Hi, I’m Carmen Wright.
I help speculative fiction writers turn complex story ideas into compelling books.
My path to story coaching
Stories have always fascinated me. The stories themselves, the characters, their journeys, the emotional resonance, and the ways they’re told, which work together to create a unique experience. This probably explains why, over the years, I’ve experimented with different story formats, including books, screenplays, stage plays, song lyrics, comics, and interactive games.
Then, in my work life, I spent many years storytelling through communications, marketing, brand management, and design. I’ve self-published my own books. I’ve worked on film sets – in front of and behind the camera. I’ve performed. I’ve led teams. I’ve led big projects.
So, a lot of different things.
Over time I discovered that many story challenges aren’t really about talent or effort.
They’re about clarity.
Being clear on the story you want to tell, what you want people to experience through the story, and the path to get the story out into the world where it can make an impact. Helping writers discover that clarity is what led me to coaching.
The kinds of stories I love to work with
I primarily work with writers creating literary fantasy and speculative fiction. These are stories where imaginative or speculative elements, such as magical worlds, altered realities, or surreal possibilities, are used to explore character, relationships, and meaningful ideas. Often these books combine high-concept premises with emotional depth, allowing the speculative elements to illuminate something about the human experience.
If you are writing these stories, I’m your coach:
- Literary fantasy
- Contemporary fantasy
- Character-driven speculative fiction
- Experimental or concept-driven speculative fiction
- Whimsical or quietly magical stories
- Hopepunk
If these aren’t your genre, here’s a look at my extended will/won’t lists for coaching.
Open to stories with a light, adventurous tone:
- Cozy fantasy
- Dystopian fantasy
- Near-future science fiction
- Caper stories
- Cozy mysteries
- Romance that’s sweet, medium spicy, open door
Closed to stories with a dark, bleak tone:
- Horror
- Thriller
- Crime
- Historical fiction
- Literary realism
- Romance that’s extra spicy, dark, erotica
Why I enjoy this work
Every book reaches a point where thoughtful guidance can help illuminate the next step. If you’re working on a story and looking for clarity about where to go next, I’d love to hear about the book you’re writing.
Check me out on Substack
If you’re looking for blog articles, pop over to my Substack. That’s where I share my thoughts on writing, book coaching, and other musings. Subscribe to get a notification as soon as I post them.
Associations and affiliations
