Fees
Fee structure
Our fees include VAT which is applicable to all UK residents. If you are ordinarily resident outside of the UK, there is no VAT payable. Our secure online payment portal will automatically calculate your tax rate for you based on your country of residence.
When you purchase a manuscript assessment with TLC, you can choose to support a low-income writer by opting to pay an additional 5% or 10% at checkout (‘Supporter fee’). If you are on low income or need a little extra help, you can choose to ‘Be Supported’ for a 10% discount on your manuscript assessment (‘Supported Fee’). All fees shown below are Standard fees. 
| Manuscript Assessment Fiction/non-fiction | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| Short extract (first 15,000 words) | £300 |
| Longer extract (first 30,000 words) | £450 |
| Full manuscript (up to 60,000 words) | £600 |
| Manuscripts longer than 60,000 words | £600 base rate + £6 for every 1,000 words thereafter |
| Submission Package Report (first 8,000 words, ‘Dear Agent’ letter and one-page synopsis) | £350 |
| Developmental Editing (Fiction and Non-fiction prose) | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| Up to 15,000 words | £650 |
| 15,001-30,000 words | £850 |
| 30,001-60,000 words | £1,000 |
| Each additional 1,000 words (over 60,000) | £15 |
| Picture Books | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| 1 or 2 Picture Books | £250 |
| 3 or 4 Picture Books | £400 |
| Short Stories | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| Up to 2,000 words | £250 |
| Each additional 1,000 words (over 2,000) | £20 |
| Short Story Collection (Up to 50,000 words or 20 Short Stories) | £700 |
| Poetry | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| Up to 200 lines | £300 |
| Each additional 100 lines (over 200 lines) | £50 |
| Poetry Pamphlet (Up to 900 lines or 20 poems) | £500 |
| Poetry Collection (Up to 2,000 lines or 50 poems) | £650 |
| Editor One-to-One | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| A one hour one-to-one with an editor on Zoom | £160 |
| Bundle: any manuscript assessment plus one-to-one | 10% discount if booked together |
| Gift Vouchers and Sponsorship | Prices (VAT inc.) |
|---|---|
| Buy a gift voucher or sponsor a low-income writer to the value of any of the services described above. Please contact the office for details | From £120 |
Short stories are charged individually. Send in x3 or more individual stories and receive a 10% discount.
Ready to submit your work for a manuscript assessment with one of our professional Readers? Click here to start the process.
Quick Turnaround
We can provide feedback within 10 business days for an additional 40% of the standard fee added onto the overall cost. If you require this service, please contact us first so we can check editor availability.
Returning Client Discount
We are pleased to offer returning clients a 5% discount.
Bursaries for Low-Income Writers
TLC receives funding from Arts Council England which enables us to offer a quota of free manuscript assessments for promising writers from low-income households. Please see ACE Free Reads Scheme for more information. The Guardian also recognise our commitment to quality and honesty, and in 2011 formally recommended TLC as their consultancy of choice.
Submission Package Report
An industry specialist TLC reader will provide specific feedback on your ‘Dear Agent’ letter, one-page synopsis, and first 8,000 words. You must have a completed manuscript in order to access this service. Please click here for more information and to book.
Editor One-to-ones
A one-hour Zoom meeting (online) with a TLC Reader for one-to-one feedback. You will be supplied with a secure log-in link and password. One additional hour’s reading time from your TLC Editor is included, and a link to a recording of your session. You will receive a goal-setting worksheet before and after your session to help you plan the session, and implement the feedback. Please click here for more information and to book.
Gift Vouchers
It is possible to purchase a gift voucher, of your chosen value, for a loved one. Vouchers are redeemable only against the service they are bought for (manuscript assessment, mentoring, or events) and must be redeemed within 12 months of purchase. Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers and must be used by the named recipient only. There is no cash equivalent and there are no refunds on gift vouchers. We are happy to print send the voucher to your chosen recipient First Class (or by email if preferred), along with a personalised message, at no additional cost. Please contact the office for details.
Overseas clients
If you are ordinarily resident outside of the UK, there is no VAT payable. Our secure online payment portal will automatically calculate your tax rate for you based on your country of residence.
Scripts and Screenplays
Fees for film/theatre/radio/TV scripts can be found on the Scriptwriting page.
