A SMALL-GROUP STORY CLARITY EXPERIENCE
The Story Strategy Intensive
A guided clarity experience to go from stuck draft to clear direction by finally seeing your story clearly—why it matters, your narrative arcs, and the best structure so you can write forward with confidence.
Most memoir writers get stuck somewhere in the messy middle — not because they can’t write, but because they don’t have clarity.
When you stay stuck, you:
Spend most of your precious writing time reading what you’ve already written or revising in circles, which means you never really get closer to the end
Continue spending money on craft courses, craft books and writing groups that never really move the needle because your writing isn’t the problem; your lack of direction is
You question whether your story is actually meaningful enough, or if you’ve been holding onto something that doesn’t quite work.
You’re Not AloneThe truth is, memoir is the hardest genre to write.
I know what it’s like to feel stuck in your story. When I was getting my master’s degree in creative nonfiction, I kept asking my instructors to teach me how to write a memoir.
They kept telling me to Just. Keep. Writing.
So I did. And I graduated with honors, in the top of my class. I was without a doubt a better writer than I was when I entered the program…
But I still didn’t know how to turn my experiences into a story others would want to read.
It wasn’t until I learned the elements of story and how to apply them to memoir that everything clicked.
Since then I’ve helped numerous writers work through the blocks in their draft so they could finally bring their story from heart to page.
IT’S TIME TO GET UNSTUCK
Welcome to The Story Strategy Intensive
The Story Strategy Intensive is a focused, two-week intensive designed to help you finally understand your story and move forward with clarity.
Through a detailed workbook, guided video tutorials and two, live coaching sessions with time in the hot seat, you’ll uncover why your story matters, identify your narrative arcs, and walk away with a clear structure to finally move your memoir forward.
If You’re Ready To:
Stop circling the same draft without making real progress
Gain clarity on why your story matters and
what it’s really about
Get clear on how your memoir is structured
Learn how to shape your lived experience into a compelling narrative
Move from confusion and overwhelm into confidence and excitement
THIS IS FOR YOUFinally understand why your story isn’t yet working
You’'ll map out where the story falters: missing arcs, flat climaxes, plot inconsistencies, etc. Then plug them with intention.
Gain Clarity on Why Your Story Matters — And Finally Trust It
The key to making meaning in your memoir is identifying the universal truths about what makes us human, and highlighting those in your personal experience. You’ll learn how to make your unique story resonate with readers.
Uncover the External & the Emotional Journeys in Your Story
You’ve probably heard that memoir is about one thing, but it’s really about another thing. I like to call these things the external and internal stories. Here, you’ll identify both.
Identify the best structure for your unique story
Structure is like the visual display for your story. You’ll figure out how to best organize and present your experiences for the greatest impact on your readers, including best opening and closing chapters.
Map out your scenes so you know exactly what to include and what to leave out
You’ll create a super simple outline that shapes your arcs, creates narrative drive, and gives you a clear road map for how to write forward.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Inside The Story Strategy Intensive, You’ll Get:
YOU DON’T NEED TO FIGURE YOUR MEMOIR OUT ALONE
MEET YOUR NEW BOOK COACH & STRATEGIST
Hi, I’m Jessica!
Most writers don’t get stuck because they lack talent.
They get stuck because they don’t have:
a clear way to shape their story
someone to reflect the deeper meaning back to them
or the support to keep going when doubt sets in
That’s where I come in.
I’m a certified book coach and story strategist, and inside The Story Strategy Intensive, I help stuck memoir writers turn frustration and confusion into clarity and momentum.
My clients have gone on to:
Sign with literary agents
Publish with Big Five publishers, hybrid and small presses
Self-publish and share their stories independently
But more importantly—
They’ve finished the stories they once thought they might never complete.
And it all started strategizing their story.
THE STEP BY STEP
How It Works
This is a focused, 2-week intensive designed to help you finally understand your story and move forward with clarity.
—> STEP 1: The Workbook (Before We Begin)
You’ll receive a 30-page guided workbook to help you explore:
Why your story matters
What your story is really about
The shape and structure of your memoir
You’ll complete this before our first session so you come in ready to dive deep.
—> STEP 2: Story Clarity Session (90 minutes)
We’ll meet for a live group coaching call where we focus on:
The heart of your story
Your understory (what it’s really about)
What’s keeping you stuck
This session includes live hot seat coaching, where selected writers receive direct feedback—and everyone gains insight as stories begin to click.
—> STEP 3: Integration & Revision
You’ll revisit your workbook with fresh clarity, refining your ideas and starting to see how your story fits together.
—> STEP 4: Story Clarity Session (90 minutes)
In our second live session, we focus on:
Your narrative arcs (external + emotional)
The structure of your memoir
Your clear path forward
By the end, you’ll know exactly how to move forward with your draft.
I Know How To Help Memoir Writers Succeed
DON’T JUST LISTEN TO ME
“Jessica is a master at this process. Working with her helped to untangle the yarn in my head and pull the threads 🧵 into a methodical order that I could knit into a cohesive narrative. Thanks, Jessica! It was getting awfully woolly up in the ‘ole noggin.”
—Leslie B. Scott, Author of THE LIAR’S PLAYBOOK (Spring 2026; Simon & Schuster)
“This was exactly what I needed to make fast progress on my manuscript...My confidence and pride - in my query letter, synopsis, and overall arc and themes of my memoir - from right before I started working with Jessica, to now, feel astronomically different. It feels like many years of work condensed into a short few months.”
—Natasha Buffo
“The Story Strategy process really helped me to dig deep into the heart of my story, uncover my motivation for writing it, and reveal the gaps in my narrative, including ideas for best opening and closing scenes.”
—Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho, Author of THE ASTRONAUT CHILDREN OF DUNBAR STREET (Fall, 2026; Douglas & McIntyre”
“Jessica got me to dig deeper into my past in ways I never imagined and helped me find the belief in myself that I could do this. I wake up every morning excited to work on the next chapter and Jessica’s thoughtful feedback gets the wheels turning for ways in which I can improve the next draft. If you’re thinking about writing a memoir, you want someone like Jessica by your side. I swear my memoir would not exist without her.”
—Jessica Leibe, Author of (A)SEXUAL LIBERATION (Spring 2027, Third Rail Press)
THE INVESTMENTTHE DATESMost memoir writers stay stuck for months—often years—trying to figure out their story on their own.
—> They revise in circles.
—> They invest in courses and books.
—> They step away, hoping clarity will come.
But without a clear understanding of what their story is really about, nothing quite clicks.
This intensive is designed to change that—quickly.
In just two weeks, you’ll gain the clarity most writers spend years searching for:
Why your story matters
What it’s really about
How it’s structured
And how to move forward with confidence
What you get:
a guided 30-page workbook
optional video tutorials
two live, 90-minute, small-group story clarity sessions for shared insight
a chance to be in the hot seats for deeper clarity
Investment — $750
Our next Story Clarity Sessions will be:
TBD
TBD
IT’S TIME TO STOP REVISING IN CIRCLES
Ready to Stop Spinning and Get Clear Direction so You Can Write Your Memoir with Purpose?
Step 1: Register for the next Intensive
These groups are limited to eight writers and they fill up fast. Sign up HERE to save your seat and get started.
Step 2: Get Started on the Workbook
Once you’re registered, I’ll send over the workbook and accompanying materials so you can get started right away.
Step 3: Go Deeper in the Live Sessions
Add the scheduled Story Clarity sessions to your calendar so you can show up prepared and gain even more clarity.
I Know How Scary It Can Be to Invest in Yourself and Your Memoir
ONCE YOU’RE INSIDE THE STORY STRATEGY INTENSIVE, YOU’LL:
Move out of uncertainty and into a clear, guided path forward
Know what to write next—and why it matters
Be able to tell others what your story is about in a succinct way
Understand why your story matters and why you’re the best person to write it
Gain clear direction on how to structure your memoir, including where it begins and ends
Reignite your momentum for your memoir
Client Reviews
“I now have a clearer idea of what the purpose of the memoir is. I recommend you in a heartbeat!”
— Brittany James
“I have clarity on how to move forward with my manuscript.”
— Kathryn Vigness
“I literally wrote in my latest newsletter that memoir/autofiction writers need to RUN, not walk to work with you.”
— Jessica Leibe
REAL TALK
This Intensive is Not for Everyone
Inside The Story Strategy Intensive, you can expect a guided group coaching experience designed to help unlock clarity and direction in your memoir.
Before we dive in, let’s make sure this is the right fit for you.
This work is designed for a specific kind of writer—and it works best when you’re at the right stage in your process.
You’re the right fit for The Story Strategy Intensive if:
You’ve started your memoir—maybe even written dozens of pages—but something isn’t clicking
You find yourself rewriting the same sections, unsure how to move forward
You have a strong sense that your story matters, but you can’t quite articulate what it’s really about
You feel stuck in the messy middle—spinning, second-guessing, or losing momentum
You’re ready for clarity, structure, and direction—not just more writing advice
You want to understand your story on a deeper level so you can move forward with confidence
This program is not a good fit if:
You haven’t started your memoir yet and are looking for help getting started
You’re looking for a traditional writing course focused on craft, prompts, or generating new material
You want someone to edit or line-by-line review your manuscript
You’re not ready to reflect on the deeper meaning of your story or engage with the emotional side of the work
You’re looking for ongoing, long-term support to write and finish your book (that’s what we do inside The Remembering)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! This is exactly what the intensive is designed for.
Most writers don’t need more time or effort—they need clarity. This process helps you understand what your story is really about and how it’s structured, which is what unlocks forward momentum.
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Yes. Each session includes live hot seat coaching, where selected participants receive direct feedback on their work.
Even if you’re not in the hot seat, you’ll gain powerful insight by listening—many writers find that hearing others coached helps them see their own story more clearly.
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While not everyone is coached on every call, you’ll have the opportunity to be selected for a hot seat during the program.
And importantly, this work is designed so that you’ll still experience major clarity shifts just by participating and listening.
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Not at all, but you should have already started your memoir.
This is best for writers who have pages (or drafts) and feel stuck, unsure how to shape or move forward with their story.
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Nope! This is not a traditional writing course.
We’re not focused on sentence-level craft or generating new material. Instead, we focus on helping you understand your story—its meaning, structure, and direction.
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No. This is not an editing service.
Instead, you’ll receive strategic, high-level guidance to help you see your story more clearly—so you can revise and move forward with confidence.
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This intensive is designed to give you clarity and direction.
If you’re ready for deeper, ongoing support to write and develop your memoir, you can continue that work inside The Remembering, my private coaching program.
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Plan for:
Time to complete the workbook before the first session (2-4 hours)
Two 90-minute live calls
Some reflection and light revision between sessions