We currently have 4 options available for writers. Each is separate and dependent upon what you, as a writer, are looking for at this time.

1. Our Courses. These are offered one per quarter, and you simply pay as you go, giving you the ability to pick and choose what interests you (or meets your current need). Each Course includes: 4 live mentoring workshops with hands-on critique plus Q&As, 2-4 live writing sprints, 8-14 hours of prerecorded teachings (so students can watch on their own timeframe), access to the recordings for the rest of the educational year, access to our Course Facebook Community to connect with your faculty and other students, ask questions, and more, and a Course syllabus and workbook!

2. Our Red Herrings Society (RHS). The RHS is a monthly, exclusive writing society. Members pay one month at a time and can cancel whenever. Your RHS membership provides access to industry professionals, monthly teachings and critique opportunities, writing sessions, access to RHS webinar replays, the opportunity to be published in our yearly anthology, and more!

3. Our ICONIC Mentorship Program. This is a 1-year mentorship that is paid monthly or all-at-once (your choice). It includes 12 months of hands-on, face-to-face (via zoom) mentorship in which you get:

   • Industry professionals walking with you through the hands-on of writing your book or any and all writing career aspects (ranging from new to seasoned writer needs - whether that’s crafting your first book or breaking out in a new field, navigating social media marketing or negotiating complex publicity / publishing industry needs, starting or advancing a writing-compatible business, querying, indie-publishing, or more)

   • 2 individual and 1 group mentorship calls per month, with up to 8,000 words of material reviewed per month

   • Access to the entire year of our Courses (access them live or as replays)

   • A custom designed 5-page author website

   • A developmental edit on up to 100k words

4. Our Retreats. These are offered 3 times per year (one virtual, one stateside, and one overseas) for any writer to attend!

Courses are offered four times a year, with one course per quarter, each covering a complete topic in-depth. The curriculum is designed to educate on multiple fronts, providing a thorough understanding of the subject. Each course includes 8-16 hours of prerecorded video teaching, divided into 1 to 2-hour segments, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Mentorship workshop sessions and writing sprints are provided 2-5 times each per course. This allows our teachers to coach attendees in whatever areas they'll most benefit from. Participation is flexible; students can engage fully or selectively, based on their preferences. New courses are announced 1-2 months before the start of each quarter.

We offer one course per quarter to provide a level of depth and thoroughness that truly benefits our participants. By focusing on a single topic, we're able to deliver comprehensive, professional-level coverage, workshops, and mentorship, ensuring that writers not only understand the material but can also apply it effectively in their careers. This approach allows us to explore each subject in detail, offering rich insights and practical knowledge that are essential for professional growth.

The Courses are available to everyone who signs up and purchases them. Once joined, attendees get access to the teachings, mentorship offerings, and Facebook community that is specific and limited to that particular course. At this time, we only offer the courses on a set schedule - meaning applicants will need to join the waitlist once a course has passed to be notified when it's available again. Stay tuned, however, as this may change in the upcoming months. ;)

Separately, the Red Herrings Society (RHS) is an ongoing community where members get exclusive Facebook access to our Red Herrings group, writing sprints, critique groups, monthly freebies, giveaways, and two exclusive (free and only for RHS members) teaching nights per month - one being a masterclass on a specific topic, the other a hands-on workshop on that topic. As well, we have a whole library of classes that members can access anytime they want available through a secret passage on the Red Herrings Society member site.

Because the Courses and Red Herrings Society are separate and unique in their own purposes and offerings, attendees for one do not get access to the other without purchasing and joining.

Finally, Courses last around 4-5 weeks and intensively cover each topic they address, whereas the Red Herrings Society is an ongoing subscription community.

At this time, we only offer the courses on a set schedule - meaning applicants will need to join the waitlist once a course has passed to be notified when it's available again. Stay tuned, however, as this may change in the upcoming months. ;)

We offer two exclusive memberships. The first is to the Red Herrings Society, our ongoing subscription community that is active all week, month, and year long.

The second is to ICONIC, our unique mentorship program and community that focuses specifically on you and your individual writing, giving you regular, exclusive access to Mary and C.J. as they work hands-on with you through writing, publishing, marketing, and brainstorming your book, or pivoting and leveling up your author career and social media.

Separate from those, our overall community is The Writer's Sanctuary, which can be tapped into on Facebook, Instagram, and particularly through our newsletter. Anyone is welcome to sign up to attend an upcoming course (found on the Courses page), one of our writing retreats (online or in-person), or join our newsletter to get monthly updates on new retreats, courses, or need-to-know-info coming up!

Due to the nature, setup, and/or limited spots regarding our live and recorded courses, our RHS memberships, our ICONIC mentorships, and our retreats, The Writer's Sanctuary has a strict no-refund policy.

All content on this website and belonging to The Writer's Sanctuary, including course materials, videos, workbooks, livestreams, discussions, and mentorship sessions, is protected by copyright and is the exclusive property of The Writer's Sanctuary. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or transmission of any material is strictly prohibited. This includes sharing videos, passwords, workbooks, course materials, etc with anyone who has not purchased it. Explicit written permission is required to use any TWS material. Violation of these terms will result in immediate dismissal from the program without reimbursement and may result in legal action.

The Writer's Sanctuary is committed to empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities that have historically faced barriers to education. Our scholarship program is designed to support and uplift those who may have been underrepresented or underserved, including but not limited to racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals and families, first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, rural and remote communities, immigrants and refugees, women and gender minorities, veterans and military families, Indigenous peoples, and others facing social, economic, or educational challenges. We believe in the power of education to transform lives and are dedicated to making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

With this in mind, each year The Writer's Sanctuary provides 3 RHS scholarships, 3 live course scholarships, and 2 ICONIC scholarships to members of underrepresented or underserved communities. If you would like to apply for one of these, please visit our perennial scholarship list here.

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