Chapter Diagnostic

Sometimes it’s not the whole book that feels wrong – it’s one particular scene or chapter that just won’t behave. You’ve rewritten it, moved it, trimmed it… and it still doesn’t quite work.

This Scene & Chapter Diagnostic is an in-depth look at one scene or chapter (up to 3,000 words) from anywhere in your book. The goal is simple: to work out why it isn’t working as it should, and what you can do to fix it.

This is a coaching-led, diagnostic service. I won’t rewrite the scene for you, but I will help you understand what’s going on under the surface so you can rebuild it with confidence.

What You’ll Receive

• In-text margin notes on your scene/chapter
• A focused 2–3 page diagnostic report
• A clear “next steps” action list
• A discount towards larger edits if you decide to take the work further

In this diagnostic, I’ll assess how the scene is functioning inside your story and on its own. I’ll look at:

• Scene purpose – why this scene exists and what it needs to achieve
• Conflict – what’s pushing or pulling against your character
• Character movement – how your character shifts (or fails to) during the scene
• Emotional impact – how it feels, and whether it lands as intended
• Pacing & energy – where it drags, rushes, or goes flat
• Setting & atmosphere – how grounded and vivid it feels
• Dialogue & action – how they interact and carry the scene forward
• Transitions & continuity – how the scene flows in and out of the surrounding story
• Thematic connections – how (or whether) this scene supports your deeper themes

The aim is to identify what’s missing, what’s muddled, and what’s already working well – so you can make targeted, effective changes.

This diagnostic does not include:

• Line edits or proofreading
• Heavy rewriting of your scene
• A structural overhaul of your whole book
• Style coaching for the entire manuscript

It’s a focused, in-depth analysis of one problem area, not a full edit.

This service is especially helpful if:

• You’re stuck in the middle of your draft and one scene keeps tripping you up
• You’ve had feedback that “this part drags” or “something feels off,” but you don’t know why
• You’ve been tinkering with the same scene for a while and it still isn’t working
• You want a technical, yet kind and coaching-led eye on one specific problem area

Pricing & Options

You can choose between three options at checkout:

• Diagnostic Only – €30
  In-text notes + 2–3 page diagnostic report + next-steps action list + discount toward larger edits.
• Diagnostic + Revised Version Check – €40
  Everything above plus a second, lighter pass on the same scene after you revise it, to check how the changes are landing.
• Diagnostic + Follow-Up Call – €60
  Everything in the Diagnostic Only option plus a 30–45 minute follow-up call to talk through the feedback, ask questions, and clarify your next steps in real time.

Select your preferred option before adding to cart.

If there’s a scene that keeps bothering you – the one you skim past, or apologise for, or endlessly tweak – this diagnostic is a chance to stop guessing and finally understand what’s going wrong (and how to fix it).