SavvyAuthors' Accountability Group

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!

Unlock the Block: A Brainstorming Group for Stuck Authors with June Diehl

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!

SavvyAuthors Writing Craft Book Club (FREE for Subscribers!)

Want to sharpen your writing skills while discussing the best books on the craft? The SavvyAuthors Writing Craft Book Club is a space for authors of all levels to dive into insightful books on storytelling, style, and technique.How it works:
  • Recommendations will be taken and members will vote on the craft book that we will read.
  • Read and discuss books on all things writing, from plot structure to character development. Join a bi-monthly video chat to discuss the book of choice.
  • Share key takeaways and how to apply them to our own work.
  • Engage in writing exercises inspired by each book.
Whether you’re refining your prose, strengthening your storytelling, or seeking fresh inspiration, this club is for you. Join us as we learn from the masters and grow together as writers!

During the bi-monthly video sessions, cameras do not need to be turned on, and there is no pressure for anyone to do so.

SPRING SESSION: Mentoring and Coaching with Editorial Director and Author June Diehl

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.

Burning Ink: Writing Steamy Romances with NY Times Bestselling author Angela Knight

In this class, a New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance explores how to write romance hot enough to burn the pixels off the screen.

Angela discusses the creation of characters with the kind of intense sensuality needed in erotic romance; building a believable erotic attraction that gets them into bed without turning either of them into a slut; designing a plot in which sex plays a major role in the plot without morphing into porn; and crafting an evolving romance with intense sexuality.

She’ll cover the use of everything from setting to sensual detail to BDSM. Most importantly, she’ll discuss how to give readers something they haven’t seen before.

* Critique include

Page to Pitch: From Idea to Pitch-Ready Manuscript

  • 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.

Show Don’t Tell: The Writer’s Golden Rule with Cynthia Owens

Show Don’t Tell: The Writer’s Golden Rule looks at different techniques of putting your readers into your story, and how to use them.

We will cover:
  • Show vs. Tell?—Examines the difference between telling a story and showing it.
  • The Five Senses—How to use the senses effectively.
  • Action!—Using strong, active verbs past.
  • Actions Speak Louder Than Words—Using Body Language.
  • I Second That Emotion—Action, reaction, and inner thought.
  • The Do’s and Don’ts of Dialogue—The unique voice and speech tags.
  • The Devil’s in the Details—Using details while avoiding detail overload.
  • Where in the World?—Using setting to show your story.
  • Final Lesson – Show me your show-don’t-tell!

Included in the workshop is a workbook with assignments, checklists, worksheets, and more.

Effortless eBook and Paperback Formatting for Indie Authors with Terri Main

You don’t have to know code or learn complicated programs to format your book for publication. You can format an eBook in a matter of a few minutes just using a word processor. Using a free program, you can format your print volumes in under an hour. This course shows you how

  • A Quick and Easy Method of Formatting an eBook in Minutes
  • Getting Started with Kindle Create
  • Setting a Theme
  • Setting up a Table of Contents
  • Setting up Front Material
  • Finishing Up
  • Uploading to Kindle

Overview of Direct Sales for Authors with Deb Bailey

Overview of how you can sell your books directly to your readers. We’ll talk some online platforms you can use, how to get paid, and how to deliver your books (and audio books) after the sale.
  • Reasons why selling direct is growing in popularity.
  • Overview of top platforms to use to sell your books directly to your readers.
  • What you’ll need to set up your author storefront.
  • Suggestions for pricing and promotions.

Romance, Romantic Tragedy, & Women's Fiction with Cassandra Carr

Romance is a complicated and far-reaching genre. As writers it can be challenging to properly categorize your story for the purposes of query and sale. In this course, we will talk specifically about romantic tragedy and women's fiction and how each should be used in this process.

This workshop will cover this:
  • What are romantic tragedy and women's fiction?
  • Similarities and differences between romantic tragedy and romance
  • Similarities and differences between women's fiction and romance
  • Okay, then what category is my story - steps to making the correct choice
  • How to clearly explain the genre of your story during the querying and sale process

This course is applicable to writers with all levels of experience.

Unleash the Unseen: Learn to Write Supernatural Horror with June Diehl

Prepare to haunt your readers with tales that leave them breathless and glancing over their shoulders. In Writing Supernatural Horror, you’ll explore the art of crafting horror that goes beyond jump scares—stories that linger in the mind and stir the soul. This workshop will take you through every bone-chilling element of supernatural horror, from creating unsettling atmospheres and unique supernatural creatures to using fear and psychology to its fullest.

Here’s what’s waiting for you:
  • Lesson 1: Dive into the history and origins of supernatural horror to understand its eerie foundations.
  • Lesson 2: Master the art of building tension, crafting atmosphere, and writing horror scenes that terrify.
  • Lesson 3: Bring supernatural creatures to life and invent original lore that grips readers.
  • Lesson 4: Explore classic horror archetypes and tropes, and learn to put your own twist on them.
  • Lesson 5: Harness fear and psychology, and see how supernatural horror blends with other genres.
  • Lesson 6: Design believable supernatural worlds that make the impossible feel real.
  • Lesson 7: Add thematic depth, using fear and psychological tension as story-driving forces.
  • Lesson 8: Write endings that leave readers questioning reality, with a touch of doubt and ambiguity.
If you're ready to transform shadows into stories that captivate and unsettle, this workshop is for you. Sign up and start weaving nightmares that thrill!

Power Up Your Prose with Joan Koster

Explore power verbs, sensory language, literary devices, and more while uncovering creative ways to say that same old thing.

In this workshop, you will learn how to turn clichés into pizazz, give ordinary names punch, and write full force description that makes your mouth water. You will also learn when to say it plain and simple.

*Participants will receive a a full chapter critique of their prose at the end of the workshop as well as extensive word lists.

Use Jane Austen to Improve Your Storytelling with Cassandra Carr

You don't have to be a historical romance author to benefit from studying Jane Austen. Whether it's her incredible characters or some other aspect of her writing, there are lessons to be learned.

In this course we will explore some of the things Austen is known for and how to adapt them to your writing.
  • Lesson One: Why is Jane Austen still a legend in romance?
  • Lesson Two: Austen's heroes
  • Lesson Three: Austen's heroines
  • Lesson Four: Austen's villains and side characters
  • Lesson Five: Austen's settings
  • Lesson Six: Austen's plots
  • Lesson Seven: Putting it all together in your writing
This workshop is applicable to writers of all levels.

How to Write Kid-Lit with Irene Roth

In this workshop, you will learn how to write fiction for kids, including picture books to middle grade readers. It is geared to writers who are trying to break into a new kind of kid-lit but are unsure which one to choose.

By the end of this workshop, you will certainly learn all the ins and outs of creating your children’s manuscript, whether it’s a picture book or middle grade novel.

You will also have a chance to start writing your first children’s story. We will start with the youngest ages and work up to the twelve age group.

I can’t underline how fascinating it is to write for this age group. Whether you’re new to writing or are currently writing in another genre, you will be fascinated by the themes and types of writing that are possible for this age group. You have the golden possibility of molding young minds and hearts in a way like no other type of writing offers you.

So, please try your hand at creating books for kids. Be prepared to be informed, inspired, and encouraged to try your hand at kid-lit of every kind. It is a workshop that will be as interesting and inspiring as it is informative.

The Perfect Plot Twist with Anna Denisch

As R.L. Stein once said, “Every story ever told can be broken down into three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the twist.” But crafting a good plot twist is certainly easier said than done. In this workshop, you’ll come to understand the inner workings of a plot twist, what makes them so popular, and how to effectively pull them off in your own writing. Whether you’re crafting a mystery, a thriller, or even a romance, a well-done plot twist can surprise your readers without making them feel cheated or confused.
  • Lesson One: The Structure of a Plot Twist - Learn how a plot twist is structured and why the greatest plot twists both feel like a surprise and something that was coming all along
  • Lesson Two: The Reveal - Learn effective ways to reveal a plot twist that feels natural in the setting and tone of your story.
  • Lesson Three: Plot Runaways - Learn how to edit/rework your story when a plot twist surprises even yourself.

Winning the Mind Games: Goal Setting with Adrienne Giordano

Welcome to Winning the Mind Games: Goal Setting! This course is designed to help you create actionable, achievable goals by breaking them down into manageable steps.

Throughout this program, you will learn how to set and refine goals using proven strategies that foster confidence, productivity, and success.

Course Structure & Schedule

This course runs for two weeks, with new lessons posted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There will be regular check-ins for discussion and Q&A. Each lesson includes a combination of instruction, exercises, and practical applications.

Week 1: Building a Goal-Setting Foundation

Lesson 1: The Power of Goal Setting

  • Why goal setting matters and how it reduces anxiety.
  • Creating a personal blueprint for success.
  • Reflection exercise on areas in life that could benefit from goal setting.

Lesson 2: Types of Goals
  • Understanding outcome goals vs. process goals.
  • The ladder analogy for breaking down goals.
  • Practical exercise on setting outcome and process goals.

Lesson 3: The Pressure of Goal Setting & Default Goal Setting
  • How a lack of clear goals can lead to default goal setting.
  • The White Bear Effect and its impact on goal setting.
  • Strategies for reducing pressure and framing goals positively.

Week 2: Strengthening & Applying Goal-Setting Strategies

Lesson 4: Soft Discipline & Goal Adjustment
  • Learning when to push forward and when to adjust.
  • Avoiding overwhelm and burnout with soft discipline.
  • Reflection exercise: Adjusting goals based on real-life challenges.
Lesson 5: SMART Goals & Practical Application
  • Deep dive into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals.
  • How to transform vague goals into concrete action steps.
  • SMART Goal Worksheet activity.
Lesson 6: Overcoming Setbacks & Staying Motivated
  • Understanding setbacks as part of the process.
  • How to revise goals when facing obstacles.
  • Journaling and self-reflection techniques to maintain motivation.

Bio: Adrienne Giordano is a certified life coach and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels. Adrienne’s experience from over 30 years in writing, marketing and client service helps her empower clients with personalized coaching that fosters growth and accountability.

How to create and cultivate ARC teams with AK Nevermore

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

Week 1: 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.

Week 2: 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.

Writing Historical Romantic Suspense with Beth Daniels

Check out Beth's instructor spotlight!

Those of us who loved history class…maybe even, like me, snapped up a college degree in history, planned all vacations around museums, castles (ruins and not ruins), ancient sites (Stonehenge, vanished pre-European period native American cultures), ghost towns, tours of historic homes, or volunteered at local historical places, or attended reenactments and Renaissance Faires…well, we can never get enough history in our diet, can we?

Even if you haven’t done these things, you could feel the lure of mystery. And history is if full of unsolved mysteries. They might have found Richard III at long last, but whether or not he was responsible for the disappearance of his two young nephews from the Tower is still hanging ten. H.H. Holmes was caught but Jack the Ripper’s identification is still in contention. And those are just the two best known unsolved mysteries to most of us. There are plenty of others.

But it doesn’t take an actual event – though it could – to write a story set in a historical time period where sleuths are numbered in the main cast members.

The title of this workshop covers many different ways in which a historical setting and a mystery can be presented in sync. Whether you want to change history (as alternative allows you to do in various ways, just jump in your time machine) or insert characters into an earlier era and give them a crime to deal with or a crime in the making if someone is hunting them, or use actual historical personages – or not – in a real historic mystery setting…well, this workshop will touch on them all.

There’s a balance to be preserved no matter which kind of tale you mix mystery and history together in, and it changes slightly with each niche, and with whether the story will be a standalone or part of a series. Why not join me to sort out what you already have and what you may need to gather further research on or simply dream up. We’ll do it all in 4 short weeks.

Great Blurbs Fast! with Jodi Henley

Transform Your Book's Visibility in Just One Week!
  • Discover the secret to writing irresistible blurbs in this easy-to-follow, one-week, hands-on workshop
  • Learn how to craft compelling hooks, use tropes and keywords, and distill your book's essence into genre-specific, bite-sized summaries.
  • Hone your blurb-writing skills with a useful blurb tool, plenty of examples and one-on-one support to supercharge your blurbs now.

Canva for Book Marketing with Deborah Bailey

Want to make your books stand out online? Learn how to use Canva, a free and user-friendly graphic design platform, to create eye-catching marketing materials—even if you’re not a designer.

We’ll walk through the basics of Canva, explore ready-made templates, and show you how to design graphics for social media posts, ads, and even printed materials like bookmarks and flyers.

Whether you're preparing for a new release or refreshing your author brand, this class will help you create visuals that connect with your audience and boost your visibility.

Ekphrastic poetry & persona poems to explore new perspectives with Christina Hennemann

  • By ch92
This 4-week workshop explores the possibilities of responding to art through ekphrastic poetry as well as taking on a different speaking voice in poetry through the persona poem.

In the first part of the workshop, ekphrastic poems and persona poems are introduced theoretically and we will look at examples. In the second session on each mode, we will write ekphrastic poetry and persona poems with the help of prompts and writing exercises.
  • Week 1: Ekphrastic poetry: theory & examples
  • Week 2: Practice: writing ekphrastic poetry
  • Week 3: Persona poems: theory & examples
  • Week 4: Practice: writing persona poems & combining both modes
All participants will receive a critique for one ekphrastic and one persona poem each.

This workshop is particularly suitable for intermediate and advanced poets to explore new forms, but the lessons are also accessible for beginners.

Slow Motion: Heighten the Depths of Deep POV with Stephanie Spann

Looking to add more substance, emotion to your character’s point of view? Want to give your readers a wider window into your lead’s mindset? Maybe your heroine or hero needs to catch their breath and assess all available options before taking the next step.

In this one-week course, we’ll take a look at how a scene set in slow motion builds tension, adds detail and is a creative alternative to help writers focus on perspective and pacing while allowing readers to immerse themselves in a single, pivotal moment.

Through interactive exercises and creative prompts, you’ll learn how to elevate your storytelling skills by using slow motion to enhance dramatic tension, evoke deeper emotions, and sharpen details in your writing.

This workshop will cover:
  • The Power of Slowing Time in Storytelling
  • Heightening Emotional Impact
  • Building Atmosphere and Suspense
  • Action Through Stillness
  • Dialogue in Slow Motion
  • Capturing Wonder and Emotion
  • Expanding Personal Moments

*This course is intended for writers of all levels of experience.

Writing the Thriller with Steve Shrott

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to construct a thriller from beginning to end. Some of the topics covered are:
  • What is a thriller and why are they so popular?
  • The many different categories of thrillers
  • Secrets of creating commercial story ideas
  • Developing a ‘hot’ plot
  • How to start your story with a bang and keep up the momentum
  • Techniques that help us write high octane scenes and chapters that keep readers turning pages
  • Designing heroes that your readers care about as well as three dimensional villains
  • Crafting twists and reversals that no one sees coming
  • Strategies to keep the tension taut, and the suspense sizzling
  • Uncovering the techniques of top thriller writers
So if you want to learn how to write one of the world’s most popular genres, then join me for the workshop, ‘Writing the Thriller.’

Mastering Reader Magnets: How to Attract the Right Readers and Grow Your List with Laurie Cooper

Your reader magnet should grow your list AND help turn ideal readers into loyal fans. In this 3-part bulletin board workshop, we’ll dive into what makes a great magnet, how to deliver it smoothly, and how to use it to grow a high-quality mailing list of readers who actually want your books.

By the end of the week, you’ll have a polished plan (or an upgraded version) of your reader magnet and know how to make it work harder for your author career. Each lesson includes actionable takeaways and exercises you can implement right away. Plus, attendees receive access to a free 30-minute strategy session with award-winning speaker & marketing coach for fiction authors, Laurie Cooper, for personalized guidance.

Lesson 1 (Monday): What Makes an Effective Reader Magnet?
Identify what type of reader magnet best fits your genre, audience, and author brand.

Lesson 2 (Wednesday): Tools, Tech, and Delivery Systems
Understand how to get your magnet into the hands of readers effectively.

Lesson 3 (Friday): Making Your Reader Magnet Work Harder
Learn how to turn magnet claimers into engaged readers and build the foundation for long-term reader relationships.

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