Rooted Writers Mentorship
Where Deep Thinkers and Feelers Write the Stories They Need to Tell
Enroll in the Mentorship by October 1 and your first month’s on me.
In a time when books are removed from libraries, gender-affirming care is blocked, and people are illegally imprisoned in swamps, your story matters more than ever.
Your quiet, brave book has the power to slip into someone's hands, sneak into their mind, and change their heart.
That's not just wishful thinking—it's neuroscience. Our brains process stories as though we’ve lived them. Through story, we can foster empathy, challenge bias, and nurture hope—one reader at a time.
But writing that kind of book is fucking hard.
You have to figure out what the hell you’re trying to say, whether to use the Hero’s Journey or Save the Cat as your plot structure, and how to use em dashes correctly.
Not to mention, your book is basically therapy, so reaching “The End” requires you to answer the not-so-simple question of why your mother did that thing and how you’re meant to love in the aftermath.
Needless to say, writing can be hella lonely, deeply confusing, and feel never-ending.
Especially when the world seems to be actively working against the truth you're trying to tell.
Writer, you’re not alone.
Welcome to the
Rooted Writers Mentorship
Grow Brave Stories That Can Change The World, One Reader At A Time
The Rooted Writers Mentorship is a place to write the story you need to tell so your reader can feel seen and see others.
We’re not about writing a book in 90-days, getting an Amazon Bestseller tag, or following the hottest publishing trend.
No, the Mentorship is for writers who are deeply connected to their stories, who want to know themselves better through the writing process, and who are writing because they want to make the world 300-pages better.
If you’ve been looking for support, community, and guidance so you can write a book that speaks to people, the Rooted Writers Mentorship is the place for you.
Not Just Another
Writing Group
The Rooted Writers Mentorship gives you everything you need to write the story only you can tell.
Writing is a lonely journey. You're expected to figure out confusing story structures, craft unforgetable characters, and navigate your own emotional baggage. Oh yeah, and you have to do it all on your lonesome, because your coworker sure doesn’t want to know how the biology of your species mirrors your experience with autism.
What if instead of doing it all alone, you had a complete ecosystem of support?
The Rooted Writers Mentorship combines the Story Tree Process with personalized guidance, creating a holistic experience where your story can truly flourish. You'll get a systematic approach to storytelling AND someone who knows your story intimately.
Your story isn't just random elements cobbled together—it's a living, integrated whole with you at its roots. Through the Story Tree Process, you'll grow your novel organically while getting expert guidance every step of the way.
Perfect for writers who:
Want the direction of an expert-led process with the personalization of one-on-one feedback (How great would it be to have both?)
Are writing from their own questions, identities, or experiences, because you can’t do it any other way
Love worksheets and deep-dive character analysis but also need someone to help them navigate the “What the fuck am I doing?” moments that inevitably arise
Want to understand the “why" behind every story choice so you can know you’re moving in the right direction
Need help to sort through their own shit to find the story they really want to tell
Have tried to finish their book on their own but keep getting derailed
What's included:
An intimate group of writers who are also writing from their own questions, identities, and experiences
In-depth teaching on character development, plot, series, drafting, and revision so you can write a book you’re proud of
The Story Tree Process, so you can craft your novel without getting lost along the way
Deep-dives on the Enneagram personality system to craft psychologically consistent characters with meaningful growth arcs
Weekly group coaching calls to get personalized expert guidance on your bookish questions, writerly doubts, and personal quandaries
Weekly member-led cowriting sessions in multiple time zones so you can write your damn book
Bonus Trainings with Dani and Guest Experts to deep dive into craft and become a more socially-conscious writer
Private online community to share your writing questions, adorable pet pics, and favorite memes in a space where you feel seen and safe
Opportunity to apply for coaching on Dani's podcast, because why wouldn’t you want to deep-dive into your story for an hour?
What you'll experience:
Story Partner - No need to explain your story from scratch each time, I’ll know the intricate details of your world, characters, and vision
True Belonging - Find a home among writers who get you, your perspective, and your purpose
Real Solutions - Work through your specific challenges with someone who understands how story works and how your story works
Confidence in Your Craft - Get reassurance that your character arc works, your pacing is good, and, yes, your description of a Space Spider that communicates through plasma glitter makes perfect sense
Customized Path Forward - End each call knowing exactly what do to next
Time to Process - Talk through the fear of your grandma reading your sex scenes, your confusion about representation, and the realization that if you want to finish your book you have to embrace your feminist rage
Connection with Yourself - Understand how your story is shaped by who you are
Validation and Encouragement - Share struggles and wins with people who understand why your book matters so damn much
All the Tools - Geek out on worksheets and spreadsheets designed for each stage of the process
Suggested Payment: $375 per month
Six month minimum commitment
(We’re kind of living in the apocalypse right now, so if shit goes down, I’m not going to penalize you for needing to leave early.)
Join the Mentorship by October 1 and your first month’s on me.
I Know, You've Been Hurt Before
Maybe it was the critique group where someone told you your queer romance "didn't feel authentic" because it wasn't tragic enough. Or the agent who called your neurodivergent character "unrealistic." Or that brutal workshop that tore apart your pages, not even bothering to ask why you made those choices, making you feel invisible, ashamed, and, well, like absolute shit.
Maybe you've sat in rooms where you were the only Black writer, the only trans person, the only one whose English carried an accent—and everyone acted like that was fine while making you explain and defend every choice that reflected your identity.
Here's the truth: You weren't being too sensitive. Those spaces failed you.
You might have learned to make yourself smaller and quieter, to write "safer" stories, to hide the parts of yourself that made others uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve been writing alone for years, convinced that isolation is safer than inviting someone into your story.
But you know you’re not writing the story you really want to tell, and the loneliness is killing you.
The Rooted Writers Mentorship Is Different
We don’t just tolerate people with historically marginalized identities, we center them. Our community is overwhelmingly BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, disabled, and otherwise marginalized—intentionally.
We have an application process to protect our community. I personally review every application and talk with each applicant. While no space can ever be 100% safe, we do our best to be accountable to each other.
We don’t unthinkingly follow writing rules created by dead white guys. Instead, we build your solar punk, magical realism, or wrenching YA novel around what this story means to you and how you want to impact your reader.
No community is perfect, but we do our damndest to make our community welcoming, kind, and intentional.
You can read our beliefs and commitment to socially conscious writing here.
Novels have the power to change the world,
one barrier, one fear, one person at a time.
That’s why we need your story.
Now, more than ever.
Hi, I’m Dani Abernathy
I’m a book coach and Enneagram teacher who believes stories can change the world, one reader at a time, because they teach us to have more compassion for ourselves and others. That’s why I help deep thinkers and feelers, especially those from marginalized communities, write the stories they need to tell so their readers can feel seen and can see others.
Stories are one of our most powerful tools for having less war and more love, and that’s why I’m on a mission to support folks like you as you write brave stories that tell the truth (even in a fantasy world).
I’m pan, non-binary, and have recurrent major depression (or maybe it’s autism?). I used to be an evangelical Christian (and missionary!), but that’s not my thing anymore.
I've been married to a fellow dreamer since the tender age of 22, and together we have two kiddos.
My values are dignity, agency, connection, emotional bravery, and radical self-love. These values guide my life and are the foundations of the Rooted Writers Mentorship. That’s why we spend so much time embracing who you are, figuring out what you want to say, and helping you shape the story you really want to tell.
We Are A Worldview-Aligned Community
The Rooted Writers Mentorship isn't just any writing program—it's a rebellion against systems, ideas, and books that perpetuate oppression.
My first priority is protecting the safety of our community so folks feel able to be themselves and write their stories without fear.
The Mentorship supports authors of all:
Gender identities and expressions
Sexual orientations
Skin colors
Abilities
Neurotypes
Body sizes
Religious backgrounds
Nationalities
If you can't enthusiastically embrace these values, the Mentorship is not for you.
If these values are what you want the world to move toward, welcome home. We've been waiting for you.
You’ll Feel At Home In the Mentorship If You:
Have even been called too sensitive or tend to overthink, well, everything
Would proudly describe yourself as a bookish weirdo
Hold one or more marginalized identities
Don’t hold a marginalized identify but feel passionate about supporting those who do because WTF is wrong with the world that they think this is okay?
Know what it’s like to stay up until 2 AM because the book is too damn good to put down
Know what it’s like to sob because a book has named a deeply hidden part of yourself
Have a story you need to tell, even if you aren’t quite sure what it is
Are done trying to write fast and are ready to write deep
Want to be with people who embrace your she/he/they pronouns
Value saying something true over getting a six-figure book deal
Want to go down the Enneagram rabbit hole of why you are the way you are
Believe in building a world where every person is safe to be who they are, love who they love, and simply exist in peace (Is that too much to ask?)
The Enneagram
Your Key To Deeper Storytelling
Your characters aren't just plot devices—they're vehicles for empathy. That’s why, in the Mentorship, you’re going to spend a hell of a lot of time figuring out who they are.
Because when a reader recognizes themselves in your character, healing happens. When they understand a character unlike themselves, bridges are built.
One of the most powerful tools in the Rooted Writers Mentorship is the Enneagram—a profound system for understanding human motivation and behavior.
We use the Enneagram in two transformative ways:
For self-discovery: Understanding your own Enneagram type illuminates why you write, what themes naturally emerge in your work, and how to work with (not against) your creative process.
For character development: The Enneagram gives you a framework to create characters who feel authentically human with consistent, believable motivations that support your story.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genres are best for the Mentorship?
Any heart-centered, character-driven novel meant to impact readers emotionally. I'm less concerned about genre and more concerned about WHY you're writing. If you want your readers to feel seen or to see others, perfect! If you’re writing memoir, reach out and we’ll chat about what kind of support you’re looking for.
How much feedback will I get on my story?
At the Community Level, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions during the monthly Q&A call. At the Coursework Level, you'll have a dedicated online group for craft questions. At the Coaching Level, you'll get weekly group coaching calls to get direct feedback from me on your story. If feedback is what you’re looking for, the Coaching Level is for you.
Is the Mentorship a critique group?
The Mentorship is designed to work within the demands of your brain, body, and life. There’s no expectation that you critique others’ work or receive feedback from others, cause that requires a lot of time and energy you may not have. For those who would like to get and give feedback from other Rooted Writers, we facilitate critique groups and train you on how to give helpful feedback.
What if I don't live in the United States?
No problem! Our calls and co-writing sessions accommodate multiple time zones. We have members from around the world.
What times are the coaching calls?
We have four coaching calls a month during the following time slots:
Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT
8:00 to 10:00 p.m. CEST
4:00 to 6:00 a.m. AEST on Wednesdays
Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. CDT
2:00 to 4:00 a.m. CEST on Thursdays
10:00 a.m. to Noon AEST on Thursdays
Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. CDT
4:00 to 6:00 p.m. CEST
Midnight to 2:00 a.m. AEST on Saturdays
What times co-writing sessions?
Co-writing sessions are offered multiple times per week across different time zones:
Mondays at 6:00 p.m. CDT
1:00 a.m. CEST on Tuesdays
9:00 a.m AEST on Tuesdays
Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. CDT
2:00 p.m. CEST
10:00 p.m. AEST
Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. CDT
6:00 p.m. CEST
2:00 p.m. AEST
Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. CDT
4:00 p.m. CEST
Midnight AEST on Fridays
Sundays at 2:00 a.m. CDT
9:00 a.m. CEST
5:00 p.m. AEST
All calls are recorded for those who can't attend live. You can see a pdf of our call schedule here.
What times are the calls and co-writing sessions?
Co-writing sessions are offered multiple times per week across different time zones:
Mondays at 6:00 p.m. CDT
1:00 a.m. CEST on Tuesdays
9:00 a.m AEST on Tuesdays
Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. CDT
2:00 p.m. CEST
10:00 p.m. AEST
Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. CDT
6:00 p.m. CEST
2:00 p.m. AEST
Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. CDT
4:00 p.m. CEST
Midnight AEST on Fridays
Sundays at 2:00 a.m. CDT
9:00 a.m. CEST
5:00 p.m. AEST
Ready to join us?
If you’re looking for tips and tricks to finish your novel ASAP, this isn’t the place for you. But if you want community with like-minded writers, a comprehensive system to write a book you’re proud of, and support through the plot conundrums and personal struggles,
welcome home.
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