Helping Writers Become Authors
K.M. Weiland
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 5, 2022 • 16min
Ep. 603: Do You Need Personal Experience to Write About Something?
Do you need personal experience to write about something? Turns out there are four ways to "know" something, and experience is just one.
Aug 29, 2022 • 18min
Ep. 602: 7 Tips for How to Add Complexity to Your Story
Here are seven tips for how to add complexity to your story without crossing the line into unwanted complications.
Aug 22, 2022 • 15min
Ep. 601: Is Your Story Too Complicated? Here Are 9 Signs
You want your story to be complex, not complicated. Is your story too complicated? Here are nine important things to think about.
Aug 15, 2022 • 16min
Ep. 600: How to Write Emotional Scenes (Without Making Them Cringey)
One of the most important keys to creating good fiction is understanding how to write emotional scenes in a way that feels genuine.
Aug 8, 2022 • 18min
Ep. 599: How Perfect Does Your Story's Structural Timing Have to Be?
A closer look at the mechanics of structural timing. What is it? Why is it important? And how precise does it have to be?
Aug 1, 2022 • 18min
Ep. 598: 13 Rules to Be a Better Beta Reader
Not all beta readers are created equal. Just as you can learn to be a better writer, you can also learn to be a better beta reader.
Jul 25, 2022 • 18min
Ep. 597: How to Structure Stories With Multiple Main Characters?
How you structure a story with multiple main characters will depend on which type of plot you're working with.
Jul 18, 2022 • 19min
Ep. 596: 7 Tips for Opening Your Story In Medias Res
Discover the pros and cons of opening your story in medias res (or "in the middle" of action) and use these tips to refine your use of it.
Jul 11, 2022 • 17min
Ep. 595: Clearing Up Some Misconceptions About In Medias Res
Is opening your story in medias res compatible with the Three-Act Structure? The secret is in understanding how the First Act functions.
Jun 27, 2022 • 18min
Ep. 594: 8 Ways to Avoid Cardboard Characters (and Plot Contrivances While You're At It)
If your story suffers from cardboard characters, it probably also suffers from plot contrivances. Good news: if you fix one, you fix both.
