Meet Stacy–Writing Coach and Developmental Editor.

Hi, I’m Stacy Juba.  

I’m a creative writing coach, developmental editor, and the person writers go to when they’re stuck between drafts, agonizing over every page, and wondering if their story is even salvageable.

I’ve been where you are—with messy rough drafts, an endless to-do list, and doubts about whether your writing is “good enough” to stand out. I know how overwhelming the writing life can feel. Over the past three decades, I’ve developed solutions that make writing and editing less intimidating and more manageable.

My approach blends honesty with encouragement. I’ll point out what needs work, but always in a constructive, supportive way that leaves you motivated to keep going. My goal is to help you bring out the best in your stories, get organized, and reach your potential.

Work With a Writing Coach Who Understands the Journey

I didn’t choose to write. It chose me. I started writing fiction in third grade and never stopped. Stories became my escape from the chaos of the real world and gave an introverted girl a voice.

But the path wasn’t easy. At times, I questioned whether my publishing dreams were worth the blood, sweat, and tears. However, those highs and lows became lessons. They influenced the way I now mentor others as a creative writing coach who gets both the struggles and the triumphs.

Milestones From My Writing Career

• Won the Malice Domestic Grant for mystery writers, which took me to the Agatha Awards banquet and led to lifelong writing friendships. 

• Published multiple novels across genres, including Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Fooling Around With Cinderella.

• Saw my books hit bestseller lists, climb to the top of the Kindle and Nook charts, and come to life as audiobooks.

• Collaborated with my dad to publish The Flag Keeper—one of my most memorable accomplishments.

Setbacks That Shaped My Teaching Style

• Grappled with intense rewrites as a teen under contract, terrified of losing my advance.

• Endured years of rejection letters, including a blunt “stop submitting” note from a publisher.

• Waited nine months for a verdict on a manuscript, only to have it declined.

• Saw a project shelved after an acquisitions editor left the industry.

• Survived a nerve-wracking first author panel, saved by Sue Grafton’s reassuring nod.

Why I Became a Writing Coach

These experiences showed me what it takes not only to finish books, but also to persevere through rejection, rewrites, and self-doubt—insights I now share with my editing clients and the students in my courses. As I edited more manuscripts and spent time in writing groups, I noticed something:

• Writers were spending money on editing before their drafts were ready.

• Critique partners were swapping feedback, but without the tools to offer real insight.

• Many writers needed more guidance than I could give in just one round of edits.

That’s what led me to create courses like Book Editing Blueprint, the Energize Your Writing Toolkit, and Inside Voices—to teach the exact things I had to learn the hard way.

As I got to know my students and clients, I saw they were facing more than just editing challenges. They were struggling with:

• Believing they weren’t “real writers”

• Feeling pulled in too many directions

• Worrying their book would never be done

I’d wrestled with all those same fears, and that led me to create resources like The Organized Author and The Vision Board Toolkit for Writers. I wanted to help authors build a sustainable path forward—not just for their books, but for their belief in themselves.

Every course and service I offer was designed to give writers the clarity, encouragement, and structure I wish I’d had earlier in my career. 

A Few Fun Facts About Me

• Obsessed with planners, journals, and pens.

• Implemented a strict rule in my car: no changing the station when Bon Jovi plays!

• Watched all 15 seasons of Supernatural in one year (yes, I cried at the finale).

• Grew up wanting to be Nancy Drew, which led me to write mystery stories.

• Love theme parks so much that I created one in my Storybook Valley books.

• Became a diehard ice hockey fan as a teen and even wrote a YA hockey novel because I couldn’t find one to read.

Feeling Stuck? Here’s How I Can Help With Your Writing Goals 

More than 200 editing clients and 5,000 students have trusted me to guide their stories, and I’d be honored to support you with yours.