Mentorship
- 1:1 Sessions
- 3+ Months
- Virtual
For Writers With Manuscripts in Development
Mentorship is our most personalized long-term 1:1 service, designed for writers who want to do the writing themselves but are ready to hone their skills and improve their craft, while maintaining progress and accountability with an expert’s support. This service requires an application to ensure that you are a fit for our curated group of experienced book collaborators.
Whether you are navigating a complex memoir, refining a novel, or building a self-help book, we provide the “invisible map” and the dedicated focus to help you reach your goals.
Our Mentorship follows a coaching retainer model with a three-month minimum commitment that can be renewed at your discretion.
Tailored to Your Priorities
Your mentor will customize the engagement to allocate your time and theirs where it will have the greatest impact.
Your monthly retainer may include:
- Multiple private coaching and strategy sessions each month
- Developmental editorial guidance on your manuscript or proposal
- Publishing insight tailored to your goals, genre, and positioning
- Accountability and email support between sessions
- Mindset and process coaching to help sustain momentum through the publishing journey
- Curated publishing resources, reading recommendations, and revision priorities
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is mentorship best suited for?
Mentorship is designed for writers seeking ongoing editorial partnership, accountability, and publishing guidance over an extended period of time. It’s ideal for writers who want consistent support while developing a manuscript, proposal, or long-term publishing strategy.
How does mentor selection work?
After reviewing your application form, our team thoughtfully suggests a small number of potential mentors based on your genre, goals, stage of development, and the kind of support you’re seeking. We consider factors like editorial needs, publishing strategy, accountability style, and personality fit because the right mentorship relationship matters.
Rather than being assigned at random, you’ll receive a curated selection of mentor recommendations and have the opportunity to meet or interview potential mentors before moving forward. This allows you to choose the person whose experience, communication style, and strengths feel most aligned with your vision and working style.
Our goal is simple: to pair you with someone who can both champion your voice and challenge your work at the level your project deserves.
What kind of support is included?
Mentorship combines developmental editorial guidance, publishing strategy, coaching, and accountability. Sessions are tailored to each writer’s goals and may focus on manuscript development, proposal refinement, revision planning, platform positioning, or navigating the publishing process.
How often will we meet?
Most mentorship clients meet multiple times per month depending on their goals, workflow, and stage of development. Support is customized around the writer’s needs and available retainer hours.
Is this a developmental edit or coaching program?
It is both. Mentorship offers developmental editorial guidance alongside strategic coaching and publishing support. Rather than focusing on sentence-level edits, we focus on strengthening the project as a whole while helping writers maintain momentum and direction.
Is email support included?
Yes. Writers receive ongoing email support and accountability between sessions for questions, updates, and check-ins throughout the engagement.
Why is there a three-month commitment?
Publishing progress benefits from consistency and sustained focus. The three-month commitment allows time to implement feedback, strengthen the work, and build meaningful momentum without the disruption of short-term or one-off support.
Can mentorship help with fiction, memoir, and nonfiction?
Yes. Mentorship supports fiction, memoir, and nonfiction writers, with guidance tailored to the unique creative and publishing demands of each category.
Will this help me get an agent or publishing deal?
Mentorship is designed to strengthen your work, sharpen your positioning, and support your publishing goals. However, participation does not guarantee or imply representation by Lucinda Literary, any other literary agency, or a future publishing deal.
Can I continue after the initial term?
Yes. Many writers choose to continue beyond the initial three months depending on the stage of their project and the level of ongoing support they’re seeking.
What happens before we begin?
All prospective mentorship clients begin with an initial conversation to discuss their project, goals, timeline, and whether mentorship is the right fit for their needs.
Have More Questions?
Book a free 20-minute call to find the best mentoring option for you.
Disclaimer: This service, provided by the Lucinda Literary Academy, is intended to help educate writers and improve their work and presentation to the market. Participation does not guarantee or imply representation by Lucinda Literary, any other literary agency, or a future publishing deal.