But, right now, you've got more modest goals.
You’re not where you were hoping to be in your writing life. You've got a vision of what you want to happen. However, the path to getting there isn’t as clear.
You might have…
- Written a couple of novels and want your current work-in-progress to help you get an agent and a traditional publishing deal
- Been stuck in a writing rut and curious about what steps you can take to improve
- Self-published novels and looking to learn how to increase your page reads and move up the Amazon rankings
- Started a manuscript, got stuck halfway, and need help so you can finish the story
- Completed a full draft you’re not sure how to revise
- Started working on a story in a new genre and want to consult someone who can help you get up to speed quickly.
I can help!
We can work together on your current work-in-progress and strengthen the skills you need in your fiction-writing career.
I’ve worked with dozens of writers who’ve been in your place. Who sense that they need to do something different, but can’t transform by themselves. I’ve helped these writers pinpoint the issues holding them back so their fiction keeps readers turning pages and to adjust their writing process so they consistently write stories that keep readers coming back for more.
There’s an ocean’s worth of writing advice. But not all of it applies to you with your current project and career stage. Together, we can identify where you need to focus right now.
In 2017, I was part of the first group of editors certified in the Story Grid editing method created by Shawn Coyne. Since then, I’ve gone out on my own, using my background in scientific research to find the places where the standard advice given to writers falls short.
My unique approach to developmental editing incorporates many popular methods while emphasizing aspects that other systems sometimes overlook. Those methods often prioritize form, rather than what really draws readers in.
What hooks readers
Great fiction isn’t defined by wild plot twists, complicated magic systems, or super sexy protagonists, even when those things are a huge part of the story. Instead, what draws readers in is their bond with your characters.
Even in a plot-driven story, characters are the key.
Readers want to see how characters navigate challenging situations. How they handle tricky situations on their own. How they work together with allies, friends, or lovers. What they do to stop enemies or thwart rivals. How they negotiate when they’re fighting against institutions or social norms.
In short, what readers are desperate to see what it is that characters do to create change. Because readers won’t to know what it would take to change things in their own lives
What drives change?I’ve been trying to change other people’s behavior my whole life. As a fourth grader, I wrote a report on the dangers of smoking to convince my dad to quit. . It didn’t work. But I went on to get a PhD in epidemiology because I thought the reason my dad didn’t quit was because I didn’t give him enough information. That’s wrong too. Eventually, I realized, people’s unhealthy habits aren’t simply because of a lack of information. I started searching for what really did lead people to change. I ended up exploring many areas: conflict resolution, marketing, design, psychology, coaching, self-improvement.
What did I learn?
Emotions are at the root of all change.
Pain and discomfort make us ready to try new strategies for relief. Hope and understanding lead us to fight for futures we may not have even been aware we wanted. We seek pleasant experiences and avoid unpleasant ones.
The job of a fiction writer is to mirror this truth back to readers. Because emotional truth is what sucks readers in and lets them connect and bond with your characters. It’s the special sauce that readers are desperate for, but can’t name.
There are many editors who can help you structure your story, hit the right plot points for your genre, and write scenes with conflict. I can help you do those things. And… I want something more for you.
I want you to understand the fundamental forces behind human behavior: the forces that drive change, enable cooperation, and underlie conflict.
Because then you can write stories that crawl deep under your readers’ skins. With unforgettable characters readers can’t help but champion. (As well as those they can’t help rooting against.) With page-turning conflict fueled by shifting relationship dynamics. With narratives that have the potential to become timeless classics because they don’t just obey the “rules” of fiction. They reveal a deeper truth about the human experience.
The Messy Middle
My path to becoming an editor was atypical. I trained as a scientist, not a writer. For a long time, I struggled to find my professional niche. I worked a variety of jobs in the public and private sector and eventually discovered that I work best working with people and organizations that are in the messy middle.
With projects and processes that are beyond the initial steps, but haven’t reached their full potential. (At least, not yet.) Where systems that worked in the initial steps start to break down, and fresh paths forward need to be discovered.
No matter what the subject area, many people who are initially successful give up at the point where they reach a plateau. When continued improvement requires stepping out of the comfort zone and growing, many choose to quit. And that’s not a surprise. Tons of tutorials, classes, mentorships, and other resources are devoted either to beginners or experts. Not the people stuck on a plateau somewhere in the middle.
The same holds true for fiction. The number of books, blogs, and podcasts to help you get your first draft down on paper dwarfs those that tell you what steps to take if you get stuck mid-way through. And on the other end, countless resources will help you polish your query letter or write a book blurb. Fewer will help you get an objective assessment of whether your manuscript is query-ready or primed for self-publishing. And if it isn’t ready? It’s daunting to wade through the mountains of advice for the one small nugget you need.
Writers in the middle have amazing potential. And they need the right support. I’d love to be on your writing support team and help you power through to reach the next stage in your author career.
The world needs more people who can write fiction that touches readers’ hearts and helps them understand different perspectives, especially in popular genres. Unlikely romances, twisty mysteries, epic fantasies, and stories set in galaxies far, far away can still reveal universal truths.
If you’re looking for help to finish your novel, boost your short fiction skill set, or review your draft manuscript with an eye on advancing your career, check out how we can work together and schedule a time to chat. I can’t wait to talk to you!