STORY GUIDANCE
ONGOING, PERSONALIZED SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Have a killer story idea, but don’t know how to start?
Halfway into the story, but something is missing?
Crippled with self-doubt, wondering if your story is worth more time, effort, and heartache?
Need help navigating the world of editing, pitching, and querying?
ONE-ON-ONE STORY GUIDANCE CAN HELP!
WRITING IS HARD!
Look, I know writing is an enormous investment of time, energy, emotion, and brain power, and there are no guarantees of success after all that effort. Your friends and family probably think you’re crazy for spending all this time writing. You might even feel that way yourself from time to time. But if you’re anything like me, you can’t stop writing. You can’t stop seeing scenes, hearing dialogue in your head, and imagining stories you want to share with the world!
IF YOU ARE A WRITER, YOU ARE A WRITER
And there just is no turning away from it. But writing is hard. It’s lonely, and there are so many hurdles to finishing a story.
TELL ME IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR:
- You feel OVERWHELMED! There is so much writing advice out there, so many books, so many methods, and so many well-wishing friends offering notes. And all this piecemeal writing advice doesn’t necessarily fit together. Who do you listen to? What works and what doesn’t?
- You SELF SABOTAGE! What about when your brain and ego sabotage you every step of the way? Imposter syndrome asks, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ and you can’t answer, so you grab a bag of potato chips and binge The Bear on Hulu. (So good, btw)
- Your STORY IS STALLED! What about when your story stalls and you can’t move forward? Something isn’t working, but you can’t figure out what it is! You don’t know what you don’t know, or you are simply too close to have a clear perspective.
- You're EXHAUSTED! You’ve bled and screamed and sobbed out a rough draft and you don’t have the energy or interest in a revision.
- You don't know WHAT TO DO NEXT! What do you do when your story is finally ready to go out into the world? How do you navigate the submission trenches? Find an agent? Put together a pitching package? Self publish? What is the right course of action once you’ve finished your project?
I can help you
- Develop strong writing FUNDAMENTALS to prevent overwhelm and self-sabotage. To shut off all the noise, get clear on why you write, who you write for, and what you need to say. To embrace yourself as a writer and build a solid foundation for your story and your mindset.
- Learn how to create manageable PROCESSES that build accountability and assessment, so story problems are prevented or easily pinpointed and fixed before you’ve wasted time and pages. And you’re in the right place if you want to implement consistent, manageable deadlines to keep you working forward with intention.
- Define goals and craft a solid, accessible, and actionable strategy to reach them, with ongoing SUPPORT, no matter where you are in your writing journey.
When you work with me, you get the honesty, accountability, guidance, and structure you need to finish your story.
Getting clear on where I'm going (which admittedly I hadn't solidified before doing this work) has reignited my enthusiasm for this project. The promise of getting to work with Libby on an ongoing basis, and continue to benefit from her whip-smart feedback, gives me the confidence that this novel is going to be a masterpiece. That's how much faith I have in Libby's guidance.
One-on-one story guidance INCLUDES
- Unlimited support via email, as well as one monthly 60-minute coaching call.
- Deadlines to instill accountability, as well as personalized and actionable written feedback with next steps and solutions, so you always know what's working, where you can improve, and how to work forward.
- Assignments to develop focus and writing accountability, as well as guidance and resources specific to your story and writing needs.
- Free access to Basecamp Member Forum, as well as other exclusive events and workshops.
BUT WAIT! BEFORE YOU APPLY...
Here are some things you need to know:
- Booking a call does not mean you're guaranteed to work with me! The application and call are so we can determine if I am a good fit for you and your story. Even if you have the money to invest in ongoing coaching, I don't want to waste your time if we're not a good match. For more information about the genres I work with, please see my FAQS, below.
- There is no magic pill I can give you to get your butt in the chair and make you write. You have to be willing to put in the work, 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, One-On-One Story Guidance isn't for you.
- If I don't feel I am a good fit, I may be able to refer you to a coach that will be a better match to help you with your story.
- One-On-One Story Guidance is currently only for adults (18+), but I have plans for a group coaching curriculum for kids, ages 10 -18. Stay tuned!
- 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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT GENRES DO YOU WORK WITH?
My favorite genres are speculative fiction with a sci-fi, dystopian, or horror slant, and I’m nuts about anything time-travel-related! But I also love clever women’s and historical fiction. I believe in the power of media to change cultural conversation and I'm obsessed with stories that shine a light on the injustice, inequity, and dangers lurking in human nature. My mission is to empower, guide and raise the voices of writers who believe that real change can happen through the stories we tell. The only genres I don’t work with are traditional romance, non-fiction, memoir, and religious fiction, but contact me if you think your idea might sway me!
WHAT IS A DEVELOPMENTAL EDITOR AND WRITING COACH?
In contrast to a standard editor, who gives editorial feedback and expects an author to make the changes on their own, a developmental editor works with the writer to make certain the story has structure, a clear point, narrative drive, and holds together throughout. Besides developmental editing, a writing coach provides additional help, such as accountability, mindset, consistent feedback, support, a publishing game plan, and more. I’m a certified Author Accelerator Fiction Book Coach, a rigorous coach training program created by Jennie Nash. I'm also a writer myself, and have a 25+ year career in the entertainment industry, so I have a uniquely personal experience with the the ups and downs of the creative process.
WHAT LEVEL OF WRITER DO YOU WORK WITH?
I work with all levels, from new writers to seasoned professionals.
Besides novelists, I work with screenwriters and playwrights, as well.
I also work with young writers, ages 10–18, and have been teaching theatre and playwriting to kids for 13 years in the children’s theatre program I helped to create at Sacred Fools Theater Company in Los Angeles. Currently, my online coaching is only available for adults, but I am at work on a program for kids, so please check back soon!
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO HIRE A WRITING COACH?
Right now! As a writer myself, I know the value of having someone in your corner during the writing process. Writing is a lonely journey. It’s so easy to get lost and overwhelmed. A writing coach ensures you aren’t wasting time, energy, and sanity on words and ideas that don’t hold up. And a writing coach can be tremendously helpful at the end of the story too, guiding you to fine-tune a finished manuscript, develop a pitching strategy and materials, and cheer you on the entire way!
I HAVE A FINISHED MANUSCRIPT, CAN I HIRE YOU TO HELP ME FIND AN AGENT/PITCH IT FOR A CONFERENCE OR CONTEST, OR FIND A PUBLISHER?
Congratulations on finishing your manuscript! I offer Pitch Strategy Services, but only for those who have already completed a Developmental Evaluation, or One On One Story Guidance. 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.
CAN YOU GET ME A PUBLISHING DEAL, MAKE MY BOOK A BESTSELLER, OR GET MY SCRIPT INTO [INSERT FAMOUS ACTOR/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER]’S HANDS?
I sure wish I could! Unfortunately, those things are subject to so many variables, like timing, trends, and events that are just not under our control. What I can do is help you write a story to the very best of your abilities, come up with a game plan of what to do next, and make sure you feel empowered and supported every step of the way!
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT AREN'T ANSWERED HERE?
I'd love to hear them! You can reach out on my contact page, or if you are interested in finding out more about how I can help you write your story, you can check out the services I offer, or apply for a discovery call!
Libby’s a marvel at nit-picking at the details of your project. She has no problem getting down to that nitty gritty, but also offering insights into the grand picture of your project.
Her own history as a writer and an actor–provide her with an uncanny ability to understand how an artist’s mind works (self-doubt, resisting feedback) and to speak to you in a way that you’ll listen and understand, not cross your arms and silently say, “no”.
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.
Aside from getting myself to sit down and write, I wasn't struggling with anything in particular when Libby and I started working together, but I definitely didn't know what I didn't know! Libby asked such thought-provoking questions I was truly excited to dive into them because I could tell immediately the degree of clarity the answers would lend to my character arc.
She pushed back on a critical component of my story, which I was determined not to change, but she helped me massage it so that I got to keep my plot point while not compromising the story's integrity, as I had in the previous iteration. It takes a special talent to get an author who is stubbornly clinging to "her way," to do what you advise and still feel like she has won!
WATCH THIS!Then click the link below to see how I can help
you get your story out into the world!
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 actor, writer, 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.
IMAGINE HAVING THE CONFIDENCE, STRUCTURE, SUPPORT, AND KNOWLEDGE
TO FINISH YOUR BOOK OR SCRIPT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY
AND GET IT OUT INTO THE WORLD!
Copyright The Story Guide 2023