The Literary Consultancy
The Literary Consultancy is a London-based editorial consultancy, founded 1996, providing manuscript assessment, developmental editing, and mentoring to writers worldwide via a network of 90 UK editors and the Being A Writer subscription platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Literary Consultancy does
The Literary Consultancy (TLC) is a UK-based editorial consultancy founded in 1996, operating as a private limited company from Kings Cross, London. The company provides professional manuscript assessment, developmental editing, mentoring, and copy-editing services to writers across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and scripts, delivered through a small core staff coordinating a network of 90 vetted UK editors trained on TLC's proprietary Reading Principles and REVISE feedback-implementation framework. Revenue is generated across multiple streams: one-time manuscript assessment fees, multi-month mentoring programmes (Classic and Premium tiers spanning 12-18 months), subscription membership on the Being A Writer digital platform (£10/month standard, £8.50 concessionary, £82.50 annual), self-editing and editing-career courses (£149-£500), Power Hours consultancy sessions (£99), and TLC Press Mini Guides (£1-£3 digital downloads). The Arts Council England-funded Free Reads scheme, run through 22 regional literature partners, provides bursaried services to low-income and marginalised writers as a managed-services revenue layer.
Since 2019 TLC has expanded into digital community and education through the Being A Writer membership platform (launched May 2020), which hosts courses, podcasts, events, and creativity resources on a Circle-based community stack. Customer segments span aspiring writers, professional authors, LGBTQ+ writers (via the 10-year Michael Langan Free Reads partnership), low-income and underrepresented writers (via Arts Council funding), and aspiring editors (via Edit Academy training and the 2026 Edit Academy Apprenticeship with Writers & Artists). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the literaryconsultancy.co.uk website, with global reach for online services and UK-centric in-person events at Bloomsbury Publishing offices and Free Word Centre. The company is independent and privately held, with no institutional investment disclosed.
The Literary Consultancy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Literary Consultancy
- Legal name
- The Literary Consultancy Ltd
- Website
- https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Literary Consultancy is a London-based editorial consultancy, founded 1996, providing manuscript assessment, developmental editing, and mentoring to writers worldwide via a network of 90 UK editors and the Being A Writer subscription platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Literary Consultancy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Editorial Services
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Editorial & Production Services (Copyediting, Proofreading, Formatting, Typesetting) (MPAJAJAG), Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI), Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)
Keywords
Where The Literary Consultancy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Literary Consultancy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Being A Writer Membership Subscriptions: Monthly and annual subscription to the Being A Writer platform offering courses, events, podcasts, community access, and member discounts. Recurring revenue model with Standard (£10/month + VAT) and Concessionary (£8.50/month + VAT) tiers.
- Manuscript Assessment Services: One-time editorial assessment services where writers are matched with professional editors who provide detailed written feedback. Services include standard manuscript assessment, developmental editing, submission package reports, and quick turnaround options.
- Chapter and Verse Mentoring: One-to-one mentoring programmes (Classic and Premium) offering ongoing feedback over 12-18 months with a creative writing specialist. Classic includes six email tutorial sessions; Premium includes seven in-person/Zoom sessions plus industry day.
- Courses and Events: Revenue from self-editing courses (Self Editing Fiction, Self Editing Non-Fiction), Edit Academy workshops, webinars, and industry events. Pricing ranges from £50 workshops to £500 courses.
- Power Hours and One-to-One Consultancy: Individual consultancy sessions including Lightbulb Coaching (free for members every three months) and paid Power Hours at £99 standard rate.
- TLC Press Mini Guides: Digital guides on craft and creativity topics (Plot, Character, Dialogue, Voice, Structure, Self-editing) sold at £1-3 per guide. Free resources available for Being A Writer members.
- Free Reads Bursary Scheme: Arts Council England-funded bursaried manuscript assessment and mentoring for low-income and underrepresented writers. Revenue is indirect through grant funding rather than direct client payments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Being A Writer Standard Monthly - Recurring subscription with full access to platform content |
| Subscription | Annual | Being A Writer Standard Annual - One-off annual payment saving £45 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Being A Writer Concessionary Monthly - Lower-cost option for low-income writers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Self Editing Fiction Course - 6-week online course with live teaching |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Edit Academy - Full-day intensive editing training event |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Post Feedback Workshop - Half-day workshop using REVISE model |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Chapter and Verse Mentoring Classic - Email-based tutorial sessions |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Chapter and Verse Mentoring Premium - In-person/Zoom sessions with industry day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Power Hours - One-hour consultancy calls |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TLC Press Mini Guides - Craft and creativity guides |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Literary Consultancy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Literary Consultancy provides professional editorial and writer development services, anchored by its manuscript assessment service in which writers are matched with expert editors from a curated network of 90 UK editors who deliver detailed written feedback on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and scripts. Its portfolio also spans developmental editing, one-to-one mentoring programmes, copy-editing and proofreading, submission package reports, and the Being A Writer digital membership subscription offering courses, podcasts, events, and community resources. Access programmes such as the Arts Council England-funded Free Reads scheme and the Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads scheme extend the core offering to low-income and underrepresented writers.
Product overview
The Literary Consultancy offers a comprehensive editorial and writer development service portfolio anchored by professional manuscript assessment and editing services. The core offerings include Manuscript Assessment, Developmental Editing, Chapter and Verse Mentoring (Classic and Premium), Submission Package Reports, Editor One-to-one sessions, and Copy-editing/Proofreading. Supporting these is the Being A Writer digital membership platform (launched May 2020) providing online courses, events, podcasts, creativity resources, and community access through Standard, Concessionary, and Annual tiers. TLC Press publishes craft Mini Guides on Plot, Character, Dialogue, Voice, Structure, and Self-editing. The organization operates access programs including the Free Reads Scheme (Arts Council England funded), LGBTQ+ Free Reads (in partnership with Michael Langan), Scholarships, Pen Factor Prize, and Amplify group coaching. All services are backed by a network of 90 UK editors and the organization's three-decade expertise in editorial consultancy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Being A Writer: TLC's membership platform for writers offering digital content, online courses, events, podcasts, creativity resources, and community support to help writers build happier, healthier writing lives.
Products and services
- Manuscript Assessment Editorial assessment service pairing writers with professional editors who read in their field and deliver detailed written feedback on their literary project; accepts fiction, non-fiction, short stories, poetry, scripts, and screenplays. For individual writers at all stages.
- Developmental Editing Comprehensive editorial development feedback including a full manuscript assessment report and a digitally marked-up copy of the manuscript, providing structure-level and craft-level editing guidance. For writers seeking deeper developmental engagement with their work.
- Chapter and Verse Mentoring One-to-one guided writing development matching writers with creative writing specialist mentors (Classic) or industry mentors (Premium) over 12–18 months, including full manuscript assessment and an industry day with agent and publisher. For writers seeking sustained, long-term creative and career development support.
- Submission Package Report Editorial assessment service providing an industry specialist reader's perspective to evaluate if work is ready for submission to literary agents, including synopsis and covering letter review. For writers at the Pitch & Publish stage.
- Copy-editing and Proofreading Detailed line-level editing and proofreading to polish manuscripts for publication readiness. For writers seeking final-stage textual refinement prior to submission or self-publication.
- Editor One-to-one Personalised one-to-one editorial support sessions with professional editors, focused on targeted feedback on specific aspects of a writer's work. For writers needing specific, focused editorial input beyond full manuscript review.
- Being A Writer Membership Subscription membership providing digital content to help writers sustain creativity and cultivate resilience; includes online courses, events, podcasts, creativity resources, downloads, and community access, with Standard, Concessionary, and Annual tiers and member discounts on TLC services. For writers seeking ongoing craft and wellbeing support.
- Self Editing Fiction Course Six-week online course teaching the fundamentals of self-editing for fiction, using TLC's Editing Principles and covering voice, character, plot, and genre; includes 12 hours of live teaching, a 30-minute one-to-one, and digital resources. For fiction writers seeking structured craft development.
- Edit Academy Full-day event in partnership with Writers & Artists for aspiring editors, covering developmental editing, line editing, author relationships, and career building, with optional consultancy add-on. Held at Bloomsbury Publishing offices in London.
- Post Feedback Workshop Half-day workshop helping writers implement professional editorial feedback using the REVISE model, providing an actionable roadmap and timeline for manuscript revisions. For writers who have received a TLC editorial report and need structured next steps.
- Power Hours One-hour consultancy calls providing intensive, directional editorial or coaching support for writers; Being A Writer members receive 20% discount. For writers seeking focused expert input on a specific problem.
- TLC Press Mini Guides Digital guides on craft and creativity topics including Plot, Character, Dialogue, Voice, Structure, and Self-editing, sold in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats at £1–3 each. For writers seeking short, focused craft resources.
- TLC Free Reads Scheme Bursaried manuscript assessment and mentoring for talented low-income and otherwise marginalised or under-represented writers, funded by Arts Council England and delivered with 21–22 regional literature partners including Arvon and National Centre for Writing. For low-income and underrepresented UK writers who could not otherwise afford professional editorial services.
- Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads Free manuscript assessment programme for unpublished UK-based LGBTQ+ writers, with priority for low-income, global majority, and disabled writers, delivered in partnership with Michael Langan and supporting organisations including The Coast is Queer Festival.
- TLC Amplify 12-week group coaching programme prioritising writer wellbeing and development. For emerging writers seeking cohort-based coaching and industry exposure.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported 13,500+ writers since 1996
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Literary Consultancy
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Literary Consultancy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature3 records
The Literary Consultancy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Writers & ArtistscoreJoint delivery of Edit Academy, a full-day intensive editing training event held at Bloomsbury Publishing. Partnership combines TLC's editorial expertise with Writers & Artists' audience reach to train aspiring editors. Also joint delivery of Edit Academy Apprenticeship programme.
- The Coast is Queer FestivalminorBrighton's annual LGBTQ+ writing festival partnering with TLC to provide Day Passes to Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads winners. Festival creates space for queer readers, writers, and allies.
- Royal Society of LiteratureminorTLC participated as consulting partner on RSL's 'A Room of My Own' research into barriers to writing, informing the Being A Writer programme development.
- Kingston UniversityminorTLC consulted on Kingston University's 'What Makes A Writer' academic research into barriers to writing, informing the Being A Writer programme's focus on writer wellbeing and resilience.
- Michael LangancoreNovelist and writing tutor partnering with TLC to deliver the Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads scheme for ten consecutive years. Scheme offers free professional feedback to unpublished UK-based LGBTQ+ writers with priority for low-income, global majority, and disabled writers.
- 22 Regional Literature PartnerscorePartnership network including Arvon, Spread the Word, London Writers Centre, National Centre for Writing, and New Writing North. These organisations refer writers to TLC Free Reads scheme and support delivery across the entire country.
- Damian Barr's Literary SalonminorPrevious sponsor of Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads scheme, providing additional sponsored slots and career development support for winners.
- Out on the PageminorPrevious sponsor of Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads scheme, providing additional support for LGBTQ+ writers.
- RunWriteminorPrevious sponsor of Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads scheme.
- Creative FutureminorCreative coaching partner offering 10% off first five one-to-one coaching sessions for Being A Writer members. Founded by Dominique De-Light who co-founded Creative Future Writers Awards.
- Write & ShineminorEarly morning writing workshop provider offering £5 discount for Being A Writer members on workshop sessions delivered via Zoom.
- ProlifikominorWriting productivity coaching platform offering 25% discount on the Prolifiko Bootcamp for Being A Writer members. Programme helps writers reach writing goals faster.
- Bloomsbury PublishingminorHost venue for Edit Academy events at Bloomsbury Publishing offices in London, with lift access and quiet rooms available.
- Free Word CentreminorCentral London venue for TLC mentoring industry days, hosting events with literary agents and publishers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Literary Consultancy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Reedsy: Online marketplace connecting authors with vetted freelance editors, designers, and publishing service providers. Competes with TLC's manuscript assessment service via a scaled marketplace model rather than curated in-house editorial network.
Emerging players
- Sudowrite: AI-powered creative writing assistant offering brainstorming, drafting, and editorial feedback capabilities. Emerging direct competitor to TLC's manuscript assessment and developmental editing services, with rapidly improving AI quality.
- ProWritingAid: AI-assisted writing and editing software platform targeting professional and aspiring authors. Represents the emerging AI-driven competitive threat to TLC's developmental and copy-editing services, offering automated feedback at substantially lower price points.
Direct peers
- Curtis Brown Creative: Writing school operated by leading UK literary agency Curtis Brown, offering courses and editorial support. Comparable to TLC's training/course segment and benefits from agent-side referral flow similar to TLC's agent recommendations.
- Jericho Writers: UK-based editorial consultancy offering manuscript assessment, editing, and writing courses to aspiring authors — closely comparable business model and target customer base to TLC. Operates its own writing school and editorial services competing directly for the same writers.
- Faber Academy: Writing school affiliated with major UK publisher Faber & Faber, delivering creative writing courses and editorial services. Comparable to TLC's courses and Edit Academy programmes with the added publisher-backed brand advantage.
- The Novelry: Online writing school and editorial services company offering courses, mentoring, and manuscript feedback to novelists. Directly comparable to TLC's Self-Editing Fiction Course and Chapter and Verse Mentoring programmes.
- Cornerstones Literary Consultancy: Long-established UK editorial consultancy providing manuscript assessment, developmental editing, and copy-editing services to writers. Near-identical service offering and customer base to TLC's core manuscript assessment business.
Regional players
- Arvon: UK-based creative writing charity and one of TLC's 22 regional literature partners, offering residential writing courses and grants. Adjacent service provider with overlapping equity-focused mission but operates from a different funding model (charitable) and primary product (retreats/courses vs. editorial consultancy).
Others
- Penguin Random House Author Services: Major global publisher with an author services arm offering editorial, design, and marketing support. Competes at scale in the editorial services space but as part of a much wider publishing portfolio rather than as a specialist editorial consultancy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Literary Consultancy social profiles
Digital presenceThe Literary Consultancy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Literary Consultancy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Literary Consultancy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Literary Consultancy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Literary Consultancy
What does The Literary Consultancy do?
The Literary Consultancy provides professional editorial and writer development services, anchored by its manuscript assessment service in which writers are matched with expert editors from a curated network of 90 UK editors who deliver detailed written feedback on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and scripts. Its portfolio also spans developmental editing, one-to-one mentoring programmes, copy-editing and proofreading, submission package reports, and the Being A Writer digital membership subscription offering courses, podcasts, events, and community resources. Access programmes such as the Arts Council England-funded Free Reads scheme and the Michael Langan LGBTQ+ Free Reads scheme extend the core offering to low-income and underrepresented writers.
Is The Literary Consultancy a public or private company?
The Literary Consultancy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Literary Consultancy founded?
The Literary Consultancy was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Literary Consultancy based?
The Literary Consultancy is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Literary Consultancy make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Being A Writer Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are manuscript Assessment Services, chapter and Verse Mentoring, courses and Events, power Hours and One-to-One Consultancy, TLC Press Mini Guides and free Reads Bursary Scheme.
Who are The Literary Consultancy's main competitors?
Reedsy is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Sudowrite and ProWritingAid. Direct peers are Curtis Brown Creative, Jericho Writers, Faber Academy, The Novelry and Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. Arvon is listed as a regional player. Penguin Random House Author Services is listed as an others.
Does The Literary Consultancy have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Literary Consultancy.
What industry is The Literary Consultancy in?
The Literary Consultancy's product category is Editorial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAJAF, Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing), with a secondary code of MPAJAJAG, Editorial & Production Services (Copyediting, Proofreading, Formatting, Typesetting). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.