DIY MFA
2,112 FOLLOWERS
Take your writing from average to awesome, and learn tools of the trade from bestselling authors, master writing teachers, and publishing industry insiders. This podcast will give you tools and techniques to help you get those words on the page and your stories out into the world.
DIY MFA
4M ago
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 ..read more
DIY MFA
6M ago
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 ..read more
DIY MFA
7M ago
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 ..read more
DIY MFA
8M ago
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 An ..read more
DIY MFA
9M ago
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 readin ..read more
DIY MFA
10M ago
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, o ..read more
DIY MFA
10M ago
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. A ..read more
DIY MFA
10M ago
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 p ..read more
DIY MFA
11M ago
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 ..read more
DIY MFA
11M ago
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 ..read more