Overview
Greetings! Let's talk story and find a way to elevate your latest draft.
As a story analyst from LA with a Master of Fine Arts degree, I have 7+ years of experience providing assessments on both novels and screenplays, and would be delighted to support your story too. If you're looking for someone to review larger-picture story elements like the clarity of world-building, plot structure, tone consistency, character development, dialogue, pacing, then you've come to the right place!
My work experience with Amazon's Literary Acquisitions team means I can also share ideas on how your novel might be more attractive to potential buyers for adaptation to the screen.
Here's a recent performance review:
"You put the clients completely at ease, your suggestions are helpful, original, and grounded in craft knowledge as well as creativity. ... You also have excellent diplomacy." -- Daniela Saioni, International Script Supervisor and Screenwriter
For editorial assessments, I provide the following to clients:
A) 30 minutes initial video interview to go over the client's writing experience, influences, and intentions for the piece.
B) A constructive report on your piece, detailing areas for improvement and possible solutions.
C) 1 hour follow up video consultation to go over the notes, answer any questions, and brainstorm additional solutions to elevate the piece.
D) A recording of the 1 hour consultation.
While I routinely read fiction and nonfiction, my favorite genres are fantasy (particularly magical realism and ancient mythology), historical narratives, as well as anything that speaks to environmental issues (i.e., eco-literature). Sub-genres welcome! Growing up I frittered away the hours with Tamora Pierce books and the golden-edged pages of The Royal Diaries series. Now as an adult, I spend my free time consuming Shakespeare and tales immersed in the 1930s/40s aesthetic, à la The Boys in the Boat.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Certifications
- Master of Fine Arts, Pepperdine University
- Story Editor's Studio, with Daniela Saioni
Work experience
Amazon Studios
As part of the Literary Acquisitions team, I focused on identifying the studio's stable of Intellectual Property (IP) based adaptations, which pertains to books, articles, podcasts/audio content, and more. As a reader for the team, I was on the front lines analyzing literary properties (most of which were advance reader copies, not yet released to the public) for possible adaptations across the studio, and writing reports that detailed the commercial as well as artistic potential of each submission. These reports included notes on larger-picture story elements like the clarity of world-building, plot structure, tone consistency, character development, dialogue, etc.
[Confidential]
As a story analyst, I sometimes work for clients with a strict confidentiality agreement. This experience involved analyzing feature screenplay submissions (90 to 125 pages in length) for a world-renowned talent development program based out of Los Angeles, CA. I was entrusted to handle private material with discretion, with a focus on finding unique literary voices. I wrote reports that detailed the commercial as well as artistic potential of each submission. These reports included notes on larger-picture story elements like the clarity of world-building, plot structure, tone consistency, character development, dialogue, etc.
Writers Guild Foundation
The mission of the Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Project is to identify emerging screenwriters from US military backgrounds and provide them with the tools and insights to nurture their passion for writing. As one of many mentors during the pandemic, I offered one-on-one creative support via video conference to program participants by discussing various aspects of their craft and brainstorming possible solutions to plot holes.
The Hideaway Entertainment
As a reader supporting the development executives, I reviewed both books and screenplays for their commercial as well as artistic potential. Each report included notes on larger-picture story elements like the clarity of world-building, plot structure, tone consistency, character development, dialogue, etc.