I grew up without a television.

While other kids watched Saturday morning cartoons, I spent my days in a hammock with a book in my lap — sometimes reading, sometimes just staring up at the trees, letting stories sink in.

That’s where I learned how story really works. Not as a set of plot points to hit or tropes to arrange, but as something deeper — the way a character’s choices reveal who they are. The way theme quietly shapes everything, even when it’s never named. The way a single, authentic moment can make an audience lean forward and feel something they didn’t expect.

That’s the heart of my approach: helping writers create stories that don’t just move, but move you.

I’m Xandra Castleton — a screenwriter, story consultant, and teacher who believes great screenplays start with what’s human, not just what happens.

Whether you’re just getting started or revising for the tenth time, I work with you to find the soul of your story — the emotional engine that makes it resonate. Together we’ll clarify what your characters really want, uncover what your story is really about, and craft a structure that feels inevitable because it’s honest.

You already have a voice and a vision. My job is to help you trust them — and shape them into something unforgettable.