Helping Writers Become Authors

K.M. Weiland

About

Hosted by award-winning story coach K.M. Weiland, the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast will take you deep into story theory, writing techniques, and all the incredible wisdom of story. There is no such thing as "just a story." Come along to find out how to write YOUR best story, astound the world, and (just maybe) change your life!

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665 episodes

S16:E12: How to Choose Story Settings: The 4 Basic Types of Setting

 Learn the four basic types of setting as a way to help you choose story settings that create meaningful connections among characters.

20m
Apr 01, 2024
S16:E11: From Lead to Gold: The Alchemy of Character Arc With Carl Jung

Delve into the alchemy of character arc. Explore the parallels between alchemy, Jungian analysis, and story structure.

22m
Mar 25, 2024
S16:E10: Checklist for Beginning Your Story: Introducing Your Characters

Master the art of introducing your characters in your first chapter. Learn to hook readers and lay the foundation for character development.

26m
Mar 18, 2024
S16:E9: Announcing the Shadow Archetypes Course! (+Giveaway)

Discover the power of shadow archetypes in character development. Join the Shadow Archetypes course to write stories of depth and complexity.

13m
Mar 11, 2024
S16:E8: 6 Tips to Write Deeply Emotional Fiction

Learn the art of writing deeply emotional fiction. Discover six tools to infuse stories with emotional resonance that lingers for readers.

22m
Mar 04, 2024
S16:E7: How to Use Antagonists in Your Story: The Right Way and the Wrong Way

Learn how to use antagonists to create unforgettable plots. Strengthen narratives and build your characters' journey with this skill.

24m
Feb 26, 2024
S16:E6: Writing 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Backstory

Use this essential guide to backstory to share the history of your characters and story world with your audience at just the right moments.

25m
Feb 19, 2024
S16:E5: Burned Out on the Business of Writing? 6 Insights to Rediscover Joy and Passion in Your Work

Learn how to regain a sense of creative fulfillment in the business of writing and get tips for managing the pressures of marketing fiction.

26m
Feb 05, 2024
S16:E4: 5 Reasons Marketing Is Hard for Writers

Five reasons marketing is hard for writers and how to flip your mindset to embrace marketing and business as tremendous opportunities.

19m
Jan 29, 2024
S16:E3: Writing Multiple Plotlines: Everything You Need to Know

Writing multiple plotlines in your fiction doesn't have to be hard. Learn to navigate the intricacies while balancing the pros and cons.

30m
Jan 22, 2024
S16:E2: Lessons From 2023: 5 Reflections on "Flat Arc" Periods

Turns out my personal experiences this year perfectly represent what I want to say about the importance of Flat Arcs in character development.

23m
Jan 08, 2024
S16:E1: Top 10 Writing Posts of 2023

BEFORE WE SAY GOODBYE TO THE OLD YEAR, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WERE, ACCORDING TO YOUR PAGEVIEWS, MY TOP 10 WRITING POSTS OF 2023.

10m
Jan 01, 2024
Ep. 648: My Top Books of 2023

Check out some of my favorite books from 2023 in three categories: Fiction, Writing How-To, and General Non-Fiction.

10m
Dec 18, 2023
Ep. 646: How to Market a Book: 6 Steps From a Full-Time Author

Knowing how to market a book starts with identifying your personal marketing ethos. After that, take these six steps to connect with readers.

20m
Dec 11, 2023
Ep. 645: 14 Do's and Don'ts of Time Management for Writers (from a Recovering Over-Achiever)

Time management for writers starts with practical steps for aligning your daily schedule to your vision for your writing life.

19m
Nov 27, 2023
Ep. 644: "There and Back Again": The Lord of the Rings and the Power of Despair in Fiction

To create fiction that offers life-changing hope, authors must be willing to also embrace the power of despair in fiction. Here are 5 tips.

21m
Oct 30, 2023
Ep. 643: How to Use Archetypes in a Series

Consider the following four approaches to how to use archetypes in a series so you can determine which feels most resonant for your story.

17m
Oct 09, 2023
Ep. 642: How Meditation Can Inspire Your Next Story

Whether you're using a guided approach or just freewheeling, here are five ideas for how meditation can inspire your next story idea.

17m
Oct 02, 2023
Ep. 641: Announcing Archetypal Character Guided Meditations! (+Giveaway)

Based on six transformational character arcs, these Archetypal Character Guided Meditations will help writers brainstorm even better stories.

10m
Sep 25, 2023
Ep. 640: What Are Antagonistic Proxies? And How Can They Help Your Story?

Here are four tips for how to use antagonistic proxies to your advantage, depending on your story's needs, without complicating your story.

18m
Sep 18, 2023
Ep. 639: Where Should You Start Plotting Your Story?

An overview of the main concerns when deciding where to start plotting a story, depending on where it makes the most sense for you.

16m
Sep 11, 2023
Ep. 638: Hot Tip for Character Relationships: The Relationship IS a Character

One of the best tricks for writing memorable character relationships is to think of each relationship as an entity of its own. Here's how.

15m
Aug 28, 2023
Ep. 637: How to Rediscover the Joy of Writing

What happens when you lose the joy? Learn how to rediscover the joy of writing you experienced way back at the beginning of your journey,

23m
Aug 21, 2023
What Are Plot Devices? (Why You Should Be Cautious)

Learning how to identify plot devices and fully support them on every page of your story is a huge step toward writing cohesive and resonant fiction.

17m
Aug 14, 2023
Ep. 635: How to Write Interesting Happy Scenes? 6 Tips

Six tips for how to write interesting happy scenes that will become some of your readers favorite moments in the story.

17m
Jul 31, 2023
Ep. 634: 8 Different Types of Scenes

Understanding some of the main types of scenes can help you recognize which choice is right for your story at any particular moment.

19m
Jul 24, 2023
Ep. 633: How to Discover What Your Character Fears

Understanding what your character fears can offer significant insights into your story and its underlying themes.

14m
Jul 10, 2023
Ep. 632: A New Way to Think About the Lie the Character Believes

Learn how the Lie the Character Believes is a gauge of the character's relationship with reality--and how to use it to upgrade character arcs.

14m
Jul 03, 2023
Ep. 631: What Does Your Character Want? Desire vs. Plot Goal vs. Moral Intention vs. Need

Writers can find value and nuance by digging deeper into the functionality of these four terms in answering: "What does your character want?"

16m
Jun 26, 2023
Ep. 630: What's the Difference? Your Character's Ghost vs. Wound vs. Lie vs. Weakness

All four terms--Ghost vs. wound vs. Lie vs. weakness--refer to a pain point for your character. Here's how to understand the nuances.  

16m
Jun 19, 2023