WriteMentor Summer Programme 2021
I’m really excited to be mentoring again this year with the WriteMentor Summer Programme. Last year, after reading such a variety of brilliant applications, I mentored Philip Kavvadias, who went on to find representation with Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary Agency. While I was torn between so many well-written and enjoyable entries, Phil’s story, Agents of Steel, Mission: Dinosaur, just struck a chord and had me chortling from the very first page.
What I’m looking for
While last year I was open to most categories, this year I’m just focusing on funny contemporary middle grade and YA. So if your manuscript is a comedy, send it my way!
A bit about myself
My “debut” novel, Clementine Florentine – a middle grade comedy – will be published late 2021/early 2022. I say “debut” because it’s my first traditionally published novel, but in terms of my writing journey, it’s actually my eighth novel. It’s taken me 20 years to achieve the publishing deal I’d always aspired towards. During that time I’ve gained and lost agents, had hundreds of rejections, experimented with self-publishing, enrolled on a children’s writing course, found a new agent, and have finally found a fabulous publisher (more on that closer to my release date). For a more detailed account of my rollercoaster writing journey, see my blog post, ‘The Long Way Round – My Writing Journey’.
Meanwhile, editing and copywriting has been my day job for almost 25 years. Before having children I worked as a magazine sub-editor on various glossies and TV guides. I especially used to enjoy turning a bullet point list of EastEnders or Corrie plot points into an article that gave a preview of the week ahead. Seeing stories that raked in millions of TV viewers in such basic form made the idea of storytelling seem a lot more accessible.
Mentoring
These days when I’m not writing my own fiction or copywriting, I supplement my income editing other authors’ manuscripts – a job I absolutely love. As a mentor, I’ll provide that same service, offering detailed advice on how to tighten your next draft, getting it ready to submit to agents.
As part of my process, I leave comments in the margin flagging up things that are potentially problematic as well as things that I think work really well. Once I’ve been through the whole manuscript, I write a detailed feedback report covering everything from plot to characterisation, writing to marketability, tone to consistency. Once you’ve had a chance to digest my feedback, we can talk it through on a video/phone call. I won’t be able to read a second draft, but am happy to talk through any further issues until the summer programme ends. I’m also happy to offer feedback on your synopsis and agent query letter, too.
The suggestions I make on how to strengthen and tighten your manuscript are just that – suggestions, not instructions. If you don’t agree with my comments, that’s absolutely fine. It’s your book and you have to listen to your instincts and feel confident in what you’ve written. But it’s worth being open-minded, as most agents these days will suggest some changes to your MS before they feel it’s ready to submit to publishers.
I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading your applications. Happy writing!