Seven Steps To Writing Success

What Seven Steps To Writing Success does

Seven Steps To Writing Success is an Australian educational publishing company founded in 2005 by Jen McVeity OAM and operated through Highlighting Writing Pty Ltd, headquartered in Sandringham/Melbourne with a 16-person office team. It delivers a structured writing instruction methodology built on seven explicit techniques (Plan for Success, Sizzling Starts, Tightening Tension, Dynamic Dialogue, Show Don't Tell, Ban the Boring, Exciting Endings) to Australian K-12 schools and individual teachers, supported by NESA-accredited workshops, a portfolio of physical and digital writing manuals (Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, Beginner Writers), classroom resources (posters, stamps), and the Teacher Hub online platform.

The Teacher Hub, launched in 2020, functions as the company's central recurring-revenue product and houses training videos, lesson plans, PowerPoints, writing prompts, NAPLAN revision materials, Read to Write units, and curriculum filters for Australian, NSW, Victorian, WA and NZ syllabi. In 2026 the company layered an AI-powered writing assessment tool on top of Teacher Hub, developed in partnership with Mark My Words and hosted on Microsoft-certified Sydney servers, which analyzes student writing against Seven Steps and NAPLAN rubrics and returns "Glow and Grow" feedback while quarantining student names from third-party AI services.

The business monetizes through four primary streams: individual teacher memberships (annual subscriptions from $375 ex-GST), whole-school packages combining workshops and subscriptions (from $6,500 online / $8,300 face-to-face), workshop fees with bundled 3-month Teacher Hub access, and one-time sales of writing manuals ($300 print / $150 eBook), tool kits ($900–$1,125), and classroom accessories. Go-to-market is hybrid: product-led growth via a free Sizzling Starts module, event-driven public workshops each term across Australian capitals, inside sales for individual memberships and demos, and enterprise field sales for school packages. The company claims 4,530+ Australian schools (over 50% of Australian schools), 55,000+ teachers trained, and 2.8M+ students reached, and is bootstrapped and founder-owned with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Seven Steps To Writing Success

Legal name

Highlighting Writing Pty Ltd

Website

https://sevenstepswriting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seven Steps To Writing Success is an Australian educational publishing company that sells a structured writing instruction methodology, Teacher Hub membership platform, and AI-powered writing assessment tool to K-12 schools and individual teachers, primarily across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Professional Development and Literacy Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Editions, Lesson Plans & Classroom Resources (EDAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy Foundations (Phonics, Reading Fluency, Comprehension) Platforms (EDAFAOAD), Writing Skills & Composition Enrichment (EDAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Writing instruction programs
• Teacher professional development
• Literacy education resources
• NAPLAN writing preparation
• School writing curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Teacher Hub Memberships: Annual subscriptions providing full access to AI-powered assessment, on-demand training videos, hundreds of classroom resources, NAPLAN revision materials, and Read to Write units. Tiered pricing based on individual classroom or school subscription.
2. School Training Packages: Customised packages combining face-to-face or online workshops with Teacher Hub subscriptions. Pricing varies by school size, training format, and location. Starting from $6,500 online and $8,300 face-to-face.
3. Individual Workshop Fees: Workshop One and Workshop Two offered as face-to-face sessions around Australia and online via Zoom. Each workshop includes 3-month Teacher Hub Essentials subscription. Beginner Writers workshop offered online only.
4. Writing Manuals and Tool Kits: Physical and digital manuals for Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, and Beginner Writers writing. Tool Kits available for Primary Schools ($1,125.45) and Standard ($900). Digital eBooks at $150 each. Discounts available for workshop participants and bundle purchases.
5. Classroom Resources: Classroom posters (A4 bundles at $100), stamps for marking ($50-$75), and classroom packs ($160). Clearance stock of previous edition manuals at discounted prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Seven Steps To Writing Success delivers a research-based writing instruction program for primary and secondary schools, consisting of an online Teacher Hub platform with integrated AI-powered assessment, four writing manuals (Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, Beginner Writers), and three professional development workshops. The offering targets K-12 teachers, literacy leaders, and school administrators across Australia and selected international markets, with curriculum alignment to Australian, NSW, Victorian, WA, and NAPLAN standards. Revenue is generated through annual Teacher Hub subscriptions, whole-school training packages, public workshops, and direct sales of physical and digital manuals and classroom resources.

Product overview

Seven Steps To Writing Success is a research-based writing education program consisting of a core platform (Teacher Hub) with integrated AI-powered assessment capabilities, supported by a portfolio of writing manuals, workshops, and classroom resources. The Teacher Hub serves as the central platform combining AI-powered assessment, on-demand training videos, and curriculum-aligned resources for narrative, persuasive, and informative writing. The program is complemented by writing manuals (Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, and Beginner Writers) available in print and digital formats, professional development workshops (Workshop One, Workshop Two, and Beginner Writers sessions), and classroom tools including posters and stamps. School packages bundle training and resources for whole-school implementation. The free Sizzling Starts module serves as an entry point for new users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sizzling Starts: Step 2 of the Seven Steps program, focusing on teaching students engaging opening techniques for their writing. Sizzling Starts is a registered trademark of Highlighting Writing Pty Ltd.
• Teacher Hub

Products and services

• Teacher Hub Online membership platform that serves as the central hub of the Seven Steps program, providing AI-powered writing assessment, on-demand training videos, hundreds of classroom-ready resources, NAPLAN revision materials, Read to Write units, and curriculum filters aligned to Australian, NSW, Victorian and NAPLAN standards. Sold as annual subscriptions to individual teachers and schools.
• AI-Powered Writing Assessment Tool AI-powered assessment tool integrated into Teacher Hub that analyses student writing against the Seven Steps and NAPLAN rubrics, providing Glow and Grow feedback, identifying learning gaps, and linking to relevant teaching resources. Available to Teacher Hub members and school package customers.
• School Packages Customised training and resource packages for whole-school implementation of the Seven Steps methodology, bundling workshops, Teacher Hub subscription, and expert presenter support. Starting from $6,500 (online) and $8,300 (face-to-face), plus GST, with pricing varying by school size, training format, and location.
• Workshop One: Seven Steps to Transform Writing Full-day immersive training on the Seven Steps approach to writing, available face-to-face (6 hours, NESA accredited) and online (5.5 hours). Each workshop includes a 3-month Teacher Hub Essentials subscription and is offered publicly across Australian capital cities or privately for schools.
• Workshop Two: Putting It All Together Advanced professional development workshop for teachers who have completed Workshop One, focusing on full texts and the application of the Seven Steps to informative and persuasive writing. Includes a 3-month Teacher Hub Essentials subscription.
• Applying the Seven Steps with Beginner Writers Online professional development session for Foundation to Year 2 teachers on adapting the Seven Steps approach for beginner writers. Priced at $180 (excluding GST), online only.
• Narrative Writing Manual Comprehensive teacher manual for teaching narrative writing using the Seven Steps approach. Available in print ($300) and digital eBook ($150) formats, with intranet licence included for digital copies.
• Persuasive Writing Manual Teacher manual for teaching persuasive writing using the Seven Steps approach. Available in print ($300) and digital eBook ($150) formats.
• Informative Writing Manual Teacher manual for teaching informative writing using the Seven Steps approach. Available in print ($300) and digital eBook ($150) formats.
• Beginner Writers Manual Teacher manual for teaching writing to early learners (Foundation to Year 2) using the Seven Steps approach. Available in print ($300) and digital eBook ($150) formats.
• Standard Tool Kit Physical resource kit containing the Narrative, Persuasive, and Informative Writing Manuals plus a free Teacher Hub Starter account. Priced at $900 (excluding GST), with a 20% discount available for workshop participants.
• Tool Kit for Primary Schools Comprehensive physical resource kit for primary schools including the Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, and Beginner Writers Manuals. Priced at $1,125.45 (excluding GST), with a 20% workshop participant discount and bundle savings of up to 40% when combined with Teacher Hub.
• NAPLAN Writing Success Award-winning NAPLAN preparation resource including ready-to-go lesson plans, engaging activities, and targeted revision materials for narrative and persuasive writing. Available to Teacher Hub members.
• Read to Write Course Course integrating reading and writing instruction for each year level using the Seven Steps approach. Available to Seven Steps Teacher Hub members.
• Classroom Posters and Stamps Physical classroom resources including A4 Narrative, Persuasive and Informative Writing Posters ($40 each or $100 for A4 bundles), Step Stamps ($50), and Checklist Stamps ($35).

Quantifiable outcome

• 69.2% of students increased NAPLAN band by 1 or more after 10 weeks of implementation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Mark My WordscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Partnership to launch AI-powered writing assessment tool. Mark My Words operates as a Microsoft partner with data stored on Microsoft-certified servers in Sydney. Student names are quarantined during transcription and no data is sent to third-party AI services.
• MicrosoftsupportingTechnology or IntegrationInfrastructure partner for AI assessment tool. Mark My Words operates as a Microsoft partner with all data securely stored on Microsoft-certified servers located in Sydney, Australia.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LiteracyPlanet: Australia-based K–6 literacy platform offering structured reading and writing instruction to schools and parents. Closest direct competitor to Seven Steps' Teacher Hub in terms of customer segment (Australian primary schools), self-serve subscription model, and curriculum-aligned literacy content.
• Wushka (Sound Words): Australian cloud-based decodable readers and writing instruction platform used in primary schools. Comparable to Seven Steps in targeting Australian K–6 literacy classrooms via school-wide subscriptions and curriculum-aligned resources.
• Reading Eggs / Blake eLearning: Long-standing Australian literacy and reading platform serving primary schools and homes. Competes with Seven Steps for the same K–6 literacy budget and teacher PD dollars in Australian schools.
• Education Perfect: Australia/NZ-headquartered EdTech platform used by thousands of schools across English-language curricula, with curriculum-aligned content and assessment. Comparable go-to-market in ANZ schools and adjacent in offering assessment-driven learning insights.
• Sunshine Online: Australian online literacy and numeracy platform sold via school subscriptions in primary classrooms. Directly comparable in product surface (online literacy activities for primary schools), customer (Australian primary schools), and subscription-based school licensing.
• NoRedInk: US-based writing instruction platform used widely in K–12 schools, with adaptive grammar and writing practice aligned to US standards. Closest international analogue to Seven Steps' Teacher Hub writing instruction model, though anchored to US Common Core rather than Australian Curriculum.

Emerging players

• Night Zookeeper: Creative writing platform for primary-aged students with teacher dashboards and gamified writing prompts. Competes for the same teacher-led creative writing classroom budget but with a narrower, gamified approach rather than explicit-instruction methodology.
• Pobble: UK-based platform providing writing prompts, exemplar texts, and sharing tools for primary and secondary teachers. Comparable in providing teacher resources to drive classroom writing instruction, though without a structured methodology framework.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson Australia: Global educational publisher with Australian curriculum-aligned literacy resources, teacher editions, and digital platforms. A broad incumbent that competes with Seven Steps in K–12 literacy content and teacher PD, but across a much wider portfolio rather than a writing-only niche.
• Scholastic Australia: Major children's publisher with a strong Australian school book-club and classroom resources business. Overlaps with Seven Steps on literacy content distribution to primary schools but does not focus on a single writing methodology or AI assessment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sevenstepswriting
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/seven-steps-to-writing-success
• Instagraminstagram.com/sevenstepswriting
• Pinterestpinterest.com.au/sevenstepswriting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seven Steps To Writing Success