Stop sabotaging your storyline and perfect your plot today.
Are you tired of struggling with plot threads that feel more complicated than a trigonometry textbook?
Is your plot leaving beta readers confused—or worse, putting them to sleep? Plotting a novel can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what’s missing. With the right guidance, you can pinpoint the weak links and create a more absorbing, well-balanced storyline.
Authors unknowingly hinder their plots for several reasons:
❌ Lack of experience: Writing a novel is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Many writers aren’t aware of their plotting mistakes until after spending hundreds of dollars on an editor.
❌ Rushing the writing process: Writers may feel pressured to finish their manuscript quickly, especially if they are on a deadline. This can result in hasty plot decisions.
❌ Lack of planning: Some authors start writing without a clear outline, or they change their minds midway through the story. This can lead to a plot that wanders or lacks direction.
❌ Focusing on style over substance: While style and voice are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of plot. Writers who focus too much on style may neglect other important elements of their work.
Making mistakes is a natural part of the writing process. The key is to recognize these mistakes and fix them during the editing stage.
What if you could . . .
☑️ Learn what plotting pitfalls to avoid in developing your story?
☑️ Gain insights from an author and editor with over 30 years of industry experience?
☑️ Strike the fine balance between predictability and believability when crafting your plot?
COncise and Well-Illustrated
“It was useful to have a clear overview of major areas to check. The video lessons were concise and well-illustrated with examples.” Sean Bellairs
Introducing Perfect Your Plot: Common Story Development Mistakes and How to Overcome Them, a mini-course designed to help you craft compelling plots that leave your readers wanting more.
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this course will show you how to steer clear of common plotting errors and improve your storytelling. As both an author and freelance developmental editor, I’ve worked with many writers to identify the missteps that can undermine a plot. I’m here to help you avoid those pitfalls and write stories that leave a lasting impact.
Here’s a sneak peek of the lessons.
☑️ Lesson 1 – Everyone Makes Mistakes . . . Right? We’ll explore how your characters can sometimes lead you astray despite your best intentions.
☑️ Lesson 2 – Maybe No One Will Notice . . . Discover the dangers of skimping on research, what subjects are overlooked the most, and how the results can ruin your book.
☑️ Lesson 3 – Glossing Only Looks Good On Lips 👄 We’ll tackle how leaving out important details makes your story in desperate need of a makeover.
☑️ Lesson 4 – Hey, That’s Not Fair! You’ll delve into what it means to play fair with readers and how breaking their trust can be disastrous.
☑️ Lesson 5 – Wait A Minute . . . What? Explore the fine balance of avoiding predictability while keeping your story believable.
☑️ Lesson 6 – But It Really Happened That Way. Is your stubbornness hurting your novel? Find out in this lesson.
☑️ Lesson 7 – Recap And Final Thoughts. Use the downloadable tools to assess your plot for weaknesses.
By the end of the course, you’ll know how to spot plot weaknesses before writing yourself into a corner or paying an editor to catch issues you could have fixed on your own.
Here is what’s waiting for you inside of the classroom.
☑️ 7 video lessons with closed captions, featuring practical examples and insights inspired by actual editorial letters
☑️ Cheat sheet recap so that you can check for plot holes in every manuscript you write
☑️ Actionable worksheet that guides you through evaluating your story for plot flaws
Hello! I’m Stacy Juba.
Through my online courses and freelance developmental editing services, I provide practical tools to help writers develop and polish their stories and get organized with their writing career.
I’m also a mom of two and have more than 700 books on my Kindle, an obsession with the TV show Supernatural, and a fascination with office supplies and planners.
I created Perfect Your Plot after noticing that many of the manuscripts I edit tend to fall into the same plot pitfalls. Plot holes and structural issues can sneak up on even the most experienced writers, but most mistakes fall into specific, fixable categories. My goal with this course is to help you identify those areas so you can approach your story with the mindset of an editor.
As both a published author and an editor, I’ve been on both sides of the desk. I’ve reworked many of my own storylines, so I know firsthand the challenges of creating a tight, compelling plot. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned to help you make your story the best it can be!
Follow my simple 3-step framework to identify plot holes
Watch the videos.
Get an overview of the most common plotting mistakes in 7 short videos filled with examples.
Review the cheat sheets.
Refer to the PDF recap as you read through your manuscript pages, hunting for plot weaknesses.
Fill out the worksheet.
As you review your story for each type of flaw, use the worksheet to make notes on what needs revising.
Testimonials for my courses
SHORT AND INSIGHTFUL
“I learned more than expected in such a short period of time. I found the material easy to comprehend and helpful in ways I wasn’t expecting. It has left me eager to go through my current WIP and fix a few issues that were pointed out. Will definitely be recommending this mini-course.” Maegan Fielder
Priceless!
“The emotions cheat sheet will be a valuable resource in my edit of this novel and especially in the second that is in progress. The section on how to use the cheat sheets is a valuable resource in and of itself. Of course the actual sheets on each emotion are priceless. They went into areas that I had never considered when I wrote my first novel.” Daryle Lefler
Will keep my imagination flowing.
“Having the toolkit at my disposal will give me material to reference back to and keep my imagination flowing. It will be a huge relief to not stop my writing process to ponder over how to describe nonverbal communication. I look forward to adding my own notes to the new binder I’ve just added to my shelf.” M.F. Adele
Staggering!
“The completeness of the attachment file is staggering. There’s something for every emotion!” J.T. Rath
Useful tool!
“Now that I am at the editing phase, I will be looking to replace my ‘telling’ with ‘showing’, thanks to this course and Cheat Sheets. Thank you for putting together such a useful tool to add to my toolkit!” Bobbie Carlton-Hess
Keeps your writing fresh and unique
“I appreciate the organized emotion lists. These definitely make writing faster and more engaging. It’s easy to get lazy with writing, especially when an idea is desperately trying to get out with lightning speed. This tool keeps your writing fresh and unique.” USA Today Bestselling Author Amy Proebstel
Are you ready to fix those plot problems? Enroll today for only:
$47
You're protected by the Shortcuts for Writers No-Hassle Guarantee.
Perfect Your Plot comes with a 100% money-back guarantee, so your purchase is risk-free.
There’s a good reason clients and students describe me as generous, professional, enthusiastic, and insightful—it’s because I put tremendous care into every course and stand behind everything I teach.
If you go through the lessons and feel the course didn’t deliver the guidance promised, just email us within 7 days and you’ll get a full refund.
If you request a refund, we will ask you for feedback on how the course didn’t meet your expectations, so we can improve our marketing messaging in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is this course best suited for?
A. This course is ideal for fiction writers who want to identify and fix common plot problems. It’s especially helpful for writers who feel their story is confusing, unbalanced, or not working as well as it could.
Q. My book isn't finished yet. Should I wait to take the course?
A. No. Many writers take this course while drafting to avoid common plotting mistakes early, while others use it during revisions to diagnose and fix existing plot issues.
Q. How is this different from other plotting courses or books?
A. This course focuses on common story development mistakes seen by editors, using real-world examples and practical checklists rather than abstract theory or rigid plotting formulas.
Q. Is this course more helpful for planning or revising a plot?
A. The course can be used for both. Writers often use it while revising to spot weaknesses, but the concepts also help when planning or evaluating a story in progress.
Q. What will I learn inside the course?
A. You’ll learn how to recognize common plot pitfalls, evaluate balance and believability, and identify weak links in your story using short video lessons, a cheat sheet, and a guided worksheet.
Q. What happens once I purchase, and how long do I have access?
A. Purchases will be made through the Shortcuts for Writers Thrivecart Learn platform. You will receive two emails: an invoice and a message directing you to set up a password. Then you will be granted access to the classroom where you will find the lessons, videos, and downloadable files. You’ll have lifetime access, so you can revisit the lessons whenever you start a new project.
Q. Can I share this course with my writer friends or clients?
A. You’re welcome to share a link where they can buy the course. You can even join the affiliate program and get a commission on sales. However, you may not share your purchase or distribute copies of the Perfect Your Plot content with anyone else who has not yet purchased it. You can read the full Terms & Conditions here.
By downloading, printing, or otherwise using our products or content for personal use, you in no way assume any ownership rights of the content—it is still company property. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of any materials found in the program or content shall constitute infringement.
Join Perfect Your Plot today and discover the power of well-developed plotlines.
Unlock instant access to:
☑️ 7 video lessons with closed captions, featuring practical examples and insights inspired by actual editorial letters
☑️ Cheat sheet recap so that you can check for plot holes in every manuscript you write
☑️ Actionable worksheet that guides you through evaluating your story for plot flaws
Don’t let plot mistakes hold you back. Join Perfect Your Plot: Common Story Development Mistakes and How to Overcome Them and learn how to write novels that leave a lasting impression.
Disclaimer: Shortcuts for Writers doesn’t promise any specific results as a result of purchasing this training (eg – you have to put in the work) and any results, testimonials, or figures quoted on this page are not intended to imply guaranteed financial gains. I present testimonials and insights about other people’s experiences with my program for purposes of illustration only. They are not intended to represent or guarantee that current or future clients will achieve the same or similar results; rather, these testimonials represent what is possible for illustrative purposes only.
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Terms & Conditions: You have 7 days starting the day after payment is received to preview the course material before your refund period expires. If you request a refund after the 7-day period, your request will be denied. Please read the full terms and conditions for this course here.