Why Work with Me

Whether you are looking to refine your voice, master narrative structure, or navigate the publishing world, I offer a rare, 360-degree perspective on the literary landscape. As an acclaimed author, seasoned broadcaster, and experienced educator, I bring both award-winning practical experience and deep industry insight to my writing courses.

Here is what I bring to the classroom:

  • Award-Winning Writing Experience: I know what it takes to write a critically recognized book and get it into the hands of readers. My debut, This Ragged Grace, was selected as a Waterstones Best Book of 2023: Biography. My essays and articles have also been published by leading outlets including The Guardian, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Stylist, and The Sunday Times, as well as in prestigious anthologies from Serpent’s Tail and Daunt Books.

  • Insights from Literary Masters: For over a decade, I have deconstructed the craft of writing with some of the most respected authors of our time. As the co-creator and co-host of the beloved Literary Friction podcast and a presenter for BBC Radio 4 and The World Service, I have interviewed literary giants like Nobel Prize winner Han Kang, Zadie Smith, Ocean Vuong, Deborah Levy, Ben Lerner, and Olivia Laing. I bring their collective wisdom on technique, narrative, and style directly to my students.

  • Academic Rigor and Teaching Expertise: I pair my contemporary industry experience with a strong academic foundation. I hold a PhD from University College London (UCL) and have formally taught at the Sorbonne Paris 3. I know how to structure a curriculum, facilitate discussions, and provide the rigorous, constructive feedback necessary for you to grow as a writer.

  • Deep Publishing Connections: From hosting literary events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to the Southbank Centre, I am deeply embedded in the publishing ecosystem. I understand the current market and what editors, booksellers, and readers are looking for today.

Workshops & Editorial Services

  • Writing Memoir: Making art out of life

    Learn how to interrogate, curate, and shape the slippery landscape of memory into a compelling literary narrative.

    Memoir is not simply a transcript of past events: it’s the act of making art out of life. Compelling memoirs use the active, creative process of working with memory to weave snapshots from lived experience into a work of narrative. But memory is rarely linear or objective; it’s fragmented, selective, emotional, and unreliable. The art of memoir lies in knowing how to sift through the archives of your mind, examine your recollections with curiosity, and turn the raw, unpolished material of memory into a cohesive story that resonates with others.

    Writing Memoir guides you through the process of interrogating your past, navigating the gaps in your recall, and transforming personal memory into a work of narrative nonfiction. Using a mixture of textual analysis, discussion, and practical exercises, together we’ll learn how to use these building blocks to really make your writing come alive.

  • First 50 Pages 

    The first 50 pages of your book does a lot of heavy lifting. It establishes the voice, tone, momentum and sets up the essential promise to your reader. An evaluation for the first 50 pages ensures that your story starts in the right place and gives you a clear roadmap for where to take it next.

    My edit letter includes a detailed assessment with feedback on voice, pacing, narrative tension, and character/world development, plus suggestions about the trajectory of your manuscript. It also includes a curated list of recommended reading to inspire and support you in your next steps. Please note this service does not include line edits.

  • Coaching

    A dedicated one-to-one Zoom conversation session for writers working on creative non-fiction or memoir: an opportunity to brainstorm and develop your idea with an experienced reader and writer.

    Book a free 20 minute consultation Zoom call

Details

My Writing Philosophy

I believe strongly that great writing comes from looking things in the eye:the act of sharing lived experience and making art out of life. It requires us to look inward so that we can reach outward with honesty and conviction. This is the foundation of compelling prose.

Whether you are working on  fiction or narrative non-fiction, the foundational tools of the craft are the same, even as the building blocks shift. Every writer’s voice is entirely their own; my job as a mentor is never to overwrite you, but to help you hone, elevate, and fiercely preserve that unique perspective.

Writing is rarely a straight line. Every writer reaches a point in a project where they need help getting out of their own way. Sometimes it happens at the very start, when you know you have something vital but can’t figure out how to shape it. Often, it hits in the messy middle, when you’re tangled in narrative threads and can’t see which one to unravel. And then there is the struggle of the ending—knowing how to draw a complex story to a resonant close.

Wherever you are in the process, dedicated mentoring can provide the clarity, structure, and momentum you need to move forward.