Your Story Matters.

Our mission is to guide authors at every stage in crafting compelling narratives. We believe you’ve got a great story in you. We’d love to help you tell it.

Meet your Consultants

We provide personalized manuscript consultation and story editing services to help authors at all levels bring their narratives to life.

Whether you're a beginner looking for guidance or an experienced writer seeking a fresh perspective, we're here to help you craft a story that truly resonates.


Ilona and Scott
Authors & Writing Consultants

Specialized Services for Authors

  • Opening: Your First Fifty Pages

    Grab readers from the first line and hold them. The first fifty pages are crucial—they need to hook readers and immerse them in your world. We’ll help you captivate and intrigue, ensuring your readers keep turning the page. Your opening introduces the tone, themes, and conflicts that will play out through your entire novel, screenplay, or memoir. It presents your protagonist’s “ordinary” world but hints at an imbalance that will propel them into a journey. This glimpse of your character’s present life sets up their transformation, engaging readers from the start.

    By crafting a compelling, representative opening, you not only hook your audience but also lay a solid foundation for the narrative to come. Make every word count and promise an unforgettable story that will turn readers into enthusiastic fans.

  • Overall Arc and Structure: How to Keep Your Story Moving

    Start with a solid foundation to keep your story on track. Whether you prefer to dive right in or outline first, a clear story arc and structure are essential. We’ll guide you in building a strong framework to steer your plot, anchor character development, and weave in theme as you write. A powerful story arc includes clear inciting incidents, rising action, climaxes, and resolutions. By identifying these key points, we’ll help you maintain direction, so each scene advances your protagonist’s journey and aligns with the story’s core conflicts and themes. Establishing a robust structure gives you a roadmap to keep your story focused and engaging.

  • Full Manuscript Critique: A Comprehensive Review from Premise to Language

    Our Full Manuscript Critique provides an in-depth review, covering everything from premise and structure to language and style. We analyze your story's arc, character development, pacing, and thematic depth, along with narration and dialogue. With specific suggestions to enhance clarity, refine voice, and polish prose, we offer detailed feedback that brings your fictional vision to life.
    Choose our comprehensive critique to receive actionable insights and guidance. We’ll help you elevate your manuscript, allowing you to experience the joy of completing the book that’s been waiting inside you!

Expert Coaching & Guidance

We are Ilona Chessid and Scott Rees, novelists, screenwriters, editors, and writing coaches driven by a fascination with narrative and an unshakeable belief in the power of story.

Ilona Chessid Writing Coach

Ilona holds a PhD from Harvard and is a former professor of language and literature.

After 10 years in academia, she worked as a corporate trainer and recruiter, until she embraced her calling as an novelist, editor and writing coach. Now she brings all those experiences together to help a diverse range of individuals bring their stories to life.

Scott began his career in copywriting before studying fine arts, painting, and sculpture at Cooper Union.

He then ventured into entrepreneurship as an inventor and designer of toys. Many years ago he discovered his passion for writing fiction and has dedicated himself to mastering and teaching the art of creating unforgettable characters and shaping dynamic plots.

Over nearly two decades of analyzing great fiction and teaching others how to apply the lessons we've learned (while avoiding the mistakes we've made!), we've developed our signature method of guiding clients through the process of finding, telling, and refining their stories.

What Our Clients Say:

  • “Scott and Ilona complement one another as quintessential "narrative whisperers." They are both full of insights on how to develop characters and illustrate themes through action, drama and plot. They have their signature (brilliant!) approach to getting inside a main character’s head, which helps propel a story forward when you're stuck. They’ve got tons of excellent, creative ideas that spur momentum through to the finish. They understand the world you're creating as much as you do and sometimes more.”

    Annette Foglino, Author from Texas

  • "Working with Scott and Ilona on the story bible and manuscripts for my new television series was inspiring and transformative. They are both highly experienced, brilliant writers and storytellers and their suggestions are invaluable. Scott and Ilona approach each manuscript with great sensitivity, insight, and respect and they help craft and shape the material in a way that honors each writer's unique voice and vision. They helped me fine-tune and craft my presentation and material and made my journey into the world of professional television focused, purposeful, and much more effective. I highly recommend them for any writing project you may be working on."

    Elijah Shaheen, Screen and television writer

  • “Ilona and Scott are extraordinary story coaches! They have an uncanny ability to identify the heart of your story and then help you develop (or rework) your manuscript from that core. Their understanding of story structure, character and theme are outstanding. Their insights and guidance continually inspired me to dig deeper and work harder. They have developed their own, unique approach to story structure, and I am convinced that it makes all the difference!” Elizabeth Browning- award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, and professional acting coach

    Elizabeth Browning- award-winning filmmaker,
    writer, director, and professional acting coach

  • “Scott and Ilona complement each other perfectly, combining distinctive talents: boundless imagination, rapidity of execution, passion, creativity, literary knowledge and people skills. They are not only excellent readers but also exceptional writers who can get to the heart of a story and unravel its uniqueness. I have found their help invaluable. ”

    BRETT – Artist/writer; Head juror
    and co-founder of West Chester Film Festival

  • “I’d written about three hundred pages when I reached out for their help. What I got was the gift of clarity—they helped me figure out the story I wanted to tell. I can’t recommend their services enough. They’re a terrific team!”

    Stacy Greenspan, Author from Texas

The Mighty Opening!

Welcome to The Mighty Opening, your guide to crafting a beginning that captivates and engages your readers from the very first page. The opening of your novel is your chance to make a powerful impression, to invite readers into the world you’ve created and make them eager to embark on the journey you’ve prepared for them. Here’s how to do it:

Recent Articles

Articles & Insights
The Second Act Challenge (Energize Your Second Act?)
The Second Act Challenge (Energize Your Second Act?)

Many writers know their beginning and end but struggle with that all-important middle: the second act. As the longest section of any story, the second act is prone to “sagging,” losing that tight momentum that keeps readers turning the page. This is the part where your protagonist faces growing obstacles, where the action should rise and excitement should build, but if your story lacks the right structure, this midsection can feel like one big, confusing gap. So how do you fill in those blanks? How do you keep the second act dynamic, crackling with tension and bursting with opportunity?

Read More →
Inside the Mind of an Author!</span>
Inside the Mind of an Author!

If we could peek into the mind of an author, what would we see? Often, more questions than answers. For beginning or aspiring writers, many of these questions inspire doubt rather than action. Do I have enough imagination? Do I know what steps to take? I see something in my mind, but can I get it on the page?

Read More →
The Mighty Opening
The Mighty Opening

Welcome to The Mighty Opening, your guide to crafting a beginning that captivates and engages your readers from the very first page. The opening of your novel is your chance to make a powerful impression, to invite readers into the world you’ve created and make them eager to embark on the journey you’ve prepared for them. Here’s how to do it

Read More →

Recent Articles

Articles & Insights
The Second Act Challenge (Energize Your Second Act?)
The Second Act Challenge (Energize Your Second Act?)

Many writers know their beginning and end but struggle with that all-important middle: the second act. As the longest section of any story, the second act is prone to “sagging,” losing that tight momentum that keeps readers turning the page. This is the part where your protagonist faces growing obstacles, where the action should rise and excitement should build, but if your story lacks the right structure, this midsection can feel like one big, confusing gap. So how do you fill in those blanks? How do you keep the second act dynamic, crackling with tension and bursting with opportunity?

Read More →
Inside the Mind of an Author!</span>
Inside the Mind of an Author!

If we could peek into the mind of an author, what would we see? Often, more questions than answers. For beginning or aspiring writers, many of these questions inspire doubt rather than action. Do I have enough imagination? Do I know what steps to take? I see something in my mind, but can I get it on the page?

Read More →
The Mighty Opening
The Mighty Opening

Welcome to The Mighty Opening, your guide to crafting a beginning that captivates and engages your readers from the very first page. The opening of your novel is your chance to make a powerful impression, to invite readers into the world you’ve created and make them eager to embark on the journey you’ve prepared for them. Here’s how to do it

Read More →