interview with Mark McGuinness from 2021-12-08T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mark McGuinness.
Mark is an award-winning poet, author, podcaster and hos...
Listen
386: The Art and Craft of Writing a Romantic Comedy - Interview with Tammy Lough from 2021-12-01T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing someone very special. Aside from being an author of a hilarious romantic comedy, she is also a mainstay of the DIY MFA ...
Listen
385: Life Lessons from Food Writing - Interview with Amanda Polick from 2021-11-24T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Polick.
384: Writing Personal Essays with Honesty, Authenticity, and Hope - Interview with Marcus Harrison Green from 2021-11-17T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Marcus Harrison Green.
M...
Listen
383: The Mashup as a Model: Lessons for Your Writing Career from Edgar Allan Poe - Interview with Catherine Baab-Muguira from 2021-11-10T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Catherine Baab-Muguira.
Catherine is a writer and journalist who has cont...
Listen
382: Character, Setting, and Cinematic Storytelling in Short Stories - Interview with Khanh Ha from 2021-11-03T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Khanh Ha.
Khanh is the author of Listen
381: Writing and Publishing a Christmas Novel - Interview with Debbie Macomber from 2021-10-27T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Debbie Macomber.
Debbie is the author of many books including:
380: World Building and the Fantasy YA Serial - Interview with Stephanie BwaBwa from 2021-10-20T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie BwaBwa.
Stephanie is a Jesus-centered, young adult and fantasy ...
Listen
379: Bending Genres, Defying Expectations, and Crafting Characters in a Horror Novel - Interview with Andy Marino from 2021-10-13T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Andy Marino.
Andy Marino was born in upstate New York, spent half his lif...
Listen
378: The Inside Scoop on Book Reviews - Interview with Kiffer Brown from 2021-10-06T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kiffer Brown.
Kathryn (Kiffer) Brown is the CEO and co-founder of Chantic...
Listen
377: The Art of the American Essay Anthology - Interview with Phillip Lopate from 2021-09-29T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Philip Lopate.
Phillip is the author of over a dozen books:
<... Listen
376: Persistence and Publishing, a Debut Author’s Story - Interview with Elizabeth Gonzalez James from 2021-09-22T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Gonzalez James.
Elizabeth’s stories and essays have appeared in...
Listen
375: Bringing Omitted BIPOC History to Light through Middle Grade Picture Books - Interview with Traci Sorell and Carole Boston Weatherford from 2021-09-15T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Traci Sorell and Carole Boston Weatherford.
Traci is the author of the cr...
Listen
374: Historical Fiction, the Bronte Family, and the Original Mrs. Robinson - Interview with Finola Austin from 2021-09-08T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Finola Austin.
Finola Austin, also known as the Secret Victorianist on he...
Listen
373: Hook and Tether: How to Draw Readers In and Keep Them Grounded in the Story - Interview with Marissa Levien from 2021-09-01T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marissa Levien.
Marissa is a writer and artist who hails from Washington ...
Listen
372: The Magic of Math and the Art of Picture Books — Interview with Rajani LaRocca from 2021-08-25T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rajani LaRocca.
Rajani was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now liv...
Listen
371: Women's Fiction vs. Romance: What's the Difference? — Interview with Kris Clink from 2021-08-18T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kris Clink.
Kris writes about relatable characters who rely on humor and ...
Listen
370: Behind the Cowriting Process of a Debut Author Duo — Interview with Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman from 2021-08-11T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman.
Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have b...
Listen
369: Writing Mystery as Series and Stand-Alone Books — Interview with Elly Griffiths from 2021-08-04T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Elly Griffiths.
Elly is the author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton myst...
Listen
368: Intention, Agency, and Choice: How to Write Three-Dimensional Characters — Interview with Veronica G. Henry from 2021-07-28T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Veronica G. Henry.
Veronica was born in Brooklyn, New York, and has been ...
Listen
367: Character Dynamics in a Fairytale Retelling — Interview with Brandie June from 2021-07-21T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandie June.
Brandie spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as ...
Listen
366: The Art and Craft of a Short Story Collection - Interview with Alexander Weinstein from 2021-07-14T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexander Weinstein.
Alexander is the author of the collections
365: Fantasy Inspired by Greek Mythology - Interview with Emily R. King from 2021-07-07T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Emily R. King.
Emily is the author of the Hundredth Queen series, along w...
Listen
364: How Writing Is Like Walking a Tightrope — Interview with Ana Maria Spagna from 2021-06-30T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ana Maria Spagna.
Ana Maria is the author of Listen
363: Dual Point of View in Historical Fiction — Interview with Denny S. Bryce from 2021-06-23T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing award-winning debut author Denny S. Bryce.
Denny won the RWA Golden Heart...
Listen
362: A Deep Dive into the Supporting Cast — Interview with Leslie A. Rasmussen from 2021-06-16T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie A. Rasmussen.
Leslie was born and raised in Los Angeles, Californi...
Listen
361: Villains and Villainy, Antagonists and Obstacles: Crafting Conflict in Epic Fantasy — Interview with Tasha Suri from 2021-06-09T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tasha Suri.
Tasha is an award-winning author, occasional librarian and ca...
Listen
360: Unpacking Memories for a Memoir— Interview with Jas Rawlinson from 2021-06-02T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jas Rawlinson.
Jas is a best-selling author, book coach, and resilience s...
Listen
359: Trust, Threat, and Truth: A Journey Through the Craft of Writing - Interview with Jeff Arch from 2021-05-26T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Arch.
Jeff grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent two o...
Listen
358: Find Your Community and Follow Your Passion - Interview with Thien-Kim Lam from 2021-05-19T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing my dear friend Thien-Kim Lam.
... Listen
357: Layers of World Building in Epic Fantasy - Interview with Suyi Davies Okungbowa from 2021-05-12T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Suyi Davies Okungbowa.
Suyi is a N...
Listen
356: Doodling for Writers - Interview with Rebecca Fish Ewan from 2021-05-05T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rebecca Fish Ewan.
Poet and cartoonist, Rebecca's passion is mingling tex...
Listen
355: Weaving Together History, Folklore, and Fairy Tale - Interview with Rena Rossner from 2021-04-28T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rena Rossner.
Rena hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of ...
Listen
354: Character, Conflict, and World Building in Fantasy - Interview with C.L. Clark from 2021-04-21T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing C.L. Clark.
Cherae graduated from Indiana University’s creative writing M...
Listen
353: Making the Shift from YA Romance to Adult Thriller - Interview with David Yoon from 2021-04-14T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing David Yoon.
David is the author of the New York Times bestseller <...
Listen
352: You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton! - Interview with Chuck Wendig from 2021-04-07T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing someone I have the honor of considering both a colleague and friend, Chuck Wendig.
Listen
351: The Education of a Writer — Interview with Sophfronia Scott from 2021-03-31T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sophfronia Scott.
Sophfronia is a novelist and essayist whose work has ap...
Listen
350: Voice, Emotion, and Metastory in a "Mistopia" - Interview with Simon Stephenson from 2021-03-24T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Simon Stephenson.
Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Simon is a writer ...
Listen
349: When a Story Idea Won’t Let a Writer Go - Interview with Jeremy Hance from 2021-03-17T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeremy Hance.
Jeremy is writer and freelance environmental journalist, wh...
Listen
348: Blending Genres in a Historical Series - Interview with Michelle Cox from 2021-03-10T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Cox.
Michelle is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrie...
Listen
347: The Art and Business of Writing Serials— Interview with Leanna Renee Hieber from 2021-03-03T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing the award-winning author and my friend, Leanna Renee Hieber.
Leanna is an...
Listen
346: Curating a Middle Grade Anthology of Intertribal Stories - Interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith from 2021-02-24T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cynthia Leitich Smith.
Cynthia is a New York Times bestselling a...
Listen
345: Language as World Building in YA Fantasy - Interview with Ellie Cypher from 2021-02-17T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ellie Cypher.
Ellie Cypher grew up in Northern California, received her B...
Listen
344: A Deep Dive into Point of View - Interview with Sharon Harrigan from 2021-02-10T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sharon Harrigan.
Sharon is the author of the new novel Listen
343: Writing in the Dark: How to Write Horror - Interview with Tim Waggoner from 2021-02-03T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Tim Waggoner.
Tim is a critically-acclaimed author of over fifty novels a...
Listen
342: Multiple Timelines, Climate Fiction, and a Childhood Code of Honor - Interview with Julie Carrick Dalton from 2021-01-27T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Julie Carrick Dalton.
As a journalist, Julie has published more than a th...
Listen
341: Live Life Colorfully: The Intersection Between Words and Art - Interview with Jason Naylor from 2021-01-20T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jason Naylor.
Jason is an award-winning artist and designer based in NYC....
Listen
340: You Can Keep That To Yourself - Interview with Adam Smyer from 2021-01-13T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Adam Smyer.
Adam Smyer is an attorney, martial artist, and mediocre bass ...
Listen
339: The Many Perspectives of Grief - Interview with Rachel Beanland from 2021-01-06T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Beanland.
Rachel Beanland writes fiction and essays, and has recen...
Listen
338: The Dystopian Superhero Story - Interview with Alexandra Monir from 2020-12-30T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Alexandra Monir.
Alexandra is an Iranian-American author and recording ar...
Listen
337: The Intersection of Voice and Point of View in Literary Fiction— Interview with Brad Fox from 2020-12-23T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brad Fox.
Brad is a novelist, journalist, translator, and former relief w...
Listen
336: Realistic Middle Grade: Balancing the Light and Dark— Interview with Marcella Pixley from 2020-12-16T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marcella Pixley, the author of four acclaimed books for young people.
Her...
Listen
335: The Art of Heartfelt Teaching (and Writing)— Interview with Diane Zinna from 2020-12-09T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Diane Zinna.
Listen
334: The Unexpected Female Protagonist — Interview with Veena Rao from 2020-12-02T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Veena Rao.
Listen
333: Unpacking the Short Story Workshop — Interview with Sara Schaff from 2020-11-25T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sara Schaff.
Listen
332: The Craft and Business of Cozy Mysteries — Interview with Andi Cumbo-Floyd from 2020-11-18T13:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Andi Cumbo-Floyd.
Andi is a writer of both magical realism and nonfiction...
Listen
331: Writing and Indie Publishing a Steampunk Novel— Interview with Meg LaTorre from 2020-11-11T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Meg LaTorre.
Listen
330: World Building in a Space Opera — Interview with Essa Hansen from 2020-11-04T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing the author, swordswoman, and falconer, Essa Hansen....
Listen
329: Writing the Ensemble Cast — Interview with Laura Jamison from 2020-10-28T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Jamison.
Listen
328: Book Marketing for Busy Writers — Interview with Carol VanDenHende from 2020-10-21T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carol VanDenHende.
Listen
327: Cartoons and Visual Language - Interview with Mr. Fish from 2020-10-14T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Fish.
Listen
326: Painting, Math, and Tiny Houses: Writing the Picture Book Biography - Interview with Amy Alznauer from 2020-10-07T12:15
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amy Alznauer.
Amy lives in Chicago with her husband, two children, a dog ...
Listen
325: Reinventing a Legend — Interview with Nathan Makaryk from 2020-09-30T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nathan Makaryk.
Listen
324: Story is Your Marketing Superpower - Conversation with Erica Wexler from 2020-09-22T04:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today we’re doing something a little bit different. This is a special episode, created in part...
Listen
323: The Importance of Composting in the Writing Process — Interview with Helen Zuman from 2020-09-16T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen Zuman.
Listen
322: Heroes, Villains, and Writing a Story That Matters — Interview with Ace Atkins from 2020-09-09T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ace Atkins.
Listen
321: From Feature Article to Book: The Art of Storytelling in Nonfiction — Interview with Matt Hongoltz-Hetling from 2020-09-02T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Matt Hongoltz-Hetling.
Listen
320: Tropes in Romance (and How to Keep Things Interesting) — Interview with Julia London from 2020-08-26T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Julia London.
Listen
319: Writing in the Tom Clancy Multiverse - Interview with Mike Maden from 2020-08-19T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Maden.
Listen
318: Voice, Pacing, and Sensitivity: The Art of Writing a 911 Thriller - Interview with R.H. Herron from 2020-08-12T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing R.H. Herron.
Listen
317: Be True to the Character and Tell Your Truth — Interview with Syed M. Masood from 2020-08-05T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Syed M. Masood.
Listen
316: Truth with a Capital T — Interview with Lauren Sharkey from 2020-07-29T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Our show notes are at DIYMFA.com/316 because it’s episode 316!
Listen
315: From Painting to Memoir, a Visual Artist’s Journey Into Writing — Interview with Miriam Feldman from 2020-07-22T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Miriam Feldman.
Listen
314: Magic, Politics, and Relationships: Using Fantasy to "Literalize the Metaphor" - Interview with Django Wexler from 2020-07-15T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Django Wexler.
Listen
313: In the Spirit of Jane Austen - Interview with Natalie Jenner from 2020-07-08T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Natalie Jenner.
Listen
312: Plot Twists, Surprises, and How to Keep Your Reader Guessing — Interview with Laura Hankin from 2020-07-01T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Hankin.
Listen
311: World-Building in Middle Grade Fantasy — Interview with Henry Clark from 2020-06-24T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Henry Clark.
Listen
310: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at an Historical Fiction Series — Interview with Pamela Taylor from 2020-06-17T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Pamela Taylor.
Pamela brings her love of history to...
Listen
309: Experiments and Happy Accidents in Novel Writing — Interview with Susann Cokal from 2020-06-10T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Susann Cokal. Susann is a moody historical novelis...
Listen
308: Setting, Characters, and Identity: Your Story's Ecosystem - Interview with Abbigail Rosewood from 2020-06-03T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Abbigail Rosewood. Abbigail was born in Vietnam, where she lived until the age of twelve. She hol...
Listen
307: Mindfulness and Memoir — Interview with Mag Dimond from 2020-05-27T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mag Dimond.
Mag Dimond has been a world traveler si...
Listen
306: Recipes for Poetry and Creativity - Interview with Marilyn Singer from 2020-05-20T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marilyn Singer.
Winner of the National Council of T...
Listen
305: Adventure, Awe and Writing Practice: The Art of the Crowd-Sourced Memoir - Interview with Joe Bunting from 2020-05-13T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Joe is a bestselling writer, novelist, and a dad. He leads The Write Practice community, an aw...
Listen
304: An Inside Look at Self-Publishing - Interview with Helen J. Darling from 2020-05-06T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen J. Darling.
Helen is the author of two humoro...
Listen
303: A Survivor Story as a Middle Grade Novel in Poems — Interview with Sonja K. Solter from 2020-04-29T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sonja K. Solter.
Sonja graduated from Stanford Univ...
Listen
302: Building a Pop Poetry Empire — Interview with Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie from 2020-04-22T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie, the “And I Thought” Ladies!
Listen
301: Dismantling the Stigma of Mental Illness — Interview with Jeff Garvin from 2020-04-15T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Garvin.
Jeff is an author, musician, and podca...
Listen
300: Meet Team Awesome — A Behind-the-Scenes Look at DIY MFA from 2020-04-08T23:28:05
Hey there word nerds!
Welcome to the three hundredth episode of DIY MFA Radio!
Listen
299: Spot Your Habits and Build Your Skills — Interview with ProWritingAid Founder Chris Banks from 2020-04-01T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Chris Banks!
Chris Banks is the CEO and Founder of ...
Listen
298: Character-Driven YA and Middle Grade — Interview with Brandy Colbert from 2020-03-25T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandy Colbert, the critically acclaimed author of several YA and Middle Grade novels. Her books ...
Listen
297: How to Bring a Fantasy Series to a Close — Interview with E.J. Wenstrom from 2020-03-18T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing E.J. Wenstrom
- J. Wenstrom believes in complic... Listen
296: Fairy Tales, Vernacular, and the Art of Storytelling — Interview with Curdella Forbes from 2020-03-11T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Curdella Forbes.
Listen
295: Writing an Unlikable but Sympathetic Protagonist — Interview with Claire Waller from 2020-03-04T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Claire Waller.
Listen
294: Self-Publishing a Middle Grade Series — Interview with H.R. Hobbs from 2020-02-26T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing H.R. Hobbs.
Listen
293: Find Your Creative Focus - Interview with Jessica Abel from 2020-02-19T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Abel.
Listen
292: World Building in Epic Fantasy - Interview with K.S. Villoso from 2020-02-12T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing K.S. Villoso who writes speculative fiction with a ...
Listen
291: How to Make Your Story Truly Unique - Interview with Robert Dugoni from 2020-02-05T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Robert Dugoni.
Listen
290: Writing a Sequel Decades Later - Interview with Samuel Shem from 2020-01-29T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Samuel Shem, a novelist, playwright, and activist....
Listen
289: Stitching Together Multiple Timelines - Interview with Constance Sayers from 2020-01-22T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Constance Sayers talking about her debut novel, Listen
288: Find Your Community - Interview with Janae Marks from 2020-01-15T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Janae Marks!
Listen
287: Character Dynamics in an In-Depth Scene Analysis - Interview with Kiley Reid from 2020-01-08T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kiley Reid!
Listen
286: An Inside Look at a Romantic Suspense Series - Interview with Marie Force from 2020-01-01T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marie Force.
Marie is the Listen
285: Character-Driven Holiday Romance - Interview with Sarah Morgan from 2019-12-24T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Morgan. A Listen
284: Adapting Legends While Staying True to the Story - Interview with Virginia Loh-Hagan from 2019-12-18T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan.
Virginia Loh-Hagan is an ed...
Listen
283: Art, Magic, and Robots - Interview with Carolyn Crimi and Corinna Luyken from 2019-12-11T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carolyn Crimi and Corinna Luyken, the author and illustrator behind the buzz-worthy middle grade ...
Listen
282: The Themed Anthology - Interview with Sam Hooker and Seven Jane from 2019-12-04T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sam Hooker and Seven Jane.
281: The Art of the Space Odyssey — Interview with Kristyn Merbeth from 2019-11-27T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristyn Merbeth.
Kristyn is an author who’s obsesse...
Listen
280: Writing and Illustrating a Picture Book Series - Interview with Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam from 2019-11-20T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam, author and illustrator of the I Need My Monster picture book serie...
Listen
279: The Seventh Level for Writers - Interview with Amanda Slavin from 2019-11-13T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing my friend and fellow New Yorker, Amanda Slavin.
<...
Listen
278: Writing for Newly-Independent Readers - Interview with Megan McDonald from 2019-11-06T13:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Megan McDonald, the author behind the popular Judy Moody series.
277: How to Make Your Setting Come to Life - Interview with Brenda Jackson from 2019-10-30T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brenda Jackson.
Listen
276: A Stitch in Time: Pacing, World Building, and Time Travel - Interview with Nicole Valentine from 2019-10-23T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Valentine.
Listen
275: Exploring Family Relationships - Interview with Kristan Higgins from 2019-10-16T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristan Higgins.
Listen
274: Speculating from Reality and Building a Dystopia - Interview with Rob Hart from 2019-10-09T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Hart about his latest book Listen
273: Words, Pictures, and How Story Brings Them Together - Interview with Aaron Becker from 2019-10-02T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Aaron Becker.
Born in Baltimore, Aaron moved to Cal...
Listen
272: How to Research and Write a Detective Series - Interview with Archer Mayor from 2019-09-25T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Archer Mayor.
Listen
271: Write by Instinct and Break the Rules - Interview with RJ Barker from 2019-09-18T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing RJ Barker.
Now, according to the bio that either he...
Listen
270: Grappling with the Uncomfortable Truth - Interview with NoNieqa Ramos from 2019-09-11T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing NoNieqa Ramos.
Listen
269: Writing Speculative Fiction - Interview with Cadwell Turnbull from 2019-09-04T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Cadwell Turnbull.
Listen
268: From Bollywood-Inspired YA to RWA - Interview with Nisha Sharma from 2019-08-28T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, we’re doing another one of our live-from-a-conference interviews, this time from RWA an...
Listen
267: The Alter Ego Effect - Interview With Todd Herman from 2019-08-21T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Todd Herman, who I am honored to count as one of my mentors.
Listen
266: The Art of the Travel Memoir — Interview with Natasha Scripture from 2019-08-14T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Natasha Scripture.
Listen
265: Five Things I Learned from Five Years of Podcasting from 2019-08-09T00:15
Hey there word nerds!
You might be doing a double-take right now because this episode is airing on a
264: For the Love of Poetry - Interview With Marybeth Niederkorn from 2019-08-07T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to our guest, the award-winning journalist, essay...
Listen
263: When Big Suspense Happens in Small Towns - ThrillerFest Debut Round Table Interview from 2019-07-31T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today is one of my absolute favorite episodes of the year because it’s our annual Thr...
Listen
262: Inside the Mind of a Worldbuilding Junkie - Interview with Fonda Lee from 2019-07-24T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Fonda Lee on the show.
Fonda is a recovering corpor...
Listen
261: Writing and Publishing the Indie Way - Interview with Aileen Erin from 2019-07-17T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Aileen Erin on the show.
Aileen is half-Irish, half...
Listen
260: Reading and Re-Reading Like a Writer - Interview with Mark Mayer from 2019-07-10T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Mark Mayer to the show.
Mark is an author and has an MF...
Listen
259: Crafting a Police Procedural in a Fantasy World - Interview with Dan Stout from 2019-07-03T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Dan Stout on the show.
Dan is an author who writes a...
Listen
258: Multi-Style Visual Storytelling - Interview with Dylan Meconis from 2019-06-26T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today I am delighted to have Dylan Meconis on the show.
Dylan is a cartoonist, writer, and il...
Listen
257: Doubling Down on Your Dream - Interview with Kelsey Ramsden from 2019-06-19T12:15
Hey there word nerds! Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kelsey Ramsden on the show.
I have long admired Kelsey’s ...
Listen
256: An Inside Look at Tropes in Literature - Interview with Lenore Appelhans from 2019-06-12T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lenore Appelhans on the show!
Listen
255: Creative Writing and Marketing Combined - Interview with Lee Tobin McClain from 2019-06-05T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Lee Tobin McClain on the show!
254: Marketing Books on Amazon - Interview with Rob Eagar from 2019-05-29T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of having Rob Eagar on the show!
Listen
253: Turning Characters into People - Interview with Jodi Thomas from 2019-05-22T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Jodi Thomas on the show!
Listen
252: The Emotional Weight of Storytelling - Interview with Sam Sykes from 2019-05-15T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Sam Sykes on the show!
Listen
251: Finding Your Why - Interview with Patrice Gopo from 2019-05-08T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Patrice Gopo on the show!
250: Crafting an Amish Romance - Interview with Patricia Davids from 2019-05-01T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Patricia Davids on the show!
249: Thrillers, Cozies, and Everything in Between - Interview with Jon Land from 2019-04-24T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the absolute pleasure of hosting Jon Land on the show!
248: Embracing the Delete Key to Unlock Your Story - Interview with Tiffany Reisz from 2019-04-17T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Tiffany Reisz on the show!
Listen
247: Defying the Western Narrative - Interview with Janet Pocorobba from 2019-04-10T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Janet Pocorobba on the show!
246: Writing Magic: Character-Centered World Building in a Fantasy Series - Interview with Rowenna Miller from 2019-04-03T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Rowenna Miller on the show!
Listen
245: The Author-Agent-Editor Collaboration - Interview with Samantha Downing, Barbara Poelle, and Jen Monroe from 2019-03-27T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today’s episode is extra-awesome because I’m speaking with not one, not two, but
244: Showing Up Authentically - Interview LIVE from INBOUND 2018 with Strother Gaines from 2019-03-20T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today we have a little change of pace in store for you. As you may recall, when I’m at differe...
Listen
243: Crafting Rich Settings - Interview with Heather Graham from 2019-03-13T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the absolute pleasure of hosting New Y...
Listen
242: Challenging the Status Quo - Interview with Anita Sarkeesian and Ebony Adams from 2019-03-06T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with co-authors Anita Sarkeesian and Ebony Adam...
Listen
241: Twisting the Tropes of Military Science Fiction - Interview with Glynn Stewart from 2019-02-27T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Glynn Stewart on the show!
<...
Listen
240: The Intricate Design of Romantic Suspense - Interview with B.J. Daniels from 2019-02-20T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with New York...
Listen
239: Science and Intrigue in Thrillers - Interview with Dan Grant from 2019-02-13T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Dan Grant on the show!
Listen
238: Pushing the Boundaries of Noir - Interview with Tony Bellotto from 2019-02-06T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to be hosting Brazilian author Tony Bellotto on the show!
...
Listen
237: Embracing the Fear of Writing - Interview with Kevin Brooks from 2019-01-30T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Kevin Brooks on the show!
Listen
236: Writing Without Rules (or Pants) - Interview with Jeff Somers from 2019-01-23T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Somers on the show!
235: Double Trouble: Writing Near-Fi Dystopia - Interview with Ashley and Leslie Saunders from 2019-01-16T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Ashley and Leslie Saunders on the show!
234: A Master Class on Character - Interview with David Corbett from 2019-01-09T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting David Corbett on the show!
Listen
233: Crafting the Victorian Novel - Interview with David Morrell from 2019-01-02T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure and honor of hosting David Morrell on the show!
232: Behind the Scenes of DIY MFA’s Genre Columns - Interview with Melanie Marttila, Brenda Joyce Patterson, and Stacy Woodson from 2018-12-26T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today’s show is our last episode of 2018 so Happy New Year everybody!
231: Crafting an Anthology from Beginning to End - Interview with Caroline Donahue from 2018-12-19T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Caroline Donahue on the show!
Listen
230: A Christmas Story, Well Told - Interview with Orson Scott Card from 2018-12-12T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
I have to admit that today I’m having a major Listen
229: Ratcheting Up the Suspense - Interview with P.J. Tracy from 2018-12-05T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Traci Lambrecht, of the mother-daughter writing tea...
Listen
228: Crafting a Page-Turning Poetry Collection - Interview with Kallie Falandays from 2018-11-28T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am pleased to have Kallie Falandays on the show!
Listen
227: How to Craft a Knockout Graphic Novel - Interview with Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano from 2018-11-21T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excitedListen
226: The Girl Meets Girl Romantic Comedy - Interview with Camille Perri from 2018-11-14T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Camille Perri on the show!
Listen
225: The Bromance Noir Mystery - Interview with Andrew Shaffer from 2018-11-07T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
I’m sooooo Listen
224: Into the House of Night - Interview with P.C. and Kristin Cast from 2018-10-31T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
And welcome to our extra special Halloween episode, as today I have the pleasure of having the...
Listen
223: The Imaginary Friend as Narrator - Interview with Melanie Moyer from 2018-10-24T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Moyer. Melanie is a debut author and vetera...
Listen
222: All About Board Books - Interview with Ruth Spiro from 2018-10-17T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ruth Spiro on the show!
Listen
221: Empower Yourself and Your Writing - Interview with Jennie Nash from 2018-10-10T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of having Jennie Nash on the show!
Listen
220: Just Keep Writing and Other Motivational Mantras - Interview with Laurie Petrou from 2018-10-03T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Laurie Petrou on the show!
Listen
219: The Art and Craft of Self Publishing - Interview with Elisabeth Potts from 2018-09-26T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Elisabeth Potts on the show!
218: Mirrors and Windows in Children's Literature - Interview with Anne Sibley O'Brien from 2018-09-19T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Anne Sibley O’Brien on the show!
217: Write Dangerously - Interview with Yang Huang from 2018-09-12T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Yang Huang on the show!
Listen
216: Perfect Your Plot Twists - Interview with Steven James from 2018-09-05T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Steven James on the show!
Listen
215: Fact vs. Fiction in Historical Novels - Interview with Rebecca Behrens from 2018-08-29T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Rebecca Behrens on the show!
Listen
214: Dealing with Darkness through Comedy - Interview with Adam Cayton-Holland from 2018-08-22T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Adam Cayton-Hollan...
Listen
213: Writing Strong Female Protagonists - Interview with Lisa Gardner, Jon Land, and Karin Slaughter LIVE from ThrillerFest 2018 from 2018-08-15T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
In today’s episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2018! This time I’ve assembled a pan...
Listen
212: Poetry and Science - Interview with David L. Harrison from 2018-08-08T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so honored to welcome David L. Harrison to the show!
Listen
211: Adventures in Time and Space - Interview with ThrillerFest Debut Authors 2018 from 2018-08-01T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
In today’s episode I bring you live to ThrillerFest 2018, where I have once again assembled a ...
Listen
210: Showing the Diversity within Diversity - Interview with Tami Charles from 2018-07-25T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am thrilled to have Tami Charles on the show!
Listen
209: The Internal Process of Writing - Interview with Maxine Rosaler from 2018-07-18T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Maxine Rosaler on the show!
Listen
208: A Character's Heart and Soul - Interview with Gail Honeyman from 2018-07-11T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Gail Honeyman on t...
Listen
207: Owning Your Story - Interview with Grace Kennan Warnecke from 2018-07-04T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of talking with author Grace Kennan Warnecke on the show!
... Listen
206: A Literary Tea Party - Interview with Alison Walsh from 2018-06-27T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have author Alison Walsh on the show!
Listen
205: The Epic BookExpo Recap - 2018 Edition from 2018-06-20T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Welcome to the 2018 Epic BookExpo Recap episode!
204: Bringing Sound to Life on the Page - Interview with Michael Zadoorian from 2018-06-13T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Michael Zadoorian on the show!
Listen
203: The Art of Nonfiction Picture Books - Interview with Cynthia Grady from 2018-06-06T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Cynthi...
Listen
202: Crafting Powerful and Authentic Characters - Interview with NoNieqa Ramos from 2018-05-30T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to be speaking with NoNieqa Ramos on the show!
201: Revising Your Book, and Getting It Right - Interview with Kimmery Martin from 2018-05-23T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have debut author Kimmery Martin on the show!
200: DIY MFA Radio’s 200th Episode Extravaganza — Featuring Marielle Orff and Gabriela Pereira from 2018-05-17T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
OMG DIY MFA Radio is 200 episodes old!
Whether y...
Listen
199: Transgender Characters in Literature - Interview with Dharma Kelleher from 2018-05-16T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of talking with Dharma Kelleh...
Listen
198: Let’s Talk About the Weather - Interview with Will Dowd from 2018-05-09T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to be talking with Will Dowd on the show!
Listen
197: A Real Picture of the Working Author - Interview with Kate Greathead from 2018-05-02T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting debut novelist Kate Greathead on the show!
...
Listen
196: Finding the Right Voice - Interview with Nathaniel Philbrick from 2018-04-25T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting award-winning author Nathaniel Philbrick on the show! Listen
195: The Art of Writing Memoir - Interview with Steven Gaines from 2018-04-18T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have author and journalist Steven Gaines on the show!
194: The Business of Writing - Interview with Jane Friedman from 2018-04-11T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have my good friend and mentor Jane Friedman on the show!
... Listen
193: The Aesthetics of Writing - Interview with Michael Imperioli from 2018-04-04T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the distinct pleasure of having acclaimed writer and actor Michael Imperioli on t...
Listen
192: On Writing and Identity - Interview with David Plante from 2018-03-28T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have David Plante on the show!
Listen
191: Writing Around a Heavy Issue - Interview with Kiersi Burkhart from 2018-03-21T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m thrilled to have author Kiersi Burkhart on the show!
Listen
190: Protagonists and Point of View - Interview with Chloe Benjamin from 2018-03-14T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have author Chloe Benjamin on the show!
Listen
189: Writing Reality-Based Fiction - Interview with Georgia Hunter from 2018-03-07T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the absolute pleasure of interviewing author Georgia Hunter on the show! Listen
188: Perfecting Your Process - Interview with Rodrigo Hasbún from 2018-02-28T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Rodrigo Hasbún on the show!
Listen
187: A Book with a Purpose - Interview with Eucabeth Odhiambo from 2018-02-21T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Dr. Eucabeth Odhiambo on the show!
Listen
186: Your Journey into Writing - Interview with Stef Penney from 2018-02-14T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have author Stef Penney on the show!
Listen
185: Understanding the Emotional Wound - Interview with Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi from 2018-02-07T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have bestselling co-authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi on the ...
Listen
184: Your Author Career Strategy - Interview with Kat Martin from 2018-01-31T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have bestselling author Kat Martin on the show!
183: The Power of Words - Interview with Joe Fassler from 2018-01-24T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have author and editor Joe Fassler on the show!
182: Adapting a Book to the Screen - Interview with Howard Kaplan from 2018-01-17T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have author Howard Kaplan on the show!
Listen
181: Getting to Know Your Characters - Interview with Joan Dempsey from 2018-01-10T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have award-winning author Joan Dempsey on the show!
180: Writing a Thriller Series - Interview with D.P. Lyle from 2018-01-03T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have author D.P. Lyle on the show!
Listen
179: Research and Close Reading - Interview with Stephen Morris from 2017-12-27T13:15
Happy Holidays word nerds!
To help you enjoy this special week between Christmas and New Year’s, we’ve got an awesom...
Listen
178: Writing Speculative Fiction - Interview with Ada Palmer from 2017-12-20T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of talking with author Ada Palmer on the show!
177: Narration and Voice - Interview with Ayobami Adebayo from 2017-12-13T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have author Ayobami Adebayo on the show!
Listen
176: YA or Adult, Choosing Your Audience - Interview with Danya Kukafka from 2017-12-06T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of chatting with author Danya Kukafka on the show!
175: Crafting the Medical Thriller - Interview with Robin Cook from 2017-11-29T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have doctor and writer Robin Cook on the show!
174: Story and Context - Interview with Jarett Kobek from 2017-11-22T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Jarett Kobek on the show!
Listen
173: Fake It 'til You Make It, and Other Life Lessons - Interview with A.J. Jacobs from 2017-11-15T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
I am having the biggest fangirl moment of all time because today I have author A.J. Jacobs on ...
Listen
172: A Life in Novels - Interview with Kathleen Hill from 2017-11-08T13:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting author Kathleen Hill on the show!
171: Pacing and Suspense - Interview with Gin Phillips from 2017-11-01T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have author Gin Phillips on the show!
Listen
170: Writing a Middle Grade Series - Interview with William Meyer from 2017-10-25T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking to middle grade author William Meyer!
169: Boost Your Creative Mojo - Interview with Grant Faulkner from 2017-10-18T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) an...
Listen
168: The Art of Narrative Distance - Interview with Augustus Rose from 2017-10-11T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting novelist and screenwriter Augustus Rose on the show! Listen
167: Publishing Through Perseverance - Interview with Jodi Kendall from 2017-10-04T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the absolute joy of hosting my dear friend, Jodi Kendall, on the show!
... Listen
166: All About Picture Books - Interview with Trinka Hakes Noble from 2017-09-27T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting author and illustrator Trinka Hakes Noble on the show! Listen
165: Weaving Fiction from Reality - Interview with Zinzi Clemmons from 2017-09-20T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have author Zinzi Clemmons on the show!
Listen
164: Start with a Bang - Interview Live from ThrillerFest 2017 from 2017-09-13T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
In today’s episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2017! This time I’ve assembled a pan...
Listen
163: Reading Matters - Interview with Nancy Pearl from 2017-09-06T12:15
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 boo...
Listen
162: The Art of Writing (and Ending) a Series - Interview with Sebastien de Castell from 2017-08-30T12:15
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 Listen
161: Around the World Right Now - Interview with Gina Cascone&Bryony Williams Sheppard from 2017-08-23T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Gina Cascone and Bryony Williams Sheppard on the show!
This mother-daughter powerhouse team has co-authored the picture b...
Listen
160: The Truth of the Matter - Interview with Katherine Nouri Hughes from 2017-08-16T12:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have debut novelist Katherine Nouri Hughes on the show!
Katherine is publishing her debut, The Mapmaker's Daughter, at the ag...
Listen
159: Character Relationships that Resonate - Interview with Jane Green from 2017-08-07T16:12:58
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of having bestselling author Jane Green on the show!
Jane has written 17 New York Times bestsellers, and her books have sold more th...
Listen
158: Exploring the Relatable Antagonist - Interview with Joseph Finder from 2017-07-22T19:18:44
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am delighted to have Joseph Finder on the show!
Joseph is The New York Times bestselling author of thirteen previous novels, including the in...
Listen
157: The Debut Author's Life - Interview Live from ThrillerFest 2017 from 2017-07-22T19:02:49
Hey there word nerds!
In today's episode I bring you live to ThrillerFest 2017 where I have assembled a panel of five, that's right five, debut authors. Not only are all ...
Listen
156: Irony and Satire - Interview with Courtney Maum from 2017-07-17T16:58:56
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Courtney Maum on the show!
Courtney is the author of I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, and pieces of short fict...
Listen
155: Swimming with the Sharks - Interview with Ann Kidd Taylor from 2017-07-12T11:30
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Ann Kidd Taylor to the show!
Ann first broke on to the literary scene in 2009 with the New York Times bestselling memoi...
Listen
154: Writing from Your Heart and Soul - Interview with Sarah Dessen from 2017-07-05T12:30
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have bestselling author of contemporary YA, Sarah Dessen on the show!
Sarah has twelve previous novels to her name, and discusses wit...
Listen
153: From Midlist to Breakout Author - Interview with Karen Dionne from 2017-06-28T16:16:50
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting Karen Dionne on the show.
Listen
152: Writing a Modern Day Fairy Tale - Interview with Lisa Preziosi from 2017-06-21T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m so excited to have middle grade author and fellow New School alumni, Lisa Preziosi o...
Listen
151: Let's Talk About Sex (in Romance Novels) - Interview with Robin Lovett from 2017-06-14T19:17:26
Hey there word nerds!
Today we’re doing something a little different. I have here with me in person, author and DIY...
Listen
150: Epic BookExpo Recap - 2017 Edition from 2017-06-07T18:37:38
Hey there word nerds!
Welcome to the 2017 Epic BookExpo Recap episode. If you don’t already what BookExpo is, it’s t...
Listen
149: How to Pitch Your Book - Interview with Mark Gottlieb from 2017-05-31T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m delighted to have literary agent Mark Gottlieb on the show!
148: Multimedia Storytelling-Interview with Jay Swanson from 2017-05-24T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so excited to have Jay Swanson on the show.
Listen
147: The Author/Editor Team - Interview with Jenni Walsh and Bess Cozby from 2017-05-17T16:52:08
Hey there word nerds!
Today we’re doing something a little bit different. I have the pleasure of interviewing both a...
Listen
146: Creating Compelling Character Arcs- Interview with K.M. Weiland from 2017-05-10T11:54:20
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m delighted to have K.M. Weiland on the show.
Listen
145: Writing the Epic Quest Novel - Interview with Katherine Neville from 2017-05-03T15:45:23
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m pleased to have Katherine Neville on the show.
Listen
144: Telling a True Story - Interview with Herb Freed from 2017-04-26T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
This episode is brought to you buy our amazing word nerd fans and supporters on Patreon. If yo...
Listen
143: Writing Strong Female Characters - Interview with K.J. Howe from 2017-04-19T16:06:49
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m pleased to have K.J. Howe on the show. K.J. is the executive director of Thrillerfes...
Listen
142: Discover Your Authentic Image - Interview with Kathleen Audet from 2017-04-12T15:57:43
Hey there word nerds!
Today we’ll be doing something a little bit different on the show. I am so delighted to welcome Kathleen Audet. Kathleen is a brillia...
Listen
141: From Short Stories to Novels - Interview with Susan Perabo from 2017-04-05T18:24:27
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am excited to interview author and creative writing professor, Susan Perabo. Listen
140: Writing Multiple POV Suspense - Interview with Jessica Strawser from 2017-03-29T13:29:06
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce you to Jessica Strawser, the editorial director of ...
Listen
139: Be the Gateway - Interview with Dan Blank from 2017-03-22T17:50:51
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am excited to interview Dan Blank, founder of WeGrowMedia and author of the new book Listen
138: Writing By Numbers - Interview with Ben Blatt from 2017-03-15T16:57:40
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m delighted to interview journalist and statistician, Ben Blatt, about his new book Listen
137: Writing and Human Nature - Interview with Clare Mackintosh from 2017-03-08T15:00:28
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am thrilled (pun intended) to have award-winning and bestselling author, Clare Mackint...
Listen
136: Adventures in Metafiction - Interview with Dale Wiley from 2017-03-01T18:59:55
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m interviewing Dale Wiley, author and Missouri attorney, who has some fascinating cred...
Listen
135: The Only Way Forward is Back - Interview with Brian Meehl from 2017-02-22T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today’s interview features Brian Meehl, author of four novels that have garnered several award...
Listen
134: Literature as a Reflection of Society - Interview with Dr. Sally Parry from 2017-02-15T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Sally Parry, the Listen
133: Tell Meaningful Stories - Interview with Sebastian Barry from 2017-02-08T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of interview award-winning author Sebastian Barry, about hi...
Listen
132: Capturing Diverse Experiences on the Page - Interview with Shanthi Sekaran from 2017-02-01T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Shan...
Listen
131: Epic Digital Book World Recap Episode - 2017 Edition from 2017-01-25T17:54:15
Hey there word nerds!
Today, I’ll be sharing a recap of all the exciting things I discovered at Digital Book World (or DBW) last week. 2017 marks ...
Listen
130: Writing with Passion and Perseverance - Interview with Frédérique Molay from 2017-01-18T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today’s DIY MFA Radio guest has a fantastic double life. Author Frédérique Molay Listen
129: Let's Talk About the Money - Interview with Manjula Martin from 2017-01-11T15:18:26
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m thrilled to welcome Manjula Martin on the show. Manjula is editor of
128: From Page to Stage - Interview with Alexia Vernon from 2017-01-04T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to someone who has been instrumental in helping m...
Listen
127: How to DIY Your MFA (Interview at The Creative Penn) from 2016-12-28T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Thanks for being here with me today. I’m so excited to share this interview with you....
Listen
126: From Editor to Agent - Interview with Mitch Hoffman from 2016-12-21T15:34:53
Hey there word nerds!
Thanks for joining me for DIY MFA Radio! I’m especially excited for this episode because today...
Listen
125: Crafting Series - Interview with Elisabeth Barrett from 2016-12-14T17:36:26
Hey there word nerds! Today I’m speaking with Elisabeth Barrett, a romance author living in the San Francisco Bay ...
Listen
124: Platform Doesn't Have Be Painful from 2016-12-07T23:41:02
Hey there word nerds!
If you subscribe to the DIY MFA newsletter, then you know I’ve had a lot to say lately. In thi...
Listen
123: Adventures in Self-Publishing - Interview with Britt Alan from 2016-11-30T18:52:03
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m delighted to have Britt Alan on the show, talking about self-publishing his debut novel: Listen
122: Writing Domestic Suspense - Interview with Cate Holahan from 2016-11-23T13:00
Hey there word nerds!
Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub...
Listen
121: The Art and Craft of Translation - Interview with Le French Book from 2016-11-17T01:07:23
Hey there word nerds!
Boy are you going to love this episode. It’s a bit of an adventure for me, because I have not ...
Listen
120: Creating a Great Crime Novel -- Interview with John Sandford from 2016-11-09T19:15:35
Hey there word nerds! I am so excited to share this new episode with you.
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with...
Listen
119: Behind the Scenes with Debut Author Diane Saxton from 2016-11-02T16:01:11
Hello hello word nerds!
Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with author Diane Saxton.
118: Don't Quit Your Day Job - Interview with Todd Harra from 2016-10-26T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I’m delighted to welcome Todd Harra to the show.
It seemed fitting to have Todd as our guest for our Halloween episode, since he is the author of Mo...
Listen
117: The Slow Descent of the Anti-Hero - Interview with Teddy Wayne from 2016-10-19T16:42:46
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am so pleased to have Teddy Wayne on the show.
Listen
116: World-Building From the Inside Out - Interview with Amor Towles from 2016-10-12T12:00
Hey there word nerds!
Today I am thrilled and delighted to be speaking with author Amor Towles about his la...
Listen
115: The Monstrous Leap of Your Debut Novel - Interview with Chad Dundas from 2016-10-05T17:38:03
Hello hello, word nerds!
Welcome to our latest episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m speaking with Chad Dundas, the de...
Listen
114: On Voice and Writing - Interview with Steven Rowley from 2016-09-28T16:10:12
Hey there, Word Nerds. Welcome to this week’s episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Steven Rowley, the author of t...
Listen
113: Get Published (Part 2) Indie Publishing - Interview with Dean Wesley Smith from 2016-09-21T13:00
Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. You’re gonna love today’s guest. Today I’m speaking with one of the most prolific w...
Listen
112: Get Published (Part 1) The Traditional Route - Interview with Jerry Jenkins from 2016-09-14T15:51:13
Hey there Word Nerds! Welcome back for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Jerry Jenkins, author of 189 books with sales of more than 70 million copies. ...
Listen
111: Writing Middle Grade Fiction - Interview with Erin Petti from 2016-09-07T17:06:47
Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio.
Today I’m talking with debut author Erin Petti. Her debut novel, The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee Listen
110: The Unreliable Narrator and Multiple POV - Interview with Delia Ephron from 2016-08-31T12:00
Hey there Word Nerds!
I’m so glad you’ve joined me for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Delia Ephron, bestselli...
Listen
109: Build Buzz Around Your Book - Interview with MJ Rose from 2016-08-24T13:34:04
Hey there Word Nerds. I can’t wait for you to hear today’s interview with MJ Rose.
A fellow New-Yorker, MJ Rose grew...
Listen
108: Write Your Novel From the Middle - Interview with James Scott Bell from 2016-08-17T15:25:45
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’ve joined me for this episode. Today I am so thrilled to be interviewing someone who I have honor of calling a mentor and f...
Listen
107: Will an MFA Affect Your Writing? What the Data Really Tell Us - Interview with Andrew Piper from 2016-08-10T12:00
Hey there Word Nerds!
I am so glad you've joined me because today’s episode is going to be epic.
In this interview, I speak with Andrew Piper...
Listen
106: How to Be an Author Entrepreneur - Interview with Joanna Penn from 2016-08-03T14:38:37
Hey there Word Nerds!
Today's episode is especially dear to my heart because I'm interviewing Joanna Penn, author an...
Listen
105: Taking Your Creative Passion from Idea to Finished Book - Interview with Julie Zickefoose from 2016-07-27T12:00
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so thrilled that you're joining me for this episode.
Today I’ll be talking to Julie Zickefoose, an artist and author of three boo...
Listen
104: Gaming Shakespeare - Interview with Ryan North from 2016-07-20T12:00
Hey there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today's awesome DIY MFA Radio interview with author Ryan North. When one of my contacts over at Penguin told me Listen
103: Writing the Multiple Point of View Novel - Interview with Emma Straub from 2016-07-13T12:00
Hello hello, word nerds!
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with fellow New Yorker and awesome author, Emma Straub. I had so much fun doing this intervi...
Listen
102: Finish Your Book in Three Drafts - Interview with Stuart Horwitz and Dave Stebenne from 2016-07-06T12:00:58
Hey there Word Nerds!
Today I’m delighted to welcome back the founder and pri...
Listen
101: When Good Characters Make Bad Choices - Interview with Steve Hamilton from 2016-06-29T12:00
Hey there Word Nerds!
I'm so glad you've stopped by today because I've got a great DIY MFA Radio interview for you.
Listen
100: Unleash Your Storytelling Superpower! from 2016-06-22T13:37:38
Hello hello Word Nerds! Welcome back to DIY MFA Radio.
OMG, you guys! It’s episode 100! I can’t even believe how excited I am that we’ve come this far.
Today’s show is special beca...
Listen
099: Create Compelling Characters - Interview with Susan Breen from 2016-06-15T16:11:54
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share this week’s DIY MFA Radio episode with you.
But first, some news. OMG ...
Listen
098: How to Juggle Writing and Life - Interview with Matthew Palmer from 2016-06-08T15:59:26
Hey there Word Nerds!
I'm so glad you're here with me today because have a great interview to share with you.
Today Matthew Palmer and I talk about balancing writing and life and c...
Listen
097: Bringing a Samurai Story to Life on the Page - Interview with Pamela S. Turner and Gareth Hinds from 2016-06-01T14:45:08
In this interview I talk with writer Pamela S. Turner and illustrator Gareth Hinds about their book Samurai Rising: The...
Listen
096: Writing the Anti-Hero - Interview with L.S. Hilton from 2016-05-25T13:34:02
Hey there Word Nerds!
I’m so glad you joined me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio because it's going to be ...
Listen
095: Reading Picture Books with Children - Interview with Megan Dowd Lambert from 2016-05-18T17:12:10
Hey there Word Nerd! Today I’m thrilled to interview Megan Dowd Lambert, author of Reading Picture Books with Children<...
Listen
094: The Art and Craft of Writing Series - Interview with Charlaine Harris from 2016-05-11T15:23:13
Hey there Word Nerds!
I’m so excited because to share today's interview with you. I had the awesome chance to speak with Charlaine Harris, NYT bestselling ...
Listen
093: Using Narrative Devices to Delve into Delicate Topics - Interview with Stephen O'Connor from 2016-05-04T14:55:13
Hey there Word Nerds!
I’m so glad you’re here! Today's interview will be a juicy one. I’ll be talking to Stephen O’Connor about his debut novel Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Heming...
Listen
092: Setting the Scene - Interview with C.J. Box from 2016-04-27T16:19:11
Hey there word nerds!
Thanks for joining me. Today I’m talking with New York Times bestselling author, C.J. Box, author of sixteen Joe Pickett novels, five standalones, and the short stor...
Listen
091: How to Write Every Day - Interview with Julie Duffy from 2016-04-20T15:38:17
Hey there Word Nerd! Today I have the great pleasure of hosting Julie Duffy on the show. Julie is the founder of t...
Listen
090: Music and Storytelling - Interview with Anna Harwell Celenza from 2016-04-13T17:26:20
Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Anna Harwell Celenza, a music professor of Georgetown University where she teaches courses in music history, ...
Listen
089: The Power of Deliberate Practice - Interview with Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool from 2016-04-06T13:26:10
Hello, hello word nerds!
I’m so excited to share today’s DIY MFA Radio episode with you! I’m speaking with Anders Er...
Listen
088: How to Be a Learning Superhero (and Navigate the Great MFA Debate) from 2016-03-30T13:47:59
Hey there Word Nerds! This is our last solo show before the Storytelling Superpower Summit in June. We just rolled out the Storytelling Superpower Quiz a...
Listen
087: Multiple Paths of a Writing Career - Interview with Jen Calonita from 2016-03-23T13:44:31
Hey there Word Nerds!
I’m so glad you can join me for today’s interview with Jen Calonita.
086: How to Achieve Creative Consistency in Your Writing - Interview with Lisa Gardner from 2016-03-16T13:15
Welcome, welcome Word Nerds!
Today I’m delighted to host Lisa Gardner on the the show. Lisa is the #1 Listen
085: Craft Your Body of Work - Interview with Carolyn Mackler from 2016-03-09T15:07:40
Hey there word nerds! I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you.
It’s not often that I have an autho...
Listen
084: The Art of Collaboration - Interview with Steve Berry and Raymond Khoury from 2016-03-02T13:00
Hey there word nerds, I’m so glad you’re here!
We’re doing something differen...
Listen
083: Writing Outside Our Experience - Interview with Nicholas Petrie from 2016-02-24T15:25:35
Hey there Word Nerds!
Today I’m talking to Nicholas Petrie, author of the stunning debut THE DRIFTER...
Listen
082: Start Small and Embrace the Power of Zero from 2016-02-17T18:22:39
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so glad you’re here with me today. I am so excited to talk to you about this topic today, about the power of starting small and...
Listen
081: Why We Write About Ourselves - Interview with Meredith Maran from 2016-02-10T15:17:35
Hi there Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Meredith Maran about her latest book: Why We Wr...
Listen
080: Writing the First Instagram Novel - Interview with Rachel Hulin from 2016-02-03T13:00
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so happy you’re here! Today I’m talking to Rachel Hulin, photographer and writer. Her photographs have been shown at Jen Bekman Gallery, T...
Listen
079: The Fact of Fiction - Interview with Brad Taylor from 2016-01-27T14:54:44
Hey there, Word Nerds! So excited to have you here for a new episode of DIY MFA Radio.
Today I’m interviewing t...
Listen
078: A Writer's Guide to Building an Email List - Interview with Kirsten Oliphant from 2016-01-20T13:00
Hey there Word Nerds! Welcome back to DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Kirsten Oliphant, a writer with an MFA in fiction from University of North Carolina at G...
Listen
077: Build Your Freelance Writing Career - Interview with Zachary Petit from 2016-01-13T15:36:04
Hello there Word Nerds!
Today I’m interviewing the awesome Zachary Petit. Zac is the editor of the National Magazine Award-winning publication Listen
076: Life, Literature, and Everything Geeky - Interview with Ryan Britt from 2016-01-06T05:11:47
Hey there Word Nerds!
So glad you could be here with me for this awesome episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today we’re here ...
Listen
075: Stop Dreaming, Start Doing - Why I Stopped Making New Year's Resolutions, and What To Do Instead from 2015-12-30T17:39:31
Hey hey! Thanks for joining me for our very last episode in 2015.
Today I'm talking about why I stopped making New Y...
Listen
074: Identity, Authenticity, and How to Be True To Your Voice from 2015-12-23T15:33:46
Hey there Word Nerds!
It’s the week before Christmas, and I wanted to do something a little bit different from the interviews we’ve had these many weeks. This week’s topic is something I’...
Listen
073: Finding the Right Medium for Your Story - Interview with Drew Chapman from 2015-12-16T14:37:11
Hey there, Word Nerds. Thanks for joining me for another installment of DIY MFA Radio.
Today I’m talking to Drew Cha...
Listen
072: How to Write a Killer Query - Interview with Janet Reid (AKA the Query Shark) from 2015-12-09T14:29:30
Hey there word nerds!
Thanks for joining me today for DIY MFA Radio. I’m so excited to share this episode because I’...
Listen
071: Read Like a Writer - Interview with Lorin Stein (editor of The Paris Review) from 2015-12-02T17:31:41
Hello hello Word Nerds and welcome to Episode 71 of DIY MFA radio.
Today I’m talking with Lorin Stein, editor of Listen
070: How to Persevere as a Writer - Interview with Robert Crais from 2015-11-25T16:16:50
Hey there Word Nerds. I’m so excited to bring you this interview today with Robert Crais, a #1 New York Times bestselling author of crime fiction.
In this episode, we talk about how to pe...
Listen
069: Motivation for Creative People - Interview with Mark McGuinness from 2015-11-18T19:06:05
Hey there Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share with you today my conversation with Mark McGuinness. Today we’re talking about motivation and creativity, two very important topics here at DIY MFA....
Listen
068: Writing Psychological Suspense - Interview with Elizabeth George from 2015-11-11T16:55:46
Hello Hello Word Nerds!
I’m so excited to share my interview with author Elizabeth George. Today we’ll be talking ab...
Listen
067: Teaching and Learning to Write - Interview with Ken Murray from 2015-11-04T20:24:39
Welcome, welcome Word Nerds! I am so excited to share today's interview with author Ken Murray with you all.
Ken Murray is a writer and creative writing teacher. He teaches multi-genre, u...
Listen
066: Writing Rules! - Interview with Austin Kleon from 2015-10-28T22:52:06
Hey there word nerds!
Today's episode features one of my most favorite authors EVER: Austin Kleon. If you don’t know who he is, Austin is the New York Times bestselling author of three il...
Listen
065: The Art of the Sequel - Interview with Jojo Moyes from 2015-10-21T13:29:31
Hi there Word nerds! I’m so excited for today’s interview with bestselling author JoJo Moyes on the art of the sequel.
Listen
064: Why Writers ROCK at Marketing (and How to Do It Right) from 2015-10-14T13:44:01
Today's episode is all about the m-words of writing: marketing and money. These topics are often hard for writers to discuss, but I wanted to address them for a c...
Listen
063: Writing Poetic Prose - Interview with Ken Zak from 2015-10-07T12:00
Hello word nerds! Today I'm interviewing Ken Zak about writing poetic prose and the process behind his book, The Poet's Secret.
Kenneth Zak is an aquatic nomad of Bohemian-Polish...
Listen
062: From Concept to Bookshelf - Interview with Kim Liggett from 2015-09-30T12:00
Hey Word Nerds! Today’s episode is going to be so awesome because I'm talking to debut author Kim Liggett, a fabulous YA author and good friend. Her book, Listen
061: How to Write Spellbinding Sentences - Interview with Barbara Baig from 2015-09-23T16:07:54
Hey there, Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode. Today I’ll be interviewing Barbara Baig about how to write Listen
060: Bring Your Setting to Life - Interview with Linda Fairstein from 2015-09-16T11:00
Hey there, Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share this interview with you today. I’ll be talking to Linda Fairstein about the world she built in her famed "Alex Cooper" series. Linda is a former Ma...
Listen
059: Finding Your Om Factor - Interview with Alka Dhillon from 2015-09-09T16:44:23
Hey there word nerds! Gabriela here with another exciting interview episode on DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m thrilled to share my recent conversation with Alka Dhillon, author of Listen
058: A Mindfulness Manifesto for Writers from 2015-09-02T11:30
Hello Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me today. Man, it's been a while since I've done a solo show. It feels like it's been forever since I've had a chance to chat with you. We’ve been doing so m...
Listen
057: How to Rock Your Social Media - Interview with Jandra Sutton from 2015-08-26T13:01:03
Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for another episode of DIY MFA Radio. I’m so glad you’re here!
Today I’m interviewing Jandra Sutton, the digital media coordinator for Listen
056: Writing Literary Mysteries - Interview with Tana French from 2015-08-19T12:00
Hi there Word nerds! I’m so excited to share today’s interview with bestselling author Tana French and her process in crafting series and writing literary mysteries.
Tana French has been ...
Listen
055: DIY MFA Radio One-Year Anniversary from 2015-08-12T15:57:43
This is our one-year anniversary of DIY MFA Radio and for this episode, Elisabeth and I decided to change things up. Since I'm usually the one doing the interviewing, this time around Elisabeth ...
Listen
054: Taking the Crime Novel World by Storm - Interview with Sara Paretsky from 2015-08-05T12:00
I’m so excited to interview Sara Paretsky, author of 20 books, including the renowned V.I. Warshawski novels. In 1982 she introduced the world to private eye V.I. Warshawski in her book Indemni...
Listen
053: Bringing French Thrillers to America - Interview with Le French Book from 2015-07-29T12:17:50
Hello and welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! I’m so excited to be sharing this interview with you from Thrillerfest! I met with ...
Listen
052: The Debut Author's Life - Interview with Susannah Marren from 2015-07-22T13:14:05
Hi Word Nerds! Thanks so much for joining me. In this episode, I'm thrilled to interview debut author Susannah Marren. She and I talk about her process for writing her debut novel, her inspirati...
Listen
051: An Alternate Path to Publishing Books for Kids - Interview with Calee Lee of Xist Publishing from 2015-07-15T12:00
Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m interviewing Calee Lee, the founder and CEO of Xist Publishing, the largest independent digital-first children's publish...
Listen
050: How to Create Your Own Mini Writing Retreat from 2015-07-08T12:00
Hey Word Nerds! Welcoem to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. Back in June, I went on my first mini writing retreat right here in my howntown of NYC. I didn't go too far, just a couple of miles, ...
Listen
049: Mastering Voice and Point of View - Interview with Beatriz Williams from 2015-07-01T13:17:34
Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I'm so excited to interview Beatriz Williams. She is the author of international best sellers Overseas, A Hundred Summer...
Listen
048: The Brain Book - A Safe Space for Your Creative Process from 2015-06-24T13:59:45
Today I want to talk to you about a crucial part of my own creative life: The Brain Book. It's my portable office. When I have the Brain Book with me, I know I can be creative and productive any...
Listen
047: Honor Your Reality from 2015-06-17T14:21:27
Hey Word Nerds! Thanks so much for being here with me today. We're going to talk about a bit of DIY MFA's core philosophy and I'll teach you a game-changing techique that has helped writers turn...
Listen
046: Looking Ahead at the Publishing Industry from 2015-06-10T14:59:33
Welcome to our official Book Expo America (BEA) 2015 recap. In this episode, I pull together insights I gained from attending various sessions at BEA this year, plus trends I observed while expl...
Listen
045: Crafting Nonfiction - Interview with Joe Wenke from 2015-06-03T15:58:51
Welcome to another interview episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m so excited to introduce you to author Joe Wenke, and share this interview with him. But first, a little background info.
J...
Listen
044: Take Your Writing to the Next Level from 2015-05-27T13:00
Hey word nerd! Thanks for joining me. Today’s episode is all about how to take your writing from a hobby to something more. This episode was inspired by an email I received from a fellow word ne...
Listen
043: Book Expo America Survival Guide 2015 from 2015-05-20T14:01:12
Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I want to share with you some survival tips for Book Expo America (BEA), the publishing industry’s premier t...
Listen
042: Plot, Character, History, Oh My! - Interview with Thriller Author Steve Berry from 2015-05-13T15:46:42
Hello and welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m so excited to interview bestselling author Steve Berry.
Steve Berry is a New York Times and internationally bestselling th...
Listen
041: Behind DIY MFA - Interview with Sara Letourneau from 2015-05-06T15:28:25
Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I'm doing things a little bit differently. Instead of an interview, I'm bringing one of my team members on the show as a co-host and we'll have...
Listen
040: A DIY MFA Social Media Extravaganza! from 2015-04-29T13:11:20
Hey there, word nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today we’re going to talk about a super important topic for any author: Social Media. Social media can be trick...
Listen
039: Seven Essentials of a Writer's Education from 2015-04-22T13:00
Hello and thank you for joining me today! Today’s episode is all about the seven essentials for a writer’s education.
I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while, and after I wrote
038: Plot Without a Formula - Interview with Stuart Horwitz from 2015-04-15T14:55:11
Welcome to another episode of DIY MFA Radio. So glad you're here! Today I’m so excited to interview Stuart Horowitz from Book Architecture. Stuart is someone who is as excited about connecting w...
Listen
037: Query Critiques with Agent Jeff Kleinman, Part 2 from 2015-04-08T14:10:28
Today is part two of the query critique series with my awesome agent, Jeff Kleinman. In this episode, Jeff and I look at a few more query letters, giving feedback and line-by-line critique so yo...
Listen
036: Writer Igniter Anthology from 2015-04-01T14:00
Today I have an exciting announcement at DIY MFA: we are launching an Anthology! Our goal with this anthology is to address both the Read with Purpose and Write with Foc...
Listen
035: Query Critiques with Agent Jeff Kleinman, Part 1 from 2015-03-25T16:04:13
I'm especially excited to share today's episode with you because it features my awesome agent, Jeff Kleinman. In this episode, Jeff and I talk about query letters: what they are, why you need on...
Listen
034: Archetypes for Supporting Characters from 2015-03-18T13:48:19
Supporting characters are an essential ingredient for crafting your story. Not only do these characters add depth and further the plot, they also help support the protagonist's character arc. In...
Listen
033: Find Your Voice from 2015-03-11T14:17:08
Voice is one of those topics in writing that is so hard to pin down and define. The one thing that we can be certain of with voice, though, is that we know it when we hear it. When we read a sto...
Listen
032: Conference Survival Guide from 2015-03-04T15:04:33
One of the biggest game-changers for my writing career has been attending writers' conferences. In this episode, I share some insider conference tips to help you get the most out of the experien...
Listen
031: Finding Focus in Your Writing from 2015-02-25T14:30:21
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 ...
Listen
030: Make Your Setting Come to Life - with Kathryn Holmes from 2015-02-18T15:29:03
Today is an extra special episode because I’ll be...
Listen
029: Find Your Purpose, Build Your Tribe - Interview with Jeff Goins from 2015-02-11T15:15:52
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...
Listen
028: Picture eBook Secrets - Interview with Laura Backes from 2015-02-04T15:35:11
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 ...
Listen
027: The Art of Social Media - Interview with Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick from 2015-01-28T15:31
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: Th...
Listen
026: Write Your Book in 2015 from 2015-01-21T15:09:47
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 a...
Listen
025: Get Motivated and Get Writing from 2015-01-14T15:21:31
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 wi...
Listen
024: My Go-To Productivity Tool from 2015-01-07T11:30
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 ...
Listen
023: Writing Resolutions that Stick from 2014-12-31T15:00:26
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 resolu...
Listen
022: Five Lessons About Writing and Life (From the One and Only Santa Claus) from 2014-12-24T15:42:21
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...
Listen
021: Outlining Demystified from 2014-12-17T15:22:46
I used to hate outlines, but now I love them. In this episode I share my five go-to outline techniques: mind maps, scene cards, story mapping, story sketch and mood boards. I'll give you the ins...
Listen
020: Beyond the Book - Interview with Daniel Milnor of Blurb, Inc. from 2014-12-10T16:22:05
Today we have Daniel Milnor, photographer at...
Listen
019: How to Rock Your Post-NaNoWriMo Revisions from 2014-12-03T15:07:59
It's December and if you did NaNoWriMo, you've probably got a big pile of pages that need shaping and editing. But where do you start? This episode will give you a simple 3-step process to help ...
Listen
018: Deconstructing Shakespeare's Sonnet #90 from 2014-11-26T15:04:29
Happy Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving, everyone! I’m so thankful that you are all here and going on this podcast journey with me!
This week, I wanted to share something else that I'm super-...
Listen
017: The Essentials - Books Every Writer Should Have in Their Library from 2014-11-19T15:34:57
If you're like me (and most writers) you probably love acquiring new books. But how do you know if a writing book will teach you what you need to know? Or will it just collect dust on your books...
Listen
016: Insider's Guide to Writing Groups - Part 2: Giving Critique from 2014-11-12T18:54:33
As a follow-up to our previous episode on Writing Groups, this time we discuss how to give useful critiques. The key to giving critique is to be specific, and to think of the critique relationsh...
Listen
015: Master Class with Jane Yolen from 2014-11-05T15:30
This is a very special episode for DIY MFA Radio because it features a wonderful writer--and one of my writing heroes--Jane Yolen. Known as the "Hans Christian Andersen of America" Jane Yolen ha...
Listen
014: Creative Monsters from 2014-10-30T14:58:50
In our Halloween episode, we talk about creative monsters and how to evade them. I'll share was to trick (or treat) your way around these monsters so you can stay confident and creative. The key...
Listen
013: Five Stages of Writer's Block from 2014-10-22T15:18:50
Inspired by the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief, this episode walks you through the five stages of how writers process and get through writer's block. Just as people might grieve a loss, when w...
Listen
012: Insider's Guide to Writing Groups - Part 1: Receiving Critique from 2014-10-15T14:44:12
When new writers join DIY MFA, one of the biggest challenges they face is finding a writing group, and what to do when they finally join one. I've been in several writing groups so I thought I'd...
Listen
011: Life is Short, Read with Purpose from 2014-10-08T16:00
Do you love to read? If you're at all like me, chances are your list of books TBR (to be read) is much bigger than the number of books you could ever read in a lifetime. This means that your rea...
Listen
010: The Art of the Ask - How to Get What You Want from 2014-10-01T15:18:13
Sooner or later you're going to have to ask for something. Whether it's asking readers to buy your book, or asking someone to help you promote it, at some point you'll find yourself in a place w...
Listen
009: The Magic of Poetry - Interview with Marilyn Singer from 2014-09-24T14:00
I came to poetry fairly late as a writer, and now I'm on a mission to bring other writers to poetry as well. In this episode, I interview poet and children's book author extraordinaire: Marilyn ...
Listen
008: The Last POV Cheat Sheet You'll Ever Need from 2014-09-17T13:00
We often think of writing purely as an art but when it comes to POV, there’s definitely a science to it. When I first started writing I had no idea what POV was all about so I created a nifty PO...
Listen
007: Build Your Writing Community - Interview with Karen Dionne from 2014-09-10T14:14:30
When it comes to building a writing community, Karen Dionne knows where it's at. Co-founder of Backspace--an online community for writers of all genres--and organizer of many conferences, Karen ...
Listen
006: Five Promises in Your First Five Pages from 2014-09-03T12:47:33
The first five pages are super-important for setting the tone of your novel. In those pages, you make five key promises and delaying or breaking those promises will create tension in the story. ...
Listen
005: The Opposite IS Possible--Writing Characters with Depth from 2014-08-27T12:30
As writers, we must look at who the character could be, not necessarily who the character already is. That’s the key to writing characters with depth. For more info and show notes check out Listen
004: The Sky's the Limit... But Not Really - Why Setting Limits Is a Good Thing from 2014-08-20T13:00
Some people think unlimited possibilities leads to unlimited creativity. Not so. In this episode, you'll find out why it's important to limit your options in order to take decisive action. For m...
Listen
003: Pump Up Your Writing with Prompts from 2014-08-12T15:01:50
Learn seven good reasons why you should include prompts in your writing practice. You'll also discover a simple three-step process to help you pump up your writing with prompts. This is a tried ...
Listen
002: Build Your Writing Practice from 2014-08-12T14:05:05
In this episode I'll tell you why you want to build a writing practice, what this writing practice can look like and how to do it. For show notes and more details go to Listen
001: Write More, Write Better, Write Smarter from 2014-08-10T14:26:45
Welcome to the first episode of DIY MFA Radio! I am so happy to share this creative adventure with you. This weekly podcast will offer tips and techniques that you can apply to your writing prac...
Listen