Structure Evaluations
To build the book you’ve dreamed of, you must understand your narrative arc.
A narrative arc is the most essential part of your memoir, and yet it’s the part of the manuscript most writers struggle to create. Over the past eight years, I’ve developed a proven series of targeted tools that can help you turn an interesting life into a compelling story readers will love.
Structure evaluations are perfect for someone who’s either concerned about whether their project is structurally sound or someone who has been told that something about their structure isn’t working. In this review, I will look at a series of documents including a beat sheet and synopsis, or a synopsis and chapter outline to assess the strength of your overall project and provide substantive feedback that will help you rearrange or reconsider how you tell your story. Writers receiving a structure review will receive video instruction and templates to help them develop the required documents.
The Process
- A 30-minute consultation to discuss author concerns and goals
- In-text comments on your documents pointing out what’s working as well as what may require more clarity
- A 3-5-page editorial letter for each document outlining the manuscript’s strengths and opportunities for restructuring or re-envisioning your project
- Opportunities to revise and resubmit
- Three one-hour follow-up sessions to discuss the next steps in your drafting process.
Structure reviews are an efficient, cost-effective way to identify and refine your narrative arc. Going through the process will not only help you nail this book—the skills you learn will help you write your next one.
“Lisa’s reading of my manuscript was thorough and her feedback incisive. Her superpower is that she brings two gifts and perspectives to the table: the psychological expertise to home in on what’s going on beneath the front story of a memoir, and the knowledge and understanding of how story works—and how to help writers shape their events into one.”
- 30-minute session to assess your goals
- Video instruction on how to create these documents
- Comprehensive feedback on your submission
- Post-review coaching session to go over your next steps
- 30-minute session to assess your goals
- Video instruction and templates
- Comprehensive feedback on your submission
- Post-review coaching session to go over next steps
- One-month follow-up session to check on your progress
- 30-minute session to assess your goals
- Video instruction on how to create these documents
- Comprehensive feedback on all of your submission
- Opportunity for a revise and resubmit of your chapter summary document
- Four coaching sessions throughout this process
Exercises included in the Five-Exercise Review
- Beat Sheet
- Synopsis
- Misperception Matrix
- Backward Outline
- Chapter Summary
“A story structure guru, Lisa’s feedback is brilliant and her workshops come with loads of valuable supplemental material. I highly recommend Lisa’s courses for writers of every experience level”
Author of Ranger Confidential: Living Working and Dying in the National Parks
