James Anders Banks – Editor

My debut literary novel, published under the name Daren King, which I began writing as part of my BA degree, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and longlisted for The Guardian First Book Award. Five years and three further literary novels later, my first children's novel, Mouse Noses on Toast, published by Faber & Faber, won Gold Medal in the Nestlé Children's Prize. Early in 2008 I was headhunted by the Writer's Workshop, now Jericho Writers, and I worked for them as a full time mentor, editor and proofreader for fourteen years. Ten of these authors are now published by conventional print publishers including HarperCollins, Macmillan and Penguin, one even being longlisted for the Booker Prize. My first sci-fi novel is an Amazon top 25 bestseller.

So how can I help? I work with both fiction and non-fiction writers, and have worked in just about any genre you can name, from literary fiction to romance to sci-fi, young adult, new adult and children's fiction. I can coach, developmental edit, copy edit or proofread, or I can write a full editorial assessment. Mentoring falls under the developmental editing umbrella, and as a mentor I can teach you to develop your own writing skills as we develop your book. I don't just tell an author to go off and find their voice! I have developed many dozens of specific language concepts that I use to help an author take full control of their writing - concepts you won't find in books. Rather than tell you that a paragraph needs work, I'll tell you which sentence or sentences are weak and precisely what the problems are, and how to fix them. I can also work closely with you on broader issues such as characterisation and plot.

“[James] has been a brilliant mentor and has provided invaluable help and insight. He has given me advice in relation to all aspects of the book, from plotting and structure, to fine linguistic details. I’m not sure I could have finished it without him.” Eve Harris, London, England – 2013 Man Booker longlisted

“This course has been life-changing. Having [James] to guide me throughout the novel-writing process was like having a secret weapon. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the wealth of knowledge and skills I developed under his tuition. I’m still pinching myself that I had five offers from agents and am now being published by a major print publishing house.” Ingrid Alexandra, now published by HarperCollins