Your story has the power to disrupt the world

Artistic miniature books and cut out watercolor book figurines on a red background
two authors reviewing and editing a book draft together
Kristen McGuiness holding a Sun tarot card in front of her face
decorative watercolor path

Rise
RETREATS

Rise Retreats are a series of in-person and virtual workshops that guide you on the path to publishing, helping you to take your story to the shelf. Each retreat is structured to help you wherever you are along the path.

Are you tired of dreaming of being a writer but are now ready to become one?

Do you wonder about self-publishing, indie-publishing, or even where to begin—let alone what kind of book you want to write? Do you have a lot of questions but aren’t sure where to find the answers? Five Days to Celebrated Author is a fun and engaging deep dive for those who are ready to start on the path to publishing.

Because we have all been there. We have had the great idea, the brilliant inspiration, the dream of being a published author. This is a self-guided course with five-taped modules, multiple worksheets, prompts and resources, and two live Q+A meetings. Five Days to Celebrated Author will get you started on your path to publishing, but more than that, it will show you how to fulfill your creative dreams.

Whether you’re looking to write fiction, nonfiction, memoir, or poetry, Five Days to Celebrated Author is really about understanding who you are as a writer, and who you can become as an author.

    • If you have a book idea but don’t know how to write it - yet alone publish it.

    • If you’ve been working on a book for a while but are unsure of how to get it done and out there.

    • If you’ve finished your book and are ready to get it published but don’t know what to do next.

  • ✓ Self-guided - Five taped modules.

    ✓ Interactive - Resources, worksheets, and prompts.

    ✓ Strategic - Guides on Substack, AI, and pitching practice.

    ✓ Insider - Includes agent lists and pitching networks.

    ✓ Support - Membership to Rise Writers community.

    Cost: $250

Write the Good Fight!

Write the Good Fight!

In this live, Zoom workshop, we’ll walk emerging writers through the basics of book publishing. From book proposals to full manuscripts, from query letters to working with an agent or publisher, we will share the path to publishing, and help you figure out your starting point and what you need to do to become a published (and bestselling) author.

Write the Good Fight is on Sunday, January 5th from 12:00-1:30pm PST/3:00pm-4:30pm EST. Workshop is free.

A gentle approach to sharing your story, Five Months to Memoir guides you through the process of writing the first draft of your memoir.

Five Months to Memoir is more than just a retreat or a course, it is about building a relationship with your book, helping you to create the story you need to write - and a book that the world needs to read.

Over the course of five months we will go through the craft, the community, the challenges, and the true joy of finally sharing your truths. We will work through developing your themes, tactics, and writing techniques to create a story which not only shares your intimate truths but which entertains and inspires your readers. Course includes 10 two-hour group sessions, which are held on Zoom bi-weekly, and five monthly 30-minute private sessions with NY Times bestselling editor and bestselling author Kristen McGuiness.

In addition, we will develop your writing and submissions strategy, to help you not only write your first draft but create a plan to finish and submit it to agents and publishers.

Next workshop begins on Thursday, March 6th through July 10th.

    • You've been wanting to write the story of your life but you don't know where to start...

    • You have always known you wanted to write a memoir but were afraid to do it...

    • You know what your story is but don't know how to tell it.

    • A total of 10 bi-weekly Zoom sessions and 5 private sessions with your book coach to help you develop, write, and share your story.

    • Classes will be held every other week on Thursday, from 10:00am-12:00pm PST/1:00pm-3:00pm EST.

    • Classes are recorded and private sessions are offered between live workshops.

    $3,000

Maggie Boxey, author of The Three Things

“Kristen has a REAL TALENT for this work. I was amazed at how well she pulled ideas and coaxed our stories forward. Seeing each of us have lightbulb moments in real time, the chill bumps, the tears. It was all beautiful magic!”


Maggie Boxey, author of The Three Things (Rise Books, 2024)

Five Weeks to Book Proposal shares the basics of writing a book proposal—but also, what it takes to become a published author.

Are you ready to write your non-fiction book proposal? Have you begun to build a platform but aren’t sure which direction you want your writing career to go? Do you have an idea for a book but need help organizing your content?

Awesome. Five Weeks to Book Proposal is here to lead you through the intimidating process of taking your amazing ideas, story, and energy, and turning it into a traditional book proposal that you can use to sell your story. But this retreat isn’t just about the proposal, it is about the blueprint for your life as a published author.

Through five weekly Zoom sessions, and one private session with bestselling author and NYT-bestselling editor Kristen McGuiness, we will help you develop, write, and query your book proposal.

Next workshop begins on Friday, November 1st through November 29th.

    • You have been working on a draft but now it’s time to write the proposal.

    • You started the book proposal process countless times, but have never achieved your goal of finishing, let alone submitting it.

    • You're overwhelmed by the idea of creating a book proposal, so you haven’t even started.

    • Five (5) live weekly Zoom meetings on Mondays from 12:00-2:00pm PST

    • Feedback on your proposal throughout the course, working through the five elements of the book proposal:

      • Write an overview that grabs the attention of agents and editors

      • Build a marketing plan that is aspirational but realistic

      • Create the structure and chapter summaries to sell your book

      • Choose your sample chapters and organize your content

      • Write a query letter that lands you an agent

    • Writing prompts to guide you through each section of your proposal

    • Lifetime access to all materials, including the online course and workshop recordings

    Cost: $1,000