Reveal the human truth beneath the surface of your story

If you’re working on narrative nonfiction, memoir, or deeply reported storytelling — and you want it to matter — this session is for you.

Matthew O’Brien is known for illuminating hidden worlds with empathy, rigor, and narrative clarity. In this 1:1 session, he works directly with your material to help you uncover the deeper story, sharpen focus, and transform research, reporting, or lived experience into compelling, reader-driven narrative.

This is not formula writing. It’s not shallow polish. It’s story excavation — finding what’s essential, human, and unforgettable in your work.

What You’ll Get

• Big-picture narrative clarity, or what your story is really about and why it matters
• Insight on style, pacing, framing, and narrative arc
• Guidance on voice and tone grounded in empathy and truth
• Strategies for turning facts into story without losing integrity
• Actionable revision you can apply immediately
• 1:1 mentorship from an award-winning narrative journalist and author

Who This Is For

• Narrative nonfiction writers and memoirists
• Journalists transitioning long-form reporting into books
• Authors working with sensitive, complex, or marginalized subjects
• Writers seeking depth, emotional resonance, and literary impact
• Creatives who want honest, intelligent feedback — not clichés

Session Format

• 30-minute and 60-minute private 1:1 session
• Review pages, excerpts, outlines, or reporting notes
• Live, focused, and grounded in your real project
• Will answer questions related to everything from outlining to writing, revising, and placing the manuscript with an agent or publisher
• Leave with clarity, confidence, and a clear path to publishing