Unleash Your Story
Revise and craft your book-length or essay-length story to engage and move your reader.
Untangling a messy first draft can be daunting, though. So, I bring the compassionate developmental editing, coaching, or tools you need to polish your story to brilliance.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH:
You’ve done the hard part: You’ve written something!
I know what you’re thinking: “Now what? How do I make people want to read this?”
» Maybe your novel has fifteen subplots, three prologues, and one mysterious talking cobra-chicken you can’t explain.
» Maybe your personal statement sounds like it was written by hallucinating chatbots.
Do any of these strike a chord?
You have a pile of good parts with unclear direction.
This happened, and this, and that…
I can show you how to shore up the structure of your narrative so your reader doesn’t keep wondering, “How did we get here?” and Where is this going?”
There are no emotional payoffs.
The reader thinks, “So what?”
The goal is to keep your reader’s attention, keep them turning pages, and have them remember your story long after they’ve stopped reading. I’ll show you how to use storytelling techniques to improve this.
Your personal voice is underused.
Ho-hum (or worse, robotic) delivery.
The sharpness of your personality, your particular weird-as-in-supernatural tone isn’t coming through. I’ll give you targeted feedback to help you sound less like “everyone else” and more like yourself.
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: THE MANUSCRIPT JOURNEY
You’ve got a draft and a vision.
Huzzah! Are you feeling a bit like Dorothy after landing in Oz? Lost and alone? What you need is a companion!
Developmental Octopus
A big-picture deep dive into your story’s structure.
I examine plot, pacing, character arcs and cast, point of view, writing style, and more to make sure everything works together like magic to create momentum, not mud. Expect big picture insights, not tiny em-dash fixes.
Story Coaching Carp
When you need ongoing support to unwind specific knots.
Swingy middles? Flat characters? That ending you swear you’ll “fix later”? We talk it through, sketch a map (possibly featuring doodled creatures), and you leave with a concrete plan and renewed confidence in your writing.
Beta Reading Bengal
Honest, non-prescriptive feedback from a professional beta reader.
You get detailed notes on what’s landing, what’s confusing, and where attention might drift. No line edits, no rewriting, no “you must do it my way”; just a clearly analysed reader’s-eye view.
Sample Edit Suitor
Not sure about what you’re getting working with me?
Ask for a free-as-in-beer sample edit of the first chapter of your novel, or up to 10 pages. You’ll see what I notice, how I comment, and whether it works for you.
FOR STUDENTS: THE HERO’S JOURNEY
How do you tell a compelling “story of you” in 500 words or fewer?
How do you walk the fine line between being distinctly memorable and sending the wrong message? Let me show you how.
Personal Statement Editing Package
Craft one strong, long-form personal statement that can be adapted to multiple lengths and application questions. Grab attention and show what makes you distinct from other candidates.
Application Editing Package
Focus on one institution’s full set of application essays. Review and edit your personal statement, supplemental essays, and short answers for structure, clarity, cohesion, and memorability.
“Story of You” Workshop
This live 2-day workshop walks a group of students (6 minimum) through what admissions readers are actually looking for in a personal statement. Exercises and discussions help students write a rough first draft that doesn’t sound like everyone else’s.
Get in Touch
Got a story to tell? Let’s plot!
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