TLC’s aim is to provide developing writers with an honest, detailed, genuinely useful written report from a highly skilled editor. Our in-house team are experienced publishing professionals who are on hand to answer any queries you may have at any stage of the editorial process. TLC benefits from a wealth of industry knowledge and has years of combined experience in working with authors.
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
TLC readers are editors and writers who all have an in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry and are expert across a wide range of genres. Many are working novelists, teach Creative Writing on prestigious University courses, or have extensive experience of script reading. As the most firmly established literary consultancy in the United Kingdom, we have over the years built up an extensive team of readers – writers who use our services can feel truly confident that their work will be allocated to a reader who will best meet their needs. For more information, see Readers.
For those exceptional cases when work is suitable for submission to an agent or publisher with a genuine chance of publication, TLC has firm links with a variety of first-class agencies. We will not recommend agents or publishers if we do not consider the work ready to send out, but will, in our assessment, explain our reasoning behind decisions made.
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
Over the years, TLC have helped several authors get into print – for more information, please see our Success Stories section. However, it is important to remember that getting published is difficult. All developing writers should be aware that the publishing industry is generally very commercially driven. Publishers and agents generally prefer to take on books they are confident will result in high sales and a quick turnaround. 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 is aware of the demands of the industry and will not make irresponsible suggestions for 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.
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.
If the NHS weren’t bankrupt,
I’d say The Literary Consultancy should be available to writers
on prescription.
Paul Heiney
See also:
Mentoring
Scriptwriting
Other Services
TLC’s innovative mentoring
scheme Chapter and Verse
has places available.
Click here for more information
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
Many thanks to your excellent consultancy
for its invaluable contribution to making this possible.
Michael Richardson, The Pig Bin, Tindall Street Press
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
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