Mentoring for writers by writers
Ruppin Agency Writers’ Studio offers one-to-one mentoring services for writers of adult and young adult fiction and narrative non-fiction.
Back when it felt like I was writing in the wilderness, my year of mentoring changed everything. Having now brought out two books and taught creative writing for years, I’m delighted to offer other writers similar opportunities – not to mention the rare chance to meet with a literary agent to discuss their work’s suitability for the market.
– Emma Claire Sweeney, Director of the Ruppin Agency Writers’ Studio
Our expert match-making service will pair you with published authors and university lecturers. Writers’ Studio mentors (see our full line-up here) specialise in a wide range of genres and forms: commercial to literary fiction, historical to crime, short stories, young adult, memoir and general non-fiction.
Located across the United Kingdom, our mentors offer both face-to-face (subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions) and videocall meetings.
All standard packages also include a one-off session with a LITERARY AGENT on turning your manuscript into a winning submission.
Choose from mentoring packages lasting 6, 9 OR 12 MONTHS, or tackle a specific issue with a ONE-OFF meeting. All sessions include advance submissions of 5000 words, and you can request an advance read of your full or partial draft as a bespoke option.
And if you’re looking for something a little different, we can tailor a BESPOKE package to your individual needs.
Choose from:
6-month, 9-month & 12-month packages
For writers ready to plunge into an intensive period of literary development, from starting a new book to completing a radical redraft
- Request your preferred mentor or allow us to recommend someone particularly suited to you
View our list of experienced mentors based across the United Kingdom - Choose a start date to suit you
- Meet your mentor once a month
- Meet in person (in a safe public space such as a library) or via videocall
- Submit up to 5000 words of your draft before each session for your mentor to read and annotate
- Substitute text such as chapter plans or character notes for all/part of your 5000 words
- Add up to 500 words of background information (eg problems encountered, specific advice sought) to ensure tailored advice
- Receive professional feedback on your writing and advice on taking your work to the next level
- Plan your submission to agents with feedback on your cover letter, synopsis and opening chapter in a one-off session with a literary agent
- Receive tailor-made advice from an agent about the book industry and current market
One-off sessions
For writers looking for advice on a particular issue (eg How do I fix a hole in my plot? Should I switch from first person to third? How do I tailor my specialist subject to a general readership? How can I overcome my writer’s block?)
- Request your preferred mentor or allow us to recommend someone particularly suited to you
View our list of experienced mentors based across the United Kingdom - Meet via videocall
- Outline your issue to you mentor prior to your session (up to 500 words)
- In addition, submit up to 5000 words of your work in advance, for your mentor to read and annotate
These can include excerpts from drafts, plot outlines, book proposals, etc.
Bespoke
For writers looking for alternative arrangements
- Would you like to meet more or less often than once a month?
- Would you like to submit more than 5000 words each time?
- Do you want your mentor to read the full draft of your manuscript in advance of your sessions?
- Do you have any other requirements?
Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll let you know if we can help. Prices on application.
