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Your child’s story idea could make or break their publishing dream. Here’s how to get it right.
A step-by-step guide to crafting the kind of story concept that agents and publishers actually notice—developed by the writing coaches at The Author Conservatory.
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Your child knows they want to write. They might even have a story floating around in their head or a few novels under their belt. But somewhere between the spark of an idea and a finished manuscript, things get muddy.
Maybe they’ve hit a wall they couldn’t get past.
Maybe something feels off and they can’t name what.
Maybe they’re stuck trying to revise a manuscript that’s just not working.
Here’s what most aspiring authors don’t realize:
The problem usually isn’t their writing. It’s their story idea.
A weak concept creates problems that no amount of revision can fix. A strong one? It gives a writer a foundation to build on.
Here’s the thing nobody tells writers at the beginning of their author journey.
Publishing professionals see hundreds of story pitches every week. The ones that get attention aren’t necessarily the most complicated or the most creative. They’re the ones where the author clearly understands what their story is, who it’s for, and why it matters.
That clarity starts at the concept stage—long before writing chapter one.
At The Author Conservatory, we’ve worked with hundreds of the world’s top young writers. Many of them came to us after years wrestling with manuscripts that just weren’t working. More often than not, it wasn’t because their writing was bad, but because the concept underneath wasn’t built on a solid foundation.
This workbook exists to change that.
We’ve taken the story development process we teach in our college-level program and distilled it into a clear, practical guide that your child can work through in about an hour. This is the method that has led many of our students to agency contracts with top New York City literary agents, publishing deals with Big 5 publishers, and prestigious national writing awards.
By the time your young writer is done, they’ll have a concept worth writing—and a story idea they can actually pitch with confidence.
What’s inside Crafting a Standout Story Idea
A practical, step-by-step workbook developed by the writing coaches and professional editors at The Author Conservatory.
What makes a story idea marketable—without making it generic
The “Familiar + Fresh” Formula
Learn the secret agents and publishers look for in a story pitch: the balance between what readers expect from a genre and what makes your child’s story unlike anything else on the shelf.
They’ll discover:
Why “write what you know” and “write to the market” are both right—and how to do both at once
How to borrow from genre tropes without being predictable or boring
Exercises to reveal the fresh angle that only your young writer can bring to your story
Build your story on a foundation that holds
The Four Core Ingredients of a Stand-Out Concept
A strong story concept has four essential ingredients—and most aspiring authors are missing at least one of them. This section breaks down each one and helps your young writer identify whether their story has what it takes.
They’ll work through:
How to define the story’s audience (and why this matters more than most writers realize)
The protagonist’s external goal—what they want, why they can’t have it, and what’s getting in the way
The character arc—the internal journey that makes readers fall in love with the protagonist
Setting and genre—how the world a story takes place in shapes everything else
Put it all together in 250 words or less
The Concept Template
This plug-and-play template helps writers organize everything they’ve brainstormed into a clear, compelling story concept—the kind they could pitch to an agent in an elevator or include in a query letter. We include multiple finished examples across different genres so writers can see exactly what a strong concept looks like.
By the end of the workbook, they’ll have:
A working story concept they’re genuinely excited about
A pitch-ready summary of their story that they can use in query letters and conversations
Clarity on what they need to develop next to move the story forward
Want to Take It a Step Further?
For your young writer, working through a story concept on their own is powerful. Getting personally guided through the process by a professional? That’s where things really start to move.
That’s why we’re offering an optional add-on: a 30-minute one-on-one coaching call with Mollie Reeder, professional editor and writing instructor at The Author Conservatory
Meet the coach
Mollie Reeder
Mollie is a novelist and developmental editor with deep roots in the publishing industry.
Her independently published novel, The Electrical Menagerie, received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly—a distinction earned by fewer than 10 percent of books reviewed. She also brings a background in screenwriting and film production.
As a developmental editor at The Author Conservatory, Mollie regularly evaluates student manuscripts. She has a gift for seeing what a story needs and communicating it in a way that’s honest and encouraging.
In your child’s 30-minute coaching call, Mollie will:
- Review the concept they’ve been putting together
- Tell them what’s working and what needs strengthened
- Help them identify their most important next steps
This is the kind of feedback that used to require an expensive conference pitch or a private editor costing hundreds of dollars. We’re making it accessible to young writers because we believe every one of them deserves the chance to get real, professional input early in their journey.
Choose the right option for your child:
Workbook
Their first step toward a story worth writing
Crafting a Standout Story Idea
The Familiar + Fresh formula for a marketable concept
Deep-dive instruction on all four core story ingredients
Plug-and-play concept template with examples
Bonus example concepts across multiple genres
Bonus brainstorming exercises throughout
$27
Workbook + Coaching
Do the work with expert guidance
Crafting a Standout Story Idea
PLUS: 30-minute coaching call with Mollie Reeder
Get everything inside the workbook, plus:
Professional help on putting together a story concept
Honest assessment of their concept’s strengths and gaps
Personalized next steps for their specific project
A chance to ask questions directly to a working editor
$77
(normally $147 value)
After purchase, you’ll receive a link to schedule your young writer’s call at your convenience.
7 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
We’re confident that you’ll have a fantastic experience. That’s why we want to take the risk on ourselves: If for any reason you’re not satisfied with this offer, you can contact us within 7 days of purchase (or within 7 days of the call, if you select that option) for a full refund.
Is this workbook right for your child?
This is a great fit if your child is…
A fiction writer (any genre) who’s ready to get serious about their story
A writer who keeps starting manuscripts and getting stuck—or not starting at all
An aspiring author who wants to understand what agents and publishers actually look for
A writer who has an idea but isn’t sure if it’s strong enough to carry a full novel
A student or teen writer who wants to pursue publishing and needs a clear first step
This might not be the right fit if your child…
Is writing poetry or non-fiction (not genre fiction)
Has no interest in publishing their book someday
Is looking for help with grammar and prose rather than making sure they’re writing the right book in the first place
Is confident they already know everything there is to know about the publishing industry
About the Author Conservatory
The Author Conservatory is a three-year college alternative program for aspiring Christian fiction writers ages 17–25. Our students work directly with published authors, professional editors, and successful entrepreneurs to build the craft and career skills needed for a sustainable writing life.
This workbook was developed by our faculty—the same team that guides our students through the full journey from first draft to agent-ready manuscript.
Your questions answered
Is this workbook appropriate for teen writers?
Absolutely. The workbook was designed with young writers in mind—the content is clear, practical, and accessible whether a writer is 14 or 24. The concepts and techniques are the same ones we teach in our college-level program, presented in a format any serious writer can work through.
What genres does this cover?
The workbook focuses on fiction writing across all genres—fantasy, contemporary, historical, science fiction, romance, and more. The principles apply regardless of which genre an aspiring author is writing in.
How long will it take to complete?
Most writers can work through the core exercises in one focused sitting of about an hour. Some will want to take more time to brainstorm and develop ideas—that’s completely fine. It’s up to each writer.
What happens after I purchase the coaching call add-on?
After checkout, you’ll receive a link to schedule your child’s 30-minute call with Mollie at a time that works for them. We recommend your child completes the workbook before the call so they can get the most out of this time together.
Is this something my teen can do on their own?
Yes. The workbook is self-guided and designed for independent use. That said, working through it together can be a great way to understand your writer’s process and goals.
Is there a refund policy?
We’re confident that you’ll have a fantastic experience. That’s why we want to take the risk on ourselves: If for any reason you’re not satisfied with this offer, you can contact us within 7 days of purchase (or within 7 days of the call, if you select that option) for a full refund.
Your child’s story is worth telling well. Start here.
Every published novel started with a story concept. The authors who get there aren’t necessarily the most talented—they’re the ones who learned what makes a story work, and built their manuscript on that foundation.
This workbook is your young writer’s first step.
Workbook
Their first step toward a story worth writing
Crafting a Standout Story Idea
The Familiar + Fresh formula for a marketable concept
Deep-dive instruction on all four core story ingredients
Plug-and-play concept template with examples
Bonus example concepts across multiple genres
Bonus brainstorming exercises throughout
$27
Workbook + Coaching
Do the work with expert guidance
Crafting a Standout Story Idea
PLUS: 30-minute coaching call with Mollie Reeder
Get everything inside the workbook, plus:
Professional feedback on their completed story concept
Honest assessment of their concept’s strengths and gaps
Personalized next steps for their specific project
A chance to ask questions directly to a working editor
$77
After purchase, you’ll receive a link to schedule your young writer’s call at your convenience.
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