DIY MFA Radio

98
Books #209

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. Past guests include: Delia Ephron, John Sandford, Steve Berry, Jojo Moyes, Tana French, Guy Kawasaki, and more.

Recent Episodes
  • 485: Lesson 10 – Embrace the Journey
    Dec 18, 2024 – 14:07
  • 484: Lesson 9 – Take Baby Steps
    Dec 4, 2024 – 09:57
  • 483: Lesson 8 – Track the Money
    Nov 20, 2024 – 15:22
  • 482: Lesson 7 – Practice, Practice, Practice
    Nov 6, 2024 – 10:44
  • 481: Lesson 6 – Balance is Fallacy
    Oct 23, 2024 – 10:24
  • 480: Lesson 5 – Choose Abundance Over Scarcity
    Oct 9, 2024 – 12:17
  • 479: Lesson 4 – Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
    Sep 25, 2024 – 11:37
  • 478: Lesson 3 – Embrace the Power of Iteration
    Sep 11, 2024 – 09:34
  • 477: Lesson 2 – Act “As If”
    Aug 28, 2024 – 11:01
  • 476: Lesson 1 – Jump First, Build After
    Aug 14, 2024 – 16:35
  • 475: Craft Jam: Get Your Story to “The End”
    Dec 27, 2023 – 52:06
  • 474: Craft Jam: Nail Your Narration
    Nov 15, 2023 – 35:21
  • 473: Craft Jam: Revise Your Writing Like a Pro
    Oct 18, 2023 – 46:36
  • 472: Craft Jam: Conferences
    Sep 13, 2023 – 41:48
  • 471: A Behind the Scenes Look at How to Craft a Bestselling Thriller Series— Interview
    Aug 30, 2023 – 38:46
  • 470: Craft Jam: Draft Zero
    Aug 9, 2023 – 54:02
  • 469: Craft Jam: Weave Your Story’s World
    Jul 12, 2023 – 46:37
  • 468: Raise Your Story’s Stakes with Tension and Surprise - Interview
    Jun 28, 2023 – 44:19
  • 467: Craft Jam: Perfect Your Plot
    Jun 21, 2023 – 43:35
  • 466: An Inside Look at the Publishing Industry - Interview
    Jun 14, 2023 – 46:14
  • 465: Complex Characters, Dark Retellings, and Urban Settings - Interview
    Jun 7, 2023 – 38:15
  • 464: Craft Jam: Create Compelling Characters
    May 31, 2023 – 49:46
  • 463: Revealing a Character through Their Survivors - Interview
    May 24, 2023 – 31:45
  • 462: Organize a Short Story Collection as a Full Experience - Interview
    May 17, 2023 – 46:19
  • 461: Start with a Setting: Creating a Rich World for Your Story - Interview
    May 10, 2023 – 41:36
  • 460: Pantsing Your Way to Dynamic Characters — Interview
    May 3, 2023 – 37:08
  • 459: The Power of Poetry to Survive, Heal, and Connect — Interview
    Apr 26, 2023 – 38:45
  • 458: Intuitive Writing: Capture Your Character's Energy and Paint with Your Words — Interview
    Apr 19, 2023 – 39:18
  • 457: Take the Leap: Chase Your Passion, Quit Your Job, and Write a Memoir — Interview
    Apr 12, 2023 – 40:31
  • 456: Therapy for Poets: On Reading and Writing Poetry — Interview
    Apr 5, 2023 – 55:33
  • 455: The Magic and Science of Writing — Interview
    Mar 29, 2023 – 50:06
  • 454: Exploring Themes of Grief and Loneliness in a Neo-Noir Speculative Novel — Interview
    Mar 22, 2023 – 48:25
  • 453: Turning One Book into Eight: Planning and Writing a Thriller Series — Interview
    Mar 15, 2023 – 38:24
  • 452: Pivot, Payoff, and the Geometry of Story — Interview
    Mar 8, 2023 – 44:06
  • 451: Collaborating on a Fairy Tale-Inspired YA Series — Interview
    Mar 1, 2023 – 53:19
  • 450: Double Entendres, Meet Cutes, and Smart Sex: Writing Contemporary Romance — Interview
    Feb 22, 2023 – 44:10
  • 449: Genre Hopping, Process, and Time Management: The Life of a Working Writer — Interview
    Feb 15, 2023 – 01:03:42
  • 448: From Drafting to Marketing: A Debut Author’s Journey — Interview
    Feb 8, 2023 – 56:09
  • 447: Flying by the Seat of Your Pants: Writing without an Outline — Interview
    Feb 1, 2023 – 57:27
  • 446: Exploring Social Justice Topics in a YA Thriller – Interview
    Jan 25, 2023 –
  • 446: Exploring Social Justice Topics in a YA Thriller – Interview
    Jan 25, 2023 – 56:57
  • 445: IP, Fandoms, and Nostalgia: Rebooting a Beloved Series - Interview
    Jan 18, 2023 – 44:23
  • 444: Lies, Secrets, and Tension in a Closed-Setting - Interview
    Jan 11, 2023 – 42:31
  • 443: Writing Diverse Characters via Nuanced Shifts in Language - Interview
    Jan 4, 2023 – 37:34
  • 442: Opening Lines and Characterization: Maximize Your Opening Chapters - Interview
    Dec 28, 2022 – 44:40
  • 441: Writing an Experimental Short Story Collection - Interview
    Dec 21, 2022 – 01:03:03
  • 440: Music and Magic: Writing a Brazilian Story for an English-Speaking Audience — Interview
    Dec 14, 2022 – 48:55
  • 439: Blending Family Trauma with the Supernatural - Interview
    Dec 7, 2022 – 40:40
  • 438: The Stories We Tell and the Secrets We Keep in Family Sagas - Interview
    Nov 30, 2022 – 47:19
  • 437: The Freedom of a Pen Name and the Power of Voice in Memoir - Interview
    Nov 23, 2022 – 39:30
Recent Reviews
  • KJFocus
    Fantastic Writing Advice
    As a first time novelist, I was searching for good advice on writing fiction and came across this podcast. And what a find! The breadth and depth of this podcast on writing techniques and approaches is quite expansive and practical. I hope that the host will resume the podcast later this year.
  • Richard SoCal
    So helpful!
    I read a LOT of craft books and the first “craft jam” episode was SO helpful, with easy to remember and on-point advice. They know what they’re talking about!
  • khristin w
    Love this show!
    What a wonderful way to catch glimpses into the magic behind our favorite books. Gabriela and Lori guide the conversations beautifully, kindly, and always deliver an insightful episode. Highly recommend!
  • malfoxley
    Great show!
    Gabriela, host of the DIY MFA Radio podcast, highlights all aspects of writing and more in this can’t miss podcast! The host and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!
  • wagginwendy
    Informative and inspiring
    I’m so happy to have found this podcast. The interviews explore many facets of the creative writing journey. The interviewees are diverse and each offer a unique perspective. Thank you Gabriela!
  • Awsome face 1254
    So glad I finally started listening to this!
    These episodes are full of helpful content, and humor. Really enjoying. I’ll recommend to students as well. Solid ideas without the stuffy attitude. And great guests!
  • Goodbye Orchid, a novel
    Outstanding author resource
    Gabriela is a master at unearthing the brilliant insights from every interaction. She’s a creative and business genius, which is a rare combination. Authors are fortunate to have her wisdom, encapsulated in this podcast!
  • mscottfowler
    Word Nerd Heaven
    I love that I now have a place to go to indulge my writing itch. Gabriela is compelling and relatable. Love it, love it, love it!
  • victoriasquare
    An enjoyable podcast
    Entertains and educational. Love the enthusiasm of the host.
  • AnthonyCMoore
    Hi Gabriela!
    Thanks for the great show! I’m a nonfiction writer, and I’ve really learned some great skills about using storytelling and myself as a protagonist in my work.
  • Writer Roni
    Please “like” less
    This is an interesting and informative podcast. The host is knowledgeable and asks insightful questions, and the guests seem happy to participate and open to providing substantive answers. Unfortunately the host’s overuse of “like” detracts from her side of the conversation.
  • #NaNoWriMo 2018
    Teamwork!
    Thanks for another great episode Gabriela! Listened to it (ep 245) on the way home from work today and then secured my copy of the book. Lots of great info on positive collaboration between a writer-agent-editor team that connects well. Especially enjoyed the discussion on first person narrator. Keep it coming!
  • Judyd686
    Gabriela’s enthusiasm keeps me inspired
    Whenever I’m stuck, bored or rewriting, I download a new or old episode. Like magic, it inspires me to get back to writing and editing!
  • Amada Acosta Addair
    Glad I found you!
    Thanks Gabriela Perreira for providing excellent writing advice in an interview format. Of all the author interview shows out there, this is the best one.
  • RoseB43
    My Go-To Resource for Writing
    I listen to DIY MFA Radio on my commute to and from work. Gabriela provides excellent and useful content. I enjoy learning from her and listening to the interviews. Really grateful to have this super accessible resource for improving my writing.
  • Shamik23
    A Great Resource for Writers
    Lots of useful advice and commentary and great interviews filled with the nitty gritty as well as the basics of the writing craft.
  • March101
    Useful and entertaining!
    I just discovered this podcast and I've found every episode very useful and entertaining. Thanks Gabriela!
  • MssngrDeath
    Great Podcast
    This podcast always has great bits of writing advice. Even the interviews that I don't think will apply to me end up giving me something that helps to enrich my writing.
  • Wawala
    Interview with great writers; on writing
    I’m not a regular podcast listener in general by I make time for the DIY MFA episodes. They help immensely to focus my self education (because that’s what writing a novel turns out to be!) and my writing. She’s friendly and casual in her style but digs out excellent content. Highly recommend checking out the episodes and the archives in search of specific content.
  • Dana@writingatthetable
    Fab Advice and Great Interviews
    I love DIY MFA podcasts and look forward to them every week. Gabriela is a wonderful interviewer and she has great guests. If you want practical writing advice, this is an ideal resource for both beginner and veteran writers.
  • jwordsmith
    Infectiously Enthusiastic Interviews with Working Writers
    A gem of a podcast for writers. While friendly and full of personality, cuts straight to the information you can use. Most weeks Gabriela interviews someone working in the writing/publishing industry to glean tips, perspective and encouragement for the writer-listeners. Experts and professionals spill the beans in the welcoming atmosphere the host creates. It feels like being allowed to sit in on a coffee date between friends (smarter, more experienced, generous friends!) I always learn something and leave feeling inspired.
  • CammieFaerie
    Superb Content
    Love, love, love DIYMFA Radio: inspiring and practical writing advice and insights. Highly recommend and DIYMFA Website full of great and unique resources. I am definitely a better writer because of DIYMFA!
  • mksksdd
    Finally!! A reality check!!
    I have a day job in an industry I LOVE and am very passionate about. I love that Gabriela says to honor your reality. I don't have to limit myself to loving ONE thing. How simple is this? We don't love only ONE of our kids so why would we force ourselves to choose one passion or interests??!! #Slappingmyforehead
  • sknkwrks3
    DIY MFA
    So glad I found this podcast. Great information for any writer. I'll listen to these over and over. The title is perfect, the podcasts spot on without the rambling and foolishness of others I've tried, and her voice is pleasant.
  • Sas865
    So helpful!
    Thank you so much for these podcasts. Some of the points are things I had thought about but I wasn't sure if they worked. Other things were so new to me, I thought, how could I not have learned this before? My confidence shoots up everytime I listen to one of these. Makes me feeI like a real writer.
  • Patlar98
    Succinct and Awesome Writing Advice
    I am a follower of Gabriela's blog and writing advice, which is great in its own right. And when she indicated a podcast was in her future, I immediately signed up. And have not been disappointed. The knowledge Gabriela has provided so far as hit a few of my own goals, especially about making great characters. This has become one of my podcasts I consume the same day it downloads.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.