Narrative design with a defined scope.

Character Architecture

Characters should generate story, not merely occupy it.

I develop psychologically grounded characters whose motives, contradictions, relationships, voice, and behavioral logic remain coherent as the story around them grows.

The work connects internal conflict and formative history to present choices: what a character wants, what they need, how they respond under pressure, and what can credibly change them. Relationship structures, arc logic, and dialogue guidance make those decisions usable beyond a single scene.

The result is a working character framework for future scenes, writers, revisions, and continued development.

Engagements begin at $3,500. Scope depends on the cast, depth of development, existing material, and intended use.

Narrative Development

A strong premise still needs a structure capable of carrying it.

I take established characters, canon, conflicts, and creative intent and develop the structure through which an audience experiences them.

This can encompass story architecture, scene development, dialogue, relationship progression, conflict escalation, sequencing, and branching narrative. Pacing and voice are considered alongside the requirements of the medium and the material already in place.

The objective is work that remains faithful to the project while advancing its intent, supported by a clear rationale for the decisions that shape it.

Engagements begin at $7,000. The proposal defines the writing, development, and revision responsibility.

World & IP Architecture

For properties intended to become larger than a single story.

A world designed to support continued storytelling requires more than accumulated lore.

I develop the infrastructure that connects its systems, factions, institutions, conflicts, histories, rules, terminology, and character relationships. Canon boundaries and continuity references distinguish established decisions from open questions, giving future development a coherent foundation.

The work is designed for the property’s intended future and the people who will need to use it.

Engagements begin at $14,000. Comprehensive universe bibles, interconnected systems, and long-term development programs are scoped by proposal.

How an engagement works

01 / Project Truth

Establish what the project is, what already exists, and what its next stage requires. We examine intent, audience, medium, canon, constraints, and unresolved creative decisions.

02 / Scope

Define deliverables, exclusions, milestones, review rounds, client inputs, decision-making responsibility, and fees. Rights, confidentiality, and permitted use are addressed in the agreement before development begins.

03 / Architecture

Develop the agreed character, story, or world systems. Reviews connect creative choices to the brief, with a named decision-maker and consolidated feedback. Changes to scope are agreed before additional work proceeds.

04 / Continuity

Test the work against established canon, internal logic, voice, and intended use. Resolve contradictions and document the decisions that future development needs to preserve.

05 / Handoff

Deliver the agreed materials with supporting rationale, continuity references, and outstanding decisions in a form suited to the next stage of development.

Investment follows responsibility.

Starting fees establish the entry point for a defined engagement. Final proposals reflect the depth of development, complexity of the material, review requirements, and responsibility carried by the work.

Multiphase programs can be structured around clear deliverables and decision points. Comprehensive work is priced for its scope rather than constrained to a fixed package.

Discuss a project

Share the medium, current stage, creative challenge, target milestones, and working budget. A concise overview is enough to begin; confidential source material can follow once sharing arrangements are agreed.

adam@adammaguilera.com