Welcome to the brand new Helping Writers Become Authors site! (The new K.M. Weiland site, dedicated exclusively to my fiction, went up last week.) I am absotively, posolutely, 110% thrilled with how the site turned out. The incredible team at Varick Design get all kinds of props and thanks from me for all the hard work and […]
August 8, 2013 by Structuring Your NovelIs Structure the Hidden Foundation of All Successful Stories?
Don’t forget: The site is likely to be either down or wonky this weekend, as we’re switching to the new server and design. I won’t be able to post on Friday and Sunday and perhaps not on Wednesday, but check back later next week for the unveiling of a brand-new Helping Writers Become Authors site! In […]
August 2, 2013 by 19 Comments Structuring Your NovelSneak Peek at Structuring Your Novel’s Table of Contents
We’re only a month away from the release of what I feel is the most helpful information I’ve ever written about writing how-to. Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story comes out September 1st, 2013 (stay tuned for info about another big drawing—this time worth $3,500). In the meantime, here’s a peek […]
July 26, 2013 by 19 Comments Structuring Your NovelHow Story Structure Changed My Life
One thing I always stress to writers is the importance of writing subjects you’re passionate about. Most of the time this advice is aimed at novelists, but it’s every bit as true when it comes to non-fiction. As we approach the September 1st release date for my non-fiction book Structuring Your Novel, I’d like to share […]
July 19, 2013 by 20 Comments Structuring Your NovelShiny New Cover for Structuring Your Novel
This is always my favorite part of having a book released: new cover! So here’s a sneak peek at the cover of Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story. Many thanks to the fantabulous team at Damonza for their hard work and tremendous skills. Structuring Your Novel, available September 1, 2013, approaches […]
July 12, 2013 by 26 Comments Structuring Your NovelWhere Should You Begin Your Story?
Just for fun, today I’d thought I’d give you a sneak peek of my upcoming book Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story. The book, available September 1, 2013, x-rays our notion of storycraft to get past the outer aesthetics right on down to the muscular and skeletal systems that make our books work. Once […]
July 1, 2013 by 12 Comments NewsRelease Date for Structuring Your Novel
And we have a release date for Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story! September 1, 2013, is the big day. Mark your calendars and stay tuned. Plenty more goodies coming up between now and the launch! . .
June 24, 2013 by Structuring Your NovelAnnouncing Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story
The last few years have been quite the ride for me. Professionally, I was able to claim the title of full-time writer after Outlining Your Novel went live in 2011. It held the #1 spot in the Writing Skills category in Amazon’s Kindle Store for a full year (and remains in the Top 10 even now!). That one […]
June 21, 2013 by 14 Comments Structuring Your NovelWriting Scenes You Haven’t Seen
Compelling fiction is driven by scene. We can feel omnipotent when writing a fictional scene, wielding complete control over every detail, every action, every sensory experience. But there are limits to that power; what we include must seem real to the readers. Creating a sense of the “real” is a particular challenge for writers of historical fiction, who must stay […]
March 3, 2013 by 26 Comments PodcastScene Structure Exceptions: Incidents and Happenings
After our recent series about scene structure, it might seem that everything in a book must be tied down hard and fast within that framework. But what about when something in your story doesn’t seem to fit into the goal/conflict/disaster paradigm of the scene? What if something happens (and needs to happen) that doesn’t create conflict and doesn’t end […]
