If you’ve finished your book and entered the editing cave, it’s likely you’ve hit a few bumps. Especially if you’ve been in the cave for a while. Do any of these sound familiar? 👇🏻
I’ve made a lot of notes about changes I want to make, but I’m finding it hard to know where to start.
I feel like I’ve been in the revision loop forever. Pacing, characters, worldbuilding. Is any of it getting any better?
I’m not sure my story is good to begin with and revisions are overwhelming. I feel like it’s awful.
I can’t tell you the number of clients I’ve had who hate the editing stages. It’s normal. Even more than that, it’s completely normal to find you’ve lost your writing confidence along the way.
There’s nothing quite like looking back at your own writing with fresh eyes and seeing it needs a lot of work.
The editing cave is called the cave for a reason — it can feel isolating and endless. So, when you run into problems with your manuscript, it’s easy to start thinking maybe you just suck at writing.
Here’s the thing though: YOU DON’T SUCK! 🙌 Your writing doesn’t suck. The stories we love (including the one you’ve built inside your head) are never made in a single draft. They’re built in revisions through layers. And so is your writing confidence.
That’s exactly why I created my Stories in Layers Editing Method.
In this post, I’m going to tell you the story behind that method — how it came to be, how it helps my clients find clarity and confidence, and how it can help you edit your story into the one you’ve been dreaming of.
What’s in this post:
How I Realized Story Elements Weren’t the Only Thing My Clients Struggled With
When you become an editor, you’re taught all about story elements: character arcs, plot structure, worldbuilding, pacing — the technical stuff. And yes, these things matter. A lot.
But there is so much more to editing than that.
I didn’t start my journey out as a trained, qualified editor. I started as a writer who jumped into the writing community online with two feet. And I wanted to give as much to the community as I was getting back.
So, I started offering positivity passes. I knew from the start that a writer only becomes a published author if they can believe in themselves through the whole process. I’d read a portion of someone’s manuscript with a gentler, more encouraging lens. My goal? To find the good. Because no matter how rough the draft, every writer has strengths. And we all deserve to have those pointed out.
That was over 10 years ago.
From there, I became a critique partner, a beta reader, and eventually a book editor. I fell in love with helping stories shine — and with encouraging the writers behind them.
As my career grew, I kept asking clients what they were struggling with. I’d often hear some version of:
“Is my writing even good?”
So, I leaned into my feedback style — something I like to call a constructive compliment sandwich.
You might be wondering what on earth that is. But suffice it to say that I like to give you actionable, critical feedback between 2 pieces of positivity.
Almost every time, the response was the same:
“You helped me feel confident again.”
“Now I actually feel like I have a plan.”
That’s when it clicked. The technical story elements? Those were easy to fix with the right tools.
But the deeper issue? Confidence.
Some of my clients were ready to give up on their stories — and on writing altogether.
It wasn’t just a pattern I was seeing in live feedback. It was there in the testimonials. In my inbox. Over and over again.
I realized I needed a system — one that tackled more than just the story.
I needed something that would:
✅ Elevate the current manuscript
✅ Help my clients build the skills they needed
✅ Rebuild their confidence and reignite their writing joy
So, The Stories in Layers Editing Method Was Born
I started with the basics. What was it about what I was doing for my clients that made them feel more ready to tackle edits?
→ I pulled from my 2+ years of offering positivity passes
→ I reflected on what my critique partner experiences
→ I dug through my client testimonials
And then, I boiled it all down into 2 things: ✨Encouragement and 🛠️honest critique.
Every single one of my friends and clients alike was seeking exactly this. Encouragement to know they weren’t horrible at this writing thing and honesty in how to actually continue improving.
I was already providing these things for my clients though. So, why exactly did this lead me to create my new editing framework?
I wanted to help as many people as I possibly could… and I was beginning to burn out. While all my clients needed these same 2 things, each manuscript is different. It has its own needs, and there’s different ways I can provide encouragement and honest feedback for each client.
I needed a way to distill everything down into a repeatable system.
Not to get lazy in my feedback, but to make my service to authors as efficient as possible. This would also help me ensure that I was absolutely without a doubt providing exactly what they needed every single time.
So, I dug back into past projects and figured out what had already been working — and how to do it even better.
I landed on a system that included:
📄 A detailed but easy-to-navigate edit letter
📌 Concrete action steps
🧠 Extra resources based on individual struggles
📬 An open inbox for follow-up questions
That’s when it hit me: my own core belief about storytelling applies to editing, too.
Stories are built in layers.
So why shouldn’t edits be, too? 💡
So, to create a system with the best results and the most helpful deliverables, I too had to tackle the editing in layers!
I began mapping out the best way to group story elements into “layers” — and how to approach each round of feedback in a way that felt manageable, motivating, and clear.
That became The Stories in Layers Editing Method — a system that breaks down the hard work of editing into focused, empowering stages that bring your dream story to life.
And as of today, I’ve helped over 75 clients go on to publish the books of their dreams. 🥳
What Sets My System Apart
I’ve always been a big believer in over-delivering. And this system is no different. I am not just here to edit your book. I am here to build you up as an author. I want to see you succeed, and I’m here to champion you from the very moment you step into my little editing world.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
💬 I’ll ask you all the questions about your book — because the more I know, the more I can get behind it.
📝 You’ll get a sample edit before we begin, so we know we’re a good fit.
🤝 We’ll sign a custom contract that outlines everything — this is a collaboration, after all.
📣 You’ll get regular updates during the edit. I’ll ask questions, gush over characters, and keep communication flowing.
📥 My inbox is always open — before, during, and after the project.
When we wrap up, you’ll walk away with:
- 🗺️ Story maps
- ✉️ A detailed edit letter
- ✅ Clear action steps
And after that? I’m still here — to answer questions, celebrate breakthroughs, and cheer you on.
Because this isn’t just about improving your story. It’s about supporting you as a writer.
Client Results
The Stories in Layers Editing Method has already helped so many clients. Here’s just a few types of wins my clients get from working with me:
💡Revision Clarity
My clients often come in overwhelmed — unsure where to start. I make sure they leave with a clear, actionable plan.
Here’s what Aaron and Todd had to say:
Aaron: Great feedback. Answered all my questions, was very kind and complimentary. Provided a very actionable points for improving the story. Would be happy to work with again.
Todd: Wow! Just wow! What a fantastic job. I liked how she broke her ideas into bullet points, it makes it so much easier to read. She spotted ways to improve the story and recommended ideas/changes to improve the story. All were excellent ideas!
When you have revision clarity, you can feel really good about stepping into the long editing journey ahead.
🌟Confidence in their Writing
The whole goal of creating this editing method was to help elevate my clients. When your writing confidence suffers, it just makes everything miserable and unrewarding. Sometimes you even want to quit.
I want you to walk away feeling empowered and ready to tackle the rest of your writing journey, like Jet:
Working with Tessy was an absolute delight and reminded me why I wanted to become a writer in the first place. Her feedback on my manuscript was insightful and encouraging, and I often found myself overflowing with emotion as I read through her awesome comments. She was always quick to respond to any questions I had, doing so with accuracy and a friendly tone, which made the process feel both supportive and collaborative.
⚡Motivation to Tackle Edits
Encouragement is amazing. It can leave you feeling super supported in the writing and editing process. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have the motivation to tackle the big list of edits to come.
But that’s okay: that’s exactly what my action plans, edit letters, and story maps are for. It’s also what our follow-up discussions are for. When we part ways and you go on the next leg of your journey, I want to know that you actually feel motivated to pick your manuscript back up again. Much like when I worked with Izzy a few months ago. Here’s what she had to say 👇🏻
Izzy: I communicated what kind of help I needed with my story, and she jumped right in with no hesitation. She stayed in contact with me throughout the entire process, keeping me updated on her timeline. When I got the document back, her in-line comments made me laugh, feel more connected to my story, and provided valuable insight. Her reader’s report did just the same: I feel empowered & motivated, yet ready to take her advice and jump back in my story to edit.
Stories and Writers Are Built in Layers
I’ve known for years that stories are built in layers. It’s part of why I love the puzzle of editing so darn much (which ultimately makes me want to help other writers). What I didn’t realize until I built this system is that writers are built in layers too. With each new skill we stack, we’re improving ourselves as writers.
Which allows us to improve our stories.
This system goes so much deeper than a single story. It’s meant to help add an additional layer for you to make great leaps and bounds in your writing journey.
✨Ready to Shape The Story of your dreams — the story that future readers will deeply connect to?
Take the next step by booking a sample edit to see how I can help you today!
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