A VIP STORY DIAGNOSTIC
The Story Strategy Intensive
A personalized memoir strategy intensive for writers who need expert eyes on their story so you can 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 your memoir 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 personalized editorial deep-dive designed to help you finally understand your memoir and move forward with clarity.
Through a detailed workbook and personalized, in-depth editorial feedback (both written and verbal), 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:
YOU DON’T NEED TO FIGURE YOUR MEMOIR OUT ALONE
MEET YOUR NEW BOOK COACH & STRATEGIST
Hi, I’m Jessica!
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.
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.
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 personalized, asynchronous program designed to help you finally understand your story and move forward with clarity.
—> STEP 1: Complete The Workbook
Begin by working through my in-depth Story Strategy workbook—a guided framework designed to help you explore the core elements of your memoir, from your emotional arc and narrative drive to your audience, structure, and story promise.
This is where we zoom out and look at the big picture of your book—not just the scenes you’ve written, but the story you’re actually trying to tell.
You’ll complete this and email your answers back to Jessica.
—> STEP 2: Receive Personalized Editorial Feedback + Story Analysis
Once you submit your completed workbook, I’ll review your responses with the same editorial lens I bring to my private coaching clients.
You’ll receive:
✨ written feedback directly inside your workbook
✨ a personalized Loom video walking you through what I’m seeing
✨ insight into what’s working, what feels tangled, and where your story may need clarity
Think of it as having an experienced memoir strategist sit down with your story and say:
“Here’s what I see—and here’s where I’d go next.”
—> STEP 3: Move Forward with Clarity and Direction
By the end of the process, you’ll have a clearer understanding of:
✔ what your memoir is really about
✔ what emotional and narrative arc is emerging
✔ what structure may best support your story
✔ where your story may be getting stuck
✔ your clearest next steps as a writer
No more spinning in circles.
Just clarity, confidence, and a strategic path forward.
I Know How To Help Memoir Writers Succeed
TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT
“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 INVESTMENTMost 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.
After thinking deeply about your story and getting Jessica’s expert eyes on it, 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
a personalized, in-depth editorial analysis of your answers
a recorded Loom video walking you through what I’m seeing
strategic insight into what’s working, what feels tangled, and clear next steps to get you writing forward
This is not a DIY course or generic feedback experience. Every Story Strategy Intensive includes my personal editorial review and strategic analysis of your unique memoir.
✨✨ I only offer a handful of these intensives each month ✨✨
—> Pay in Full - $750
—> Or Three (3) Monthly Payments of $275
Ready to Stop Spinning and Get Clear Direction so You Can Write Your Memoir with Purpose?
IT’S TIME TO STOP REVISING IN CIRCLES
Step 1: Register for the Intensive
I only offer a handful of these each month 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: Get Clarity with Your Editorial Review
Send in your answers for a personalized editorial strategy to help you get unblocked and start writing forward with 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 personalized 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. It’s the exact process I use with all my 1:1 clients inside The Remembering.
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Yes. When you complete the workbook and send in your answers, Jessica will personally review them. She’ll help you see what’s already working, where things aren’t quite aligned, and where your story needs more clarity. She’ll also outline clear next steps to help you move forward.
You’ll get both written editorial feedback on your story strategy workbook, and a Loom video detailing her analysis.
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Jessica will personally review your story strategy and get back to you within ten business days with her editorial analysis
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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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No—this offer focuses on strategic story clarity using your completed workbook, not a line-by-line manuscript critique.
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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 in your own time. Most writers take 2-4 hours over the course of a week or two.
Time to review your editorial analysis: 30 minutes.