DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting novelist and screenwriter Augustus Rose on the show!

Augustus has a strong passion for numerous weird, esoteric, and fringe concepts, and found a way to thread them all together in his stunning debut novel, The Readymade Thief.

Listen in as we pick apart the many layers of Augustus's strange yet relatable novel, and learn how weave together different points of view to create one compelling narrative.

• How to transform high concept and strange ideas into a relatable story.
• Why starting with a prologue is necessary in some scenarios.
• What narrative distance is, and how to manipulate it.
• When to break the "rules" intentionally, in order to jar your reader in the right way.
• World building, and how to create a world based on different ideas instead of different landscapes.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/168

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting novelist and screenwriter Augustus Rose on the show!

Augustus has a strong passion for numerous weird, esoteric, and fringe concepts, and found a way to thread them all together in his stunning debut novel, The Readymade Thief.

Listen in as we pick apart the many layers of Augustus’s strange yet relatable novel, and learn how weave together different points of view to create one compelling narrative.

• How to transform high concept and strange ideas into a relatable story.
• Why starting with a prologue is necessary in some scenarios.
• What narrative distance is, and how to manipulate it.
• When to break the “rules” intentionally, in order to jar your reader in the right way.
• World building, and how to create a world based on different ideas instead of different landscapes.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/168

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the absolute joy of hosting my dear friend, Jodi Kendall, on the show!

Jodi and I go way back, to those days when DIY MFA was just the glimmer of an idea tickling the back of my brain.

Jodi has nurtured a lifelong passion for animals, and has now turned that passion into a beautiful middle grade novel.

I am so excited to share Jodi's debut, The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, and her inspiring story of a tough road to publication with you.

Listen in as we geek about animals and middle grade fiction, and hear some of Jodi's tips on growing through rejection to reach your publishing goals.

• How funneling your passion into your writing helps you find your voice.
• Outlining for pantsers, what Jodi's techniques are.
• Why making a simple matter feel like life and death stakes for your character creates a page turning experience.
• How Jodi battles through years of rejection on her road to publication, and why you can do it.
• How to tap into your own emotions to create characters and themes that impact middle grade readers.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/167

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the absolute joy of hosting my dear friend, Jodi Kendall, on the show!

Jodi and I go way back, to those days when DIY MFA was just the glimmer of an idea tickling the back of my brain.

Jodi has nurtured a lifelong passion for animals, and has now turned that passion into a beautiful middle grade novel.

I am so excited to share Jodi’s debut, The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, and her inspiring story of a tough road to publication with you.

Listen in as we geek about animals and middle grade fiction, and hear some of Jodi’s tips on growing through rejection to reach your publishing goals.

• How funneling your passion into your writing helps you find your voice.
• Outlining for pantsers, what Jodi’s techniques are.
• Why making a simple matter feel like life and death stakes for your character creates a page turning experience.
• How Jodi battles through years of rejection on her road to publication, and why you can do it.
• How to tap into your own emotions to create characters and themes that impact middle grade readers.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/167

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting author and illustrator Trinka Hakes Noble on the show!

Trinka is the award-winning author of over thirty picture books, and has been hailed as the champion of the picture book genre. Her latest book, Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade, is a historical fiction starring a young girl named Rettie in 1918 America during the deadly influenza pandemic.

Listen in as we get the inside scoop on how Rettie's world was created, and geek out about the picture book genre.

• Crafting historical fiction that places children in the shoes of the characters.
• How to use big moments in history to anchor your story.
• Why it's so important—both in general, but most especially in children's books—that the main character not come across as a victim.
• The important differences between a "story book" and a "picture book" and distinguishing features in each of these forms.
• Why it's so important to trust your illustrator when you write picture books, and how your art director and illustrator can elevate your book to new heights.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/166

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting author and illustrator Trinka Hakes Noble on the show!

Trinka is the award-winning author of over thirty picture books, and has been hailed as the champion of the picture book genre. Her latest book, Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade, is a historical fiction starring a young girl named Rettie in 1918 America during the deadly influenza pandemic.

Listen in as we get the inside scoop on how Rettie’s world was created, and geek out about the picture book genre.  

• Crafting historical fiction that places children in the shoes of the characters.
• How to use big moments in history to anchor your story.
• Why it’s so important—both in general, but most especially in children’s books—that the main character not come across as a victim.
• The important differences between a “story book” and a “picture book” and distinguishing features in each of these forms.
• Why it’s so important to trust your illustrator when you write picture books, and how your art director and illustrator can elevate your book to new heights.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/166

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am delighted to have author Zinzi Clemmons on the show!

Zinzi's gorgeous debut novel, What We Lose, has already taken the literary world by storm establishing her as a strong new voice to watch.

Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs by a South African mother and American father, Zinzi has much in common with the main character of her novel, Thandi, so much so that What We Lose has been described as autobiographical fiction.

Listen in as we dive into Zinzi's novel and how to craft fiction and reality in a novel that defies normal expectations.

• Autobiographical fiction, and how to decide what pieces of reality to include in your novel.
• How to weave big topics—such as race and identity—into your novel organically.
• What to do when you receive pushback about your story, and how to preserve that emotional truth.
• Why art and literature can shine a light on the grey areas of life.
• When to keep pursuing a novel and when to throw it out.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/165

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am delighted to have author Zinzi Clemmons on the show!

Zinzi’s gorgeous debut novel, What We Lose, has already taken the literary world by storm establishing her as a strong new voice to watch.

Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs by a South African mother and American father, Zinzi has much in common with the main character of her novel, Thandi, so much so that What We Lose has been described as autobiographical fiction.

Listen in as we dive into Zinzi’s novel and how to craft fiction and reality in a novel that defies normal expectations.

• Autobiographical fiction, and how to decide what pieces of reality to include in your novel.
• How to weave big topics—such as race and identity—into your novel organically.
• What to do when you receive pushback about your story, and how to preserve that emotional truth.
• Why art and literature can shine a light on the grey areas of life.
• When to keep pursuing a novel and when to throw it out.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/165

Hey there word nerds!

In today's episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2017! This time I've assembled a panel of authors all published by Quercus books and who all start their very different books with a bang.

I am so excited to be speaking with Adam Hamdy, K.J. Howe, and Sam Wiebe, and sharing our panel discussion on the show!

Listen in as we discuss the process of writing a high paced first chapter and the many facets of the Thriller genre.

• How to start a book with a bang that pulls the reader in and introduces your character.
• The "silence" after the bang, and how to craft that moment so that it holds the reader's interest.
• Dramatic tension, and how to raise the stakes in scenes that might not be life or death.
• How to craft opening scenes that hook your readers, whether you start with a group, a one-on-one interaction, or inside a single character's head.
• What the authors' favorite opening scenes are and why.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/164

Hey there word nerds!

In today’s episode I bring you again live to ThrillerFest 2017! This time I’ve assembled a panel of authors all published by Quercus books and who all start their very different books with a bang.

I am so excited to be speaking with Adam Hamdy, K.J. Howe, and Sam Wiebe, and sharing our panel discussion on the show!

Listen in as we discuss the process of writing a high paced first chapter and the many facets of the Thriller genre.

• How to start a book with a bang that pulls the reader in and introduces your character.
• The “silence” after the bang, and how to craft that moment so that it holds the reader’s interest.
• Dramatic tension, and how to raise the stakes in scenes that might not be life or death.
• How to craft opening scenes that hook your readers, whether you start with a group, a one-on-one interaction, or inside a single character’s head.
• What the authors’ favorite opening scenes are and why.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/164