FEEDBACK, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT FOR COMPLETED PROJECTS

Don't know what to do next with your finished script or manuscript?

Need to rework things, but what?

Received unhelpful, unspecific notes from readers?

Submitted to contests and agents with no real traction?

Feel stuck, creatively, and don’t know how to move forward?

A DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION CAN HELP


Single chapter EVALUATION



ONE CHAPTER UP TO 40 PAGES

This developmental edit will evaluate a single chapter of your manuscript.


PACKAGE INCLUDES:

  • A big-picture analysis of a single chapter to determine what’s working and what needs improvement.
  • An editorial letter of personalized and actionable feedback with the next steps and solutions so you have a detailed map of where to invest your energy in the revision. 
  • Inline analysis of a single chapter so you can see what you’re doing well and areas that need improvement.
  •  1 x 60-minute coaching call to discuss feedback and next steps, so you’ll feel confident working forward.
  • A discount on future One-On-One Story Guidance.

$149.00



60K-WORD NOVEL EVALUATION



UP TO 60K WORDS

This developmental edit will help fix your short novel and get it ready for sending out to agents, publishers, or to self-publish.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:


  • A big-picture analysis of your novel of up to 60,000 words to determine what’s working and what needs improvement.
  • An editorial letter with personalized and actionable feedback with the next steps and solutions so you have a detailed map of where to invest your energy. 
  • Inline analysis of your first 20 pages so you can see what you’re doing well and areas that need improvement.
  • 1 x 60-minute coaching call to discuss feedback and next steps, so you’ll feel confident working forward.
  • A discount on future One-On-One Story Guidance.

$1249.00




120K-WORD NOVEL EVALUATION



60K-120K WORDS

This developmental edit will help fix your full-length novel and get it ready for sending out to agents, publishers, or to self-publish.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

  • A big-picture analysis of your novel of up to 120,000 words to determine what’s working and what needs improvement.
  • An editorial letter with personalized and actionable feedback with the next steps and solutions so you have a detailed map of where to invest your energy. 
  • Inline analysis of your first 20 pages so you can see what you’re doing well and areas that need improvement.
  •  1 x 60-minute coaching call to discuss feedback and next steps, so you’ll feel confident working forward.
  • A discount on future One-On-One Story Guidance.

$2449.00





SHORT SCRIPT EVALUATION



UP TO 80 PAGES

This developmental edit will help fix your short script and get it ready for sending out or shooting.


PACKAGE INCLUDES:

  • A big-picture analysis of your script up to 80-pages to determine what’s working and what needs improvement.
  • An editorial letter of personalized and actionable feedback, with the next steps and solutions, so you have a detailed map of where to invest your energy in the revision. 
  • Inline analysis of your first 10 pages so you can see what you’re doing well and areas that need improvement.
  • 1 x 60-minute coaching call to discuss feedback and next steps, so you’ll feel confident working forward.
  • A discount on future One-On-One Story Guidance. 

$349.00



FULL-LENGTH SCRIPT EVALUATION



80-130 PAGES

This developmental edit will help fix your full-length script and get it ready for sending out or shooting.


PACKAGE INCLUDES:

  • A big-picture analysis of your 80- 130 page script to determine what’s working and what needs improvement.
  • An editorial letter of personalized and actionable feedback with the next steps and solutions so you have a detailed map of where to invest your energy in the revision. 
  • Inline analysis of your first 20 pages so you can see what you’re doing well and areas that need improvement.
  •  1 x 60-minute coaching call to discuss feedback and next steps, so you’ll feel confident working forward.
  • A discount on future One-On-One Story Guidance.

$549.00

GOT A FINISHED PROJECT THAT'S READY TO PITCH?

Congratulations!
I offer Pitch Strategy Services, but only for those who have already completed a full Developmental Evaluation
This is not a requirement meant to force you to commit to more of my services, but to ensure that your manuscript is in a suitable place to pitch. 

BEFORE YOU APPLY...

Here are some things you need to know:


  • Turnaround time for Developmental Evaluations can take anywhere between 2-weeks to a month or more, depending on the package and availability. Please keep this in mind when purchasing and contact me with any questions. 

  • Pricing varies for each Developmental Evaluation package and is based on word count, plus the cost of the coaching call. I will only evaluate the word count purchased. Please double-check the word count of your project when purchasing.

  • Developmental Evaluations can be expensive, I know! Part of the reason is because my Evaluations are incredibly intensive. I take time to thoroughly  and constructively assess what's working and what isn't, and create an action plan to help you fix problems. A Developmental Evaluation will never leave you hanging, wondering, "Well, now what do I do?" The other reason that an Evaluation is on the pricier side, is that an Evaluation is meant for a manuscript or script that has gone through several revisions and is ready for an editor's perspective. If you have a rough draft, or are wondering if your manuscript is worth taking further, I highly recommend One On One Story Guidance instead. 

  • Please be aware that a Developmental Evaluation may pinpoint structural problems that require considerable rewriting. One-On-One Story Guidance is available at a reduced rate with the purchase of a Developmental Evaluation package, to help make the rewriting process less daunting.

  • There's no magic pill I can give you to get your butt in the chair and make you write. You must put in the work and commit to the process, to really want to write your story and become a better writer. I can help you do those things, but I can’t make you do them. So if you’re hoping I can wave a magic wand and you’ll suddenly have a NY Times Bestseller or an Oscar-winning screenplay, a Developmental Evaluation isn't for you. 

  • While I can't guarantee a publishing contract or a red-carpet premier, I can guarantee to be your sounding board, to cheer you, give you hard truths, educate you in your writing and the market, stretch you, and hold you accountable. I guarantee to be there for every scene of your story. 
Story Guide





My time with Libby as my book coach left me feeling supported, respected, seen, and most of all, inspired. Hiring The Story Guide’s Libby Baker is simply a no-brainer. 




HI! I'M LIBBY  

I'm a developmental editor and coach helping fiction writers at all levels bring their novels or scripts to life. I help writers of horror, dystopian sci-fi, historical fiction, and clever women's fiction shine a light on the injustice, inequity, and dangers lurking in human nature. 

Storytelling is in my bones. As a child, I preferred to spend my free time typing up short stories on my mom’s old typewriter. I spent my summers checking out a weekly stack of books at the library (I always nailed the summer reading challenge). And I published my first poem in the Prairie Winds Art Journal at age twelve.

A well-told, meaningful story teaches us how to be human, understand ourselves and others, and be good citizens of the world. It allows us to practice empathy and compassion. It shows us how to resolve the most common and complex of human predicaments. I believe in the power of media to change cultural conversation. My mission is to empower, guide and raise the voices of writers who believe that real change can happen through the stories we tell. 

Stories are powerful. That’s why I’ve devoted my 25+ year career as an actorwriter, screenplay consultant, and children’s theatre instructor to telling meaningful stories and guiding others to tell theirs. I offer honesty, accountability, guidance, and structure to help you finish your story and make it the best it can be.





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