✍️ Your Story Starts Here

Find your way through the messy drafting process - turn your ideas and scattered notes into a manuscript!

Logo for Deep in the Draft.

For the writer inside the messy, magical, slightly terrifying early stages of a book.

Apply to Deep in the Draft

I have helped over 500 authors develop their writing.



Yoanna pointed out many things that I as the writer missed. I believe that with the help of her review, I can improve my manuscript to a degree that is much more impactful than it currently is. She was happy to answer any questions I had about things that did not make it onto the review.

shiro_s
Editorial Assesment
Czech Republic


I couldn't get enough of the level of professionalism Yoanna did! She did do so well. The in-depth explanation, paying attention to details, and understanding of the story. Will definitely come back!

nicoledonets
Editorial Assesment
South Korea


The feedback I received for my novel was exactly what I needed. It praised the strengths and highlighted areas that required more polish. I am very pleased with the results. If I have the opportunity to publish another book, I will definitely seek Yoanna's feedback again.

uldisroze
Editorial Assesment
Latvia


There was an incredible attention to detail and uncanny insight into the characters as well as extensive specific feedback that will greatly help me improve my manuscript. Can't express how grateful I am!

anjivanaken
Editorial Assesment
Malta


Working with Yoanna was a fantastic experience. She skillfully identified areas of the story that needed enhancement and provided a comprehensive reader's report, detailed commentary, and insightful suggestions for revisions. I look forward to collaborating with her again in the future.

xzarex
Editorial Assesment
Slovenia


Her comments are precise and specific, which helps me understand the areas for improvement in my book. They are not all about what needs to be improved; she also highlights what she likes about my work, doing so with joviality. The report answers my questions and points out the positive aspects and areas for improvement in my work, which is always well received.

iceblader
Editorial Assesment
Spain


I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. The feedback was thorough, insightful, and incredibly helpful. She paid great attention to detail and provided constructive criticism. The suggestions were spot-on and significantly improved the quality of my work. I highly recommend Yoanna to anyone looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable beta reader.

kate_envisperas
Editorial Assesment
Montenegro


Wow! I’m blown away by the depth of work provided by Yoanna. This really exceeded my expectations and I’m so thrilled with the feedback she has provided. The suggestions that were provided have already helped me to improve my book and create a better flow in the opening chapters. I would 10/10 recommend and will definitely be back to purchase again when I complete the rest of my book.

melissa_jean_
Editorial Assesment
Australia


Working with Yoanna has been a pleasure, she has provided a deep and detailed critique of my work and given me lots of things to work on. I look forward to working with her again!

viktoria_winter
Editorial Assesment
Austria


It was a pleasure working with Yoanna. The editing task was done perfectly, paying attention to small details and giving both pros and cons in a paragraph. I loved her authentic reactions that she left in comments, gave me an idea how my readers would genuinely react to a scene. I can tell that she has a love for reading and is open to all kind of creative methods a story is put in. And of course, there are all these 5 star reviews out there, I would say she deserves all of them.

ananyatalreja
Editorial Assesment
Germany


I commissioned Yoanna after seeing all the wonderful reviews left by others and I must say: it was the right decision! Yoanna broke the story and their feedback about it down to easy to digest components while making sure it's not shallow. They answered quickly to any questions I had and the delivery was on time, as promised. I recommend Yoanna to anyone

azurepensmith
Editorial Assesment
Turkey


She obviously got to know the story well and her comments were well thought-out, clear and actionable. Perhaps most importantly, Yoanna clearly knows the ins and outs of writing and how to make a manuscript shine -- she delivers an excellent product. She also delivered right on time, which was also great. Thanks so much Yoanna!

curtis_carlson
Editorial Assesment
USA


The feedback was incredibly detailed, and I got answers to all of my questions. The comments were so insightful and helpful. I definitely feel it was worth it, and I’m excited to continue working together in future!

mariapataki
Editorial Assesment
Ukraine


She has a remarkable talent for understanding the heart of a collection while offering constructive suggestions that enhance its cohesion and thematic strength. Yoanna's detailed notes on tone, imagery, and structure provided clear guidance, allowing me to refine my poems without compromising my creative voice. She highlighted the strengths in my writing while gently pointing out areas that needed improvement [...]. Yoanna’s ability to view my work from both a technical and emotional perspective was invaluable [...].

michellesmit563
Editorial Assesment
Mexico


Having hired her twice, Yoanna is a game-changer. Exceptional attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the themes I was aiming to convey in my manuscript - she gives attention to both areas of strength and reaction to key plot beats, as well as lots of extremely helpful suggestions for areas of improvement.

daintonc
Editorial Assesment
Canada


It is always a pleasure to work with Yoanna. Over the past several years of writing I have developed a professional community where I can get feedback from other authors for free. Yoanna's services are the only reason I am still involved with Fiverr. Her work always goes above and beyond. From being one of her first clients I plan to support her throughout her career as she has helped me become the writer I am today who has successfully published 15 novellas.

djp925
Editorial Assesment
USA


For the second time I entrusted my draft to Yoanna, and like the first I was blown away by the quality and care of her work. I highly recommend her services to any aspiring author or experienced veteran she is sure to help you tune your story to even higher heights!

chevivre
Editorial Assesment
Canada


Initially, I hesitated to hire a new proofreader for my book, but I am so glad I did. Her work was exceptional, with meticulous attention to detail, prompt delivery, and invaluable feedback that helped enhance the book. I eagerly look forward to working on my next book with her.

iprayjc
Editorial Assesment


Youana has proved to be a valued asset in my pursuit of writing books professionally. They were highly approachable and were available to answer all my questions. The main plus of getting this service was that it truly uncovered flaws in my writing that my former proof-readers, such as family members, couldn't identify. I will be back again for the same service if my book is published and I see potential in continuing my book series

elitecanidae
Editorial Assesment
UK


Yoanna pointed out many things that I as the writer missed. I believe that with the help of her review, I can improve my manuscript to a degree that is much more impactful than it currently is. She was happy to answer any questions I had about things that did not make it onto the review.

shiro_s
Editorial Assesment
Czech Republic


I couldn't get enough of the level of professionalism Yoanna did! She did do so well. The in-depth explanation, paying attention to details, and understanding of the story. Will definitely come back!

nicoledonets
Editorial Assesment
South Korea


The feedback I received for my novel was exactly what I needed. It praised the strengths and highlighted areas that required more polish. I am very pleased with the results. If I have the opportunity to publish another book, I will definitely seek Yoanna's feedback again.

uldisroze
Editorial Assesment
Latvia


There was an incredible attention to detail and uncanny insight into the characters as well as extensive specific feedback that will greatly help me improve my manuscript. Can't express how grateful I am!

anjivanaken
Editorial Assesment
Malta


Working with Yoanna was a fantastic experience. She skillfully identified areas of the story that needed enhancement and provided a comprehensive reader's report, detailed commentary, and insightful suggestions for revisions. I look forward to collaborating with her again in the future.

xzarex
Editorial Assesment
Slovenia


Her comments are precise and specific, which helps me understand the areas for improvement in my book. They are not all about what needs to be improved; she also highlights what she likes about my work, doing so with joviality. The report answers my questions and points out the positive aspects and areas for improvement in my work, which is always well received.

iceblader
Editorial Assesment
Spain


I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. The feedback was thorough, insightful, and incredibly helpful. She paid great attention to detail and provided constructive criticism. The suggestions were spot-on and significantly improved the quality of my work. I highly recommend Yoanna to anyone looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable beta reader.

kate_envisperas
Editorial Assesment
Montenegro


Wow! I’m blown away by the depth of work provided by Yoanna. This really exceeded my expectations and I’m so thrilled with the feedback she has provided. The suggestions that were provided have already helped me to improve my book and create a better flow in the opening chapters. I would 10/10 recommend and will definitely be back to purchase again when I complete the rest of my book.

melissa_jean_
Editorial Assesment
Australia


Working with Yoanna has been a pleasure, she has provided a deep and detailed critique of my work and given me lots of things to work on. I look forward to working with her again!

viktoria_winter
Editorial Assesment
Austria


It was a pleasure working with Yoanna. The editing task was done perfectly, paying attention to small details and giving both pros and cons in a paragraph. I loved her authentic reactions that she left in comments, gave me an idea how my readers would genuinely react to a scene. I can tell that she has a love for reading and is open to all kind of creative methods a story is put in. And of course, there are all these 5 star reviews out there, I would say she deserves all of them.

ananyatalreja
Editorial Assesment
Germany


I commissioned Yoanna after seeing all the wonderful reviews left by others and I must say: it was the right decision! Yoanna broke the story and their feedback about it down to easy to digest components while making sure it's not shallow. They answered quickly to any questions I had and the delivery was on time, as promised. I recommend Yoanna to anyone

azurepensmith
Editorial Assesment
Turkey


She obviously got to know the story well and her comments were well thought-out, clear and actionable. Perhaps most importantly, Yoanna clearly knows the ins and outs of writing and how to make a manuscript shine -- she delivers an excellent product. She also delivered right on time, which was also great. Thanks so much Yoanna!

curtis_carlson
Editorial Assesment
USA


The feedback was incredibly detailed, and I got answers to all of my questions. The comments were so insightful and helpful. I definitely feel it was worth it, and I’m excited to continue working together in future!

mariapataki
Editorial Assesment
Ukraine


She has a remarkable talent for understanding the heart of a collection while offering constructive suggestions that enhance its cohesion and thematic strength. Yoanna's detailed notes on tone, imagery, and structure provided clear guidance, allowing me to refine my poems without compromising my creative voice. She highlighted the strengths in my writing while gently pointing out areas that needed improvement [...]. Yoanna’s ability to view my work from both a technical and emotional perspective was invaluable [...].

michellesmit563
Editorial Assesment
Mexico


Having hired her twice, Yoanna is a game-changer. Exceptional attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the themes I was aiming to convey in my manuscript - she gives attention to both areas of strength and reaction to key plot beats, as well as lots of extremely helpful suggestions for areas of improvement.

daintonc
Editorial Assesment
Canada


It is always a pleasure to work with Yoanna. Over the past several years of writing I have developed a professional community where I can get feedback from other authors for free. Yoanna's services are the only reason I am still involved with Fiverr. Her work always goes above and beyond. From being one of her first clients I plan to support her throughout her career as she has helped me become the writer I am today who has successfully published 15 novellas.

djp925
Editorial Assesment
USA


For the second time I entrusted my draft to Yoanna, and like the first I was blown away by the quality and care of her work. I highly recommend her services to any aspiring author or experienced veteran she is sure to help you tune your story to even higher heights!

chevivre
Editorial Assesment
Canada


Initially, I hesitated to hire a new proofreader for my book, but I am so glad I did. Her work was exceptional, with meticulous attention to detail, prompt delivery, and invaluable feedback that helped enhance the book. I eagerly look forward to working on my next book with her.

iprayjc
Editorial Assesment


Youana has proved to be a valued asset in my pursuit of writing books professionally. They were highly approachable and were available to answer all my questions. The main plus of getting this service was that it truly uncovered flaws in my writing that my former proof-readers, such as family members, couldn't identify. I will be back again for the same service if my book is published and I see potential in continuing my book series

elitecanidae
Editorial Assesment
UK
lot's of messy notes
writer's block
stuck
A woman with light green head bow comfortably seated on a bed, using her typewriter, with books nearby, book editing.

You have a story idea, outline, partial draft, or early manuscript.

You can feel the potential of it.

Buuuut you are not yet fully sure what shape it wants to take.

Maybe the premise is exciting, but the plot feels blurry. Maybe the characters are alive in your head, but not yet driving the story on the page. Maybe you have written several chapters, but now you are wondering whether you started in the right place, chose the right structure, or even the right POV (I’ve been there; one of my first novels I had to rewrite from 1st person to 3rd at a much later stage than necessary).

Deep in the Draft is a story coaching and editorial guidance program for writers who are still building the bones of their book and want clear, kind, practical direction before they go further.

Apply to Deep in the Draft

Your trusted editor & book coach.

5+

Years Experience

1k+

Edited Manuscripts

54

Client Nationalities

You are not behind

You are deep in the draft.

And deep in the draft is where things are supposed to feel unfinished and messy.

Read that again! Unfinished and messy.

This is the stage where ideas change shape. Characters surprise you. Plot holes appear and freak you out. The beginning suddenly feels wrong. The middle looks suspiciously boring. And every piece of writing advice online seems to contradict the last one.

Deep in the Draft gives you something better than random advice.
It gives you direction based on the story you are actually trying to write.
all too much
purpose??
bad at plotting?
writer's block
flat character
Person reviewing a manuscript, making handwritten edits with a pen on paper.

Early drafts do not need perfection.

They need foundations.

When you are still drafting, it is easy to focus on the wrong problem.

You may think the prose is the issue when the real problem is that the scene has no purpose yet.

You may think your character is boring when the real problem is that they do not want anything strongly enough yet.

You may think you are “bad at plotting” when the real problem is that your premise has not been developed into pressure, choice, and consequence.

That is why early-stage support matters. Not because your draft should already be perfect.

But because the earlier you understand the foundations, the less likely you are to rewrite your entire book.

Deep in the Draft helps you find the shape of your story before you get lost inside it.

By the end of this program, you will have a clearer understanding of:

  • what your story is really about
  • what kind of reader experience you are building
  • what your main character wants, fears, avoids, and needs
  • where the story pressure should come from
  • what may be missing from your current idea, outline, or early pages
  • what to focus on next as you keep drafting
  • what your chosen genre asks from you
  • how to move forward without trying to fix everything at once

We are not trying to make your draft perfect.

We are helping you stop second-guessing every choice, so you can keep writing with a clearer sense of what your story is becoming.

Why work with me at this stage?

I have worked with writers across genres, countries, and manuscript stages, from first-time authors with a handful of chapters (or even just messy notes scattered across 6 notebooks; yes, six) to writers preparing complex manuscripts for publishing.

My work is rooted in practical editorial diagnosis. That means I do not just tell you something “needs more tension” or “feels slow” and leave you to emotionally interpret that in a dark room, overthinking and asking yourself why you chose to be a writer.

I help you understand what is causing the issue.

Because “the pacing feels off” is not enough. And me just fixing it won’t make you a better writer by the end.

A stronger question is:

Is the scene missing purpose, pressure, escalation, emotional movement, or consequence?

That is the kind of clarity we build inside Deep in the Draft.

About me
The Bookish Path

How it works

Deep in the Draft follows The Bookish Path: Diagnose, Direct, Deepen. This is the same editorial framework behind all of my signature support, adapted specifically for early-stage writers.

Bookish with Yo Mascot icon holding a Graph/Checkbox Sheet.
01

Diagnose

First, we look at what you already have.

That might be a premise, an outline, a partial draft or a messy document full of scenes, ideas, and notes.

We identify what is working, what feels unclear, and what the story is asking for next. Not judging your draft as if it is finished.

The point is to understand what it needs at this stage.

Bookish with Yo Mascot icon holding a compass.
02

Direct

Next, we create a practical writing plan.

You will know: what to focus on first; which story questions need answering; which parts of the draft need developing; which ideas are strong but underused; what are some things you can work on to develop your craft, etc.

Because early drafting becomes much easier when everything does not feel equally urgent.

Bookish with Yo Mascot icon on top of a book
03

Deepen

Then, we strengthen the foundations.

Depending on your manuscript, this may mean working on: a clearer premise; a stronger protagonist; more active character motivation; stronger scene purpose; more meaningful stakes; writing confidence, etc.

You leave with a story that feels less like a bunch of interesting pieces and more like a book beginning to know what it wants to become.

Inclusions

What is included in
Deep in the Draft

I always try to tailor the program based on the progress and skills of the writer and create an environment where they can develop their craft with gentle directions and hands-on support.

Apply to Deep in the Draft
Early Review

You can send up to 30,000 words of early manuscript material.

This may include opening chapters, selected scenes, a partial draft, outline notes, or a mix of pages and planning materials.
Custom writing workshop

A custom 1-hour workshop focused on one craft area your draft needs most with examples, hands-on rewrites, page guidance, and tailored exercises.

Written story roadmap

covering your story direction, editorial priorities, focus areas, and next draft plan.

4 editorial coaching calls

Four focused 1-hour calls to clarify your story, solve craft problems, and shape your next draft steps.

A woman on a couch using a laptop participating in an online coaching call
Call 1: Story diagnosis

We see where your story stands now and what needs the most attention.

Call 2: Character and pressure

We explore desire, motivation, stakes, conflict, and emotional movement.

Call 3: Structure and scene direction

We look at story shape, scene purpose, pacing, and what the next draft stage needs.

Call 4: Writing roadmap

We see where your story stands now and what needs the most attention.

Story foundation audit

I review your idea, outline, notes, chapters, or partial draft and assess the bones of the story:

what’s working, what needs reshaping, and where to go next.
Personalised Notion dashboard
Tailored Craft Resources
This is for you if…
  • You have an idea, outline, partial draft, or early manuscript.
  • You are still figuring out the shape of the book.
  • You want guidance before writing much further.
  • You keep restarting because something feels unclear.
  • You postpone writing because you are not sure what to do with the plot.
  • You have characters, scenes, or a world, but not yet a strong story spine.
  • You feel overwhelmed by writing advice and need someone to help you apply it.
  • You want honest feedback that does not make you feel like you should have known everything already.
  • You are self-taught, first-time, returning to writing, or writing in English as an additional language and want the process explained clearly.
  • You want to grow your craft while working on your actual book.
This is not the right fit if…
  • You have a complete manuscript and need deep revision support.
  • You want proofreading or copyediting.
  • You want a full line edit.
  • You want someone to write the book for you.
  • You are looking for guaranteed publishing outcomes.
  • You do not want to make changes to the story.
  • You only want quick praise rather than honest direction.
If you already have a complete or mostly complete manuscript, you may be better suited to Mending the Manuscript.
Explore Mending the Manuscript
Yoanna wearing a floral dress smiling brightly at the camera, exuding joy and confidence.

Join Deep in the Draft today!

Let me help you finally write that story you have been thinking about for ages.

Pricing

Investment

The program spans for 6 weeks of sceduled calls, workshop, and review. Working with starting manuscripts of up to 60k words (but if you have more we can discuss a more suitable service for you)

a focused 6 week program
price estimate

$400

words
30,000
30k
60k

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form

Includes:
story foundation audit
review of up to 30,000 words
4 editorial coaching calls
1 custom writing workshop
written story roadmap
personalised Notion dashboard
tailored craft resources
clear next-step writing plan

Apply to Deep in the Draft

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a completed manuscript?

No. Deep in the Draft is specifically designed for writers who do not yet have a completed manuscript.You can come with an idea, outline, partial draft, opening chapters, or early manuscript material.

What if my draft is messy?

Good. Truly. I want messy.This program is for the messy stage. You do not need to clean everything up before getting support. We are looking at the foundations, not pretending the book is already polished.

What if I only have an idea?

That can definitely work. If you only have an idea, we will focus on premise, character, genre promise, story pressure, and your drafting plan.

Will you edit my pages?

This is not a full line edit or copyedit. I will comment on patterns in the writing and offer examples where helpful, but the main focus is story foundation, structure, character, scene direction, and next steps.

Is this suitable for first-time writers?

Yes. This is especially useful for first-time writers who want clear support without being talked down to.You do not need to know all the terminology before we work together. I will explain what matters and why.

Is this suitable if English is not my first language?

Yes. My approach is voice-protective and clarity-focused. The goal is not to erase your voice or make your writing sound generic. The goal is to help the story communicate more clearly and confidently.

What genres do you work with?

This program can support a range of fiction projects. If your manuscript has strong genre expectations, such as fantasy, romance, mystery, historical fiction, or YA, we will discuss how those expectations shape the reader experience.

What happens after Deep in the Draft?

After the program, you may continue drafting independently, move into a self-led writing plan, book another support session later, or eventually move into Level 2: Mending the Manuscript when you have a fuller draft ready for deeper revision.

Still unsure or have more questions?

You can contact me through the form or book a free discovery call where we can discuss your project. For any other inquiries, please drop me an email.

Contact me