SELF-PUBLISHING MENTORSHIP FOR UK WRITERS
I don’t publish your book for you. I teach you how to publish it yourself.
One-to-one mentoring for UK writers who want a professional, print-ready book, without handing over control, your royalties, or a small fortune to a full-service agency.
Save 50 to 70%Pay far less than a typical full-service publisher.
Keep 100% royaltiesAmazon pays you directly. I never take a cut of your sales.
Learn it for lifeDo it with me once, then do it alone for every book after.
Honest pricingNo surprise fees. You choose exactly what you need.
Ready in daysAI-assisted editing in days, not weeks.
A mentor in your corner, not a publishing factory
This is not a traditional “we do everything for you” publishing package. I work alongside you as a mentor and guide. My job is to teach you how to publish your own book, so you keep full control, keep 100% of your royalties, and save hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds compared with full-service agencies.
Many writers come to me with a Word document already started. That is perfect, because Microsoft Word is where we begin. I will show you how to turn that raw manuscript into a professional, print-ready file, without buying expensive design software or hiring a formatter.
Along the way I provide imagery, graphics and illustrations to make your book look every bit as good as a traditionally published title. And when you are ready, I sit with you and walk you through the final launch on Amazon KDP, or another platform if you prefer.
Who this is for
This service is designed for UK-based writers who:
- Have a finished or nearly-finished manuscript, whether fiction, non-fiction, memoir, children’s books or poetry.
- Want to learn the process for themselves, rather than handing their work to someone else.
- Are working to a budget, but still want professional-looking results.
- Appreciate honest, transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
The services, broken down by what you actually need
You only pay for the parts you want. Everything is available individually, or you can bundle services together for a better overall price.
Advice and manuscript review
- 45-minute publishing strategy session, £85. We talk through your book, your goals, your budget and the best route to market, and you leave with a clear action plan.
- Full manuscript assessment, £150 to £250 depending on length. I read your Word document and give detailed feedback on structure, formatting needs and any editorial work required before publication.
Microsoft Word, the heart of your manuscript
Because I encourage writers to work in Word from the start, this is where I add the most value. Instead of charging £300 or more for professional typesetting, I teach you to format your own book correctly.
- One-to-one Word formatting lesson (2 hours), £120. In person or over video, we cover page setup, styles, chapter breaks, automatic contents pages, headers, footers and margins.
- My own reusable Word template (downloadable), £50. Pre-built styles for fiction or non-fiction that you can use for every book you ever write.
- Formatting check and correction, 1p to 2p per word. Prefer to do it yourself? I will go through your file and fix anything that is left.
Cover art, graphics and illustrations
A good cover sells your book. This is one of my core creative skills, with options to suit different budgets.
- Standard cover design using licensed stock images, £150 to £250. Front, spine and back, supplied as a print-ready PDF.
- Custom illustrated cover, £350 to £700 and up, priced by complexity. A completely original piece of artwork.
- Individual interior illustrations, £75 to £300 each. Ideal for children’s books, technical guides or anything needing bespoke visuals.
- Full illustration package (for example a 24 to 32 page picture book), from £2,500. A complete set of original artwork.
- Cover design lesson (1.5 hours), £95. I teach you to design a simple, effective cover yourself in Canva or similar.
AI-powered editing, guided personally by me
I do not outsource your manuscript to a freelance editor, and I do not simply run it through a bot and send it back. I use advanced, professional-grade AI tools combined with my own human judgement. I personally oversee every edit: I curate the suggestions, reject the poor ones, apply the good ones, and read the final version to make sure it reads naturally. You get the speed and cost of AI, with a human pair of eyes on every change.
Tier 1: Light polish
Proofreading and consistency. Best for confident writers who want a final safety net.
- Correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Fix typos and repeated words.
- Consistent UK English (colour not color, realise not realize).
- Consistent character names, places and timeline.
£0.003 per word (0.3p). A 90,000-word novel costs £270, compared with £450 and up for a traditional proofreader.
Tier 2: Deep copy-edit
Language, flow and clarity. Best for a solid story that needs help with structure and readability.
- Everything in Tier 1, plus:
- Reword clunky or unclear sentences.
- Reduce over-used words and phrases.
- Improve paragraph flow and transitions.
- Shorten overly long sentences and suggest fresh vocabulary.
- Flag plot or logic gaps for you to review. I flag where things do not add up; I never rewrite your story.
£0.006 per word (0.6p). A 90,000-word novel costs £540, compared with £850 and up for a traditional copy-editor.
Tier 3: Structural notes
Big-picture feedback. Best for writers unsure about structure, pacing or character arcs.
- A detailed AI structural analysis of your full manuscript.
- Covering pacing, plot holes, character consistency, dialogue, chapter balance and narrative tension.
- I filter out the generic advice and rewrite it into a practical 3 to 5 page action plan for your book.
- A 45-minute video call to talk it through.
Flat £250 for any manuscript up to 120,000 words, compared with £500 to £2,000 for a traditional developmental editor.
A note on transparency. AI editing catches around 90% of issues, but it is not perfect. It can miss subtle nuance, cultural context or very creative language. That is why I personally review every edit before returning your file, I always recommend you read the final version yourself or ask a trusted beta reader, and if you still want a traditional human editor afterwards, I can refer you to my network. For most first-time authors, my AI-assisted service is the better value.
Publishing on Amazon KDP, the final step
This is where your book goes live. I do not take over your account. I guide you through every click, so you understand the system for future books.
- Full KDP publishing workshop (2 to 3 hours, one-to-one), £195. Account setup, uploading your manuscript and cover, categories and keywords, pricing, and UK tax information.
- ISBN help and coordination, £50 plus the cost of the ISBN. Nielsen UK sells ISBNs at £36 for one or £144 for a block of ten. I help you buy the right one and show you where to assign it.
- Amazon Author Central page setup, £50. I help you create and optimise your author profile.
- Complete launch concierge package, £395. Everything above, from workshop to final upload, review and go-live. I stay with you until your book is actually selling.
How this compares to traditional human editing
| Service | Traditional human editor | My AI editing, with me |
|---|---|---|
| Proofreading (90k words) | £450 to £500 | £270 (Tier 1) |
| Copy-editing (90k words) | £850 to £1,000 | £540 (Tier 2) |
| Developmental feedback | £500 to £2,000 | £250 (Tier 3) |
| Turnaround time | 2 to 6 weeks | 3 to 7 days |
| Human oversight | Yes | Yes, I curate every change |
Recommended packages
Not sure where to start? These three bundles cover the most common needs, and work out better value than buying each part individually.
DIY Starter Pack
£395
Best for confident writers keeping costs as low as possible.
- 45-minute strategy session
- My Word template plus a 1-hour formatting lesson
- The KDP publishing workshop (2 hours)
- Guidance on buying your ISBN
- Editing not included, add any AI tier separately
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Standard Mentorship Package
£795
Best for most first-time authors who want proper support without over-spending.
- Full manuscript assessment
- Word formatting lesson, plus me checking your final file
- AI Light Polish (Tier 1)
- Standard cover design using stock imagery
- Complete KDP launch concierge service
- ISBN purchase coordination
Premium Full-Service Package
£1,495
Best for authors who want a stress-free, high-quality finish.
- Everything in the Standard package
- AI Deep Copy-Edit (Tier 2) in place of the Light Polish
- Structural report (Tier 3) plus a 45-minute call
- A custom illustrated cover, or a full set of interior illustrations
- 30 days of after-sales support, including Amazon issues after publication
Optional add-ons for any package: upgrade Light Polish to Deep Copy-Edit for £270 (based on 90,000 words, adjusted pro-rata for your actual count), or add the Structural Report for £250.
How we work together
- First contact. You get in touch and we book your strategy session.
- Assessment. I review your manuscript and recommend the services or package that suit you.
- Word preparation. I give you the template, teach you to use it, and you format your manuscript with my help as needed.
- Editing, if selected. You choose your AI tier. I run the edit, personally review every change, and return a clean, polished manuscript within 3 to 7 days.
- Design. We create your cover and any interior artwork, with revisions until you are completely happy.
- Publishing. We sit down together and upload everything to Amazon KDP. Your book goes live under your own account.
- Aftercare. For premium clients, I stay available for a month to handle any follow-up questions or technical glitches.
Frequently asked questions
Do you take a share of my book sales?
No. You publish under your own Amazon KDP account, so Amazon pays your royalties directly to you. I charge only for the services you choose, never a percentage of your sales.
I have only written part of my book. Can we still start?
Yes. Many writers come to me mid-draft. We can begin with a strategy session and Word setup, so your manuscript is well-structured as you finish it.
Is AI editing as good as a human editor?
For most first-time authors it is excellent value and catches around 90% of issues. I personally review every change, and I will always tell you honestly if I think your manuscript would also benefit from a specialist human editor.
Do we have to meet in person?
No. Everything can be done over video call, so I work with writers anywhere in the UK. In-person sessions are possible by arrangement.
Which genres do you work with?
Fiction, non-fiction, memoir, children’s books and poetry. If you are not sure whether your project is a good fit, just ask me in an enquiry email.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends on your manuscript and the services you choose, but AI editing turns around in 3 to 7 days, and many writers go from finished draft to live on Amazon within a few weeks.
Ready to publish your book, properly?
Tell me a little about your book and where you are up to. I will reply with honest advice on the best route to market, whether or not we end up working together.
Prefer a form? You can also reach me through the Ask a Question page.