First Chapter Challenge
A 14-day guided challenge to help you turn one memory into one real, readable opening chapter. Stop waiting for “someday” and start writing.
You've got the story.
Maybe you’ve started your book a dozen times:
You've got a notes app full of unfinished paragraphs or a journal you keep meaning to turn into your book.
Or perhaps a story you tell out loud better than you’ve been able to write it.
The problem was never that you don’t have a story. The problem is that “write my memoir” is too big a task to actually start.
So it stays a someday project, while the story keeps aging in your head instead of on the page.
You don’t need the whole book right now. You need proof that you can finish a piece of it.
14 days. One chapter. Actually finished.
The First Chapter Challenge is a guided, day-by-day path to complete your opening chapter, built for memoir writers ready to stop circling the idea and start writing the book.
Each day, you get one short prompt (10-15 minutes) that builds toward a real chapter:
• the memory
• the meaning behind it
• the scene itself
• and the polish that makes it readable
No blank page. No guessing what to write about. No outline required before you start.
By day 14, you won’t just have notes about a chapter; you’ll have the chapter.
14 Daily Prompts
Short, focused writing prompts that build into a chapter
Printable Progress Tracker
Check off each day and capture your weekly wins as you go
Line Edit Cheat Sheet
Edit your chapter with confidence using the simple 3-pass method.
This is for you if
You’ve been circling your memoir idea for months (or years) without starting
You have a memory that keeps surfacing, and you’re tired of it just living in your head
You want structure and a deadline, not another empty notebook
You’d rather finish one real chapter than draft a messy manuscript that doesn’t have a framework
This is not for you if
You’re looking for a full manuscript in 14 days (that’s what the Story Architect 12-week course and membership are for)
You want detailed craft instruction on every element of memoir writing
You’re not ready to write, even 10-15 minutes a day
Join the First Chapter Challenge
$27
One payment, the prompts and tracker are yours to keep and use on multiple chapters
FAQ
Do I need writing experience?
No. If you can write for 10-15 minutes a day, you can do this challenge.
What if I fall behind?
The prompts are yours to keep, so you can catch up anytime.
Is this the same as the 12-week course?
No. This challenge gets you one finished chapter. The 12-week course (starting soon!) walks you through creating an outline for your entire book. Many people use this challenge to find out if they’re ready for that next step.
What if I don’t finish a full chapter by day 14?
That’s okay. Even a rough, unfinished draft is more progress than most people make sitting on an idea for years. The structure is there to help you get as far as you can.
How is this different from just journaling?
Journaling is for you. This challenge is built to produce the scene, structure, and a real opening hook. You know, something a reader could really get into.
One Chapter.
Fourteen Days.
No More Someday.
You already know the story you need to share. You’ve probably known it for years.
This is 14 days to finally get it onto the page.
Join the First Chapter Challenge
only $27
