What is mentoring?
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is a bespoke service, designed to be flexible and fit with the different needs and writing stages of each author who contacts us. You could spend your mentoring hours with anything from face-to-face discussions about your ideas, to written feedback on sections of your writing, to a mixture of the two. You can find out more
here.
How are mentoring sessions held?
You’ll work directly with your mentor online, in the combination of video calls, email exchanges, and direct feedback on your work that works best for you.
Who are your mentors?
We work with a team of award-winning authors and publishing industry professionals, each with extensive experience and a knack for turning good writers into great ones.
How do I choose a mentor?
In your application, you’ll be able to select a preferred mentor. We recommend looking at the genres that our mentors specialise in, and seeing if any of their profiles especially resonate with you.
If you’re not sure, that’s no problem! You can select ‘No preferred mentor’, and our team will match you with our top choice for your project.
Can I meet a mentor before committing?
Yes! We offer 20-minute Mentoring Taster Sessions for just £20. You can book a session with your chosen mentor to discover how our mentoring programme could help you develop your novel, enhance your skills, and achieve your writing goals.
If you go on to book 10 hours or more of mentoring upfront, you'll be able to claim back the £20 spent on the taster session.
You can either book a taster session before applying, or once you've applied and we've matched you with a mentor.
How much does mentoring cost?
The cost depends on the mentor and how many hours you need. Here’s an overview:
- 10 hours: From £950
- 20 hours: From £1,900
- 30 hours: From £2,750
- Mentoring by the hour: From £100 per hour
How many hours of mentoring will I need?
The number of hours you'll need depends on the type of support you're looking for. If you'd like guidance on larger sections of your draft manuscript, and/or regular feedback and check-ins, you may want to consider a larger block of 10 or more hours. If you have something more specific you'd like advice on - such as working through a plot snag - you may like to start with a smaller number of hours.
If you’re unsure of how many hours you’ll need, you could begin with a
Mentoring Taster Session, to discuss your needs with your mentor and hear their view on how many hours you'll require. You can find out more about these sessions here:
Mentoring Taster Sessions.
Our team can also help with this.
Get in touch with us directly and we’ll tailor a quote for you.
How long will I have to complete my mentoring hours?
Each mentoring purchase is subject to an expiry date, to ensure you use the hours within a timely manner to make the most of your mentoring.
Please see the limits assigned to each order below:
- 1-10 hours: All the hours need to be used in 12 months or less.
- 11-20 hours: All the hours need to be used in 18 months or less.
- 21-30 hours: All the hours need to be used in 24 months or less.
If, at the end of the allotted time, you fail to use all your purchased hours, the remaining hours will expire and be non-refundable.
Any extensions to these expiry dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and we will only grant these extensions with your mentor’s approval.
Will my mentor read my whole manuscript?
Although our mentoring service is bespoke to you and your needs, it’s worth noting that mentors typically won’t read an entire manuscript. This is because there might not be enough time for your mentor to read your entire manuscript and offer feedback/guidance. If you are interested in receiving a written editorial report on your entire manuscript, you might want to first consider our Editorial Services such as a Manuscript Assessment or Developmental Edit. From there, you could return to mentoring for further support with your edits and next steps.
Which genres is mentoring suitable for?
We work with mentors who have experience across the full range of fiction and non-fiction genres—basically, if you can write it, we can mentor it!
How far along with my project do I need to be to work with a mentor?
You can be at any stage of your writing journey. Whether you’re just starting out with a fresh idea or you’ve already completed a manuscript, our mentoring service is here to support you and help you take the next step—wherever you are in the process.
Can I purchase more hours with the same mentor?
Yes, subject to the mentor's availability. Get in touch with us directly and we’ll send the next steps your way.