Story Fundamentals
Support for new and emerging romance writers
If you have lots of questions about how to write a romance novel with depth and meaning, then you’ve come to the right place.
LIBBY M IRIKS | ROMANCE BOOK COACH
My coaching program may be just what you need.
The dream.
Do you dream of writing an engaging romance novel with all the feels?
Imagine how it would feel to nail all the big picture elements of a story,
To hold in your hands a foolproof plan for writing that novel,
And to impress the pants off everyone you know with your storytelling skills.
Imagine if you could do this without being hindered by
Your lack of confidence or storytelling know-how,
Or the little seed of doubt in your mind that says you could never make it as a writer.
The possibilities.
What would you say if I told you it’s possible to achieve your dream?
It is possible to write a novel that touches lives and makes readers feel.
And, in doing so, you will feel as if you’re doing what you were born to do.
Wondering what it would take to achieve this?
The solution.
Let me introduce you to my Story Fundamentals program!
In my Story Fundamentals program,
I utilise a specific method for helping romance writers plan a novel with depth and meaning.
By guiding you through a sixteen-step process, I can help you to:
feel proud of producing a comprehensive and easy-to-follow plan for writing your manuscript,
find fulfilment in constructing a strong foundation for a story that means something,
and triumph over your struggles to learn the mysteries surrounding the romance story-writing process.
The benefits.
By signing up to the Story Fundamentals program,
you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of what makes a good story and how to construct one.
You’ll uncover the heart of your story concept and plan a novel your readers will connect with.
And your newfound knowledge and storytelling skills will motivate you beyond belief.
The Story Fundamentals program will provide you with:
Guidance
You’ll work through the story-planning process much faster and with more depth than you ever have before. And you can do so AT YOUR OWN PACE!
Feedback
You’ll have the opportunity to receive regular feedback to help you iron out those big picture issues before you write a word of your first draft.
Support
We can chat via video, email or direct messaging to work through issues and identify how to keep you moving toward your goal.
The coach.
You may be wondering who I am and how I’m qualified to offer this service.
Well, to put it simply . . .
I fell in love with story as an eight-year-old.
Story and the romance genre have been my passions ever since.
I spent three years as the Commissioning Editor of Romance for a boutique publishing company,
but story development is where my passion as an editor lies.
I have a background in teaching and provide honest and constructive feedback,
but always deliver it with compassion and understanding.
I trained as a book coach and have tailored my services to the meet needs of my clients.
The testimonials.
By hiring me as your romance book coach everything is going to change for you.
These are just some of the ways my work is impacting writers’ lives:
“Libby has helped me shape the structure of my manuscript, enhance its themes and deepen both character and point of view. My manuscript is a much stronger story for Libby’s involvement, and with her help, I can put my best draft forward. I’m enormously grateful to her and highly recommend working with her.”
NANCY CUNNINGHAM
“Libby offered practical guidance in the steps I should take to tackle revisions. She is so easy to work with; she tailors everything to meet my needs, and we work at a pace that suits me. Her services are a worthy investment for any writer wanting to take their novel to the next level.”
TANYA NELLESTEIN – Author of The Devil Within
“Libby is dedicated to making each story the best it can be; she guides me to hone my strengths and build on my weaknesses without destroying my confidence. Libby has encouraged me every step of the way to be a better writer. I love that her feedback points out what works as well as what could be improved. I’m looking forward to being the writer I will become under her patience and guidance.”
VIKKI HOLSTEIN – Author of the White Wattle Creek series
The featured project.
The Lady Detective
by Ava January
THE CLIENT: Ava requested an evaluation from me after receiving a full manuscript request from a publisher. She had concerns that the manuscript wasn’t as strong as it could be after receiving feedback from beta readers and other publishers, saying that the story “meandered”. Ava interpreted this feedback to mean that there wasn’t enough story, and she hoped an evaluation would highlight where she was going wrong and help her to revise in preparation for submitting to the publisher.
HOW I HELPED: I conducted a full read-through of Ava’s manuscript and discovered that the story’s issues stemmed from the goals and motivations of the protagonist not being made clear for the reader. This is what gave the impression of the meandering storyline, because the events that occurred didn’t appear to move the protagonist towards her goals. I also determined that if Ava drew on the protagonist’s backstory in crucial moments, it would help the reader to better understand her character’s motivation.
AVA’S RESPONSE: “Libby, I just wanted to touch base with you to say thanks! Your feedback made perfect sense and helped me dig a little deeper into the motivations and goals of my protagonist. I’ve officially sent the manuscript to the publisher now, so fingers crossed!”
THE OUTCOME: The Lady Detective won first prize in the Orange County Rose Prize for Emerging Writers 2020 (Historical category) and was a second round winner in LERA’s The Writer Contest. And to top it off, Ava landed a publishing deal with Escape Publishing! Congratulations, Ava!
THE EXPERIENCE: I absolutely adored working on this story. Ava did a wonderful job of balancing a strong female lead with the societal norms of the historical setting. The romantic tension between the heroine and her love interest grew from cheeky, innocent flirting to intense emotion-filled moments that were expertly handled. With equal parts romance, mystery and comedy, this story is a must-read! Order your copy now!
The point of difference.
Because of the way the romance story-writing process is broken down in the program,
with each step scaffolded on the last,
you’ll construct a strong foundation for a story that will capture the heart of its readers.
You’ll learn how a story, its characters, and the central romance should develop,
and how that development ensures a well-paced and engaging novel.
You’ll have the chance to brainstorm and problem solve
with an experienced romance writer and editor,
one who specialises in story development.
The content.
The Story Fundamentals program is broken down into three parts.
In Story Fundamentals #1: The Basics, you’ll explore romance tropes,
identify your story’s themes and uncover its heart, and craft engaging main characters.
In Story Fundamentals #2: The Framework, you’ll create romantic conflict,
explore the emotional connection between your protagonist and the love interest,
and identify what the main subplots will be.
And in Story Fundamentals #3: The Roadmap, you’ll outline a meaningful and engaging plot
that will serve as your roadmap for writing your novel from beginning to end.
The support.
I provide self-paced courses, expert feedback, and one-on-one support
to new and emerging romance writers
so they can improve their storytelling skills
and write the kind of story they’ve always dreamed of writing.
But because we all learn differently, our comfort zones vary,
and the money we’re willing to invest, in ourselves and in our writing, differs,
I provide varying levels of support,
meaning you can choose an option that meets your needs as a writer and accounts for your budget.
Your options.
FULL COACHING PACKAGE
Learn the fundamentals of storytelling with my series of courses designed specifically for romance authors who want to write stories with heart.
Get access to the full Story Fundamentals program: 3 self-paced courses, expert feedback on 5 workbook submissions, and 5 debrief sessions to gain clarity and motivation.
PLUS, get a bonus goal-setting coaching session, a tip sheet for reviewing feedback, recordings of all your coaching sessions and access to the RTP Academy Facebook group!
Valued at more than AUD $1600 — pay just $1,200!
SELF-PACED COURSES
If you’re not ready to commit to, or unable to invest in, the full coaching package, you can take your Story Fundamentals journey one step at a time by starting only with the content in the self-paced courses.
Purchase one course or all three — either way you get access to the same premium content in the full coaching package and you’ll still be offered the chance to get feedback and one-on-one coaching (see below)!
PLUS, get detailed workbooks and access to the RTP Academy Facebook group!
Each course is AUD $60 — or get all three for $150!
PERSONALISED FEEDBACK
At strategically placed points throughout the series of Story Fundamentals courses, you will be given the opportunity to submit your completed workbooks for detailed and personalised editorial feedback.
The feedback you receive will guide you in strengthening the major elements of your story concept before you dive into writing the first (or next) draft of your manuscript.
PLUS, get a tip sheet for reviewing your feedback!
Each round of feedback is AUD $165 — or get all five for $750!
DEBRIEF SESSIONS
After receiving your editorial feedback, if you need clarification or want a knowledgable buddy to brainstorm with, we can chat during a 60-minute debrief session via video call (or instant messenger or email).
There are five opportunities to debrief throughout the series of Story Fundamentals courses. And the best part is, you have the freedom to schedule sessions only when further help is required.
PLUS, get recordings of your video calls — no need to take notes!
Each session is AUD $100.
Not sure which option is best for you?
Want to know more?
Still not sure whether I’m the right book coach for you? Good on you! It’s important to be cautious when hiring a professional to help you with something as precious as your book baby. Let me share more about myself and my approach to coaching.
