PERSONALISED WRITING MENTORING

The Writer’s Compass

Guidance, encouragement and a clear way forward for your writing.

You do not need a finished manuscript - or even a fully formed idea - to begin. Mentoring meets you wherever you are and helps you find a clear way forward.

A supportive place to develop your writing

Every writer reaches moments of uncertainty. Writing rarely develops in a straight line. It can be exciting and deeply rewarding, and at times it can feel as though you’ve lost your way. You may have an idea you don’t quite know how to begin to write about, a story that has stalled, or a draft that isn’t yet doing what you want it to do.

As your mentor, I offer you an experienced, trusted reader - someone who listens closely to what you are trying to create, identifies what is already working, and helps you see both the possibilities in your writing and a practical way forward.

Together, we shape the mentoring around your project, your experience and what you want to achieve. You might arrive with a story you have carried for years, a handful of pages, a substantial draft - or simply the desire to write. We begin where you are.

Working with me

I am a published author whose mentoring experience spans memoir, family history, fiction, creative nonfiction and storytelling across personal, academic and community settings. I am particularly interested in helping writers uncover the deeper meaning of their stories and shape them into work that resonates with readers.

My approach is thoughtful, practical and collaborative. I won’t try to turn your writing into mine. I’ll help you understand what your work is doing and where it might go next, while developing the skills and confidence to make those decisions for yourself.

Testimonial

When I found myself going around in circles trying to edit my writing, Betty’s mentorship was invaluable. Her focus on clarifying my purpose enabled me to find direction and be clear about the style and structure of my writing project. I really appreciated her insights into the deeper psychological truths and themes to enhance the unity and coherence of my piece. Her warmth and encouragement gave me confidence to tackle the parts which needed to be strengthened.

Betty was meticulous in her detailed reading and feedback on my manuscript. She also gave me a comprehensive feedback summary which included very helpful suggestions for going forward. 

I would highly recommend Betty as a mentor to any writer who would like encouraging, skilled and perceptive guidance.

Annalise Fairfax Thomas (September 2026)

What mentoring can help you do

  • Find your starting point and turn a broad idea into achievable writing steps.

  • Develop your craft through practical guidance suited to your project and level of experience.

  • Strengthen your voice while making creative decisions with greater confidence.

  • Shape and revise your work with thoughtful, constructive feedback from an objective reader.

  • Build a sustainable writing practice through realistic goals, encouragement and accountability.

  • Move through difficulties such as self-doubt, writer’s block or feeling overwhelmed by the size of a project.

  • Make genuine progress towards a completed piece of writing and, if relevant, submission or publication.

Getting started with a first conversation

The first conversation

We begin with an initial conversation about the writing you hope to do, where you are now and what kind of support would be most useful. From there, we will develop a mentoring rhythm and package suited to you.

First conversation - $250
A 60-minute exploratory mentoring session for writers who don’t yet have work they want me to read.

First conversation + manuscript feedback - $600
I will read up to 5,000 words of your writing before we meet, followed by a 60-minute mentoring conversation about your work with feedback notes, discuss your writing goals and possible next steps.

Ongoing mentoring

If you decide to continue after our first conversation, we will agree on a mentoring program that reflects your writing goals, timeframe and the level of support you need.

Ongoing mentoring is offered as a package of six sessions for $3,600, paid upfront. If this presents a difficulty, please contact me to discuss whether an alternative payment arrangement may be possible.

Each session includes a one-hour mentoring conversation plus three additional hours of my time for reading your work (up to 5,000 words each time), preparation, written feedback or other support agreed in advance. This gives you up to 24 hours of personalised mentoring support across the program.

I meet monthly with most writers, though the timing can be adjusted to suit your project.

A typical mentoring package

A comprehensive program may include:

  1. Six one-hour mentoring meetings scheduled across approximately six - twelve months.

  2. Submission of writing before each session (up to 5,000 words each time) at agreed points in the program.

  3. Reading and preparation by me so our discussion can focus on the issues that will help you most.

  4. Written feedback or session notes where these will be useful.

  5. Goal setting and action planning to create momentum between sessions.

Fees are informed by the recommended professional rates of the Australian Society of Authors.

What mentoring doesn’t include

Mentoring is developmental rather than a manuscript assessment or editing service. It does not include reading or editing an entire manuscript, nor approaching publishers or agents on your behalf. Where appropriate, however, I can help you think through the next stage of your writing and prepare your work for submission.

Timing

Packages are to be completed within six to twelve months, depending on the rhythm that best supports your writing.

You do not have to know the whole route before you begin.

You only need a starting point - and a next step.

Book your first conversation by completing the form below or send an enquiry to Betty.ONeill@uts.edu.au.

After receiving your enquiry, I will contact you within two business days to arrange a conversation.