K. M. Weiland will make you a better writer!
919975
Another strong effort from a great author in her own right, who also knows how to help others succeed at the author game. Great job!
953829
NO SPOILERS HERE.:)
To the die hard KMM fans, this book is not as amazing as Dreamfever and Shadowfever, but it is a strong piece of work.! I believe KMM is better then most authors, but this work is not her best.....just to warn you. For new readers, This story is told from multiple points of views including Mac (primarily), the unseelie king, Barrons, Christian, Dani and all of our favorites .and some new perspectives never before heard.....including....bad ass Jada and...LOR!!!  I wish there was more of the new perspectives, they were amazing! There is less emphasis on some of the characters die hard fans were less then pleased with in previous books cough cough Kat/Jo. Although Jo impressed me in this book. Each characters voice is unique and true to previous books.....Except Mac! Some fans may be disappointed with how much time is spent in Mac's head and how indecisive Mac is. She seemed like a weaker version of herself. I strongly suggest you read this series in order, starting with  Darkfever.
The Dani age issue was handled....as promised.....in a way that will satisfy most KMM fans. Some people were offended by one of the leads being very young, however, this is a work of not just fiction but Fantasy and you have to suspend some of your judgements. There is also another series of books by this author that were written before the fever series about highlanders and the like, which are well worth reading. You can see hints of the dark broody delicious characteristics of Barrons develop in some of the highlander men (ESP books 5 and 7).

Some of my favorote Similar style authors:
Kresley cole: Immortals After Dark and Arcania Chronicles
Ilona Andrews : Magic Series
Nalini Singh: Psy/Changling Series and Archangel
Thea Harrison: Dragon
Gena Showalter: Alien Huntress
Carolyn Crane: trilogy Mind powers
Jamie McGuire: Ya
Stephanie Meyers: Twilight series: if you live under a rock for last 10 years ;)
Emily Giffin: Romantic Fiction
Diana Rowland: Demons
1331769
I read 1-5 books a week.  My numbers or up since I discovered promotions for KDP books at 0.00.
But, I've read so many bad non-fiction books that my constant has been, I could easily do better than that!  I now have been reviewing these books which has been honing my writing skills a bit so now I'm ready.

This book gives you what appears to be the recipe to make your Kindle book.  It explains in detail every thing you must minimally have.  There are a couple formulas that explain how you could create a stream of income from you book royalties to make enough for a car payment to possibly replace your existing income.  This assumes that your book(s) sell(s) daily.

Liz even shows a ways to hire someone else to write the book and create the cover for a couple hundred bucks.  All you have to do is think of the topic and byline to put on it and send it to Amazon.  That is an amazing concept.

If you do buy this and decide to write a book, I ask you one favor... Please make a little effort in creating something of quality.  Not only will your readers be happy, but I'm sure your sells will show it.
745570
This is such a helpful book for anyone writing a novel. Instead of separating plot and character, KM Weiland's approach combines them beautifully and helps you develop the arc of your story easily. Her examples help in understanding exactly how each aspect should work with the rest of the story.

You'll read this again and again as you write and rewrite your novel. I've already been throughout it more than once!
2820438
Five stars for Story Fix! I absolutely loved this author's previous craft books. Actually, they are the reason I got published. Bold statement, I know, but it's true. So when I heard he had a new craft book out, I could hardly wait to read it. In this little book of heaven, Larry Brooks walks you through possible reasons why your story failed. And then, he helps you to revise it in order to make it publishable. The really cool thing about this book is that it's set up like a private workshop, where he asks you to evaluate your own work using a grading system. Later, he has you go back to your initial grades and re-evaluate, knowing he's given you the golden ticket on how to revise. Amazing! I've never read a craft book quite like this before. If you've received rejection letter after rejection letter, you owe to yourself to find out why. Don't you? This incredible craft book will show you where you went wrong IF you're honest with yourself. I'm so pumped up after reading this book I can't wait to dive back into the story I'm working on. Buy. This. Book. Make your dreams come true. Story Fix will show you how. This book isn't only for the unpublished, by the way. The day we stop studying the craft is the day we should stop writing. One of the truly great things about this industry is that there's always more to learn. Story Fix will also enhance your skills.
1394909
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lindsay Buroker is one of the best "finds" that I have had in recent years!  She has a true gift for writing.  I can only imagine how much fun it would be to know her because her imagination would make conversation fascinating and likely entertaining (although if it was held over dinner somehow I wouldn't be surprised if there were to be a food fight in the offing...bring on the mashed potatoes).

One of the greatest advantages to the modern age is the ability for authors to publish outside of the large publishing houses that in the past had complete control over what and who were published.  I have never encountered a situation before where an author with such incredible talent was so accessible to the readers.  I genuinely believe that Lindsay Buroker listens to her readers.  So we are not fed a stagnant series that is required to fit within a predetermined (and possibly) stagnant genre or mass-pleasing mold.

I have loved her books since the first moment that I trepidatiously began reading a free copy that was offered on iTunes of The Emperors Edge.  I became an instant fan but didn't want to really let people know about the books.  Why?  Because my moral compass would require the necessity of adding a caveat that they would need to skip over more than one sex scene per book.  Deathmaker proves that the author listens.  Deathmaker was action packed, full of zany adventures, had a light and fun sense of humor, brought back characters that I had already fallen in love with and introduced me to new characters that I could happily loathe and others that I could happily love!  It introduced some romance that we knew was going places but fortunately the sex was not spelled out for us.  I can let my 15 year old twins read this one if they want!

I can't wait for the next book folks!  Fortunately Lindsay Buroker is gifted not only with an incredible imagination but also with some superhero like mad speedy writing skills.  Another benefit of her self-publishing....her books get to us rapidly!  More, more, more please!
117214
It is often that with the adoration and love you feel for your favorite writers, you might wish you knew them personally. Wouldnt it be fun to have a cup of coffee with them and shoot the breeze about life and all its little annoyances and wonders? Sure. Thats the mark of a very effective writer --- making you want to know them. In actuality, of course, there is no guarantee that you would meet them and they would live up to your standards. They are just people, of course, and their work is only one small part of who they are. There is only so much that a writer can put on a page that comes ripped from the very fiber of their beings, right? Well, maybe not. Jennifer Weiners first collection of essays, HUNGRY HEART: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing, gives us what I assume is the extent of her honesty and full heart. There is a truly insightful and experienced voice here, and its all Weiner.

Becoming a bestselling novelist is not a way to undo a lifetime full of disappointment and difficulty. And although Weiners issues are decidedly first world ones, she clearly explores her pain and sorrows in a funny and non-exploitive tone that will win her a new bevy of followers.

Life as a plus-size girl in contemporary America is the main struggle for Weiner in all of her exploits. Her not being a supermodel seems to claim a lot of time and energy in her dealings with herself, her family and others. Feeling like a constant outsider (a Lane Bryant outtake in an Abercrombie & Fitch world), Weiner is able to infiltrate the dark underside of our culture as it relates to her own misadventures in both youth and adulthood. Her unforgiving, difficult and angry father, her lonely adolescence, a mom who discovers her true sexuality much later in life, relationships good and bad, an internet battle few other writers of her standing have had to wage in the public eye --- these are all important and compelling topics in this set of essays. However, it is the utter stripped-bare honesty of her miscarriage in a very late chapter in the book that will haunt you when you shut its covers.

The graphic description might seem extreme to some, but the pain, horror and disappointment of this lost pregnancy, coupled with the fact that it belongs to a happy second marriage when shes older and with a man who hasn't been a dad before, is a remarkable achievement. Similar to the difficult and emotional memoirs of Joan Didion at the time of her husbands and daughters deaths, this chapter in HUNGRY HEART stands alone as a testament to the quiet strength and rigor of Weiners prose. Her work is often relegated to the chick lit arena and denigrated as such, but if this kind of honesty is indicative of why people love her work so much, then she should be remarkably proud of what she has accomplished. It is this kind of exploration of the most dire aspects of ones life that raises the level of their status in the world of literature and makes them important, regardless of how many books they sell.

HUNGRY HEART is a serious, funny and admirable look into one writers heart and soul, opening up some of the deeper places that her work comes from and sharing it all with readers who will appreciate her warmth, humor and, especially, candor. Weiner has fashioned a tell-all that goes down easily and nourishes slowly and fully. It is a meal to be savored until she writes another story that looks into womens lives with the most honest insight.

Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
253389
Writer has a knack for getting to the nitty-gritty
4604255
As a recovering "pantser," I read Outlining Your Novel hoping that it would help me get back into a novel project that had stalled out for several years. I read the book, and now I'm approaching my project with renewed energy and excitement--and more importantly, with a plan.

The greatest strength of the book doesn't lie in some radically new technique. More than the information, the book's greatest strength lies in K. M. Weiland's contagious enthusiasm for the outlining process. When you finish reading, you'll not only know how to outline, you'll *want* to outline your novel.

Outlining Your Novel is an example of the best sort of writing books: a book that inspires and frees your own creativity. It's definitely worth checking out to see if Weiland can help you bring your own project to the next level.
2445377
K.M. Weiland does a fantastic job in making the writing process click for me. I've read several of her books in the last few months in preparation for National Novel Writing Month. I credit her for the improvement I've seen in my writing over the last few years.
So far I've read her books on my Kindle, but will probably start purchasing them in hard copy when I'm back in the US again. I think it would be easier for me to look back for information. As is, I took her advice about using the workbook as my reference and I wrote out the exercises in my computer. (I think she suggested handwriting them in a notebook, but I prefer to have my documents easily at hand on my laptop.)
Weiland also has a blog which is a treasure. I really appreciate this author sharing her knowledge and experience in analyzing plot and character with new writers like myself.
3641383
In the ocean of opinions on writer's block, K.M. Weiland's approach is the smartest advice I have seen in a very long time. K.M. is aware she does not have a formula to solve writer's block, but she does have some very actionable methods for discouraging writer's block and encouraging writer's block. More than just a book of writing prompts, "Conquering Writer's Block and Summoning Inspiration" provides real insight into why we get blocked, and how we get unstuck. If you're going to have a book on writer's block, do yourself a favor and make this one a priority purchase.
1992467
Piper Willow's Story Continues

Am I the only male who enjoys her writings? Come on guys, she is an excellent writer. I know the stories are gauged for gals and the YA crowd, but it is time expand your horizons and give her a chance.

The travails of Piper Willow continue. First and foremost, I'm a heavy reader of WWII and non-fiction books. So, it's nice to take a moment and see what others are writing. Trisha Marie Dawson (no relation) possess an excellent writing style and voice. She carries the marked ability to paint a perfect persona of a teenager whose world came crashing down after taking her life in book one. Or has it?

Little Piper is still trying to figure out why she is at the "Station," and what her real purpose is. Is he destined to keep escorting children to their final destination or will she start assignments again? She thinks being with the kids would be a good gig until she's performing it. Unlike the adults, who meander around in a fog of uncertainty, the kids seldom stay for more than say a day. She finds the job extremely mentally draining and wishes to go back to the living and helping them overcome adversity.

To top that off, remember Sloan from the first book? Yep, he's back and Pipper finds a love interest she could only have hoped for on Earth. Talk about a mess! Well, she is a teenager and I think we can relate to those care-free days.

Now to really stir the pot, she and Sloan are sent on assignments at the same time. Here's where you'll have to read the book to find out what transpires. Some might see, others might not.  Well done Trish!

In the end, is this book worthy of the YA audience? In teenage words. "Duh! This is fricking awesome!"

Ah, but the story will continue as Piper learns she is something different. Something or someone who  see into the future and beyond.
4722861
As a writer of novels I am a `pantser' I fly by the seat of my pants (that is, without a flight plan). Pantsers don't PLOT their novels, we write intuitively and tidy up the mess by tight editing.
As a writer I read almost everything about the craft that that looks promising. I've bought and read two of K. M. Weiland's books, `Outlining your Novel' (2011) and `Structuring your Novel' (2013).
For one who doesn't plot, I found a lot of value in both of these books. Out of them I learned to evaluate what I have written, to analyse in retrospect, as it were. My plotting is not as tight as Weiland would have it; but then, my novels do not depend upon plot so much as upon the journey of the protagonist through the story. Stories must have a shape, a logic, a cause-and-effect; and Weiland shows how to put it together.
`Structuring your Novel' is a five-star tool for both plotters and pantsers.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Officer-s-Code-The-Schellendorf-Series-Book-1/dp/B00OOZP8JA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Officer's Code (The Schellendorf Series Book 1)</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Versailles-Legacy-The-Schellendorf-Story-Book-2/dp/B00OKNQYK8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Versailles Legacy (The Schellendorf Story Book 2)</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-English-General-The-Schellendorf-Series-Volume-3/dp/149534391X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The English General (The Schellendorf Series) (Volume 3)</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Ghosts-of-War-The-Schellendorf-Series-Book-4/dp/B00OS7NZP8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Ghosts of War (The Schellendorf Series Book 4)</a>
4695496
Every writer looking to fine tune their work for acceptance by a Publisher needs to keep a copy of Craig Hart's manual on their desk! The truth is that writing is competitive and trending toward editorial rules and preferences that can be daunting for emerging writers. Regardless of what genre you are writing in , Craig Hart has developed some exercises to hone and polish your writing skills that are NOT BORING.He also steps away from rigidity to give writers credit for trusting their instincts at times and even breaking the rules on occasion. I had written two novels before reading The Writer Tune-Up Manual and it showed up in time to help me "tighten up" my self-pubbed works! If you buy ONE book to polish your writing so that it dazzles the editors, make it THIS one!
3293096
Well, first of all, I must begin my review by saying that I read this book as an aspiring writer.  That does not mean that I read it to "pick it apart" by any means!  Quite the opposite in fact - I read it to learn from a published author - and I learned quite a lot from it.

I don't write "spoiler" type reviews, so I can't comment regarding content.  But I can certainly comment concerning my overall impression of the book.

I just finished reading the book and the "WOW" factor is off the chart!  I feel the way I do when a roller coaster train comes to rest back at the station after a wild ride!  My knees are a little wobbly and I'm afraid to stand up right away as soon as the car comes to a complete stop, lest I topple over!

This book:  "You Play, You Pay!" is certainly a wild ride!  There is an unexpected twist on just about every page!  I kept saying to myself:  "Boy!  I didn't see that one coming!"  And as the author says, "Karma is murder!"

I liked this book and I am interested in reading more by B.L. Morgan.

Now, with that said, I have one criticism and I believe it is for the publisher.  There are quite a few spelling mistakes and grammatical mistakes that I was very surprised to encounter.  By spelling mistakes I mean for example the context of a particular word was "gave" but the word was spelled "have" in the text.  By grammatical mistake, I mean that the sense of a particular word was "two" (2) and the word in the text was "too" (also), so I had to take the time to edit the text in my head as I read.  As I said, I believe that those are publisher issues, either that or "speech to text" program issues.  It was surprising to me though how much they detracted from the overall positive experience of the book, probably because there were so many.
72763
I've been a fan of K.M. Weiland's blog--WordPlay: Helping Writers Become Authors, for the past year. I really like her writing style!

As a homeschool teacher, copywriter, and freelance writer, I've been searching for and reading resources to begin my own journey into writing and publishing books. Not being sure about what I would find, my interest was piqued and I felt compelled to buy Ms. Weiland's book and support her efforts.

It was more than I anticipated! You are not just learning an "outlining" technique here. Indeed, I feel confident to map-my-way-to-success and jump in unreservedly. As a newbie, Outlining Your Novel allowed me to really see the whole picture, from beginning to end. I learned some new vocabulary and an array of powerful how-tos (and not-tos), as well as the secrets of building an incredibly creative story and sequencing it out in a common sense manner.

The style, layout, and chapters were exceptional and edifying, and I anticipated that next page--just like she says you need to do in your novel writing. I love that K.M. used her own writing as examples (nothing better than a good example), and the interviews from other authors and checklists are valuable. In fact, the last Chapter (11) checklist was my favorite (I like to smile while I'm reading) --a delightful way to end this easy-to-read book.

I wasn't even sure if writing fiction was something I'd ever actually do, but having read this book: I think I can, I have a kindling desire, and what fun it would be!
1966185
From the beginning, I immediately began improving my young adults novel. I rewrote the first chapter and when rereading it, I'm in awe because the author's suggestions for a powerful beginning chapter really rope the reader in! This really works and I look forward to reading the rest. I even went and ordered the author's Kindle edition of their book on outlining.