Write Your Debut Novel:
A Step-by-Step Program for Beginners
Join International Bestselling Novelists and MFA Creative Writing
Instructors Julie Cantrell and Sadeqa Johnson
for a Year-Long Program
January 20, 2026 – November 17, 2026
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific)
Write the story only you can tell, within a supportive community that believes in your voice.
If you’ve reached a season of life where your stories feel deeper, your voice feels stronger, and something inside you keeps whispering “It’s my time,” then you’re in the right place.
Write Your Debut Novel is a year-long, soul-nourishing mentorship experience for women who are ready to express a new part of themselves, step into their creative calling, and finally bring their novel to life—with warmth, structure, guidance, and community.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
You don’t have to wonder where to begin.
You don’t have to struggle without feedback.
We’ll walk beside you every step of the way.
WORLD-CLASS GUIDANCE THAT MEETS YOU WHERE YOU ARE
You’ll be guided by bestselling authors who bring both mastery of craft and a deep commitment to nurturing new voices. Julie Cantrell and Sadeqa Johnson understand what it means to rise, reinvent, and create from lived experience. And they bring that same compassion and insight to every session.
Their teaching blends clarity, warmth, and real-world wisdom, creating a learning environment where you feel supported, capable, and inspired.
Your Faculty
VIP Guest Instructors
NYT Bestselling Author, The Henna Artist
Award-winning Author, Editor, and Consultant
NYT Bestselling Author, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
NYT Bestselling Author, Author of Girl in Translation
Why This Program Is Different
Because your voice deserves a place where it’s truly honored.
This is not simply a writing program. It’s a heart-centered journey of expression, courage, and creative renewal, designed for women ready to step into a fuller version of themselves.
Inside this experience, you’ll find a space where:
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Your story is taken seriously
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Your questions are welcomed
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Your pace is respected
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Your courage is celebrated
With bestselling authors Julie Cantrell and Sadeqa Johnson as your mentors, you’ll learn from women who understand reinvention and the deep pull to create something meaningful.
This is structure and skill, yes. But it’s also community, connection, and a safe place to grow as you finally say yes to writing your debut novel.
SPACE IS LIMITED! ENROLL TODAY.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
Over the course of this year-long journey, you’ll receive guidance, community, and support designed to help you grow both as a writer and as a woman stepping into her creative power.
High-Level Craft Instruction
You’ll learn the essential elements of storytelling (character, plot, structure, scene work, dialogue, pacing, voice, and revision) all taught in clear, encouraging, accessible ways that meet you exactly where you are.
Bi-Weekly Live Gatherings
These aren’t just classes. They’re conversations, connections, and creative breakthroughs.
Gentle, Consistent Accountability
Supportive guidance will help you honor your commitment to yourself and keep your story moving forward.
A Safe, Encouraging Space to Grow
Whether you’re rediscovering a part of yourself or expressing something new, you’ll be held with kindness and clarity every step of the way.
Now’s the time to put YOUR story on the page.
A Clear, Encouraging Roadmap to Bring Your Novel to Life
This journey is designed with intention, offering a gentle progression that helps you stay grounded, inspired, and moving forward. Each month builds on the one before it, giving you structure without pressure and momentum without overwhelm.
You’ll always know where you’re headed and what comes next, with guidance that supports your creativity rather than constraining it.
Below is the steady, encouraging path that will help you finish the novel you’ve always wanted to write:
Quarter 1 – Foundations & Planning
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Jan 20 – Welcome + Big Picture, Goal Setting, & Commitments; Idea Generation & Finding Your Story
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Feb 3 – Character Development: Protagonist & Antagonist
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Feb 17 – Structure & Story Arc (Three-Act & Save the Cat)
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Mar 3 – VIP guest speaker - World-Building: Setting, Time, and Place (Jean Kwok)
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Mar 10 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Mar 17 – Outlining Methods: From Discovery to Detailed
GOAL: Craft a working outline, character profiles, setting descriptions, and the BIG WHY to nail down your story’s theme by end of March.
Quarter 2 – Building the First Act
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Mar 31 – VIP guest speaker, Writing Powerful Openings (Jamie Ford)
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Apr 14 – Dialogue, Dialect, & Voice
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Apr 28 – Conflict, Stakes, & Tension
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May 12 – Subplots & Secondary Characters
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May 26 – Pacing & Scene Construction
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Jun 9 – Landing the Act I Turning Point
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Jun 16 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Jun 23 – Quarter 2 Wrap: First Aid Check-In (Progress Assessment, Quarter Review, Q&A, Next Steps & Celebrations)
GOAL: Write 80–100 pages (Act 1) by end of June.
Quarter 3 – Writing the Middle (Act 2)
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Jul 7 – VIP guest speaker, Navigating the “Muddy Middle” with Leslie Lehr
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Jul 21 – Theme & Character Transformation
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Aug 4 – Midpoint Reversals & Raising the Stakes
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Aug Break (Aug 11 & 25) – Independent Writing (no class)
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Sep 1 – Peer Critiques: Share & Care
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Sep 15 – Layering Suspense, Emotion, and Meaning
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Sep 22 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Sep 29 – Quarter 3 Wrap: First Aid Check-In (Progress Assessment, Quarter Review, Q&A, Next Steps, & Celebrations)
GOAL: Write 200–250 pages (Acts 1 & 2) by end of September.
Quarter 4 – The Final Act & Draft Completion
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Oct 13 – VIP guest speaker, Crafting Climaxes with Alka Joshi
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Oct 27 – Stick the Landing: Craft a Satisfying Ending
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Nov 3 – Quarterly Ask Us Anything Office Hours with Julie & Sadeqa
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Nov 10 – Revision Strategies: Big Picture vs. Line Edits
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Nov 17 – Celebration & Next Steps: Publishing Paths, Query Letters, Staying Motivated
GOAL: Write a full first draft (80–90K words) by course end.
What Your Enrollment Includes
For a fraction of the cost of a traditional MFA program—and far less than a year of private book coaching—you’ll receive a full year of expert mentorship, community, clarity, and structure designed to help you write your debut novel.
Your enrollment includes:
36 Hours of Live Instruction
Bi-weekly sessions that blend craft, clarity, and encouragement. This gives you practical tools and the confidence to use them immediately in your own writing.
4 Hours of VIP Guest Sessions
Conversations with bestselling authors and industry leaders who offer insider perspectives and creative wisdom that will elevate your work.
8 Hours of “Ask Anything” Office Hours
Quarterly check-ins with Sadeqa and Julie for tailored guidance and compassionate support when you need it most.
26 Peer Workshop Sessions (Optional)
A nurturing space to share pages, receive thoughtful feedback, and grow alongside women who truly understand the courage it takes to create.
Access to the Year-Long Program Recordings
Rewatch lessons on your schedule, revisit breakthroughs, and never worry about missing a session.
Downloadable Worksheets + Story Maps
Simple, structured tools that make planning, drafting, and revising your novel feel accessible and achievable.
A Printable Year-Long Writing Roadmap
A clear guide that shows you exactly where you’re going and how each step of the journey builds toward your completed draft.
A Supportive, Private Writing Community
Stay connected between sessions, ask questions, share progress, and feel the steady encouragement of a circle walking the journey with you.
The Tools to Draft Your Debut Novel
By the end of the year, you’ll have the momentum, structure, and confidence to finish a full draft, one shaped by your truth, your imagination, and your voice.
Why This Investment Is Worth It
Many women carry a story within them—sometimes for years, sometimes for decades. It whispers at inconvenient moments, wakes you up at night, taps you on the shoulder with that persistent nudge: When will you finally write me?
But having a story is not the same as knowing how to bring it to life. Without guidance and instruction, it’s easy to spend months—or years—and far too much money trying, doubting, starting over, and still not knowing where to begin. There is nothing more frustrating than sitting down to write and feeling lost about how to shape a scene, develop your characters, or understand why your story matters.
That’s why this program is an investment in clarity, confidence, and creative joy. When you learn the fundamentals from the start, writing your novel becomes a pleasurable, empowering experience rather than a lonely struggle.
As our guest instructor Alka Joshi says, she invested in the education she needed so she could write her debut novel well from the very beginning. We want that for you, too.
Don’t waste time or resources wandering in the dark. Step into a uniquely supportive environment where you’ll receive the tools, mentorship, and community you need to finally write the story that has been waiting inside you.
"Julie and Sadeqa don’t just teach writing—they nurture you through the process. Their encouragement, humor, and honesty gave me the courage to keep going, even on the hard days. I’ve never felt so supported as a writer or as a woman."
— Tanya, 47
SPACE IS LIMITED
To ensure every woman receives the attention, support, and mentorship she deserves, we keep this program intentionally small.
Now is the time to reserve your spot.
This is your year.
This is your moment.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU IF…
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A story has been living inside you, waiting for the right moment, the right season, the right support to come forward.
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You’re entering a new chapter of life and feel ready to express a deeper, fuller version of yourself.
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You’ve spent years nurturing others and are ready to invest in your own voice and creative calling.
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You crave structure, encouragement, and expert guidance without pressure, comparison, or judgment.
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You want to write with purpose and heart, not just technique.
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You long for a community of women who understand reinvention, fear, courage, and the desire to create something meaningful.
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You’re ready to stop waiting and start honoring the part of you that knows: It’s my time.
If you feel even a whisper of recognition in these words, you are exactly where you need to be.
Special Enrollment Bonus for Non-members (Limited-Time Offer)
If you sign up by December 31st, you will also receive a full year of Story Summit Membership and all its classes — a bonus valued at $997!
FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS
For writers who prefer a payment plan, please select the One Time Payment option at checkout — this is the only choice to use PayPal Pay Later, allowing you to set up your own monthly installments directly through PayPal for the full tuition of $5,997.
PayPal’s monthly installment options offer a secure and flexible way to spread your tuition across predictable payments, often at rates comparable to or lower than traditional credit cards, and up to 24 months.
To celebrate your commitment to a year of creativity with our exciting new workshop, everyone who enrolls using PayPal Later will also receive an exclusive Story Summit 2026 hoodie — a warm reminder that you’re part of a community that believes in you. Whether you choose monthly installments or pay in full, PayPal Later makes the process simple, protected, and tailored to your needs. Our goal is to support you with clarity, encouragement, and a little extra joy along the way.
Additional Payment Options
If you don't want to use PayPal, we also offer flexible payment options by card so you can choose the plan that feels most comfortable and supportive for your life.
One-Time Payment - $5,997
Ideal for women who want to commit fully and enjoy the ease of a single payment.
Quarterly Payments $1,500
A balanced option that spreads the investment across four manageable installments.
Monthly Payments $600
For those who prefer the gentlest pace, this option allows you to move through the year and the payments month by month.
Enrollment is limited to ensure every writer receives personal attention. Don’t wait—2026 is your year!
Story Summit Members receive a 20% discount for this year-long class. The special coupon will be available in your dashboard. Not a subscriber yet? Join here.
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
A full cash refund will be made (less processing fees of 7.5%) if you notify us at least two weeks before the start of the entire series. If less than two weeks, the refund can be applied as a credit for another future class. This applies to all payment methods, including payment plans.
Due to the commitment required for the Year-Long Class, no refunds will be made after the class starts. The only exception is for family or medical circumstances that make it impossible to continue. In that event, you will be refunded a pro-rated amount, based on the number of class sessions taken. A 7.5% transaction fee will also apply to the amount due to you.
If a student violates the trust or privacy outlined in the Virtuous Circle, Story Summit reserves the right to dismiss that student from the class and provide a refund pro-rated based on the number of classes taken. There will be no transaction fee refund.
Please note that all refunds are processed within a 30-day window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions women ask before joining:
JOIN OUR FREE INFORMATION SESSION
If you’re curious about this journey and want to get a true sense of the warmth, guidance, and community at the heart of this program, we invite you to join Julie and Sadeqa for a FREE one-hour Information Session + Gentle Q&A.
This is a welcoming space designed for women who want to:
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Understand what the year-long experience is really like
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Ask questions openly
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Receive helpful, practical writing insights
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Meet the instructors and feel their teaching style firsthand
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Get clarity on whether this journey is the right next step
No pressure. No expectations.
Just an honest, heart-centered conversation.
FREE Information Session:
December 17, 2025 • 8–9 p.m. EST
It’s the easiest way to experience the support, encouragement, and creative energy that make this program so special.
Every woman who has ever written a novel started with uncertainty. What matters is that she listened to the part of herself that said, “I’m ready for something more.”
If you feel that spark, trust it. And take the step that feels right for you.
