Book Coaching

Book coaching is intensive personal mentorship that explores how you write a book and supports you to complete one.

Book coaching will:

  • ensure you write something new every two weeks.

  • help you turn your idea into a manuscript.

  • support you to centre your writing practice no matter how complicated things get. 

  • help you to finish your book.

We will spend the first one-two months working on the foundations of the novel before moving on to biweekly written submissions.

Month 1: Book Mapping

What is it?

Deep work on the foundations of your book, and the creation of a flexible book map.

Every month you receive:

  • the tools to create a flexible book map

  • written feedback on your book map

  • a live editorial call where we will workshop the book map

Month 2 onwards: Writing the Book

What is it?

Expert tutoring on the craft and process of writing a book.

Every month you receive:

  • personal written feedback on two submissions

  • a live editorial call where we will workshop your manuscript-in-progress

At completion: Pitching the Book

What is it?

A month of focussed work on creating synopses, query letters, pitches, and approaches to agents, editors, and contests.

You receive:

  • tools to create pitches, synopses, query letters, and marketing materials

  • two rounds of written feedback on your marketing materials

  • a live editorial call to workshop your pitching and marketing materials

Cost: £500 per month.

Please email me to begin the process or to ask questions.

Developmental Editing

A developmental read of your complete manuscript to prepare you to share your book with readers or agents.

I can help you to turn your manuscript into a book.

The Manuscript

I will create a tailored report that offers feedback and suggestions, chapter-by-chapter, on the technical and craft aspects of the book: structure, plot, story, characterisation, and world-building.

I will also focus on the themes, subtext, and atmosphere. I will pull out the essential tasks required to transform your book into a page-turner.

Feedback and Integration

You will receive my report and any relevant homework and reading. We will have a call once you have read the feedback and apply laser focus to the most important issues that emerge from the editorial process.

What will you receive?

  • A thorough editorial report that gives clear, detailed, and actionable feedback that will support your revisions, and make your book stronger, that includes:

  • Detailed chapter notes on your manuscript. Edits can seem technical and intimidating but my clients have told me that my feedback is like ‘gold dust’.

  • Essential tasks for your revisions.

  • Two personal editorial calls with LJ. This will offer laser-focus on the craft and pitching aspects of the editorial process.

  • Reading and homework in sympathy with the project as required, including pitching and querying support.

  • A second read by LJ once you have implemented the feedback.

Cost: £0.025 per word

Please email me to begin the process or to ask questions.

what’s it like to work with Lj?

My clients and students have published with the big five publishing houses, as well as indie presses, digital-first publishers, and Kindle Unlimited. They have won major writing prizes, secured literary agents, and sold international and screen rights for their writing.

I developed and ran the Crime Fiction MA at the University of East Anglia, and I was shortlisted for an Innovation in Teaching award at UEA for my work on the Prose Fiction MA. During my time on those MA programmes, I taught writers who launched successful writing careers as bestselling authors.

I love working with writers on story knots and deep, structural issues, but I’m also called to the work of helping writers connect to their intuition and vision.

selected Client Books

Ashley Woo, Wildwood (Harper, 2026)

Matilde Pratesi, Pig (Corsair, 2025)

Lunga Izata, No Books Allowed (Independent, 2024)

Rosalind Brown, Practice (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2024)

Stephanie Edd, The Clear Case (Independent, 2023)

Natalie Marlow, Needless Alley (Baskerville, 2023)

Caleb Brabham, Godthread (Lantern Ridge Press, 2023)

Naomi Booth, Animals at Night (Dead Ink, 2022)

Femi Kayode, Lightseekers (Raven Books, 2021)

Kate Simants, A Ruined Girl (Viper, 2020)

Elizabeth Macneal, The Doll Factory (Simon and Schuster, 2020)

Harriet Tyce, Blood Orange (Wildfire, 2019)

client Prizes

Jane Labous (longlisted), Bath Novel Prize

Kate Simants (winner), Bath Novel Prize

Elizabeth Macneal (winner), Caledonia Novel Award

Matilde Pratesi (shortlisted), Caledonia Novel Award

Trevor Wood (winner), CWA Golden Dagger

Femi Kayode (winner), Little, Brown Award

Naomi Booth (winner), Saboteur Award

Testimonials

Ashley Woo, author of Wildwood (Harper, 2026)

“Working with LJ was everything I hoped it would be. They were professional, empathetic and absolutely lovely to work with throughout the process. But most importantly, they provided the exact feedback my book needed.

I knew parts of it needed work, though, after countless revisions myself, felt I had exhausted my ability to solve these particular elements. LJ zeroed in on these and provided the right type of observations and suggestions that allowed me to edit the book in ways that worked brilliantly and still in line with my vision of the story. I would work with them again in a heartbeat!”

Matilde Pratesi, shortlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award for Pig (Corsair, 2025)

“My self-confidence has grown as much as the quality of my writing during this process. I can finally call myself a writer without blushing!”

May Ngo, writer and critic

“I like the mix of the recognition that we live in a capitalist society where we do have to be ‘productive’ and get things done in order to survive, including writing for economic reasons; but at the same time, always with an eye on the real prize: on what can truly nourish us and on why we really write. This is a rare combination.”

Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory (Picador, 2019)

“LJ was absolutely pivotal to the development on my writing, and I do not believe I could have conceived of, or written, my novel without their support, guidance and advice.”

Caleb Brabham, author of Godthread: A Noir

"LJ is phenomenal. Their communication was consistent and uplifting - their edits were kind as well as informed. They grasped the concept of my niche genre work easily and added greater depth to it. I don't think I've met a better communicator."

Kate Simants, Bath Novel Prize-winning author of A Ruined Girl

“As an editor, LJ was indefatigable: I came away from every meeting knowing that they had read and thoroughly considered every submission and were taking a sincere interest in helping me make my novel the best it could be. Their communication and professionalism were second to none, and I credit them in no small way for helping me to secure an excellent literary agent.”

Lunga Izata, author of No Books Allowed

“It takes a special person to use their gift to support others' dreams.”

Sarah A. Denzil, million-selling crime fiction author of Find Her and Little One: 

“I really enjoyed working with LJ. In particular, I enjoyed our Zoom call to discuss the direction of the book. I was at a point where I was stuck and wasn't sure how to fix the plot holes in the book. Talking it through with LJ really helped me get out of that issue. Many thanks, LJ!”

Client Interviews

FAQs

Have you ever taken someone from a draft novel, or an idea, to an agent, book deal, prize, or bestseller?

Absolutely. Most recently my client, Ashley Woo, secured an agent at Darley Anderson and signed a book deal with Harper Collins for 2026. Many of my clients have sold international and media rights for their books.

How does book coaching or developmental editing differ from an MA or an MFA?

There is so much power in the workshop model. I have worked as an instructor on MAs and MFAs at universities including the University of East Anglia, the University of Sheffield, Birkbeck, University of London, and Sussex University.

Working this way can be transformative. However, it is rare for a writer to complete a manuscript while they are in an MA or MFA programme. What most writers truly need to finish their book is individual, tailored feedback on the whole manuscript.

Can you guarantee results?

I can't promise you a bestseller, a top agent, or a million-pound book deal. I can promise you that if you do the work, you will complete the best book that you are capable of writing, and one you will be proud to share with readers and agents.

Is it worth investing more money when I am so new to writing?

While this is a highly personal decision, I can guarantee that you will receive MFA-level guidance for a fraction of the price.

I’ve tried many editorial approaches; do you have a different solution?

Instead of writing multiple drafts and not knowing whether you are making the book better or worse, you can work towards finishing your book – one that you are proud to share with readers. That alone will save you countless time.

I have already written so many drafts, is it possible to finally finish my book?

By cutting to the heart of the book-writing process, book coaching and developmental editing moves you closer to your goals instead of adding more layers of confusion. Book coaching and developmental editing offer a clear pathway to finish your book.

Please email me to begin the process or to ask questions.