The best writing advice I ever received came in the form of ongoing tuition. At that time, I had several unpublished novels on my shelf, and despaired that they would ever see the light of day. So, I signed up to a programme offering as-you-go tuition and editorial help. Two years later, my debut was shortlisted for a competition, signed by a literary agent, and became a talking book and a paperback. I’ve been a full-time writer and editor ever since. My story is proof that mentoring works.

All writers need help at some point. Even best-selling authors have a regular editor who suggests changes to their manuscripts. This is where I can help with your project – I’m a great believer that irrespective of genre, the mechanics of writing are the same across the board. Refine your voice, show don’t tell, identify the heartbeat of the story, understand your genre, and characterise vividly – these are the vital basics, and are all covered during ongoing mentoring.

I’m led both by what the client wants to achieve, and by what I can see needs to be developed within a client’s skill-set. If you want to work intensively, and to use all your hours within six weeks, that’s great! Likewise, if you want initial advice and then to spend six months working alone before returning to discuss your part-completed project, we can work that way instead. Mentoring is incredibly flexible and is always led by the client.

To learn what hooks a reader, how to plot, how to make your prose sparkle, or what might give your memoir or self-help guide that vital USP, the best thing you can do is enrol for mentoring. You may be reading this because you need ongoing help with a brand-new project, or with a finished novel that you’ve been working on for a long time. Mentoring covers any kind of script development, from a few notes through a half-finished project, to an already-completed manuscript.

I take any genre, including genre mash-ups, literary fiction, and non-fiction projects.