DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds!

I am having the biggest fangirl moment of all time because today I have author A.J. Jacobs on the show!

I was first introduced to A.J.'s work back when I was just an itty-bitty baby writer, and heard him give a talk on "faking it until you make it." DIY MFA was barely a twinkle in my eye at that point, so to say I hadn't yet made is a massive understatement. His talk was a lightbulb moment for me, and from there on "fake it until you make it" became my mantra. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now A.J. is here to talk about his latest book It's All Relative, which follows the same vein of experimental journalism as his other works showing in great detail his quest for "self-improvement" in the most hilarious of ways.

Listen in as we chat about his books, the structure he uses to write them, and maybe you'll get your own lightbulb moment from A.J.!

• Nailing down your hook, and how to structure your book around a concrete goal.
• A.J.' personal techniques for brainstorming and finding the "sticky ideas."
• How to find your writing groove to get through the daily grind.
• Tips on preparing for a speaking presentation vs. writing something on the page.
• Ways to balance writing about your own life and other people's (without annoying anyone or getting yourself in trouble).

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/173

Hey there word nerds!

I am having the biggest fangirl moment of all time because today I have author A.J. Jacobs on the show!

I was first introduced to A.J.’s work back when I was just an itty-bitty baby writer, and heard him give a talk on “faking it until you make it.” DIY MFA was barely a twinkle in my eye at that point, so to say I hadn’t yet made is a massive understatement. His talk was a lightbulb moment for me, and from there on “fake it until you make it” became my mantra. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now A.J. is here to talk about his latest book It’s All Relative, which follows the same vein of experimental journalism as his other works showing in great detail his quest for “self-improvement” in the most hilarious of ways.

Listen in as we chat about his books, the structure he uses to write them, and maybe you'll get your own lightbulb moment from A.J.!

• Nailing down your hook, and how to structure your book around a concrete goal.
• A.J.’ personal techniques for brainstorming and finding the “sticky ideas.”
• How to find your writing groove to get through the daily grind.
• Tips on preparing for a speaking presentation vs. writing something on the page.
• Ways to balance writing about your own life and other people’s (without annoying anyone or getting yourself in trouble).

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/173

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting author Kathleen Hill on the show!

Kathleen teaches in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College, and has also taught and lived in the country of Niger which is also where her debut novel Still Waters in Niger is set.

Her debut received many accolades including being named a notable book by the New York and Los Angeles Times. Kathleen is also the author of the novel Who Occupies This House, and now of the memoir She Read to us in the Late Afternoons: A Life in Novels.

Listen in as we discuss Kathleen's latest book and how to make the shift from fiction to memoir.

• Writing literal truth versus emotional truth and when to use both.
• How to work around constraints of reality in fiction vs. memoir.
• Ways to tackle "blind spots" of your characters when using an "I" narrator.
• How to use certain language to make your memoir feel like a novel.
• Tips on finding your memoir's hook, and weaving a narrative through your life.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/172

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting author Kathleen Hill on the show!

Kathleen teaches in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College, and has also taught and lived in the country of Niger which is also where her debut novel Still Waters in Niger is set.

Her debut received many accolades including being named a notable book by the New York and Los Angeles Times. Kathleen is also the author of the novel Who Occupies This House, and now of the memoir She Read to us in the Late Afternoons: A Life in Novels.

Listen in as we discuss Kathleen’s latest book and how to make the shift from fiction to memoir.

• Writing literal truth versus emotional truth and when to use both.
• How to work around constraints of reality in fiction vs. memoir.
• Ways to tackle “blind spots” of your characters when using an “I” narrator.
• How to use certain language to make your memoir feel like a novel.
• Tips on finding your memoir’s hook, and weaving a narrative through your life.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/172

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am so excited to have author Gin Phillips on the show!

When I received the pitch for Gin's most recent book, Fierce Kingdom, it took my breath away. Not "oh this is cool" kind of take your breath away but punched-in-the-gut, heart-wrenching, "I don't think I can put this book down" kind of take your breath away.

Fierce Kingdom is a book about a mother and her son, trapped in a zoo that has been taken over by armed gunmen, and the lengths this mother will go to protect her child.

Hooked yet?

Listen in as Gin and I chat about her novel, and how to balance a fast paced plot with a strong and realistic mother-son bond.

• How to bring a realistic mother-son relationship to the page.
• What nuances to use to create a three dimensional child character.
• Why you should use specific details instead of generalities to connect with your readers.
• How to bing plot and character development together in every single scene.
• When to speed up and when to slow down: Gin's techniques to balance pacing in the tightest story timeframe.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/171

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am so excited to have author Gin Phillips on the show!

When I received the pitch for Gin’s most recent book, Fierce Kingdom, it took my breath away. Not “oh this is cool” kind of take your breath away but punched-in-the-gut, heart-wrenching, “I don’t think I can put this book down” kind of take your breath away.

Fierce Kingdom is a book about a mother and her son, trapped in a zoo that has been taken over by armed gunmen, and the lengths this mother will go to protect her child.

Hooked yet?

Listen in as Gin and I chat about her novel, and how to balance a fast paced plot with a strong and realistic mother-son bond.

• How to bring a realistic mother-son relationship to the page.
• What nuances to use to create a three dimensional child character.
• Why you should use specific details instead of generalities to connect with your readers.
• How to bing plot and character development together in every single scene.
• When to speed up and when to slow down: Gin’s techniques to balance pacing in the tightest story timeframe.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/171

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of speaking to middle grade author William Meyer!

From the Indus River to the Italian Renaissance, no topic has piqued the imagination of this high school history teacher's students as intensely as the study of Ancient Egypt.

As a result of both their interest and his own childhood curiosity about the mysteries of that era, he wrote the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series.

Listen in as we chat about his fantastic series and how to keep consistency and momentum going in a story.

• How to keep your momentum going to write your second book.
• Tips and tricks to write a novel under a deadline.
• Why middle grade readers want the same but different story, and how to write it for them.
• The nuts and bolts of worldbuilding in historical fiction with magic, and how to create and stick to your own rules.
• How to balance giving children characters agency to be the hero and grounding them in the reality of our world.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/170

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of speaking to middle grade author William Meyer!

From the Indus River to the Italian Renaissance, no topic has piqued the imagination of this high school history teacher’s students as intensely as the study of Ancient Egypt.

As a result of both their interest and his own childhood curiosity about the mysteries of that era, he wrote the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series.

Listen in as we chat about his fantastic series and how to keep consistency and momentum going in a story.

• How to keep your momentum going to write your second book.
• Tips and tricks to write a novel under a deadline.
• Why middle grade readers want the same but different story, and how to write it  for them.
• The nuts and bolts of worldbuilding in historical fiction with magic, and how to create and stick to your own rules.
• How to balance giving children characters agency to be the hero and grounding them in the reality of our world.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/170

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am delighted to have executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and cofounder of 100 Word Story, Grant Faulkner, on the show!

His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, like Tin House and The Southwest Review, plus his essays on creativity have been published in places like the New York Times and Writer's Digest.

Grant's latest collection of essays, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, is now available and none too soon with NaNoWriMo just around the corner.

Listen in as we discuss Grant's book and get some tips on how to push through your blocks to reach your writing goals using the NaNoWriMo philosophy.

• NaNoWriMo: what it is, why you should take part, and how to rise to the challenge.
• Why you should adopt a "beginner" mindset no matter the stage of your writing career.
• Failing better, and how to bounce back when you stumble and fall.
• Why you need to avoid perfection to discover your creative process.
• What three of the biggest creative blocks are, and how to smash through them.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/169

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am delighted to have executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and cofounder of 100 Word Story, Grant Faulkner, on the show!

His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines, like Tin House and The Southwest Review, plus his essays on creativity have been published in places like the New York Times and Writer’s Digest.

Grant’s latest collection of essays, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, is now available and none too soon with NaNoWriMo just around the corner.

Listen in as we discuss Grant’s book and get some tips on how to push through your blocks to reach your writing goals using the NaNoWriMo philosophy.

• NaNoWriMo: what it is, why you should take part, and how to rise to the challenge.
• Why you should adopt a “beginner” mindset no matter the stage of your writing career.
• Failing better, and how to bounce back when you stumble and fall.
• Why you need to avoid perfection to discover your creative process.
• What three of the biggest creative blocks are, and how to smash through them.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/169