Author, Coach and Publisher
Amanda Saint is the founder of The Mindful Writer. She is an author and writing coach dedicated to helping writers find their voice and keep the love of writing alive, while using their stories to create positive human connection.
With many years experience in the publishing industry, she believes that writing is a journey of self-discovery, and she helps people to embrace their creativity through courses, workshops and 1-1 coaching. Amanda's approach combines mindfulness with creative writing, providing a supportive community where every writer can thrive.
Amanda is the author of two novels, As If I Were A River (2016) and Remember Tomorrow (2019) and a novella-in-flash, Pressure Drop (2024). Her short stories, flash and micro fictions have been widely published in journals and anthologies, and placed and listed in many international prizes, including the Mslexia Flash Fiction Prize and the Fish Flash Fiction Prize. She has been nominated for Best Small Fictions 2023 and in 2024 had four stories selected for Top in Fiction.
In 2012, Amanda founded Retreat West, where she designed and delivered many different writing courses and worked with hundreds of writers. From 2018-2023, Retreat West published 24 books and was named Most Innovative Publisher at the 2020 Saboteur Awards (shortlisted 2019). In 2022, she launched the WestWord literary journal where she publishes great short stories from writers all over the world. And in 2025, she merged Retreat West into WestWord.
Amanda has been practicing mindfulness since 2015. She has a daily Qigong and Yoga practice, and is a Usui Holy Fire Reiki III practitioner. Living aligned with these ancient wisdoms and practices has transformed her life and her writing and led her to adapt her teaching and writing practice. The Mindful Writer is where she shares how combining the two can take you on a journey of self-discovery and deepen your connection to yourself, your craft, your world and everyone and everything you share it with.
She is a Certified Mindfulness Mentor, Meditation Teacher and Journal Therapist and has trained in the PERMA+ model of wellbeing. She has combined these practices with the teaching of fiction, memoir, and life writing, to help writers find more meaning and happiness in their writing and in the lives.
“Amanda's Mindful Writing Course has encouraged me to find joy and connection with my writing in ways I haven't experienced before."
"Amanda motivates you to develop a kind of courage that takes you deep inside yourself — to the place where your characters and their stories live and breathe.”
The Year of Mindful Writing is helping me go more deeply, more authentically, into my writing thanks to the deep feeling of trust Amanda nurtures through her insight, honesty and encouragement. Great materials provided too!”
"I wanted a different approach and this course has exceeded my expectations. Not only am I getting new insights and tools, but I have found a wonderful group of fellow writers who inspire and support me.”