Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sara Schaff. Sara is the author of two short story collections The Invention of Love and Say Something Nice About Me. She is a CLMP Firecracker Award Finalist in fiction and a finalist for the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award for short fiction. Her writing has appeared in Catapult, Kenyon Review Online, Yale Review Online, The Belladonna, Michigan Quarterly Review, LitHub, and others.  A graduate of Brown University and the MFA program at the University of Michigan, Sara has taught at Oberlin College, the University of Michigan, and St. Lawrence University, as well as in China, Colombia, and Northern Ireland, where she also studied storytelling. She lives in the North Country and is an assistant professor of English at the SUNY Plattsburgh. In this episode Sara and I discuss: How approaching her characters emotions more authentically created a significant change in her writing style. What a writer can do to best bring a reader into the story, and help a reader fully get to know their characters. Why feedback from other writers isn’t always helpful if it relies too much on suggestions for fixes and harsh criticisms, and not enough on building community. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/333

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Andi Cumbo-Floyd. Andi is a writer of both magical realism and nonfiction, but in the last year, she has taken on a new persona as ACF Bookens, author of cozy mysteries. Today we’ll be talking about her process and strategy in crafting this series. When she’s not writing, Andi is also an editor and writing coach, and she runs a beautiful, supportive online community. She lives in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains with a number of animals who cannot possibly coordinate their veterinary needs. In this episode Andi and I discuss: Why Andi cautions against writing for the market, but encourages writing in a particular niche that you love. What Cozy mystery tropes readers tend to expect, find funny, and appreciate. How writers of the Cozy mystery genre tend to market themselves, including newsletter writing tips. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/332

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Meg LaTorre. Meg is a sci-fi/fantasy author, YouTube darling, and founder of iWriterly. She is also the creator of the free query critique platform, Query Hack, co-host of the Publishable show, and blogger for websites: Writer’s Digest, Savvy Authors, Writers Helping Writers, and so forth. Formerly, she worked at a literary agency, and she has a background in magazine publishing, medical and technical writing, as well as journalism. For more information about Meg, subscribe to her YouTube channel or follow her on social media. You’ll find all her links on the show notes page. Today we’ll be talking about her latest book, The Cyborg Tinkerer. In this episode Meg and I discuss: How having a rebellious nature allowed her to write the kind of Steampunk novel she wanted to read. What aesthetic elements of the novel help portray issues of “otherness” and discrimination which are integral parts of the narrative. Why she chose the indie publishing route and how other authors can learn from her experience. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/331

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing the author, swordswoman, and falconer, Essa Hansen. Essa is a sound designer for sci-fi and fantasy films at Skywalker Sound, with credits in movies such as Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame.  Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel, Nophek Gloss. In this episode Essa and I discuss: What Essa does to develop her story’s language using etymology and words with multiple meanings. Why lead characters like Caiden need agency in their own story. How her experiences as a sound designer helped her create an audibly visceral world, and think outside the box creatively. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/330

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Jamison. Laura Jamison is an attorney from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and their four children. When she is not practicing law or writing, she is driving her kids to one of their many activities in her minivan. Laura is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Michigan Law School. All the Right Mistakes is her debut novel and what we will be talking about today. In this episode Laura Jamison and I discuss: How the pressure to compete on social media inspired a character in her book All the Right Mistakes Why having a clear, mathematical structure to her multiple POV story was refreshing to her readers and keeps her on track as a writer. What she did to land an agent and her journey to being published through She Writes Press. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/329

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Carol VanDenHende. Carol is an award-winning author who pens stories of resilience and hope. Her debut novel Goodbye Orchid recently won the American Fiction Award for urban fiction, the Pinnacle Book Award for multicultural fiction, and was listed by Buzzfeed as one of its 12 Most Anticipated books this fall. Carol is also a speaker (as well as one of my writing conference buddies) and she often speaks on author brand, visual identity, and marketing plans. With an MBA with 20+ years' experience in marketing and strategy, Carol knows what it takes to market your book (even if you’re a busy author) and she has applied many of these strategies to the launch of Goodbye Orchid. One secret to Carol’s good fortune? Her humorous husband, fun-loving twins, and rescue cat, who prove that love really does conquer all. In this episode Carol and I discuss: How her book Goodbye Orchid is really about hope and resilience.  Why focusing on your message as a writer is the best way to self-promote, even when self-promotion might feel inauthentic. What people often miss about the hard work it takes to be a successful author. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/328

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Fish. Dwayne Booth has been a freelance writer and cartoonist for twenty-five years, publishing under both his real name and the pen name of Mr. Fish with the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly, the Village Voice, the Atlantic, The Nation, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Magazine, MSNBC, Truthdig, HuffingtonPost, ScheerPost and others. He was the subject of a 2017 award-winning documentary by Pablo Bryant called Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End. In this episode Mr. Fish and I discuss: What ambitious idea was the inspiration for Long Story Short. Why he enlisted the help of colleagues to help him accomplish his project. How visual art has a truth that resonates both emotionally and intellectually. Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/327

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Amy Alznauer. Amy lives in Chicago with her husband, two children, a dog and her four puppies, a parakeet, sometimes chicks and a part-time fish, but, as of today, no elephants or peacocks. Check back. Her writing has won the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction, the Christopher Award, and the SCBWI-Illinois Laura Crawford Memorial Mentorship, and her essays and poetry have appeared in collections and literary journals including The Bellingham Review, Creative Nonfiction and River Teeth. She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She teaches calculus and number theory classes at Northwestern University. She is the managing editor for the SCBWI-IL Prairie Wind. And she is the writer-in-residence at St. Gregory the Great, where she has a little office in a big building with a bad internet connection, where she tries to get work done (in theory). In this episode Amy and I discuss: How the relationship between the Zhou brothers inspired her book. What Amy had to do to find the perfect illustrator for her book. Why Amy believes it is important to get the blessing from the real-life figures that inspire your writing.  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes diymfa.com/326  

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Nathan Makaryk. Nathan is the author of Nottingham, which deconstructs the mythology of Robin Hood in a realistic historical context. Nathan is a playwright, theater-owner, director, stage combat choreographer, and comedian living in Southern California. Nottingham was based on his critically-acclaimed original play The Legend of Robin Hood. Today we’ll be talking about the second installment in his epic Nottingham series: Lionhearts. In this episode Nathan and I discuss: Why he initially hated Robin Hood and how that helped him reimagine it How he adapted his own script into a full-length book The difference between pacing and speed and why that shift is important Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/325

Hey there word nerds! Today we’re doing something a little bit different. This is a special episode, created in partnership with INBOUND, one of my favorite marketing conferences where I have had the pleasure of speaking for the past three years. INBOUND is one of those conferences that has become a mainstay in my speaking schedule. I look forward to it every year, and I always have a blast speaking on my signature topic, the Storytelling Superpower. If you want some additional bonus materials about the Storytelling Superpower framework, hop on over to DIYMFA.com/INBOUND and sign up with your email address. You’ll get an archetype cheat sheet along with additional bonuses I’ll send out via email. I was scheduled to speak at this year’s live event and I was counting down the days to my trip to Boston, but as with most live conferences, the folks at INBOUND wisely opted to move the event online. While I’m missing the amazing energy and excitement—and let’s not forget the food trucks (yum!)—there is a silver lining. You see, now it means I get to share the concepts from my talk with you here on the podcast, which is also being aired as part of the INBOUND online programming.Now, I could just deliver the talk from my session as a solo podcast episode, but that would be boring, so I’ve recruited one of my favorite people and INBOUND party-buddy: Erica Wexler. Erica is the Founder & CEO of Erica Wexler Transforms. She’s the creator of the Transformational Guidance™ Training & Coaching Program she specializes in helping both organizations and individuals play to their strengths, navigate obstacles, and work more collaboratively in today’s diverse, virtual, and fast-paced workplace. Erica has a ton of experience creating positive change in government, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors, including 13 years leading communication, training and outreach efforts at a state-level government agency she helped create. Erica earned her Master’s in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and holds dual certifications in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. She is a published author, a dynamic powerhouse speaker, an avid dancer, and I am lucky enough to call her my friend. I’ve known Erica since 2017, when we both participated in a mastermind group together. Right away, I knew we were going to be fast friends. Since then, we’ve been networking buddies at tons of events and last year we took INBOUND 2019 by storm and it was awesome! As you’ll hear in a moment, Erica is a powerhouse presence on stage, in a meeting, or at happy hour. But she’s also one of those rare people who, while being incredibly dynamic herself, doesn’t let her presence overshadow that of others. She is one of those amazing people who has the ability to amplify the voice of others and adds to their energy. When INBOUND asked me to create a special podcast episode as part of their 2020 conference programming, I knew Erica was the person I wanted behind the mic with me. This episode is part interview, part conversation, but mostly two besties geeking out about all things storytelling. In this episode Erica and I discuss: How the three elements of storytelling apply to marketing Why brands shouldn’t focus solely on what the customer wants to hear The most important thing to consider about storytelling for your brand Plus, my #1 tip for people who want to unleash their Storytelling Superpower! For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/324

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen Zuman. Helen Zuman is the author of Mating in Captivity, a memoir of her five years, post-Harvard, at Zendik Farm, a neo-hippie cult with a radical take on sex and relationships. Her memoir has received many honors. It got a starred review from Kirkus and was named Kirkus Best Indie Memoir of 2018, and it was a finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses’ 2019 Firecracker Award. Today we’ll be talking about the craft and process behind Mating in Captivity. In this episode Helen Zuman and I discuss: How blogging and memoir classes got her the feedback she needed to develop her manuscript. What is healing about writing a memoir and how it can help you cope with confusing, painful, and difficult personal experiences. Why she didn’t always use pseudonyms for her characters. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/323

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ace Atkins. Ace Atkins is the author of twenty-six books, including ten Quinn Colson novels and eight New York Times–bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series. HBO has optioned the Quinn Colson novels with a series currently in high development and Atkins’ second novel for Robert B. Parker estate, Wonderland, was just made into a film with Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke. A former newspaper reporter and SEC football player, Ace Atkins also writes essays and investigative pieces for several publications, including Garden & Gun, the Wall Street Journal and Outside. Today we’ll be talking about his latest Quinn Colson novel: The Revelators In this episode Ace and I discuss: How his books stand for social justice but are not necessarily political in nature. Why writers should be willing to voice their opinions and take a stand. What makes a character a hero or a villain. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/322

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Matt Hongoltz-Hetling. Matt is a freelance journalist specializing in narrative features and investigative reporting. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, has won a George Polk Award, and has been voted Journalist of the Year by the Maine Press association, as well as many other honors. His work has appeared in varied publications, like USA Today, Popular Science, and the Associated Press, as well as many others. Today we’ll be talking about his nonfiction book: A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears). In this episode Matt and I discuss: Where he visited to conduct interviews with locals that inspired his book. How to build positive relationships in the publishing industry when you are not naturally outgoing. What fiction and nonfiction have in common. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes diymfa.com/321

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Julia London. Julia is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly best-selling romance author of the popular contemporary romance series, The Princes of Texas, including the Charmer in Chaps, The Devil in the Saddle, and The Billionaire in Boots, as well as the upcoming rom-com, You Lucky Dog. She is also the author of numerous historical series, including the recent Royal Wedding series, which includes The Princess Plan and A Royal Kiss and Tell. She is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. In this episode Julia London and I discuss: The universality of the meet-cute and the role of secondary characters How to keep characters who hate each other together for a romance novel Why you don’t need to give a lot of background information at the outset Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/320

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Maden. Mike grew up working in the canneries, feed mills and slaughterhouses of California’s San Joaquin Valley. A lifelong fascination with history and warfare ultimately led to a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis with a focus on conflict and technology in international relations. Like millions of others, he first became a Tom Clancy fan after reading The Hunt for Red October, and began his published fiction career in the same techno-thriller genre, starting with Drone and the sequels, Blue Warrior, Drone Command and Drone Threat. After spending over a decade in Dallas, Maden now lives in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Tom Clancy and his unforgettable characters have been a household name for as long as I can remember, and since 2017, Maden brought his ideal background and knowledge of war and tech to the family of Clancy co-authors and collaborators, beginning with Tom Clancy Point of Contact. His books have garnered plenty of attention and acclaim, and his fourth entry in this #1 NYT-bestselling series, titled Tom Clancy Firing Point, is out now. Once again, Mike taps into his incredible background as an author and expert to hit the trifecta of what makes a great Clancy book: Tom’s terrific characters combined with edge-of-your-seat action scenes and the over-the-horizon foretelling about world events. In this episode Mike and I discuss: How to create deeply flawed characters that readers still like Why figuring out the stakes can help you populate your story’s universe His outline process and how it balances creativity and structure Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/319

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing R.H. Herron. Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford and she is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board. Today we’ll be talking about her thriller Stolen Things. In this episode Rachael and I discuss: Where she believes plot originates The importance of sensitivity readers and what to ask them to do How to navigate voice when writing a novel from multiple POVs Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/318

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Syed M. Masood. Syed M. Masood grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and now lives with his wife and children in Sacramento, California, where he is a practicing attorney. He wrote a few couplets in Urdu when he was a teenager, and his family still tells everyone he is an Urdu poet. He is not. More Than Just a Pretty Face is his young adult debut novel. In this episode Syed and I discuss: Why you need to listen to what your characters want as you write How honoring universal experiences allows readers to understand your reality Ways to keep the romance trope interesting, but also staying within the form Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/317

Hey there word nerds! Our show notes are at DIYMFA.com/316 because it’s episode 316! Also, if you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe on iTunes, GooglePlay (you know, all the usual places) and please leave us a review. This will help other word nerds discover the show as well. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Lauren J. Sharkey. Lauren is a writer, teacher, and transracial adoptee. After her birth in South Korea, she was adopted by Irish Catholic parents and raised on Long Island. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in the Asian American Feminist Collective’s digital storytelling project, First Times, as well as several anthologies including I Am Strength! and Women under Scrutiny. Inconvenient Daughter is her debut novel, and is loosely based on her experience as a Korean adoptee. In this episode Lauren and I discuss: Why she decided to write a novel based on her life instead of a memoir How to not get sued when writing memoir The process that led to creating an unconventional narrative timeline  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/316

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Miriam Feldman. Miriam is a painter, writer, and mother originally from Los Angeles, California. After her son, Nick's, diagnosis with Schizophrenia more than ten years ago, she began writing to document and explore the ways this new reality affected her relationship with her children, her husband, and herself. Her blog, https://www.miriam-feldman.com, explores issues of motherhood, mental illness and the politics of our mental health system. She is also the founder and owner of Demar Feldman Studios, Inc., a specialty painting company that focuses on architectural finishes, murals, and decorative art for residential and commercial locations in Southern California and abroad. Clients include Samuel L. Jackson & LaTanya Richardson Jackson , Wolfgang Puck, Patricia Heaton & David Hunt, Tony Shalhoub and Brooke Adams, Jay & Mavis Leno and many more. She has run the company for 30 years. Miriam holds an MFA in fine art from Otis College of Art and Design. Her paintings are in collections across the United States. Today we’re discussing her memoir He Came In With It, in which she chronicles her experiences as she came to grips with her son’s mental illness. In this episode Miriam and I discuss: How she chose what stayed in her memoir and what got cut What her family said about the content of her memoirs Her experience switching mediums from painting to writing Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/315

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Django Wexler. Django graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts. Today we are talking about Ashes of the Sun, the first book in his new epic fantasy trilogy. In this episode Django and I discuss: Which movie franchise inspired Django in his trilogy’s world building How writing fan-fiction can be used as a tool for growing as a writer His method to build an intricate and believable fantasy world Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/314

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Natalie Jenner. Natalie Jenner was born in England, raised in Canada, and graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and Law. She worked for decades in the legal industry and also founded an independent bookstore in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. The Jane Austen Society is the first published novel for this lifelong devotee of all things Jane Austen and is out now. In this episode Natalie and I discuss: How Jane Austen inspired her to begin writing again after a break. Why Jane Austen is an excellent influence for contemporary writers. Her method for getting started on a book (hint: you can do it too!). Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/313

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Hankin. Laura has written for McSweeney’s and HuffPost, among other publications. The viral videos that she creates and stars in with her comedy duo, Feminarchy, have been featured in Now This, The New York Times, and Funny or Die. She has performed off-Broadway, acted on screen, and has sung to far too many babies. Today we’re talking about her new novel Happy and You Know It, which is all about the NYC fancy-moms playgroup scene.  In this episode Laura and I discuss: How to keep readers guessing (in a good way!) throughout your book Her method for creating multiple points of view Why negative feedback can actually be a good thing Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/312

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Henry Clark. Henry is the author of What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World as well as The Book That Proves Time Travel Happens. He has contributed articles to MAD magazine and published fiction in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine in addition to acting at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a living-history museum. Today we’ll be talking about his latest novel: What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon. In this episode Henry and I discuss: The symbolic meaning of numbers and how it interplays with magic. Why a trio of protagonists creates a great dynamic for moving along a story. How to use humor as a vehicle for character development. Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/311 

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Pamela Taylor. Pamela brings her love of history to the art of storytelling. An avid reader of historical fact and fiction, she finds the past offers rich sources for character, ambiance, and plot that allow readers to escape into a world totally unlike their daily lives. A history major in college, with minors in French and Spanish, she is also a classically trained musician and believes this has given her a special feel for the rhythm, dynamics, and phrasing of the written word. In addition to creating her own stories, Pamela is active in multiple writing communities. She is a member of the DFW Writers Workshop and is in her third year on the Judges Panel for the Ink & Insights Writing Contest. In 2018, she joined the team at DIY MFA where she writes the Historical Fiction column, “Past Perfect.” She is also a freelance editor and a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. She shares her home with two Corgis who frequently remind her that a dog walk is the best inspiration for that next chapter. In this episode Pamela and I discuss: Techniques to craft compelling secondary characters.  How research and travel can help writers build a realistic historical world.  What a style sheet is--and why it’s an important part of the editorial process.  How to guide new readers into the second or third book in a series.  Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/310

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Susann Cokal. Susann is a moody historical novelist, a pop-culture essayist, book critic, magazine editor, and sometime professor of creative writing and modern literature. She lives in a creepy old farmhouse in Richmond, Virginia, with seven cats, a big dog, a spouse, and some peacocks that supposedly belong to a neighbor. Susann's first young adult novel, The Kingdom of Little Wounds, received several national awards, including a silver medal from the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award series. Her books for adults, Mirabilis and Breath and Bones, received some nice notice too. Her shorter work has been published in a variety of literary journals and anthologies, such as Electric Lit, Prairie Schooner, Writers Ask, and The New York Times Book Review. Today we’ll be talking about her new novel, Mermaid Moon, which is out now and is about a mermaid who leaves the sea in search of her landish mother. In this episode Susann and I discuss: How to craft a “mood” in your story. Using point of view to illustrate character and world-building.  What makes a prologue “work.” Why it’s so important to experiment as you write.  How exploring different possibilities can be a powerful writing tool.  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For show notes and more info: diymfa.com/309

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 holds an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. An excerpt from her first novel won first place in the Writers Workshop of Asheville Literary Fiction Contest. Today we’ll be discussing her debut novel: If I Had Two Lives In this episode Abbigail and I discuss: How to persevere after the ‘honeymoon’ stage of writing a book ends. Ways to weave together a protagonist’s internal and external journey.  Why cutting words and characters can actually enhance the world of your novel.  Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/308

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mag Dimond. Mag Dimond has been a world traveler since the age of eleven, when her mother took her to live in Italy. She has traveled extensively in Europe and Central America, and ventured to such exotic landscapes as India, Cambodia, Bhutan, Japan, Kenya, China, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cuba. In her seventies now, she continues traveling, the most recent adventure being to Machu Picchu and the Amazon jungle. After a career teaching writing to college students in San Francisco and Taos, she often volunteers as a writing tutor at 826 Valencia, an esteemed literacy program launched by David Eggers. A practicing Buddhist for twenty years, she is a classical pianist, photographer, gourmet cook, animal rescuer, and philanthropist. Today we’ll be discussing her book Bowing to Elephants, which has been honored by Kirkus Review with a starred review as one of the best Indie memoir/biographies of 2019. Prior to publication, excerpts from Bowing to Elephants appeared in American Literary Review, Travelers Tales Solas Awards, the Tulip Tree “Stories that Must be Told” awards, and the 2017 William Faulkner Wisdom awards. Additionally, she has also published essays in Elephant Journal, a prestigious online magazine with a readership of almost two million people. It is truly an honor to have her here at DIY MFA today. In this episode Mag and I discuss: How journaling can lead to memoir-writing. A technique to help writers tap into their memories. Why clear thinking is crucial to clear writing.  How mindfulness and meditation can be powerful writing tools. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mag Dimond. Mag Dimond has been a world traveler since the age of eleven, when her mother took her to live in Italy. She has traveled extensively in Europe and Central America, and ventured to such exotic landscapes as India, Cambodia, Bhutan, Japan, Kenya, China, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cuba. In her seventies now, she continues traveling, the most recent adventure being to Machu Picchu and the Amazon jungle. After a career teaching writing to college students in San Francisco and Taos, she often volunteers as a writing tutor at 826 Valencia, an esteemed literacy program launched by David Eggers. A practicing Buddhist for twenty years, she is a classical pianist, photographer, gourmet cook, animal rescuer, and philanthropist. Today we’ll be discussing her book Bowing to Elephants, which has been honored by Kirkus Review with a starred review as one of the best Indie memoir/biographies of 2019. Prior to publication, excerpts from Bowing to Elephants appeared in American Literary Review, Travelers Tales Solas Awards, the Tulip Tree “Stories that Must be Told” awards, and the 2017 William Faulkner Wisdom awards. Additionally, she has also published essays in Elephant Journal, a prestigious online magazine with a readership of almost two million people. It is truly an honor to have her here at DIY MFA today. Embed Episode Here In this episode Mag and I discuss: How journaling can lead to memoir-writing. A technique to help writers tap into their memories. Why clear thinking is crucial to clear writing.  How mindfulness and meditation can be powerful writing tools. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/307

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marilyn Singer. Winner of the National Council of Teachers of English Award for Excellence in Poetry, 2015, Marilyn Singer has written more than 100 books in many genres. She created a poetry form, the “reverso,” featured in three of her award-winning collections:  Mirror Mirror, Follow Follow, and Echo Echo. She co-hosts the Poetry Blast, which features children’s poets reading their work, at the American Library Association conference and other conventions. Marilyn lives in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, CT with a dog, a cat, and two doves, as well as her favorite dance partner, who also happens to be her husband.  On a more personal note, Marilyn is someone I consider a dear friend. We first met while standing in line for a book signing at BookExpo when I was just a newbie and I remember thinking “OMG this amazing author is talking to little ol’ me!” I’ve had the pleasure of featuring her on this show before (she was one of my very first interviews) and her books are among my children’s absolute favorites. So it is truly a pleasure and an honor to welcome the fabulous poet and children’s book author, Marilyn Singer back to DIY MFA Radio! In this episode Marilyn and I discuss: The inspiration behind Follow the Recipe Tying together the illustrations and poems Structuring a book of poems The reverso form The power of constraint in poetry How to get started writing poetry Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/306

Hey there word nerds! Joe is a bestselling writer, novelist, and a dad. He leads The Write Practice community, an award-winning community of creative writers. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Talia and three kids and enjoys coffee and corpse reviver no. 2s. In this episode Joe and I discuss: The inspiration behind Crowdsourcing Paris A small, but powerful trick to overcoming writer’s block  Finding awe in the ordinary Structuring a memoir Creating risks and stakes in any story Developing a writing practice Plus, his  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/305

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Helen J. Darling. Helen is the author of two humorous women’s fiction novels: Terms and Conditions and I’ll Know Me When I Find Me. She is also the resident self-publishing expert and columnist at DIY MFA. Helen worked in publishing for twenty years before acknowledging she’d like to write something herself. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she dabbles uncontrollably in hobbies from photography and painting to gardening, carpentry, and home renovations. She reads three or four books at a time. She also keeps bees. That’s why she takes so long to write her novels. You can learn about her latest distractions by joining her mailing list or following her on social media. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two children, a codependent beagle, and a cat who owns them all. In this episode Helen and I discuss: How working in academic publishing led to Helen’s writing career The flexibility that comes with self-publishing How self-publishing has changed Why writers choose self-publishing over traditional The two most important people on your self-publishing team Choosing the right people for your self-publishing team An overview of the editorial and publishing process The main parts of a book launch Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For info and more notes: diymfa.com/304

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sonja K. Solter. Sonja graduated from Stanford University and earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University, with a critical thesis on writing trauma in middle grade and young adult realistic fiction. She is currently a creative writing mentor to youth with the Society of Young Inklings and enjoys writing poetry and prose for children of all ages. When You Know What I Know is her gorgeous debut novel. Visit her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. In this episode Sonja and I discuss: The inspiration behind When You Know What I Know Plot points in a character-driven story Writing a book in verse instead of prose How an ensemble cast effects the main character Writing about trauma in middle grade and YA How attending a conference led to publication Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/303

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie, the “And I Thought” Ladies! Jade is the 2019 Poet of the Year, and Wilnona is Advocate Awarded. Both ladies recently accepted the job as US correspondents for UK TV show Chrissy B on Sky TV. They recently made the list of 20 Iconic Authors according to Every Writers Resource Magazine. This dynamic duo has contributed to eleven books: The And I Thought Series & The Miss-Fit Guides. In addition, Jade and Wilnona are the Co-Founders of The Inspirational Women in Literature Media and Journalism Awards, The Thoughtful Book Festival, the 25 Hottest Authors Magazine & And I Thought Literary Magazine. They starred in docuseries Just Writin Life about authors. They will be starring in the film Create, Aspire & Inspire. They have co-hosted conferences on three continents. They have read poetry for loving fans in Australia, the U.K., Greece, and Canada, by Invitation for a regional poet laureate, and at the U.K. literary book festival. In July they were on their fourth European book tour reading their poetry, promoting their magazine and their movie. In this episode Jade, Wilnona and I discuss: The power of writers championing other writers The myth that you’ll never make money as a poet Understanding the impact of your writing  Using past success as inspiration to keep going Stepping into the limelight Taking a piece from page to stage Plus, their #1 tips for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/302

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jeff Garvin. Jeff is an author, musician, and podcaster and his debut novel, Symptoms of Being Human has received a ton of accolades. It is an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, and has garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly.  Before becoming a novelist, Jeff acted on TV and toured as the lead singer of a rock band. He has a BFA in Film from Chapman University and lives in Southern California. Now, I have been looking forward to this episode since last July, when Jeff and I met at a ThrillerFest cocktail party. We connected right away and when Jeff told me about his new novel The Lightness of Hands I knew I just had to have him on the show. This book grapples with some heavy topics, but one in particular that really hits home for me: mental health. I am so thrilled to be recording this interview (finally! After 8 months!) and to introduce Jeff and his moving (sometimes gut-wrenching) YA novels to my word nerd listeners. In this episode Jeff and I discuss: How real life experiences inspired Lightness of Hands Living with Bipolar II Breaking the stigma around mental illness Starting a book with a question you can’t answer Writing a character that is hyper-attuned to her inner life The power of mindfulness meditation The hero’s journey, applied to writing and life Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/301

Hey there word nerds!  Welcome to the three hundredth episode of DIY MFA Radio! The original plan for this episode was to unveil our first-ever DIY MFA live event—Writer Igniter LIVE—which we were planning for October. In light of current events, we’ve put the planning  for that on hold. That said, we still wanted to honor this special milestone episode by doing something a little bit different. To that end, I’ve gathered Team Awesome together to talk about a new approach we’ve been taking with DIY MFA. While from an outside perspective DIY MFA has been chugging away as it always has been, over the past three months the team and I have been doing a lot of internal work, getting our house in order and making key shifts to how we approach the work that we do. One of these key shifts is the concept of building mental theme parks.  Now, theme parks hold a special significance for me. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with theme park design. Most kids go to Disney World for the rides; I was that weirdo kid begging her parents to let her take the behind-the-scenes tour of the underground tunnels.  When I was twelve or so, I decided I wanted to design a ride for Epcot Center. You see, while the World Showcase features many different countries, there isn’t a single one from South America. (Sorry Mexico, but you’re not in South America). I thought it was a travesty that an entire continent would be overlooked like that, so I decided to design the Brazilian Pavilion (I mean, the marketing copy practically writes itself. Most normal kids spend their summers traveling or going to camp. I spent my summer researching 18th century Brazilian architecture, drafting up design drawings, and brainstorming possible corporate sponsors. I even mapped out a ride. I designed everything, from the menus of the pavilion restaurants to the types of souvenir shops and what they would sell. Then I packaged everything together and mailed the envelope to Mr. Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney. A few months later, I got a reply with a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo about not being able to consider unsolicited submissions, blah blah blah.  The result was disappointing. As a kid, I didn’t care about the money, I just wanted to see my idea out in the world and getting the envelope sent back without them even considering the concept was hard. Still, that one experience has shaped my life in many unexpected ways. I continue to be obsessed with theme parks and other themed environments (Las Vegas, etc.) and this idea of “theming” is woven into everything I do as an author, teacher, and entrepreneur. To this day, I think of everything I build—whether it’s a book, a course, or a podcast—I think of it as an experience I’m creating for the audience (i.e. you, my word nerds). This idea of DIY MFA as a theme park for the mind has become central to our team and what we do at DIY MFA. Listen in as Team Awesome and I jam about DIY MFA and building theme parks for the mind. In this episode Jeanette, Bess, Lori and I discuss: How DIY MFA is like a theme park for your mind How this DIY MFA theme park is designed and operates The different roles of Team Awesome in the park How we’re moving forward as a team and a business during Corona Virus and beyond Team Awesome’s tips for being creative in spite of Corona Virus Free DIY MFA resources to help writers right now What’s ahead for DIY MFA this year Plus, their #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/300

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Chris Banks! Chris Banks is the CEO and Founder of ProWritingAid. In his varied career, he has built neural networks to model language learning, worked on the BBC’s scriptwriting product, written books, been a ski guide, and given talks on creativity, artificial intelligence, and language technologies. He started ProWritingAid to help with his own writing, but he soon saw how useful it was for everyone else. Now, he wants to help more people put their ideas into words and those words into the hands (and hearts) of readers. In this episode Chris and I discuss: How a broken ankle led to the creation of the ProWritingAid Software How ProWritingAid can help improve your writing  Approaching writing like building a building Taking your writing from good to great How a thesaurus can be a powerful writing tool Plus, his  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/299

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 include Pointe, Stonewall Award winner Little & Lion, Finding Yvonne, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, and her 2020 releases, The Only Black Girls in Town, and The Voting Booth. Her short fiction and essays have also been published in several critically acclaimed anthologies for young people. Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Brandy spent a few years living in Chicago before relocating permanently to Los Angeles. She is very active on social media and also works as a copy editor for magazines and books. She is also on faculty at Hamline University’s MFA program in writing for children. In this episode Brandy and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Revolution of Birdie Randolph Exploring black friendships and experience in The Only Black Girls in Town How books can functions as both mirrors and windows Exploring the theme of family over multiple books Grappling with race in the context of a contemporary story Moving into middle grade after writing YA   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/298

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing E.J. Wenstrom J. Wenstrom believes in complicated heroes, horrifying monsters, purple hair dye and standing to the right on escalators so the left side can walk. Her award-winning fantasy series Chronicles of the Third Realm War (City Owl Press) features a peculiar mashup of Greek mythology, Judeo-Christian folklore, and an extra dash of her own special brand of chaos. The series includes Florida Writers Association’s 2016 Book of the Year Mud, Rain (which is the prequel), Tides, and—most recently—Sparks, which concludes the series. In this episode E.J. and I discuss: How an internship led E.J. to discover a love of writing How research on monsters became the inspiration for finding Adem’s voice Finding hope in the midst of a seemingly hopeless story Setting up a satisfying series ending How E.J. uses an “ugly draft” to facilitate writing a book a year The benefits of publishing with a small press Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/297

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Curdella Forbes. Curdella is a Jamaican writer who lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, and teaches at Howard University. Her latest novel, A Tall History of Sugar, has been praised by BuzzFeed, Essence, Bookish, The Rumpus, Electric Lit, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, SyFy, and many others. Writing for the New York Times Book Review, Veronica Chambers said of the novel: "Forbes’s writing combines the gale-force imagination of Margaret Atwood with the lyrical pointillism of Toni Morrison.” In this episode Curdella and I discuss: The inspiration behind A Tall History of Sugar Writing about the experience of not belonging Moving between third and first person The dark origins of fairy tales The story behind the title “A Tall History of Sugar” Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/296

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Claire Waller. Claire is a secondary school teacher who works with teenagers with mental health issues. She has had two adult horror novels (Predator X, Nine Eyes) published by Australian indie publisher, Severed Press. FUGLY is her first YA novel. Claire lives with her husband, two daughters, a cat called Hiccup, and various dinosaurs. Her interests include drawing, baking, palaeontology, horror, and roleplaying. In this episode Claire and I discuss: The very personal inspiration for Fugly The toxic love of cruelty online Writing a character that behaves in a problematic way Expectations for negative female characters verses male ones Bringing personal experience to a fictional character Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/295

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing H.R. Hobbs. H.R. Hobbs (or Heather Hobbs, as I know her) is the Amazon-bestselling author of a series of compassionate and empowering stories for middle-grade readers. Set in a typical middle school, her books address the topics of belonging, friendship, and bullying. A lifelong learner and teacher, Heather started writing in 2015 as a retirement project. Recently, she began taking art lessons with the hopes of illustrating her own children’s books in the future. Heather is the mother to three grown sons and grandmother to three little darlings. She lives with her husband in the small prairie town where she was born and raised. Also, Heather and I have been part of the same mastermind group for just about two years (shoutout to our third group member Angelica!). For those who don’t know, a mastermind group is basically like a critique group but instead of giving feedback on each other’s writing, we brainstorm around each other’s careers and business plans. When Heather and I first met, she was still teaching and she was juggling her writing alongside a busy teaching schedule. In the years since, she has doubled down on her writing and built a strong career as a self-published author (in a niche that isn’t necessarily easy to break into with self-publishing). I have had the benefit of hearing Heather’s insights pretty much every other week for two years and I am beyond thrilled to have her on the show so she can share her insights with the word nerd community. In this episode Heather and I discuss: Choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing Successfully self-publishing in the children’s market The freedom of self-publishing Delegating tasks and developing a publishing team Building a launch team Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/294

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Abel. Cartoonist and coach Jessica is the founder of the Creative Focus Workshop, and author of Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You're Drowning in Your Daily Life, the graphic novel La Perdida, and two textbooks about making comics, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures and Mastering Comics. Her book Out on the Wire is about how the best radio and podcast producers in the world use story to keep us listening. Jessica’s latest work of fiction is the Eisner-nominated Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars. She is chair of the illustration program at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In this episode Jessica and I discuss: The inspiration behind Growing Gills The myth of the muse and “right brain versus left brain” The power of time tracking Dealing with external and internal nay-sayers The power of planning and creating your own rules Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: www.diymfa.com/293

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing K.S. Villoso who writes speculative fiction with a focus on deeply personal themes and character-driven narratives. Much of her work is inspired by her childhood in the slums of Taguig, Philippines. She now lives amidst the forest and mountains of Vancouver, Canada with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novel, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a gripping adventure about a queen, trying to unite her divided kingdom, even though everybody hates her. In this episode K.S. and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Wolf of Oren-Yaro Building on a previous series Creating a deeply flawed character that readers can still root for The interplay between the external and internal journey of the protagonist Meeting genre expectations in a new way Building a world through character Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/292

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Robert Dugoni. Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Internationally Best-Selling Author of 17 novels in The Tracy Crosswhite police detective series set in Seattle, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and the Charles Jenkins espionage series. He is also the author of several standalone novels including The Eighth Sister and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, both #1 Amazon kindle downloads, as well as The 7th Canon and The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post best book of the year. Several novels have been optioned for television series. Robert is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for fiction and many other awards. We’ll be talking about his book A Cold Trail which is out now. In this episode Robert and I discuss: The power of dedicated, daily work Revisiting an old crime in a new book The particular appeal of a small town as a mystery setting The interplay between setting, theme and characters The myth of originality Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/291

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Samuel Shem, a novelist, playwright, and activist. He is a Professor in Medical Humanities at NYU School of Medicine, and Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome. His novels include The House of God, Fine, Mount Misery, In the Heart of the Universe, and The Spirit of the Place (which won two national "Best Literary Novel" awards in 2008 and 2009). He is coauthor with his wife, Janet Surrey, of The Buddha's Wife, and the award-winning Off-Broadway play Bill W. and Dr. Bob, about the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, and also We Have to Talk: Healing Dialogues Between Men and Women. Also, just a quick heads up, we have a teeny bit of explicit language towards the end of the interview. Due to the nature of the discussion I decided not to bleep anything out, but I wanted to let you know in case you have small children in the room or you, yourself, are not comfortable with explicit language. In this episode Samuel and I discuss: The desire that inspired the novel  Putting parts of yourself into a novel Fictionalizing true things Writing -- or not writing -- for a specific audience The necessity of character change How computers depersonalize medicine  Writing a sequel that still stands alone Plus, his #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/290

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Constance Sayers talking about her debut novel, A Witch in Time, which is forthcoming in February. A finalist for Alternating Current’s 2016 Luminaire Award for Best Prose, her short stories have appeared in Souvenir and Amazing Graces: Yet Another Collection of Fiction by Washington Area Women as well as The Sky is a Free Country. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She received her master of arts in English from George Mason University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She attended The Bread Loaf Writers Conference where she studied with Charles Baxter and Lauren Groff. Currently, she is a media executive at Atlantic Media (publisher of The Atlantic).  She lives in Maryland and is the co-founder of the Thoughtful Dog literary magazine.  In this episode Constance and I discuss: How a painting inspired A Witch in Time Blending together multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative Managing pacing with different storylines Balancing writing and researching Novel-writing lessons from writing short stories Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/289

Hey there word nerds!  Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Janae Marks! Janae is an award-winning children's book author living in Connecticut. She has an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School, and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her debut is the middle grade novel,  From the Desk of Zoe Washington, which we’ll be discussing today. Janae also happens to be one of my dearest writing besties. She’s known me since before DIY MFA was even a twinkle in my eye, like back when it was still just a “crazy idea” I was kicking around on my personal blog. She and I were also in the same thesis critique group so she has seen my writing in all its many forms: from the good, to the bad, to the… what the heck were you thinking, Gabriela? One of my favorite things—one of the things that brings true joy to my heart—is when I get to introduce my favorite people to the word nerd community. I’ve known Janae for a long time; I know how much of her heart and soul she’s poured into this book and I am so excited for the world to discover Zoe Washington and this sweet, heart-felt middle grade novel. Without further ado, welcome Janae! It’s so great to have you here. In this episode Janae and I discuss: How Serial and Making a Murderer inspired From the Desk of Zoe Washington Aging a character down from YA to middle grade Weaving serious, real-world issues into a middle grade story Balancing parenting and writing Different types of writing friends and communities Finding a community-focused writing conference Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/288

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kiley Reid! An Arizona native, Kiley Reid is a recent graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she was the recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship. Her short stories have been featured and are forthcoming in Ploughshares, December, New South, and Lumina. With the latter publication, her short story won first place in the 2017 Flash Prose Contest. In Summer 2018, Kiley attended the Cuttyhunk Island Residency as the recipient of the Paul Cuffee Scholarship. Such a Fun Age is her debut novel, and the film and TV rights have already been acquired. In this episode Kiley and I discuss: How the idea of awkwardness and ownership inspired Such a Fun Age Using the imbalance of three characters to create a charged scene Creating complex and multi-faceted protagonists An in-depth analysis of a pivotal scene Using external and internal wants to deepen characterization Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/287

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marie Force. Marie is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than seventy contemporary romances, including the Fatal Series. Thirty of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and she has sold more than nine million books worldwide. Today we’ll be discussing book #15 in the Fatal series—Fatal Accusation—and the craft of putting together a romantic suspense series. In this episode Marie and I discuss: How a news story inspired the Fatal series Building a romance series around one couple The difference between romance with suspense and romantic suspense Managing writing multiple series at once Balancing indie and traditional publishing Plus, her #1 tip for writers For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/286