Hello hello Word Nerds and welcome back to DIY MFA Radio. Today I’m interviewing Lorin Stein, editor of The Paris Review, and we’ll be talking about literature, reading, and what makes stories great. We’ll also be discussing a book he recently edited titled The Unprofessionals: New American Writing from The Paris Review. But first, here’s a little bit… Read more »
Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of DIY MFA Radio! Today I’m interviewing Calee Lee, the founder and CEO of Xist Publishing, the largest independent digital-first children’s publisher. She is also the author of more than 15 books for children. Dedicated to helping kids develop a lifetime love of reading, she founded Xist Publishing in… Read more »
This is a continuation of a previous article from editor Constance Renfrow about six things you need to know before you submit your novel. Check out Part One right here! Make Your Email Stand Out Okay, so Fifty Shades of Twilight Abbey is free of clichés and that anti-woman monologue, you’re ready to “sware” all… Read more »
Over the past few weeks, we’ve established that in order to give your manuscript the best shot at standing out in a crowded marketplace, you need to hire a freelance editor. We’ve also talked about the basic services you can expect your editor to provide. Now let’s talk about how you find your editor. Because… Read more »
For all too many writers, the short story market is like a black box: stories go in, rejections come out. I’ve been on the receiving end of those rejections, even when I’ve been notified I’ve made the ‘final round’. So, I decided to find out just how one gets from the slush pile to the… Read more »
I’ve never been to BEA. As I approach it, I keep thinking of the children in Willy Wonka, standing just inside the chocolate factory. They don’t know what wonders await them. They only know that there are wonders ahead. That the place is huge. And they’re thrilled to be there. And Willy Wonka tells them:… Read more »
In January, I started my own short story zine. Ever since, I’ve been reading my way out of a steady pile of submissions. What’s more, I’m reading these stories with a new perspective—while I usually read for pleasure, as an editor, I now have to make judgments about each story. What makes a story good? Which will… Read more »
On Tuesday, we hosted Random House Editor, Mark Tavani, who spoke about the acquisitions process and what editors look for in submissions. Today, we get Mark’s take on the author-editor relationship and what it’s like to work with an editor. Without further ado, here’s Part 2 of our Editor Q&A Series this week. Editors all… Read more »
In December, I had the opportunity to attend the Random House Open House. It was a fabulous event, providing valuable information to writers and readers alike. One of the highlights of the open house, though, was a panel discussion with Ballantine publishing team behind Justin Cronin’s bestselling book THE PASSAGE–and now the sequel THE TWELVE. This… Read more »
Today I have an exciting announcement. For some time now I’ve wanted to expand the DIY MFA leadership. A project like this can only grow so much with one person at the helm and I’ve realized that sooner or later I’d have to start sharing the load. Also, let’s get real, much as I would… Read more »
