Forget “if you build it, they will come.” Build it so they come and never leave.
Your book can have a gorgeous cover, foolproof proofreading, and flawless layout. But if readers finish it and think “meh,” they’ll move on to a story that keeps them up at night and forget all about yours.
Let’s make sure readers never think “meh.”
🟪 Hi, I’m Mary, a writing coach with an MFA, 10+ years working with fiction, and a lifetime of immersing myself in role-playing games who’s here to help make your stories unforgettable.
Dare to think differently about story
By which, I don’t mean write something so “out there” you fear you won’t find a market for it. You can write something to fit a trend or readership but still be bold in your difference. The first step is expanding how you think about writing and story, which is precisely why I blog–to help you get thinking about all the aspects of storytelling and how to use them for maximum effect. It’s also a fun way to open up a conversation, so dive into my blog with the following posts, all written purely by me. I don’t use AI to write anything on my site (or on any work you hire me to do–I’m all about the human angle).
- When Cliffhangers Work (And When They’re Just Annoying)
- Sometimes, You Even Forget Good Stories
- 4 Techniques to Keep Readers Turning Pages of a Multi-Pov Novel
- What Makes a Story Itself?
- The Most Fulfilling Kind of Exhaustion
But don’t just take my word for it
“Mary’s thorough and timely examination of my work is greatly appreciated. She gets to the heart of the manuscript and can identify strengths and weaknesses and convey them to you in a professional, respectful manner, all the while clearly showing support for your writing. You can expect clear, honest feedback as well as encouragement and an open dialogue with your work. I also appreciated the chance to ask follow-up questions on some of the weaker aspects of my manuscript, and have been given plenty of great ideas to think about in order to improve my book. I highly recommend working with Mary and found the whole process quite enjoyable.”
Kristina Elyse Butke, author of Son of the Siren
“Mary is excellent at identifying inconsistencies in the plot and providing feedback on how to address these details to improve the work. She also provides a great summary of plot structure and the overarching narrative along with the perspective of a reader who is journeying through the narrative. I would highly recommend Mary based on not only the quality of work but also her collaborative skills and timeliness.”
Brian Baleno, author of Insignificant Ones
“Mary is fantastic to work with. Her collaborative approach is just the right mix of tough love and encouragement. She helped identify areas of my plot structure that could be improved while providing techniques to keep the tension up and characters real. After her help, my 160,000-word fantasy is ready for submission.”
Ben Brockway, fantasy author
Ready to master immersive storytelling?
Writing exercises, editing tips, and resources to make every word in your story an immersion tool delivered straight to your inbox, twice a month. Join the Troll Talk newsletter to level up your immersive storytelling game. Plus, get a free copy of my secondary-character generation worksheet so you never again have to lose your writing flow when your protagonist suddenly encounters someone new. Because immersion starts at the drafting level.
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