Bespoke mentoring, with me, award-winning author Huma Qureshi
Former mentee, Laurie, 2019 - twelve month mentoring
‘I wasn’t a writer when I signed up for mentoring. I felt like a fraud, an imposter in my own life. Huma took me by the hand and walked me into my writing life, and into myself. She showed me that I was a writer. Her gentle, quiet encouragement was a great presence in my writing life throughout the months we were working together.’
Would you like me to help you on your individual writing journey?
As a professional and published author, with a background in broadsheet journalism, creative non-fiction and fiction (both short stories and novels), I am well placed to offer guidance, insight and helpful critiques to writers of different genres, who are dedicated to bringing their ideas to completion. It is rare to find an author who has published books across genres as I have and I believe this gives me a unique perspective to offer advice to all writers.
My past mentees have gone on to launch careers in journalism, have had articles published in magazines, have started and completed personal writing projects, including books, and have been well equipped to approach literary agents with their manuscripts.
I’ve been teaching writing courses and mentoring for seven years. I’ve taught writing workshops with Guardian Masterclasses, the London Writers’ Salon, The Arvon Foundation and I have mentored writers through the creative writing institute CBC Creative and the SI Leeds Literary Prize, as well as here through my own writing packages.
Your mentoring sessions with me will be gentle, but instructive; practical but creative; flexible and yet hold you to account. I will offer you the perspective and support you need to start your writing project, but more importantly, to believe in yourself and keep going even when it feels difficult.
I never had a mentor when I was writing my manuscripts and battling with first drafts and yet many, many times I wished I had. I wished there was someone I could have turned to who was further ahead in the writing journey than I was to ask for help when I needed it. To help me find clarity when I was confused, to offer objectivity and perspective when I was simply too close to my manuscript to see what changes needed to be made. To simply listen when I found the act of writing difficult. To believe in me when I lost faith in myself.
That’s why it matters to me so, so much to be that person for someone else coming up the road behind me. I will hold that gate open for you.
Former mentee, Caroline, 2022-2023 - nine month mentoring
“It’s been immensely rewarding working with you. Your practical guidance and generous feedback have helped me develop as a writer and given me the confidence I needed to finish this project. I can see huge progress from my earlier drafts, and that has been a result of your input.
But, and much more than that, your thoughtful insights and gentle direction have helped me understand what I’m actually writing about. That has helped me, personally, in ways that extend far beyond the writing. Thank you.”
Former mentee, Natsumi, 2017-2018 - twelve month mentoring
“Thank you so much for walking this journey with me. I feel very supported. Things I never dared to take on or even dream of as a writer have started to look more tangible and approachable.”
What’s your story?
Students who choose me as a mentor do so because they are familiar with both my writing and also my teaching approach. I would encourage you to find this familiarity before reaching out to me for mentoring; you can do so either from reading my books, signing up to my newsletter Dear Huma and either one of my Substacks, Scenes From Home or Reading Alice & Others, or from taking one of my online writing courses.
Every writer who comes to me comes at a different point. Some have an idea for what they would like to write, but are scared to get started. Some are tired of making excuses for not having started the writing project they have been dreaming of, but have put on hold for years. Many have a work in progress they are stuck with and could do with guidance on. Some have already written a first draft of a novel or a memoir or a collection of stories and now it’s time to shape it, only they can’t quite see clearly anymore and don’t know what needs to be done.
If you only require feedback on your writing, without mentoring support, please take a look at my personal feedback packages instead.
What do I do?
I will listen to you. Together, we will identify what your writing challenges are and where you are stuck, whether it’s technical, structural, plot/story related or because you are struggling with your creative practice and then we’ll have deep, creative conversations in which I will guide you in a direction that feels good to you with your writing. Depending on the level of mentorship you choose, I’ll read your work thoroughly and critique it kindly but usefully, in a way that you can learn from. At the end of each call, we’ll set creative goals together for what you will work towards, ensuring that you always move forwards with your writing in a way that feels instinctive. You will leave each call feeling creatively re-energised and nourished.
Who do I mentor?
I’m very happy to work with writers aspiring to write:
memoir - you have a story you want to tell about your life
short stories - you would like to write a short story collection or are working towards that
novels (literary fiction) - you have an idea for a novel and would like some help steering you along the way
general first-person writing - you may not necessarily have a book in mind but are wanting to launch your own personal writing online via long reads or essays
Please rest assured, whilst it’s always helpful to come with me with material that is ready to shape, you don’t have to have a completed draft to work with me. Nor do you need to be aiming for publication to work with me; publication is not always the end goal for everyone. But if you are seeking publication I can help with lots of advice on finding agents and putting your submission package together.
If you are writing speculative fiction or are writing for children, then regretfully, I am not the mentor for you.
Our journey together
Figuratively speaking, I will always ‘meet’ you where you are with your writing, ask you what you need from me, and I will make it my priority to give that to you, within the time that we work together.
That said, having some structure to our mentoring time will be helpful and necessary for both of us. Choose from the four bespoke mentoring options below to find the structure that best suits you:
Twelve-month mentoring programme
What’s included:
A planning call (forty minutes) to discuss where you are at in your writing and what your mentoring needs might be.
Four one hour personal mentoring calls, once every three months. These calls will be either on Google Meet or simply over the phone without the distraction of video (the choice is yours). Having space between calls allows you to immerse yourself in your writing between our sessions. Before every call you have the option of sending in your writing to me for review.
I will read up to 10,000 words on three occasions, ideally once every three months (30,000 words in total). You will submit your 10,000 words extract at least two weeks ahead of our call, so that I have time to read and make notes.
Monthly email accountability check-ins from me to make sure you are where you need to be in terms of deadlines and word counts.
After each call, you will receive a link to a recording of our call (whether audio/video), as well as a report of all my notes, thoughts and thorough and constructive feedback, including any extra reading lists or inspiration suggestions as and when necessary.
Access to all three of my writing courses (worth £1274) for the duration of our mentoring time together.
Investment - £5000
Six-month mentoring programme
What’s included:
A planning call (forty minutes) to discuss where you are at in your writing and what your mentoring needs might be.
Two one hour personal mentoring calls, once every three months. These calls will be either on Google Meet or simply over the phone without the distraction of video (the choice is yours). Having space between calls allows you to immerse yourself in your writing between our sessions. Before every call you have the option of sending in your writing to me for review.
Monthly email accountability check-ins from me to see how you are doing in terms of deadlines and word counts.
I will read up to 5000 words on two occasions (10,000 in total). You will submit your 5000 words extract at least two weeks ahead of our planned call so that I have time to read and make notes.
After each discussion, you will receive a link to a recording of our call (whether audio/video), as well as a report of all my notes, thoughts and thorough and constructive feedback, including any extra reading lists or inspiration suggestions as and when necessary.
Access to one writing course of your choice from my three courses (worth up to £490) for the duration of our mentoring time together.
Investment - £2500
Writing reset programme
Two, one hour personal mentoring calls spread over two consecutive months. These calls will be either on Google Meet or simply over the phone without the distraction of video (the choice is yours).
I will read up to 5000 words on one occasion, either before the first or second call (you decide which suits you best) (5000 words in total). You will submit your 5000 words extract at least two weeks ahead of our planned call so that I have time to read and make notes.
After each discussion, you will receive a link to a recording of our call (whether audio/video), as well as a report of all my notes, thoughts and thorough and constructive feedback, including any extra reading lists or inspiration suggestions as and when necessary.
Investment - £950
Creative Conversation: Mentor hour
One hour-long personal mentoring call to reignite your creativity and help find clarity. It can be related to a specific writing project, or related to creative practice more widely. This call will be either on Google Meet or simply over the phone without the distraction of video (the choice is yours).
After each discussion, you will receive a link to a recording of our call (whether audio/video) and a follow-up email to make sure you’re clear on your next steps forward.
(Consecutive mentor hours can be booked at the same price - £350 - but please note there is no reading included in these calls)
Investment - £350
Former mentee (2022-2023), Caroline - nine month mentoring
‘It’s been a great pleasure and immensely rewarding working with you. Your practical guidance and generous feedback have helped me develop as a writer and given me the confidence I needed to finish this project. I can see huge progress from my earlier drafts, and that has been a result of your input.
But, and much more than that, your thoughtful insights and gentle direction have helped me understand what I’m actually writing about. That has helped me, personally, in ways that extend far beyond the writing. Thank you.’
My services
Twelve month mentoring
£5000 in full / £420 x 12 monthly payments
Six month mentoring
£2500 in full / £420 x 6 monthly payments
Writing reset
£950 in full / £490 x 2 monthly payments
Creative Conversation Mentor hour
£350 in full
Former mentee, Natsumi, 2017-2018 - twelve month mentoring
“I can’t even begin to tell you how much you have helped me throughout the last few months. You have given me hope and the courage to not give up on my dream of writing and to start making it a reality.”
Former mentee, Kim, 2019 - three month mentoring