We Tell Stories that Make the World a Better Place

Books · Story Strategy · Brand Messaging · Training Resources · Digital Learning · Platform Growth 

We Tell Stories that Make the World a Better Place

Strategy & Brand Messaging · Books · Training Resources · Digital Learning · Platform Growth 

What’s Your Story?

Every person has a dream.

Every organization has a message.

Every company has a vision.

We call it… Your Story.

And we believe your story matters.

Story Success Partner

We come alongside you as architects and artisans to clarify your story then design and execute a sustainable plan to achieve your unique goals.

A Like-Minded Guide

We don’t just crank out digital widgets. We build authentic relationships and empower you to do the same through compelling content.

Connect with People

We’re not trying to fit you into a box. We listen intently and stay connected to craft the best StoryStrategy for you.

How We Empower You

Books

We love books. We plan them, write them, salvage them when they go off the rails, edit, and even shepherd them into print. We can write books for you, coach you through them, and even publish them.  

Story Strategy

We come alongside organizations and influencers as story-telling architects to craft a winning communications and messaging strategy for your brand. We deliver the strategy for you to use or we can execute it as story artisans to meet your needs.

Brand Messaging

We help you get clarity on your BrandStory and create compelling messaging that connects with your audience. We can also help craft a strategy for monetizing your intellectual property (IP) or marketing by leveraging compelling content. And yes, we create awesome websites, too.

 Training Resources

Our experience in both education, business, and ministry positions us to create compelling learning and training experiences for the business and ministry world—for both individual consultants looking to scale and Fortune 500 or non-profit organizations needing to equip a team. 

Digital Learning

We provide comprehensive solutions for online learning experiences from architecting the learning experience and curriculum to scripting, video production, printable resources, and set up of your e-learning platform. 

Platform Growth

Produce. Publish. Repurpose. We’re the partners every influencer or organization needs to create compelling content that attracts people then leads them into deeper engagement via email, social media, video, podcasting—you name it. 

Want to Write & Publish a Book?

We’re your one-stop-shop for everything to do with books—planning, drafting, editing, printing, and strategic promotion.

  • Want to write? We’ll help you publish under your own imprint with our Simple Self-Publishing Service.
  • Need help writing? We’ve got your back with our one-on-one StoryCoaching Service.
  • Not a writer? Not a problem. Let us capture your voice and turn your book dream into reality with our proven StoryCreation Service.
  • Need a custom approach? We can do that, too.

We’ll help you choose the best publishing path—self-publishing, a professional proposal to a traditional publisher, or a hybrid publishing approach with one of our own imprints.

We Craft the Strategy & Create Compelling Content

So… What Is “Content” Anyways?

It all starts with intentional strategy, not just haphazardly cranking out digital widgets, hoping something will work. Only then can we create content that is compelling. Think of your story as paint we pour into different buckets, each with its own unique color. Books, online learning experiences, scripts, videos, speeches, training materials, curriculum, PDFs, email opt-ins, posts—the “colors” are limited only by technology and imagination.

What Makes Content “Compelling”?

Our proven approach isn’t for everyone. Our BrandStory Approach is the foundation on which we create.

If your message matters enough to get it right, we can help you communicate in a way that resonates.

We leverage timeless story-telling techniques with fresh, engaging approaches to connect with people and empower them to take action.

How Do You “Create” Content?

It’s magic. Well, not really… but we are super intentional about bringing fresh ideas and original perspectives to every project. We even structure our workdays to protect time to focus and foster creativity.

Every piece of content we create gets filtered through our StoryBuilders Content Framework—a blend of art, science, and innovation (plus a little pixie dust!).

  • 1 — ATTENTION

    It’s a noisy world. You’re competing with a gazillion other voices. You need to draw your audience in, but… be authentic. Avoid the “slapstick approach.” Know your audience. Adjust to fit your medium.

  • 2 — Tension

    Don’t run from the problem. Amplify it. Spotlight it. Call it out. Pull people forward with positive conflict. Be sure to use your audience’s own words and create psychological “open loops.”

  • 3 — CONNECTION

    This is your chance to go deeper with your audience. Show empathy. Say, “I get it.” Tell your story to establish your expertise. Answer the question: Who cares? And tap into deeper significance.

  • 4 — SOLUTION

    It’s time to deliver the goods—the heart of your content. Build up to your solution. Give your solution a memorable name. Close the “open loop.”

  • 5 — ACTION

    As Zig Ziglar said, “You have to make the ask.” What do you want people to do next? Be intentional and clear. Make the ask. Remove barriers for a friction-free experience.

Trusted By

What People Are Saying

StoryBuilders is always so easy to work with to create compelling content of all sorts. Even with my busy schedule, they come alongside and help tell my stories and share my brand message in a way that really brings things to life! Then they assemble it all with the excellence my brand requires.”

  —Kevin Harrington

Xponential Entrepreneur, original shark from the hit TV show Shark Tank

“I worked with Bill and his team as they developed a new workshop for The John Maxwell Company. I found him and StoryBuilders to be highly professional with very high standards of excellence and exceptionally easy to work with. The resource they developed was outstanding. I highly recommend Bill.”

—Charlie Wetzel

Writing Partner with John C. Maxwell

“StoryBuilders is a gifted organization. They’re extremely collaborative and excel at working with a diverse team of subject matter experts, salespeople, and executive stakeholders to take their input, infuse their own creativity, and deliver a world-class product.”

  —David Hoyt

Former President, The John Maxwell Company

 “I highly recommend StoryBuilders as creative partners. I trust them to always steer us in the right direction. Bill and his team truly take the stress out of the process of collaborative writing, content strategy, and platform development.”

—Mark Timm

CEO Xponential Inc.,

Director of Product Operations, Ziglar Inc.

“Bill and StoryBuilders were able to help me capture my voice and write with my voice, and their experience at putting books together made the process so less intimidating. They understood the big picture and ideas I wanted to capture, made the process painless, and helped me meet all deadlines. Then Bill and his team went beyond that and helped market and promote the book with efforts that rivaled those of the publisher.”

  —Erick Erickson

Former Editor-in-Chief of RedState.com, Host of Atlanta Evening News & The Erick Erickson Show, Founder of TheResurgent.com

Our Core Values

  • Creativity

    Because we value creativity, we intentionally think differently. We always dare to ask what if before figuring out how to.

    “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” –Walt Disney

  • Excellence

    Because we value excellence, we always go all out and never settle for good enough.

    “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” –Booker T. Washington

  • Authenticity

    Because we value authenticity, we always stay true to who we are and do what we say we will do.

    “Authenticity is a trust accelerant.” –Bill Blankschaen

  • Relationships

    Because we value relationships, we always put people before profit and listening before action.

    “First seek to understand, then to be understood.” –Stephen R. Covey

  • Balance

    Because we value life balance, we always prioritize healthy, holistic living to achieve sustainable success for our team and their families.

    “A man should never neglect his family for business.”–Walt Disney

Our StoryBuilders Team

Bill Blankschaen

Chief StoryArchitect

Bill is a storyteller—writer, author, and entrepreneur.  An experienced author and collaborative author, Bill has written numerous books, developed brand strategy for influencers and organizations, and created engaging online experiences. He is passionate about helping people live a story worth telling. He loves visiting his second home Walt Disney World with family and friends (and has been known to write on Tom Sawyer Island from time to time).

Jesse Barnett

StoryDirector · Writer

As a lover of words, Jesse sculpts words on pages that inform, entertain, and inspire. His hope is that each word compels you to turn the page. He strives to convey your message in a tone that matches your story but with his own creative twist.

His top two values are integrity and family. He holds himself to the highest standards personally and professionally. He is passionate about building stronger marriages and families.

Jenifer Truitt

StoryArchitect · Writer & Editor

As a former English teacher affectionately referred to as “Grammar Queen” by her students,  Jen serves as a gifted editor and writer for our team. She is also an accomplished personal development and fitness coach who enjoys helping people discover how they can achieve the life they dream of living. Traveling (except in 2020), reading, and spending as much time as possible outdoors are Jen’s favorite ways to spend her weekends.

Sarah Boukal

StoryArchitect · Writer & Editor

Sarah has always been a lover of people watching, learning about other’s lives and their stories in particular. Along her journey to find her passion and purpose in life, Sarah discovered a love and natural talent in writing. As part of the StoryBuilders team she has the platform upon which she can bring these stories to life as a StoryArchitect.

When she isn’t sharing her creativity with the team, and their StoryPartners, Sarah loves spending time with her husband, three kids, three dogs, and various other family critters. She adores getting lost in books—everything from bible studies, historical fiction, murder mysteries and romances. On her days off, she escapes to local wineries and breweries with her husband to try new tasty wines and craft beer.

Marianne Evans

StoryArchitect · Writer & Editor

Marianne is a lover of books and the people who write them. She loves helping encourage and guide writers and educating and inspiring readers, and writing good books that connect the two.

It is her privilege as a StoryArchitect to help smart people share their messages with their audiences through well-chosen words and meaningful stories. When she’s not writing for work or working on her writing, Marianne is a busy wife and mother of three, an entrepreneur, and a budding gardener.

Akemi Cole

StoryGuide · Project Leader

With a background in journalism and a passion for teamwork, Akemi loves working with people, hearing their stories, and especially how their stories are told. With over 20 years of experience working for clients like the John Maxwell Company, she has done it all, from event planning and graphic design, to voiceovers and audio editing.

When she’s not coming up with new ideas and creative ways for people to communicate more effectively, Akemi loves spending time with her family, being outside, listening to music, and hearing people laugh.

Britt Jackson

Executive Assistant to Bill Blankschaen

Britt is a operations specialist with 18 years in the administrative field. She enjoys building relationships with StoryPartners, managing Bill’s calendar, and providing support to the StoryBuilders team in many capacities.

Her personal hobbies include reading, learning new skills, quality time with her family and spending Saturdays in Athens, Ga. Go dawgs!

Nichole Canniff

StoryConductor · Project Manager

Nichole believes everyone has a purpose and hers is to help teams behind the scenes. As an avid reader, she believes in the power of books and how we have the ability to reach hundreds if not thousands of people literally at our fingertips.

She loves to learn and is multi-passionate with interests in operations, publishing and creative marketing/designing.

When she is not working to push projects forward backstage, she is doing one of three things: spending time with her husband and 6 kids; helping with the leadership at her Church or her nose is in her next book.

Christy Anderson

StoryArtisan · Publishing Specialist

Christy is a former archivist and assistant professor who has published and presented for academic publications and conferences. She has over 20 years of experience as a freelance journalist, photographer, and food and travel writer. She curates and creates digital content as well. Christy enjoys research, especially in and around cultural heritage and food anthropology.

When the weather’s nice, Christy loves traveling and kayaking with her sons. She also enjoys helping others in researching and writing their family history.

William Blankschaen

StoryArtisan · Writer & Editor

A writer with a passion for culture, community, and missions work, he has had the pleasure of lending his skills to numerous organizations. Having worked in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Constituent Consultant, for SonCoast Procurement as a Sales Representative to the U.S. Military, and as an Associate Justice and Resident Assistant at Liberty University, William brings an array of experience to our team.

His drive to excel, promote, and ensure the highest quality of content for our Story Partners, he demonstrates his ethic of providing the best results on whatever project he is helping with.

Nita Gess

StoryArtisan · Writer & Editor

Stories have been a part of Nita’s life for as long as she can remember. People’s stories are her favorite. With a background in corporate communications, home education, and English language tutoring, she brings a unique combination of skills and experiences to the StoryBuilders team.

She loves collaborating, making connections, and learning about others. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and outdoor adventuring with her husband and three young adult sons.

Tracy Jenkins

StoryArtisan · Writer & Editor

Tracy is a habitual learner on a quest to grow into the best version of herself. After 21 years as a teacher, she took a leap of faith out of the classroom and into professional writing. She is honored to be a StoryArtisan, a role that reinforces her love of storytelling and allows her to help our StoryPartners inspire others with their insight.

As a former teacher, Tracy loves to help people see their potential, own their power, and shine their light. As a ghostwriter, she uses her ability to empathize with others and share their unique voice to expand their reach. When she isn’t writing or hunting down typos, Tracy is cheering on her two sons, reading voraciously, writing poetry, and spending time with her husband, who happens to be her best friend.

Morgan Kunkel

StoryArtisan · Writer & Editor

As an avid reader and skilled writer, Morgan has always been passionate about the written word. She loves to create compelling and intriguing content and use her keen eye for detail to edit.

When not immersed in words, Morgan spends time with her family, enjoys as much time as possible outdoors, volunteers at her husband’s fire department, and serves the community.

Abby Nieten

StoryArtisan · Writer & Editor

Abby has been drawn to the immeasurable power of the written word since her early days of devouring tween magazines and penning rhyming poetry. She enjoys bringing positive messages and stories to the world through carefully crafted words. Her professional background includes editorial roles in journalism, publishing, and content marketing.

On a personal note, Abby is an introverted homebody and boy mom x three who loves family time, outdoor activities, books, and her home state of Indiana.

Rachel Miller

StoryArtisan · Writer & Editor

Rachel is a writer and a researcher with a love for history and literature. With over 10 years experience as an author and editor, Rachel is skilled at crafting content. She enjoys meeting and working with kindred spirits.

As Anne Shirley says, “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” A mom of three teen boys, she spends much of her time homeschooling and life coaching.

When she’s not reading, writing, or schooling, she finds meaning in learning languages, playing music, and quilting.

Faith Blankschaen

StoryArchitect · CFO

Our financial wizard and record-keeper, Faith loves numbers and making them work using her accounting background.  Faith is also a homeschooling mother of six and an expert on all things related to trips to Walt Disney World.

Ben Grant

StoryArchitect · Video Storyteller

Ben has been a full-time videographer for the past 15 years and loves to be able to connect with people and help them tell their story through video. Having worked with clients like Toyota, PayPal, Belay, and North Point Church, Ben has the experience and skills to help create professional and beautiful videos.

Ben lives with his wife Sondra and four kids just outside Dahlonega, GA. His hobbies include playing music in his bands and the stock market.

Isabel Beeson

StoryDesigner · Graphic Designer

Isabel is a skilled graphic designer who specializes in social media assets, marketing materials, brand development, and digital design. She is a very conceptual designer with a strong attention to detail. When she’s not working, her interests include traveling, reading, kayaking, and pop culture. She can usually be found watching crime shows, medical dramas, or any show where the characters learn absolutely no lessons and continually make bad decisions.

Cheryl Casey

StoryDesigner · Graphic Designer

Cheryl is a highly skilled graphic designer and web designer. Her ability to take a StoryPartner’s ideas and transform them quickly into visual designs help grasp the visual representation of a story.

In addition, Cheryl also has knowledge and experience in human factors/HCI knowledge which help her in designing truly usable interfaces that exceed StoryPartner expectations.

Kelyta Grace

StoryDesigner · Graphic Designer

Kelyta Grace is a skilled artist who has recently graduated with a degree in graphic design from the University of North Georgia. Though still new to the field, she is eager to strengthen and hone her skill as a graphic designer and be of use to the StoryBuilders team to the best of her abilities.   

Outside of work, Kelyta Grace enjoys other artistic activities such as painting and creating art using an assortment of different art mediums. She also takes a great interest in animated films as both a form of art as well as entertainment.

Stephanie Beaver

Web Creation & Design

Stephanie provides design support and makes all sorts of cool stuff happen online. As part of the web development team, Stephanie unites creativity and technology to bring ideas to life.

Matt Stephenson

Digital Strategist

Matt manages the strategy and execution of the different website and marketing projects.

Matt is highly skilled at developing and implementing comprehensive marketing, SEO, and brand development plans.

Calvin Leggett

Web & Mobile Developer

Calvin is a web programming guru who works magic in the digital world, turning captivating design into friction-free functionality. If he can’t do it, it probably can’t be done…yet.