How do you find a writing process you can reliably use?
Have a teacher walk by your side.
Skill building is incredibly difficult to do by yourself. How do you know if you’re getting better? How do you know you’re not just running around in circles getting false starts, or accidentally making something worse? That cycle leads to crippling self-doubt and its insidious cousin: imposter syndrome.
The solution is having a teacher walk by your side to guide you through your mistakes and show you the path forward.
My services are masterclasses personalized to you.
My job is to walk through your manuscript with you to understand what it needs, what skills you’re missing, and how to help you bridge the gap. I focus on skill building so you can develop the writing career you’ve always dreamed about.
Blueprint for a Novel
How do you build a story from scratch?
By learning how to flesh out your idea so you have a strong foundation to write from.
Blueprint for a Novel will show you how to take the ideas in your head and put them together so you know where you’re going and what you’re trying to do. You’ll also learn how to avoid beginner mistakes that could lead to your story stalling out halfway through.
It includes:
Assignments that help you discover the fundamentals of your story. That includes:
Exercises to identify the plot you’re trying to tell and why it matters.
Questions to determine your target audience and what type of experience you want to create for them.
Activities that build the foundation of the story’s world so you clearly understand the context in which you’re working.
A workbook that clarifies where you want to go and how to get there with exercises that help you:
Figure out the protagonist’s relationship to the plot so you know where the story needs to go.
Create a malleable outline, so you know how to reach the end.
Build scene development skills so you can get out of your own way and finish your novel.
One-on-one coaching so I understand where you want to be and can help get you there.
Are you ready to feel confident in what you’re doing?
$500 | Get started
What happens after the blueprint? You write the first draft! You can do that either alone or with me in my one-on-one coaching.
One-on-One Coaching
How do you get from the idea stage to finishing a first draft?
With a coach by your side.
One-on-one coaching is for anyone struggling to finish a first draft, anyone who wants to write but is too overwhelmed, and anyone who wants an industry professional to walk by their side. This monthly coaching service aims to get you to a finished draft of your novel, however long that takes.
What you will get from this service:
Accountability so you’ll actually finish the story.
Community so you’re not alone through this process.
Unlimited email support.
Joy at finally making real progress on your dreams.
Confidence in tackling writing issues.
Deep conversations on writing, challenges you’re having, and celebration of your progress.
What you will do:
Turn in two bi-weekly submissions of up to 20 pages until your story is finished.
What I will do:
Give in-line comments on your submissions so you know exactly where things are going wrong - and well!
Write a short edit letter after each submission, highlighting your strengths, weaknesses, and next steps.
Schedule a 30-minute Zoom call with you after each edit letter to discuss the feedback so you can be confident moving forward.
Are you ready to write a book?
$350 per month | Get started
What happens after you’ve written the novel? It’s time to tackle revisions! You can do that through the Story Grid Diagnostic.
Not sure if one-on-one coaching is for you? Get your first month for free!
Story Grid Diagnostic
How do you fix a story?
By walking through it with an editor by your side.
In a Story Grid Diagnostic, I’ll teach you how to fix your story. Whether you’re coming in with a book that’s constantly being rejected or want to learn how to go from good to great, this service will show you how to fix big-picture problems.
It includes:
An Editor’s Six Core Questions, which includes:
A big-picture analysis of the story arc so you know exactly where the plot isn’t working and why.
A deep dive into the character development so you know why the characters aren’t leaving an impression on the reader.
A review of the audience expectations associated with your genre so you know exactly why your story isn’t landing with readers.
An overview of the point of view so you know how to communicate your story better.
An assessment of the theme so you know why your story has no impact.
A detailed breakdown of the first five scenes so you know precisely why the beginning isn’t hooking readers or agents.
One 60-minute Zoom call at the beginning of the service so I can understand your overall goals and vision for your story.
One 60-minute Zoom at the end of the service to go over my feedback so you can be confident moving forward.
A Next Steps Recommendation Letter which will give you actionable steps on how to move forward.
Are you ready to fix your story?
$2,000 | Get started
Not sure if a diagnostic is for you? Get your first scene edited for free!
Ruby Ray, Author