TLC and Writers & Artists have joined forces to launch a new scheme offering aspiring editors training and paid work. Here, we announce our inaugural recipient of the Edit Academy Apprenticeship
TLC and Writers & Artists are delighted to announce our inaugural Apprentices, selected from 60 attendees across two cohorts of our popular Edit Academy. As part of our shared commitment to creating inclusive cultures within the publishing workforce, our two Edit Academy apprentices will receive in-house training on editorial best practice using TLC’s Reading Principles (used to train all TLC Editors). Each Apprentice will also be assigned a mentor. Under the mentor’s guidance, they will produce a manuscript assessment report. The Apprentice will be paid for this work, and one lucky client will receive a 50% discount on manuscript assessment with our Apprentice – more details about how to apply for a discounted assessment, and our TLC Apprentice, below.
Ben Valentine will offer a full Manuscript Assessment courtesy of TLC, and will be mentored by Katy Whitehead. Ben is particularly keen to work on character-driven manuscripts with strong voices, and is drawn to stories with characters who make you cheer (or groan) with the decisions they make. He also enjoys plot-driven novels that keeps readers guessing and the tension high. Ben is particularly interested in literary and speculative fiction.
For Writers & Artists, Marika De Silva will be mentored by Rachel Hamilton, and will carry out our Full Manuscript Review service. Marika is also looking for fiction projects, particularly in the fantasy, romance, romantasy or historical romance genres. For details of how to apply for a discounted assessment by Marika, please visit the Writers & Artists page here.
How to apply for 50% off our Full Manuscript Assessment service, with Ben as your TLC Editor:
Submit your full manuscript and a one-page synopsis in Word.doc format to using the subject header ‘TLC EDIT ACADEMY APPRENTICE’. Your email can offer a brief summary of your project, including the genre you are writing in, and must be submitted no later than 23.59 (UK time) on Tuesday 16th June. Please ensure that you have read Ben’s reading preferences above before applying. You must be willing to provide feedback on your experience. Manuscripts may be up to but no longer than 90,000 words for this opportunity.
All submissions that meet the above criteria will be put forward for selection, with an applicant selected at random. The successful applicant will be contacted to arrange payment for the service, which will be a 50% discounted rate. Full payment is required in order to secure the service. If payment has not been made within five working days, another applicant will be selected at random. Please therefore ensure you have used our Fees calculator to ensure you are able to pay the fee with our 50% discount applied.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to make any amends to their manuscript and synopsis before a final submission deadline of Wednesday 1st July. A date by which Ben will return the report will then be communicated by email.
All unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email by the end of June.
Meet Ben Valentine
About Ben
I love helping writers develop their stories – especially seeing their eyes light up when we discover a thread that had been holding them back. As someone who can’t get enough the world (real and imaginary) around me, I devour literary and speculative fiction, but always excited to discover something new. From structural, developmental, and copy edits, I love working with writers to make their stories the best they can be (and give them licence to break their readers hearts). When I’m not nose deep in a book, I find a lot of joy learning how to draw.
What this opportunity means
“To be frank, this opportunity means everything to me. I have looked up to so many authors and editors and simply wished to have a chance to work and learn from them in any capacity. The fact that this is happening fills me with a joy I can only describe as euphoric. But the most important thing is that I will give back everything that I can so the next aspiring editor can feel empowered to do so as well.”
In carrying out this service, Ben will be mentored by Katy Whitehead. Katy was previously Commissioning Editor at 4th Estate, where she worked on a range of literary fiction and non-fiction, acquiring books by Lena Dunham, creator of HBO’s Girls, and National Book Award longlistee T. Geronimo Johnson, among others. In 2023, Katy helped launch the short fiction site, Cosmorama, as Editor in Chief. Currently, Katy is an Editor for The Literary Consultancy, where she is also on the editorial committee.
