Editorial & Talent News

Radio 4 Interviews Leaf Fielding about "Operation Julie"

Your fine and necessary service made it possible for me as a novice to write a bestseller.
Terry Darlington, Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, Transworld

My first novel has found its way onto Waterstone’s Summer Reads list. It would have not got there without TLC.
Nick Taussig, Love and Mayhem, Revolver Books

Thanks to TLC I got an agent and secured a deal with Hodder Headline. The help you provided was invaluable.
Max Kinnings, Hitman and The Fixer, Hodder

The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society by Christine Coleman

It was invaluable to receive a perceptive report on the strengths and weaknesses of my novel from a professional
Christine Coleman, The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society, Transita

If it wasn’t for TLC, my novel just wouldn’t have made it.
Heather Reyes, Zade, Saqi

Jammy Dodgers on the Run by Brenda Sivers Bowering

Macmillan have commissioned my fourth children’s book. Without TLC’s help I would never have got this far.
Brenda Sivers Bowering, Jammy Dodgers series, Macmillan

Who’s Afraid of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic by Pam Smart

I would like to thank TLC for making my book publishable.
Pam Smart, Who’s Afraid of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Chipmunk Publishing

I owe my career to TLC, editorially and financially. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services to anyone.
James Flint, Habitus and 52 Ways to Magic America, Fourth Estate

TLC’s advice and encouragement was invaluable to me when I was writing my first novel, Isabella.
Fiona Mountain, Pale as the Dead and Isabella, Orion

TLC’s report and recommendation enabled me to secure an excellent agent and a superb two book deal.
Kim Lloyd, Erskine’s Box, Sceptre

Does Snogging Count as Exercise? by Helen Salter

TLC’s feedback motivated me to keep going with my first novel,  which is now on the bookshop shelves!
Helen Salter, Does Snogging Count as Exercise?, Piccadilly Press

I am awed by your reader’s philosophical, novelistic and teaching skills. I can’t thank her enough.
Y. J.M Bonavero, Something in the Sea, Bloomsbury

The Thousand Petalled Daisy by Norman Thomas

Thank you for your kindness and encouragement and for choosing such a perfect reader.
Norman Thomas, The Thousand Petalled Daisy, Maia Press

TLC was invaluable . I wouldn’t dream of sending a completed novel to my publisher without having TLC look at it first.
Prue Leith, Leaving Patrick, Sisters and A Lovesome Thing, Penguin Books

I am convinced my book’s success is due to the down to earth, practical advice TLC gave me.
Tony Booth, Cox’s Navy, Pen and Sword

Many thanks to your excellent consultancy for its invaluable contribution to making this possible.
Michael Richardson, The Pig Bin, Tindall Street Press

TLC introduced my work to agents and publishers on my behalf. I suspect no-one would have looked at it otherwise.
Jenny Downham, Before I Die, David Fickling Books, Random House

The advice I received was pretty spot on. When my agent sent the book off again, we secured a deal with Serpent’s Tail.
Bethan Roberts, The Pools, Serpent’s Tail

Thanks to Rebecca Swift’s well-informed advice, I was able to get a publishing deal incredibly quickly.
Tom Feiling, The Candy Machine, Penguin Books

TLC’s report made all the difference in getting The Golden Pig published.
Mark Penny, The Golden Pig, by The Penny Brothers, Lightning Press

TLC was beyond helpful in the writing of my novel. My experience was worth every penny!
Susan Wooldridge, The Hidden Dance, Allison & Busby

TLC chose the perfect reader. Thanks to the invaluable advice, my book is now proving to be a hit!
Karen Andrea, The Enchanted Library, Legend Press/YouWriteOn

I don’t think any serious writer should think of submitting work without first sending it to TLC.
Angela Young, Speaking of Love, Beautiful Books

The advice was clear and perceptive ... and the result, according to the reviews, was a book worth writing
Peter Webb, Ice Bears and Kotick, Seafarer Books

Manuscript Assessment

The Literary Consultancy is the UK’s leading manuscript assessment and editorial advice service providing expert, market-aware editorial appraisal and help to writers at all levels.

The Literary Consultancy provides developing writers with an honest, detailed and professional manuscript appraisal from a highly skilled editor. We help writers understand whether they stand a chance of success in the commercial literary market place and if they do, help connect them to a literary agent and publisher. We can also advise about the world of self-publishing, and help you think about the increasing number of options open to writers in online environments.

“The best advice to anyone wishing to write a novel is ‘don’t do it’. The second best is ‘send it to The Literary Consultancy.”

Auberon Waugh, author and Editor of The Literary Review

We provide detailed, critical assessments of a wide range of different writing genre including fiction, non fiction, autobiography, children’s books, film/TV/theatre/radio scripts and poetry of all stages of development.

TLC’s editorial consultancy benefits from a wealth of industry knowledge and has years of combined experience in working with writers. We have built up an extensive, highly-skilled and unsurpassed team of readers who are editors and writers with an in-depth knowledge of the UK publishing industry and expertise across a wide range of genres. Many are published novelists, teach creative writing on prestigious University courses, or have extensive experience of script reading. Writers who use our services can feel confident that their work will be matched to an appropriate reader. For more information on our expert team please see Readers.

Come for a TLC manuscript assessment if you:

want a professional, independent editorial overview of your work at whatever stage of development
want help with direction at any stage of your writing
want to ascertain if you are likely to get commercially published or not

want to be personally recommended to agents by TLC if you are considered marketable by TLC reader and in-house team
want to know if an editor thinks it worthwhile you self-publishing
have decided to self publish and want an editorial overview with suggestions for editorial improvements to make sure your work is as good as it can be

If you would like to go ahead with an assessment of your manuscript, please see our Fees & Submissions page.

Please note that we can also offer copy-editing and proof-reading in certain circumstances. These can help with manuscript presentation, and to make self-publishing as professional as possible. See Other Editorial Services.

Agents and publishers

TLC has established working connections with several leading publishers and agents and over the years has helped many authors get into print. For more information please see our Success Stories. However it is important to remember that getting commercially published is difficult. All developing writers should be aware that the traditional publishing industry is very market driven and is also in a state of flux as it faces challenges from alternative online platforms. Publishers and agents can only take on books that they feel confident will result in high sales. Marketing and PR campaigns are important in generating book sales, so publishers and agents also ideally need to feel a book (and its author) will be easy to promote. TLC runs publishing events to help people writing understand more about the publishing industry, see TLC Events.

“An important service which will help bridge the gap between writers, agents and publishers – and be of help to all three.”

Carmen Callil, Publisher and Booker Prize chair

TLC is aware of the demands of the industry and will not make irresponsible suggestions to clients wishing to approach agents and publishers. However, where work is deemed not only well-written, but also potentially commercial, we will have an in-depth discussion with the author about the best procedure for finding an agent/publisher and TLC’s role in the process.There is no further fee to the client for this service.

ACE Bursaries

We are partially funded by the Arts Council England to provide a limited number of reads to high quality writers across the UK. You will need to contact your local regional creative writing development body in order to find out if they operate the scheme and if you are eligible.