FAQs

Do I get personal 1-on-1 attention?

✅ YES! Every student is paired with a highly trained, dedicated Story Grid Mentor who provides consistent guidance throughout the program. The mentorship includes:

• Written and video feedback on every scene you write
• Bi-weekly one-on-one coaching calls
• Custom assignments based on your specific needs
• Regular progress tracking through our rubric system

We carefully match students with mentors based on your application process. If you feel the match isn't working, you can request a different mentor at any time.

Will I actually improve as a writer?

✅ YES! First of all, we have been running this program for over three years and continued to improve our training and curriculum.

He help you improve through:

• Weekly writing and immediate expert feedback that identifies exactly what you did right, what needs work, and specific steps for improvement
• A proven progression path that builds your skills systematically: First mastering individual scenes, then combining scenes into compelling short stories, and finally crafting complete novellas
• Our comprehensive rubric system lets you track specific improvements in your writing skills. Your mentor updates your progress dashboard every four weeks to show exactly where you're growing.
• Our merit-based advancement ensures you build a rock-solid foundation before moving to more complex challenges. Think of it like earning belts in martial arts - you advance when you've mastered the skills at your current level.

Our systematic approach to developing writing skills works because it combines proven theory with constant practice and expert feedback.

Can I join even if I've never written before?

✅ YES! The program is designed to meet you exactly where you are. We've had successful students who had never written creatively before starting the program, as well as experienced writers looking to enhance their skills.

You don't need any preparation or previous writing experience. The program starts with fundamentals and builds progressively. Your mentor will adjust the feedback and guidance to match your current skill level and help you advance at your own pace.

Will I be able to collaborate with other students?

✅ YES! You'll have access to a vibrant writing community in several ways:

• Weekly workshops with your cohort (10-20 writers) where you'll analyze scenes together and deepen your understanding of story craft
• A dedicated Slack channel where you can connect with writers from every level of the program - from brand new students to those working on their novellas
• The annual Writer Mentorship Summit in Nashville where you'll spend 2½ days with fellow writers, celebrate program milestones, and forge lasting connections

To maintain a supportive, pressure-free environment, all feedback comes exclusively from our expert mentors. This means you can focus on learning and building relationships with fellow writers without the stress of critiquing each other's work. Our students consistently tell us this creates a more encouraging and collaborative atmosphere where lasting friendships flourish.

You'll be learning alongside others who share your commitment to mastering the craft of writing, creating an energizing environment for growth.

What happens if I miss the live sessions? Can I still access them?

✅ YES! All live sessions are recorded and posted to your training dashboard, where they'll be available for the duration of your membership. This includes:

• Weekly workshop sessions
• Group coaching calls
• Special trainings and events

You can send questions in advance to ensure they're addressed during the session, even if you can't attend live. Your mentor will also review any important points during your one-on-one calls.

We have students from different time zones and with varying schedules, so we've made sure you never miss critical training just because you can't make a live session. While we encourage live attendance when possible for the interactive elements, many successful students primarily engage with the recorded content.

Remember, the most important parts of the program—your writing submissions, mentor feedback, and one-on-one calls—are all scheduled at times that work for you.

Do I have time in my schedule for this program?

✅ YES! The weekly commitment is ~5-7 hours per week, broken down into:

• Training videos (~1 hour)
• Live workshop (~1 hour)
• Writing assignment (~2-3 hours)
• Reviewing feedback (~30 minutes)
• Bi-weekly mentor call (30-60 minutes)

We've designed the program to work for busy professionals, parents, and retirees. Most of our current students are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s with full lives outside of writing. Here's how we make it manageable:

• Flexible scheduling - multiple workshop times to choose from and mentor calls scheduled at your convenience
• Recorded sessions - all live content is recorded so you never miss important training
• Break weeks built into the schedule for catching up and review
• Async learning - most of the work can be done when it fits your schedule

The only fixed time commitments are your chosen workshop slot and bi-weekly mentor calls that you set the schedule for. Everything else fits around your life.

The program is an investment in your writing future, but one that's designed to work with—not compete against—your existing commitments.

Will I know if I'm actually improving?

✅ YES! We use a comprehensive rubric system to track your development across specific writing skills. Your mentor updates your progress dashboard every four weeks, identifying areas of improvement and skills that need focus.

Advancement through the program is merit-based rather than time-based. While we expect most students to complete the program within three years, you'll move forward based on demonstrated mastery rather than time served. This ensures you build a solid foundation before tackling more complex writing challenges.

Think of it like earning belts in martial arts - you advance when you've mastered the skills at your current level, not just because you've put in time. We guarantee you won't pay for more than three years of training, even if you need more time to complete all levels.

I write nonfiction. Is this still a good fit for me?

✅ YES! The Writer Mentorship program is focused on leveling up your line-by-line writing as well as your overall understanding of narrative theory. This will improve your skills across all writing whether it's fiction, nonfiction, marketing or even your daily emails.

The methodology in the training has been applied across all genres and, even though we use a scene from a masterwork of fiction as the study tool for the semester, you will be surprised how much it applies across everything you write.

I still have more questions. Can I get them answered?

✅ YES! Simply email us at [email protected] and our CEO will respond ASAP.