Story Coach
I’m a story coach. I will help you get unstuck, tap into a sense of flow, and elevate your project and process.
Writing is a transformative, generative form of play.
To play we have to be able to take risks, to bring our full presence, and to understand the “rules” (structure) of the game. It can be unnerving to venture into the deep end, but I will help you move into and transform your discomfort and tap into a deeper sense of trust so that you can realize your work at a higher level.
My approach
Every story and writer is different. I fine tune my approach to meet the needs of each project. I bring:
Feedback that is emotionally nuanced and big-picture
“Diagnostic” tests to help you discover what’s not working within your story
Somatic tools and practices to help you work through anxiety and doubt
Mindfulness techniques to help you access your deeper intuition and more unrestrained creativity
Accountability to ensure your long-term goals are prioritized
My background
I have taught screenwriting at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and I’ve worked with individual writers at all levels. I’ve supported screenwriters with shows already sold to HBO and I’ve helped nascent fiction writers get their start.
There are a lot of story coaches out there, but here’s what sets me apart. I have:
A surplus of tools to “crack” a story on a technical or structural level
An in-depth understanding of story structure
Practices to support the nervous system and to address doubts, limiting beliefs, and blindspots
Techniques to help you access your wilder, deeper sources of inspiration and the unconscious
Respect for you as a whole person, not just an isolated brain
TESTIMONIALS
“There is almost no one I trust more with the plots of my novels than the screenwriter and director Laura Davis. A brilliant reader, writer, and thinker, Davis has an intuitive, unerring grasp of story, and an encyclopedic range of filmic and literary references at her disposal. She will bring your work to the next level.” — Karan Mahajan, novelist
“Laura is a story wizard, full stop. She's guided me through every stage of screenwriting, from the vulnerable baby idea stage, to the first draft outline, to the 16th what-the-hell-is-happening-draft stage, and is gifted at it all. Not only does Laura intuitively understand structure, theme, and meaning, but she's able to push your work (in a gentle, supportive way!) to the next level, meaning — she's somehow able (see: wizard) to get to the heart of your story, understand your particular voice as an artist, and encourages you to do the hard work to get there, because it's always worth it. I can honestly say there's no one I'd rather go to for story help, ever. In fact, I already regret writing this because now you'll know my secret!!!” — Carlyn Hudson, writer/director