223: The Imaginary Friend as Narrator - Interview with Melanie Moyer

DIY MFA Radio

Hey there word nerds!

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Moyer. Melanie is a debut author and veteran ghostwriter.

She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied Creative Writing, Religious Studies, Folklore, and Russian History. She regularly co-hosts a horror pop culture podcast called Splatter Chatter, serves as a co-host on the animation podcast Overly Animated, and regularly contributes pop culture pieces to Just About Write.

Today we’ll be talking about her debut YA novel The Rules of Me, a fascinating novel with a unique point of view choice.

In this episode Melanie and I discuss:

• The process of going from a short story drafted in college to a novel written years later.
• Point of view challenges that come with making the narrator be the main character’s imaginary friend.
• How this unconventional point of view choice ultimately enriches the narrative experience.
• The different pairs of characters that frame the story.
• The art and craft of world building and how to create rules for your characters.
• Navigating the workshop experience, with both its pros and cons.
• Writing for a YA audience and how to respect that reader’s point of view.

Plus, Melanie’s #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/223