Episodes
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Welcome to DIY MFA Radio, where I do a deep dive into the writing life as well as the craft and business of writing. Today’s episode continues our series: Ten Lessons from Ten Years of Podcasting. This is Lesson #6 – Balance is Fallacy.
Have you gotten the DIY MFA Starter Kit yet? This is a two week email series full of worksheets to help you DIY your MFA, so you can get the “knowledge without the college.” You’ll learn more about how to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community. You’ll also receive Writer Fuel, our newsletter full of words of wisdom and resources to help you keep the momentum going in your writing. And you’ll be the first to hear about other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! You can sign up with your email at diymfa.com/join.
In this episode I discuss:How finding balance is not about rigidly compartmentalizing your life.
What it means to “honor your reality” and how it relates to balance.
Why we should be wary of blanket advice and shouldn’t follow any advice too rigidly.
Why it’s so important for us to acknowledge and honor our real-life constraints.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/481
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Welcome to DIY MFA Radio, where I do a deep dive into the writing life as well as the craft and business of writing. Today’s episode continues our series: Ten Lessons from Ten Years of Podcasting. This is Lesson 5 – Choose Abundance Over Scarcity
Have you gotten the DIY MFA Starter Kit yet? This is a two week email series full of worksheets to help you DIY your MFA, so you can get the “knowledge without the college.” You’ll learn more about how to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community. You’ll also receive Writer Fuel, our newsletter full of words of wisdom and resources to help you keep the momentum going in your writing. And you’ll be the first to hear about other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! You can sign up with your email at diymfa.com/join.
In this episode I discuss:Why so many people in publishing (and other fields) hold on to a scarcity mindset.
How scarcity can serve as a safety net for writers who harbor self-doubt.
The way an abundance mindset can set us up for writing success.
The importance of equity in abundance, and making sure all writers can shine.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/480
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Missing episodes?
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Welcome to DIY MFA Radio, where I do a deep dive into the writing life as well as the craft and business of writing. Today’s episode continues our series: Ten Lessons from Ten Years of Podcasting. This is Lesson 4 – Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Have you gotten the DIY MFA Starter Kit yet? This is a two week email series full of worksheets to help you DIY your MFA, so you can get the “knowledge without the college.” You’ll learn more about how to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community. You’ll also receive Writer Fuel, our newsletter full of words of wisdom and resources to help you keep the momentum going in your writing. And you’ll be the first to hear about other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! You can sign up with your email at diymfa.com/join.
In this episode I discuss:Why complacency is the enemy of personal and professional growth.
The growing pains that come from failing better and why failure is so hard.
How I embraced failure for an entire year, and how it helped me grow DIY MFA.
The malleable nature of comfort zones, and why we must keep challenging ourselves.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/479
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Welcome to DIY MFA Radio, where I do a deep dive into the writing life as well as the craft and business of writing. Today’s episode continues our series: Ten Lessons from Ten Years of Podcasting. This is Lesson 3 – Embrace the Power of Iteration
In this episode I discuss:
Have you gotten the DIY MFA Starter Kit yet? This is a two week email series full of worksheets to help you DIY your MFA, so you can get the “knowledge without the college.” You’ll learn more about how to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community. You’ll also receive Writer Fuel, our newsletter full of words of wisdom and resources to help you keep the momentum going in your writing. And you’ll be the first to hear about other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! You can sign up with your email at diymfa.com/join.Two competing philosophies on failure from Yoda and Samuel Beckett.
How these two highly-quotable figures are actually not all that different from each other.
What it really means to make a commitment to the work and to your writing.
Why it’s so important to embrace imperfection and accept potential failure.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/478
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Welcome to DIY MFA Radio, where I do a deep dive into the writing life as well as the craft and business of writing. Today’s episode continues our series: Ten Lessons from Ten Years of Podcasting. This is Lesson 2 – Act “As If”
Have you gotten the DIY MFA Starter Kit yet? This is a two week email series full of worksheets to help you DIY your MFA, so you can get the “knowledge without the college.” You’ll learn more about how to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community. You’ll also receive Writer Fuel, our newsletter full of words of wisdom and resources to help you keep the momentum going in your writing. And you’ll be the first to hear about other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! You can sign up with your email at diymfa.com/join
In this episode I discuss:How acting “as if” is not the same as “fake it ‘til you make it.”
Ways in which acting “as if” helped me build DIY MFA and this podcast.
Why it’s important to be completely truthful when you act “as if.”
How when you step forward with confidence, eventually your mindset catches up.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/477
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Welcome to DIY MFA Radio, where I do a deep dive into the writing life as well as the craft and business of writing. Today’s episode kicks off our series: Ten Lessons from Ten Years of Podcasting. This is Lesson 1 – Jump First, Build After.
Have you gotten the DIY MFA Starter Kit yet? This is a two week email series full of worksheets to help you DIY your MFA, so you can get the “knowledge without the college.” You’ll learn more about how to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community. You’ll also receive Writer Fuel, our newsletter full of words of wisdom and resources to help you keep the momentum going in your writing. And you’ll be the first to hear about other fun goodies we only share via email. Best of all, it’s free to join! You can sign up with your email at diymfa.com/join.
In this episode I discuss:Why it’s important not just to build something, but build the right thing.
How failure plays into innovation, and why we should accept it rather than avoid it.
How originality is about the execution of the idea, rather than the idea itself.
Why it’s crucial to embrace the concept of “good enough.”
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/476
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Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I jam about the craft. In these episodes, we do a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.
This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to craft the perfect book ending.
In this episode Christa and I discuss:The three major components of an ending
Types of endings for your story
My top tip when choosing the the right ending
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/475
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Welcome, today is DIY MFA’s monthly Craft Jam. Once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.
This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to Nail Your Narration.
In this episode Christa and I discuss:Why narration is so important in your writing
What to keep in mind when choosing a point of view and narrative voice
Gabriela’s top tip on how to nail your narration
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/474
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Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building, and more.
In this episode, Christa and I discuss:Key aspects and methods to focus on during the revision process.
The importance of feedback from others during revision.
A helpful type of mindset to keep throughout your progress.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/473
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Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Christa and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into Conferences.
In this episode Christa and I discuss:Should one attend a conference as a beginner writer?
How to choose the right conference to attend.
The nuts and bolts on how to prepare for a conference.
For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/472
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Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kathy Reichs. We’ll be talking about her book The Bone Hacker and how to craft a bestselling thriller series.
Kathy Reichs’ first novel Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. To date, she has written twenty-two novels featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Kathy was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest running scripted drama, Bones, which was based on her work and her novels. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Kathy divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal, Québec.
You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
In this episode Kathy Reichs and I discuss:How to write each book in a series with different aspects while keeping it entertaining.
Keeping the main character consistent but also allowing room for them to grow and change throughout a series.
Adapting a series to television, the differences and challenges of writing a television script vs. a novel.
Plus, Kathy’s #1 tip for writers.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/471
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Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building, and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into Draft Zero.
In this episode Lori and I discuss:What exactly Draft Zero is and what comes next.
Finding a routine that works for you and how to keep it from getting stale.
Why you need to practice finishing and what to do when you get stuck.
Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on craft books.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/470
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We’re back for another episode of our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to weave your story’s world through world building.
In this episode Lori and I discuss:How character, plot, and world are all connected.
Using the iceberg technique as your write.
Creating a setting that can take on a life of its own.
Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on how to weave your story’s world.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/469
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Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing MT Anderson. We’ll be talking about his book, Elf Dog and Owl Head, and raising your story’s stakes.
M. T. Anderson has written stories for adults, picture books for children, adventure novels for young readers, graphic novel adaptations of ancient French tales, and several books for older readers (both teens and adults). His satirical book Feed was a Finalist for the National Book Award and was the winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize. Both Time Magazine and National Public Radio have included it on their lists of the best 100 YA novels of all time. Another satirical science fiction novel, Landscape with Invisible Hand, has been turned into a movie starring Tiffany Haddish and Asante Blackk.
The first volume of Anderson’s Octavian Nothing saga, The Pox Party, won the National Book Award and the Boston Globe / Horn Book Prize. The second volume, The Kingdom on the Waves, was a New York Times best-seller. The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, a tragicomic spy story for young goblins written with Newbery-Honor winner Eugene Yelchin, was a Finalist for the National Book Award in 2018.
Anderson’s nonfiction book Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad was long-listed for the National Book Award.
He has published stories for adults in literary journals like The Northwest Review, The Colorado Review, and Conjunctions. Several of his stories have appeared in the Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror collections. His nonfiction articles and reviews have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Slate, and Salon.
He has curated concerts that bring together text and classical music all over New England.
You can find him on his website or follow him on Twitter.
In this episode MT Anderson and I discuss:Weaving events from your real life into a fantastical story
Why you need to have rules for the magic you create in order for it to be fun.
How to reverse engineer and perfect the opening of your novel.
Plus, his #1 tip for writers.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/468
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Today we have another monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more. This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to perfect your plot.
In this episode Lori and I discuss:Starting with plot versus starting with a character
What an outline really is and how to use it
Making sure your plot twist is actually a twist
Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on books with great plots.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/467
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Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, and Carly Watters. We’ll be taking an inside look at the publishing industry.
Before diving in, I wanted to make a quick note. Our wonderful guests are the co-hosts of a fantastic podcast that has a particular word in its title. It would be impossible to talk about their show without saying this particular word, so consider this a heads up that there will be salty language in this episode. If you’re listening in public or have little ones around, now would be the time to put on some headphones.
Bianca Marais is the author of the bestselling The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, as well as the beloved Hum If You Don't Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, and the Audible Original, The Prynne Viper.
She taught at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies where she was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing in 2021.
She is the co-host of the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers become published.
You can find her on her website or follow her on Instagram.Cecilia (“CeCe”) Lyra is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, representing adult fiction and non-fiction. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is actively looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over one million downloads.
You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Carly Watters is a SVP and Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary and the sitting VP of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents.
Carly Watters has a BA in English Literature from Queen’s University and a MA in Publishing Studies from City University London. Her masters thesis was on the social, political, and economic impact of literary prizes on trade publishing. She began her publishing career in London as an assistant at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. Carly joined Toronto-based P.S. Literary Agency in 2010 and has sold over 100 books during her career. She represents award-winning and bestselling authors in the adult fiction and non-fiction categories, and select children’s books.
She is known for her long-term vision for her authors and being an excellent collaborator with a nose for commercial success. She has close ties to publishers in the major markets, is a member of the AALA, and works directly with film agents to option film and TV rights to leading networks and production companies. Her clients’ books have been translated into 40 languages, optioned for TV and film, adapted into podcasts, and have been on every bestseller list from coast to coast, including the New York Times, USA Today, the LA Times, the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail. Carly is also an annual judge for the Women’s Fiction Writing Association Rising Star Award.
The popular writing podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which Carly is the co-host, has over one million downloads.
You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
In this episode Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra, Carly Watters, and I discuss:Common myths about writing and publishing and what’s actually true
Writing groups, beta readers, and how to find them
What happens after you sign on the dotted line
Plus, their #1 tip for writers.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/466
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Today, Lori is interviewing Mary Pascual. They’ll be talking about her debut novel, The Byways, and creating multi-dimensional characters.
Mary Pascual is a writer and artist who believes finding magic is only a matter of perspective. She loves stories about characters with heart and fantastical settings that are more than meets the eye. She grew up in California and enjoys reading, art, traveling, exploring outside, and building elaborate stage sets for Halloween. Writing has taken her on a number of unexpected adventures, including working in high tech, meeting psychics, interviewing rock bands, and even once attending a press conference for Bigfoot. She got hooked on reading adult science fiction and fantasy in the fifth grade—so in retrospect, much of her reading material was completely inappropriate (which probably explains a few things). She lives with her husband, son, and assorted demanding cats in San Jose, California.
In this episode, Mary Pascual and Lori discuss:Finding the inspiration for a retelling and adding a fresh spin.
Why she used an urban setting to tell a grittier tale.
The importance of avoiding labels and creating multi-dimensional characters.
Plus, her #1 tip for writers.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/465
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Today’s episode is our monthly Craft Jam. This is a new feature at DIY MFA, where once a month, Lori and I will be jamming about the craft. In these episodes, we’ll be doing a deep dive into various craft topics like character development, story structure, world building and more.
This month’s episode is a deep dive into how to create compelling characters.
In this episode Lori and I discuss:Using method writing to get inside your characters’ heads.
How to create balanced scenes using the TADA! method.
The different types of voice and how to use each.
Plus, our #1 reading recommendation on compelling characters.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/464
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Today, Lori is interviewing Daniel Weizmann. They’ll be talking about his neo-noir mystery, The Last Songbird.
Daniel Weizmann got his start at 13 under the nom de plume Shredder, writing for the legendary Flipside Fanzine. He went on to write for the LA Weekly, LA Times, Billboard, the Guardian, and others. He contributed to several books, including Drinking with Bukowski, Hardcore California, Too Cool, Timothy Leary's last work, and DeeDee Ramone's autobio. He has also written volumes for Def Jam rappers, standup comics, Mad Libs, and more. The Last Songbird is his debut mystery.
You can find him on his website or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
In this episode Daniel Weizmann and Lori discuss:Why you should resist the urge to explain yourself in your writing.
How to use the negative space to maximum effect.
The role of music in his process and its impact in his novel.
Plus, his #1 tip for writers.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/463
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Today, Lori is interviewing Jolene Mcilwain. They’ll be talking about Sidle Creek and centering a short story collection around a place.
Jolene McIlwain’s fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and appears in West Branch, Florida Review, Cincinnati Review, New Orleans Review, Northern Appalachia Review, and 2019's Best Small Fictions Anthology. Her work was named finalist for 2018’s Best of the Net, Glimmer Train’s and River Styx’s contests, and semifinalist in Nimrod’s Katherine Anne Porter Prize and two American Short Fiction's contests. She’s received a Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council grant, the Georgia Court Chautauqua faculty scholarship, and Tinker Mountain’s merit scholarship. She taught literary theory/analysis at Duquesne and Chatham Universities and she worked as a radiologic technologist before attending college (BS English, minor in sculpture, MA Literature). She was born, raised, and currently lives in a small town in the Appalachian plateau of Western Pennsylvania.
In this episode Jolene Mcilwain and Lori discuss:
You can find her on her website or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.Why the length of a story doesn’t equate its emotional impact.
How to center a collection around a place and add enough grounding details.
Taking on stereotypes and going deeper in your writing.
Plus, her #1 tip for writers.For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/462
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