A PERSONALIZED STORY DIAGNOSTIC
The Story Strategy Intensive
For the memoirist who’s ready to get expert eyes on their story so they can stop guessing and finally understand what's working, what's missing, and where to focus next.
When memoir writers get stuck somewhere in the messy middle, they usually say something like:
I just need an editor to read what I have so far and tell me if it’s good or not
I have a lot written but I don’t know what to leave in or take out and I still don’t know where my story ends
I just need to find the right structure and I’m sure everything will fall into place
You’re Not AloneBut here's what I've noticed after working with dozens of writers:
These are usually symptoms of a deeper issue.
Not a lack of talent.
Not a lack of effort.
And not necessarily a structure problem.
More often, they've simply spent so much time inside their story that they can no longer see it clearly.
They're too close to the material to identify what matters most, what belongs, and what emotional thread is holding everything together.
When that deeper story is still fuzzy, it's easy to feel stuck.
You second-guess every decision.
You struggle to know what to cut.
You keep searching for the perfect structure.
And you wonder whether the book is working at all.
But once you understand the heart of the story you're trying to tell, everything else becomes easier.
The decisions become clearer.
The structure starts to emerge.
And instead of writing in circles, you finally have a path forward.
IT’S TIME TO GET UNSTUCK
Welcome to The Story Strategy Intensive
The Story Strategy Intensive is a personalized editorial deep-dive for memoir writers who are tired of second-guessing themselves.
If you've written pages—or even a complete draft—but still feel unsure what's important, what belongs, or where your story is headed, this process will help you gain the perspective that's difficult to find on your own.
Through a guided workbook and personalized editorial feedback, you'll uncover the deeper story connecting your experiences, identify what's working, and walk away with clear direction for your next steps so you can stop guessing and start writing forward with confidence.
If You’re Ready To:
Stop revising the same draft without making real progress
Finally understand what your memoir is really about — and why it matters
Know what belongs in the book (and what doesn’t)
Stop second-guessing every decision and gain confidence in your direction
Identify the clearest next steps for moving your memoir forward
Go from stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure to focused, confident, and excited to write again
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 & 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:
MEET YOUR NEW STORY STRATEGIST
Hi, I’m Jessica!
Most writers don’t get stuck because they lack talent.
They get stuck because they’ve spent months—or even years—too close to their own story.
They can’t see what’s essential.
They’re unsure what belongs.
And they’re tired of revising in circles without knowing whether they’re moving in the right direction.
That’s where I come in.
As a certified book coach and story strategist, I help memoir writers zoom out and see the bigger picture of their story.
Because memoir isn’t just about what happened.
It’s about what it meant; the emotional journey that connects the experiences and gives the story its shape.
Inside The Story Strategy Intensive, I help stuck 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 here, with 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 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:
✔ understand what your memoir is really about
✔ know what belongs in the book—and what doesn't
✔ identify what's keeping you stuck
✔ stop second-guessing every decision
✔ have a clear direction for your next steps as a writer
No more spinning in circles.
No more wondering if you're working on the right thing.
Just confidence, momentum, and a clear 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.
—> Pay in Full - $750
—> Or Three (3) Monthly Payments of $265
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.