The Habit Writer Development Cohorts provide practical tools, insights, and encouragement that writers of all experience levels need to write memoir and creative nonfiction that they are proud of—work that contributes something meaningful to the larger conversation. Through structured writing exercises, recorded lectures, group discussions, one-on-one coaching, and peer-to-peer workshops, this six-week online program is designed to help a maximum of sixteen writers (two cohorts of eight) develop their unique voice, refine their ideas, strengthen their craft, and build sustainable work habits. Led by Jonathan Rogers, PhD.
Pre-Recorded Lectures (60-90 minutes per week)
Engaging lessons from Jonathan Rogers that break down key writing concepts in a clear, accessible way—watch at your own pace.
Weeky Live Discussions via Zoom
Join your cohort each week for a 60-minute group call to dive deeper into the material and ask questions in real time.
Daily “Virtual Writing Rooms” for Accountability
Drop into optional Zoom writing sessions hosted daily to build habits, stay focused, and write alongside your colleagues in the cohort.
One-on-One Mentorship Meetings
Meet individually with an experienced writer and teacher trained by Jonathan for personalized guidance, support, and encouragement.
Peer Feedback & Workshop Groups
Collegiality is key in the Writer Development Cohorts. Your work will improve and you will grow as you receive thoughtful, constructive feedback—and as you give it.
Private Online Community
Access a cohort-only space for conversation, feedback, accountability, and connection throughout the six weeks.
Grammar for Writers
This 42-lesson course is a great resource for developing better habits of sentence construction. You can dip in here and there, or complete the whole course.
One Year Membership in The Habit
When your six-week cohort experience is over, you’ll have a one-year subscription to The Habit Membership for Writers at no additional charge.
Dates:
May 15 – June 27
Cohort Size:
Two cohorts capped at eight writers each—up to sixteen writers total.
Cost:
$1799 ($1599 for Habit Members)
Time Commitment
* Whether or not the daily writing rooms fit with your schedule and/or process, you’ll need to set aside several hours per week for writing.
This six-week journey of the Writer Development Cohorts will move you from hesitation to confidence as a writer. You’ll reconnect with your voice, shape ideas that only you can write, and craft at least one meaningful essay or chapter through guided exercises and supportive workshops. Whether you’re just beginning your journey as a writer, coming back to the path after a long absence, or preparing to move on to the next stage in your craft, this is your space to write with clarity, honesty, and heart.
Week 1: Orientation
Exercises:
Week 2: Learning to Trust Your Voice
Exercises:
Week 3: Finding Your Right Idea
Exercises:
Week 4: Drafting Your Essay/Chapter
Exercise:
Week 5: First Workshop Week
Exercise:
Week 6: Second Workshop Week
Exercises:
The Habit Writer Development Cohort is a 6-week immersive program led by Jonathan Rogers, PhD. You’ll receive expert guidance, community support, and a structured path to settle into your voice and sharpen your craft. Besides a complete and polished essay or chapter, you will also gain:
Refine your ideas and sharpen your message.
Develop sustainable writing habits that last.
Gain the tools you need to craft compelling work.
Trust your voice and write with purpose.
Jonathan Rogers, PhD, is the founder of The Habit and your cohort leader. A gifted teacher and compassionate mentor, Jonathan has helped hundreds of writers gain confidence, uncover their voice, and write with clarity and courage.
Tell us about your writing goals. What do you hope to work on in a Writer Development Cohort?
Let’s talk about your hopes for the cohort. How can you get the most out of it?Is now the right time for you to jump in?
Refine your voice, produce meaningful work, and walk away with lasting tools and habits.
Authenticity
Your big contributions will come as you settle into your true voice and stop conforming to formulas and chasing trends.
Generosity
Kind, honest feedback helps everyone grow.
Joy
We take the work seriously; we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
Community
For most of us, the “lonely artist” trope is a tired old myth. Writers need each other.
Below are some common questions about Writer Development Cohorts. If you have a question you don’t see answered below, email info@thehabit.com.
A: Both! Whether you’re early in your journey or looking to grow, the cohort will meet you where you are.
A: All live sessions will be recorded. You can watch on your own schedule and still receive full support in every other area of the six-week experience.
A: We keep cohorts small and personal—only eight writers per cohort—so we ask every writer to apply and interview to ensure a great fit. The point of the application/interview process is not to ensure that your writing is “good enough”; we welcome writers at all stages of the journey. Rather, we want to ensure that
Also, $1799 is not a small investment. We want to make sure you’re positioned to get the most out of the experience—and feel like it was a bargain!
A: Applications open on April 4, 2025, and will continue until the cohorts fill (16 writers max). We will admit writers to the cohorts on a rolling basis. In other words, we’re not collecting a pool of applications, then choosing the 16 “best” applicants after a fixed deadline.
A: Each cohort is capped at 8 participants plus one mentor to ensure deep connection, individual attention, and a highly engaged group dynamic. For this first six-week intensive, we will run no more than two cohorts for a maximum of 16 writers total. In the future, we may run more than two simultaneous cohorts.
Both cohorts will be together for the weekly Zoom discussions, virtual writing rooms, and most of the the forum activity. We’ll be separated by cohort for one-on-one mentorship, peer feedback, and workshop groups.
A: For this first round of cohorts, we’re going to focus on memoir and creative nonfiction. Future cohorts will likely accommodate fiction writers, but not this time.
A: Not at all. However, all cohort participants will be Habit members after the six-week cohort experience. Included in the fee is a one-year subscription to The Habit Member, where you can continue to grow in a community of like-minded writers.
A: Yes! If you were a Habit member as of April 1, 2025, you are entitled to a $199 discount on the registration fee for Writer Development Cohorts.
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