Rooted Writers Mentorship
Where Deep-Thinking Writers
Grow Stories That Change the World
In a time when the Hate U Give is being removed from school libraries, Target has cut its DEI initiatives, and people are being arrested for protesting genocide, 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
Your Writing:
Resistance & Respite
Listen, your writing isn’t a casual hobby, something you dabble with here and there, or even a path to a new career. It’s so much more than that.
Your writing is resistance.
It’s putting your truth on the page when the world tries to erase it. It's claiming space when they want you to stay small. It's saying "I exist" when systems of power would rather you didn't.
Your writing is respite.
Your fictional worlds are more than just settings for stories. They’re a refuge when the world becomes too much, a sanctuary to process your experiences, heal your wounds, and imagine new futures.
In the Rooted Writers Mentorship, we honor writing as both resistance and respite.
We recognize that your creative practice isn't just about producing a manuscript—it's about carving out space for yourself in a world that often refuses to let you have any.
One Reader At A Time
Grow Brave Stories That Can Change The World
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.
The World Needs Your Story
You may not be a world leader or political activist. You don't have millions (let alone billions) of dollars or a huge social following.
You’re just a:
conscious parent, immigrant,
Black woman,
person with chronic depression,
eXvangelical, former inmate,
Indigenous person,
anti-capitalist
white dude who wants to the world to be better,
feminist, AuDHDer,
former Christian Nationalist,
person with a disability
anti-capitalist, environmentalist
ace, fat, or trans
But you know the power of story to change people.
You've experienced it in your own life—what happens when you see yourself reflected on the pages of a book or suddenly understand someone you didn't before.
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.
Connect, Learn, & Grow Your Story
at a Price You Can Afford
The Rooted Writers Mentorship:
We are anti-capitalist at our core which is why we offer sliding scale payments. Let’s take a look at your options so you can decide what’s right for you.
Join the Community
The Essential Foundation
$15 - $85 per month
You decide what to pay
This level is essential by design, because community isn't a luxury, it's a necessity for writing that challenges the status quo.
Here, you get what's truly essential: a community of writers who share your vision for a fully DEI-ed world, who understand the frustration you feel when you still can’t figure out the end of your book, and who celebrate your triumph at writing a scene that makes you cry.
Fundamentals of Story Course so you can write a book that works
Monthly Fundamentals Q&A Call to get quick answers to your big questions
Bonus Trainings with Dani and Guest Experts to deep dive into craft and become a more socially-conscious writer
Weekly member-led cowriting sessions in multiple time zones so you can write your damn book
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's included:
True Belonging - Find a home among writers who get you, your perspective, and your purpose
Consistent Support - Gain strength and encouragement from regular co-writing sessions, community discussions, and thoughtful trainings
Validation and Encouragement - Share struggles and wins with people who understand why your book matters so damn much
Build Your Foundation - Learn the most important elements of crafting a novel through the Fundamentals of Story Course
What you'll experience:
Unleash the Curriculum:
Grow Your Story From The Ground Up
$100 - $300 per month
Pay what works for you
Your story isn't just random elements cobbled together—it's a living, integrated whole with you at its roots. Inside The Story Tree Process you’ll grow your novel organically, ensuring every element connects to who you are and what you want to say about the world.
Everything in the Community Level, PLUS:
The Story Tree Process, a step-by-step plan to move from concept to completed manuscript with confidence
Comprehensive curriculum so you can craft your novel with intention without getting lost along the way.
Deep-dives on the Enneagram personality system to craft psychologically consistent characters with meaningful growth arcs
In-depth teaching on character development, plot, series, drafting, and revision to write a book you’re proud of
Full membership inside our private online group just for writers moving through the curriculum
What's included:
Connection with Yourself - Understand how your story is shaped by who you are
Integrated Story Elements - Develop characters, a world, and a plot that grows naturally from your perspective
Aligned Creative Decisions - Make choices that serve your deeper purpose and understand the why behind every story choice
All the Tools - Geek out on worksheets and spreadsheets designed for each stage of the process
A Map for Your Writing Journey - Move from concept to completed manuscript with confidence
What you'll experience:
Get Coaching:
Your Story Deserves a Guide
$325 - $525 per month
What if you had someone who already knew your story? Someone who remembered your characters' names, understood your world, and—most importantly—got why this book matters to you?
Even better, what if they knew how books work, so they could help you write the story you really want to tell?
That's what coaching provides: a witness to your process, a guide when you're lost, and a champion who believes in your book as much as you do. When combined with the powerful foundation of community and curriculum, coaching creates a holistic experience where your story can truly flourish.
What's included:
Everything in the Community and Curriculum Levels, PLUS:
Weekly group coaching calls to get expert guidance on all your book’s questions, big or small
Intimate group of writers who are also writing from their own questions, identities, and experiences
Opportunity to schedule 1:1 calls with Dani and get focused attention on your book
What you'll experience:
Complete Support System - The magic of all three levels working together: community gives you belonging, curriculum gives you structure, and coaching gives you personalized navigation
Story Partner - No need to explain your story from scratch each time, I’ll know the intricate details of your world, characters, and vision
Real Solutions - Work through your specific story 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
Space 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
Purposeful Writing - Know that your choices are leading to a novel that will truly connect with readers and make the impact you're hoping for
How To Join The Rooted Writers Mentorship
Joining the Mentorship is a two-step process:
1. Complete an inquiry form. The inquiry is only five questions and will help us determine whether completing the application is the right next step. The questions only take a minute or two, so don't sweat it. You can inquire here.
2. Submit an application. Plan to spend about 30-minutes answering these thoughtfully designed questions so we can know whether the Mentorship is a good fit for you. Don’t worry, I'm not determining your worth as a person, just whether the Mentorship vibes with you and vice versa.
Why Do You Have to Apply?
The best thing about the Rooted Writers Mentorship is the community. We work hard to be accountable to each other, explore our own biases, and consider the impact of our work.
Writing, especially when you hold a marginalized identity, is vulnerable as hell. In order for all Rooted Writers to feel safe enough to explore, develop, and share their stories, the alignment of our community is essential.
That's why we have an application process.
I want everyone who joins us to be a “Hell yes! You're one of us!” so we can write toward a world that is more peaceful, equitable, just, and safe.
Why a Sliding Scale?
We use a sliding scale because capitalism sucks and everyone deserves the opportunity to be part of our community. Our sliding scale is resistance against oppressive systems and a way to show care for one another.
When you pay what you can—whether that's the minimum, maximum, or somewhere in the middle—you're making the Mentorship accessible to more writers.
If you're well-resourced: By choosing to pay more, you directly help writers with fewer financial resources join our community. Your generosity ensures ALL stories can be told, not just those who can afford traditional coaching.
If you're not well-resourced: Pay what you can sustainably afford. Your story matters, and we want you here.
No matter what you pay, you get the same access to all features at your chosen level. No one will know what you pay except you.
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 Our Community 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?)
Writing That Honors Your Body & Soul
Let me be as real as the background in this photo.
Your book can only be as healthy as you are.
Writing is slow, circular, and requires a shit-ton of courage. That's why we don't fast draft our baby-book ideas or tell ourselves we have to rapid publish three books by next year.
You deserve the gift of writing slow.
Writing slow gives your story time to grow as your understanding of yourself grows.
Writing slow means you can have a flare up without feeling like a failure.
Writing slow means you can take a break when the world is pummeling you with all the things instead of forcing yourself to power through.
In a world that tells you not to nap unless you've earned it, the Rooted Writers Mentorship is a radical act of resistance—a place where you can create at your own pace, honor your body's needs, and find community with others who get it.
You Are The Roots Of Your Story
Every element of your novel grows from who you are.
You provide the characters, plot, and prose, but also the meaning, impact, hell, even the courage to let someone read your book. Every part of your story grows from you.
That's why the foundation of the Rooted Writers Mentorship is self-discovery. As you discover yourself, you discover your story. As you discover your story, you discover yourself.
THE STORY TREE
Writers who thrive in our community are just as excited to learn about themselves as they are to finish their damn book. They're willing to write slow and deep, knowing what they're creating has the power to change hearts and minds.
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 if I decide I want to move to a different level of the Mentorship?
No problem! You can change levels at any time. If you’d like to join the Coaching level, we’ll have a chat to make sure it’s going to be helpful during your stage of writing.
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?
No. You won't be expected to look at anyone else's work, though you’re welcome to exchange chapters with other writers if you’d like.
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 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
Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. CDT
8:30 p.m. CEST
4:30 a.m. AEST on Thursdays
Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. CDT
4:00 p.m. CEST
Midnight AEST on Fridays
The monthly Fundamentals Q&A, Bonus Trainings, and Coaching Level calls are during one of the following times:
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
All calls are recorded for those who can't attend live. You can see a pdf of our call schedule here.
Ready to join us?
If you’re looking for tips and tricks to finish your novel ASAP, the Rooted Writers Mentorship 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,