Hey there Word Nerds! Today I’m talking to Nicholas Petrie, author of the stunning debut THE DRIFTER, an explosive thriller written with a strong literary sensibility. In our conversation, we tackle a topic that many authors often struggle with: how do we write about something when we have no first-hand experience with it? This question goes deeper than "how do you write what you don't know?" After all, it's one thing to write historical fiction about a time period long ago and fill in those gaps using library research. But how do you write about characters whose experiences and backgrounds are different from your own without crossing the line and appropriating that experience in some way. We all know we should include diverse characters in our stories, but how does a writer actually do that without appropriating those experiences? In this episode, Nick opens up about his process, and talks about how he portrayed the experiences of war veterans on the page even he has never been in the military himself. If you've ever worried about this question of appropriation, this podcast interview is a must-listen! In this episode Nicholas and I discuss: The winding road to getting published. The importance of research in nailing your plot. The importance of language in nailing your prose. Writing characters who are different from you. Plus, Nicholas’s  #1 tip for writers. About THE DRIFTER: THE DRIFTER draws its considerable strength from Petrie’s uncompromising portrayal of shattered war veterans, returned home and trying to reintegrate into the civilian world they left behind. The unforgettable protagonist, Peter Ash, came home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with only one souvenir: what he calls his “white static,” buzzing claustrophobia due to post-traumatic stress. Ash is drawn back to the past when an old friend from the Marines commits suicide. When he goes to Milwaukee to help the man’s widow, Ash makes a discovery—a suitcase filled with money and explosives—that leads him into an investigation of his friend’s death, which may take him back to the world he thought he’d left behind. Suspenseful and thrilling, and featuring a compelling new hero, THE DRIFTER is an exciting debut from a fresh voice in crime fiction. This is a gorgeous book, and if you're into crime fiction with a strong literary bent, this one will be right up your alley. If you choose to buy this book, we hope you'll consider doing so via this affiliate link (which gives DIY MFA a small commission at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting DIY MFA! About Nicholas Petrie: “I was never in the armed forces, but I swung a hammer for a living for many years,” Petrie writes in talking about the genesis of Peter Ash and THE DRIFTER. As part of his extensive research, Petrie says he “talked with a number of veterans about their experiences. In the course of these conversations, I felt like I came to understand these men and women in a way that I hadn’t before, and to truly admire them. Over and over, I encountered that extraordinary quality of character I tried to capture in Peter Ash—a happy warrior who sees every difficulty as a challenge to be overcome, and every challenge as an adventure. The more research I did, the more interested I became in the idea of what to do after your war is over. After the largest set of sustained military operations in decades, this is one of the singular challenges of our time. Many veterans come home and overcome these challenges, but some veterans have more difficulty, some due to physical injuries, some with the less tangible but no less real injuries of PTSD. I’ve tried to find both sides in this book.” A debut author, Nicholas received his MFA in fiction from the University of Washington and won Hopwood Award for short fiction while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. His short story “At the Laundromat” won the 2006 Short Story Contest in the Seattle Review. A husband and father, he runs a home appraisal business in Milwaukee. To learn more about Nicholas read his blog here, follow him on Facebook, or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/083  

  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 embracing the power of zero. A lot of people resist starting at all because we have to start and zero. There are so many mental blocks that get in the way of starting small, and for good reason. Going from small to big, from rough to polished, from amateur to professional, is not as hard as you might think. As Austin Kleon says in his book Show Your Work, technically it’s all on the same creative spectrum. Going from nothing to something is WAY more difficult. In a way, that’s good news. it means that whatever that very first step is that you have to take, it’s the hardest one. Still, taking the hardest step first is really rough, when you don’t have a support network yet, when you don’t have a track record of success to help you stand up to the negative self-talk that is filling your head. Today we’re going to talk about a few of the myths about starting small that might be keeping you from getting started. 3 Myths About Starting Something I have to wait for the right time. I can’t do it. Something (or someone) else is blocking me from getting started. One thing that’s important to defeating these mindset blocks is understanding the difference between resistance and blocks. I personally believe that blocks don’t actually exist. If I’m having a hard time getting myself to sit down and work on something, I either trick my brain into working on it or I take away any other options until I get through it. But resistance is different. Resistance is much deeper. It’s based on fear or some other emotion deep in you that is causing you not to want to address a certain project. Resistance always exists for a reason. It’s up to you to discover where it’s coming from and then use that resistance as a compass to show you which way to go. When you have a project and you are feeling the pain of having to take the leap from not being on the spectrum of creative progress to finally being on that spectrum, you need to be able to tell the difference between a block that you can blast through and resistance that you need to be mindful of and press into. The Power of Zero All of these myths are things we tell ourselves when we are trying to step onto the creative spectrum at the zero point. We have no words. We have no followers. It’s easy to give in to the fear of being at zero. The zero moment, that first glimmer of an idea that you have, it’s the power of potential energy. But most of us don’t realize when we’re in it. When you’re at zero you can do anything. You have nothing but uncharted territory ahead of you. The more people you have watching your creative process, the more aware you are of being watched. Remember, zero is the great equalizer. So I challenge you to embrace your zero moment! Head over to Twitter and tweet out what you did to celebrate your zero moment, or what you plan to do if you haven’t gotten there yet! Make sure to include the hashtag #zeromoment so that I can follow and celebrate with you. And keep an eye out. There’s awesome stuff coming, guys. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details. If you’re not on the list yet, you can sign up here. Also, don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes! If you need a tutorial on how to leave a review (it’s ridiculously complicated, folks) I’ve made one for you here. And thanks in advance! The more good reviews I get, the better my chances of getting more amazing people to come on the show. Great reviews means I can bring you even more awesome episodes. OMG, everybody wins! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/082

  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 Write About Ourselves. Following up on her previous collection: Why We Write, Meredith's most recent book is a collection of essays from memoirists, talking about why they write memoir in the first place. The lineup of authors featured in this book is a veritable who’s who of the memoir world, and the insights they share are no less awesome. Today I’m delighted to speak with Meredith and hear her take about writers love to write (and read) memoirs. In this episode Meredith and I discuss: Writing memoir and embellishing the truth How our perspective changes over the course of our lives, but our writing stays constant Pros and cons of being truly authentic in your writing The writer’s responsibility to protect the innocent (or the guilty) in their writing Plus, Meredith #1 tip for writers. About Meredith Maran: Meredith Maran is  a passionate reader and writer of memoirs, and the author of thirteen nonfiction books and the acclaimed 2012 novel, A Theory Of Small Earthquakes. Meredith writes book reviews, essays, and features for newspapers and magazines including People, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, Salon.com, and More. A member of the National Book Critics Circle, Meredith lives in a restored historic bungalow in Los Angeles. Her next memoir, about starting over in Los Angeles, will be out from Blue Rider Press in 2017. To learn more about Meredith and her work, follow her on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website. Why We Write About Ourselves: Twenty Memoirists on Why They Expose Themselves (and Others) in the Name of Literature is the follow-up to editor Meredith Maran’s last collection, Why We Write, this new book tackles one of the most popular literary genres: memoir. Meredith's new book features some of its most-read authors, including Cheryl Strayed, Anne Lamott, Nick Flynn, Sue Monk Kidd, and James McBride. Contributors candidly disclose the origins of their memoirs: a traumatic experience, like Darin Strauss or Ishmael Beah; family relationships, like Sue Monk Kidd, Edwidge Danticat, or Pat Conroy; or simply a knack for personal storytelling, like Sandra Tsing Loh or Anne Lamott. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/081

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, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Wallspace Gallery, The New York Photo Festival, and ClampArt Gallery, by which she is represented. She’s also worked as a photo editor in New York for many years at places like Rolling Stone, Radar Magazine, and Nerve.com. Her personal essays and art writing have appeared in The Daily Beast, Huffington Post, PDN, and The Photography Post, which she co-founded.  She has lectured about her own work, professional practices, and about the role of social media in photography at ICP, SVA, Parsons, Brown University, RISD, and MIAD. Rachel's Flying Henry photograph series is also a children’s book of the same name, released by PowerHouse Books in 2013. She has a BA from Brown University and an MA from NYU, and her new project is a novel, Hey Harry Hey Matilda. You can follow the escapades the story of Harry and Matilda on instagram (@HeyHarryHeyMatilda).   In this episode Rachel and I discuss: The birth of a new idea. Refining an idea and the process of platform building. Crafting a narrative on social media. Marketing your book. Plus, Rachel’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: If you want to know more about Rachel’s work you can visit her website. And don’t forget, we’ve got some really exciting things brewing at DIY MFA as we gear up for the book release this summer. If you want to be “in the know” hop on over to DIYMFA.com/join and sign up for our email list. You’ll get a free starter kit, a subscription to our free “sort-of weekly newsletter,” plus you’ll be among the first to hear about any awesome new things we’ve got in the works. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/080

  Hey there, Word Nerds! So excited to have you here for a new episode of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m interviewing the New York Times bestselling thriller author, Brad Taylor. We'll be talking about the fiction vs. reality. As writers, we've all been told to "write what you know" but as with everything, there are pros and cons to incorporating our real-life experiences into our stories and novels. Brad Taylor's novels are a great example of finding that balance between fact and fiction. A former member of the Special Forces and now a security consultant, Brad uses his knowledge both of the military world and obscure international news, to craft thrillers that seem almost to anticipate real-world events. In this episode, he shares insights about his process: how he gets inside the skin of his characters and brings readers into the world of stories, making that world feel totally real.   In this episode Brad and I discuss: Writing what you know and balancing fiction and reality. How to get into the shoes of your character. Deciding which details and information to unpack for the reader. Plotting versus pantsing. Plus, Brad’s #1 tip for writers. About Brad Taylor: Brad Taylor served for more than twenty years in the US Army, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force. He also holds a Master’s of Science in Defense Analysis and, in addition to his writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats. Brad pays close attention to obscure international news stories before mainstream media picks them up, so his books can read like prophecies, almost anticipating real-world events. He is a trusted and mediagenic expert who has been called to comment on breaking news for FOX, CNN, MSNBC, Al Jazeera America, and Newsmax on stories as diverse as the Charlie Hebdo attack, ISIS, the Sony hack, the death of Osama Bin Laden, and Tom Clancy. Brad is the New York Times bestselling author of eight previous Pike Logan novels. His latest book The Forgotten Soldier, is a fascinating departure from this series, where the characters (a close-knit group in a military Taskforce) face their most emotional challenge yet—hunting one of their own. If you want to know more about Brad you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/079  

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 Greensboro. She has been blogging for eight years and has a lifestyle blog focusing on food and parenting. This year she launched the Create If Writing blog and podcast, which provide inspiration and authentic platform building tools for writers and bloggers. She also shares interviews with bloggers, writers, social media experts, and publishing insiders.  Kirsten is the mastermind behind the Free Email Course, where she helps demystify email lists for writers and bloggers, along with her signature course (Own Your List) that helps people grow, monetize, and manage their lists.When she’s not busy taking the email list world by story, Kirsten lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and four kids. In this episode Kirsten and I discuss: Why an email list is your most important communication option in a world full of options. The personal touch of email versus other social media. 15 Step Intensive List Growth Checklist Finding the email tech that’s right for you. Do's and Don't's to help keep your subscribers happy and engaged once you have an email list. Plus, Kirsten’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: If you want to know more about Kirsten, you can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter or visit her website and join her email list! Email client options for you to consider when building your list (in alphabetical order): Aweber Convert Kit Mad Mimi Mailchimp Other awesome resources include The Persistence of Email Marketing for Book Publishers and the Creative Profitability Course. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/078  

Hello there Word Nerds! Today I’m interviewing the awesome Zachary Petit. Zac is the editor of the National Magazine Award-winning publication PRINT. He is also a freelance journalist, a lifelong literary and design nerd, and a friend. Formerly, he was the senior managing editor of HOW magazine and PRINT, the longtime managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, and executive editor of the newsstand magazines Writer’s Workbook, Writer’s Yearbook and Writing Basics. Alongside the thousands of articles he has penned as a staff writer and editor, covering everything from the secret lives of mall Santas to creative legends, his words regularly appear in National Geographic Kids, and have also popped up in the pages of National Geographic, Melissa Rossi’s What Every American Should Know book series, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and many other outlets. Zac is the author of The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing: How to Write, Work and Thrive On Your Own Terms (which is out now) and co-author of A Year of Writing Prompts: 366 Story Ideas for Honing Your Craft and Eliminating Writer’s Block. He is obsessed with all things writerly (even down to his nerdy tattoos), and is a firm believer that anyone can break into any facet of the writing world—they just need to know the appropriate way in. Once that has been demystified, anything is possible. In this episode Zac and I discuss: Why a writer would want to freelance. How and why to adapt your voice when freelancing. How to break into freelancing. Debunking major myths about freelance writing. How to expand your professional network. The pros and cons of pitching an idea versus pitching an article on spec.   Plus, Zac’s #1 tip for writers. To learn more about Zachary Petit, follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit his website. Also, if you're interested in building your freelance writing career, check out his latest book. Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/077

Hey there Word Nerds! So glad you could be here with me for this awesome episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today we’re here with pop culture and sci-fi guru, Ryan Britt, talking about his new book Luke Skywalker Can’t Read, And Other Geeky Truths. This book is a blend of nerd-ilicious, mind-bending awesomeness, and fall-out-of-your-chair hilarity and as soon as I heard about it I just knew I had to have Ryan on the show. Listen in to hear us geek out about life, literature, and all things nerdy.  In this episode Ryan and I discuss: The differences between writing for and reading online vs. writing and reading a book What it actually means to be a geek now What benefits there are to being a geek now as a writer Plus, Ryan’s #1 tip for writers. Don’t forget, if you want to dig deeper, join me for a "Stop Dreaming, Start Doing" workshop on January 12 at 8pm ET. You can find more information at DIYMFA.com/openhouse. Also, DIY MFA 101 is open for enrollment. Learn more at DIYMFA.com/DIYMFA101 About Ryan Britt If the ghost of Marshall McLuhan were to merge with Chuck Klosterman, you’d have essayist Ryan Britt. Ryan has never met a monster, alien, wizard or superhero that didn’t require further discussion, and in his book he answers questions you’ve probably never thought to ask (but now that he’s brought them up, you’re probably wondering about them too). In his book, he tackles topics like: Does anyone in the Star Wars universe read books? Is Pete Best the Bilbo to Ringo Starr’s Frodo? And, what ever happened to Biff Tannen’s parents? If you’re a geek like me (and even if you’re not) you’re going to get a kick out of this entertaining manifesto for modern geekdom. But seriously, Ryan has written for The New York Times, Electric Literature, The Awl, VICE and The Morning News and is a consulting editor for Story. He was the staff writer for the Hugo Award-winning web magazine Tor.com, where he remains a contributor. About LUKE SKYWALKER CAN'T READ Britt recounts personal stories of coming of age amid the influence of 80s and 90s pop culture; how he learned to take his interests seriously from a big box store manager he nicknames Captain Space Pirate because of he was reminiscent of Harrison Ford; how his first “the birds and the bees” conversation came from asking his father about the pictures in an Omni magazine article entitled “Tyrannosaurus Sex: A Love Tail”; and how his next lesson in sex was from watching Jane Fonda in Barbarella, which quickly evolved into a life-changing epiphany. Britt’s thoughtful and fun meditations on everything sci-fi and pop culture spins insights on what many of us have not known about our favorite stuff. He shows us how monster movies are just romantic comedies with commitment issues, claims nobody should get mad about super hero remakes, and argues that killer robots are probably harmless authenticity-seeking hipsters. Luke Skywalker Can't Read tears down the wall between hardcore sci-fi readers and the mainstream, making it perfect both for cosplayers, or those who haven’t worn a costume since grade school. If you want to learn more about Ryan, follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website.   Also, if you liked this episode… Head over to iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available. Also, if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please share! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/076 Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome.  

Hey hey! Thanks for joining me for our very last episode in 2015. Today I'm talking about why I stopped making New Year’s resolutions and what I do instead. It’s been an amazing year here at DIY MFA. I’ve interviewed some awesome people this year and have gotten to share some major milestones with you, not the least of which is the DIY MFA book! OMG, word nerds, I wrote the book this year! How crazy-pants is that? But now down to business. Let’s talk about goal setting and why I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore. Get all the deets by listening to this episode. OK, before I dive in, let me give you some backstory. Once upon a time I loved brainstorming. I would get a huge high from dreaming up new ideas. I had tons of projects I’d started and never finished. But over the years I’ve started to shift away from being a dreamer to being a doer. To get a full picture of then vs. now, check out this chart.  I wish I could say there was a pivotal moment where I realized everything was different. But this shift was gradual. I don’t think I’m finished yet, either. This is just the beginning of a much longer journey. What I've discovered, though, is that New Year’s resolutions don’t work for me. Here's what does work... Caveat: There are lots of gurus and experts on the internet spouting "best practices" and magic-bullet solutions. But you're a word nerd, so I'm guessing you see through all that B.S. At DIY MFA we believe that the only "best practice" is the one that actually works for you. So I'll share some strategies that have worked for me, but it’s up to you to test them for yourself and decide if they work for you. And don't be shy about tweaking and adapting techniques to your own unique style. That's the DIY MFA way. Cool? Cool. My New Approach to Resolutions and Goal-Setting In my new approach, the huge leap no longer matters. There’s no more “I’m going to write a book next year,” or “I’m going to lose x pounds.” Instead of making sweeping goals that seem enormous and unreachable, I now set goals to take small incremental steps and repeating that action over and over and over. Where before the giant goal was the focus, now the repeated action takes center stage. I’ve noticed after working with hundreds of writers, when you stop focusing on the end goal and start emphasizing the repeated action, that’s when you make a breakthrough. Letting go of that end goal gives you the space and focus to do the work and actually reach that goal. As a writer, I find that irony kind of delicious. These days, I've stopped looking at writing as a short-term push and instead see it as a war of attrition. The truth is that the writers who want overnight success are not the ones who will stick with the process long enough to see it through.  The writers who have the tenacity to stick with it the writing gets tough, those are the ones who succeed. You just have to survive long enough so you're the only one left standing on the battlefield. Writing and creativity might be a battle, but remember that we aren't fighting each other; we’re all on the same side. In the end, the only person we're fighting against is ourselves. Our obstacles are internal and the battle is about trying to get out of our own way. So how do I do it? 7 Simple Steps: After working at this for a few years now, I have come up with a process for getting through my ideas and my goals as efficiently as possible. Again, this is just my own crazy process. Take in the ideas, test them out, then use what works for you and discard the rest.   Figure out your big picture.Lots of people get stuck focusing all their energy on this step alone. While I concede it’s important to know where you’re headed, I only spend, like, 10 seconds here, then I move on to step 2.  Take stock of recent progress.If you want to feel successful, you can’t compare yourself to the big vision, to where you want to be. You have to compare yourself to where you’ve been. That way you always come out ahead. Not only does it help motivate you to move forward, it helps you build mastery. In order to succeed, you need to feel that mastery of your craft. Use concrete data here, too. Don’t BS yourself over your accomplishments. How many words did you write last year? How many guest posts/blog posts/freelance articles? That’s the number to beat.  Iterate, iterate, iterate.I talked about iteration last year at this time, so I won’t spend a lot of time here. Just remember that iteration is vital and basically boils down to these five things:V = variables.  What will you measure to see your progress?I = information.  Collect your data. Track how much you’ve done each session.T = tripwire.  This is the signal for you to stop and take stock.A = analysis.  Look at the data you’ve collected and find the overall pattern.L = learning.  Take that information, figure out what it means, and then try something new. If something is not working for you, don’t keep repeating it because someone told you it was a “best practice.” Instead, make a small shift and try something a little different to see what works best for you. The key here is to (a) understand your baseline, how you operate in your natural state, and (b) shape your process within those constraints. Set your sights on a short-term target.What can you do in a 4 to 8 week period? Your "big vision" inspires this target goal, but it must be shorter term and more contained. Seriously, if you can't hit that target within 3 months (tops!) it's too big. Reverse engineer your action steps.The inspiration for this step came from Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher. Her process revolutionized the way I look at setting my goals. You need a plan to get from point A to point B, so take some time and work backwards from that goal.Don't start at the start, but with the goal, then figure out what you need to do just before you just before that. Keep working your way backwards until you've figured out your immediate next step. Remember to break your steps down to the smallest increments. Set your ground rules for success.This is another place you’ll find “best practices” galore, but you need to figure out what works for you.F ind ways to make the most out of your writing time. Remember, your time is precious! Here are some things that work for me: I focus on one thing at a time. I set a time limit so I know when I can stop and move on to something new. I make everything else off limits until I reach my goal. I bribe myself with a reward for success. Keep future projects on the radar without letting them get in your way.You want to know what’s coming next, but sometimes holding brain space to remember it can sap your mental energy. So make a space to write down your ideas and next projects and keep them for later. This will free up the brain space you need for what you’re working on right now. And sometimes getting ideas out on paper will help you to recognize what is worth pursuing and what will ultimately be unproductive. Remember, where you want to be down the road is not nearly as important as the path you take to get there. These steps focus on the day to day process. Getting your head around what you need to do today is vital to helping you move toward your goal without being weighed down by it. As you look forward to 2016, I want to challenge you to stop dreaming and start doing. Don't worry so much about the big vision, but focus on one incremental action that you can repeat again and again until you reach your goal. No more dreaming. This year I am DOING this: [insert goal here] http://ctt.ec/51x8H+ #DIYMFA  Tweet this. If you enjoyed this episode, I have included some links below to previous episodes that can help you with building your best practices. And if you want to dig deeper, join me for a "Stop Dreaming, Start Doing" workshop on January 12 at 8pm ET. You can find more information at DIYMFA.com/openhouse. Resources It's been a great year for DIY MFA Radio and we've had some great episodes. If you want to check out some past episodes but don't know where to start, don't worry. Here are a few best-of-2015 solo shows that will help you get that book from dream to done. Episode 23: Make Writing Resolutions that Stick Episode 24: My Go-To Productivity Tool Episode 26: Write Your Book This Year Episode 31: Finding Your Focus in Writing Episode 47: Honor Your Reality   For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/075

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’ve been wanting to talk about for a while and then I received a question via email from one of our listeners and I decided it was time to dive in. Shout-out to Kayla for sharing a great question. I'll paraphrase it here, but it essentially came in three parts: How do I know if my writing is good? Is there a certain amount of “literary-ness” I need to include in my writing for it to be good? What are the people who judge my writing (editors, agents, critics, etc.) looking for? In the past I have wondered the same thing. What did the readers want me to say? What am I supposed to write? And what if people don't like what I have to say? Having a strong, authentic voice boils down to who you are. Remember, too, that you are not alone in wondering about this. At some point every writer asks themselves: Is my work any good? What do people want from me? This question isn’t about getting published. It’s about being true to yourself. Who are you as a writer? Is your author identity being authentic to who you are? You may hear a lot of advice from writing gurus telling you to “craft your authentic voice” as a way to promote your work, to better connect with people who will want to buy your book. Authenticity is not a marketing strategy. It's about being who you are. Authenticity at it’s heart is being vulnerable, being honest with your readers. And it’s scary! Every time I share anything remotely vulnerable with you all on the podcast or in my newsletter, I’m afraid that you will like me less for doing so. But it’s never a marketing strategy for me. Vulnerability, authenticity, it’s who I really am. And it should be who you really are, too. It’s not a schtick. Should I put on a persona as my author voice? So should you put on a persona as you develop your author voice? Well, I have answers for both sides of this question. Mainly, don’t try to fake your voice. You’ll end up sounding phony, and that will come across to your readers. Who are you? What does your natural voice sound like? That is the voice that will sparkle. Share that voice. What happens if you "put on" a voice and it's actually successful? Are you prepared to stick with this voice forever? What if your agent or editor loves that persona that you’ve created? What if your readers love it? Are you going to leave them in the lurch? If you decide to drop this not-you voice, are you prepared to face the consequences? Suppose you "put on" a voice for a while, then you decide to flip the switch. Your readers might feel like you've pulled bait-and-switch on them and many might ditch you then and there. More importantly you will have to work hard to earn back the trust of those readers who decide to stick with you through the switch. When you try to be someone you’re not, when you’re not being true to your voice and your own goals, it will come back later to haunt you. You’ll have to ‘fess up eventually. So how do you “craft” your author brand then? “Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of someone else.” Judy Garland The best version of yourself, that’s what I call your author identity, your author brand. The person you put on the page is still you, but a more focused, more coherent, less wacky and hairbrained version of you. Your author identity is like a laser beam. A laser is focused light, and your author brand is focused, crafted, still you but the strongest version of you. Crafting the narrative of your author identity Can an “author identity” be truly authentic? The way you present yourself online will, of course, alway have some manner of crafting and shaping. The goal is to be as naturally you as possible. “To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up.” Oscar Wilde As a writer, if you try to write in a voice that isn’t really your own, you’re going to become exhausted. But in beith authentic, you can’t just let your voice and your focus be scattershot. You have to find your voice and your focus, the best version of yourself. That’s the person that you put on the page. I’ll be who I am. You be who you are. And we’ll be authentic together. Have a wonderful holiday season. We’ll see you soon! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/074  

Hey there, Word Nerds. Thanks for joining me for another installment of DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m talking to Drew Chapman. Drew is a thriller author. His debut novel, The Ascendant, was published in 2014 and the sequel The King of Fear is currently being released as a serialized eBook and will be out in paperback come February 2016. A fellow New Yorker, Drew grew up in NYC, got a BA in History from the University of Michigan, then eventually moved to LA to work in the movie business. He directed an indie film Stand Off, was a writer on the animated feature Pocahontas for Disney, and most recently wrote and co-executive produced the second season of Legends (a spy show for TNT). Now working mostly in television, he has been writing for networks like ABC, Fox, and TNT. Drew lives in Seattle with his wife and kids. In this episode Drew and I discuss: The difference between writing for TV and film and writing novels. What his process is like for writing his characters. How the craft of storytelling differs based on the medium you choose. Writing serial fiction. The art of the info-dump. When to use back story and when to leave it out. "The thing that writers need to worry about is finding their voice. Know what you want to say about the world." ~Drew Chapman Resources: If you want to know more about Drew you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/073  

Hey there word nerds! Thanks for joining me today for DIY MFA Radio. I’m so excited to share this episode because I’m interviewing literary agent Janet Reid, AKA the Query Shark. *Cue shark music from Jaws in 3... 2... 1...* Janet is a literary agent at FinePrint Literary Management in NYC, where she represents mostly crime novels and thrillers, with some narrative non-fiction in history and biography as well. Her list of clients reads as a veritable who’s-who of bestselling authors. When she’s not doing busy being an agent, she blogs at JetReidLiterary.blogspot.com, and answers questions from writers, talks about what she loves about her job and the city, and (occasionally) rants about things that drive her crazy in publishing. Janet also runs the Query Shark blog, where she posts and critiques query letters submitted to “the shark” (with permission from the writers, of course). Writers have the opportunity to revise their queries based on her comments, and you can see the step-by-step revisions that took a query letter from meh to a resounding “YES.” Want to know what an agent really thinks about a query letter? The Query Shark blog will give you that inside look. IMHO, this site is hands-down the most valuable query resource available to writers online. Most importantly, Janet is a kind, sensible human being who helped make the publishing world a slightly less scary place for me, when I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed newbie writer. It is truly an honor to have Janet Reid, AKA Mme. Shark, on DIY MFA Radio today. In this episode Janet and I discuss: What inspired the Query Shark blog. What a query letter is and why you need one. Query pitfalls and pointers so you can make yours shine. What happens after your query gets accepted. When persistence pays off and when it doesn’t. Plus, Janet’s #1 tip for writers. To learn about Janet, follow her on Facebook and Twitter, or visit her literary agency blog or her website. You can also find her query-related pearls of wisdom on her Query Shark blog. For more information about FinePrint Literary Management visit their website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/072  

Hello hello Word Nerds and welcome to Episode 71 of DIY MFA radio. Today I’m talking with Lorin Stein, editor of The Paris Review  and we'll be talking about literature and reading, and what makes stories great. We'll also be discussing the book he recently edited called The Unprofessionals: New American Writing from The Paris Review. Lorin joined The Paris Review as its third editor in 2010. During his tenure, the Review has received two National Magazine Awards, as well as Webby honors, Pushcart Prizes, and O’Henry Awards. Stein’s criticism and translations have appeared in The New York Review of Books, the London Review of Books, n+1, and Harper’s. He is also an editor-at-large at FSG (an imprint of MacMillan) and he lives in New York City.   In this episode Lorin and I discuss: Literary fiction What he looks for when discovering new voices in literature. The importance of reading as a writer. What makes interesting writing. The benefits that writers can gain from writing and reading short form literature. Plus, Lorin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/071

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 persevere as a writer, and let me tell you, if anyone can speak to this subject it's Robert Crais. He began his career as a TV writer, working on some of the biggest crime dramas. This experience has shaped his perspective on writing novels, and has taught him numerous writing skills. Listen in hear Robert's insights about what you can learn from writing outside your comfort zone. You'll hear about his journey from writing for TV to writing novels, and what writing for the screen taught him about crafting stories for the page. Plus, animal lovers (especially dog-lovers) will get a kick out of this this episode because you'll hear Robert talk about how captured the POV of Maggie, the K9 hero in his latest book The Promise. Unlike other books that anthropomorphize animals, making them seem like humans in an animal body, Maggie feels very real. The sections in her point of view are quite true to how you would imagine a dog perceives the world. I think Office Cat could sense the animal-friendly vibe during this interview, because she cuddled up to the mic while we were recording this episode. (Bonus points to anyone who can hear her purring in the background.) In this episode, Robert and I discuss: Capturing animal characters’ perspectives in your writing. The process of optioning the film rights for your writing. How writing for TV prepared Robert for writing novels. The challenges of writing a novel versus writing for the screen. Plus Robert's #1 Tip for Writers. About the Author Robert Crais is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen previous novels, fifteen of them featuring private investigator Elvis Cole and his ex-cop, ex-Marine partner Joe Pike. His novels have been translated into more than forty languages and are global bestsellers in more than sixty nations. Nominated for every major crime-writing award (for a total of twenty nominations), Robert has won the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Macavity, Gumshoe, and Ross Macdonald awards, among others. In 2014, he received a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, which represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing. A native of Louisiana from a family of police officers and oil refinery workers, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife, three cats, and many thousands of books.  If you want to learn more about Robert and his amazing books, follow him on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/070

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. About Mark McGuinness Mark is a poet and coach for creative professionals. He’s based in London, UK, and coaches creative professionals worldwide via the magic of the internet. He has also published a popular blog for creatives for the past 10 years, and has just finished his second book titled Motivation for Creative People. In this episode Mark and I discuss: Myths and misconceptions that creative people have about motivation. Strengths and challenges that creative people have. How motivation works. Being ready to capture inspiration when it hits. Plus, Mark’s #1 tip for writers: "Write for love. Always write for love." For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/069

Hello Hello Word Nerds! I’m so excited to share my interview with author Elizabeth George. Today we’ll be talking about writing psychological suspense and what it takes to build a great suspense novel with a lot of interesting psychological twists and turns. I hope you enjoy our conversation. In this episode Elizabeth and I discuss: Why it’s important to know where your story needs to start. Writing deeply flawed yet deeply sympathetic characters. Writing complex female characters and their different attitude toward feminism and female-ness. How point-of-view helps strengthen the reader's understanding of and sympathy for characters. Plus, Elizabeth’s #1 tip for writers. Elizabeth George is the author of highly acclaimed novels of psychological suspense. She won the Anthony and Agatha Best First Novel awards in America and received the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere in France. In 1990 she was awarded the prestigious German prize for international mystery fiction, the MIMI. Her novels have now been adapted for television by the BBC. An Edgar and Macavity Nominee as well as a New York Times and international bestselling author, Elizabeth George lives on Whidbey Island in the state of Washington. Her latest novel, A Banquet of Consequences, is out now. To learn more about Elizabeth George and her fantastic books, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/068  

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, using fiction, nonfiction and poetry to help students get started, listen to their work, and amplify the opportunities therein. Ken teaches at University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and also at Haliburton School of the Arts. He is a graduate of the MFA program at The New School (like me!), and also the Teaching Artist program at Community Word Project. Ken writes mostly fiction and Eulogy is his first novel. Originally from Vancouver, Ken grew up in Ottawa and has lived in various locations across Canada, and also New York City. He now divides his time between Prince Edward County and Haliburton Ontario, and teaching at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. Beyond reading and writing, he can most often be found dabbling in various sports, or doing broadcast work with 99.3 County FM in Prince Edward County. In this episode Ken and I discuss: the impetus for Eulogy the process of going from writing shorter pieces to writing a book-length work teaching writing and writing workshops "Get started and be open to whatever comes out of your pen." ~Ken Murray Plus, Ken’s #1 tip for writers. Resources: If you want to know more about Ken Murray, you can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or visit his website. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/067  

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 illustrated books: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, Newspaper Blackout, and Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered. His latest project is The Steal Like an Artist Journal: A Notebook for Creative Kleptomaniacs and it's in stores now. If you haven't read Austin's books yet, go to it! Seriously, these books will change the way you think about creativity, writing, and--most importantly--life. In this episode Austin and I discuss: Honoring your reality, both the world around you and your personal reality. Learning from your mistakes instead of focusing on your failures. Practicing by copying other people’s work by hand. Different tools for different types of writing. How practicing “less is more” can help your craft. Plus, Austin’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/066

Hi there Word nerds! I’m so excited for today’s interview with bestselling author JoJo Moyes on the art of the sequel. Jojo Moyes is the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You, One Plus One, The Girl You Left Behind, The Last Letter from Your Lover, Silver Bay, The Ship of Brides and Honeymoon in Paris. She lives with her husband and three children in Essex, England.Me Before You was truly a word-of-mouth sensation, launching Moyes to worldwide acclaim. It spent more than 65 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and worldwide sales exceed five million copies. Reviewers, booksellers, and readers all raved about Me Before You for its unforgettable romance and emotional, challenging storyline. Moyes’ books are now available in 36 foreign languages and have sold more than nine million copies in total. Her newest book, After You: A Novel, sequel to Me Before You, is out now. In this episode JoJo and I discuss: Sequels, and how they are not always planned. How to write that sequel that can stand alone. Writing grief in your characters. Switching point of view in your novel. The experience of working on the screen adaptation of her novel, Me Before You. Plus, JoJo’s #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/065  

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 couple of reasons. First, they are super-important. And second, I believe that all writers can be awesome at both at the creative and the business sides of their work. As writers, we tell ourselves a lot of lies. Sometimes these lies are just part of getting through what needs to be done, but sometimes they can hold us back. I’ve heard many authors say “I don’t care if I make money, I just want to write,” or “I don’t want to sell out. I can’t promote myself.” It’s as if we equate suffering and starvation with good art. Finally, I hear some writers say “If I make something amazing it’ll just sell itself.” What a lot of us don’t realize is that we’re living in a paradox. On the one hand we say “I don’t wanna corrupt my art” but on the other hand we say “If only I could make money doing what I love…” How do we reconcile this contradiction? That's what this episode is all about. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/064

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 ancestry. As a lad, he dove into Lake Erie in search of a silver coin. Decades later, he surfaced off the island of Crete with a tale filled with mystical sea turtles, sunken treasure and a young woman’s search for a reclusive poet, his muse and the myth of eternal love. A summa cum laude graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Business and concentration in Art History, Zak went on to receive his JD and follow the waves to California. He eventually shut down a successful law practice in quest of a deeper purpose, freeing his creative self in a mountaintop village in Crete where he began his debut novel, The Poet’s Secret. Since his time in Crete, he continued work on the manuscript and his poetry in Bali, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia and South America. An avid surfer and free diver, Ken’s passions also include reading, music, ocean swimming, the Tibetan Rites and yoga. He currently serves as General Counsel for a large private brokerage company and resides in San Diego, California. In this episode, Ken and I discuss: Juggling real life and writing. Building a support system to help you achieve your goals. The role of poetry in writing prose. Being a guy who writes Romance. The decision to self-publish and why you should build a publishing team. Plus, Ken's #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/063

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, Blood and Salt, is out now, and in this episode she and I chat about taking this project from concept to bookshelf.   In this episode Kim and I discuss: World-building, sensory detail, and creative descriptions. Having an obsession and using it to fuel your writing. Organizing the plot to build suspense, with shifting timelines and surprise reveals. Navigating the revision and edit process to get the best result. Creative promotion for books. Plus her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/062

Hey there, Word Nerds! Thanks for joining me for today’s episode. Today I’ll be interviewing Barbara Baig about how to write spellbinding sentences, based on her new book by the same title. This episode was so much fun to record because as soon as Barbara and I started chatting, I knew I had found a likeminded word nerd and writing teacher. Her approach to writing as a practice and as a teachable skill goes hand in hand with the DIY MFA philosophy and her focus on sentence-level craft will compliment the more "big picture" techniques you learn here at DIY MFA. I hope you get as much out of this conversation as I did, and if you want to learn more about how to use language in a way that moves and resonates with your readers, check out her books below or enter to win her latest book in a Goodreads giveaway! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/061

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 Manhattan prosecutor and New York Times bestselling author. Her books are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Her latest (the 17th in the series) is Devil's Bridge, which is out now. Before turning to writing, Linda was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney’s office in Manhattan for more than two decades, so basically she's like an SVU prosecutor, but for real. Not only that, she is America’s foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Linda lives in Manhattan and on Martha’s Vineyard. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/060

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 The OM Factor: A Woman's Spiritual Guide to Leadership. Alka Dhillon is the founder and CEO of Technalink, one of the leading companies in the Washington Metropolitan area providing Information Technology and Management Consulting services to both government and commercial clients. She has won numerous awards and honors, and she blogs at The Spiritual CEO. In this episode Alka and I discuss: Accessing your creative potential through meditation. (Everyone has two minutes) Being able to release your creative agenda to meet your creative inspiration. How to be more responsive than reactive. Writers and leadership. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/059

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 many awesome interviews, and we have a bunch more coming up, but today I felt like it was time to have more of a heart-to-heart. In this episode, I've decided to share some mindfulness tips that turned my approach to writing on its head. I call this my Mindfulness Manifesto for Writers. This was a very tough episode for me. I had been resisting the idea for a while. You see, I’m very pragmatic and my creative process is very linear. Plus (how do I put this nicely) I always felt like the whole idea of mindfulness, of meditation, all that mind/heart/soul was a little to “woo woo” for me. The thing is, being intentional about where your thoughts go is really important to writing. This skill is the essence of mindfulness and challenging myself to be open to it has changed my writing for the better. I used to really hate meditation. I thought that sitting and breathing and clearing my mind was so boring. What I didn’t really realize then was that mindfulness is more about being present, about not thinking about what is coming or what has passed (I call this time travelling). And being fully present can be exciting. Especially when you’ve got a lot going on. To learn more about my mindfulness manifesto for writers plus the show notes, head on over here: DIYMFA.com/058

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 PR by the Book, a boutique literary PR firm based in Austin, TX and Nashville, TN. While her job title might not make sense, it's helpful to know that she is essentially a social media publicist. Her job is to connect authors with their online audiences in a meaningful way, whether that's managing a full social media campaign for the author or teaching him/her how to navigate the ins and outs of social media (DIY Social Media!) In this episode, Jandra and I will geek out over one of my favorite topics: social media. She'll share some pro tips specifically for writers and show you how to use social media to build your author brand and your career. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/057

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 called “one of the most talented crime writers alive” by the Washington Post. With four bestselling, critically acclaimed, and award-winning novels in print worldwide, she excels in portraying fallible, deeply human detectives, as broken as the cases they investigate. In her new book, The Secret Place, she revisits characters from a previous book, plus she gives readers an inside look at a all-girls prep school. It turns out that the private underworld of teenage girls is more mysterious and more dangerous than it appears. In this episode Tana and I discuss: Different elements of crafting a series. Using viewpoint to structure your narrative. The writing and rewriting process. Recurring characters. Sticking to genre conventions or bucking the trends. Plus, Tana shares her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/056

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 interviewed me about DIY MFA, writing, and other fun things. We also celebrated this milestone by doing a live Periscope broadcast of the unedited recording session and it was SO MUCH FUN. While you can't catch the Periscope recording anymore (they're only available for the first 24hours after the broadcast) we WILL be doing these live recording sessions again in the future. Stay tuned because it's going to be epic! For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/055

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 Indemnity Only. V.I. – tough, credible, street-smart, and feminine – challenged the stereotypes of women in fiction as victims or vamps and Paretsky made it possible for a new generation of crime writers to thrive. In, Brush Back,  the latest book in this series, V.I. must uncover the truth about a crime that hits very close to home, and forces her to take a good look into her family’s past. As V.I. digs for clues and tries to piece the story together, she must put her life—and career—on the line until she can finally discover what happened on a fateful night many those years ago. It could be the biggest case of her career—if V.I. manages to survive. Sara Paretsky was named 2011 Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and is also the recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award given by the British Crime Writers’ Association. Paretsky is currently president of the Mystery Writers of America.  She lives in Chicago. Listen in as Sara and I discuss: Creating a unique and strong protagonist. The mystery writing scene and how it’s changed now. Setting as character in writing. Personal limits to detail in topics such as sex and violence in writing. Plus, Sara's #1 tip for writers! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/054

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 Le French Book founder Anne Trager, and Le French Book authors Eric Giacometti, and David Khara to talk about writing thrillers for French and American markets. We had an amazing conversation andI can't wait to share it with you in this episode. Le French Book is a company that translates French mysteries and thrillers for the American audience. These books have been wildly popular in Europe and now they are available here in the United States, thanks to Le French Book and its founder, Anne Trager. I don't know about you, but after speaking with these fascinating authors, I can't wait to check out these books! For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/053

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 inspiration and the different thematic elements in her writing Get ready to be inspired by this lovely interview. Susannah is originally from Long Beach Island, New Jersey. She currently lives in Manhattan with her family and still spends her summers on the Jersey Shore. Between the Tides is her first novel. In this episode, Susannah Marren and I discuss:   What inspired her to write Between the Tides. Different thematic elements in her writing. The most enjoyable and most challenging parts of being a writer. How knowing the ending can drive your story forward. How to let your experience inform your writing. What the publishing process looks like for a debut author. Plus, Susannah shares her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/052

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 publisher. She is also the author of more than 15  books for children. Dedicated to helping kids develop a lifetime love of reading, she founded Xist Publishing in 2011 to provide beautiful books for the touchscreen generation. Today she’ll share insights about alternative paths to publishing. For writers who don't want to go with abig 5 publisher but also don't want to self-publish, there is an alternate route. In this episode Calee tells us about medium and small press publishers, in particular her own company, Xist Publishing, which is a digital-first independent children's publisher. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/051

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, but I got a hotel and spent about 24 hours immersed in my writing. In those 24 hours, I managed to knock out around 7000 words of the manuscript I've been working on. To give you some perspective, on a good week at home, I'm happy if I get 4000 words. And that's in a whole week! I discovered I could hammer out almost double the number of words in a 24-hour writing retreat than I do on a regular week at home. What a HUGE return on investment! This retreat taught me that occasionally putting my life on hold and immersing myself in writing (even if just for a little while) can have a huge impact on my manuscript. Especially since my first deadline is only a few weeks away. To learn more about this retreat, and get some actionable tips to help you create one of your very own, check out this episode. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/050

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 Summers, and The Secret Life of Violet Grant. Her new book, Tiny Little THing, hit bookstores on June 23 and is out now. I'm reading it right now and let me just say, it's incredible! In his episode, Beatriz and I talk about her creative decisions as she crafted this fascinating book. DIYMFA.com/049

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 anytime, anywhere. Not only does the Brain Book contain my book's outline, my to-do list, etc., it also carries little totems and mascots so that I don't have to be attached to any place in particular when I want (or need) to write. In this episode, I'm going to give you a quick rundown of what my brainbook looks like. Then I'm going to challenge you to build your own Brain Book and share pictures of it with me! To see pictures of the Brain Boon in action, follow me on Instagram. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/048

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 their writing lives around completely. I usually only share this technique with my DIY MFA 101 course, but it is SO important that I wanted to talk about it on the podcast today. If you take only one lesson away from DIY MFA, I hope this is the one. This small change can have a HUGE impact on your writing. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/047 

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 exploring the show. Overall, I can sum up the direction that publishing is going in two words: identity and community. In this episode I dig into different reasons why these themes will dominate the industry in comming years and what they mean for us as writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/046

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. Joe Wenke is a writer, social critic and LGBTQI rights activist who has written several books. His most recent book--The Human Agenda--is about sexual orientation and gender identity, with a special focus on "finding common ground in our shared humanity."  In this interview, Joe shares insights and tips he learned about writing a piece of narrative nonfiction based on conversations and interviews. There is a lot of invisible craft behind this style of nonfiction and he pulls back the curtain and gives us a glimpse of how he put this book together. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/045

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 nerd named Emily. She wrote: "I want to be a writer when I grow up, and I've been told that I'm even good at it. I love writing, I really do, I just... I feel like I'm never going to get past writing essays, fanfiction, and short stories for local contests. Do you have any advice?" Emily, thanks for asking this very important question. This is a big topic that a lot of writers struggle with, but don't fret! I have a few suggestions that will help you stay on track and maybe even turn your writing hobby into something more. For show notes and more info: DIYMFA.com/044

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 trade show in the US. BEA 2015 is the Big Kahuna of trade shows in the US. If you’re in the book business, this is where you want to be. This event is centered on BOOKS, but writers can get a lot out of the expo as well. Because there’s so much going on, though, it can be a little overwhelming. Fear not! This Book Expo survival guide episode will give you all the inside details on how to make the most of this event. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/043

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 thriller author and creator of the Cotton Malone series. His books have been translated into 40 languages, with more than 19 million printed copies in 51 countries. A 2010 NPR survey named one of his books--The Templar Legacy--one of the top 100 thrillers ever written. Clearly when it comes to writing books that captivate readers, Steve Berry knows his stuff. Listen in to learn how this bestselling thriller polished his craft and hear him share some of his top tips for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/042

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 a conversation about books, writing and the creative life. This episode is part of a new series I'll be doing called "Behind DIY MFA," where I'll bring members of my team on the show as a co-host and we'll talk about what they do, both at DIY MFA and beyond. My goal with these behind-the-scenes episodes is for you to get to know the different people who help make DIY MFA awesome, plus hear their insights about books and all things literary. As you probably already know, I see DIY MFA as a collaborative and collective venture. While I may be the instigator, DIY MFA would not be nearly as great if it weren't for all the amazing people who have partnered with me on this project. My hope is that this series will showcase the incredible talent we have on this team, and help you get to know these awesome people. Our co-host today is the fabulous Sara Letourneau, author of the DIY MFA column Theme: A Story’s Soul. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/041

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 tricky for writers because there’s so much to wrap your head around. We’re going to talk about the nuts and bolts, basic information that you can put into practice right away. Social media, for better or worse, is here to stay. It’s fully integrated into our lives and has changed the way we communicate radically. As writers, our best approach is to embrace the opportunities that social media affords us, rather than trying to fight against it. In this episode, I’ll give you 7 steps to help you get a handle on social media, but in a way that's totally doable and won't take over your life. Most importantly, if you’re just learning these platforms, be gentle with yourself. Social media is constantly changing. You don't have to do all of it, or get everything perfect right away. You just need to understand enough so that you can use social media to bolster your writing career. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/040

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 this article a few weeks ago about my philosophy of teaching writing, I thought it was time to share these seven essentials with you. Whenever I write, I keep with me a “brain book” filled with tools and inspirational totems that help me find my focus. Honestly, I could do a whole episode on the “brain book” alone and the significance of each of the items I keep in it. But there’s one item in particular--an unsharpened pencil--that has a special significance. It was given to me by a teacher who told me to always carry it with me as a symbol of my untapped potential. I still have that pencil almost fifteen years later, and I keep it as a reminder of how important my education is to my writing. It also remindes me that I should always be open to new ideas. Each time I launch a new class on DIY MFA, I get that same giddy feeling of anticipation and untapped potential. Since DIY MFA 101 starts next week, I this got me thinking about all the pieces that go into a writing life and how important each one is to your writing life as a whole. In this episode, I share my seven essentials of a writer's education, and show you how to build each aspect into your writing life. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/039

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 with writers and helping them reach their goals as I am. We'll be talking about planning your novel and how to plot without a formula. Listen in for the interview and check out our show notes at DIYMFA.com/038. Take-home message: intelligent planning is not the enemy of creative genius.

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 you can see what works and what could be improved. As with Part 1 of this series, you'll want to check out the show notes and follow along with the queries as you listen to the critiques so you know exactly what Jeff's feedback refers to. Head over to DIY MFA.com/037 for all the details.

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 Focus components of DIY MFA, by bringing together an interesting collection of prose and poetry that shows various writing techniques in action. We also want to encourage creative outside-the-box thinking, so writers must use a prompt from writerigniter.com to inspire their submissions. Interested in submitting to the anthology? Check out our submission guidelines. In this episode, I chat with Anthology Co-Editor Elisabeth Kauffman about how to submit to anthologies or literary magazines. She and I shine light on all those nitty-gritty details you want to know about submitting your work but were afraid to ask. So even if you're not planning to submit to this anthology, check out this episode for lots of info about the submission process. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/036