Mentoring

We offer bespoke mentoring and editing services tailored to your specific writing needs, designed to help you make your novel, short story or other writing project the very best it can be. These include editorial and feedback reports, manuscript read-throughs, and ongoing one-to-one mentoring support. Please get in touch via the contact page or at james@hastingswritersworkshop.com for more information and individual pricing.

  • I contacted the Hastings Writers Workshop to ask James to critique two story openings when I wanted detailed feedback at short notice. He was able to fit my tight timescale and provided two reports plus additional reading material to broaden my thinking around my subjects. His comments prompted a few necessary alterations it would have taken me far longer to land on without his help. I recommend his critiquing services to anyone looking for a thorough and thoughtful approach.

    Claire Allen, 2023 Primadonna Prize runner-up

  • James showed considerable attention to detail in his written feedback on my early draft; his careful untangling and helpful margin notes will be a useful guide I’ll refer back to as I rewrite and revise. He’s the real deal.

    Heather Ryerson, writer and Arts Council England DYCP recipient

  • James' services in reworking my novel have been invaluable. I gave him a rough first draft and he (very kindly) made me feel good and hopeful about the project while also providing constructive feedback helping to refocus it. I can't thank him enough. He divides his critique into sections such as characterisation, pacing, and themes, whatever needs to be addressed with the project you are working on. The time he took on writing notes and the detail he gave was thorough and rich with ideas, and more than I could have hoped for. I trust James with my words and feel incredibly lucky to be able to work with such a talented and generous editor. I would recommend his services to anyone who wants to write a novel and get it to the highest standard possible.

    Halina Watts, journalist and author