One-to-One Novel Mentoring
Are you writing a novel and looking for experienced, constructive support?
I offer one-to-one novel writing mentoring for writers at every stage of the process — from developing an initial idea, through drafting and revision, to preparing a completed manuscript for submission.
As a published novelist and creative writing tutor, I can help you identify what your novel needs, work through problems in the manuscript and make purposeful progress with your writing.
Sessions are available online throughout the UK and internationally, or in person in the Stroud, UK area.
Who Is Novel Mentoring For?
One-to-one mentoring can be useful whether you're writing your first novel or have been working on fiction for years.
You might be:
developing an idea but unsure how to turn it into a novel
struggling to find the right structure for your story
stuck halfway through a first draft
unsure whether your characters or narrative are working
trying to finish a novel you've been writing for some time
revising a completed manuscript
looking for an experienced reader's perspective
preparing your novel for submission to literary agents
wondering what needs to change before you send your manuscript out
Novel Diagnostic
A focused 90-minute session to work out what your novel needs next.
Ideal if you're stuck, uncertain about the direction of a project, or want an experienced reader's perspective before committing to a larger programme of work.
Up to 5,000 words read in advance
A 90-minute one-to-one consultation
Discussion of the novel's strengths and the areas that may need development
Clear, practical recommendations for the next stage of the work
A short written summary afterwards
£175
Novel Development Mentoring
Ongoing one-to-one support as you write, develop or substantially revise your novel.
We establish clear objectives for the period ahead and work towards them together, whether you're developing an early idea, trying to finish a first draft, or tackling a major revision.
One 75-minute session each month
Up to 5,000 words of manuscript reading and developmental feedback per month
Agreed writing or revision objectives between sessions
Support with structure, character, voice, pacing, point of view and other aspects of the novel
Regular review of progress and objectives as the manuscript develops
Most writers work together for 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on the stage of the novel and what they want to achieve.
£250 per month
Three-month minimum commitment.
Manuscript to Submission
Intensive support for writers with a completed or nearly completed novel who want to get it into the strongest possible shape for submission.
This is a developmental process rather than a promise of publication: the aim is to help you identify and address the manuscript's major weaknesses, understand how best to position it, and prepare a confident submission.
Detailed developmental assessment of the manuscript
One-to-one consultations to discuss the major areas for revision
Support through a substantial revision
Advice on synopsis, pitch and submission materials
Guidance on identifying appropriate agents and researching their lists
A final assessment of the manuscript's readiness for submission
From £1,750
The exact fee depends on the length and complexity of the manuscript and the amount of developmental work required.
Standalone Manuscript Assessment
A detailed independent assessment of your manuscript, without ongoing mentoring.
Ideal if you've completed a novel and want an experienced reader to give you an honest, constructive assessment before deciding what to do next.
Full manuscript read
Detailed written editorial assessment
Discussion of structure, character, voice, pacing, point of view and overall coherence
Identification of the manuscript's principal strengths and weaknesses
Practical recommendations for revision and next steps
From £750
The fee depends on manuscript length and complexity. This service is developmental rather than line editing or proofreading.
