Of course, no one is going to read your book if they don’t know about your book. But with the hundreds of thousands of books that get published how do you, one author, break through the white noise and be heard?

One of the best ways is through getting yourself some podcast interviews. These are great because they get you right into the ears of your potential readers from anywhere in the world without even leaving your house.  

As the producer of DIY MFA Radio, I hear a lot of author interviews. The raw, unedited kind. Some interviews are better than others, and a good audio editor can clean up a recording to make the author shine, but you still want to put your best foot forward.

With that in mind here are five steps to give the best most awesome podcast interview you can.

Please note this article assumes you have already been accepted as a guest on a podcast, and  is not about pitching to be one (that’s a whole other kettle of fish).

1) Send the host/producer a copy of your book

It is of vital importance to giving an awesome interview that you send the host a copy of your book well in advance of your recording date. You are wanting to be on this interview to promote your book, so the host will need to have time to read said book.

You can be all set to discuss your book, but if the host has no idea what it’s is even about, they are not going to be able to ask you many questions, which would make for a very boring interview. And no one wants to listen to a boring interview.

2) Stop. Breathe. Relax.

Here’s the hard truth: When you are on your interview you will be nervous. There’s no way to fight that clammy, chest-constricting, anxiety that comes with public speaking. So don’t. Accept that you will be nervous, and that that’s okay because everyone gets nervous. Even some of the most seasoned authors, who have been on countless interviews, still get nervous when they have to speak. But they do it, and so can you.

Right before the interview starts, take a few deep breaths and relax your whole body as much as possible. Ask the host questions if you are confused about anything or have certain concerns you would like to address. Remember: the host wants your interview to sound awesome, too. And while it doesn’t stop you from being nervous, knowing that this interview is pre-recorded and there’s an audio editor that’s got your back if you have a major blooper does help to ease some of the tension. Especially after you make said major blooper.

3) Pause and collect your thoughts

At some point in your interview your train of thought will become derailed and you will begin to stumble over the words to that perfect answer you were giving a second ago.

The temptation will be there to simply push through all the uh’s and um’s until you find the right words again. But that only serves to make you more nervous the longer you can’t find them. It’s a vicious cycle, so don’t start it in the first place.

When you begin to fumble for words, stop talking. Pause for a minute to give your missing train of thought a chance to get back on track. Then start your answer over. The host doesn’t want to rush you, and if you repeat words when you start again, that’s okay. Remember, podcast interviews are pre-recorded, so an audio editor will be coming in to clean up any bloopers and make you sound as awesome as you are.

4) Watch your language

Using curse words may not seem like a big concern, but shows can get shut down for using certain not-so-PG language without transparency. For example, iTunes (the biggest syndication network for podcasts) will remove a podcast if certain words are used and not noted according to their guidelines.

Some shows don’t mind explicit language, but others do. When people see a podcast episode with either an “e” for explicit or a “c” for clean (meaning the curse words are bleeped out) it may deter them from downloading and listening to the episode. This is not to say that you can never use a curse word during your interview. If you let one or two slip out you won’t get flagged (plus an audio editor can edit those out), but if you start dropping f-bombs or your language affects the interview’s quality that could be a problem. If the show you are on doesn’t want to mark their episodes as explicit they may decide to not air your episode even after recording it.

You don’t want to go through all the effort of giving an interview, only for no one to hear it. So when it comes to your language be on the safe side and keep it clean unless the word holds a particular artistic significance to your book. To see an example of what I mean by this check out this DIY MFA Radio episode with author NoNieqa Ramos.

5) Be courteous

You want to give a good interview, but you also want to be remembered as a good interviewee. Make sure you show up on time, and if you must reschedule do so as far in advance as you can. Showing up late or, worse, not all, is very unprofessional. Emergencies do happen, but at least shoot the host a quick email saying that you have had an emergency and will not be able to make your scheduled interview time.

Also, be nice when you’re on the interview, and remember to thank the host for having you on their show. You do not want to be remembered as the guest that showed up late and then was rude. Because people talk. The podcaster community is smaller than you think, and everyone knows the interviewees to avoid. Don’t be one of them by forgetting your manners.

Giving a good podcast interview can really set you apart from all the other authors out there. You create connections with people in a similar way to doing in-person events but on a much larger scale. And it’s that feeling of connection that will get people interested in your book.

Just be your honest awesome self and you can’t go wrong!

Marielle Orff is a freelance writer, content strategist, and podcast producer who strives to help authors manage their online presence so they can put their best foot forward. As a content strategist she takes the stress of content marketing off authors and streamlines their process so they can focus their attention on what really matters: their writing. She is the producer of DIY MFA Radio, has worked as the audio editor for the Writer’s Digest Podcast, and is the Content Strategist for DIYMFA.com. She is currently hard at work on a YA science fiction novel (with just a touch of fantasy) about the strong, intimate bonds between siblings, and conquering evil through sheer awesomeness. To connect with Marielle check out her website at marielleorff.com.

The post #5onFri: Five Steps to Giving an Awesome Podcast Interview appeared first on DIY MFA.

OMG DIY MFA Radio is 200 episodes old!

Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning of this journey or are just tuning in now, thank you for listening.

Since this is our 200th episode, we’re doing things a little bit differently. Instead of being the interviewer, my producer Marielle Orff takes over the show and puts me in the hot seat.

In case some of you don’t know her yet, Marielle is the content strategist at DIY MFA. As such she as her fingers in pretty much every piece of content that gets sent out by us. She edits the podcast and helps curate the lineup, manages the articles that go up on the website, and helps curate the newsletter and our social media. As such it seemed only natural to have her interview me for your 200th episode extravaganza!

Listen in as Marielle and I geek out about podcasts, platform building, and give you an inside look at what’s coming up in DIY MFA.

In this episode Marielle and I discuss:

• Getting from no to yes with publishers, agents, and podcasts.
• Pitching faux pas, and how to avoid them.
• Sustaining a huge project for the long haul.
• Putting yourself out there while still finding your voice.
• An inside look at the wish list of DIY MFA Radio!

Plus, both of our #1 tips for writers.

Writer Igniter Thriller Summit

Start your summer off with a bang by finding your next fun and action-packed read by listening into DIY MFA’s Writer Igniter Thriller Summit. Over the span of two weeks you’ll be able to hear nine awesome interviews with some of the biggest and up and coming names in the thriller genre. You’ll hear authors including Steve Berry, K.J. Howe, and David Morrell discuss the craft of writing, their own techniques, and get awesome tips on how to write thriller or any genre.

This event is coming up fast so keep your eyes peeled for announcements so you can start listening as soon as the Thriller Summit goes live. Follow us on social media for updates, or if you want the best and most reliable information sign up for our newsletter at DIYMFA.com/join. Our newsletter is always filled with exclusive goodies, and is the first place we announce upcoming events. Join now and be one of the first people to hear when the Thriller Summit begins!

Link to Episode 200

(Right-click to download.)

If you liked this episode…

Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio or Google Play and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.

Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.

Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post 200th Episode Extravaganza — Featuring Marielle Orff and Gabriela Pereira appeared first on DIY MFA.

My current work in progress has a large cast of characters aside from my protagonist. Each one has a unique personality, and important parts to play in my novel’s world. This is probably why I ran into trouble.

During a round of revision some of my characters started acting out. They were saying things they shouldn’t say, and doing things that didn’t make sense with the rest of the story. I got so frustrated that at one point I started shouting at my laptop telling them that if they didn’t start behaving I was going to delete them permanently. That’ll get you some odd looks if you do it in public.

Finally, I realized that if I wanted to get my novel back on track I was going to have to meet my characters all over again. When you find you’ve lost that magical ability to jump inside your characters’ heads, like I did, try some of these field tested strategies to get back in sync with them.

1) Creat a Character Sketch

Even if you’re the worst artist ever (a title you’ll have to fight me for) it doesn’t hurt to draw what your character looks like. They may come out looking like a humanoid figure a two year old made out of silly putty (mine did anyway), but if you draw her you’ll have a tangible representation of your character, making it easier to describe her on the page. Then you can return to the comfort zone of writing. On your sketch, write an outline of sorts about only your character: her physical description, why she looks the way she does, personality traits, why she is this way. Write every relationship she’s ever had.  Let your writer brain take over and create enough of a new person that this character could have her own novel. You’ll be surprised what you learn.

2) Talk it Out

You know the advice about reading aloud your novel to catch things that need work? Well the same holds true when a character starts confusing you. When you write a character, you’re already having a dialogue with yourself. Having the same dialogue out loud can help get you and your character back on track. Use that wonderful imagination of yours and pop your difficult character out of your head for a chat. Ask him questions, and then answer them. Perhaps he has a different role in the story than you realized at first, or maybe he needs to be pushed to the background a little more. And if anyone should overhear your conversation and ask you what you’re doing with a worried expression, simply respond:

“I’m just talking with Anthony about how a supporting character is supposed to work.” Then return to your conversation.

3) Put Your Character in a Weird Situation

Sometimes the only way to figure things out is take your character out of her story, plop her into a situation that would never occur in your novel and see how she reacts. For this, I suggest using a writing prompt, such as the one my writing group used that helped me work out my character’s motivations. Simply start a story with, “And the horse came back alone.” Set a timer for fifteen minutes and take your persnickety character, write up a weird situation, and see what happens. You’ll get a fresh perspective on your character and, armed with new knowledge, your characters will once again be making sense in your novel.

4) Take a Day in the Life

This takes talking it out to a whole new level. Sometimes to get inside the head of a character, you need to actually be that character. So take a day, or half of one, and pretend that you are your character. To the best of your ability, act as them, answer questions as them, and respond to things in the same manner they would. Even if you’re writing a fantasy or science-fiction story (as I am) you can still act as your character. Remember the imagination that helped you make that world in the first place? Use it again, but this time instead of creating a world on paper, create it in your surroundings. If you have a writing group, you can even do this as an event where everyone comes as their character. It’s great fun and helpful too.

5) Explain Your Character to Someone Else

Find a willing person to allow you to give him or her a lecture on a pesky character that only exists in your mind. Getting another writer to do this is usually easier, but you can probably get a family member or close friend to sit through a fake biography too. Explain everything you know about your character, and what he is doing now that doesn’t make sense to you. Then let your listener ask any questions they may have about your character. If you find you’re unable to answer a question you may have found why your character has become difficult. Having someone who is not engrossed in your novel can give some much needed perspective. He or she may see the problem clear as day where you would have trudged along for months trying to work it out.

Characters are fun to create and play with, but sometimes they take deep introspective work to understand. Characters are who your reader connects with and, more often than not, why they continue to come back to your work again and again. Take the time to meet and re-meet your characters, and soon you’ll be jumping inside their heads so easily writing them will be as natural as speaking.

Marielle Orff is a freelance writer, audio editor, and podcast producer from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. She is the producer for DIY MFA Radio, as well as the Web Mistress for DIY MFA. In her free time she creates stories of science-fiction and fantasy for young adults while drinking mountains of coffee. To connect with Marielle check out her website at marielleorff.com.

The post #5onFri: Five Unique Ways to Get to Know Your Character appeared first on DIY MFA.

I didn’t get it. I’d done the work. I knew what needed to happen. I had an index card written for every scene, which as a self-proclaimed pantser was difficult to do, but they had helped me so far. Why now in the middle of my revision were they letting me down?

I stared at my computer screen, as if my intense eye contact would transmit my thoughts to the page, for longer than I’m proud of before I realized I needed a more productive way to break through this roadblock of a scene.

When you find yourself in a staring contest with your manuscript (and losing), tryout these strategies I found helpful to bash through the wall of your own difficult scene.

1) Make Sure the Scene is Necessary

This is the absolute first thing you must do when up against a difficult scene. No matter how meticulous you believe you’ve outlined your novel, if you hit a scene that never feels right make sure you actually need it before you put all your energy into fixing it. Take a step back and reevaluate your story line. Does this scene move the plot along? Does it aid character development? Ask yourself all the questions you’ve asked about each scene numerous times, and then ask why is this scene not working? There is nothing worse than spending days of writing on one particular scene only to realize it doesn’t belong in your story at all. Trust me. I know.

2) Skip Forward

Sometimes the scene you think you’re writing next is not really the scene you’re writing next. When you hit a difficult scene it is more productive to your time and your writing to skip forward in your story. If a scene will not be written now, don’t write it now. Move on to the next scene, or the next. Keep moving until you find the scene that’s begging you to write it right now. Then, a few written scenes later, head back to the one that refused to take shape, and write to whichever scene you skipped to. You’ll find it much easier to write a scene when you have a concrete scene ready and written as a guide post to head toward.

3) Refresh and Recharge

Take a writing break. Seriously do it. Even if you are one of the most prolific writers there will be days when words fail you. That’s when you take a step back from the novel, and do something else for a while. This can be writing related, but not related to the novel you’re working on or the scene that’s driving you crazy. Do a writing prompt, take a walk, or take a nap. Personally I like to clear my head and recharge my brain by writing random Fanfiction stories I call with the greatest affection, my adjective and adverb dump. Find whatever activity works best for you and recharge yourself. Make sure you set a time limit for these activities, though, because you’ll want to set that recharged and refreshed mind to your scene problem. I recommend no shorter than thirty minutes and no longer than a day.

4) Power Through

Yeah, sometimes there’s no way to avoid the wall. You have to take the words you come up with that day and just power through the scene. You can only skip around or rest for so long before that difficult scene needs to be written. When it comes to this the best way to succeed is to plant your backside in the chair and not get up or stop writing until the scene is done. It may not be the best thing you’ve ever written and filled with typos, but it will be words on the page. And words on the page can be revised

5) Be Patient

Do not try to force a scene. Powering through is all well and good, but if you’re just not clicking today set the novel aside and wait. Yes we all want to finish that novel, but sometimes the rush of desire to finish turns into impatience with our work and with ourselves. When that happens, more crippling negative feelings are not too far behind. If a scene is necessary, but gives you a giant headache when you try to write it, don’t force it. Wait. Take a deep breath. And always remember to be patient with yourself.

Try these strategies out for yourself, and hopefully soon that difficult scene you’ve been struggling with will be several chapters behind you. But above all remember number 5. Be patient. The story will come.

Marielle Orff is a freelance writer, audio editor, and podcast producer from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. She is the producer for DIY MFA Radio, as well as the Web Mistress for DIY MFA. In her free time she creates stories of science-fiction and fantasy for young adults while drinking mountains of coffee. To connect with Marielle check out her website at marielleorff.com.

The post #5onFri: Five Ways to Work through a Difficult Scene    appeared first on DIY MFA.