Mentoring.
“This is a journey, and not one you have to walk alone – if you need a guiding hand or an accountability buddy, don’t stay silent. Writing might be solitary profession, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavour.”
There are three very important things you need to know about my job as a mentor:
1: I HATE the word mentor! I prefer the word cheerleader. But more on this later.
2: My main job as a ‘cheerleader’, is to make myself entirely redundant. My most important job, is to make you so good at your job, that you no longer need me. As quickly and as efficiently as possible.
3: I fundamentally and entirely dislike the idea of selling ‘mentoring packages’. The word package ‘irks’ me in the same way the word ‘moist’ does. So I do all I can to avoid using that terminology.
So, if I don’t like being called a mentor, and I dislike the idea of selling ‘mentorship packages’ – what on earth am I doing here?
It’s really simple – I am about to invite you into Emma’s world. It’s a bit wild, wacky and intense sometimes – but it’s full of creativity, desire, passion, knowledge and ambition; and together, if we decide we are a good fit, we will be going on a journey together… you as the driver and me as the slightly annoying but often helpful backseat cheerleader. It will be a crazy ride, but I guarantee you will enjoy the journey.
What do I mean by journey?
Ok – here are the fundamentals. I truly believe that as a ‘cheerleader’, I can’t (and won’t) lump writers into categories. No writers ever travel this path to publication the same way. No writer writes the same way, no writer thinks the same way, so expecting writers to pick a ‘package’ seems utterly redundant to me. Picking a package might mean you don’t quite get a service that fits for you. That doesn’t sit well with me.
So this is how I work…
Think of your journey as a yellow brick road… a path to publication.
We all know that we want to reach the Emerald Castle, but getting there may take a few detours. We may need to stop and smell the flowers sometimes to gain perspective, we may to pause a moment to learn the skills we need to move forward, we may take detours, need to double back even, but at the end of the journey sits that Emerald Castle in all it’s glory. It’s my job to guide you along the path, pull you back on course when you stray and even take a break with you and help teach you skills along the way if you feel you are lacking.
The first thing you need to understand is that each and every writer I work with, comes to me at a different junction in their journey and need my help with varying degrees. Below, you will see thatI have split the ‘journey’ into three main check points. You should easily be able to identify which junction you are at.
Pricing
My prices are a ‘start from’ price… why? Because giving you a baseline means you can budget, but understanding the add-ons means you can customise your experience with me to ensure you get the very best out of your journey, expertly fitted for and suited specifically to your needs.
Let’s be 100% real with each other here (something you can expect of me if we work together – honesty at all times) – writing is an expensive career choice. We write, without being paid, and often pay out large sums of money in the hopes of getting better but with NO real guarantee of ever being published.
There is nothing I loathe more than ‘mentors’ who are in this just for the money. These, thankfully, are very few and far between, but just like ‘Vanity Press’, they are out there. I will never charge you more than is necessary, will always endeavour to make sure you get value for your money, and I will work hard to make sure you can sack me ‘happily’ at the end of the process. That I promise.
However, I can not, and do not work at anything less than 100% commitment. If you are committed enough to pay for help, I will be 100% committed to your novel. So, to ensure that you know I am working with you, I will match your commitment.
If you commit to a set period of time working together towards your dream, I will match that commitment with a discount to ensure that you know this isn’t about the money, this is about a shared passion.
Depending on where you are with your work, you will need varying levels of help – so if you are interested in working together, take a look at where on the journey you think you are, drop me a message with your specifics, and let’s set up a chat to see how I can help.
If, during our chat, I feel like I really am not the best person to help you, I’ll be honest with you and pass you on to a colleague that works with your style that I know will suit better – because -and let’s say it again – this isn’t about money, this is about finding the best fit for you, to have a champion that believes in you and to find someone who can really add to and develop your skills. If I can not be that person, I will help you find the right mentor who can.
(I also offer payment options so you can spread the cost, and if you really need the help but you are worried about finances, always reach out anyway. I would rather find a way to help, than leave you drifting in space alone just because of money. Let’s talk, find a solution, one that works for you!)
The Three Stages
Ok – so I am going to break down the three main stages for you and explain a little about them.
Write the Damn Book
This is stage one.
This stage of mentoring takes you from concept to completion of your Rough First Draft. This is a stage in the mentoring process where we do a lot of talking and thinking and bouncing around of ideas – and you do all of the writing! You might find that one or two initial sessions to talk through your plan, how you work and your goals will be enough to set you off on the path alone. If that’s the case, we will schedule a chat maybe once a week or once a fortnight to check in and see how you are getting on.
Rather than a mentor, I like to think of myself as the accountability buddy who helps you iron out those ideas into a clear plan.
My main role during this stage is to kick you up the bum every time you let the fear devil whisper in your ear. It will be my job to pull you back on track when you lose your way and encourage you to hit word count deadlines.
I will be your structure.
Your accountability buddy and your bounce partner.
But – and this is important – getting the story “right” or “perfect” is NOT the end goal. Writing “…the end” is the goal. You would be surprised just how many people stall at this very first hurdle.
You may find that you will need more support – may find you need to chat through ‘how to plot’ – you may need to talk about ‘what is a character arc?’ or even ‘what actually is show don’t tell?’ – these bumps in the road, we call ‘rest stops’. this is where we will rest a little, learn a lot and them apply to our work before we carry on the journey. If this is your first novel, and you have no idea where to start, this section of the journey may take a little longer than those who know the basics of writing a novel, but just need a push to get to the end. We can work out the specifics during a ‘discovery call’.
Polish the Proverbial
This is stage two
This stage of the journey is often the most intense. This is where I will take your novel, and read it. And read, and re-read, make more notes and re-read again. Then, we will pick it apart together.
The structural edit is often the most difficult and most complicated part for most new authors to get their head around. They know what ‘might’ be wrong, but they have no idea how to fix it. A structured and clear manuscript report will see me focus on plot, pacing, structure, characters, and setting. I will walk through each of your chapters and note what and where changes (in my opinion) would be beneficial.
For those who have never edited before, I can and will help teach you tricks to ’embrace the red pen’ and fall in love with the editing process.
I am often asked how long this stage will take – but that all depends on the manuscript and the client. This is a stage where we can be entirely flexible and work around what fits you best. Some authors prefer to simply have a manuscript report, and a one off call to talk through the comments and from there they are happy to work alone. Others may need a little more hand holding. Again, this is why I don’t set out specific ‘packages’ – we can chat through what it is you need from a mentor, how much help and guidance might help you and even work out some specific writing sessions to work through issues specifically thrown up from your own report. The best way to figure this out, it a discovery call. We can chat through your own writing experience and work out how my skills and experience can best benefit you.
Getting it Out There
This is stage three
So – you have done it. You have written the novel, had it checked a million times over, done a structural, copy and line edit and maybe even had it proof-read. The problem is now, you have to start submitting and you have NO idea where to start.
Your submission package should include:
* Cover Letter
* Synopsis
* Sample Chapters
This stage of the process can either be added on once all previous steps have been completed, but I am also happy to help authors with this one stage alone. I will read through and report back on any glaring issues in your first three chapters and help guide you with your synopsis and cover letter. We can also schedule a call to discuss how you go about submitting, chat through the ‘unwritten rules’ you may come up against, chat through any worries and discuss what agents/publishers may be perfect for your novel.
Although I prefer to work with authors from the start all the way through until the end of their journey, I am more than happy to jump on board and help any authors who feel they are ready to submit and don’t need or want anymore writing advice, but simply want some guidance when it comes to the business side of this journey. Submitting is NOT a creative task. This is where you really need to step outside of your writer brain and get ready to tackle the business side of the industry. It’s a step many authors struggle with, so don’t feel alone.
Book a Discovery Call
(no obligation call)
- Use this option if you are not quite sure yet what stage you are at, or how much help you might like.
- Let’s chat through where on the journey you are and find out how I can best help.
Monthly Mentoring
(Priced depends on which stage of the journey you are at)
- Let’s chat through which stage you are at and work out how I can best help you
- Mentoring is entirely bespoke and will be priced to take into consideration the stage you are at, how much help you might like and how long you would like to work together
Submission Package Critique
(One off package only)
- This is a one off payment with specific parameters
- This package includes a report on:
* Submission Chapters
* Cover letter
* Synopsis - This option also includes a 60 min call (max. two weeks after receipt of your report) to talk through any issues in your report may have flagged up.
Manuscript Report Only
(One off payment only)
I very rarely take on manuscript reports alone. Mainly because I don’t believe a ‘report’ alone is helpful for many authors, but like everything in this industry, it’s not a one size fits all. Some reports may need a couple of calls to work through, many will only need one.
I find that many authors will pay through the nose for a manuscript report only to read the report and then find they have no idea how to action the comments or advice. Although many authors are happy to offer this option as quite a clinical process, it’s not how I prefer to work.
I believe that new authors get the very best out of a manuscript report if they have the time to ask questions about the report into their work. For that reason, I very rarely accept manuscripts via email specifically for report processing.
Why?
I may not be the right person to write a report about your novel.
I may write a report that you simply don’t understand.
You may read the report and have no idea how to implement the changes.
You may not actually be READY for a manuscript appraisal…
For this reason, I prefer to at least chat with you about your work and your experience before undertaking a manuscript appraisal. We will make sure that your writing is ready for me to read and report on, make sure I am able to write a report about your chosen genre that will be beneficial for you, and work out what it is that you may be ‘looking’ for.
Let’s be honest, many authors send out their work with a few questions in their mind already. Maybe it’s ‘another report told me my character dialogue isn’t working and I want to know if it does now.’ It may be ‘I really don’t know what genre this book sits in, or where to pitch it.’ For me, I find it easier to help you if I know a little about you and your expectations.
So – for that reason there is no option on this site for you to simply “BOOK” a MS report. Instead, if you are looking for ONLY an MS report, chose this option and we will have a quick 20 min chat where we can figure out if I am best suited to read and report on your novel.
This is a ‘starts from’ price, whereby it can be a specific report based on specific issues (from £350 for 60,000 words and incremental increases based on word count from there) but can include detailed reports on all areas of the MS, calls scheduled to work through issues and a further assistance.
Payment plans are of course available and a full and complete price can be agreed during your free discovery call
GET IN TOUCH
Not sure where you are in your journey?
What styles of writing do I work with?
Adult Fiction (General):
I read widely and love working with a variety of styles of writing. I particularly love giving feedback on romcoms, uplit, book club, literary crossover and emotional fiction. I love character led fiction and find working with authors on topic lead fiction incredibly rewarding.
Crime, thriller and police procedurals are a particular favourite of mine to read, and I love nothing more than working with authors on twisty heart stopping novels. I am not sacred of a serial killer here or there either.
Literary Fiction
It’s often harder for authors of literary or crossover high concept fiction to find mentors who understand the ‘quieter’ novels. I might just be your gal.
Young Adult/Middle Grade Fiction
Although I don’t work with children’s fiction, the blurred line between Young Adult/New Adult is one I love to work with. Helping authors reach a younger and impressionable audience is a particular passion of mine.
Historical / Saga
I will happily read and report on certain areas of historical fiction, but be aware I do not fact check historical novels. I am not a historian. I can not promise to pick up on inaccuracies. I am more than happy to work with those writing in the genre, but caveat that fact checking in this area is not a strength of mine.
Selective Non-Fiction
Having worked as a journalist for the majority of my career, non-fiction writing was my bread and butter. Making non-fiction writing engaging and interesting can often be a tricky process, but it’s something I am passionate about. If you have a non-fiction novel you are hoping to pitch or write, and need a helping hand, reach and and let me know. If it’s a subject matter I can help with, I am more than happy to take a look.
Styles of writing I can not help with
Poetry
I love poetry. I read and write poetry daily – but I am not best placed to help you get yours published. It’s an area I don’t know enough about to feel confident assessing others, but if you have poetry and you are actively looking for a mentor, please feel free to get in touch and I will happily point you in the direction of those I know are better placed to help.
Areas of Adult Fiction:
Horror – I am happy to read and work with authors of Gothic, but horror is not my bag I am afraid.
Gore – I am not a fan of all out gore. Although thrillers and crimes will often have graphic deaths, I am not the right person to help you if your novel is excessively full of gore.
Historical Fact Checking – I will happily read and report on certain areas of historical fiction, but be aware I do not fact check historical novels. I am not a historian. I can not promise to pick up on inaccuracies.
SciFi – SciFi is one of the very few areas of literature that simply does not grab me. I very rarely read in this genre so feel there may be authors out there much better suited to help if this is your area of expertise
Children’s Fiction
(Including picture books) Unfortunately I know very little about this area of publishing, either the writing or publishing of. Although it is an area I would like to work more with in the future, I feel there are many authors out there with far more experience than me. Again, feel free to get in touch for a recommendation if you are struggling to find someone.
If you are unsure what genre your novel fits in to – or would like me to take a look at a sample of your work to determine if we are a fit, please feel free to just drop me an email – I won’t bite 😉