Claire Uncapher

The opening scene introduces the protagonist, setting, tone, and foreshadows primary conflict: Chapter 1: Dear Dreamer Is this what it feels like to be catatonic? I was sitting on my living room couch, staring out the window but I might as well have been staring into outer space. I was completely numb. Am I in shock? Yes, this feels like shock. After what seemed like hours, my mind slowly started revving up, doing mental olympics. It was trying to assess the situation and come up with a solution. But there wasn’t one, of course. Or at least one I wanted to admit. This wasn’t the first time I had fallen after taking a leap of faith. I had done it once before, right after I had left a 14-year marriage. But this time it felt more like a flailing free fall. Or maybe I had just forgotten how jarring this period of uncertainty is; the time when you have stepped out of your old life into a new one, but the new life hasn’t quite taken shape and form yet. That in-between space is like a scary void. The void can be disorienting, to say the least. I knew my mind was reeling; looking and grasping for some sort of certainty, some sign that all was well and that I was safe. But of course, none of those signs were there. Because I wasn’t safe and all wasn’t well. This time I had jumped and landed on my face. I felt so brave when I first leaped out of my safe and secure career to pursue a long-held dream, but I didn’t feel brave anymore. I was broke, struggling to pay my bills, and had been using my savings to make ends meet. And I knew that would run out soon too if things didn’t change. I had to do something, but what? Staring out the window I realized that perhaps going after my dream wasn’t going to be sustainable after all. Something needed to shift, but I didn’t want to face the ugly truth. I knew how it worked. This was the very definition of self-sabotage. I was getting in my own way, I knew it. I was going to have to admit that something in or about me was causing this seemingly insurmountable block. As that thought crossed my mind, all the positivity, belief, and go-get-em attitude was draining out of me and I knew I wasn’t going to be getting it back. This was raw. This was broken. This was rock bottom. This was the moment I had been avoiding. I knew I had to make a choice, but I also knew that I would make the more reckless one. I was going to forge on and not stop until I simply couldn’t go on anymore. I couldn’t go back, that old life, although stable, predictable, and safe, simply wasn’t good enough for me anymore. I needed more and I knew the Dreamer in me wouldn’t let me give up. I’d helped people through this exact state that I was in now, and I was no stranger to it myself. So, I did what I knew would help, I grabbed a piece of paper from the notebook sitting next to me and wrote down the words, “Dear Dreamer”... Dear Dreamer, I’m so confused. I’m not quite sure how I feel about you. On the one hand, you excite me, push me, and give me hope of creating the life and work of my dreams. But on the other hand, I wonder if all you ever give me is false hope or toxic and false positivity. “Go for it”, you said. You put that dream in me, didn’t you? That fire in my belly to coach, help, write, and try to inspire others. To break free from the chains of my 9-5 and the Groundhog Day monotony of my old “safe” career. “Go for it”, you said. “You can do it”. “Live the life you have imagined”, you said. Bringing Thomas Edison’s words into my mind on a more than intermittent basis. That’s great. And hopeful. And exciting. But you neglected to tell me (or maybe you didn’t know) how hard it was going to be. You didn’t tell me about the debt that I’d have to go into in order to get my dream business up and off the ground. Or the hours, days, evenings, nights, and weekends I’d spend working, creating, engaging, marketing, and interacting. You also didn’t mention that my mindset would have to go through upgrade after upgrade. That it would shake me to my core and make me face all my fears and demons. That all of my shadow self would come to the surface to be dealt with. That it would challenge me in a way I had never been challenged before. That I’d have to take a serious look at my habits and even my ways of being. That I’d have to learn how to persevere through failure, rejection, judgment, ridicule, and lack of results. That I’d have to believe in myself and my vision when there was no physical evidence of success to even grasp. You probably didn’t mention those things because if I had known about them I never would have jumped. I never would have even tried. And you knew how unhappy I was and that I needed to go after what I had dreamt of doing for so long in order to feel some sort of purpose and fulfillment. You knew that without purpose and fulfillment, life was boring and directionless for me. You knew that I needed more. I’m not sure I forgive you for failing to mention all those pitfalls I might face. I had to learn the hard way that I was not a victim. If something isn’t working, it’s because of me. It’s not other people, or circumstances, or chance, or the economy. It’s somehow and somewhat because of something I’m doing or not doing. No wonder you didn’t tell me. I wouldn’t have believed you then. And I probably wouldn’t have listened to you either. All this inner and outer work that I’ve had to go through to get as far as I’ve come, I’m not sure I would have done it if I'd known. Don’t get me wrong, I love that you have pushed me toward the path and life that I have always wanted. And you helped me dig deep and find a strength in me that I didn’t even know was there. But, Dreamer, you need to acknowledge the dark side of going after dreams too. It is definitely not all hearts, flowers, and rainbows. You completely ignore that part. You need to acknowledge its work, persistence, and resilience. And your up-in-the-clouds “you can do it, be blind to all of that” approach isn’t always helpful. It only makes me feel like I’m doing it wrong. Or that I’m failing. Because what if I do fail? That’s the question you never let me look at or consider. You distract me whenever I go there. But what if I do? Because failure is a possibility. With your positivity you would probably just tell me that it wouldn’t even really ever be a failure, it would be a lesson. Or a stepping stone to get me to where I needed to go. “Enjoy the journey”, you’d probably say. Here’s what I’m afraid of though. Here’s what I don’t want to know, I don’t want to admit it. I think in order to continue pushing ahead I am going to have to be more like you. I can’t keep going after my dreams in fear, doubt, and negativity. I think I need to become more hopeful and positive like you. I need to not focus on the setbacks, but keep going. Dreaming. Hoping. I’m just afraid to. I’m afraid that in the end, I’ll be disappointed and heartbroken and eventually have to give up. But I do remember looking my husband straight in the eye and telling him that I just had to try. That I would never be okay with not trying. That I had to know. You and him are a lot alike, you know. “Go for it”, he said. The two of you say the same things. I love that in him though, his out-of-the-box approach to life is one of my favorite things about him. So I guess that means I need to love you too and be more like you. The fear just comes in and it can be so crippling. I thought I needed you to stop, but I guess I don’t need you to stop doing what you are doing after all. You are keeping me going. Reminding me that the only people that fail are the ones that give up. You give me strength, hope, and passion. And you know that if I just keep going with more trust, faith, and belief then it will all work out. There’s just this little thing called reality. And fear, doubt, and negativity. I guess that’s who I need to be talking to. But I do need you to acknowledge the struggles of going after dreams. Don’t pretend they aren’t there because they are. I hear you. You’re telling me, “Yes, they are there, but going after and living your dreams, even the journey on your way there, is so, so worth it”. I agree. It is. But I am exhausted from vacillating between doubt and belief, so I might need reminders from time to time when things are hard like they are today. It would just help me out if you could validate and acknowledge my struggles first before you try to give me your pep talk. It makes me feel heard and understood. But okay, let’s keep going. I’m in. Love, Claire

Hi, it's nice to be here! Story Statement: A Transformational and Life Coach struggles as she attempts to break free from her 9 to 5 and step into her true potential and fulfillment and go after a long-held dream. Recognizing self-sabotage and old wounds that need to be addressed, she attempts to mediate and tame her inner conflicting voices through a series of letters to herself. The letters provide a roadmap for readers to engage in conversations with themselves, heal their inner conflicts, and embrace a profound sense of self-acceptance. Antagonists: The antagonists are the conflicting parts of the protagonist herself that are keeping her from aligning with what she truly wants for herself. These antagonists have come to exist within her to keep her safe and help her cope in some way. They all assume a role that they think will take care of her. They each fiercely intend to protect and love her in their way, as they have witnessed her pain, heartbreak, and failures. However, their attempts to love and protect her have failed to produce the intended effect. Instead, they have crippled and blocked her from forward progress as she strives to capture the ever-elusive feeling of contentment she has been searching for. Each antagonist has its own birth story, name, motivation, and objective. For example, The Part Of Me That Secretly Hates The Work Of Motherhood was born when she was overwhelmed, exhausted, and stripped of her freedom. It exists to remind her of the version of herself that existed prior to the constant servicing of little ones, household chores, and a lengthy to-do list. However, its objective is in conflict with her desire to enjoy motherhood and be fully present for her family. (Other antagonists: Wine, Fear, Doubt, Negativity, Depression, Anxiety, Isolation, Guilt, Exhausted, Overbearing, Trauma, On The Sidelines, Disorganized, Worry, and Regrets, Past Self and others. Allies include Dreamer, Go-Getter, Disruptive, Aging Body, My True Nature, and others) Breakout Title: Dear Fear, Doubt, & Negativity: Healing ourselves by becoming aware of and acknowledging all the different parts of us Dear Dreamer: Self-Discovery and mindset tools to live the life of your dreams And They All Fell Down: Unblocking ourselves by silencing our inner critics and saboteurs to achieve our dreams Unblocked: A memoir on breaking free from inner obstacles and saboteurs in order to reach our full potential and achieve our dreams Comparables: Even though I believe my manuscript lands in the “memoir” genre by definition, I describe it as “poetry meets self-help” (definitely not creating my own genre, just a description of A meets B). The story is told through a collection of letters, each part of an overall story, yet can stand on their own like poems, but with a self-help approach. Dear Fear, Doubt, & Negativity speaks to the reader who wants more or is considering (or is already in pursuit of) going after a long-held dream or something better but feels blocked and lost in fear and disempowerment. It is a guide to uplift the reader in order to bring them closer to their goal and portray the mindset that is necessary to get there. The comparables I selected target the same audience and in a similar manner. I chose The Shadow Work Journal by Keila Shaheen and Be Seen: Find Your Voice. Build Your Brand. Live Your Dream. by Jen Gottlieb. Let me explain. Shaheen’s self-help journal, The Shadow Work Journal is #1 on Publisher’s Marketplace Bestseller list for self-published books (at the time of writing this). It is listed as #5 overall in Books, #1 in Dreams (books), #1 in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (books), and #1 in Inner Child (Self-Help) on Amazon. Shadow work is quite popular based on my research for comparables. And like Dear Fear, Doubt, & Negativity, Shaheen encourages readers to dive into their shadows and emerge the best version of themselves. The Shadow Work Journal provides readers with a step-by-step approach to understanding and integrating their shadow aspects through journal prompts. Dear Fear, Doubt, & Negativity has a similar approach through writing letters to self, a form of self-help journaling, as well as a step-by-step and how-to section. Be Seen: Find Your Voice. Build Your Brand. Live Your Dream. by Jen Gottlieb Jen Gottlieb’s book is directed to the reader who feels there is more for them but they feel blocked from reaching their full potential. In her book, Gottlieb gives readers stories and strategies to overcome fear and the hurdles that have been blocking them, inspires bravery and action, and emphasizes the importance of being authentic and embracing unique aspects of yourself and your story to find your voice. She also encourages readers to write letters to their future self. Just released on October 31, 2023, it has reached #15 on the Publisher Weekly Bestseller List and #13 on the USA Today Bestseller List, according to Publisher’s Marketplace. Dear Fear, Doubt, & Negativity targets the same audience as Gottlieb’s Be Seen and Dear Fear, Doubt, & Negativity are both guides to claiming your power and embracing your unique self to reach your full potential. Hook Line: A Transformational and Life Coach struggles as she attempts to break free from her 9 to 5 and step into her true potential and fulfillment. Recognizing self-sabotage and old wounds that need to be addressed, she confronts and battles the inner conflicting voices that are holding her back. Inner Conflict: The protagonist believes she knows how life is supposed to feel and unfold, however, when she steps outside of her comfort zone to go after her dreams and live a different way, she finds herself crippled and blocked by fear, worry, and doubt. All of her shadow self shows itself in full force as she tries to break free from its grip and strive for something better. Hypothetical Scenario regarding Inner Conflict: In her letter, “Dear Worry”, the protagonist confronts Worry, exposing the message that it has been giving her all along as a lie. Worry has been pointing out all the potential bad outcomes to prepare her for any danger ahead and keeps her cautious, grounded, and practical. Ultimately the protagonist realizes and acknowledges that Worry has been trying to keep her safe from failure and rejection. However, to silence Worry, she has to convince it that she will be okay if failure and rejection are indeed the outcome. She reassures Worry as she would a small child, and affirms to it that trying new things that could fail are all part of this adventure that we call life and that in the end, all is well no matter the outcome. Hypothetical Scenario for the Secondary Conflict: After working with a client on addressing her inner conflicts, the protagonist decides to practice what she teaches. She realizes that to truly move forward in her own life, she must address the real problem, the conflicting parts within herself that are holding her back. She has tried pure will, effort, force, hard work, and grit but now she must become aware of and face the real saboteurs to her progress. The protagonist decides to uncover the conflicts that exist within herself and face them with her metaphorical sword drawn, once and for all. Setting: The main setting in these letters to the protagonist’s bad habits and the conflicting parts of her are primarily within herself, within her inner world. This setting draws readers in and allows them to recognize similarities between our inner worlds and voices. If I have learned anything, it is that we all share the same repeating patterns that we are trying to break and are striving for similar versions of things, states, and outcomes. Subsettings include: A bustling coffee shop, where the protagonist helps her good friend confront her fear related to returning to dating after the loss of her husband and a subsequent failed relationship in the middle of our coffee date The beach and pool, where she sits on the sidelines while her husband interacts and plays with their children A cold and snowy night outside of her childhood home where she walked around and around the block. She was lost in tears and despair after just learning her parents were getting a divorce and her world was going to change in ways she couldn’t have known then The stars, sky, clouds, and rainbows where her Dreamer lives A small prison in the middle of a beautiful and green meadow that she continually envisioned herself inside of, unable to get out of the bars on the windows and doors to get to the happiness and connection that other people got to experience.