Mentoring Terms & Conditions

In the unlikely event we are unable to find you a suitable mentor, we reserve the right to not allocate a course place.
Payment must be made in advance of course commencement. In exceptional circumstances, we will consider those who wish to pay in two instalments.
It is up to you to agree a mutually convenient schedule with your mentor. Course participants need to be aware that they should complete their six mentoring sessions within a year of commencement, although we will of course bear in mind any extenuating circumstances that might occur during your course. Please be aware however, that should a submission ‘deadline’ run over by a period of more than eight weeks, a mentor may not be able to respond to your submission within two weeks.
Mentors will agree the best method of communicating with you. All mentors will undertake 6 tutorial sessions via email. Some mentors may also offer a few phone calls as part of the course. (Please be aware that students will receive the equivalent level of feedback and attention regardless of whether or not phonecalls are included in your course).
Course participants must respect the boundaries of the mentor/student relationship, and not attempt to contact their mentor outside the terms agreed at the outset of the course. TLC will take any attempt to breach these boundaries seriously.
In the highly unlikely event that you should be unhappy with your mentor or the feedback you are receiving, please contact The Literary Consultancy directly and we will do our best to resolve the situation.
If irresolvable problems should occur, and it is agreed that continuing the mentoring process would not be the best option, TLC will offer a full refund for sessions not yet undertaken, minus £250 to cover our administration costs.
For the mentoring event day in London, participants must be responsible for their own travelling (and accommodation, if needed) expenses.
Submissions for the TLC read should be made within three months of your final mentoring session. For general terms and conditions pertaining to TLC manuscript assessments, please see here.

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TLC have helped get an ever-expanding list of authors into print over the years.
View our Success Stories

Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, with which TLC gave me excellent editorial help, sold 30,000 copies to the consumer in hardback. Your fine and necessary service made it possible for me as a novice to write a bestseller.

Terry Darlington, Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, Transworld

Editorial acumen and wisdom is difficult to find, and TLC possesses both. My first novel has found its way onto Waterstone’s Summer Reads list and 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

I found it invaluable to receive a thoughtful and perceptive report on the strengths and weaknesses of my novel from a professional whose opinions I could trust.

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

Macmillan have commissioned my fourth children’s book in the Jammy Dodgers series. Without the Literary Consultancy’s help with the first book I would never have got this far.

Brenda Sivers Bowering, Jammy Dodgers series, Macmillan

I would like to thank TLC for making my book publishable.

Pam Smart, Who’s Afraid of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Chipmunk Publishing

It is no exaggeration to say that The Literary Consultancy’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

I think it’s fair to say that 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 report and recommendation enabled me to secure an excellent agent and a superb two book deal.

Kim Lloyd, Erskine’s Box, Sceptre

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

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 to me for my novel. 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 The Literary Consultancy 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 from Anna was detailed, forthright yet encouraging, and 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 an agent and 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 Woolridge, The Hidden Dance, Allison & Busby

TLC chose the perfect reader. Thanks to the invaluable advice, my book is now proving to be a hit with children and parents alike!

Karen Andrea, The Enchanted Library, Legend Press/YouWriteOn

I don’t think any serious writer should think of submitting her work to agents or publishers 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