The online Residency for writers:

Autumn 2025 Edition

Take a short season to move your story forward — and finally feel like your True vision is getting on the page.

You know there’s something powerful in your story, but between self-doubt, plot tangles, and everyday life, it’s hard to move it forward.

That’s where The Autumn Residency comes in.

For six focused weeks, you’ll have structured coaching, weekly feedback, and a small circle of writers walking beside you. The program is designed to help you figure out the right way to tell your story (and get on with writing it).

(pumpkin pies not included)

I call this a "Residency" because it promises the best environment for getting your work done, full of guidance, technical assistance, and accountability. 

It’s a writing season that fits into your real life, giving you focus, plot fixes, and the confidence that your story is finally taking shape.

What do you get from The Autumn Residency? Three things that matter:

• Confidence — that you can make writing a bigger part of your life
• Clarity — as your story starts clicking into place, scene by scene, until it sounds like you on the page.
• Direction — you’ll leave with a personal roadmap that keeps your novel moving long after the season ends (so you always know what comes next).

What is "The Residency"?

Think of The Residency as a writer’s retreat: one that fits into your real life.

No plane tickets, no pet boarding, no leaving your world behind.

You bring your story, whatever stage it’s in, and for six focused weeks, we build the structure, support, and creative momentum to move it forward.

It’s a guided writing season designed to help you actually do the work — with expert feedback, clear direction, and a supportive community around you.

Each week, you’ll send in your pages or questions and get direct feedback from me and my team of genre experts. You'll untangle plot knots, strengthen scenes, and see real progress, fast.

You’ll also connect with fellow writers who are in that same space: passionate, curious, sometimes stuck, but deeply committed to getting better. Working alongside others makes the writing feel steadier, more real: something that belongs in your week.

The goal is simple: to bring more effective writing into your life, without any more guilt or late-night bleary effort.

On the surface, The Residency helps you make real progress on your current novel, whether that's the one you’ve been thinking about, circling, or want to take to the next level.

On another level, the program equips you with the habits, tools, and creative instincts that will carry you through every story you write after this one.

That’s what makes this experience so powerful for writers:

Each week, you’ll build momentum through small, doable wins, working through your story challenges with clear, personal guidance from an expert mentor.

By the end, you’ll feel stronger and more capable of bringing your ideas to life, doing writing that feels like you again.

Watch the videos below to see how it changed other writers' lives:

The Major Components of Your Autumn Residency

1. The Autumn Pathway + Coaching

A short sequence of creative milestones that help you see your story with new eyes.

These aren’t generic prompts — they’re multi-page, practical exercises that spark insight and progress. They will help you develop a sharper vision for your story and a more confident rhythm in your writing. You'll be able to apply the thorniest of craft tips to your story and know which idea fits your story best.

Even better: when you complete one, you'll be invited for a progress and planning session with me or one of my team of trained coaches (so you know what to work on next).

2. The Cohort Craft Podcast

Every week, I record a private episode answering your craft and plot questions — even the tricky, personal ones.

It’s like having a writing mentor in your earbuds, walking you through the hard parts of your story in real time. And you hear the answer to everyone else's questions, too, creating a natural learning experience. 

You’ll hear me respond to your specific challenges and learn from the others, turning each episode into a mini masterclass that sharpens your instincts.

3. The Weekly Planner

Each Monday, you’ll fill out a one-page plan to set intentions and troubleshoot blocks before they start.

This simple ritual turns your writing week from “I hope I get to it” into “Here’s exactly what I’ll do.” Over time, it becomes the quiet backbone of your writing practice — keeping you grounded and consistent.

4. The optional accountability challenge

If you wish, join us for Monday meetings where we try out new scenes and story ideas in "I can't believe this actually works" 7-minute sessions. We will channel William Blake's bold energy while keeping the stakes playful and relaxed. 

Each week, you'll be given fresh challenges so that you can keep crafting (or revising) compelling pages.

5. Monthly Live Check-Ins

We’ll gather for live sessions to share insights, celebrate breakthroughs, and problem-solve together.

What happens after the program?

When the Residency finishes, you’ll have a clearer sense of how your writing fits into your life.
You’ll know what helps you write well, what slows you down, and where your story is headed next. It’s a good, quiet feeling: a sense of making steady and real progress.

At the close of the program, we’ll create your Strategic Writing Map, a personalised guide to your project’s next stage.

It outlines what’s working, where your story needs attention, and how to keep your momentum going long after the six weeks are over.

Some maps focus on structure. Others highlight questions you still need to answer, or choices to revisit in revision. Whatever form yours takes, it becomes a record of your progress and a practical plan for what to do next.

You’ll leave with more than just pages. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of your story, and a quieter confidence in the kind of writer you’re becoming.

• A rhythm of writing that invigorates your confidence
• A clearer understanding of what your story should be
• A practical, personalised map to guide the next stage

How do you get feedback?

The Residency is built around feedback — not the red-pen kind, but the kind that helps you see your story more clearly.

Each week, you’ll send in up to ten pages of your novel, along with a question about what you most want help with.

Maybe you’re wondering if a scene lands the way you hoped.

Maybe you’re unsure whether the pacing works, or if your opening actually pulls readers in.

You can alternatively share a short outline (1-3 pages) and ask a bigger-picture question about your plot or character arcs.

I’ll review every submission and record my responses in our private Cohort Craft Podcast, where I answer every participant’s question.

You’ll hear my advice on your own work and learn from the patterns that appear in everyone else’s stories, too. It’s one of the most surprising parts of the program: how much clarity comes from hearing other writers wrestle with the same questions you’re asking.

The feedback rhythm is steady and manageable. You get thoughtful, in-depth notes once a week — enough to make real progress, without feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re ever unsure what to do next, you can always reach out and ask for my thoughts. The goal is that you never stay stuck for long.

A Unique Design to help you write

There are lots of great programs for writers. The Residency's design is a little unusual. 

Some programs could be called "how to guides" — they explain how to write a story or a chapter or how to create a character.

Some programs could be called "accountability groups" — they encourage you to keep writing.

And some programs could be called "discussion groups" — they focus on conversations about books or sharing chapters.

All of these programs can be great. But The Residency is different to all of them.

Why? 

You are a writer. You want to write or make progress on a novel. Your central problem is "doing the writing." So this program creates a creative environment that guides you to doing that writing, well.

How much can I share a week?

The Autumn Residency is designed to give you consistent, high-quality feedback without overwhelm or delay. 

Each week, you can send up to ten pages of your story (with a question you’d like me to focus on).

Or you can share a one-three page outline and ask a question about structure, pacing, or simply what should happen next.

I’ll read, reflect, and answer every question through our weekly podcast.

You’ll get practical notes, next steps, and fresh insight on your story, and you’ll hear how others are solving similar problems.

That shared learning is often where the biggest breakthroughs happen.

To keep the pace focused and manageable, feedback happens once per week.

This rhythm gives you time to process, revise, and apply what you’ve learned.

Now, if you hit a snag midweek or feel unsure how to apply something, just message me on the free Voxer app. I’ll be happy to clarify or point you back in the right direction.

The structure exists to protect your focus and keep the amount of advice you're receiving practical and effective.

Alongside this weekly rhythm, you’ll also complete three creative milestones during the program.

Each time you reach one, you’ll have the chance to meet with me or one of my trained coaches for a personal feedback session.

These conversations are where we look at the big picture: what’s working, what needs adjusting, and how to plan your next stretch of writing.

Between the weekly notes and the milestone sessions, you’ll always know what to work on next.

How It Works and Why It’s Online

The Residency takes place entirely online.

There’s no physical retreat or campus to travel to, by design.

An in-person residency gives you a week or two away from real life. This one gives you six weeks inside real life, with the structure and support to keep writing even when work, family, and those troublesome pets compete for your time.

You can give it as much or as little time as your schedule allows.

A focused hour or two each week is enough to ask your weekly questions, complete each milestone, and stay on track.

Why “Residency”?

Because that’s the spirit I want to create here.

In a traditional residency, the host clears space for you to do your best work.

That’s what this program does: it gives you the tools, community, and encouragement to write deeply and consistently.

It’s not a “done-for-you” experience or a ghost-writing service.

You’re still the one building the book. You just won’t be doing it alone.

Timing and Flow

Before we begin, I’ll schedule a short coaching call with every participant.

We’ll talk through your project, I'll do a little “plot whispering,” and we'll make sure you know how to get the most out of the program.

We start in at the very end of October and work together for six weeks, finishing mid-December.

You’ll have access to all materials afterwards, so you can revisit lessons and exercises any time.

If you have a trip planned or need a break, that’s completely fine. The program is built to bend with real life.

Structure and Communication

Once we begin, there aren’t weekly Zoom calls.

That’s intentional. The focus is your writing time, not another hour on camera. You aren't reviewing other writers' work and they aren't assessing yours. The goal is to help you make progress.

Each Tuesday, you can post your craft and plot questions inside the group.

I’ll answer every one in a private Cohort Craft Podcast episode, recorded weekly for the whole group.

You can be as detailed or specific as you like — the more context you share, the better I can help.

Along the way, I’ll check in inside our discussion space, and if you ever feel lost, we can always arrange a short call to get you back on track.

If you’re ready to make steady, confident progress on your novel this autumn, I’d love to work with you.

The Residency begins in at the very end of October and runs through mid-December.

Enrolment is $997.

That includes your six-week program, milestone coaching sessions, weekly podcast feedback, and access to all program materials after it ends.

When registrations close, I’ll schedule a quick coaching call with each participant — to talk through your project and set you up for a strong start.

If this feels like your season to write, I’d love for you to join us.