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!

Feeling stuck in your story? Struggling with plot holes, character motivation, or the dreaded writer’s block? Unlock the Block is a supportive brainstorming group designed to help authors break through creative roadblocks and get back to writing with confidence.

This group will help authors:

• Work through tricky plot points with group feedback.
• Help develop compelling, well-rounded characters (including root fear, emotional would, and misbelief).
• Get fresh perspectives on any craft story elements.
• Overcome any other writing block challenge.
• Connect with fellow writers who understand the struggle.

Writers can sign up to "share" their story or writing challenge with the brainstorming group each month and get feedback.

Whether you need a simple push or a story overhaul, we’re here to help you find the answers and reignite your creativity. Join us and get unstuck!

• Start Date: Monday May 5
• End Date: Sunday October 19

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and bring your story to life in this intensive, bootcamp-style writing event designed to take you from a spark of an idea to a polished, pitch-ready manuscript for SavvyAuthor’s Autumn Pitchfest.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or reviving a dusty draft, this event will guide you through every step of the writing process—planning, disciplined writing, editing, and preparing your book for pitching in our October event.

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.

If you love reading, watching and/or writing murder mysteries, you’ve probably heard the term “Murder Book” somewhere along the way. It’s an American term for what equates to a single case file that has many different elements in play.

Considering the police solve crimes by using a Murder Book, it’s a very handy set up for a writer of mysteries that involve murder, though it could also be created to solve many other crimes as well.

In 4-weeks we’ll convert any idea you have for writing a murder mystery – and this includes a historical one in any country or era where methodological procedures were or could have been used. This is breaking down the various elements that become your plotted case.

Among the things we’ll talk about (and include) are crime scene pictures (ours will be descriptions but think of the colorful words we could use to paint them), evidence at the scene, any tech involved in studying that evidence, and the people and questions asked of them by an officer as the case begins to come together.

If mayhem that results in a character’s death is right up your dark, narrow alley, then come ready to do some heavy-duty sleuthing!

This course is aimed at writers looking to sign with an agent. Writers will have either a complete manuscript or a work-in-progress in the genres of fiction or memoir.

Participants will learn about all parts of a submission package and draft their own querying documents.

Each writer will come away from this workshop with a polished submission package and a clear understanding of the querying process.

Course Outline:

• Week 1: Query Letter: how to write a query letter & looking at examples
• Week 2: Synopsis: how to write a synopsis & examples
• Week 3: Opening pages: how to hook an agent & examples
• Week 4: Querying strategies: where to find agents, keeping track, interpreting responses, revising - and never give up!

Dreading the moment when your manuscript comes back from the editor dripping in red lines? You can save both of you time and energy with a few basic steps. Sending your work to an editor can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it is possible to make the moment more celebratory than terrifying when you have confidence in your writing quality.

You don't have to be an English major to edit your work for the most common issues that plague manuscripts. Follow these 10 steps before hitting send and your editor will thank you!

Session Outcomes:

• A handy checklist of ten steps to edit/proofread your manuscript before submission to an editor
• An understanding of where and more importantly why certain rules apply in the English language
• A sense of confidence and control when editing that last time--because you know what you're doing and why

It’s a known fact that setting can be its own character. Many books, movies, and other forms of entertainment have used the setting to create both emotion and movement in a plot. But creating the character of your setting isn’t always easy, and the genre you’re writing in can greatly affect how your setting plays out. When crafting a mystery, you can use the setting to mirror character actions and set the perfect tone for your carefully crafted case. This workshop will explore how setting is used in mystery stories and why it’s so effective.

Lesson One: Sub-Genre and Settings - Learn how to pick your setting based on your mystery sub-grene (or how to effectively go against the grain).

Lesson Two: Descriptive Writing - Learn ways to craft prose that helps set the scene in your story, without going overboard.

Lesson Three: Scenery Change - Understand how to effectively change your scenery when moving characters around the map.

Join AK Nevermore, an award-winning author of fantasy, romance, and sci-fi novels, as she shares her experience building an ARC team from the ground up. She’ll break down the strategies that have worked for her and how you can adapt them to your own brand. Learn how to get dependable reviews, build relationships with book bloggers, and how to be creative on a tight budget.

Week 1:
Monday

• Traditional methods on how to get reviews with resources and the pros and cons of each.
• Round table discussion on student experiences

Thursday

• Defining an ARC, Street Team vs. ARC Team and how each works to support the other and How to find an effective audience for your work
• Expansion on round table discussion, answering questions

Week 2:
Monday

• Resources and exercises on how to vet and onboard team members, and why that’s important.

Thursday

• How to utilize and your teams, keep them engaged and boost your street cred. on socials.

Our goal?
For you to leave with an actionable plan and way to keep track of their teams.

Ready to bend time and weave unforgettable narratives? In Writing Time Travel Stories, you’ll learn to craft stories that transport readers across eras, twisting fate and challenging reality. This workshop explores every aspect of creating compelling time travel fiction—from designing unique mechanics to handling the mind-bending paradoxes that make this genre so thrilling.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• Lesson 1: Dive into time travel concepts and discover the perfect approach for your story.
• Lesson 2: Build believable rules and mechanics that anchor your time-traveling world.
• Lesson 3: Develop complex, driven characters whose motivations connect to time travel.
• Lesson 4: Make time periods feel like characters themselves with vivid settings.
• Lesson 5: Craft high-stakes conflicts using time travel’s inherent risks and paradoxes.
• Lesson 6: Explore universal themes like fate, free will, and the nature of time.
• Lesson 7: Master continuity and manage multiple timelines with clarity.
• Lesson 8: Design impactful endings that resonate with readers long after they close the book.

If you’re ready to create time-travel tales that challenge minds and touch hearts, this workshop is for you. Sign up and start writing stories that defy time!

Too often we call ourselves lazy when we don’t get things done, but…what if it’s not laziness? In this workshop we’ll talk about some of the reasons you may be procrastinating and how to work through them. Or around them. Or in spite of them.

Polish up your three-line pitch and get it ready for SavvyAuthors' Autumn Pitchfest. We want everyone's pitches the very best they can be!

We are offering a two week, mini-intensive workshop to help you polish that pitch through three rounds of feedback with NY Times Bestselling Author Angela Knight!

At the end of the week and a half, you will:

• Have run your pitch through our Pitch Production Guidelines.
• Received three rounds of feedback on the strengths and improvement opportunities for your pitch.
• Be ready to pitch your story at our 2025 Autumn Pitchfest from October 22 - October 24.
• We will be announcing our growing lined up for Pitchfest soon!

* PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS STRICT DEADLINES. *

Step into your full creative power. In this workshop, we'll learn practical tools and exercises to quiet your inner critic, trust your instincts, and write with greater ease and authenticity to let your unique writer’s voice shine without apology.

Unlock the power of storytelling and learn the art of crafting touching narratives that warm the soul in this "Crafting Heartfelt Chicken Soup for the Soul Stories" workshop.

Drawing inspiration from the beloved Chicken Soup for the Soul series, this workshop is designed to guide aspiring writers, storytellers, and those seeking to share their personal experiences in a compelling and uplifting manner.

Chicken soup stories have grown in popularity over the past thirty years. The series was created by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen back in 1993. Since then, the series has become incredibly popular. There are many factors that contribute to its widespread appeal.

First, the content of the stories resonates with people. They are often personal anecdotes that readers can relate to. They cover a wide range of topics, including love, kindness, overcoming challenges, and personal growth.

Second, the themes are positive and uplifting. This helps people feel inspired to be their best and to excel at whatever they are doing. This is something we need more than anything in today’s world.

Third, the stories are short and easily digested. This is particularly appealing to readers who may have limited time or prefer quick doses of inspiration.

Fourth, the stories provide comfort and nostalgia. Even the title “Chicken Soup for the Soul” conveys warmth and nourishment, creating a sense of emotional well-being for readers.

This workshop will help you write your very first Chicken Soup story. I will share all the tricks I learned over the years to write these wonderful stories. Once you start writing these stories, you probably won’t stop since they are so easy and uplifting to write.

Workshop Highlights:

Introduction to Chicken Soup for the Soul Stories:

• Explore the essence and impact of Chicken Soup for the Soul stories.
• Understand the key elements that make these stories universally relatable and emotionally resonant.

Discovering Your Story:

• You will learn to engage in reflective exercises to unearth meaningful experiences from your own life.
• You will also learn how to identify stories with a universal appeal that can inspire and connect with a diverse audience.

Crafting Compelling Narratives:

• You will delve into the art of storytelling, understanding the importance of structure, pacing, and emotional arcs.
• You will explore techniques to infuse your narrative with authenticity and sincerity.

Finding Your Voice:

• You will learn how to develop your unique voice as a storyteller, allowing your personality and perspective to shine through.
• You’ll experiment with different writing styles to enhance the impact of your narrative.

Navigating Emotional Terrain:

• You’ll understand how to handle sensitive topics with empathy and grace.
• You’ll learn how to strike a balance between vulnerability and strength in your storytelling.

Interactive Writing Sessions:

• You’ll engage in hands-on writing exercises to apply the concepts learned during the workshop.
• You’ll receive constructive feedback from peers and the facilitator to refine your storytelling skills.

Editing and Refining:

• You’ll gain insights into the editing process, and how to polish your stories for maximum impact.
• We’ll explore the importance of concise and purposeful writing.

By the end of this workshop, you will not only have a deeper understanding of the art of crafting Chicken Soup for the Soul stories, but also a draft of your own story ready to send in.

Join me for a transformative journey into the world of storytelling that touches hearts and inspires change.

Social media did not diminish the importance of blogging, so don’t miss out on using a blog to build your readership and connect with other authors.

We'll be covering:

• Tips for creating a blogging schedule that you'll stick to
• Deciding what to blog about and how to decide on your audience
• How to choose topics and suggestions for distributing your posts
• How to repurpose your posts so you can create new content

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a great Gothic Horror or Gothic Romance? We know it when we see it but are the pieces needed to transport your readers into the world of Gothic Romance in your own work?

Just like most genres, there are very specific elements you must have to write a Gothic Romance. Join me to find out what you need to envelop your readers in the dark fantasies of Gothic horror and Gothic Romance.

Many popular books and stories have been and continue to be written from the 1st person perspective. But even with its growing acceptance and popularity in literary circles, many writers still struggle to master this writing style.

In this course, students will learn how to determine if 1st person POV might be right for their project, how best to deploy 1st person POV, and gain experience writing in 1st person.

Short nonfiction eBooks of 10,000 to 20,000 words are popular on Kindle. They can be written in a short time and published directly to Kindle for less than $20.

This course lays out a thirty-day plan for writing and publishing your book and will include information on:

• Thirty Days to Publication
• Choosing a Marketable Topic
• Researching Your Topic
• Creating a Preliminary Chapter Outline
• Filling in Your Chapter Outline
• Chapter Structure
• Writing the First Draft
• Editing Your Book
• Create an eBook Cover in 10 Minutes
• Using Kindle Cover Creator
• Uploading to Kindle

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!

This class reveals the many ways in which people lie and the proven methods used to catch a lie. Participants learn how to make their characters lie and how to set up a protagonist to catch them!

The Language of Liars includes psychological tactics to unlock secrets used by the FBI. The tactics are all real and add tension to any fiction. Very few people know this stuff!

The instructor has a degree in Criminology, is a retired federal agent and the author of two books.

As writers, we like to think we know everything about our characters and the world they inhabit. But do we? I certainly don’t always recall those details—and definitely not when I need them most. Cue the dive down an internet rabbit hole for the next hour instead of continuing to write my draft. There is a time for writing, and there is a time for worldbuilding—and they are not the same! Having a sense of where to begin to build your world in all its glory, so that the next time those townsfolk are suspicious of strangers, you know what happened the last time they trusted someone who walked into town from the world beyond. Just imagine, when you sit down to write, already knowing the answers to questions like:

• What is that song on the radio at the bar?
• How long does it take to drive from Town A to Town B?
• Who established that law about bathtubs in the street?
• Where is the best place to get a burger in this town?
• When did that family take over the monarchy?

Tackling everything from creation myths and cultural practices to building relationships and measuring time, this worldbuilding course has the questions and activities you need to help you craft a believable world for your story.

Session Outcomes:

• A practical and sustainable approach to worldbuilding
  A reusable framework to build worlds for each of your stories
  A comprehensive overview of culture starting broad and drilling down to the details

Three. It’s a magic number.

Three is used as an element in fashion, in art, in interior design. It is used to present arguments to persuade others to act or respond or believe that a particular conclusion is valid.

But most importantly, it is used to tell stories.

You might have heard of the Three Act system for story structure, but we’re going to break far more than a plot into three parts.

Break the Story into Threes does not require you to be a plotter. It does not require you to be an organic writer, a pantser. It might turn you into a combination of the two, a plantser. The goal is a comfortable template of your own where simple guidelines keep the story flowing once you key those first words on page one.

We’ll talk chapter setups, POVs, what some call “beats” but I consider percentage spots in the word count where something needs to occur. Character types, scene blocking, and more! It’s amazing the number of things that break into three elements!

Are you ready to venture forth into this forest of Threes?