Mentoring

I offer a mentoring service to children’s authors writing middle grade and YA.

Aspects of the writing process I can help you with include:

  • synopses
  • outlines
  • overall structure
  • chapter-by-chapter mentoring

I have mentored first-time authors as well as those with more experience. Whether you’re looking for general advice on your manuscript or outline, or a more detailed critique of your plot, story structure, character motivations etc, I’d be delighted to help. My rates for mentoring are competitive and offer excellent value. Get in touch via my contact page for more info.

I am also a mentor with WriteMentor as part of their Spark mentoring service and Writers and Artists as part of their editing service. These brilliant organisations provide a range of mentoring and editing services; you can also choose to work with me on your manuscripts through them.

For WriteMentor click here.

For Writers and Artists click here.

Testimonials:

“Working with Justin on my novel has given me such a confidence boost and helped me elevate my writing. He’s spotted inconsistencies, questioned wording choices and flagged characterisation issues while also offering solutions and ideas to help me get started. His feedback is thoughtful and constructive and has pushed me to finish my novel’s first draft. I would highly recommend Justin – my middle-grade novel would be nowhere near as polished without his support! ” Noel S.

“ I was in a dark valley of writing—deep in rejections for my debut novel and wondering if I was even worthy of being called a writer when I found Justin. I didn’t know what to expect when I sent him my first 15k pages. His honest but upbeat critique was just what I needed for the sun to shine again and the joy of writing to return. His perspective on my story helped me see ways to revise and improve. He showed me alternatives to the plot, making a considerable difference to the trajectory of my story without losing my central themes. And he does have a wicked sense of humor! I am so grateful for Justin. I have found not only a mentor, but a friend. Every new writer needs a Justin in their life.” Carol Carlisle, Alabama USA.

“Having had the pleasure to be on a writing retreat with Justin, I can attest to how fabulous he is. Enthusiastic, funny, thoughtful. Justin ran a brilliant workshop on world-building. I came away determined to write my own fantasy novel on the lines of his amazing Haarville.” Iqbal Hussain, author of Northern Boy.