Writing is your passion. Stories live in you, aching to be free in the world. You’re committed to the creative writing life, whether you’ve never published a word, or you’re a seasoned published author.

Still, it’s often a solitary and lonely endeavor. There are days when…

• …the commitment feels less like a joy and more like an albatross around your neck.
• …you feel tangled and stuck, deep in the weeds of your work.
• …you’re adding words by the hundreds, but can’t shake the feeling something is missing.
• …the suggestions of your alpha readers or critique group, loving and supportive as they are, just don’t land, and you’re not even sure why.
• …you realize there’s always more to learn, but you’re worried you might not even know what you don’t know..!

You need a Story Buddy.

Your Story Buddy is a one-on-one, one-time or ongoing, mentorship and coaching program with an independent author and publisher equipped with broad, deep experience in all aspects of the creative writing world

You’ll receive fresh insights, new perspectives, and the encouragement, prompts, and accountability to get your through those rough patches as you chip away at your work in progress, or lay the foundation for your next work to be.

My name is Matthew Wayne Selznick. I’m an author, editor, marketer, and storyteller with over twenty years of experience writing and publishing fiction and non-fiction, and helping others do the same.

I will help you.

Storytelling is at the core of everything I do for myself or for clients: novels, short fiction, memoir, articles… even marketing, podcasting, and social media.

I understand the fundamentals of dramatic structure and story architecture that help bring clarity to your work.

As part of the first wave of indie publishers (2005), I have extensive, first-hand experience with both sides of the modern creative writing life: the craft, and marketing, of your fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction.

Here’s a selection of the fine folks I’ve had the pleasure to help. You’re next!

We’ll start with an hour-long session via phone or Zoom discussing your work and the specific knots you’re trying to untie.

Through directed questions and experience-driven insights and suggestions, I’ll guide you to discover ways to strengthen the storytelling bones of your piece, excavate and construct buried, fragmented thematic opportunities, coax out undeveloped character depth and motivation, and more.

Written yourself into a corner? Together, we’ll carve doors and blaze trails.

Have questions about the writing and publishing industry? I have answers, and no shortage of objective advice.

Naturally, the specifics will depend on your work, and your needs. No matter — by the end of our conversation you will see your work in ways you hadn’t before, and you’ll have new ideas and a new outlook from which to proceed.

Book a session with Your Story Buddy! Find the date and time that works for you.

When you book, you’ll be presented with a choice of meeting methods: phone or Zoom. You’ll also need to have two things ready to complete your booking:

1. A concise (under 1,000 words) synopsis of your story, including any details applicable to the challenge, problem, or question you’d like to address in our session.
2. The challenge, problem, or question itself.

PRIVACY
When you book a session with Your Story Buddy, you grant Matthew Wayne Selznick and MWS Media permission to contact you with news and information regarding your booking, the Your Story Buddy service, and related services, products, and offerings from Matthew Wayne Selznick. Your information will never be sold / traded / shared / distributed to others, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

RESCHEDULING / CANCELLING / FAILURE TO ATTEND
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please do so at least twelve hours before your scheduled session. Instructions will be included with your booking confirmation e-mail. In the interest of respecting my time and that of other Your Story Buddy clients, there are no refunds for cancellations made within twelve hours of your scheduled time, and no refunds for failure to attend.

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