Hey amazing authors!

Want to start a book club at SavvyAuthors? Or have some knowledge on marketing that you want to share? With the new system, everyone is going to be able to add their own videos, clubs, events, and share with other SavvyAuthors members! If you’re interested in learning more about running a club or sharing your knowledge (whether you’re an expert or not!) we’d love to hear what you know.



Reach out to me if you’d like to learn more or to pitch a new idea! We can't wait to hear from you!

RJ

Hi everyone, hope you’re all having a happy new year so far! I wanted to send out an update on some exciting things coming to Savvy in the near future.

The biggest update…Subscriptions are coming back!



You’ll now be able to purchase a subscription in order to receive discounted rates on classes and access to events like monthly book clubs, motivational groups, first dibs on Angela’s pitch polish (Hint Hint) and On Demand classes! We’re planning to bring a lot of new classes and meet ups to Savvy and I hope you’re as excited for these changes as we are!

You may have also noticed the price has gone up slightly from the previous subscription plans. Unfortunately, keeping the site running can be pretty costly, so we need to slightly raise prices in order to keep supporting the site and keep everything running smoothly. Appreciate the understanding!

If anyone has any questions, let us know and we appreciate your support!

Hi,
Thank you for hosting Spring Pitchfest. Where is the list of Authors and Editors who are participating? Also, it says results will be posted in the Savvy Newsletter, but the link to this does not work. Could you tell me how to access the Savvy Newsletter?

Thanks so much.
Susan

Hello everyone! My name is Megan and I'm an intern at Romantica Publishing. I joined this community to extend my connections and participate more fully in this amazing community. Looking forward to getting to know more of you and perhaps even working with some of you in the future! Happy writing!

Hello all. I am a middle grade historical fiction author from the US. I have previously self published the first book regarding an idea that I have had for years where a time traveling club of 7th graders travel to different eras of American History. As an historian and history teacher, I want to help teach kids about history. I have recently finished the manuscript for my second book where my characters time travel to the American Revolution.

Hello, I am Alexa knight. I am an aspiring author that just finished the first draft of my first novel and am working on the outline of another book before I begin to edit the first one. Where is everybody else in their writing journey and how is it going for you guys? I know for me I both have days where I feel born to be a writer and then I feel like where the hell was I going with that... I look forward to hopefully hearing from other's who can understand me the way friends and family aren't able to!

How do I create a .pdf file from workshop files?
Thanks, Peggy Hendricks

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your holiday snippets and cast a vote. There was another good turnout for the contest.

We've tallied the votes, and we have a winner! The winner of the $20 coupon for an upcoming SavvyAuthors workshop is @TMSellers !

Here is TM's dialogue snippet:

Since his childhood, Kenny “Goggles” Normans always loved the holiday season. The frosty chill in the air, the twinkling lights, the uplifting music set to repeat, and the vibrant red decorations all added an extra hop to his step and a twinkle to his eye. But the thing he loved most about the holiday season was the large increase in potential victims, as people tend to become so much more trusting and lonelier at this special time of year.

I got goose bumps after reading.

Thanks for participating. Please stay tuned for more SavvyAuthors contests. If you have any ideas on topics or contest ideas, please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

The SavvyCrew

It's crazy to think that this project started 4 years ago, but I can finally got to hold the finished novel in my hands today. 'Xtreme Saga - Book One: The War for Rig' physical print now exists, complete with an ISBN number and soon to be recognition/inclusion by the National Library of Taiwan.

While the print is extremely limited and there are currently no plans for wider distribution, this book did happen. I worked hard on it and I'm proud of what I accomplished with this project. This is not the first novel I've written, but it is the first one I was paid to write and the first one that was published in any capacity/form.

Already, I have seen the fruits of this endeavor, as I've already been contracted to write another book for a game development studio, with a guaranteed physical print, planned to be released by the end of 2025. It has been a very tough road to get to this point, and I'm still searching for publishing for the fantasy trilogy I started querying in 2024. But I have made real progress in my novel writing career, and this book that I'm holding in my hand proves that statement. Thank you for all the support during this process.

If you'd like to read Xtreme Saga Book 1, you can find the digital version for free at the official website:

saga . xpg . com

Happy New Year!

While I'm sad to say goodbye to 2024, I'm SO excited to kickstart 2025. We are looking to help you achieve your publishing goals, and would love if you had a few minutes to answer our poll on what information you're most looking to learn about.

We have amazing workshops, contests, and events in store, and we can't wait to help support you through your writing/publishing journey. We are always striving to find new ways to motivate and support so please feel free to reach out to me [email protected] if you have any questions or have anything to share.

Thanks so much for being a part of our community. We truly appreciate it!

Cheers to a productive and exciting 2025!

RJ

It's time to vote for your favorite first three sentences of a story showing some kind of "holiday cheer" .

We had a great turnout, so a HUGE thank you to those who shared these fun holiday cheer. These are fantastic. It's going to be SO hard to pick!

Please vote HERE.

The voting will close Sunday December 22 at 11:59 pm. EST, and winner will be contacted and announced on Monday December 23.

If you have any trouble, please email us HERE.

Thanks!

The SavvyCrew

I joined in its earliest days, but life took me away and around the world. Living in Berlin now the past several years and returned to fiction writing.

Otherwise, I'm a psychologist, documentary filmmaker and game dev, who has mainly been technical writing, researching and directing. Glad to actively be back doing one of the things I love the best.
www.redhaircrow.com

Hello!

It's December so it's time for another contest.

Post the first three sentences of a story showing some kind of "holiday cheer" for a chance to win a $20 coupon on an upcoming SavvyAuthors workshop.

Please note that this doesn't have to be an actual work-in-progress. This is just a fun contest featuring fun opening lines from some kind of holiday chaos. Feel free to get creative!

Contest will remain open until Sunday December 15th at 11:59 p.m. EST. Members will vote on their favorite entry.

Please email us if you have any questions. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks!

RJ

I’ve been trying to find out how to get a hold of someone in charge. Trying to find out how to get my money back from a canceled class.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your dialogue snippets and cast a vote. There was a great turnout for votes, and we keep getting new authors sharing their work and voting.

We've tallied the votes, and we have a tie! The winner of the $20 coupon for an upcoming SavvyAuthors workshop are @Jennifer Windrow and @NikkiWrites!

Here is Jennifer's dialogue snippet from WIP IN the Forest of Eternal Darkness:

I ignored his well-intended gesture. “We may not play for the same team, but I still don’t condone unsanctioned murder. No matter what you think of me and my kind.”

His lips lifted in a half-ass smirk which did naughty things to my nether regions. Naughty things I wanted to ignore. “I think you reside in one of the most feared courts in the faery realm and have become very comfortable with death.”

His words were like a dagger to my heart. Sharp, pointed, and meant to inflict pain.

I reached for my blade. “I might have to reconsider my unsanctioned murder rule.”

“No need to get angry, princess. I come in peace.” He raised his hands, palms out.

The twinkle in those sun-colored eyes melted a bit of the ice that encased my heart.

“And you might leave here in pieces.”

And here is Nikki's snippet of dialogue from WIP THRILL ME:

“Yes, I am now living in central California. No, Taylor Swift and I did not have a love child. Yes, I am starting a dude ranch in a couple of weeks.”

I leaned in, a visual caught on more than one phone. “Rigo, don’t do this. You don’t owe them anything.”

The assholes were sucking up our euphoria from the jump like the succubi they were.

Rigo kept going. “No, I did not accept a payoff to throw the bullfight. And no, I am not investing in a brand of cognac, or fronting a brand of boots, or running for United States Senate.” He cracked a smile so small that only I caught it.

The phones pointed at me. “¿Noah! "¿Eres homosexual? ¿Are you gay?”

As if I could be anything else. Still pissed as hell, I cocked a hip. “We’ve already established that.”

“Is that your natural hair color?”

I rolled my eyes. But in for a penny, in for a pound. If we to be all over the internet, might as well make it go viral. "I’ll never tell. And I did not have a love child with Tay Tay, either.”


Thanks for participating. Please stay tuned for more SavvyAuthors contests. If you have any ideas on topics or contest ideas, please reach out to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

The SavvyCrew

Hi all. Will there be another pitchfest soon? thx.

We are planning a new event for Savvy, a writing craft book club. Personally, I have so many favorite craft books. There are books everyone knows like GMC, Save the Cat, and Story Genius. I would love to ask the community to tell us what you like to write and list some of your favorite craft books.

Thanks,

Dina Scott

Hello amazing authors!

We are always working hard to bring you the best online workshops and instructors. We had a survey that went out in September where we asked for your input, and we had some fantastic feedback that we are implementing.

We are still building our 2025 Workshop Schedule and are actively seeking proposals for our online asynchronous workshops, and also new pre-recorded webinars and on-demand classes. We are hoping to launch this new format in early 2025.

If you have a recommendation for a workshop topic or want to recommend an instructor and/or workshop, please reach out to me ([email protected]). I am always looking for new instructors and new workshop topics.

Also, if you are an instructor or would like to be an instructor, please also reach out me ([email protected]). I'd love to connect.

Many amazing instructors have come to SavvyAuthors through referrals.

Thanks for being a part of this community.

RJ

It's time to vote for your favourite snippet of snappy dialogue.

We had a fantastic turnout, so thank you to those who shared their dialogue. These are AMAZING. It's going to be SO hard to pick!

Please vote HERE.
** Please note that Google Forms wouldn't allow paragraph breaks so the dialogue is formatted together. There were extra spaces added to show the paragraph break. ***

The voting will close Sunday at 11:59 pm. EST, and winner will be contacted and announced on Monday November 4th.

If you have any trouble, please email us HERE.

Thanks!

The SavvyCrew

As the holiday season approaches, SavvyAuthors is holding our first Secret Santa Book Swap.

Each registrant will select a book within their matches genre and send it by December 9th.

*** Please note that we will be closing registration for Secret Santa Book Swap on Wednesday November 20th. ***

Rules/Guidelines:

• The value of the book is under $25. The book CAN be gently used if it matches the genre.
• Please note all addresses will be kept private and not publicly posted anywhere. The address will be shared only with the person they are matched with.
• Please register by Wednesday November 20th.
• All books MUST be sent out by Monday December 9th.
• If you sign up, you're committing to send a book to the person you're matched with.
• If you sign up but don't send a book, you will not be eligible to win any future contests.

Please fill out the Google Form with your information to participate. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Thanks!

The SavvyCrew

Hello!

It's time for another contest.

Post a snippet showing some sassy dialogue banter. This can include up to 10 lines (not 10 sentences) from your current work-in-progress for a chance to win a $20 coupon on an upcoming SavvyAuthors workshop.

Contest will remain open until Sunday October 27 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Members will vote on their favorite entry.

Please email us if you have any questions.

Thanks!

RJ

My name is Robb Coutinho and I am an IT Professional by daylight and a Dark Fantasy/Horror writer by nightlight. I have published short stories on online “e-zines”, co-founded the Brian Lumley “Necroscope News” newsletter on www.brianlumley.com, and was a contributing author to The Brian Lumley Companion published in 2002 by Tor Books. I am wrapping up revisions and will be seeking a literary agent for my forthcoming first novel (firstcoming novel?), a supernatural thriller called, The Luminari.

Hi everyone, I've been off Savvy Authors for a while and I miss it so...I'm Back!

Hey amazing writing community!

I am looking to get my feet wet with social media, but what social media platform do authors prefer?

Why does that specific platform appeal to you specifically?

How do you use it? For example, for selling your books, to connect with the writing community, to find writing meet-ups, events, or workshops?

Also, feel free to drop your social media handles in your message. I'd love to connect and "follow" or do whatever you're supposed to do on that particular platform.

Thanks so much for your help!

RJ

Haven't posted in a while, so hello, fellow writers. Hope you are doing well as we move towards the holiday season.

I have been querying a fantasy trilogy since earlier this year. I've gone through the same depressing experiences all querying authors have, so I won't bore you with those details. Basically, I got a note from one publisher that third person omniscient narrators were out of style. I was honestly wowed by this note, because the vast majority of all the books I read or have read since I was a child are written in that perspective. There have been a few books over the years I've read that were done in a different POV, such as The Martian, which is written as a journal. But the vast majority of books I've read, enjoyed or otherwise, have been in third person and usually with an omniscient narrator.

While this note had no effect on my fantasy trilogy, it did inspire me, after looking at a large number of writers on social media debate this topic, to challenge myself to attempt to write a novel in first person. There was a story that I had been thinking about for more than a year, while working on the aforementioned fantasy trilogy, that I really wanted to write. After finally getting the trilogy ready for query, I decided to start that book. I had originally planned to write it in third person, but I decided to give it a go in first person, because of that note.

I'm now more than halfway done with the first draft, and I still don't think first person is a great POV for a book. I'm not sure if it's this story, which is an urban fantasy steeped in historical fiction and magic, or the medium in general, but I really just don't feel confident that people would prefer this book told in first person over a third person omniscient narrator. There is so much insight, about both the world and the characters, that is lost in first person. Because the character speaking only knows what they know. And since two of the three narrators are being introduced to magic throughout the story, they don't know much. Which means the audience can't be told much. Which is a real shame from a world building standpoint, which is, in my opinion, a major part of the appeal of the fantasy genre.

So my question is do you actually want to read a novel in first person? This publisher, and many other people I've seen online, have pushed this idea that first person novels are appealing today. I don't want to know your thoughts on the data. I want your personal thoughts as fellow writers and readers. Is the idea of reading a novel, assuming it's in a genre you enjoy, in first person something that sounds entertaining for you personally? Because honestly, I don't want to read a novel in first person. If I wasn't the one writing the project I'm currently working on, I wouldn't want to read it from this perspective. Which is annoying, because I actually do really love this story and would love to read this story in third person, even if I hadn't written it myself.