DIY MFA Radio

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311: World-Building in Middle Grade Fantasy — Interview with Henry Clark Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

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

310: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at an Historical Fiction Series — Interview with Pamela Taylor Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

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

309: Experiments and Happy Accidents in Novel Writing — Interview with Susann Cokal Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

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

308: Setting, Characters, and Identity: Your Story's Ecosystem - Interview with Abbigail Rosewood Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

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

307: Mindfulness and Memoir — Interview with Mag Dimond May 27, 2020

Show notes

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.

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

306: Recipes for Poetry and Creativity - Interview with Marilyn Singer May 20, 2020

Show notes

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

305: Adventure, Awe and Writing Practice: The Art of the Crowd-Sourced Memoir - Interview with Joe Bunting May 13, 2020

Show notes

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

304: An Inside Look at Self-Publishing - Interview with Helen J. Darling May 06, 2020

Show notes

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

303: A Survivor Story as a Middle Grade Novel in Poems — Interview with Sonja K. Solter Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

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

302: Building a Pop Poetry Empire — Interview with Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

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

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