Work With Me
You don’t need more vague writing advice.
You need to know what to fix.
I work with memoirists, essayists, and writers of story-driven nonfiction who want to turn lived experience into writing that is clear, compelling, and emotionally honest.
Maybe you have been sitting with a story for years—a period of your life you are still trying to understand, or an experience that changed you. You may have fragments, notes, partial chapters, or a full manuscript that still is not coming together the way you want it to.
You know there is something important in the material. You are just having trouble finding its shape: deciding what belongs and what doesn’t, what the reader needs, and how to make the emotional truth land on the page.
That’s where I come in.
I help you identify what’s holding the work back, understand why it is not working, and determine the next practical step—so you can regain momentum and move forward with clarity.
Does This Sound Like You?
You know there’s a story in the material, but you cannot yet see its shape.
You have scenes, memories, notes, journal entries, or partial chapters—but no clear narrative spine.
You’ve tried to outline it, but the structure keeps collapsing, expanding, or turning into twelve different possible books.
You’re not sure what belongs, what’s too much, or what the reader actually needs.
The experience carries emotional weight, but that weight is not yet landing on the page.
You have received feedback like “go deeper” or “find your voice,” but no one has explained what that means in practical terms.
You want thoughtful, honest guidance—and a clear plan for what to do next.
My work combines coaching, story strategy, developmental editing, and practical editorial problem-solving.
Depending on your project and where you are in the process, we might:
clarify what the piece is really about
shape or revise the narrative arc
build an outline from scattered material
strengthen scenes, pacing, and momentum
identify what needs to be cut, expanded, or rearranged
troubleshoot a chapter or section that is not working
refine the voice and emotional focus
clarify the central question holding the piece together
The work can also involve making sense of the material itself. Writing about lived experience requires more than arranging events; it asks you to decide what those events mean and how you want to understand them now.
I believe personal writing can be a tool for self-awareness, integration, and reclaiming your own story, especially after experiences that left you confused, silenced, or disconnected from yourself.
This is not therapy, and I am not a therapist. But shaping an experience into a story can be deeply clarifying. Writing can help you move from living inside the chaos of what happened to recognizing its patterns, meaning, and emotional truth.
The goal is not to force your life into a formula. It is to help you understand the story you are trying to tell, give it a shape readers can follow, and make the writing feel possible again.
What Working With Me Looks Like
The Writing Mechanic Approach
Good writing is not magic. It is mechanics.
I have spent more than fifteen years paying obsessive attention to why some writing works and other writing does not—what makes a story move, what keeps a reader engaged, and what causes a piece to lose momentum or fall flat.
My approach is direct, practical, and specific. I am not going to give you vague encouragement or avoid telling you what is not working. I look closely at the moving parts of the piece: why one scene feels alive while another goes slack, why the opening drags, why compelling material still feels shapeless, or why a sentence almost lands but does not quite get there.
Then we identify the actual problem and make concrete decisions that strengthen the work.
I bring more than fifteen years of professional writing and editing experience to this process. I have published two #1 Amazon bestselling books, ghostwritten and edited books for internationally recognized experts and bestselling authors, and mentored hundreds of writers through developing, revising, and publishing their work.
You bring the material. I help you understand why it is—or is not—working, find its strongest shape, and move it forward.
Ways to Work Together
1:1 Memoir & Personal Story Coaching
$175 per 60-minute sessionOngoing support for writers developing, drafting, or revising a memoir, personal essay, or other narrative nonfiction project.
We focus on whatever the work needs most: clarifying the concept, shaping the structure, building or revising an outline, strengthening scenes, developing the voice, solving pacing problems, or deciding what to write next.
You bring the material. I help you find the shape, understand the moving parts, and keep the project moving.
Best for: Writers who want consistent guidance, accountability, and editorial support over time.
Draft Diagnostic
Starting at $225 for drafts up to 5,000 words. Longer works are priced based on word count.A focused editorial consultation for an idea, outline, essay, chapter, proposal, partial draft, or collection of unfinished material.
Before we meet, I review your submitted material. During the session, we identify what is working, what is not, and what the project needs next.
Think of it as an editorial engine check: we look under the hood, diagnose the real problem, and create a practical plan for moving forward.
Best for: Writers who feel stuck, need an expert second opinion, or want clarity before committing to ongoing coaching.
Publishing Path Consultation
$250 per 90-minute consultationA one-on-one consultation to help you understand your publishing options and choose the best path for your specific book.
We can discuss:
traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing
Amazon KDP and manuscript preparation
timelines, budgets, and production decisions
positioning and audience
proposals, submission materials, and next steps
which publishing path best fits your goals
The purpose is not to steer you toward one particular route. It’s to help you understand your options, avoid costly mistakes, and make informed decisions about your work.
Best for: Writers who are approaching publication or trying to decide which path makes sense.
Full-Service Self-Publishing
Starting at $2,500; individual services priced à la carte.Once your manuscript is complete, I can turn it into a polished, professionally produced book available for purchase on Amazon.
Whether you need support with a few specific pieces or the entire self-publishing process, I can manage every aspect through publication.
Services can include:
interior formatting for paperback and ebook
cover design and print-ready cover preparation
Amazon KDP setup and file submission
ISBN and barcode guidance
book description and sales-page copy
keyword and category selection to help readers discover the book
pricing and launch-date strategy
review of digital and printed proofs
troubleshooting technical or production issues
coordination of the full process through publication
Instead of hiring multiple freelancers and trying to manage every moving piece yourself, you can work with one person who understands both the creative and technical sides of producing a book.
Best for: Authors with a completed or nearly completed manuscript who want hands-on support bringing it all the way to a polished paperback and ebook on Amazon.
Ready to Move Your Writing Forward?
Tell me what you are working on, where you are in the process, and what kind of support you need.
You do not need to have the project—or the problem—fully figured out before you reach out. Helping you identify what the work needs is often the first step.