Build an airtight novel that subverts power structures without lecturing your reader.
The power structures in our stories work best when they aren’t completely evil. Real, imperfect systems are far more terrifying—and subverting them as a protagonist creates much more layered, fascinating narrative choices.
If your world doesn’t show how power is held, used, and realistically resisted by your characters, your setting is just a stage prop, and your story? Forgettable.
Don’t write a forgettable story. Let me help you write an unforgettable one.
Imagine A Few months FRom Now…
You're working on a novel that has staying power, that will grab readers by the ribs and not let go — you’ll be able to choose your track so you’ll have a plan, a madcap draft, or a revised draft!
You're confident that your protagonist has the agency they need to subvert power structures
You understand how your ideal reader will encounter your story and protagonist, and how they'll remember your book after reading
You're working with clarity and not wasting time penning tens of thousands of words that will have to change later
Meet Your Book Coach
Hey, I’m Margaret!
I specialize in the hidden architecture of complex systems — aligning a protagonist’s internal rebellion with the heavy, external friction of a fictional empire.
Let’s work together now, before you waste months writing scenes that don’t work.
I don’t deal in fluff; I deal in story mechanics that ensure your narrative grabs your reader by the ribs and your story’s deep truth etches itself into their hearts.
Two masters degrees in creative writing
Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach
Author of four historical fiction novels
My goal is to give you absolute clarity, high-level strategy, and total creative confidence over your manuscript.
What some of my writers say
-
“Margaret has a keen eye for detail and easily catches inconsistencies. She has a high-level grasp on the craft….”
- Elli C.
-
“[Margaret] zeroed in on the issues and gave me valuable information. Her insight was spot on.”
- Lorraine N.
-
“…if it wasn’t for Margaret, I probably wouldn’t have finished this book.”
- Carmen C.
THE NARRATIVE REBELLION LAB
3 months of coaching to provide you with accountability, feedback, and strategic coaching. Choose your track. Choose your tier. Choose your pricing plan. Enter the lab.
-
You're writing a story that focuses on subverting power structures through character agency
You're writing a story that tells a deep truth, perhaps one that has held onto you for a long time
You're ready for high-level craft and intensive coaching to strengthen your story
You're ready to bring your creative energy to the table with an open mind and heart
-
You're looking for the fastest path to getting your story on the page and into the world
You're looking for validation, not creative partnership, critique, and coaching
You're not interested in subverting power structures through your story
You're fine with flat antagonists, a protagonist who reacts rather than acts, and a forgettable story
Step 1: Choose Your Track
-
Track 1: Plan/Research
We’ll start out with my Subversive Novel Mini Blueprint, and follow that with exercises from Author Accelerator’s Blueprint for a Book and others to help you plan and research for your novel. For anyone just starting out or ready to work on early revisions.
-
Track 2: Draft
Get the accountability and support you need. Did you just write a scene and you need to know how it lands? I’ve got you. Need to explore a different POV? I’m by your side. This track is perfect for anyone ready to get words on the page.
-
Track 3: Revise
When you’ve got a draft on hand but you know it still needs work, when you need the motivation and support to keep going even as you reach that inevitable place where throwing in the towel looks a lot more appealing than pressing on, you’ve got me at your side to help you make empowered craft choices and keep the momentum rolling. This is great for anyone with a finished draft.
Step 2: Choose Your Tier
-
Tier 1: Accountability
Weekly Accountability Check-Ins: Maintain momentum through weekly check-ins.
Monthly Live Group Coaching Call: Bring your craft questions to a live 1-hour call. (Recorded for replays).
Exclusive Writer Community: Connect and share space with a dedicated peer group of narrative rebellion writers.
-
Tier 2: Feedback
Weekly In-Line Manuscript Feedback: Share up to ~500 words per week (exercises, scenes, outlines, or opening hooks) and receive direct, high-level structural and craft feedback from me delivered through in-line comments in a Google doc.
Everything in Tier 1
-
Tier 3: Strategic Coaching
1:1 Asynchronous Slack Coaching: Private text and audio message coaching Monday through Saturday in real-time as you write.
Dedicated Response Schedule: I review and reply once per day, giving you steady, high-touch support without interrupting your daily writing flow.
Everything in Tier 2
Step 3: Choose Your Payment Plan
-
Tier 1: Accountability
$250 Flat Upfront or
$100/month for 3 months
-
Tier 2: Feedback
$650 Flat Upfront or
$250/month for 3 months
-
Tier 3: Strategic Coaching
$1,300 Flat Upfront or
$500/month for 3 months
Step 4: Get answers
-
I’ll answer pre-submitted and live questions about writing a subversive novel, and I might also offer some hot seat coaching. If all questions are answered and there is still time in the hour, the rest of the time may be used to teach on a craft topic or write along together. The calls will be recorded so replays can be shared with all who are currently enrolled in the Narrative Rebellion Lab.
-
It is! I keep it in three-month sessions to help you reach a goal without being overwhelmed, but you’re welcome to sign up for another session once yours ends, either for the same track or a new one.
-
You can switch tiers on renewal if you decide to do another round, but not in the midst of a 3-month session.
-
In general no. But sometimes life lifes. If something comes up, I encourage you to reach out via our 1:1 Slack chat. We’ll decide together what’s best. I believe in being a reasonable human and I want my writers to thrive. If you have an emergency, illness, or some other mitigating and unplanned circumstance, we can discuss a pro-rata refund.
-
Great storytelling requires genuine human insight, acute narrative intent, and a deep understanding of systemic nuance—things an algorithm cannot replicate. I am fully committed to cultivating and protecting human creativity. All of my feedback is created entirely by me. I do not use generative AI to evaluate your story materials, and I work exclusively with authors who are dedicated to writing original, human-crafted work.
Step 5: Apply for a spot in the narrative rebellion lab
Fill out the form below. If I think we’re a match, I’ll invite you onto a free discovery call to chat next steps; if not, I’ll provide you with a resource or referral!