The Missing Spark to Transform Your Story Idea into an Unforgettable Novel
The ideas that come to us are living creatures waiting to be brought to life (just read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic for a compelling story about this!). These ideas want to be given a chance to shine in the world, brighten someone’s day, instill a meaningful message, frighten, enthrall, invigorate!
To imagine a world that’s different from ours, step into the shoes of someone different than we are, become a spy, fall in love…
As writers, it is our duty to birth these ideas into the world as the creative doulas we are.
However… Oftentimes, writing a novel can feel like delivering a breech calf rather than a smooth and joyful creative process.
It’s messy, it’s challenging, and sometimes it feels freakin’ impossible.
But I promise you, when you reach The End on a story you’re proud of, it’s always worth it.
This is my mission. To help writers at every stage of the writing journey to create a connection with their stories so deep, they feel compelled to write it. And that connection? It becomes the reason your readers will stay up too late turning pages.
Why This Book Coach Is Obsessed with Your Story
Waaaaaay back in 1987, I wrote my very first story. I was inspired by The Jolly Postman and wrote about a squirrel (spelled skworl) and a caterpillar who were penpals. Suzy and Caty.
Then, I discovered Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series and the cute little tales about animals and my family pets took a dark turn. 😈 I wrote frightening tales to scare my 6th grade teacher.
Writing has been my passion ever since.
Over the years I practiced and practiced, writing short stories, many failed attempts at novels, stories that went nowhere. Finally, in 2003, I finished my first novel-length story about a beagle who solved mysteries with her exceptional sense of smell.
Then, through doing beta reads for my writing friends, I discovered I had a knack for giving insightful feedback that not only clarified their vision but also strengthened their stories. One friend, a USA Today bestselling author, said my feedback was akin to that which she got from her editor at HarperCollins. 🤯
So, in 2022, I took things to the next level and began training to become a certified book coach through Author Accelerator’s rigorous certification program.
And I mean rigorous. Check out these requirements:
- Real practice clients who we had to hunt down ourselves and sometimes didn’t follow through.
- Three practicums with tough deadlines.
- Grueling requirements that were even more intense than earning my Project Management Professional (PMP) credential.
June 2024 I submitted my application materials and a month later, I got an email saying, “Hi Claire! I am delighted to tell you…”
Spoiler alert! I crushed it.
The certification team told me things like:
- “Your enthusiasm practically climbed off the page!”
- “Your feedback encouraged clarity and depth.”
- “Your clients will be lucky to have you!”
My favorite was,
“Your enthusiasm for your clients’ work is palpable and infectious.”
They referred to it as, “your signature brand of enthusiasm and encouragement.”
I found my calling!
And I have answered that call by helping…
- Pansters/discovery writers find their true north to write more focused first drafts.
- Strict outliners break free from the confines of their plot to find joy in the process again.
- Fantasy, historical, and anyone who needs some world-building dig out from beneath all the things to find what the story truly is and follow it home (this, by the way, also helps focus what to include from the plethora of pre-planning work).
- Plotting method test drivers step away from the outlining tools to find a process that works for them, their brain, their creativity, and brings them joy.
- Self-doubting writers understand their story is theirs and they are the right one to tell it.
- Burned out writers who tried to write faster and more and couldn’t maintain the pace let go of expectation and write their way.
I feel like I can help all of these kinds of writers, plus most writers in between, because not only am I also a writer, but I’ve faced and overcome a lot of writing challenges myself.
Finding my own way the hard way
My mission is to use my lived experience, my knowledge, and yes, what I learned obtaining my certification, to help you ditch the rules, fall in love with your story, and finish your book, all through discovering that connective force that ties you inexplicably to your story.
In my nearly 35+ years of writing, I’ve been around the block when it comes to the type of writer I am, was, and have become.
Die-hard Panster
Let’s begin, with what my process used to look like as a die-hard pantser. Before I obtained my coaching certification and developed the Story Compass, I would fly by the seat of my pants and write about 50,000 to 80,000 words just to find the story I wanted to tell. And then… I scrapped it and started over.
50,000 to 80,000 words. Essentially, I wrote a whole novel just to write a novel.
I clung to pure discovery writing because it felt magical… But the drafts I managed to finish were so messy, just thinking about revising them made my brain hurt. Along with a lot of unfinished stuff, I have quite a few first drafts that never went anywhere, too.
Now I start with connection first and really dig deep into why I want to write this story. Having that, plus the brilliance of cause and effect, helps to wrangle the chaos.
That time (or two) I tried outlining
In the early drafts of what became The Blood of Seven and another book that will someday see the light of day, I tried outlining.
With The Blood of Seven, I wrote the book scene by scene just as the outline said, and when I reached The End, the story was lifeless. Dull. There was no story. Just a collection of scenes strung together. There certainly weren’t any compelling emotional undercurrents motivating my characters. They really were cardboard cutouts. Dolls walking through the story, rather than influencing it.
The second time I tried outlining, I found a way that I thought was a little more exciting than just making a list and hitting the “essential plot points.” But when it came time to write the book. I was so loyal to my outline that I ignored the parts of the story begging to be told.
I followed my outline so rigidly that the story made no sense. There were several places where even I wondered, “Why did they do that?”
I spent so much time “staying on track” that I ignored the voice in my head telling me to take the detour. To follow where the characters wanted to go, and to keep following them instead of forcing them back in line.
Now I have an “outlining” method that focuses on cause and effect. That, coupled with a deep understanding of why I want to write the story, and why the characters are the ones to see it through, serve as the perfect compass to get me from beginning to end. It allows flexibility and on the fly adjustments. Magic and creative chaos get to play in an open air playpen (keeping them loosely contained) rather than be caged by pure structure.
Overwhelmed and Burned Out
I wrote a dark fantasy about a battered housewife who becomes a warrior (oh, just writing that makes me want to revisit the story). I got feedback too early and worked hard to turn it into something else. Something that took place wholly in a fantasy world, rather than a portal fantasy (I think someone told me portal fantasies were out).
Anyway, I spent close to a year developing the story, building the world, drawing maps. I even created a whole language with regional dialects.
When I tried to write the story, I stalled out in the beginning so many times because I wanted to cram every bit of this rich and lush world onto the page. I overwhelmed myself. Eventually I burned out on that entire book. I’d done so much planning, I lost the point and the thread of the original idea.
I never wrote that story. Not because I didn’t love it, but because I lost the spark under all that stuff.
Now I know: you don’t need everything. You just need enough to start. And the most important thing is knowing why you want to write the story in the first place. Having a deep connection makes it so you can’t not write it.
Inner Nebbie Naysayers
Without fail, every time I start a new book, there’s a moment where I think, “Who am I to write this?” or “How will I ever do this story justice?”
Stories don’t come to us because we’re perfect. They come to us because they see something in us. That magical potential of becoming a novel. When we answer their call, the only thing you can do is try. The only way you’ll know if you can write the story, do it justice, is to write and show yourself you can.
By digging into the underlying emotions of the story, and the message I want to share through it, I always discover that yes, I am the right person to write this book. And yes, I will do it justice. I can do it justice.
And… I write. Because I know that voice will never go away until I prove it wrong.
Letting Go of Social Expectation
Back in 2018, I decided to go Indie. It wasn’t because I couldn’t find an agent or get published the traditional way (I’ll be writing a post about this decision and how self-publishing is a choice not a last resort).
I joined groups on social media, some I didn’t understand at all. There was talk of rapid release. There were podcasts from six-figure indie authors. And then… there was Joanna Penn. My first online mentor in the independent publishing space. She writes with intention and publishes a book a year. That was a pace I felt I could manage.
So, yeah. I’m a slow writer. Big whoop.
My goal isn’t to get tons of books out into the world, it’s to get books that stick with people out into the world. Books that will stand up against traditionally published works. Books people will talk about and share with their friends. Books that latch on. Characters who become the readers’ best friends.
Once I learned to stay in my lane, write at the pace that works for me, my energy, my rhythms and cycles, I tapped back into that little baby writer inside and gave her permission to be who she needs to be.
And it was liberating.
Your keys to creating a story that keeps your reader up all night
During my certification, I worked with a practice client through a rigorous 18-page story blueprint for developing a novel. While it was thorough, based on how long it took my practice client to complete, I realized how overwhelming it could be for writers who only needed a little boost of magic to get started.
So, I created the Story Compass by whittling down the massive blueprint to key components. Simple, thought-provoking exercises designed to create that deep connection with your story right away, and prove to you it has what it takes to become the novel you always wanted to write, and that you are just the exact right person to write it.
Plus, the simplified process ensures you won’t be paralyzed by overanalyzing every single nook and cranny of your story.
Real Connection
The Story Compass isn’t just about developing a story idea. It’s about taking that idea and turning it into something concrete and compelling. It’s about creating real progress toward your dream of writing a book! And the magic of this process? It’s already helping writers reconnect with their stories, reignite their passion, and move forward with confidence. Writers like Linda, Ronja, and Rain have experienced firsthand how transformational this journey can be.
Linda said:
“Your feedback was incredibly helpful and insightful. The suggestions you made not only clarified some areas I was struggling with but also provided new ways to enhance the narrative. It’s clear that you took the time to really understand the heart of the story, and I’m excited to implement your suggestions. Thanks to your input, I feel confident that the story is much stronger.”
Ronja shared:
“Your workbook is amazing, and I realize now how helpful every little bit is with the whole developing part, and your feedback quadruples this effect!”
Rain (who used it to rescue her stalled out story) wrote:
“After working with you, I feel ready to work on my project again! I feel inspired and rejuvenated and ready to tackle my next draft.”
Jen (who used it to help focus her story before diving into revisions on her finished draft) said:
“I just want to hire you for the rest of my life.”
Okay, that last one wasn’t specifically about the Story Compass, but I wanted to share it because, Aw! Jen! So kind!
Let’s Get Writing
Writing shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth (or delivering a breech calf). It should feel like magic!
We often find ourselves creating in a silo, unsure of where to turn for real, honest, and actionable guidance.
And yes, I know. You have a writerly bestie. You have your critique group. You have your sister or your mom to give your stories a quick read.
But it’s not just about the feedback. It’s about learning how to use that feedback to strengthen your story and connect more deeply with it. It’s about having clarity to start and confidence to keep writing.
No matter if you’re just starting out or trying to breathe new life into a stalled project, the Story Compass will reconnect you to your story, spark your motivation and creativity, and remind you just how much you love this wild, wonderful writing journey.
If you’re looking for support, the Story Compass is where you’ll get detailed and personalized feedback tailored to your story idea.
Best of all? My excitement and enthusiasm all over your pages in a video walking you through my findings:
- What I loved (laughed at, shuddered at, got chills over).
- What could be clearer (in the form of thought provoking questions, not prescriptive advice).
- And, of course, a pep talk
All while always always always keeping your vision of your story at the forefront.
Book a Story Compass, and I’ll help you rediscover the soul of your story and why it matters, so you can stop second-guessing and start writing with joy!
