Jeff Lyons – Editor

If a story is going to fail, it will first do so at the premise level. I specialize in helping authors and screenwriters fix stories in trouble. When you get lost in the story woods, I can show you how to find your way back to your story's real premise idea, and teach you how to not get lost in the future. I will teach you a story development methodology ("Anatomy of a Premise Line") that you can use for your entire writing career that will cut your story development time in half, and help you figure out if any story idea will have legs as a book or screenplay—BEFORE—you start writing. I have worked with literally thousands of novelists, screenwriters (TV/features), and creative nonfiction authors, and my clients have won major literary prizes like the “William Faulkner Gold Medal,” placed as finalists in major screenwriting competitions like The Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and include New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.How I Work:I DON'T READ MANUSCRIPTS :) I say that with love. I say that because I'm not interested in your writing. I'm interested in your storytelling. How strong are you with structure, characterization, subplotting, narrative design, etc.? How are your story skills vs your writing skills? Storytelling and writing are not the same thing. In fact, they are unrelated and unconnected. You don't need to be anywhere near a pencil and a piece of paper to tell a story. Stories can be danced, painted, spoken (you get the idea). Writing is just one way to tell a story.Most people are good at the writing function but weak with the story function. That's what I help you with. If you have a 400-page manuscript, that's fine, but there is no point reading it if the story is out of kilter. We find that out very quickly in our first consult. Then I work with you to fix your story and position you to successfully rewrite whatever manuscript you might have. If you don't have a manuscript—terrific. In this case, less is more. I almost prefer you have no or little writing done.Basic Reedsy Services:Logline Development: One hour consult where we break down your story into a pitchable logline for query letters. We record the session so you can refer to it in the future. $375 USDStory Premise Evaluation: 90-minute recorded consult where we break down your basic story idea to uncover story structure weaknesses/strengths and brainstorm story solutions. Next-steps advice is also given for further development steps. $675 USDPremise Line Development: A full week of consulting to develop a workable premise line for your story. Premise lines are an essential development tool for your own writing, but also for pitching agents and editors. It is used in conjunction with the logline in pitching. You get: unlimited video chat session on Zoom (recorded), daily work assignments with notes (email), lots of one-on-one coaching. $1200 USDLong-Term Coaching: This is a variable package that can go for two weeks to several months, depending on your needs. We'll have to negotiate and see what you need. Contact me for pricing, but the ranges go from $1800—$3500 USD depending on your budget and needs. We'll talk.(All services are negotiable , esp. due to financial hardships due to pandemic.)My approach is designed to help you get a solid story and build a narrative foundation that will support the actual writing of manuscript pages. Develop first, write second. That is my mantra (one of many). If this sounds interesting and useful to you, then we should talk. Drop me a message and we'll begin the conversation and you can tell me your story.————--———————If you hire me, I highly recommend you read my book "Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Master Premise and Story Development for Writing Success" (Focal Press) Check my Amazon page — it will make things a lot smoother :)