Elevate your writing
As a writer mentor and developmental editor, I specialise in historical, literary, book club fiction and memoir.
If you are thinking of self-publishing, my experience may be particularly useful to help you work through the myriad of options, set your goals and timescales.
Ethos
I meet you wherever you are on your writing journey and engage fully with your ideas and words, honour them, and seek how to bring them out to their best.
Feedback is balanced, designed to encourage and help you take the next steps. Brainstorming your work in progress will be energetic and thought-provoking and give you clear ways forward.
With my personal skills and editorial experience gained through working with a wide range of authors, I give you the space and support to allow your writing to unfold and help you see how far you can take your story.
I help with
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Structure
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Voice
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Tense
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Plot
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Character development
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Pace
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Dialogue
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And much more
And to help you achieve the changes you want to make
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Focus on motivating goals
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Break down research into manageable chunks
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Re-energise your creativity
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Be an ally who will hold your 'big picture' and challenge you in a supportive way B
What's different about me
I bring three decades worth of mentoring, training, coaching and counselling experience in the workplace, so you are in professional, capable hands. Check me out on LinkedIn if you're interested.
I am mindful of the challenges of writing - whether it's being stuck or not feeling able to take on the changes you want to make for fear of overwhelm, lack of self-belief etc.
I don't just focus on the words - I help you with strategies and ideas for you to reach the point where your writing shines and you achieve your personal writing aims.
Mentoring
I provide flexible, personalised one-to-one mentoring support, based on your needs.
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Sessions are one hour long, online.
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I am happy to meet in person if you are local to Brighton, or want to have a day out here, when a longer meeting might be more appropriate.
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You tell me what you'd like to focus on / get out of the session and I'll provide the structure to make that happen. If you are unsure, I'll send a short email questionnaire as a prompt.
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At the end of the session, follow up actions and timings are put into place.
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Further sessions are arranged on as needed basis. I don't lock you into a package, because creativity rarely works like that! But if you like the idea of a regular commitment for progress and accountability, we can work to a schedule that suits you.
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Like to have an informal chat first? I offer a free 20 minute virtual session to get to know one another.
Cost
A one hour mentoring session is £75.
If you would like me to read and verbally feedback on a sample of writing (up to 3,000 words) or novel synopsis as part of the first mentoring session, there is an additional charge of £75.
Editorial support
If you are looking for a constructive assessment of your work in progress and advice on how to elevate it further.
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Feedback as track changes/comments in your Word document to give you specific pointers on areas such as voice, dialogue, pace, description etc.
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Summary report which provides written feedback on what's working well and areas for development - this focuses primarily on the 'big picture' issues such as structure, tense, voice, plot and character development.
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Suggestions for next steps
This is not a copy or line edit, but overall grammar and layout issues will be highlighted.
Cost
Up to 15,000 words £650
Up to 30,000 words £850
Up to 60,000 words £1,000
Over 60,000 words - £15 per additional 1,000 words
One hour online editorial session following your summary report is £75.
Gift vouchers (non-refundable) can be purchased for mentoring and editorial support.
New course in Brighton
Writers – An Artist's Way
Evolution Arts @ The Brighton Buddhist Centre, 17 Tichborne Street, Brighton BN1 1UR.
Mondays 7.30pm to 9.30pm from
9 June 2025 to 14 July 2025 (6 weeks)
A 6-week course to focus on your writing project and establish the habits to get your writing flowing. Based on the book Write For Life, the writing version of Julia Cameron’s inspiring The Artist’s Way.
Whether you are first-time writer with an idea, or a more established writer looking to reconnect with your inspiration, this course is an invitation for writers of all levels to invest time in your writing self to move your project forward.
The course follows the book Write For Life and incorporates 5 key practices to kickstart your creativity:
- Morning pages
- Weekly Artist date
- Couple of short walks a week
- Choose your writing stations
- Manageable daily writing quota
These are proven techniques to dismantle the perfectionism, fear and procrastination which are often at work in the writing process. Each week we build on themes in the book to give the writer within you the chance to grow.
Please note you will need to have a copy of Write for Life by Julia Cameron to participate.
By doing the course in a group, you will have the support of a skilled facilitator and peers going through the same process, giving you the encouragement you need to coax your creativity and achieve your personal aims.
The course and book provide a clear framework to begin, stick with, reinvent or finish a project. This is not a course on writing technique but a unique invitation to find your true writing self and voice.