Support for your writing

[John Dean]

A reminder that, in addition to the various free things I do with writers, one of the paid-for services I offer is one that supports writers through online mentoring.

But why should you hire a professional writing mentor? Isn’t it enough to attend a class/workshop or a writing group? Well, yes, it can be but not everyone can get to a group, particularly in these testing times of lockdown (the group I teach has been closed down for a month with many weeks to go, I suspect).

And it does depend what you want and need. Writing can be a lonely experience and bespoke mentoring can help some writers to:

understand your work

nurture you and your writing

let you retain control of your ideas and your writing provide expert, specific advice about what is working and what isn’t

I focus on major issues, such as how your story hangs together, what your characters are doing or could be doing, what is hurting your story’s momentum, what story elements are not pulling their weight.

I also identify the differences between good and great writing and point out your strengths, so you become confident about what not to change. I also give useful advice on approaching publishers or agents.

If long-term mentoring does not appeal, we run short writing courses as well. You can find out more by emailing me at [e-mail]