Wanting to become a songwriter, she contacted Lew Grade in London, who was impressed and introduced her to visiting American pianist and composer Bob Mersey.
[6] After they separated, she worked as a songwriter/lyricist, initially with co-writers including Helen Miller and Mark Barkan, with whom she wrote Chuck Jackson's R&B hit "If I Didn't Love You".
[7] Sawyer began working with Ivy Hunter, and then as part of the writing collective known as the Clan, with other writers including Henry Cosby and Frank Wilson.
The following year Sawyer co-wrote "My Whole World Ended" with James Roach, produced by Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol for David Ruffin.
Other hits followed at Motown, including Jr. Walker's "Got to Hold on to This Feeling", co-written with Johnny Bristol and Joe Hinton, and Sawyer encouraged the songwriting talents of singer Gloria Jones, co-writing Gladys Knight and the Pips' 1970 No.