TLC Mentoring

What is TLC Mentoring?

✅Finish your book in 12-18 months
✅Bespoke one-to-one feedback with an editor
✅Track (and meet) your goals in your Workbook
✅360 service includes a full manuscript assessment
✅Join an intimate, non-competitive Industry Day with an agent and publisher
✅Whole person approach to mentoring includes coaching (Premium)
✅Support at every stage from the TLC Team

Chapter and Verse

Develop your writing under the guidance of a published author or professional editor

Our highly successful mentoring programme Chapter and Verse is the ideal option for those serious about their writing. We will pair you with a dedicated writing mentor for tailored feedback at regular intervals, to help you complete your book over the course of 12-18 months. A second editor is assigned to give feedback on the completed draft, giving you a 360 degree editorial experience. Mentees are invited to an Industry Day in small groups, to meet with an agent and editor, find out about the industry, and get feedback on pitches in a supportive environment that uplifts and inspires. All mentees also receive full access to our Being A Writer platform for the duration of the programme. Being A Writer is a community platform whose aim is to create a community of happier, healthier writers. A welcome pack and Workbook are also included, to track and reach your writing goals.

Join us today and write the book that you have always dreamed of writing.

“Yet again TLC has come up with a scheme that is both cutting-edge and a winner. Think of the mentoring scheme as a literary life support machine – so sign up and get creative.”
Simon Trewin, literary agent

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How it works

Complete your book in 12-18 months with TLC

Over the course of 12-18 months, TLC mentees are offered six (Classic) or seven (Premium) feedback sessions with their mentor, based on submissions of material from their writing project of 10,000 words at a time. Also included is a full manuscript assessment of the completed book at the end of the process. We invite mentees to an intimate Industry Day in London in focused, small groups, with a guest literary agent and editor to discuss the publishing industry today, including top tips on pitching your work to the industry. A Workbook helps you track your progress, and a Welcome Pack equips you with everything you will need to build writing skills and confidence. All mentees are given access to TLC’s writing platform, Being A Writer, so that you can attend any events that might be helpful including regular workshops, and co-writing spaces to help you carve out precious time and space for your writing. This is entirely at your discretion: the focus of Chapter and Verse is you, and your writing.

As part of TLC’s commitment to environmental sustainability, for every new mentee, we pledge to plant one tree in the National Forest.

Who does Chapter and Verse work best for?

Chapter and Verse is open to all writers writing in English anywhere in the world who are working on a book-length project. The programme has been designed to support writers to completion of their book-length project: this may be a novel, creative non-fiction, a collection of short stories or a collection of poems. A series of deadlines is designed to help you keep vital writing momentum going and help you realise your creative vision. By the end of the programme, you will have a completed book that has gone through at least one full round of edits. Chapter and Verse is for writers serious about seeing their projects through, and we will make every effort to help you over that finishing line. We have supported many writers who go on to secure publishing deals after working with us, but you do not have to have traditional publication in mind as a goal to join Chapter and Verse: we believe that all outcomes are valid and warmly welcome any writer with serious ambitions to finish a writing project that has meaning and value for you.

N.b. Unfortunately we cannot offer mentoring on children’s illustrated fiction, scripts or screenplays, but we do offer manuscript assessment of each of these genres, by specialist readers.

What is the Industry Day?

Each Chapter and Verse mentee has access to an Industry Day, in London or online. Industry Days offers our mentees a chance to meet fellow mentees, and hear from publishing industry guests in an intimate, non-competitive environment. There will be an opportunity to pitch your book, with live feedback given by our industry guests. Industry Days are exclusively for TLC mentees. They offer a unique opportunity to find out more about the industry and the life cycle of a book from draft to bookshelf, and to get practical, up-to-the-minute advice about working with agents and publishers. They also offer a chance to meet a small group of other writers also writing seriously, which can be incredibly buoying and offer important support and encouragement.

How much does it cost?

Chapter and Verse (Classic) is competitively priced at £2,750+VAT (£3,300). This is exceptionally good value when compared to creative writing MAs and other courses which are offered on a shorter timescale and/or are not designed to support a bespoke writing project, rather an entire cohort of writers. Chapter and Verse offers considered, one to one feedback on your writing at all times with a dedicated mentor, and is a holistic programme designed to support you to complete your book. Chapter and Verse (Premium) is costed at £3,750+VAT (£4,500) and is offered in person, with additional coaching sessions also included. VAT is applicable according to your country of residence and will be calculated automatically through our secure payment system for you.

What is included?

Chapter and Verse (Classic)

Classic mentees are invited to our popular and intimate Industry Day in London. You will also receive a full set of TLC Mini Guides, a Workbook, and two-year membership to TLC’s Being A Writer platform. Mentees can also access a Post Feedback workshop upon completion of the manuscript.

Timeline = 12-18 months
Delivery = online (by email)
Complete programme fee = £2,750 + VAT (£3,300)

Chapter and Verse (Premium)

Classic mentees are invited to our popular and intimate Industry Day in London. You will also receive a Welcome Pack with notebook and pen, our Workbook, a full set of TLC Mini Guides, and lifetime membership to TLC’s Being A Writer platform. Three one to one coaching calls during the final 6 month writing process are also included, as well as access to a Post Feedback workshop upon completion of the manuscript. TLC’s Premium mentors are all publishing industry specialist editors.

Timeline = 12-18 months
Delivery = in person or on Zoom
Complete programme fee = £3,750 + VAT (£4,500)

Can I pay in instalments?

Payment is required upfront, or in two instalments, with the second due on the date of your third mentoring submission. We ask writers to ensure they can commit for the full length of the programme, and will provide you with a contract outlining your commitment, your mentor’s, and TLC’s. Once the mentoring process has begun, no refunds are available. You have up to 24 months to complete the programme. If you are looking for a more flexible option, please see below.

Can I meet my mentor?

Chapter and Verse (Classic) has been designed as an online mentoring course with bespoke one to one feedback available via email. This makes it the perfect option for those with busy lives and other commitments, but a serious ambition to complete a book. Chapter and Verse (Premium) is in person. We recommend writers arrange to meet their Premium mentor in a public space such as a cafe, at a time convenient to both you and your mentor. Our mentors are based around the UK (please see the Mentors page for more information), and we have Premium mentors available for Zoom sessions with international writers. Writers are responsible for travel and related costs for the Premium programme. Please see the section ‘What is included in the fee?’ above for details, or contact us directly for more information.

Currently we have Premium mentors based in: LONDON, LEEDS, MID-WALES, SOMERSET, BRIGHTON, MANCHESTER. If you are interested in face to face mentoring in a region not included here, please contact us in case we have anyone near you.

Can I just do the mentoring sessions?

If your priority is the one-to-one support from a professional editor for accountability and personalised feedback on your writing, we are able to offer Chapter and Verse feedback sessions on a monthly basis, with Classic costing £250+VAT per month, and Premium £450+VAT per month. Each submission will include feedback on up to 10,000 words (or the equivalent in poetry). There is a minimum commitment of three sessions and these sessions are strictly non-refundable. This is subject to mentor availability and on application. Please contact the office for more information.

How do I apply?

To apply, please send a one-page synopsis or proposal*, a completed Application Form, plus a 2,000 word sample of work, to Joe Sedgwick at with the subject header ‘Chapter and Verse Application.’ Please tell us a little about yourself, and why you are applying, in a short covering letter. If you would like a call-back, please indicate this in your email and send us a landline or mobile number.

*It is fine if this is an outline only, as we understand you may not have written the whole book yet.

“TLC’s mentoring scheme provides the chance to develop work in an encouraging environment, but it’s unique in also offering a realistic assessment. This combination of personal attention and truthful critical advice is ideal for anyone who is serious about their writing.”
Joanna Briscoe, author of Sleep With Me, Bloomsbury