Writing a book is a long game. Most writers don’t need cheerleading — they need someone who will read carefully, understand what they are aiming to achieve, and tell them the truth.
That’s what I offer.
I work with writers on novels and narrative non-fiction, reading your manuscript in 10,000-word chunks and meeting with you to discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and how to move forward. I’ve been teaching creative writing for close to thirty years — at Goldsmiths for ten of those, at Arvon, at the Poetry School — and I bring the same rigour to private mentoring. I have assisted in the birth of novels that have changed their authors’ lives.
Success stories
International Bestselling author Robyn Young began her writing life when I supervised the writing of her debut novel, Brethren, with one-to-one sessions, offering comments in the margins that she tells me she still takes as guiding principles in her writing to this day! That book went to a multi-way auction and received a fabulous six-figure deal, becoming a Sunday Times Bestseller. Numerous bestselling novels have followed under this and a further pseudonym, including one featured on Oprah Winfrey’s bookclub!
Winnie Li wrote her debut novel Dark Chapter under my supervision on the MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths. As her mentor, I gave her feedback on both the writing and structure in one-to-one mentoring sessions. Dark Chapter was published in 2017. She has gone on to write two further novels and, thanks to her tireless work and inspired words, is now well known for her activism on rape and sexual assault.
There have been many other successes, large and small. My students’ successes are all their own work, and I take no credit for their innate talent, but I’m delighted to have helped them achieve their aims. If you and I are a good match, I am open to helping you achieve yours.
How it works
Mentoring is by application. I take on a small number of writers at a time, and I’m selective — not to be precious about it, but because the relationship works best when I’m genuinely excited by your project.
If you’d like to work together, get in touch with a short description of your book and where you are with it.
Taster session — £150
Not sure if we’re a good fit? Or have a short story or essay you want me to look at? Send me up to 5,000 words. I’ll read them carefully, and we’ll have a 30-minute call to discuss. A good way to find out whether my feedback is useful to you before committing further.
One-off session — £300
Send me 10,000 words and I’ll read and make careful comments at the level you are looking for (structural, developmental, line-edit or a combination). Get detailed feedback on how your text is working: craft, flow, engagement, effectiveness, in one-hour feedback call. Your commented script will be returned to you and the call recorded so you don’t have to take notes if it’s easier not to.
Mentoring programme — 6 sessions — £1,620 (10% discount)
Six rounds of 10,000 words, each followed by a one-hour feedback call. Covers roughly 60,000 words — the bones of a short novel
Mentoring programme — 8 sessions — £2,160 (10% discount)
Eight rounds of 10,000 words with one-hour feedback calls. For longer projects, or writers who want more sustained support through to a complete draft.
Testimonials
‘Ros Barber was a fantastic tutor to work with – passionate, highly-skilled and dedicated to bringing out the best in her students. She is the perfect mentor for those who are serious about improving their writing and taking it to the next level.’
– Bestselling historical novelist Robyn Young, author of Brethren, Crusade, Requiem, Insurrection, and Renegade.
‘Ros taught me on the MA in Creative Writing, the Arts and Education at Sussex Unversity. She has that knack of identifying exactly what’s working in your writing, what isn’t, and challenging you to aim higher. I was already a published writer but hadn’t encountered such rigour before. She was especially helpful with formal poetry and enabled me to further develop that aspect of my writing to great success. If you want incisive criticism, and are willing to work really hard i.e. if you’re serious about your writing, Ros is the ideal mentor.’
– Patience Agbabi, poet, author of Transformatrix and Blood Shot Monochrome, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
‘Ros will tell you the truth.’
– Clare Best, author of Excisions, shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre Prize for Poetry 2012.
‘Having Ros as a tutor was a key factor in my development as a writer. She helped me find the fault lines in my writing and polish the positive aspects of my work. I have no doubt that her insightful and rigorous input has been instrumental in my emerging career.’
– Rachel Rooney, author of A Patch of Black and The Language of Cat, winner of the 2012 CLPE Prize for Children’s Poetry
“I’ve had the joy of working with Ros in person. The combination of her generosity, knowledge and enthusiasm was a wonderful container for my writing. She took me out of my comfort zone and this was just what I needed.”
– Sally Christian.