Fiction Ignition

• Struggling with plotting, pacing, or figuring out what should happen in the middle...
• Writing in a new genre and worried you'll miss something vital...
• Wishing you had someone in your corner who could help you improve as a writer...
• Concerned that your plot may be treating your protagonist far too nicely...
• Having trouble finding the balance between plots and subplots...
• Wondering how to make your villain more devious or your plot twists more surprising...
• Questioning if your readers will feel an emotional connection with your main characters (especially romantically involved heroes)...
• Feeling overwhelmed by all that you’ve heard about story structure and want to know how to write a story that readers like, but that doesn’t feel like it’s following a formula…
• Determined to convey an important message through your book, but worry that the takeaway won’t come through to the reader (or that they’ll get it and you’ll sound too preachy)...

Picturing the day when you meet with your loyal readers. You read a sneak peek of your latest novel and can savor seeing them fall under the spell of your story.

Imagining the moment when you update your social media bios with the words “New York Times bestseller”.

Dreaming of the day when you’ve quit your 9-5 job and can spend whole days devoted to writing new stories. 

• Publishing your current work-in-progress was a career turning point–the first step to making your dreams of becoming a full-time writer come true?
• So many agents and editors loved your novel that there was a bidding war over the right to publish your next book?
• Other novelists start asking you for advice because you’re the one they look up to now?

• Craft believable, riveting characters readers will care about
• Develop the character arc for your protagonist so readers will bond with them
• Design a plot that intrigues readers from the start and will keep them turning pages to the end
• Pinpoint what belongs in this story, what goes in your next one, and what you should save for an unrelated project
• Identify the message you’d like readers to take away and make sure that all components are reinforcing it
• For short fiction, brainstorm scenes which delight readers and showcase your unique voice
• For stories with villains, craft a devious villain who forces your hero(es) to change in order to win by the end of the story
• For romances, identify the lessons the romantic heroes need to learn so their hard-earned happily ever after delights readers
• For mysteries and thrillers, determine the clues that will help your sleuth solve the case, and the red herrings that will make innocent characters look guilty, and keep readers guessing about what will happen next

How Fiction Ignition Works

Fiction Ignition is a story coaching service where we work together to design and organize your novel so it will keep readers turning pages.

It’s appropriate for authors who have a work-in-progress in a commercial fiction genre. (Genres such as: fantasy, romance, thriller, mystery, action, suspense, science fiction or subgenres like romantasy, YA science fiction, historical mystery, etc.) 

We cover narrative arc, main characters, genre, and plot. We’ll make sure your story starts by grabbing readers’ attention, continues with a middle that makes readers excited to see what happens next, and ends with a climax that leaves readers hungry for more of your fiction.

Depending on the specifics of your narrative, we also cover villains, emotional progression, clues, romantic arcs, and any other component that is critical to the success of your novel.

Fiction Ignition starts with an evaluation of your notes, character sketches, outlines, or other story materials. It continues with 4 editorial feedback calls to refine your plot, tighten up your overall narrative arc, and make your characters come alive.

You’ll have homework assignments in-between each of the feedback calls to help improve your story. And I’ll review these assignments in-depth.

After our last call, you’ll receive a Next Steps Recommendation email identifying exactly what to do to make your novel a book readers can't put down as you continue working on your story on your own. You’ll also be eligible for ongoing coaching services I only offer to existing clients.

Fiction Ignition: Investment

Includes an evaluation of up to 20 pages of existing story materials (e.g. notes, character sketches, outlines, draft scenes) prior to our first call, four (4) editorial feedback calls + review of your homework assignments, and a Next Steps Recommendation email

Many developmental editors make you wait for feedback until you have a completed manuscript. Then, they give you a long (and demoralizing) list of everything that’s wrong with your draft.

Fiction Ignition was designed to help writers in the middle so you can skip the waiting (and the pain) and get to the fun part. Where you can’t wait for your next writing sprint, because you can feel your work becoming a story readers won't want to put down.

If you’re one of those determined authors who’s ready to enhance your fiction writing skills, and make your story turns readers into fans, schedule your free call today.