Meeting writers on the page since 1996

Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Mentoring

What is Chapter and Verse Mentoring?

Do you want to develop your writing under the guidance of a published author or professional editor? Our unique and highly successful mentoring scheme Chapter and Verse is the ideal option for those serious about their writing. It is designed for writers working on a book project and the scheme pairs each writer with a mentor who gives tailored feedback on the work over a period of 12-18 months, supporting the writer to complete their book. A second reader is then assigned to appraise the completed work, and mentees are invited to a full day to meet with an agent and editor, find out about the industry, and pitch their work in an intimate and supportive environment with fellow writers.

“For me, the TLC mentoring scheme provided much better value for money than the writing MA I had previously undertaken . . . Crucially, too, there was no requirement for ‘jumping through the hoops’ of a University’s critical/analytical component. All the energy was focused on improving my novel, and it really paid off.”

Rachel Connor, Sisterwives (Crocus Books)

“I’ll be forever grateful to Joe and the TLC team for their support in bringing Life &
Death Decisions into the world. Thanks to the Chapter & Verse programme and the
expert advice from my mentor, Dr Stephen Carver, I was able to hew this book from
the marble of my tropical-disease-addled mind!””

Lachlan McIver, Life & Death Decisions (Hachette)

Chapter and Verse is designed to work around any lifestyle, operating online with emailed submissions and feedback. We only work with experienced mentors of the highest quality. It is for writers of fiction, creative non-fiction (including memoir), short stories, and poetry. The scheme was co-founded in 2006 with Sara Maitland, one of TLC’s most treasured writers and a manuscript assessor with the company until 2015. Sara had worked on a mentoring scheme with the British Council, and had seen first-hand the value of the online editorial support for writers. Rebecca Swift and Sara Maitland developed the unique TLC scheme together, and, with help of Arts Council England, launched the scheme which has become highly valued by writers who embark upon it. Sara brought with her some tried and tested mentors that she rated personally, and TLC has added some new ones. The net result is a cracking team.

“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

How it works and FAQs

Complete your book in 12 months with TLC

Over the course of 12-18 months, TLC mentees are offered six 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 the completed book at the end of the process, either by your mentor or by a second expert TLC Editor, informed by a written summary from your mentor. We also invite mentees to an intimate Industry Day (offered in person and online) 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.

If you are a more advanced writer interested in face-to-face mentoring with an industry specialist mentor, you may be interested in our Chapter and Verse Premium scheme offer. Details can be found below.

As part of TLC’s commitment to environmental sustainability, for every new mentee, we pledge to plant one tree in the National Forest. To find out more about how you can support the National Forest directly, click here.

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 novelcreative non-fiction, a collection of short stories or a collection of poems. The scheme has been designed to fit around any lifestyle, with deadlines set two months apart, and a generous six-month period at the end of your mentoring sessions to complete the project and submit it for a full manuscript assessment by a second reader. This 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 should 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 recommend that you have written at least 10,000 words of your book project before applying.

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. Industry Days offers our mentees a chance to meet fellow mentees, and hear from publishing industry guests. There will be an opportunity to ‘pitch’ your work in the afternoon, with live feedback given by our industry guests. Industry Days are exclusively for TLC mentees and held in small groups, so that everyone is able to get feedback from our industry guests. This is 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. Previous Industry Day guests include Juliet Mushens, Kishani Widyaratna, Kirsty Dunseath, Chris Wellbelove, Emma Paterson, Anne Meadows and Lucy Luck.

How much does it cost?

Chapter and Verse (classic) is competitively priced at £2,200 + VAT. This is extremely 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 particular writing project, focusing instead on the craft of writing and peer feedback. Chapter and Verse offers bespoke feedback to your writing at all times, and includes support from TLC’s team, access to the Industry Day and a full manuscript assessment at the end of the programme, worth on average £750.

What is included in the fee? 

As a Chapter and Verse (classic) Mentee you will receive:

  • A consultation with TLC about your writing aspirations, based on which the team will match you with a creative writing mentor in line with these aspirations, and the genre you are writing in
  • Six written feedback reports over the course of up to 12 months, on six submissions of 10,000 words each (or the equivalent in short stories/poetry)
  • One full manuscript assessment (up to 100,000 words) by a second reader hand-picked for you at the end of your mentoring sessions (worth on average £750)
  • An Industry Day with fellow mentees, with the chance to meet and hear from a top literary agent and publisher
  • A TLC Writers’ Notebook to keep track of your writing project and progress through the mentoring programme
  • A tree planted in the National Forest in your name, as part of TLC’s commitment to environmental sustainability
  • Access at all times to TLC’s in-house team for support through the programme, to help you complete your book.

Timeline = 12-18 months
Delivery = online (by email) with one Industry Day in London 
Complete programme fee = £2,200 + VAT 

As a Chapter and Verse (premium) Mentee you will receive:

  • A consultation with TLC about your writing aspirations, based on which the team will match you with a publishing industry mentor in line with these aspirations, and the genre you are writing in
  • One 2-hour planning session with your mentor; thereafter six face to face creative sessions of 1.5 hours each, plus seven hours’ additional reading time from your mentor between sessions
  • One full manuscript assessment (up to 100,000 words) by a second reader hand-picked for you at the end of your mentoring sessions (worth on average £750)
  • An Industry Day with fellow mentees, with the chance to meet and hear from a top literary agent and publisher
  • A TLC Writers’ Notebook to keep track of your writing project and progress through the mentoring programme
  • A TLC rollerball pen
  • A free full set of TLC Mini Guides on writing, including mini guides on Voice, Plot, Character, Structure, Dialogue, and Self-Editing
  • A tree planted in the National Forest in your name, as part of TLC’s commitment to environmental sustainability
  • 25% off all TLC events for 12 months
  • Lifetime membership to TLC’s Being A Writer community platform with access to events, resources and more
  • Access at all times to TLC’s in-house team for support through the programme, to help you complete your book.

In addition to the above, for every Chapter and Verse Premium mentoring sign-up, TLC will donate 5% of your fee into a grant fund, to enable low-income writers to access free professional feedback on their work from one of TLC’s expert readers.

Timeline = 12-18 months
Delivery = in person or on Zoom, with one Industry Day in London (can also be offered online if preferred)
Complete programme fee = £3,499 + VAT

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.

Can I meet my mentor?

Chapter and Verse (Classic) has been designed as an online mentoring course with bespoke feedback available via email. The programme is managed by our in-house team who are on hand to help throughout. Chapter and Verse (Premium) is face to face. We recommend writers arrange to meet their 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.

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 £400+VAT per month. 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

See also:
How to apply
Mentors
Testimonials
Terms and conditions