The Internet hosts an amazing feast of website for writers. Some offer weird advice (it is the internet) and some offer good advice, but some offer excellent advice and provide step by step guidance—for free. One of those excellent and free sites is K. M. Weiland’s Helping Writers Become Authors. The website was the winner of Writer’s Digest 10 Best Websites for Writers in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Helping Writers Become Authors is easy to navigate with a helpful menu across the top. On your first trip to HWBA, click on “Start Here” where K. M. Weiland has organized her “whopping big” website into quick steps to get you started. Two of my favorite articles is included here : How to Write Character Arcs and The Do’s and Don’ts of Storytelling According to Marvel.
She has free books Crafting Unforgettable Characters and 5 Secrets of Story Structure and for those of you who like to listen to craft she has a huge series of podcasts available both on her website or through iTunes. She also has a giant Story Structure Database where she deconstructs books and movies pointing out where the story structure is spot on and where it needs help. It can be very helpful to see the story structure bones of other authors. The database includes new movies like LOGAN and old ones like the 1959 BEN-HUR and books like WHITE FANG and GONE GIRL. The database also includes two short stories and a video game.
K.M. Weiland has several reasonably priced books about writing from Creating Character Arcs and Structuring Your Novel to Outlining Your Novel. Structuring Your Novel and Outlining Your Novel are also available as workbooks.
Just this week she also released Outlining Your Novel Workbook Computer Program (for PC and Mac) which I’m pretty sure is going to be a birthday present for me. I am very interested in seeing how this program compares to Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Pro which I use and really like.
She also writes historical and speculative fiction. Her titles include the award winning Storming, Dreamlander and Behold the Dawn. (Dreamlander is a free ebook.) I’ve read Dreamlander and enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading her other novels especially Storming—because hello, 1920s Dieselpunk!
Check out Helping Writers Become Authors. Let me know what your favorite resource is.
Marianne H. Donley makes her home in Tennessee with her husband and son. She is a member of Bethlehem Writers Group, Romance Writers of America, OCC/RWA, and Music City Romance Writers. When Marianne isn’t working on A Slice of Orange, she might be writing short stories, funny romances or quirky murder mysteries, but this could be a rumor.
-
When Marianne isn’t working on A Slice of Orange, she might be writing short stories, funny romances, or quirky murder mysteries, but this could be a rumor. She also could be knitting.
-
“Totally Folked” by New York Times Bestseller Penny Reid is F R E E for a limited time only! If you’re looking for your next cozy, small-town romantic comedy for Fall, this is it! 🍂
-
When vampire Chris Atherton—a former rock star—accidentally shoots a woman he was trying to help, he must do something he never thought possible: turn her into a vampire to save her life. But little did he know the surprise in store for him when she utters her dying words…
-
Sometime in January a red knitted hat pattern was recommended to me on my Ravelry page.
-
New release: Rescued by the Outlaw Vampire by Jenna Barwin. Can I convince her I’m not the monster she thinks I am?
AN ELEMENT OF MYSTERTY: SWEET, FUNNY, AND STRANGE TALES OF INTRIGUE
Dare you read our latest Sweet, Funny, and Strange® Anthology?
More info →
FUR, FEATHERS AND SCALES: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Animal Tales
So cuddle up with your favorite pet-real or imaginary. No matter. You’ll find just the right story to share.
More info → 
ONCE UPON A TIME: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales for All Ages
Step through our castle doors into a world of imagination!
More info →
ONCE AROUND THE SUN: Sweet, Funny, and Stranges Tales for All Seasons
Stories about winter, spring, summer and fall, and seasons of life, seasons of love, and even seasons of discovery.
More info → 
UNTETHERED: SWEET, FUNNY, AND STRANGE TALES OF THE PARANORMAL
Stoke the campfire and get ready for some chills and goosebumps when you open this paranormal addition to the award-winning Bethlehem Writers Group’s “Sweet, Funny, and Strange” anthologies.
More info → 
A READABLE FEAST: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales for Every Taste
Yearning for a tantalizing tale?
More info → 
TO L.A. WITH LOVE: A CHARITY ANTHOLOGY
When wildfires destroyed two beloved Los Angeles public libraries in January 2025, the romance community answered with heart.
More info →
To L.A. With Love Volume 2
When wildfires damaged two beloved Los Angeles public libraries in January 2025, the romance community answered with heart.
More info → 
CELEBRATING: 20 Years of Sweet, Funny, & Strange Tales
Come celebrate with us.
More info →
Illusive Worlds: Sweet, Funny, and Strange® Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Enter our worlds of imagination!
More info → 
Discover more from A Slice of Orange
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Featured Books
FREYA Viking Glory Book Two
What happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force? Sparks fly and love blooms.
More info →
EMERALD FIRE
Her family secret is stolen by pirates. His business is in jeopardy if he doesn’t find it.
More info → 
What a great review! Thank you so much for your kind words about the site. Great to hear you’re enjoying it! 🙂
Thank you! Your website is pretty awesome. I hope my small column sends some writers your direction.
Thank you for this resource. I need all the help I can get.
Veronica, this is a great website.You’ll find all sorts of great advice there.