Is Your Manuscript a Beautiful Mess?
Twelve years ago, I made a foolish, foolish decision that changed everything when I bought a 1950s jackrabbit shack in the Mojave Desert. I noted its oddly placed windows but chalked them off to pure desert rat whimsy. But as I took time to explore the cabin and the property, I discovered the windows’ brilliance: Each one perfectly frames mature Joshua tree groves and one in particular captures stunning sunset views. That unknown builder hadn't made mistakes—they’d seen and leveraged the landscape’s hidden potential.
This desert revelation taught me so much about book structure, long before a collaborator dubbed me “Queen of Everything.” Now when authors feel overwhelmed by their scattered ideas, I look for the hidden logic already there, like my desert maison’s quirky windows that perfectly frame some of the oddest, most unique, and striking trees on earth.
Your “Weird” Elements Are Your Book’s Windows
Many authors worry they can’t force their manuscripts into cookie-cutter structures without losing what makes their message special. Whether I partner with authors seeking traditional publishers or offbeat individuals ready to forge their own path, I take that concern seriously—but seek to ensure that “unique” doesn't mean unsellable or unreadable.
The best books, like my desert maison, have their own inherent logic. When clients say, “I don’t know what matters most,” or “My ideas are all over the place,” I don't see chaos—I see undiscovered architecture waiting for the right royal eye.
How the Queen Works: 3 Steps for Finding Your Book’s Natural Structure
1. Identify Your Joshua Tree Groves
What expertise deserves special framing? Instead of cramming everything into generic chapters, find the knowledge clusters that make readers stop and pay attention.
Try this: List your top 5 insights. What stories or examples make each one unforgettable?
2. Discover Your Hidden Views
Which perspectives offer the most compelling vistas for readers? Sometimes your “tangents” are actually the most powerful parts of your story.
Try this: What do people always ask you about? Those questions reveal what readers really want to see.
3. Follow Your Natural Flow
How can insights be positioned to create refreshing movement through complex material? Your ideas already have a rhythm—we just need to find it.
Try this: Tell your story out loud to a friend. Notice where you naturally pause, speed up, or dive deeper.
When Your Beautiful Mess Needs the Queen’s Touch
Your scattered ideas aren’t the problem—forcing them into the wrong framework is. Sometimes you need someone who can spot the Joshua trees among the chaos and help you frame them perfectly.
Like those oddly placed windows that seemed random but captured the desert’s most stunning views, your book's unconventional elements might be exactly what makes it brilliant.
Ready to discover your manuscript’s hidden architecture? Let's explore what seemingly “off” elements might actually be your greatest strengths. Contact me to uncover the brilliant structure that’s already there.
Elizabeth Smith is a ghostwriter, developmental editor, and book strategist with two decades of publishing experience—and a southpaw with a mean right hook. Between her NYC boxing gym and Mojave Desert maison, she helps thinkers, creatives, and organizations articulate their ideas through books that resonate deeply. Ready to transform your vision into a book with impact? Let's connect.
