My Mentoring Services

Whether You Are Just Beginning Or An Established Writer This Could Be For You.

A generous gift from a grateful recent mentoree, the novelist and writer Anna Pasternak

I can help you start - or finish - your novel or memoir. I have published 10 novels. My memoir is a Penguin Modern Classic, my first novel won a Whitbread Award. I have written YA, literary, fantasy and thriller.  I taught for the Faber Academy and Guardian Masterclasses. I coach writers of all levels from inception  to completion. I am empathetic and encouraging, but also committed to excellence.

Who Am I - And How Does It Work?

I have been a published author for more than 25 years. I've also worked as a TV producer, a journalist and a magazine editor.

My first book, 'The Scent of Dried Roses' won the PEN award for autobiography and is now a Penguin Modern Classic. My first novel, 'White City Blue' won the Whitbread Prize for best first novel. My second novel, ' Rumours of a Hurricane' was shortlisted for the Encore Award and the Whitbread Best Novel award. My Young Adult book, 'Fearless' was longlisted for the Guardian Children's Book award. My thriller novel, 'The Seymour Tapes' was purchased by Sony TV last year and is awaiting production.

My book on writing was published by Swift Press in 2023

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I live in North West London and Kent, and I conduct my mentoring sessions either over Zoom or in person at my writing studio in North Kensington. I coach beginner writers, talented amateurs, professionals and anyone who stuck on their creative journey. My process is one of creative partnership rather than top-down teaching, that is to say, I also contribute imaginatively as much as I can to the writing project - not simply critique any submission I receive.


There are FIVE options for my mentoring services.

Option 1: 

One-to-one mentoring over the space of a year. An opportunity for authors of all levels to receive tailored advice over ten individual sessions for a period of up to 12 months. I will guide you through the entire process of drafting a novel from start to finish and provide invaluable advice on approaching agents and publishers. You will make ten submissions of up to 7,500 words for each submission.

Option 2: Manuscript appraisal. 

Give your book the best possible chance of being accepted by an agent. If you’ve completed the first draft of your novel, I will read your manuscript in depth and provided detailed personalised feedback. If it has reached a publishable standard, I will offer advice on how to get it into print. NB there is a surcharge for manuscripts of more than 80,000 words.

Option 3: One-to-one mentoring + Final Manuscript Appraisal. 

If you’re near the beginning of your journey as a novelist, this option will help you to find your feet and kickstart the challenging process of writing a work of fiction. For a time period of up to one year, I will read six writing submissions from you (up to 7,500 words each) and give written and verbal feedback on each of them. Then, when you have finished the novel, I will read it and feed back to you in detail on your final draft. 

Option 4: Initial Manuscript appraisal + One-to-one mentoring. 

If you’ve begun writing your novel but require feedback and guidance in order to bring it to completion, this option will help you to continue your narrative and reach your goal of completing your novel. You will have written up to a half of your novel (max 40,000 words, or a surcharge of £100 per 10,000 words applies). Tim will provide feedback and direction on how to develop your novel further and reach completion. For a time period of up to one year, Tim will read – subsequent to reading and considering the first half of the novel – six further writing submissions from you (up to 7,500 words each) and give written and verbal feedback on each of them.
Each feedback session includes a one-hour meeting (either in person or via Skype), during which your writing is discussed at length.

Option 5: Kickstarter. 

This option is ideal for those just wishing to get their first novel underway. Tim will give an initial in depth 90-minute meeting (either in person or via Zoom) to assess your novel idea, the problems you wish to address and your state of progress.
Over a six-month period, Tim will assess five submissions of up to 7,500 words each from you and give personal feedback in an hour-long meeting after each submission (either in person or via Skype).

My book on writing. ‘Yes!No! But Wait! The One Thing You Need To Know To Write A Novel’ was published in 2023 by Swift Press.

 Further Details Of My Mentoring Services Can Be Accessed Here

 You Can Read More About My Writing Career Here

How Much Does It Cost?

Option 1: £2750

Option 2: £1200

Option 3: £2,750

Option 4: £2,750

Option 5: £1, 900

 All fees payable in advance.

Testimonials About My Teaching

The mock-cover featured here was given to me as a gift last year by a previous Radio H-P mentoree, Anna Pasternak, who found my teaching invaluable. Anna has already published a number of best selling books, but sought my help with a new project.

“Shaping a novel chapter by chapter requires complex psychological insight. Tim Lott possesses that insight” - Robert McKee, author, ‘Story’.

“Tim Lott is one of the few novelists who truly understands story structure” - John Yorke, author, ‘Into the Woods’. 

“Tim Lott has long experience of the practice of writing fiction as well as a deep knowledge the theory of story craft – a rare yet essential combination“ - Will Storr, author, ‘The Science of Storytelling’.

Testimonials About My Writing

‘The Scent of Dried Roses’ - “Brilliant” Hilary Mantel “To read it is to be spellbound as by a gripping novel” Ruth Rendell.

‘Fearless’ – “Powerful, haunting and utterly original – an immediate classic" - Jacqueline Wilson

‘Rumours of a Hurricane’ – “The first great novel of the 21st Century” - Tony Parsons

Read more reviews of my books at timlott.com

How Can I Learn More?

If you want to talk to me about the working process, message me at timlott@me.com and we can arrange for a chat on Zoom or phone.

In the meantime, if you go to the link below, you can watch a video about my mentoring process.

Will You Help Me Find An Agent or Publisher?

If you complete the mentoring programme, I will consider forwarding your work/details to one of my agents - Clare Alexander at Aitken Alexander (fiction) Ruth Cairns at Featherstone Cairns ( memoir ) or Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates ( Young Adult). I only refer work I truly judge to be exceptional. However, in all cases I can advise on how to best present work to publishers and agents.

Quality Control

I receive a lot of applications for mentoring. However, not everyone feels the right fit for me. I need to be sure that the mentoree is committed to the process and that they possess a certain level of potential. I accept most applications for mentoring, but now and then I have to turn an applicant down, if I don't feel they are sufficiently developed as a writer. This is essential to make sure that I do not lead anyone by the nose. I don't believe in taking money from people who I feel sure are either not committed enough, or lack the basic skills, to learn the craft of writing. I pride myself on being honest and straightforward with people - many writing teachers happily flatter their clients in order to ensure their fees - but I am commited to teach with integrity and only for those who I feel can benefit from a creative partnership.

What If It Doesn't Work Out?

On Options 1 and 3, you have the chance to cancel your mentoring programme after the first session in which case you will receive a refund of 80 per cent. In all other cases, refunds are not offered except in the case of professional misconduct.

Finally...

Writing a book is a long and often difficult process, emotionally as well as technically. I am dedicated to supporting you in both areas. 

Whether or not you decide to investigate further, I wish you well in your journey to become a writer.

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