A FOUR MONTH MENTORSHIP FOR NON FICTION + MEMOIR
We run two levels of mentorship for non-fiction or memoir authors at The Writing Room.
1. 4-month 'Write your Book in 100 Days' online mentorship. You are on the right page!
2. A 10-month personal mentorship with Sarah Bullen. To apply to work with Sarah please fill in the application form and view info and rates here
Over 100 published authors over 15 years shows it works.
WHY A 100 DAY MENTORSHIP?
Ok we love a nice round number, but the truth is this mentorship is four months. That is not actually long enough, but it's a really good start. Writing a book is a big deal. It can (and really should) change your life. It takes time, investment, sweat, hours of work and a good writing strategy. Most books take longer than four months. Few books take less time. It will depend on your own writing speed, the amount of material you already have, and the genre of book you are writing.
But at the end of our time you will finally have a load of your material in written form.
This could be a professional book, non-fiction, biography or memoir. This mentorship is not for novels - rather join this mentorship if you are writing a novel. which has an entirely different process.
What does the mentorship include?
This is not an online 'course' at all. This is a mentorship process where you work together with an experienced book author and mentor to get your book planned, structured and written over four months.
* This is a very structured programme with a series of emails, calls and key lessons over these months.
* Personal one-on-one calls with your mentor (3 calls of 45 mins + reading and review time)
* Full access to our Writing Room Community for six months which includes:
* A Wednesday weekly writing group online - we write for 4 hours once a week.
* A once a month three-day writing binge (online) of 8 hours per day.
1. 4-month 'Write your Book in 100 Days' online mentorship. You are on the right page!
2. A 10-month personal mentorship with Sarah Bullen. To apply to work with Sarah please fill in the application form and view info and rates here
Over 100 published authors over 15 years shows it works.
WHY A 100 DAY MENTORSHIP?
Ok we love a nice round number, but the truth is this mentorship is four months. That is not actually long enough, but it's a really good start. Writing a book is a big deal. It can (and really should) change your life. It takes time, investment, sweat, hours of work and a good writing strategy. Most books take longer than four months. Few books take less time. It will depend on your own writing speed, the amount of material you already have, and the genre of book you are writing.
But at the end of our time you will finally have a load of your material in written form.
This could be a professional book, non-fiction, biography or memoir. This mentorship is not for novels - rather join this mentorship if you are writing a novel. which has an entirely different process.
What does the mentorship include?
This is not an online 'course' at all. This is a mentorship process where you work together with an experienced book author and mentor to get your book planned, structured and written over four months.
* This is a very structured programme with a series of emails, calls and key lessons over these months.
* Personal one-on-one calls with your mentor (3 calls of 45 mins + reading and review time)
* Full access to our Writing Room Community for six months which includes:
* A Wednesday weekly writing group online - we write for 4 hours once a week.
* A once a month three-day writing binge (online) of 8 hours per day.
'At the end of our process, and if you really commit to it, you will have a book on the shelves'
COST 2022/2023
The mentorship price is $450. Link to pay and join is here
What support can you expect?
Loads. We work over a four month block of time together to get your first draft written. Depending on your needs, and what you enjoy in a creative process, you will join a group of authors, or you can work solo and you can dip into the group sessions for discipline and connection. You will move down the path to publication, but the writing journey is your own.
You will be assigned a book mentor who will be suited to your book and genre.
They will expect an update every Monday in the initial planning phases. As you move into the writing phase you will be required to complete a scene or chapter every few weeks for review and input. We will then meet your mentor to review your work.
What are the group sessions you can join?
Every Wednesday we have an (optional) online writing group for 4 hours which will push up your word count and allow you to write in community and connect. I have a monthly 'At Home Writing Binge' of three days of solid writing, 8 hours a day. These are all part of the mentorship and you can chose to participate, or write alone.
When will your book be finished?
That depends on your commitment and writing time. I take a year to get a book to completion but you can read the testimonials and some authors have written a book and got a publisher in a shorter time. Most non-fiction books take a solid 8 months from idea to final draft. Many take years to get to market. So having a realistic timeline is important.
What will you learn?
• BOOK STRUCTURE:
This is both a course and a mentorship and Sarah is a structure fanatic who will show you that a strong structure is the gift that sets your writing free.
• What is your STORY? Let’s find it together.
• The basics of planning a compelling book
• The key elements of structure / plotting/ planning
• Finding your hook, genre and message
• How to build your book - chapter by chapter
• Titles and log lines
• Develop your characters and events
• Working with dialogue
• Knowing what to include and exclude
• Adding depth and layers, tone and voice
The mentorship price is $450. Link to pay and join is here
What support can you expect?
Loads. We work over a four month block of time together to get your first draft written. Depending on your needs, and what you enjoy in a creative process, you will join a group of authors, or you can work solo and you can dip into the group sessions for discipline and connection. You will move down the path to publication, but the writing journey is your own.
You will be assigned a book mentor who will be suited to your book and genre.
They will expect an update every Monday in the initial planning phases. As you move into the writing phase you will be required to complete a scene or chapter every few weeks for review and input. We will then meet your mentor to review your work.
What are the group sessions you can join?
Every Wednesday we have an (optional) online writing group for 4 hours which will push up your word count and allow you to write in community and connect. I have a monthly 'At Home Writing Binge' of three days of solid writing, 8 hours a day. These are all part of the mentorship and you can chose to participate, or write alone.
When will your book be finished?
That depends on your commitment and writing time. I take a year to get a book to completion but you can read the testimonials and some authors have written a book and got a publisher in a shorter time. Most non-fiction books take a solid 8 months from idea to final draft. Many take years to get to market. So having a realistic timeline is important.
What will you learn?
• BOOK STRUCTURE:
This is both a course and a mentorship and Sarah is a structure fanatic who will show you that a strong structure is the gift that sets your writing free.
• What is your STORY? Let’s find it together.
• The basics of planning a compelling book
• The key elements of structure / plotting/ planning
• Finding your hook, genre and message
• How to build your book - chapter by chapter
• Titles and log lines
• Develop your characters and events
• Working with dialogue
• Knowing what to include and exclude
• Adding depth and layers, tone and voice
PHASE 1: APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW
1. You will fill in the application form that we will email to you after you fill in the online form.
2. Once we have reviewed it, we will book a (free) chat to discuss how this mentorship works and what your book goals are.
2. Once we have reviewed it, we will book a (free) chat to discuss how this mentorship works and what your book goals are.
PHASE 2: STRUCTURE, WRITING AND DEADLINES (MONTHS 1-4)
We plan, structure and you write the first draft.
You will be given a series of lessons and tasks via email that will bring together the architecture of your book.
We have monthly mentor call along with the task-driven lessons.
We start with an initial session to discuss your book and map out your writing plan, deadlines and publishing goals
You will be given a series of lessons and tasks via email that will bring together the architecture of your book.
We have monthly mentor call along with the task-driven lessons.
We start with an initial session to discuss your book and map out your writing plan, deadlines and publishing goals
If you have a passion to write a book and feel confused about where to start and what to do – you absolutely have to make contact with Sarah! She is brilliance on steroids. She will poke, prod, push, teach, inspire, mentor and support you like nothing you have experienced. She wants you to win and succeed and that is a rare trait today.
Nevi Letcher, author Mind your Own Business 2020
Sarah's expertise and heartfelt care are a rare find. I highly recommend her services as a writing coach and literary agent and am very grateful to have found her.
Colleen-Joy Page, Author The Apple Tree + many other books
Sarah created the perfect balance of support and accountability in helping me write my book and get it accepted at a publisher Sarah’s thought-provoking nudges, expertise and advice along the way were invaluable and helped me to craft a book that I am incredibly proud of.
Nicky Rowbotham, 7 Steps to Finding Flow, Flip the Script on Stress 2020
Q. Will I be finished in the year?
A. That depends on your commitment and writing time. I take a year to get a book to completion but you can read the testimonials and some authors have written a book and got a publisher in this time. Most non fiction books take a solid 8 months from idea to final draft. Many take years to get to market. So having a realistic timeline is important. After our six months are completed we can renew the package if you want to continue with mentoring.
Many writers take their book all the way from IDEA to PUBLISHER over this process. .
If you are starting with just an idea and some planning you can use this process to produce a solid first draft of your book.
If you have a completed first draft, this process can take you through your all your edits to get you to a final amazing version, a pitch deck, an author brand and a book ready to send to publishers, or self publish.
How much time do I need to put aside for this?
This mentorship works around your current life. We are not expecting you to quit your job. We do like you to be on the live calls once a month but other than that you are going to have to work out how much writing time will get your book completed. For some writers it’s a slow and steady hour a day, others may find they block-book a series of weekends away to get up the word count. You will also need to update on the Facebook group every week and take approx 20 minutes to support your fellow writers. Note: it is this community of support that past authors swear by, as a way to keep going.
Can I do this if I am already published and want to write a 2nd book?
Of course. We have some writers who had done this three years in a row.
Can Sarah take on my book as an agent?
This is not part of the mentorship. Sarah's does take on some of our graduates but this is not part of this process and taking part does not imply she can place your book. Submissions to an agent will happen separately and independently of this course, after the PITCH TO PUBLISHED BOOTCAMP.
What if I don't finish my book in the allotted time?
Hmmm, we like to think you will, and experience has shown us that you can. We are truly going to push you all the way there. If you don't finish, however, the chances are you will be a LOT further along than before we started. Our track record says you will complete your first draft.
What if LIFE gets in the way and I need to stop the mentorship?
The fee is non-refundable. However, you can continue to receive all the lessons and recordings of live calls, and still be able to use your personal coaching sessions within the mentorship time period. When life eases up, you can pick up your book where you left off and continue with your lessons. Often writers take us up on the highly subsidized “re-sit” fee to come and enjoy the group support and weekly deadlines to get back on track again FAST! We want you on the group, on the calls and engaged with us and your book so that you go all the way.
A. That depends on your commitment and writing time. I take a year to get a book to completion but you can read the testimonials and some authors have written a book and got a publisher in this time. Most non fiction books take a solid 8 months from idea to final draft. Many take years to get to market. So having a realistic timeline is important. After our six months are completed we can renew the package if you want to continue with mentoring.
Many writers take their book all the way from IDEA to PUBLISHER over this process. .
If you are starting with just an idea and some planning you can use this process to produce a solid first draft of your book.
If you have a completed first draft, this process can take you through your all your edits to get you to a final amazing version, a pitch deck, an author brand and a book ready to send to publishers, or self publish.
How much time do I need to put aside for this?
This mentorship works around your current life. We are not expecting you to quit your job. We do like you to be on the live calls once a month but other than that you are going to have to work out how much writing time will get your book completed. For some writers it’s a slow and steady hour a day, others may find they block-book a series of weekends away to get up the word count. You will also need to update on the Facebook group every week and take approx 20 minutes to support your fellow writers. Note: it is this community of support that past authors swear by, as a way to keep going.
Can I do this if I am already published and want to write a 2nd book?
Of course. We have some writers who had done this three years in a row.
Can Sarah take on my book as an agent?
This is not part of the mentorship. Sarah's does take on some of our graduates but this is not part of this process and taking part does not imply she can place your book. Submissions to an agent will happen separately and independently of this course, after the PITCH TO PUBLISHED BOOTCAMP.
What if I don't finish my book in the allotted time?
Hmmm, we like to think you will, and experience has shown us that you can. We are truly going to push you all the way there. If you don't finish, however, the chances are you will be a LOT further along than before we started. Our track record says you will complete your first draft.
What if LIFE gets in the way and I need to stop the mentorship?
The fee is non-refundable. However, you can continue to receive all the lessons and recordings of live calls, and still be able to use your personal coaching sessions within the mentorship time period. When life eases up, you can pick up your book where you left off and continue with your lessons. Often writers take us up on the highly subsidized “re-sit” fee to come and enjoy the group support and weekly deadlines to get back on track again FAST! We want you on the group, on the calls and engaged with us and your book so that you go all the way.
Sarah Bullen - pic credit FairLady Magazine / Lisa van Deventer
|
My novel Gracie Stirling and the Whisper Horses is getting published! A small publishing house in Wales picked it up and will be publishing it. I have already signed the contract and they have sent their edits. I just wanted to say a big thank you so much. The course was invaluable and it provided me with the structure and "action" they loved in the book. |
I LOVED everything. The structure and the accountability. I loved the combination of Kate's inspiration and Sarah's taskmaster writing challenges. I loved hearing other people's progress and stories – it inspired me to carry on. Also was great as a forum to discuss some of the structural aspects of writing and really narrowing the focus of your book's core. The one-on-one sessions were brilliant as it really kept me believing I could do it and gave me good ideas to implement going forward. For someone who wants to do it but isn’t sure how or if they have it in them, this is the perfect way to test yourself.
Leigh Taylor
I’m no writer but had a story I needed to tell. If you have a book “inside” you and you have determination then catch a ride with Sarah and Kate. Hold on tight – it won’t be easy, and it does take time, but if you do it their way
and do everything they say, you will get your first draft done. Their wealth of knowledge on the craft of writing, the industry, and process and the motivation around it all was priceless. Book 2 to follow soon and no doubt
through this process again with them.
Costa Carastavrakis - I am Costa, From Meths to Marathons
“Sarah is the master at showing you how to write for a reader”
Khanyisa Malungana
“You are in for a ride of fun and learning, hard work, sleepless nights as well as the rousing and wondrous highs of meeting your own commitments in getting YOUR book done as you steadily come into your home run - your finish run - the draft of your book! Get your ticket now.”
Hester Bergh Appoyer - Being Nice isn't Enough!
Kate and Sarah will help you up on your feet and moving in the right direction.
They are kind, but clear; wise, but pragmatic.
I recommend this to anyone who is ready to take their writing dream and turn it into a reality!
Anel Hamersma - The Creativity Midwife
I want to tell aspiring writers that it's actually easier than they think - to write, that is. And that a course like this, with a deadline and access to writers and industry professionals is worth every penny!
Sandra Buckingham
The people, the community that was formed, the honesty and vulnerability and the opportunity we had to share stories, realizing that it wasn’t just us, we weren’t alone, sharing celebrations. What really worked was the commitment to the regular posts and you holding that firmly; the consistency was epic.
Wendy Ward. Metamorphic Coaching and Presilience
I have challenged myself to test a dream. I loved it. This mentorship is extremely supportive & well structured so one is not left in the wilderness and wondering what to do or write next”. The weekly tasks are very well thought through and keep one on track and it’s wonderful to connect with other writers. It is a non-judgmental course and process and therefore you can explore your writing without fear.
Caroline Menell
To turn your dreams into reality one needs to take action. This helps you to do just that. It gets the words moving from your head onto paper and your book becomes a reality.
Theresa Robberts - Blind, Broken and Brilliant
This writing mentorship is the stick of dynamite you need to stop gazing at your own navel and instead gaze at a finish line that gets steadily closer. If you’ve been struggling to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page, this mentorship will prove invaluable.
Meg Chronis, romance novelist
“I never knew how to share my story, and then like a divine gift from the universe, came Kate and Sarah. From book structure and editing to publishing, branding and PR I did it! And if I can, you can. What an incredible experience – let them show you how. It’s a life-changing journey.
Jennifer Cole - Beautiful Children in a Ugly World
You have motivated me to fulfill my dreams:
Hannelie Bronkhorst.
What an amazing and inspiring experience it has been. After sitting for years with bits and pieces of my second book done, I now have a completed first draft in my hands.
Jacqui Holmes
D-Day – Wow! What a journey. Yes I have a first draft! 89 000 words!
Carmen Tina Schneider.
I absolutely loved the process with Kate Emmerson and Sarah Bullen. Not having been an author before, the experience gave me the grounding I needed to complete three chapters for a co-authored book and get started on my first book.
Bettina Pickering, The Emotion Coach 2016
“Anyone who feels they have a book buried inside should be part of this course to dig deep and uncover the book that needs to be written”.
Jacqui Bourne
This has started me on a journey that I dreamed of from an early age but hadn’t felt confident enough to act on. The whole process of writing and publishing has been de-mystified and made ever so do-able. It is no longer an intimidating out of reach dream, finishing my book is now an attainable goal.
Viki Runge
"I want to thank you for putting together this course material, the course itself and without a doubt, for the magnificent support, inspiration, nurturing, friendship and confidence that both you Kate, and you Sarah have afforded us during this ‘a journey into the unknown world of writers’. This has been one of the best things to have happened to me for a long time! There is no doubt that I attract fabulous people into my life. Bravo! "
Rose McClement
