DIY MFA Radio

Hey there Word Nerds! This is our last solo show before the Storytelling Superpower Summit in June. We just rolled out the Storytelling Superpower Quiz and we'll be having a series of podcasts in June that dig deeper into the storytelling superpower archetypes. We're focusing on figuring out what type of character really drives you so that you can dive in and get the most out of the story you decide to tell, both for your readers and for you as a writer.

Today I want to talk with you about how to learn a creative skill. And this ties in nicely with the Great MFA Debate that is going on now, and that goes on every year. Usually in the spring, because that's when people are deciding whether to enroll into programs they've been accepted into, a debate crops up on the internet about the pros and cons of getting a traditional MFA. Recently an article appeared in the Atlantic where a couple of researchers used computer analysis of texts to come to the conclusion that there was no distinct difference between the writing of those with formal MFA training and those without.

I wanted to weigh in on this debate for two reasons. One, because it kinda goes with my territory as the instigator of DIYMFA and two because I feel like people in this debate often miss the mark and end up arguing about things that don't actually help you evaluate whether or not getting an MFA is actually right FOR YOU. So let's take a look at the benefits and the costs of getting a traditional MFA.

The Benefits

• It gives you time to write.Truthfully, committing to an MFA means you really don't have any more excuses not to put in the time and create the content you are required to for the course.
• It is one path toward publication.An MFA can help you make connections in the publishing and writing world that you might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue.
• It helps you become a better writer.An MFA makes you practice, and practicing your craft will help you improve in the long run.

These are all good points, I've taken advantage of a traditional MFA myself, and each of these things rings true for me. But what happens when you become too dependent of assignments and external motivators? You might find that you're unable to write without those external motivations.

The Costs

• Financially, an MFA program can be prohibitive.There are many literal costs to consider, and while a lot of programs have funding for participants, most do not have total funding or funding for all their participants equally.
• Opportunity costsThese include having to give up a day job, moving to be closer to your program, and travelling (even for low residency programs).
• The Genre ProblemIf you write "genre fiction" (i.e. sci-fi, fantasy, YA, or anything other than what is considered "literary" fiction) finding an MFA program that specializes in your area is EXTREMELY difficult. You may have to put aside the writing that you really love in order to obtain this education, and that can set you back as far as time spent on the work of your heart, and can also make you feel like an outsider in your own program.
• What if you don't get in anywhere?

Is DIYMFA the "anti-MFA"?

I get asked this a lot, especially around this debate. And the answer is emphatically no. As I said before, I have an MFA and I don't regret the decision to get one. MFA serves a particular group of writers very well. What DIYMFA exists for is those who don't fit into a traditional MFA. Whether it's because you can't afford to take time off from your job or your life, or because you can't get accepted into the program you want to join, DIYMFA exists for you.

So what does it mean to be a DIYMFA Word Nerd?

If you're part of this community, It means that you're committed not just to becoming a better writer, but to becoming a better learner. Applying the DIYMFA concepts to your writing is awesome, but applying them to your LIFE? That's solid gold.

"In a time of drastic change, the learners inherit the future." Eric Hoffer

The publishing world is RIGHT NOW in a time of drastic change. We are in the thick of it. Every creative niche is. This age of sharing ideas and the internet has turned all creative industries on their head. Learning how to learn better means we can adapt, we can roll with the punches and embrace new ideas more quickly.

So how dothe principles of DIYMFA help you learn?

Write with focus.

This isn't' just about putting words on the page. This is about creative output. This principle encourages you to create a body of work. Try different skills, master them. Take a project from beginning to end whether it's a short story or a photo series.

Read with purpose.

Be strategic about the information you consume. Balance your reading list to focus on what you're interested in and also what, in your field, has stood the test of time. Dig in and think about why the pieces of each work were created the way they were.

Build your community

Connect with others in your niche and exchange ideas. When people exchange ideas, it's multiplicative, not additive. When two people each have an idea and they exchange those ideas, then each person will come up with a totally different combination of those ideas. From two ideas you get four. Now imagine how many ideas you'd get from ten people sharing.

A few caveats about community:

• WorkshopsI find that workshops, while they are useful in an educational environment, can also be reactive. Instead of giving a writer the chance to get things right before they receive critique, they expect you to get it wrong first. Feedback can be a useful tool, but not before you're ready. Build your skills first, practice, and create something stronger than you otherwise would. Then when you get critique you'll be ready for it.
• Creative distractionFinding creative friends can be a blessing. Finally people who understand you! But it can also be a curse. You can spend so much time talking about the process that you forget to actually do the creative work in the first place. Don't forget, you can't exchange creative ideas if you haven't spent time developing them first.

Develop your learning superpower

The MFA debate a perennial conversation. But I think we should all put aside our differences of opinion and just write! If an MFA is right for you, if it helps you to be the best writer you can be, then awesome! Go do it! If you can't or don't want to get into an MFA program, there are worthy alternatives. You can do the same things yourself and do them just as well.

Above all, let's focus on learning. That's what will make us adaptable as writers, as creators, as human beings.

Resources:

• Article in the Atlantic
• Storytelling Superpower Summit
• DIYMFA book!
• Storytelling Superpower quiz

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/088

 

Hey there Word Nerds! This is our last solo show before the Storytelling Superpower Summit in June. We just rolled out the Storytelling Superpower Quiz and we’ll be having a series of podcasts in June that dig deeper into the storytelling superpower archetypes. We’re focusing on figuring out what type of character really drives you so that you can dive in and get the most out of the story you decide to tell, both for your readers and for you as a writer.

Today I want to talk with you about how to learn a creative skill. And this ties in nicely with the Great MFA Debate that is going on now, and that goes on every year. Usually in the spring, because that’s when people are deciding whether to enroll into programs they’ve been accepted into, a debate crops up on the internet about the pros and cons of getting a traditional MFA. Recently an article appeared in the Atlantic where a couple of researchers used computer analysis of texts to come to the conclusion that there was no distinct difference between the writing of those with formal MFA training and those without.

I wanted to weigh in on this debate for two reasons. One, because it kinda goes with my territory as the instigator of DIYMFA and two because I feel like people in this debate often miss the mark and end up arguing about things that don’t actually help you evaluate whether or not getting an MFA is actually right FOR YOU. So let’s take a look at the benefits and the costs of getting a traditional MFA.

 

The Benefits

• It gives you time to write.
  Truthfully, committing to an MFA means you really don’t have any more excuses not to put in the time and create the content you are required to for the course.
• It is one path toward publication.
  An MFA can help you make connections in the publishing and writing world that you might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue.
• It helps you become a better writer.
  An MFA makes you practice, and practicing your craft will help you improve in the long run.

These are all good points, I’ve taken advantage of a traditional MFA myself, and each of these things rings true for me. But what happens when you become too dependent of assignments and external motivators? You might find that you’re unable to write without those external motivations.

The Costs

• Financially, an MFA program can be prohibitive.
  There are many literal costs to consider, and while a lot of programs have funding for participants, most do not have total funding or funding for all their participants equally.
• Opportunity costs
  These include having to give up a day job, moving to be closer to your program, and travelling (even for low residency programs).
• The Genre Problem
  If you write “genre fiction” (i.e. sci-fi, fantasy, YA, or anything other than what is considered “literary” fiction) finding an MFA program that specializes in your area is EXTREMELY difficult. You may have to put aside the writing that you really love in order to obtain this education, and that can set you back as far as time spent on the work of your heart, and can also make you feel like an outsider in your own program.
• What if you don’t get in anywhere?

Is DIYMFA the “anti-MFA”?

I get asked this a lot, especially around this debate. And the answer is emphatically no. As I said before, I have an MFA and I don’t regret the decision to get one. MFA serves a particular group of writers very well. What DIYMFA exists for is those who don’t fit into a traditional MFA. Whether it’s because you can’t afford to take time off from your job or your life, or because you can’t get accepted into the program you want to join, DIYMFA exists for you.

So what does it mean to be a DIYMFA Word Nerd?

If you’re part of this community, It means that you’re committed not just to becoming a better writer, but to becoming a better learner. Applying the DIYMFA concepts to your writing is awesome, but applying them to your LIFE? That’s solid gold.

“In a time of drastic change, the learners inherit the future.” Eric Hoffer

The publishing world is RIGHT NOW in a time of drastic change. We are in the thick of it. Every creative niche is. This age of sharing ideas and the internet has turned all creative industries on their head. Learning how to learn better means we can adapt, we can roll with the punches and embrace new ideas more quickly.

So how dothe principles of DIYMFA help you learn?

Write with focus.

This isn't’ just about putting words on the page. This is about creative output. This principle encourages you to create a body of work. Try different skills, master them. Take a project from beginning to end whether it’s a short story or a photo series.

Read with purpose.

Be strategic about the information you consume. Balance your reading list to focus on what you’re interested in and also what, in your field, has stood the test of time. Dig in and think about why the pieces of each work were created the way they were.

Build your community

Connect with others in your niche and exchange ideas. When people exchange ideas, it’s multiplicative, not additive. When two people each have an idea and they exchange those ideas, then each person will come up with a totally different combination of those ideas. From two ideas you get four. Now imagine how many ideas you’d get from ten people sharing.

A few caveats about community:

• Workshops
  I find that workshops, while they are useful in an educational environment, can also be reactive. Instead of giving a writer the chance to get things right before they receive critique, they expect you to get it wrong first. Feedback can be a useful tool, but not before you’re ready. Build your skills first, practice, and create something stronger than you otherwise would. Then when you get critique you’ll be ready for it.
• Creative distraction
  Finding creative friends can be a blessing. Finally people who understand you! But it can also be a curse. You can spend so much time talking about the process that you forget to actually do the creative work in the first place. Don’t forget, you can’t exchange creative ideas if you haven’t spent time developing them first.

Develop your learning superpower

The MFA debate a perennial conversation. But I think we should all put aside our differences of opinion and just write! If an MFA is right for you, if it helps you to be the best writer you can be, then awesome! Go do it! If you can’t or don’t want to get into an MFA program, there are worthy alternatives. You can do the same things yourself and do them just as well.

Above all, let’s focus on learning. That’s what will make us adaptable as writers, as creators, as human beings.

Resources:

• Article in the Atlantic
• Storytelling Superpower Summit
• DIYMFA book!
• Storytelling Superpower quiz

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/088

 

Hey there Word Nerds!

I'm so glad you can join me for today's interview with Jen Calonita.

Jen is a YA and Middle Grade author, and in this episode, she and I talk about writing what you know (and what you don't know) and also how to make the shift from one writing niche to another. We dig into the various twists and turns of her writing career and discuss Charmed, the next installment of her Fairy Tale Reform School series and also her new contemporary middle grade series called VIP. The first book I'm With the Band, is out now.

Embed Episode Here

In this episode Jen and I discuss:

• Switching from magazines to fiction.
• Getting connected with other authors.
• Writing series for middle grade versus YA.
• Keeping the story fresh.

Plus, Jen Calonita's #1 tip for writers. About Jen Calonita

It's no secret how Jen knows the inside scoop on Hollywood. As a former entertainment editor at a teen magazine, she started her career chronicling backstage life at Justin Timberlake concerts and interviewing Zac Efron on film sets. This work inspired her first series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life which has been published in 9 countries.

Jen tackles worlds she finds familiar, from summer camp stories like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind (she was a camp counselor as a teen), to reality TV (which she also covered in magazines) in Reality Check. But it wasn't until she wrote Belles (about two polar opposite girls who share one life-altering secret) that she entered a world different from her own. It was so much fun creating a new world that Jen jumped into the fairytale world and wrote middle grade novel, Flunked.

To find out more aboutJen Calonita follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, GoodReads, Pinterest, and Facebook, or visit her website: jencalonitaonline.com.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/087

Hey there Word Nerds!

I’m so glad you can join me for today’s interview with Jen Calonita.

Jen is a YA and Middle Grade author, and in this episode, she and I talk about writing what you know (and what you don’t know) and also how to make the shift from one writing niche to another. We dig into the various twists and turns of her writing career and discuss Charmed, the next installment of her Fairy Tale Reform School series and also her new contemporary middle grade series called VIP. The first book I’m With the Band, is out now.

Embed Episode Here

In this episode Jen and I discuss:

• Switching from magazines to fiction.
• Getting connected with other authors.
• Writing series for middle grade versus YA.
• Keeping the story fresh.

 

Plus, Jen Calonita’s  #1 tip for writers. About Jen Calonita

It's no secret how Jen knows the inside scoop on Hollywood. As a former entertainment editor at a teen magazine, she started her career chronicling backstage life at Justin Timberlake concerts and interviewing Zac Efron on film sets. This work inspired her first series, Secrets of My Hollywood Life which has been published in 9 countries.

Jen tackles worlds she finds familiar, from summer camp stories like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind (she was a camp counselor as a teen), to reality TV (which she also covered in magazines) in Reality Check. But it wasn't until she wrote Belles (about two polar opposite girls who share one life-altering secret) that she entered a world different from her own. It was so much fun creating a new world that Jen jumped into the fairytale world and wrote middle grade novel, Flunked.

To find out more aboutJen Calonita follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, GoodReads, Pinterest, and Facebook, or visit her website: jencalonitaonline.com.

 

 

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/087

Welcome, welcome Word Nerds!

Today I'm delighted to host Lisa Gardner on the the show. Lisa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen previous novels, including her most recent, Crash & Burn. Her Detective D. D. Warren novels include Fear Nothing, Catch Me, Love You More, and The Neighbor, which won the International Thriller of the Year Award. She lives with her family in New England.

More personally though, I've had the pleasure of hearing Lisa Gardner speak about creative consistency at Thrillerfest/Craftfest 2012. Her talk made a very deep impression on me back when I was just beginning to find my footing with DIY MFA. In preparing for this interview, I went back and reviewed my notes from her talk, and I realized that I internalized many of the techniques she talked about, and that in a roundabout way many have inspired and shaped elements of DIY MFA. Today I am thrilled to have Lisa Gardner on the show to discuss her newest book, Find Her, and also hear her talk about the writing process as a whole.

In this episode Lisa Gardner and I discuss:

• Understanding your writer's process.
• Committing to the time it takes to write.
• Incentivizing your writing process.
• Research to make your writing come alive.
• Wearing your writing and your marketing hats.

Plus, Lisa's #1 tip for writers. Lisa Gardner and her writing:

Every once in a while an author writes something that is clearly set apart from anything they've written before. Find Her is that book for Lisa Gardner. A household name for any fan of mysteries and psychological thrillers, Gardner's books land on the New York Times bestseller list year in and year out.

Find Her stemmed from an article Gardner read about the FBI's Office of Victim Assistance, a little-known arm of the FBI that assigns specific agents to families going through trauma. Gardner was able to set up two interviews with victim specialists whose jobs are to be at the scene of the crime, yes, but more importantly they are there when the lights and reporters are long gone and the victim is left to be "normal" again. From there she created her character Flora Dane.

Lisa Gardner has always researched a lot more than your typical thriller writer. From riding along with police officers, attending the writer's police academy, handling weapons and learning defense tactics, Gardner does all of this so she can get every nuance exactly right – making her thrillers utterly believable and utterly frightening. But with the creation of Flora Dane, she takes us into the mind of a victim and of the professionals coming to save the day, giving readers her most visceral book yet.

About FIND HER

Flora Dane is a survivor. After being kidnapped and held by her captor for over a year, anyone would say that her matriculation back into a "normal" life was an all-around success. But normal isn't exactly how Flora feels. When a college student–who reminds her far too much of herself–goes missing in a strikingly familiar fashion, Flora knows that she must do something to help, despite that fact that it could mean putting herself in danger. Flora is the only one who knows what a captor is capable of, even after all these years.

The search to find the kidnapper at large and unravel Flora's past twists together in a compelling dual-narrative. Gardner dives into the dark underbelly of Boston's nightlife while also casting light onto one of the lesser-known branches of the FBI, Victim Specialists. It's these men and women, who stick by victims long after the initial rescue, that are often the victims' only true confidant. But all of the personnel in the world can't keep revenge at bay, and in the end everything comes down to Flora and the ghosts from her past.

If you want to learn more about Lisa Gardner, you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter (@LisaGardnerBks) visit her website.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/086

 

Welcome, welcome Word Nerds!

Today I’m delighted to host Lisa Gardner on the the show. Lisa is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen previous novels, including her most recent, Crash & Burn. Her Detective D. D. Warren novels include Fear Nothing, Catch Me, Love You More, and The Neighbor, which won the International Thriller of the Year Award. She lives with her family in New England.

More personally though, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Lisa Gardner speak about creative consistency at Thrillerfest/Craftfest 2012. Her talk made a very deep impression on me back when I was just beginning to find my footing with DIY MFA. In preparing for this interview, I went back and reviewed my notes from her talk, and I realized that I internalized many of the techniques she talked about, and that in a roundabout way many have inspired and shaped elements of DIY MFA. Today I am thrilled to have Lisa Gardner on the show to discuss her newest book, Find Her, and also hear her talk about the writing process as a whole.

In this episode Lisa Gardner and I discuss:

• Understanding your writer’s process.
• Committing to the time it takes to write.
• Incentivizing your writing process.
• Research to make your writing come alive.
• Wearing your writing and your marketing hats.

Plus, Lisa’s #1 tip for writers. Lisa Gardner and her writing:

Every once in a while an author writes something that is clearly set apart from anything they’ve written before. Find Her is that book for Lisa Gardner. A household name for any fan of mysteries and psychological thrillers, Gardner’s books land on the New York Times bestseller list year in and year out.

Find Her stemmed from an article Gardner read about the FBI’s Office of Victim Assistance, a little-known arm of the FBI that assigns specific agents to families going through trauma. Gardner was able to set up two interviews with victim specialists whose jobs are to be at the scene of the crime, yes, but more importantly they are there when the lights and reporters are long gone and the victim is left to be “normal” again. From there she created her character Flora Dane.

Lisa Gardner has always researched a lot more than your typical thriller writer. From riding along with police officers, attending the writer's police academy, handling weapons and learning defense tactics, Gardner does all of this so she can get every nuance exactly right – making her thrillers utterly believable and utterly frightening. But with the creation of Flora Dane, she takes us into the mind of a victim and of the professionals coming to save the day, giving readers her most visceral book yet.

About FIND HER

Flora Dane is a survivor. After being kidnapped and held by her captor for over a year, anyone would say that her matriculation back into a “normal” life was an all-around success. But normal isn’t exactly how Flora feels. When a college student–who reminds her far too much of herself–goes missing in a strikingly familiar fashion, Flora knows that she must do something to help, despite that fact that it could mean putting herself in danger. Flora is the only one who knows what a captor is capable of, even after all these years.

The search to find the kidnapper at large and unravel Flora’s past twists together in a compelling dual-narrative. Gardner dives into the dark underbelly of Boston’s nightlife while also casting light onto one of the lesser-known branches of the FBI, Victim Specialists. It’s these men and women, who stick by victims long after the initial rescue, that are often the victims’ only true confidant. But all of the personnel in the world can’t keep revenge at bay, and in the end everything comes down to Flora and the ghosts from her past.

If you want to learn more about Lisa Gardner, you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter (@LisaGardnerBks) visit her website.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/086

 

Hey there word nerds! I'm so excited to share today's episode with you.

It's not often that I have an author on the show where I've read almost their entire body of work. Carolyn Mackler is one of those rare authors. As an MFA student, I wrote a term paper for my YALit class examining the mother-daughter relationships in her first four novels. Since then I've been an avid reader of her work and have eagerly awaited her subsequent novels.

Usually, when I interview authors on the show, we focus our discussion on that author's latest work. This is often a pragmatic consideration because I don't often have the opportunity to read every book that author has written. But before we dive into today's interview I want to pose a challenge to my word nerd listeners.

The Challenge

We can't all read every single book by every single author on the planet, but I want you to try doing this with one or two authors whose work you love. The insights and benefits you'll get from this practice will amaze you. When you read an author's body of work, you not only get to enjoy great stories from an author you love, but you get to see that author's process and creative growth over time. As I interview Carolyn today, we're not just going to talk about her latest book, but also how different themes and elements of craft have developed in her writing over the course of various books.

But first, a quick intro about today's guest. Carolyn Macker is the author of several highly-acclaimed YA novels, one new middle grade novel, and a collaborative novel with bestselling author Jay Asher. Her second book: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things received the Printz Honor and her latest book Infinite In Between has already garnered starred reviews. A fellow New Yorker, Carolyn lives in NYC with her husband and two young sons.

In this episode Carolyn and I discuss:

• Taking the leap into YA, even though the "market" wasn't great.
• Writing your second book.
• Trying something new. Characterization and craft from one novel to the next.
• The importance of knowing your protagonists.
• Diversity in characterization.

Plus, Carolyn's #1 tip for writers.

More About Carolyn Mackler

Carolyn Mackler's latest novel for teens, Infinite in Between, has already garnered several starred reviews. She is also the author of the popular YA novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn's novel, The Future of Us, co-written with bestselling author Jay Asher, received starred reviews and appeared on bestseller lists.

Her first middle grade novel, Best Friend Next Door, came out in May 2015. Carolyn's books have been published in more than twenty countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, and Indonesia.Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons.

To learn more about Carolyn and her books, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her website.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/085

 

Hey there word nerds! I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you.

It’s not often that I have an author on the show where I’ve read almost their entire body of work. Carolyn Mackler is one of those rare authors. As an MFA student, I wrote a term paper for my YALit class examining the mother-daughter relationships in her first four novels. Since then I’ve been an avid reader of her work and have eagerly awaited her subsequent novels.

Usually, when I interview authors on the show, we focus our discussion on that author’s latest work. This is often a pragmatic consideration because I don’t often have the opportunity to read every book that author has written. But before we dive into today’s interview I want to pose a challenge to my word nerd listeners.

The Challenge

We can’t all read every single book by every single author on the planet, but I want you to try doing this with one or two authors whose work you love. The insights and benefits you'll get from this practice will amaze you. When you read an author’s body of work, you not only get to enjoy great stories from an author you love, but you get to see that author’s process and creative growth over time. As I interview Carolyn today, we’re not just going to talk about her latest book, but also how different themes and elements of craft have developed in her writing over the course of various books.

But first, a quick intro about today’s guest. Carolyn Macker is the author of several highly-acclaimed YA novels, one new middle grade novel, and a collaborative novel with bestselling author Jay Asher. Her second book: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things received the Printz Honor and her latest book Infinite In Between has already garnered starred reviews. A fellow New Yorker, Carolyn lives in NYC with her husband and two young sons.

In this episode Carolyn and I discuss:

• Taking the leap into YA, even though the “market” wasn’t great.
• Writing your second book.
• Trying something new. Characterization and craft from one novel to the next.
• The importance of knowing your protagonists.
• Diversity in characterization.

Plus, Carolyn’s #1 tip for writers.

More About Carolyn Mackler

Carolyn Mackler’s latest novel for teens, Infinite in Between, has already garnered several starred reviews. She is also the author of the popular YA novels, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (A Michael L. Printz Honor Book), Tangled, Guyaholic, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and Love and Other Four-Letter Words. Carolyn’s novel, The Future of Us, co-written with bestselling author Jay Asher, received starred reviews and appeared on bestseller lists.

Her first middle grade novel, Best Friend Next Door, came out in May 2015.  Carolyn’s books have been published in more than twenty countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel, and Indonesia.

Carolyn lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons.

To learn more about Carolyn and her books, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit her website.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/085

 

Hey there word nerds, I'm so glad you're here!

We're doing something different for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. This week I'm speaking with Steve Berry and Raymond Khoury about the art of collaboration. As you may remember, Steve Berry has appeared on this show before, and this time I'm thrilled to welcome him back with a twist. Today I'm talking both with him and with fellow thriller author Raymond Khoury, about their recent ebook collaboration: Shadow Tag.

In case you've been off the grid and don't know who these two awesome authors are... Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of several history-driven thrillers and his latest book The 14th Colony which will be out on April 5. Raymond Khoury is a former screenwriter and now the author of five consecutive New York Times and #1 international bestsellers. His latest book The End Game will be out on March 10. Their collaborative eBook is a phenomenal example of how two authors can work together to increase both their platforms and reach new readers.

In this episode Steve, Raymond, and I discuss:

• The myth of "original" material
• The logistics of collaboration
• Cross-pollinating reader bases as a marketing strategy
• How to find a collaboration partner

Plus, Steve's and Raymond's #1 tip for writers. Resources:

Shadow Tag is out now, and you can pre-order Raymond Khoury's The End Game and Steve Berry's The 14th Colony. If you decide to purchase, we hope you'll consider doing so via these amazon affiliate links, where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this podcast!

Steve Berry:

History lies at the heart of every Steve Berry novel. It's his passion, one he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, which led them to create History Matters, a foundation dedicated to historic preservation. Since 2009 Steve and Elizabeth have crossed the country to save endangered historic treasures, raising money via lectures, receptions, galas, luncheons, dinners and their popular writers workshops. To date, over 2,500 students have attended those workshops. In 2012 and 2013 Steve's devotion to historic preservation was recognized by the American Library Association, which named Steve it's spokesperson for National Preservation Week. Among his other honors is the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award; the 2013 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award given by Poets & Writers; the 2013 Anne Frank Human Writes Award; and the Silver Bullet, bestowed in 2013 by International Thriller Writers for his philanthropic work. A 2010 NPR survey named The Templar Legacy one of the top 100 thrillers ever written.

Steve was born and raised in Georgia, graduating from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He was a trial lawyer for 30 years and held elective office for 14 of those years. He is a founding member of International Thriller Writers—a group of more than 2,600 thriller writers from around the world—and served three years as its co-president.

To learn more about Steve, you can visit www.steveberry.org, or follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Youtube. His new book The 14th Colony will be out on April 5.

Raymond Khoury:

Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which includes the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US). THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as an original screenplay written in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a $500,000 advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, something people get excited about." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential paycheck from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries.

Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much."

Raymond's 7th novel, THE END GAME, is released on March 10, 2016.

To learn more about Raymond visit his website, or follow him on Facebook.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/084

Hey there word nerds, I’m so glad you’re here!

We’re doing something different for this episode of DIY MFA Radio. This week I'm speaking with Steve Berry and Raymond Khoury about the art of collaboration. As you may remember, Steve Berry has appeared on this show before, and this time I'm thrilled to welcome him back with a twist. Today I’m talking both with him and with fellow thriller author Raymond Khoury, about their recent ebook collaboration: Shadow Tag.

In case you've been off the grid and don't know who these two awesome authors are... Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of several history-driven thrillers and his latest book The 14th Colony which will be out on April 5. Raymond Khoury is a former screenwriter and now the author of five consecutive New York Times and #1 international bestsellers. His latest book The End Game will be out on March 10. Their collaborative eBook is a phenomenal example of how two authors can work together to increase both their platforms and reach new readers.

In this episode Steve, Raymond, and I discuss:

• The myth of “original” material
• The logistics of collaboration
• Cross-pollinating reader bases as a marketing strategy
• How to find a collaboration partner

Plus, Steve’s and Raymond’s #1 tip for writers. Resources:

Shadow Tag is out now, and you can pre-order Raymond Khoury's The End Game and Steve Berry's The 14th Colony. If you decide to purchase, we hope you'll consider doing so via these amazon affiliate links, where DIY MFA gets a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting this podcast!

Steve Berry:

History lies at the heart of every Steve Berry novel. It’s his passion, one he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, which led them to create History Matters, a foundation dedicated to historic preservation. Since 2009 Steve and Elizabeth have crossed the country to save endangered historic treasures, raising money via lectures, receptions, galas, luncheons, dinners and their popular writers workshops. To date, over 2,500 students have attended those workshops. In 2012 and 2013 Steve’s devotion to historic preservation was recognized by the American Library Association, which named Steve it’s spokesperson for National Preservation Week. Among his other honors is the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award; the 2013 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award given by Poets & Writers; the 2013 Anne Frank Human Writes Award; and the Silver Bullet, bestowed in 2013 by International Thriller Writers for his philanthropic work. A 2010 NPR survey named The Templar Legacy one of the top 100 thrillers ever written.

Steve was born and raised in Georgia, graduating from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He was a trial lawyer for 30 years and held elective office for 14 of those years. He is a founding member of International Thriller Writers—a group of more than 2,600 thriller writers from around the world—and served three years as its co-president.

To learn more about Steve, you can visit www.steveberry.org, or follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Youtube. His new book The 14th Colony will be out on April 5.

Raymond Khoury:

Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which includes the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US). THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as an original screenplay written in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a $500,000 advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, something people get excited about." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential paycheck from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries.

Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much."

Raymond's 7th novel, THE END GAME, is released on March 10, 2016.

To learn more about Raymond visit his website, or follow him on Facebook.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/084