Figure out if your story works, and what to do if it doesn’t
If you have a complete draft but don’t know if it’s “good enough” ...
If you’ve got a pile of words and don’t know what to do next ...
If you want to make your story something you’re proud of ...
a Story Diagnostic can help.
“Leslie helped me see growth opportunities, but also my strengths. Because of her help, my novel has developed into something truly amazing that I just wouldn’t have accomplished on my own.”
When most readers and editors don't fall in love with a story, they can't tell you exactly what's not working.
Why is that?
They evaluate stories with some combination of intuition and preference. The problem with this is that their feedback tends to be vague: as the writer, you won’t necessarily know the next right step to take your story from where it is to a story you can be proud of and that meets the reader's expectations.
We can avoid vague feedback by applying the lessons of stories that have stood the test of time. I use the universal patterns of story to help tackle the problem of vague feedback that’s impossible to follow. This method helps editors explain specific problems and gives authors concrete steps to follow to fix them.
I've studied the story and writing for decades.
Here's the bottom line: Writing is not a mystical gift that you're born with—or not. Though some writers have a natural storytelling ability, they, too, must practice the craft if they want to grow.
If your draft isn't where you want it to be, I can show you how to practice the craft, become a better writer, and create a story you’re proud of, through a Story Diagnostic.
A Story Diagnostic includes:
The Macro Story Analysis
I'll read your manuscript and apply the Macro Story Analysis to your work to get to the bottom of the who, what, where, when, how, and why of your story. This is a deep dive into your manuscript, analyzing what works and what doesn’t work.
3 One-Hour Phone Consultations
In the first call, we’ll review my first pass of the story and clearly identify your intentions and goals. In the second call, we’ll review my analysis of your story in light of your goals. You’ll leave the call with a clearer global, big-picture view of your manuscript. In the third call, we’ll nail down your individualized plan with a map and process to keep you moving toward your goals.
A Story Spreadsheet of Your First Five Scenes
I’ll create a full work-up of the first five scenes of your manuscript. This will give you a black-and-white, close-up view of which scenes are working and which aren’t—and why.
A Next Steps Recommendation Letter
Every writer is at a different place on the journey. I’ll provide personalized suggested next steps you can take to level-up as a writer. This will include specific practices to help improve your skills and your manuscript.
Story Example Recommendations and Additional Resources
Throughout the Story Diagnostic process, I’ll help you identify and refine your story choices. Once that’s done, I’ll provide a list of stories to study, so you can learn from the best examples of stories similar to yours.
My promise to you
I promise that at the end of this process, you’ll have a clear understanding of the level of your current manuscript and the best steps you can take to move forward and make your story work.
A Story Diagnostic is a deep dive into your work and takes time, so I work with a limited number of writers each month.
Use the contact form below to tell me about yourself and your project.
Don’t stay stuck with another draft
that never turns into the book you want it to be.
“I’m so grateful for all the advice Leslie provided. This is my first foray into writing a novel and hearing professional editing advice at this early stage is truly priceless.”
Let's talk about your Story Diagnostic.