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Articles by Lori Walker
The 10 Unhealthiest Protein Shakes on Grocery Shelves
Protein shakes are meant to give you a nutritious boost. They can help you build muscle while also getting rid of fat and making sure you feel satisfied without being too full. However, there are plenty of different kinds of protein shakes on store shelves and not all are created equal. In fact, while some rely on high-quality ingredients, others aren't as healthy as you might have assumed and could actually be harming your efforts to stay fit as opposed to helping.
Flower Mound Chamber hands out awards
By Lori Walker, President, Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce The Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards luncheon on Feb. 9 at the Denton Country Club, where we celebrated our 42nd anniversary and recognized local businesses and organizations.
Text Analytics: CX Secret Sauce
04 Nov 2021 By Lori Walker, Director of Strategy at Bellomy Research – Good customer experience is built on empathy. Creating strong connections with customers requires taking their nuanced feedback in whatever form it comes in — social media posts, email threads, chatbot conversations, NPS responses — and understanding the themes, emotions, and sentiments driving their frustration or delight.
Take the Sting Out of Writing Errors
You’ve pulled your hair out. Bled on the page. Gone over your WIP six ways til Sunday. Maybe you’ve even put it through one of those AI editing programs or had someone read it. One last comb through for typos or other writing errors. Yeah. That’s it. Time to submit.
Crafting the Parents in Your YA Novel
Who doesn’t love the daring feats of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley? And most of the time they’re acting independently, without a parent in sight. That being said, this independent action gets them in all sorts of trouble with not only parents, but their teachers and school headmaster, Dumbledore. That’s the thing with parents in Young Adult literature—can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Luna & the Rise of Trans Narratives -DIY MFA
Welcome back to The Messy Middle, where we focus on crafting complex characters and building dynamic worlds that connect with readers from marginalized communities. Out of the numerous current events that have demanded our attention (and response) lately, I could not have predicted the surge of 490 proposals for anti-trans legislation that was introduced in 47 U.S. states this year.
The Book Nook: Interview with Jane V Blunschi
Hey y’all. I recently had the opportunity to interview Jane V Blunschi, author of the novella, Mon Dieu, Love. I was really excited about this book because I feel like you don’t come across standalone novellas super often and I was definitely curious about the form. Plus, it has an interesting path to publication. And then as I started reading, oh, my goodness! The characters! They felt so real.
The Book Nook: Interview with Eden Boudreau
I was so fortunate to be able to interview Eden Boudreau about her amazing memoir, Crying Wolf, her story of surviving sexual assault. Writing a memoir can be difficult enough to sift through the memories and when you write about trauma, it’s an even more difficult process, so I was very grateful that Eden was so open and honest about her process. I truly hope that it will help other memoir writers out there and that you’ll check out her memoir because it is amazing.
The Book Nook: Interview with Eden Boudreau
I was so fortunate to be able to interview Eden Boudreau about her amazing memoir, Crying Wolf, her story of surviving sexual assault. Writing a memoir can be difficult enough to sift through the memories and when you write about trauma, it’s an even more difficult process, so I was very grateful that Eden was so open and honest about her process. I truly hope that it will help other memoir writers out there and that you’ll check out her memoir because it is amazing.
The Book Nook: Interview with Rochelle Bilow
I am so excited to share this interview with Rochelle Bilow just ahead of Valentine’s Day. I’m relatively new to the romance genre, but I love it. By definition, we know it’s going to end with a happily ever after…but the fun part is seeing how the characters get there. It’s the journey, not the destination.
The Book Nook: Interview with Amy Wallen
I love craft books and I love food. So when I saw How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies by Amy Wallen come across my desk, I just knew I had to investigate further. And what a treat! Not only does Amy provide fantastic advice, but the recipes she weaves throughout look super yummy. I was also pleasantly surprised that she included recipes for savory pies for those like me who don’t have much of a sweet-tooth.
Find Your Focus Round-up
This has been one of these days where no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot focus on the task at hand. OK, maybe it’s been one of those months. I know for some people, it’s been difficult to find focus since the pandemic started. Every person has their own way of finding focus. But every now and then, it feels like the old ways stop working and I need something new to regain my focus, creatively or even in the work setting.
The Book Nook: Interview with John Matthew Fox
Today I had the privilege of interviewing John Matthew Fox, author of The Linchpin Writer, a book on creativity. Since this is a craft book, the bulk of this interview will focus on applying his advice, which I think you will find extremely useful to your own writing projects. I know I found it useful for my own writing. I hope you enjoy this interview! About John Matthew Fox John Matthew Fox helps authors write better fiction.
The Book Nook: Interview with Sara Bennett Wealer
Today I had the privilege of interviewing Sara Bennett Wealer, author of the YA romance with a fun supernatural twist, Grave Things Like Love. I was completely drawn to the setting—a funeral home—and loved the coming of age drama and the love story. It was a really fun read and I am so glad Sara was willing to answer my questions about her creative process, other novels, and my request for some reading recs.
Interview with Kristine Langley Mahler
Today I had the privilege of interviewing Kristine Langley Mahler, author of the experimental memoir in essays, Curing Season. As a non-fiction writer myself, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to pick her brain about her process and her career. Plus, I loved getting some inside scoop on how to experiment more with my writing.
Lori Walker: My addiction battle with post-surgical opioids
I made a goal long ago to be able to answer with an enthusiastic “yes!” to the question, “Have I done any good in the world today?” My church callings, the needs of my family and friends, my physical health, and my spiritual habits have long been high priorities for me. I would have considered myself immune to the dangers of addiction but I learned the hard way that addictions can happen to anyone, and I would need more than my self-motivated nature to overcome it.
The Book Nook: Create Your Own Syllabus
Something about the back-to-school season gets me thinking about big projects for myself. And, like many word nerds, the way I prep for a big project is to read about it. I’ve found it useful to create a syllabus, a list of required reading, for my writing project to keep me on track and to help me be prepared. Ultimately, this syllabus is a mix of craft books to get you prepared and a list of comp books to keep you on track.
The Book Nook: The Thirty Books Challenge
Today I present to you an interesting challenge: what if you only kept thirty books? I recently moved and it was exhausting. I had plenty of time before the move took place to go through things and get rid of stuff I didn’t want to bring. And I certainly availed myself of this opportunity. But even after moving, as I unpack and put things in their new places, I am still noticing things that I would like to get rid of. Moving really does put into perspective just how much *stuff* you have, doesn’t it?
The Book Nook: Enemies to Lovers
I’m moving. Which means that in addition to work, I’m spending a lot of my waking hours sorting and packing my possessions into boxes to keep, donate, or trash. Not surprisingly, I’m not getting a lot of reading done. But the nice thing about sorting and packing is that my mind is free to roam. Lately, my mind has been drifting to ideas for romance novels. As I plot out a book in my head, I’m thinking about my favorite romance trope: enemies to lovers. Why Enemies to Lovers?
Summer Round-up Post
I’m a summer gal. I love the long days that seem full of possibility. They make me want to make the most out of my waking hours. This means getting my work done more quickly and efficiently so that I have more time to read, write, and do other things I love. Maybe you are already meeting your reading and writing goals for the summer. But maybe not. Fortunately, at DIY MFA we have some posts that will help you read and write more this summer.
The Book Nook: In Praise of Reading Widely
My reading has always been a bit all over the map. It’s gotten more so over the past couple of years, and even more so since I started cohosting the podcast. To be sure, there are still certain genres that aren’t my jam, but I am trying to find ways of subtly incorporating them in my reading life because I thoroughly believe in the value of reading widely. As a person who mostly writes non-fiction, I definitely make room for fiction in my life.
#5onFri: Five Writers’ Memoirs You Should Check Out
I read a lot of nonfiction because I have an innate curiosity about the world and I enjoy learning things I didn’t know before. Whenever I want to learn how something works, I find a book. I especially love reading writers’ memoirs as a way of learning more about writing. While everyone is different and no two paths look the same, I like reading how the writers I admire became writers in the first place and developed their craft along the way.
Romance Subgenres
In my last post, we talked about the characteristics of the romance genre. Today, I am going to break things down even further and talk about the various romance subgenres. Before I dive into popular romance subgenres and how to choose one, let’s define our term. A subgenre is a way of organizing a larger genre into different categories so people can choose the kind of romance they want to read about. For instance, LGBTQ+ people can read romance novels featuring LGBTQ+ characters.
#5onFri: Five Ways to Deal with Burnout
It seems like burnout is the new black. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about their experiences with burnout or exhibiting some pretty obvious symptoms. Writers aren’t impervious to the affliction. You can definitely deal with burnout in the traditional ways of alcohol and a good venting session with your friends. But there are other ways of dealing with burnout that can actually help you creatively once you get to the other side.
The Book Nook: My Spring Reading
I think spring might be my favorite season for reading. (Though I will say fall is a close second.) I get to read outside where the air is crisp and full of possibilities and promise. It’s white wine and rosé season—at last. And after the long and miserable winter, full of seasonal depression, my spring reading is truly fulfilling. I’ve been doing a bit of rereading like I shared last month, but I’ve been reading plenty of new and new-to-me books.
The Book Nook: Ode to Nora Ephron
Recently, I needed a break from the heaviness of the world, so I began revisiting the work of Nora Ephron. She is known for such hits as Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, and You’ve Got Mail. And I love all of those movies. But I love them because of how she plays. As you watch a Nora Ephron movie or—better yet!—read something she wrote, you can tell that she loved words, characters, and storytelling.
Defining the Romance Genre
I’m a huge fan of breaking things apart and taking them back to the basics because the basics provide the building blocks that allow you to go forward. Learn and master the basics and you can start to riff, creating your own spin and style. This goal of achieving creative freedom is why I want to take it back to the basics and define the romance genre. The romance genre has positively exploded in the past few decades, particularly with the rise of ereaders and the ability to self-publish. Why?
The Book Nook: 1984 by George Orwell
This month I surprised myself. I was originally planning on rereading a book for this column, then switched to rereading a different book, then finally settled on buying and reading Orwell’s 1984 in graphic novel format. I would say I’m a bit surprised that I haven’t read 1984 before now, but I was a bit of an imbecile in high school and resisted reading a number of books that I was told to read. Yet somehow I became an English major? I don’t know.
The Book Nook: Maus by Art Spiegelman
If you read my last post, you’re probably wondering why I’m talking about Maus today. The answer is simple. Shortly after I shared my last post, in which I listed twelve books that I’ve owned for a long time and vowed to read in 2022, a school board in Tennessee banned Maus, the graphic novel about the Holocaust. And that really broke open something inside of me. I have long been interested in banned books and have found the banning of books to be problematic.
Going from Preparing to Write to Actually Writing
Hey, y’all. I come before you today, standing at the precipice of possibility. The place where inertia becomes action. The moment where I engage in the act of sitting down and actually writing. This winter, I invested in a masterclass program that walked me through the process of taking an idea, creating a high-level outline, and then creating a detailed micro-outline. When I initially signed up, I told myself that it was put up or shut up time.
Walker: Flower Mound Chamber - Partnering with our community for 40 years
By Lori Walker, President, Flower Mound Chamber The Flower Mound Chamber is “The Place for Business”, and We Want You!! The Flower Mound Chamber will be celebrating 40 years of making a difference in our community! Below are the top reasons to invest in the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce: You are investing in a Healthy Local Economy and Building a better workforce… Investing in the Chamber helps Denton County promote quality growth that adds new businesses and customers for your business.
The Best of Tammy Lough
Hi word nerds! Lori here. Our longtime columnist Tammy Lough is in need of a break, so I am stepping in and serving up a round-up of some of her best columns for DIY MFA. In case you are not familiar, Tammy Lough is our romance writing columnist, so most of these columns will help you write better romance, especially romantic comedies, but there are some great words of wisdom in here for writers of any genre.
Holiday Themed Round-Up
Hey word nerds! The holiday season is in full swing, so we thought we would present a holiday-themed round-up full of posts from our archives for you to enjoy. Whether you want some advice on how to get some writing in during this busy time or maybe you want to explore some podcast episodes or maybe you would rather do a bit of reading, we’ve got you covered.
The History of Humor Writing
Whenever I discuss humor writing with anyone—and I mean anyone—people seem immediately intimidated. Some people think that they are not funny enough or don’t have the personality for writing humor. Some might even say they are not familiar with humor but more with things like improv and stand-up. For those still curious how to write humor and why others write it, read on and I will take you through its history.
Ep. 371: Women's Fiction vs. Romance
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Kris Clink. Kris writes about relatable characters who rely on humor and tenderness to navigate complicated relationships. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with romance, heartbreak, and just enough snarky humor to rock the boat. When not writing, Kris spends her time searching for an open karaoke mike and an understanding audience. Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Kris lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband and two spoiled-rotten pups.
The Book Nook — August Edition - DIY MFA Blog - Lori Walker
I’ve been having such a hard time doing anything productive. All I want to do is sip a cold drink and read…yet my attention span isn’t super great right now either. Thank you, August heat. (We’re actually having a bit of a weird cool spell at the time of this writing, but whatever.) I haven’t been reading as much as I would like, but I have been finishing most of what I’ve picked up, which is a nice break from a bookish dry spell. Those drive me crazy.
Ep. 367: Character Dynamics in a Fairytale Retelling
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandie June. Brandie spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as both activities let her live in fantastic stories. She moved to Los Angeles to study acting at UCLA, and eventually branched out into costume design and playwriting. While she spends most of her free time writing, she will still take any excuse to play dress-up, especially if it involves wearing a crown.
The Book Nook — July Edition - DIY MFA Blog - Lori Walker
It’s July and we’re hitting the dog days of summer here in rural Oklahoma. Nothing is moving out there, not even the wind. (I might be exaggerating slightly) Still, you’d think if it was that hot outside, it would be perfect for some indoor reading. Not exactly. I’ve struggled to concentrate for whatever reason. I’ve been picking up lots of books, but quickly setting them aside.
Ep. 365: Fantasy Inspired by Greek Mythology
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Emily R. King. Emily is the author of the Hundredth Queen series, along with Before the Broken Star, Into the Hourglass, and Everafter Song in the Evermore Chronicles. Her latest novel is Wings of Fury, which was released earlier this year, and we’ll be discussing it today. It is the first in the Wings of Fury duology; the second book, Crown of Cinders, will be out in October of this year.
Build a Virtual Community
I’m the Operations Maven at DIY MFA. That role encompasses a lot of things, but the common thread—the thread I want to pick at in this essay—is my responsibility to build our community. One of the beautiful things about DIY MFA is how far-flung we are. As a community, we cover the globe. We are able to make connections with people we otherwise wouldn’t ever cross paths with.
The Book Nook — June Edition - DIY MFA Blog - Lori Walker
It’s the first Sunday after the first Tuesday of the month, which can only mean it’s time for another edition of the Book Nook! We’ve made it to June and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy dropping into your feeds each month to share a new list of books. I was very fortunate last month to have a nice, long spell of cool weather, which meant lots of back porch reading! This month I have something strange to report. Most of the books I started, I actually finished.
The Book Nook — May Edition | Lori Walker | DIY MFA Blog
I’m not going to declare my surprise that it’s already May. I did that in the preceding months, and time only sped up incrementally each month, which is interesting because sometimes the days drag on interminably. But here we are—it’s May. The flowers are blooming, the baseball bats are swinging, I’m enjoying cool drinks out on the porch while Joan Didion hunts leaves in the grass, and, typically, I have a good book in my hand. For some reason, I find myself reading more during the warmer months.
The Book Nook—April Edition | Lori Walker | DIY MFA Blog
How is it already April? March was both a slog and a blur, and I am so glad to leave it in my rearview window. I know this post should have gone up on the first Sunday in April, but that was Easter, and we’ve had some other behind the scenes stuff going on here at DIY MFA. So, you’re getting my April Book Nook post on the second Monday in April.
The Book Nook—March Edition - DIY MFA Blog - Lori Walker
I cannot believe it is already March! February positively flew by and I don’t mean because it’s shorter than your average month. Anyway, we’ve reached the first Sunday in March, which means I’m supposed to tell you what all I read in February. I even finished a few books that had been lingering on my shelves for quite a while. Perhaps some of these titles will make their way to your March TBR.
The Book Nook—February Edition - DIY MFA Blog - Lori Walker
After my last Book Nook column was a smashing success, the Powers that Be at DIY MFA saw it in their infinite wisdom to make this a monthly column! Henceforth, on the first Sunday of every month, you will see an update of all the bookish goodness I’ve been indulging in over the past month.
Introducing the Book Nook!
New year, new column! I am so excited to start writing this new column I am calling the Book Nook. As much as I love writing, I’m always reading books. So I was able to convince the Powers that Be to allow me to write a column about books I’ve been reading. At DIY MFA, we don’t do traditional reviews of books—and that’s totally fine with me because I don’t like writing traditional reviews of books. For the Book Nook, I am more interested in focusing on what I like or don’t like about books.
#5onFri: Five Ways to Improve Your Description
Description is one of those magical elements of prose. Whether it’s “good” or not is entirely subjective. One author’s Mozart is another’s Metallica. But, regardless of your preferences, there are some techniques and literary tools you can use to tighten your sentences and sharpen your description. Here are just five tricks you can use. 1) It’s all About the Impact Stories are told through the eyes of your protagonist or narrator.
The 30-Minute Strength-Training Circuit for Cyclists
Whether you're a racer or a recreational rider, all cycling begins with a strong foundation, which includes a strong endurance base, a strong core and strong legs for climbing hills. And the winter months are the perfect time to get started. Begin with exercises you can progress with—little to no weight at first (to get the muscles used to doing different exercises) and add weight as you become stronger. This circuit workout takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Foreo facial brush and skin care products
Through my Allure Beauty Box subscription, I recently had the opportunity to try the Foreo Luna (TM) Play facial brush as well as the Day and Night Cleansers. I was reasonably impressed with two of the three items! The Foreo Luna Play is a small round electric facial cleansing brush. It cannot be recharged however it comes pre-charged for up to 100 full cleansing routines.
Why do I like shopping on Etsy?
Why on earth am I addicted to shopping on Etsy??? Etsy describes themselves as "a marketplace where people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy unique goods". That sounds pretty fantastic right there. But I do not think that statement sums up the thrill. Firstly, most of us like shopping for at least one type of consumer good -- food, clothing, shoes, purses, cosmetics, home décor, and on and on.
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