Struggling to stay on track with your writing goals? SavvyAuthors' Accountability Group is a supportive group designed to help writers stay consistent, overcome procrastination, and make real progress on their projects.

We will focus on:

• Goal Setting & Check-Ins: Set writing goals and track your progress.
• Weekly Accountability Check-ins: Share wins, challenges, and next steps.
• Encouragement & Support: Connect with like-minded writers to stay motivated.

Whether you’re drafting a novel, editing a manuscript, or just trying to write more regularly, this group will keep you accountable and inspired. Join us and turn your writing dreams into reality!

Are you seeking a coach and mentor who listens? Doesn't squash your writing style? And who provides positive, constructive feedback to meet your goals?

As a certified coach with a background in education and over a decade of working with writers, my goal is to offer you an individualized mentoring/coaching program to help guide you through the writing and publishing process. No part of your writing process is too small or too large for us to tackle together.

We will work as a team on the writing goals that you wish to accomplish during the three-month program.

I am as comfortable working with new writers as with those who have multiple publishing credits. I also read and write across multiple genres and have worked with writers who write fantasy, science fiction, mystery, historical fiction, horror, romance, etc.

The direction of the mentoring and coaching is founded on the goals you wish to accomplish. I am flexible, if the needs arises, in changing the mentoring and coaching to suit your needs and wants. You should come willing and able to work on your writing and be prepared for honest feedback.

Your personalized mentoring/coaching program can include, but is not limited to:

• Unlimited access via email for brainstorming, coaching, specific questions and regular check-ins,
• Regular private online chats in the Savvy Authors chatroom, by phone or Skype (schedule and time to be mutually agreed on). NOTE: Most are weekly and from 30-60 minutes.
• Reviews of your notes, outline and draft or revised manuscript with feedback targeted to take you to the next step with your story, tailored to your current goals,
• A writing schedule to complete your draft or edits with prompts to remind you of deadlines and regular check-ins to help keep you on track,
• Mini-lessons, articles, resources and recommended reading as appropriate,
• Includes coaching on the pitch and the synopsis,
• Discuss and brainstorm path options for your writing career.

This program is not a workshop or class but those elements may be present at the discretion of the mentor based on the needs of the students. Students should be prepared to engage in regular discussion with the mentor in order to get the best out of this experience.

Enrollment is limited to five (5) students so I can give the attention needed to each writer.

Stories and novels are built from scenes. A scene is a contained segment of your story in which the characters engage in actions related to the story goal. Scenes have beginnings, middles, and ends, and rising and failing emotional arcs.

In this workshop, we will explore the many different kinds of scenes, analyze their structure, and discover ways to increase emotional tension, character conflict, and flow.

You might not have a bad story — you might just have a weak beginning.

This five-week intensive focuses on the most decisive real estate in fiction: the first page.
Readers, agents, and editors make a call within a few paragraphs, long before a story has the
chance to prove itself. Through close reading of opening pages by Meg Wolitzer, Jhumpa Lahiri,
Lorrie Moore and others, we will examine how writers create voice, stakes, orientation, and
narrative pull immediately — and then apply those methods to your own openings through
guided exercises and workshop critique.

By the end of the course, you will have rebuilt your opening so that it does what a first page must
do: compel the reader to turn the next one.

This 4-week workshop is for everyone who is working on a long-form work of prose, particularly novels & memoir, but also useful for writers of short stories and essays.

We will take a deep dive into how to self-edit your work, covering everything from developmental to line edits and exploring different editing techniques to find those that suit you best.

Requirements: You should have at least a few chapters of a novel/memoir or a number of stories/essays you can work on. A complete project (or close to completion) would be ideal.

Outline:

• Overview of editing techniques & the big picture: developmental edits I — structure
• Developmental edits II — character
• Developmental edits III — setting
• Zooming in: line edits

Fairy tale retellings are very popular for a reason. They use tropes and characters that we're familiar with. For instance, the Cinderella story is a common one across cultures and centuries. Learn how to use these familiar and beloved characters in stories and give them a different twist.

• Fairy tales, mythology and archetypes – why we love retellings.
• How to brainstorm twists for your fairy tale worlds.
• Writing a story that's the same, but different. Keeping familiar elements while adding your own ideas.
• Backstories of some well-known tales – they didn’t all start out the way you think!
• Giving your story the fairy tale flavor even if it's not faithful to the original story
• Fairy tale inspired – you can use the idea as a starting point for your own story without having to stick to the original tale.

Is it possible to tell a compelling story in 100 words or less? Absolutely! Microfiction, short stories that are told in 100 words or less, employs editing skills as much as writing, picking the right word, the right moments, and the right punctuation to tell a story as quickly as possible.

In this course, we will explore the elements of microfiction and how to become comfortable with creating these bite-sized wonders yourself, for submission to journals and contests around the world!

Learn the secrets of creating plot twists that surprise readers and keep them turning pages.

Topics covered include:

• What is a twist and why are they important?
• Dissecting twists to see their inner workings.
• All about turns, reveals, reversals, and red hearings.
• Creating twists that move your story forward.
• Setting up future surprises without telegraphing them.
• Using the template method to create out of the box twists.
• Story twists vs character twists.
• Creating memorable endings that shock the reader.
• Techniques used by writers who are masters of the twist.

Building your online presence is scary. Most of us are familiar with social media, but having a website? Getting a newsletter? Even starting a blog? There are too many options and it can be overwhelming.

Telling Your Story will introduce you to the world of websites, newsletters, and blogs in easy to understand terms and relatable examples.

Takeaways:

• Introduction to websites, newsletters, and blogs and whether or not you need them (Yes, yes, and maybe!)
• Defining your voice and audience
• Creating a content strategy and calendar
• What kind of content to post, when, and where
• Maintenance of your website, newsletter, and blogs

Every story needs a world and every world has to be built. Whether on a farm in Oklahoma or in a galaxy far far away. Each author must lay the foundation for the story world just like you build a plot or flesh out characters. But just like you do not use the techniques for plot building for a character study, the tools needed to paint a compelling world are different.

So, where do you start? Join Rebekah as she breaks down the steps to build your story world and shows you how to accomplish this. This four week class will review:

• Genre classification rules and how they impact your world (Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Steampunk, Magical Realism, Alternate history, New Worlds)
• What are your species and how do they effect your world (Mythical creatures, paranormal creatures, humans, fae, others)
• How do Politics and Religion control your world?
• Managing Hierarchy, wars and alliances
• Understanding and using natural and man made materials and resource

Many writers feel drawn to adult fiction but aren’t quite sure where—or how—to begin.
Perhaps you have story ideas swirling in your mind, characters who won’t leave you alone, or a
quiet longing to finally try your hand at fiction writing. If that sounds familiar, this workshop is
designed for you.

In Finding Your Voice in Adult Fiction, we’ll explore what it means to write stories for an adult
audience and how to confidently step into the rich, imaginative world of fiction. Whether you
are brand new to fiction, returning after a long break, or simply curious about expanding your
creative range, this workshop offers a welcoming and supportive space to experiment, learn,
and grow.

Throughout the workshop, you’ll be invited to write, reflect, and play with language. You won’t
just learn about fiction—you’ll actively create it. Through guided prompts and short writing
exercises, you’ll have opportunities to try different styles and tones, helping you discover which
type of storytelling feels most natural and exciting to you.

At the heart of this workshop is the understanding that adult fiction is wonderfully diverse. We
will examine four major genres of adult fiction—drama, comedy, romance, and action—each
with its own conventions, emotional beats, and creative possibilities. We’ll also explore how
many successful stories blend elements from multiple genres to add depth, complexity, and
broader appeal.

Unlike fiction written for younger audiences, adult fiction often engages with mature themes,
layered character development, emotional nuance, and moral ambiguity. In this workshop,
we’ll talk about how to craft characters who feel real, situations that resonate, and narratives
that invite readers to think, feel, and reflect.

Each week focuses on one genre, giving you time to explore its key elements while beginning to
shape your own ideas. If you already have a genre in mind, you’ll be encouraged to start
outlining and planning a longer work, such as a novel or novella. If you’re unsure, this workshop
gives you the freedom to experiment before committing.

Most importantly, this workshop is about discovering yourself as a writer. Writing fiction isn’t
just about technique—it’s about curiosity, courage, and learning to trust your creative instincts.

My goal is to help you build confidence, spark inspiration, and leave with practical tools you can
continue using long after the workshop ends.
This workshop is for every kind of writer—the cautious beginner, the curious dabbler, and the
writer ready to take the next step. Come prepared to learn, write, connect, and have fun.

Writing Space Opera: Epic Tales Among the Stars
Galactic empires. Star-crossed heroes. Battles that decide the fate of worlds.

Welcome to Writing Space Opera, a four-week workshop for fiction writers ready to create
stories as vast as the cosmos. You’ll learn how to balance sweeping interstellar plots with deep
emotional resonance, build complex societies that feel real, and craft unforgettable heroes and
villains whose conflicts span light-years.

Through practical lessons, guided exercises, and hands-on writing projects, you’ll explore what
makes space opera soar — from political intrigue and rebellion to love, loss, and the fight for
survival in a boundless universe.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a strong concept, world outline, and the beginning of
your own space-faring adventure.

You’ll learn how to:

• Create rich interplanetary settings and cohesive galactic worlds
• Develop complex characters who embody courage, hope, and moral struggle
• Craft plots filled with epic stakes, conflict, and momentum
• Balance big ideas (AI, rebellion, exploration) with human emotion
• Use pacing, theme, and tone to capture the grandeur of space opera
• Build continuity for series-length storytelling

This three-month one-on-one writing mentorship is designed for writers who want focused, compassionate guidance while working on a project that truly matters to them. Whether you are writing memoir, fiction, nonfiction, personal essays, poetry, or a hybrid project, this mentorship meets you exactly where you are.

Over the course of three months, we will work together to clarify your vision, strengthen your voice, and move your writing forward in a steady, supportive way. This is not a rigid program or one-size-fits-all curriculum. Instead, it is a highly personalized mentoring experience shaped around your goals, your genre, and your pace.

You may be just starting out and feeling overwhelmed, or you may be deep into a manuscript and feeling stuck, uncertain, or disconnected from your work. Together, we will address craft, structure, voice, confidence, and the emotional blocks that often accompany creative work. You’ll receive thoughtful feedback, practical strategies, and encouragement grounded in years of teaching, writing, and mentoring experience.

This mentorship is especially well-suited for writers who value reflection, depth, and gentle accountability—and who want to be supported without pressure or burnout.

Our Pitchfest is still your next best chance to land that perfect agent or (and) sell your book to the publisher of your dreams! We open up the SavvyAuthor’s site for three fun-filled and exciting days where you post your pitch on our blog to a bevy of agents and editors.

Not sure what Pitchfest is? Check out our information page and our FAQ.

Still have questions?

Contact Us!