Spark Mentoring

Cat Weldon is a children’s author who writes funny, Middle Grade fantasy stories with a particular interest in off beat fairy tales and world mythology. Her hilarious Viking Series, How To Be A Hero is published by Macmillan Children’s Books. With a master’s degree in Scriptwriting and a background in Children’s Theatre, Cat now splits her time between teaching, writing and trying to round up her collection of delinquent chickens.

Writing can be a lonely experience and it is all too easy not to be able to see the wood for the trees. I can provide an outside perspective to help you find your way to the heart of your story. I love a bit of planning and structure to really pull a story together. Something has to underpin all the craziness! 

I have over ten years teaching experience, so I know how important it is to offer feedback in a constructive and targeted way to achieve the best results. Having said that, I’m happy to be led by the mentee, let me know what you would like to me focus on and I’ll start with that!

You can expect detailed feedback on your manuscript and a fun, collaborative approach. Writing should be enjoyable!

I know how tough it can be to let someone else see your writing, it can feel like the inside of your head is being opened up. I have been through various different types of creative writing programmes (good, bad and ugly) and am able to pull together the best parts from those different experiences. I promise to be constructive and to focus on how to make your story the best it can be, while retaining the essence that it is your story.

I have previously worked as a scriptwriter, so I am able to use that experience to add further depth to my feedback. This is particularly helpful in developing interesting characters, unsticking plot points, and writing dialogue.

I have also done a number of school visits and have dealt with the really tricky questions like, why are you funny? And the dreaded, but what is your book about, actually?

My specialities are humour, fantasy and historical, or a combination of all three! But if you think I would be a good fit for your writing I’m happy to take a look at other genres. I write primarily for upper middle grade (ages 8-12). 

“Mentoring may not be for everyone but it’s definitely worth considering. It is very helpful to have your work seen from another perspective. Having discovered Cat’s books, I know she’s a fantastic writer, so I can have confidence that I am getting advice from someone who really knows what they are talking about.” – Richard Berry. Read more.

Carolyn Ward writes Middle Grade and is represented by Northbank Talent. She became a mentor in WriteMentor’s first year, working closely with three talented writers and enjoying every second. Three years ago she co-founded a local writing group based in a community pub and is also on YouTube as half of the Word Witches writer support duo.

I am pretty much always on the internet, open, friendly, honest, supportive and inspirational. I’m here to help you in whatever way you need to be helped. Once I am your mentor I am 100% with you to work together to get closer to your writing dreams, whatever they may be. I work quickly and can adapt easily to any deadlines you have. I love to stay in touch with my mentees and editorial clients and follow their journeys. It is so wonderful when they get signed or a deal, I feel all the joy! 

I have written short stories, poetry, NF, CNF, flash, PB, CB, MG, Teen and YA. I’ve even self-published a flash fiction collection. Happy to read anything and everything, I am well-connected within the writing world. I subbed out lots before getting my agent, and have masses of editing experience in the kidlit world in all genres and age groups. It can be terrifying to send work out, and I know the power of fresh eyes to spot tiny inconsistencies. I’ve been a reader for the WriteMentor competitions, so I sense instinctively what shines and what needs a little more polish.  Getting to work with anyone on their book is a delight. It is an absolute honour to be trusted with your words, and I love every part of it. I am represented by Hardman & Swainson.

Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Teen and Young Adult

“I just wanted to say how brilliant [Carolyn] has been!! It’s been a fantastic experience […] we’ve nearly completed my book together.” – Emma Wood

“Writing is a lonely process. There’s nothing like having someone reading your work to give you purpose and keep you grafting.” – Claudia Gonella. Read more.

“As a novice writer working towards completing the first book of a middle-grade fantasy trilogy, I have found Carolyn’s expert feedback invaluable! After writing and re-writing alone for years, Carolyn’s guidance is accelerating my growth as a writer and helping me feel more confident that I am making meaningful progress towards completing a novel I am proud to stand behind.” – Eli Kern

Vashti Hardy is an award winning writer of children’s books spending her time between Lancashire and Sussex. She was a primary school teacher for several years, and has a special interest in children’s writing, especially free-writing and the use of journals and creating fantasy worlds. She has a first-class honours teaching degree with English specialism and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester. After leaving teaching to focus more on her writing, she became a copywriter and digital marketing executive. Vashti is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency, and her books are published in the UK by Scholastic.

Middle Grade and Young Adult

Emma is represented by Laura West at the David Higham Agency, and mainly writes for children, but also writes short stories and flash fiction. Emma is the creator and organiser of the fortnightly writing chat called #ukteenchat on Twitter. Emma is a mentor on both the WriteMentor summer programme, as well as a reader for the WriteMentor children’s novel award.

My mentoring style is to be eternally optimistic! I’m very thorough in my approach but my feedback will always be constructive. My goal is to make your writing the best and sparkliest it can be.

I have been writing since childhood with my earliest piece being published when I was 8 on Ceefax. With years of experience with submitting to agents, I have been with two different agents myself. I have a wealth of experience with a whole range of genres and types of writing and have been published in magazines and news papers such as The Weekly News, Fate and Fortune Magazine and Anorak magazine for children, as well as in anthologies and being placed in competitions such as Mslexia’s Children’s Novel Award in 2019. I have experience of working on edits with publishers and have worked on edits with other writers for many years, including with SCBWI critique groups.

Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Teen and Young Adult

“I’ve learned a lot about my writing strengths and weaknesses. I’ve discovered how much I enjoy the whole collaborative process of discussing the plot, my characters, where my book would sit in the market et cetera, et cetera. Bouncing ideas around is fun and hugely beneficial and having someone who knows my book inside out to call on for support and advice is invaluable. Oh, and my editing skills have improved A LOT!” – Debbie

In a previous life Emily worked as an actor, an historical interpreter and for the National Trust. She now writes haunting middle-grade mysteries, and her book The Witch Stone Ghosts won the Mslexia Childrens & YA Novel Competition and the Times/Chicken House Prize. It was published by Chicken House in October 2023 and was Times Children’s Book of the Week, long-listed for the Branford Boase Award, and shortlisted for the Brilliant Book Award, the SLA award and the Phoenix Book Award.  Her next spooky book ‘The Scream of the Whistle’ is  a ghostly mystery set in Wiltshire, and comes out in June 2025. 

I know how personal writing is, and always endeavour to adapt my approach to a mentee’s needs. I’m friendly, warm and positive, and although I am always open about what needs work, I can frame it in a way that suits your own communication style. I prefer working through emails as it helps with processing time, but am always happy to jump on a zoom for a chat or a vent. As a founder of WM’s ND writers’ group – and as an AuDHD-er myself – I specialise in working with neurodivergent writers, and can offer help and advice on the industry and our unique challenges and strengths. My own personal skill set lies in characterisation, dialogue, and developing voice/character interiority. 

Middle Grade

Julie writes funny contemporary novels for teens, and is represented by Hannah Weatherill at Northbank Talent. She has a PhD in English Literature and is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative Writing for Children Course. Julie adores being a mentor, and has been a mentor with WriteMentor since our inception, helping many writers reach their writing goals and sign with agents.

I adore being a mentor and relish the opportunity to provide advice, support and encouragement. I like everything about the creative process – the brainstorming of ideas and the writing of stories. But, without question, my favourite part is editing. I enjoy structural edits, finer more detailed edits and even line edits. Above all, I love working with other writers. There is so much to be gained from the process of sharing and critiquing work, not just from the development of a writer’s skills but also from the whole aspect of being part of a writing community.

In studying for my PhD and becoming a lecturer in English, I gained a lot of experience teaching other adults and loved discussing all aspects of writing with them. I loved working with students and supervising projects, and I find mentoring very similar. It’s so exciting to work with an author and to see their writing skills develop. I have been a mentor with WriteMentor’s Summer programme for the last three years, and my mentees got many agent requests in the showcase and two have since signed with agents. I have also been a mentor with WriteMentor Spark since its inception, and I have read for the WriteMentor Children’s Novel Award every year. 

Middle Grade, Teen and Young Adult

Emma Read is the author of Middle Grade debut, Milton the Mighty – shortlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award, published by Chicken House in 2019. She is a mentor with WriteMentor Sparks and runs creative writing workshops for children in KS2.

In a nutshell, frank and honest. I aim to squeeze plenty of opportunities for growth from a submission, so I make lots of comments and suggestions, using tracked changes. This often results in an alarming amount of red! I like to invest in a MS as if it were my own and chat through ideas with my mentees, brainstorm with them to grow the story until the mentee is satisfied with the end result.

I’ve been mentoring and critiquing for three years, and have worked with lots of writers, across multiple genres, on everything from first page extracts to entire manuscripts, Chapter Books to YA. I also write across this spectrum too.  Writing is a continual learning process  – whether with a mentee or working with my agent and editors (in house and freelance) on critiques, structural, copy and line edits, the process is mutually beneficial. My goal is to share the experience so we can all help each other.

Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult and New Adult

Emma is the author of Young Adult novel The Million Pieces of Neena Gill (July 2019, Penguin Random House). She has a BA in English and Creative Writing from Warwick University and a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Mslexia and The Bristol Short Story Prize 2016.

Middle Grade and Young Adult

Kathryn was placed second in the Imagined Futures Prize and was awarded a publishing contract with Faber Childrens. Her debut YA novel will be published in 2025. short stories and flash fiction have been published online, in writing magazines and anthologies. She regularly edits, critiques and proofreads for fellow YA and MG writers, in a variety of genres. Kathryn has a degree in English Studies, and an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University. She was one of three co-editors of the 2016 course anthology.

My mentoring style is kind and constructive. I’m very flexible and happy to help with line edits, brain storming, or specific aspects of craft like plot, character or voice. My aim is to build confidence and improve craft.

I have been writing seriously for over twelve years and during that time I’ve worked with other writers in writing groups, workshops, the MA in Writing for Young People and as a mentor on the WriteMentor Summer Programme. I know it can be difficult to receive feedback about your writing  – I’ve been there – and so I always aim to be supportive and honest. Writers I’ve worked with have gone on to have agent offers and book deals.

Middle Grade and Young Adult

“Spark Mentoring is a great way to gain advice on so many aspects of writing and the publishing industry. You realise you’re not alone, and you receive regular and high-quality feedback on your work.” – Catherine Cawley

“Thank you! Kathryn’s mentoring has been invaluable in the development of my writing and storytelling, which have progressed in leaps and bounds under her expert guidance. Her feedback is always honest, encouraging and constructive, providing me with the confidence to keep going even when the self-doubts are shouting at their loudest!” – David JW Evans 

“Kathryn’s mentoring has been invaluable in keeping me on track time-wise and improving the quality of my work.” – Sarah Warrilow 

“I signed up to Spark Mentoring hoping for a confidence boost and a kick up the backside to keep going every month, and Kathryn’s mentoring has done more than just that. Every month I receive thoughtful, imaginative feedback that feels like a real investment in my work and helps me to take my writing seriously. I have learned so much from her and it never fails to spur me on!” – Rebecca Allen

Melinda is the bestselling author of YA fantasy The Sin Eater’s Daughter series, the political fantasy Sorrow duology, and most recently Scottish folk-horror, Hold Back The Tide. She’s been nominated and shortlisted for numerous awards, including the Carnegie Medal twice, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and the Edgar Awards in the US. She is a fierce advocate for working-class writers.

I have a buffet-style approach to mentoring – a bit of everything. Although if there’s a particular area the author has concerns about or would like me to focus on I’m more than happy to, and if I feel there’s something in particular they need to work on, I’ll flag it! Primary areas of expertise are world-building, character development and making sure the dialogue, language and voice sound natural and engaging, so I’m an excellent mentor for that! 

My mentoring personality is honest, but kind. I will tell them straight if I think something doesn’t work, or if something needs to be cut, or changed or added or built upon. I won’t pull punches or gloss over areas that don’t work for me, but I will explain my thinking, so they can hopefully understand my concerns and have an idea of ways they can address them (should they agree!) That said, I am as eager to point out the stuff that really works as I am the stuff that doesn’t – I want to be a good and effective cheerleader for them! My main aim is for them to leave me feeling confident, both in themselves and their work, and also in the edits and changes and routes they could talk to make their work the best it can be! 

Teen, Young Adult and New Adult

“Melinda Salisbury is a genius. We worked together for a little over a year, on the final draft of my novel. Right from the start, she showed an understanding of my story I’d never dreamed possible. Her advice and suggestions were always intelligent and easy to understand. Her feedback is always constructive, and she was so positive about my work, even when telling me something wasn’t working, that every month I came away feeling inspired and confident that I could make things better. To have that level of feedback from one of my favourite authors – someone whose creative opinion I trust – has been a defining feature of my writing career. I feel endlessly lucky to have had this opportunity. If you get the chance to work with Melinda, take it. What WriteMentor do is wonderful, and so reasonably priced for the quality of feedback you receive.” – Eleanor Britten

“I’ve had a wonderful experience working with Melinda and would absolutely recommend her to anyone wanting to take their writing to the next level. She has a keen eye for spotting what’s not working or could be improved in a text and then explains her thinking in such a clear, straightforward manner that it’s easy and even fun to figure out a fix. She’s also very encouraging and supportive of her mentees, and you can tell she really wants them to succeed. To that end, she also has great insights into the industry itself, which is so valuable. It’s great to have someone like her in your corner!” – Allison Mandra

“My mentoring with Mel has been incredible. She’s a wonderful cheerleader: it felt like she knew my characters as well as I did, and was there cheering them on or commiserating with them when times got tough. More importantly, she’s also brilliant – she knew exactly when I should trim sections, where I should draw things out, when my character needed more urgency, how to make a moment really land etc etc. Her vision and insight are second to none. Getting her feedback each month was always so energising because I knew everything she suggested was going to make my writing so much better.  If you want to make your work the best it can be, Mel is the best mentor you could ever hope to have.” – Fiona Fairhurst

“To be honest, Melinda is the one luxury they’d have to pry out of my starving writerly hands. Her feedback has cut to the core of what I’m trying to achieve. Her eye for details as well as overall arcs, her help in pointing out what works and what needs…’some work’, has been invaluable. Having a writer whose work I really admire in my corner is, and has been, phenomenal.” – Mia Chadney

“Working with Melinda over the last year has been a game changer, her sharp eye and thoughtful feedback has really helped me take my MS to the next level. Having her ongoing support has kept me not only motivated but centred, somehow she’s able to come up with cracking ideas which support my vision time and time again. Her knowledge and guidance has helped me hone my craft and develop as a writer and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with her, I wholeheartedly recommend the Spark Mentoring Programme.” – Rachel

“I’ve worked with Melinda for a number of years now and have grown so much as a writer thanks to her mentorship! Melinda was there for me for my first book and helped me chapter by chapter with any questions I had from prose to dialogue to whether things sounded clunky. Her honest feedback helped me approach my story in new ways – whether that’s with minor tweaks or making bigger cuts. With that book, I was able to sign with an agent and I couldn’t have done it without her support!” – Linh Su

“Working with Melinda Salisbury has not only elevated my YA manuscript but also helped me grow as a writer. Melinda has an unparalleled ability to pinpoint what’s working and what isn’t in a manuscript. In my case, she has been especially insightful in identifying where trimming could quicken the pace, where deepening interiority could enhance character depth, and where motivations needed to be sharpened for authenticity. Because my novel explores mental health themes, her feedback as a sensitivity reader has been invaluable. I highly recommend Melinda as a mentor—honest, insightful, and tough but always supportive.” – Mayra Calvani

“I have been mentored by Melinda Salisbury since April 2022, and the last three years of mentorship have not only transformed my writing but also helped me become consistent in my practice. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Melinda’s support. She has worked with me on one manuscript that I am currently seeking representation for and has looked at various other projects with me. Throughout it all, Melinda has understood my vision for my stories and coached me on how to make each one better. For me, that has often meant better developing my characters’ thoughts, feelings, and reactions, but Melinda has also been helpful with plot, setting, pacing, world-building, and theme. She can truly do it all. There may literally be four thousand miles between Melinda and me, but her warmth, intelligence, flexibility, and humor have resulted in a relationship that feels at once professional and close. I’m so thankful for WriteMentor and Melinda.” – Craig Noles

“Working with Melinda has been an invaluable experience. Her detailed analysis and thoughtful feedback on my YA draft (and in-depth 12,000-word report!!) provided clear guidance for edits, allowing me to revisit my story with renewed confidence and direction. She not only pinpointed areas needing improvement—such as plot logic, tone shifts, and character dynamics—but also highlighted elements that were working and worth developing. Her ability to articulate why certain aspects didn’t work, combined with actionable suggestions for improvement, was a game-changer. I now have a clear plan to strengthen my draft, streamline the plot, and refine character roles. I’m incredibly grateful for Melinda’s insights and expertise, and always look forward to seeing where her guidance takes my stories!” – S.Akram [SL Guppy Books (2024), co-author The Eye of the Ocean (2024)]

Melissa Welliver writes speculative fiction about how the End Of The World is never really the end of the world. After studying MA Creative Writing under Jeanette Winterson at the University of Manchester, she went on to complete Curtis Brown Creative’s Writing for Children course. Her work has listed in Bath Novel Award, Mslexia, the Hachette Children’s Novel Award, and the Wells Book for Children Competition. She has been published in two short story collections and is an avid member of the Twitter writing community. Born in Stockport, she now lives in the High Peak with an assortment of doggy friends. The Undying Tower is her first novel.

I’ve been a mentor with the WriteMentor Summer Programme for four years now, and I absolutely love interacting with my mentee and helping to make their manuscript the best it can be before submitting to agents. As a speculative writer, I work best with Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian and Cli-Fi manuscripts. My previous mentees have gone on to gain agent representation and one even won the Writementor Children’s Novel Award.

When I mentor I like to set flexible goals that can be adjusted to suit the mentee’s pace and lifestyle, while also pushing to get the work done. I’m happy to answer questions about my experience gaining agent representation, being on submission, and I’ll try to demystify the publication process. I focus heavily on voice, and want to bring out the best possible way for your MC to tell me their story.

I’ve been agented with Peters, Fraser & Dunlop for three years and my agent is Lucy Irvine. Speculative Fiction is my wheel house, and the first in my YA dystopian debut trilogy, The Undying Tower, comes out with Agora Books in September 2021. I’ve also just come off the back of submission, so I’ve experienced all the highs and lows this author life has to offer. 

I’ve been professionally editing manuscripts freelance since June last year, and have so far been lucky enough to give feedback on over thirty clients’ manuscripts. I have a masters in Creative Writing from the University of Manchester, which has really helped to hone my critical eye. I like to work with the author to make sure their artistic vision matches up with what I see as the crucial commercial elements, and I hope my editing style reflects that.

Middle Grade and Young Adult

“Melissa has a laser focus when it comes to comments, but what has been even more useful are the conversations we have around those points. That interaction has given me the tools and the confidence to know when to double down on something in order to make my vision clear, when to stick with my gut, and when to accept that something just isn’t going to work.” – Steve

“Melissa is brilliant. Her notes are always clear, constructive and incredibly encouraging. Working with her is helping me to develop my skills and become a better writer.” – Mark B

“I have had Melissa twice as a mentor. She has been great on both occasions, even with quite different styles of stories. She’s very friendly and efficient. She is also great at homing in on what doesn’t quite work, which can be difficult to spot when you are too involved in the story, and suggesting a way forward. But Melissa is also great at being enthusiastic and encouraging about the things that do work. For me, it’s been so essential to have another pair of eyes – especially someone who is such a good writer herself. I have really appreciated her professionalism, friendliness and honest yet encouraging style.” – Natalie

“Mentoring gets you out of your head about your writing. You have a chapter that fought you at every single step, and the notes come back starting with “I enjoyed this chapter.” It makes you evaluate your writing, look at it objectively, a see how you can hone it.  Also having someone to ask random questions like “how many f-bombs can you have in YA?”…It’s invaluable.” – KP

“I’ve loved working with Melissa. It’s been so great to have an experienced writer to read my novels all the way through. Any writer will tell you, that’s worth its weight in gold. But Melissa is also approachable and friendly and gives professional, well thought through feedback. I will wholeheartedly miss working with her and can only hope I’m lucky enough to do so again in the future.” – Mandy

Lindsay Galvin is an author writing for middle grade, teen and adults. A qualified teacher with 20 years experience, she loves to visit schools. She is also a WriteMentor tutor, mentor and staff writer, and provides manuscript services. Lindsay lives on the south coast with three boys, two cats and one puppy. 

My mentoring style is honest, supportive and approachable. My aim is to identify clear points for improvement and to discuss ways forward, encouraging a dialogue. I’ll also always note what I’ve enjoyed, what’s working, and the mentees strengths for us to build on. 

I am an experienced mentor, having been with WriteMentor from day 1. I have been working with Spark mentees since the programme began, I also tutor the successful Upper MG Write Master courses and ran a WriteMentor weekend. My 16 years as a teacher, and working with professionals editing my own book have fed in to my editing experience, plus I am a long term critique partner for two successful published authors. 

Middle Grade

Justin writes middle grade fiction which he hopes will have children laughing their socks off. His debut novel, Help! I Smell a Monster, was a Fantastic Book Awards winner in 2021. Having hung up his flight attendant wings after twenty-five years smiling in the aisles, Justin now splits his time between writing and working in his local primary school. He lives in Scotland with his husband Andrew and greyhound Sally. Justin’s third book, a darkly comic adventure mystery with a dash of paranormal, is out in 2023.

Above all, I aim to offer a collaborative approach to the mentoring process with a focus on open and honest communication. Writing can be a lonely occupation, so I will bring not only a fresh pair of (objective) eyes to your manuscript, delivering constructive feedback where appropriate, but also all-important encouragement and cheer-leading.

Basically, I’ve been – and am at – where you’re headed! I’ve been writing for many years, honing my craft whilst searching for my writing voice. Every step of the process towards finding an agent, then publication deals, and on to working with several editors, has been an education. Along with this experience, I have also been a beta reader and attended critique groups. Above all, I spend half my days working with children – if standing in a cold playground trying to work out the intricate rules to their games can’t help me with my writing, nothing will.

Middle Grade

“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 highly recommend WriteMentor and Justin in particular – my middle-grade novel would be nowhere near as polished without his support!” – Noel S. 

Lydia completed the Curtis Brown Writing for Children online course, but it was being selected as a mentee for WriteMentor in 2018 which made all the difference. Now she’s represented by Jo Williamson, from Antony Harwood. Her Upper MG horror adventure is in the pipeline. She also runs a SCBWI South West critique group for MG and YA writers, and is a SCBWI Network Organiser.

My mentoring style is based on many years of encouraging others to love reading and creative writing as much as I do! I’m always supportive but also analytical of what is or isn’t working. Since 2017 I have run a monthly SCBWI South-West critique group for MG and YA writers, which means I’ve covered plenty of critique-miles. I’ve also worked with editors developing a manuscript, and know their priorities. I see the role of mentor as someone for a mentee to bounce ideas off and share excitement with as plans take shape.

I’ve experience of critiquing MG, Upper MG/Teen and YA fiction, and read and write across this age range, though older MG is my natural home. I love originality in concept, setting, and voice – anything that catches my interest – and enjoy a range a genres. I’m drawn to historical, speculative, supernatural or magical tales, but horror, thrillers, sci-fi and fantasy are all within my remit. What matters is the power of the story and the characters involved.

Middle Grade, Teen and Young Adult

Marisa is the writer of middle grade and young adult novels in the genres of science-fiction, fantasy and mental health. Her books include The Shadow Keepers and The Unadjusteds. The Mermaid Chronicles – Secrets of the Deep is due out Spring 2020. She is a mentor for the WriteMentor summer mentoring program that helps aspiring children’s fiction authors.

I would say I don’t have any one style, and that I fit myself to whatever the author needs. When I look over the mentees I’ve hade, both in the summer program and in Sparks, there is a variety of strengths and weaknesses that I’ve been able to help. I have some authors who’s craft is more basic and they need helps with advanced methods, other authors who are very polished in their writing but the structure is a mess, or character development is needed. Other mentees need confidence, they are afraid of querying, of the rejections, feel guilty about carving out the time to write. So I’m really good at boosting confidence in these areas too. 

I can talk a mentee through the whole process and give honest truths about the publishing industry. Not only do I look at full manuscripts, but I can help with pitches, query letters and synopses. Often I will throw in ad hoc exercises into a mentorship as and when I feel they are needed, with to address all areas of writing to help an author grow. I will also point out your strengths and I won’t skim over weaknesses, and I will keep coming back to them until I feel the growth has happened. 

My experience has been very bumpy, as is the norm for most authors.  I have spent years in the querying trenches and I’m on my third agent so I can advise of all the pitfalls here. As a self-published and published author with indie presses and on sub with traditional publishers, I speak to this entire process. I also run ads for my self-published book on Amazon and Facebook so can give you advice here. 

I’ve been around the block a few times, had my fair share of rejections and kicks in the teeth. I know how down you can feel, and I’m here to help you feel confident in your writing and be honest with you when you’re ready. Then you’re in for life and I don’t stop cheerleading! I have also done a few school visits – I just started before lockdown, so I can talk about what’s involved here and how to tackle the nerves. So, in summary, I have knowledge of every step of the process and can help a mentee navigate any stage.

Middle Grade, Teen and Young Adult

Sophia Payne comes from a British Indo-Caribbean family and likes to write children’s books that place Guyana on the map. She won the Picture Book award with WriteMentor and this led to being offered representation from her wonderful agent, Alice Williams. The same text will be her debut picture book. Sophia has several other books in development, including texts for the Reading Planet reading scheme. 

I write serious and non-serious books in prose and rhyme, although I don’t know all the technical terms for rhyming texts! I absolutely love research and will always make sure that facts are correct. Authenticity is definitely my bag! When it comes to critiquing, I do tend to put on my ‘what would Alice say?’ hat, as I firmly believe that even the tightest story out there needs to be marketable. Alice’s feedback on my own texts has really helped me to think about my work objectively, and I will never stop learning about writing picture books. There is no such thing as a bad book. I enjoy working collaboratively and working with a variety of editors has been very insightful. I appreciate how invaluable feedback from others can be and will always do my best to be as constructive as possible. I am happy to mentor either via emails or zoom, or a combination of both. Ideally, we will be working together to build your portfolio of submission-ready texts.

A brilliant editor recently gave me the compliment ‘I can tell that you really remember what it was like to be a child!’ – which really is so important when writing for young people. I am passionate about diving deep into a story and experiencing it from that child reader perspective. But even excellent books are rejected, and I know too well how difficult those mixed emotions are. I want to help you celebrate all the wins, and build up your defences – because we are in it for the long haul. 

Naomi has over eight years’ experience working in children’s publishing. She began her career at Puffin (Penguin Random House) before moving to Orion, and then Hachette Children’s Group. Her previous experience as a Rights Manager brings invaluable insight into maximising a book’s sales potential and she has worked closely with both UK and international editors to develop a good knowledge of global publishing markets and trends. Naomi has a BA (Hons) in English Studies from the University of Nottingham and is a keen reader and writer. She was the children’s book reviewer for award winning family travel blog Mini Travellers for over three years. Naomi has been working as a freelance editor and mentor helping other children’s writers to develop their manuscripts and craft for over five years. Her debut picture book The Perfect Fit (OUP) was published in March 2021 and was long-listed for the Klaus Flugge award. Naomi is also the author of One More Try (OUP), The Odd Fish (Farshore), How to Catch a Rainbow (OUP), How to Make a Story and Thunderboots (OUP). Naomi’s picture books have now been translated into 19 languages.

I am always keen to understand an author’s goals so that I can better help them work towards them. I really enjoy working collaboratively with authors and find it immensely satisfying to see their manuscripts and writing style evolve during this process. I am happy to look at everything when I work with an author from the specifics of a text itself e.g. exploring areas like voice, characterisation and narrative structure as well as ensuring their bigger picture goals are being worked towards, e.g. thinking about commercial appeal and developing a submission package.

I’ve personally found that my own writing has improved immeasurably based on feedback from my writing group, agent and all of the editors I’ve worked with, so I know how invaluable this experience can be. 

I’ve always been passionate about children’s literature and have a wide range of experience within the Children’s Publishing industry – I am a published author, mum of two, avid reader, book reviewer, editor and have a background working in house for some of the biggest publishers in the UK. I will draw on this diverse background when helping you work on your manuscripts. It has always been my dream to write children’s books, and I would be delighted to work with you if this is your dream too.

Katrina is a full-time children’s author and has written over thirty books ranging from picture books to middle grade. In 2013 she was a recipient of the SCBWI’s Margaret Carey grant, and in 2014 she was a winner of SCBWI’s Undiscovered Voices competition. She is represented by Gemma Cooper at the Bent agency, and published books include Car, Car, Truck Jeep series with Nick Sharratt, published by Bloomsbury and shortlisted for the Booktrust Storytime Prize in 2020 and 2021. The ABC Factor published by Farshore books. The bestselling Last Firehawk series with Scholastic Branches in the USA. The Survival Tails series, with Little, Brown Young Readers. The Poppy’s Place series published by Stripes. She has books coming out with Nosy Crow, and Hachette in the next few years. 

I like to cover everything from the very large, broad ideas, to looking at the smaller tiny details that go into making a book work and making it marketable/submission ready. From generating ideas, focusing on rhyme or prose, picture book layouts, , editing/copyediting to help with submission packages.

I have written books in many different genres and for a range of age groups, and with editors with varying editing styles, so one of my strong points is to really be able to help my mentee focus on their audience, style, and find and bring out that special something in their writing that editors and agents are looking for. 

Donna David is the author of Trains, Trains, Trains! Farmer Llama and Oh No, Bobo!  She has three more picture books in development with Macmillan to be published over the next two years.  Donna writes in prose and in rhyme, she writes funny and serious books, books with a message and books that are completely ridiculous!

When it comes to critiquing a text, I like to look at plot, setting, characters, narrative arc and story structure.  These can be tiny tweaks or huge big rewrites but I’ll work with my mentees throughout every step.  

As well as looking at individual stories, I’d also like to set exercises and homework for my mentees to help them constantly improve their craft. Having one great picture book just isn’t enough – I’d like my mentees to have the skill set to produce a catalogue of submission-ready stories. 

I have been submitting my stories since 2015 and I picked up so many valuable tips from the whole process.  It was a long and bumpy road to my first book deal and I learnt so much along the way.  I’d like to share my tips on overcoming rejections and reframing them as positive steps towards the ultimate goal. 

It is a huge privilege to work closely with fantastic editors and my wonderful agent, Becky Bagnell.  Through these relationships, I have learnt so much about standing out in a crowded market.  I’m excited to pass on what I’ve learned to my  mentees.  

“I’m on the edge of my seat when I know Donna’s feedback is on its way, because what’s coming is pure gold. She manages to be both your toughest critic and your biggest cheerleader – an invaluable combination.” – Natasha Laroya