From Lead to Gold: The Alchemy of Character Arc With Carl Jung
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
3d ago
Storytelling is a mystical crucible. Just as the ancient alchemists sought the transformation of base metals into gold, writers strive for the metamorphosis of their characters’ inner selves throughout the story. Alchemy, as explored through the lens of Carl Jung’s insights, can elevate your characters from the leaden weight of initial flaws to the gleaming brilliance of transformation. Last fall, I spent part of my month-long writing retreat in the Berkshires auditing a series of online lectures from the Centre of Applied Jungian Studies. These lectures from leading Jungian experts, collected ..read more
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Checklist for Beginning Your Story: Introducing Your Characters
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
1w ago
Hello, everyone, and welcome! Today, we’re going to be talking about beginnings and specifically about how to introduce your characters in the beginning of your story, how to hook readers with your character, and how to set up all the important parts of your character’s development and arc that will happen in the rest of the story. If you prefer, you can watch today’s content on YouTube or listen to the podcast. This post was actually inspired by a couple of questions I received about endings, which I’m going to talk about in a future video. But first I thought I’d bookend it by introducing so ..read more
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Announcing the Shadow Archetypes Course! (+Giveaway)
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
2w ago
Get ready, because I’ve got something exciting to share with you! This winter, I’ve been working on a new resource for all of you. I’ve been diving once again into the world of archetypes, exploring the psychology of shadows, and studying character transformations—all of my favorite things! And now, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my eight-week on-demand email course Shadow Archetypes: Writing Complex Characters. I know many of you have been waiting for this, and I can’t wait to take this journey with you! If you’ve already explored my book Writing Archetypal Character Arcs: The Hero’s ..read more
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6 Tips to Write Deeply Emotional Fiction
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
3w ago
In the tumultuous sea of storytelling, where the tides of emotion ebb and flow, writers get to discover the profound art of learning how to write deeply emotional fiction. Emotions are the vibrant threads that weave a connection between characters’ souls and readers’ hearts. To navigate this intricate terrain, let us uncover six tools to infuse your fiction with an emotional resonance that lingers. Every once in a while I share a post that elicits an unusual number of heartfelt personal emails from readers. A post from last October—“‘There and Back Again’: The Lord of the Rings and the Power o ..read more
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How to Use Antagonists in Your Story: The Right Way and the Wrong Way
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
1M ago
How to use antagonists in your story is a critical skill that can either elevate or undermine your entire story. In many ways, antagonists are the true architects of unforgettable plots, and as you navigate the path between narrative brilliance and potential pitfalls, the art of utilizing your story’s antagonists becomes crucial to success. When we think of antagonists and how they should be written, what often comes to mind are specific characteristics. We envision villains, or perhaps just complicated anti-heroes, who offer enough charisma and enigma to spark reader curiosity and, hopefully ..read more
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A Writer’s Comprehensive Guide to Backstory
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
1M ago
Hello, welcome to Everything You Need to Know About Backstory! I’m K.M. Weiland, and you are listening to the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast or watching it because this is also a video post. This video is in answer to a question from SW, who asked: “I’m interested in how you figure out how to chunk backstory and sprinkle it through the story.” This is always a pertinent question, because wherever you have a story, obviously, you have backstory. Backstory, simply put, is whatever comes before the main story. Generally speaking, backstory is the history of the characters or maybe the sto ..read more
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12 Places to Find a Beta Reader (Updated)
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
1M ago
“Where can I find a beta reader or critique partner?” Without doubt, that’s the second most frequent question I receive from writers, right after where do I find a good editor?. This can be a tough question to answer for the simple reason that a beta reader or critique partner isn’t someone you simply vet and hire, like you would a freelance editor. Rather, this is a relationship you build, just as you would build any important friendship. 7 Things to Look for in a Beta Reader There are several keys to finding the right beta reader (and it is important to find the right one). You want som ..read more
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Burned Out on the Business of Writing? 6 Insights to Rediscover Joy and Passion
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
1M ago
In the ever-evolving landscape of the writing profession, where deadlines loom large and market trends shift like shadows, it’s not uncommon for writers to find themselves engulfed in the relentless flames of burnout. The business of writing, with its demands for marketability and strategic branding, can sometimes obscure the very essence of what drew us to the craft in the first place: the pure joy and passion for storytelling. If you’re feeling singed by the pressures of the business of writing, fear not. Amidst the ashes lie embers of creativity waiting to be rekindled. At the end of 2023 ..read more
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5 Reasons Marketing Is Hard for Writers
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
2M ago
Say the word “marketing” to a group of writers, and you’re likely to elicit a groan. Almost anyone with dreams of seeing a book in print can relate to the deflation experienced when it becomes clear that simply writing an excellent book isn’t enough to sell any notable number of copies. Sooner or later, any writer committed to publishing and selling a book will have to accept that learning how to market the book is just as important, if not more, to the book’s success than the book itself. This is often a frustrating experience since, in general, marketing is hard for writers. Why is this? Aft ..read more
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Writing Multiple Plotlines: Everything You Need to Know
Helping Writers Become Authors
by K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
2M ago
Note From KMW: Hello and welcome to today’s post, in which I am trying something a bit different! Chances are you have either written or considered writing multiple plotlines in a story. These versatile and multi-faceted stories are all the rage (they always were—just ask Dickens!). But adding complexity to what is already the wonderfully complex challenge of writing one plot ups the stakes on every part of the writing process. This post is a transcript of a video I posted on YouTube. If you’re a subscriber on YouTube, then you probably know that throughout the last year, I consistently posted ..read more
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