The mantra of every good author is STORY. FIRST. Period.
Programs like ProWritingAid, Grammarly, and Hemingway are fantastic at helping you polish your writing, making your sentences sing.
However… fixing sentences without first securing the elements of your story can be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Enter Fictionary
If you’ve never heard of Fictionary, it’s a web-based software (and community) that helps fiction writers perform a developmental edit on their manuscripts. It analyzes the structure, characters, plot, and setting of a story and provides visual feedback and guidance to improve the writing.
If a critique group seems like too much pressure for you, then Fictionary is a fantastic option to take the guess-work out of self-editing.
But it also offers a product for EDITORS that I’m pretty excited about, and if you edit on the side, or think you might want to, this might be a good place to start.
What is StoryCoach?
Fictionary’s StoryCoach is ideal for
Fiction editors
Working on a multi-POV story
With long time spans or jumps in time
Or asynchronous storytelling
To avoid overwhelm when perfecting a story with many moving parts, having software to guide you through makes a big difference.
I first got certified in StoryCoach back in 2020 when it was new on the market, so you can get a deeper dive here (enjoy my shorter hair):
Editing with Storycoach
After uploading your manuscript into StoryCoach, the next stage is going through each scene—reading, making notes, and marking specific designations for plot, character, and setting. No more wondering if you got the dates right or if you magically had your characters walk from Arizona to Arkansas in a day. The software will spot that for you.
It’s important to note that this program is only designed for editing the story elements. You are able to perform edits directly to the text, but it’s not really suitable for extensive line edits.
The ideal time to use StoryCoach on someone’s book is after the first or second draft, after it’s done, but before you get down to polishing text.
Once you get done with every scene, you’ll be able to view a graph of the plot, including the plot points as you have marked them. The recommended arc will be in yellow, while the arc of your story will be in blue, giving you a clear idea of how the scenes are ordered.
Is it Better than Word?
Having the detailed plot report and comparison, plus the data achieved in the program can be especially helpful tools when communicating with clients. Sometimes edits can be seen as subjective, even though they are make-or-break issues. The visuals can help ease that resistance.
But if you want to perform a line edit/developmental edit combo, or if you’re working with an already workshopped, almost ready-to-publish manuscript, then this might not be the best option.
Do Authors Like It?
From a client perspective, Fictionary has the fabulous benefit of coaching its members through rewrites in something called Fictionary Live! (Something I definitely don’t do, and neither do most developmental editors)
After you send back the StoryCoach report, the author has the option of signing up for a six-week intensive program of live calls where the StoryCoach editors look at their report and coach them through improvements, brainstorming, and sprints. This feature hasn’t been launched yet, but it’s rolling out soon.
This level of help isn’t preferred for every writer, but many feel lost when they get their edit back. What do I do now? Do I have to start from scratch?
Having the infrastructure of the software and then the community of Fictionary can be a lifeline to authors who need more guidance in the rewriting process.
If you’re looking to offer editing services and want a leg up in acquiring clients, the social proof of a certification, and a community of other editors to help you, you may want to consider StoryCoach as an option.
*Use coupon code KRISTINMCTIERNAN for $175 off
A Happy Announcement
I am pleased to announce the Nonsense-Free Editor has become a DUO. Tethys Maiden—fantasy author and editor—has joined the staff to provide faster service and to help keep waiting times low. Tethys started as a client and her amazing skill and wonderful spirit had us keeping in touch. I know you’ll love her work!