Novel Planning
Where writers lost in their plot find clarity and confidence.
There’s nothing more exciting than having an idea for a story. At this early stage, it feels like pure magic. The thrill of a million possibilities. In fact, just closing your eyes conjures the image of how many readers will love it.
But when you go to write the story, those millions of possibilities turn into a million decisions to get wrong. Suddenly, the magic is gone, and every time you try to pin down your story, a new question appears to untether it.
Should the story go in this direction or that?
Is the protagonist likable?
What about the plot? Is it interesting enough?
Why does everything feel off?
Those are the issues Novel Planning solves.
This is where we take your idea from a collection of possibilities and turn it into a concrete reality. Together, we’ll test ideas, identify weaknesses, and discover what your story wants to be. So that by the end of our work together, you'll have confidence in your book and an outline to guide you forward.
Who This Service Is For
Novel Planning is for any writer who identifies with these struggles:
Have an idea, but aren’t sure how to turn it into a novel.
Keep changing directions because every possibility sounds interesting.
Have been thinking about the same story for years, but have never been able to sit down and actually write it.
Want to avoid writing the story only to discover major story problems that force a complete rewrite.
This service was crafted for all of the writers out there who care deeply about storytelling and want to make intentional decisions.
What We Do Together
We’ll move through a story workbook that shows you your entire story in 20 pages. Through that, we’ll explore questions like:
What is driving the protagonist?
Who or what creates conflict and tension?
What is this story really about?
What causes events to occur?
What promises are being made to the reader?
Etc.
My role is to ask the questions you don’t know to ask, challenge assumptions when necessary, and help you evaluate the many possibilities in front of you.
Sometimes that means brainstorming. Sometimes it means identifying blind spots. Sometimes it means telling you a hard truth about something that isn’t working.
We'll go through six rounds of revisions. After every feedback cycle, we’ll jump on a 60-minute strategy call to talk through my findings. So, with every iteration, you’ll drill deeper into the story and make it more concrete.
We’ll continue the cycle of revision - feedback - strategy call for six rounds and until you see your story clearly.
Why Planning Matters
Many writers discover what their story is by drafting. Sometimes that works.
Other times it leads to stalling out halfway through, rewriting the first five chapters over and over, or finishing the novel only to have to throw it all away and start over.
The beauty of Novel Planning is that it gives you a bird's-eye view of the story. It allows you to test ideas and explore alternatives while changes are still easy to make. It’s like working with clay while it’s still wet. You can morph it into anything you want and then drastically change it within five minutes. That gives you the space to explore within a productive and safe environment, so you don’t waste years thinking about the story while making no progress on it.
It’s the intersection between play and productivity.
What You’ll Walk Away With
01
An outline to guide you as you write the first draft.
04
A strong foundation.
02
Clarity on the story you’re trying to tell.
05
A deeper understanding of storytelling craft.
03
Confidence in the decisions shaping the manuscript.
06
The ability to evaluate your story with greater discernment.
My Promise
I’ll help you think through your story, explore solutions, and find the path that best serves the novel.
My goal is more than just helping you create a plan for your book. It’s to get you to a space where you’re telling a story you’re proud of.
I’ll encourage you, give you my honest opinions, and help you work through solutions.
No matter what, you don’t have to be alone in this process.
Investment: $1,200