Mentoring

The reality is that getting published is tough…

Publishers and agents are inundated every day with manuscripts from writers looking for their big break. The secret to getting your book noticed is good writing and a well focused submission. BubbleCow has a proven track record of mentoring writers to achieve the dream of seeing their work in print.

At BubbleCow you are able to work closely with established and successfully published authors to improve your writing. We will help you to make your manuscript the best it can be and then give the guidance you need to ensure your book is put in front of the correct publisher or agent.

Why be mentored?

  • First and foremost to be thoroughly edited.
  • For structure, deadlines and creative input.
  • For a deeper insight into the publishing industry.
  • For advice and support.
  • For consultancy on where your writing would best fit and in which market.
  • To strengthen your confidence in a competitive industry.
  • To make sure that you reach your full potential.

What do you get?

How does it work?

Step 1: You email a sample of your work and we will determine if we feel our mentoring package will be suitable for your needs. We only take on writers we feel have the potential to produce work of a commercially acceptable standard.

Step 2: If you are accepted onto the programme your work is matched with a suitable mentor. This will be a writer with experience of your genre.

Step 3: The mentor contacts you directly and a timetable is established for submitting your work. We are very flexible at this point and the mentoring programme can stretch over as long a time period as you feel is required.

Step 4: An email is sent to you detailing the agreement with your mentor. This gives you a written record of your submission goals and dates.

Step 5: You work on your book, submitting ten individual sections (10,000 words each time) to your mentor as already agreed. Your mentor provides detailed feedback and comment each time.

Step 6: After re-submitting ten times, and reworking your full book, you re-submit the full final manuscript to your mentor.

Step 7: A final read and feedback report is prepared for your novel and advice offered on the best way to proceed. As part of this programme (and if this pleases you), any manuscript that BubbleCow feels is of publishable quality will be presented free of charge to suitable publishers and/or agents. You will also receive a BubbleCow submission guide. This is a specially prepared list of agents and publishers we feel would be ideal for your book.

Costs?

All of this costs £1200. However, as an additional incentive BubbleCow are offering a free Submission Package for the completed manuscript, as well as advice on how to build an online presence.

Payment is broken down into an initial payment of £600, with the outstanding balance then paid on a monthly basis.

Who will be your mentor?

It depends! If your work is fiction then Caroline Smailes will be your first option. However, if your work is non fiction then Gary Smailes will be your first choice. If neither of these editor/writers is suitable we will aim to match you with another mentor if possible.

Catherine Kingham

I have to /criticise/ the BubbleCow mentoring programme. They simply never once told me, what an incredibly positive journey it would be, and now it is finished I am desolate. Well maybe not quite, as I now have a novel, edited, tweaked and polished to perfection!

I took advantage of the mentoring programme under the guidance of Caroline Smailes in the latter part of 2008. Over a period of several months I sent her chapters weekly and always received an edit within days. This worked very well, as she could become immersed in the storyline, without long gaps between edits. Working with Caroline has been invaluable in completing this project. She has instilled me with a confidence that quickly pervaded my writing, she was never afraid to criticise (but always in the nicest possible way), she was incredible sharp with continuity (especially when I chose to change character’s names mid story!) and genuinely became immersed in my storyline.

Finally as I prepared my precious bundle of blood, sweat and tears to post to the great manila mountain, she continued to hold my hand, as I bombarded her with emails for advice on agents, query letters etc. Thank you Caroline and Bubblecow for your patience and wisdom.

Chris Rickaby

BubbleCow know the fast-changing literary landscape inside out. The experience and contacts they have will improve any writer’s chances of either a first publication or improved sales and readership.

Matthew Watkinson author of On the Destiny of Species

If you want uninterrupted praise for your work, ask your mum. If you want praise where it’s due and honesty were it isn’t (and this is exactly what people trying to improve should want), you need the services of a good professional editor and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending team Bubblecow for the job. Not only will they tell you what you need to hear instead of what you want to hear, they will do it quickly and that is precious in the modern literary world.

Julia Wills

I used Bubblecow’s Mentor service in writing my children’s novel and would recommend it to everyone. An idea that had been mulling round in my mind for a couple of years took shape with Caroline’s help, encouragement and guidance and is now a complete first draft. When I was stuck, she made suggestions; when I was flagging, she encouraged; when I was rambling off on the wrong track, she constructively pointed me back onto the path. Although I have been writing for many years and have completed a Masters in Writing, Caroline’s guidance remains the most helpful of all. She has the ability to read your work and come up with a suggestion that leaves you slapping your forehead, thinking “Of course!” Her thoughts have invariably improved my work and needless to say, I shall be Bubblecowing again very soon.

Paul Brown, Tonto Books.

Caroline Smailes mentored and edited two of our authors – Rosalind Wyllie for Everything You Ever Wanted and Nik Jones for 9987 – in a dedicated and thorough fashion that brought each manuscript to a very high standard. Both writers appreciated and enjoyed working with Caroline, and found the experience a valuable boost to their new careers.

Nik Jones, author of 9987, published by Tonto Books.

I didn’t like the thought of some stranger interfering with my book, I was, I admit, a bit precious. However, the process was massively useful – problems were highlighted that I didn’t know existed and insightful and creative solutions were offered. I even got praise for the good bits!

Matt Hill, author of Colin & The Strimmer Men

Caroline fast became my Yoda. I couldn’t have felt more like the young Skywalker — she helped me learn from my mistakes and reigned me in where I was over-enthusiastic. She’s measured, kind and constructive, and basically takes a patient sewing machine to your work, sorting out all the stitches you’ve dropped, either in haste or simply through inexperience. Ultimately, I’m a better writer for her advice, and no mistake.