Are you seeking an appraisal of your manuscript or a writing mentor?

I work as a manuscript assessor and mentor for Writers Victoria, and as a mentor for the Australian Society of Authors. I am also available freelance for this work.

I am highly experienced in working with new and emerging writers and I have many connections in the writing community.

I have taught creative writing at RMIT, La Trobe University and the Council of Adult Education. I worked as an editor, inhouse and freelance, for publishing houses including Roland Harvey Books, Random House, Lothian Books, Macmillan Education and Penguin Books for many years.

I assessed the 2022 and 2023 ASA/CA Award Mentorship program and the 2022 Arts Tasmania Awards.

Please get in touch through my contact page for details.

Testimonials

  • When I chose Kate Ryan for a mentor, it was because I admired her writing expertise. What I didn't know was that it would be her generosity of spirit that would billow my sails and get my novel across the line to publication.

    We all know that writing is not about the words on the page alone. Kate builds trust through her professional approach, honesty and practical guidance. She has the ingenious ability to not only tune into what you are trying to say, but to help you unearth your authentic way to say it.

    Kate combines insightful editorial feedback, technical word craft and industry knowledge with an implicit care for what you want to achieve. Your work will become stronger for working with Kate - and you will become stronger as a writer.

    Julianne Negri – Author of The Secret Library of Hummingbird House (Affirm Press)

  • I came to Kate Ryan via the Writers Victoria manuscript assessment program with a complete yet flawed draft. With sharp insight, Kate pinpointed areas to improve and delivered the necessary critique with encouragement, warmth and enthusiasm. Kate's acuity in writing, editing and assessment enabled me to produce a much more polished and powerful novel. I wholeheartedly recommend Kate to anyone looking to refine their manuscript before sending it to agencies and publishers.

    Sandi Scaunich – Author of Chasing the McCubbin (Transit Lounge)

  • I have been guided in my novel and memoir writing by Kate Ryan for several years now through Writers Victoria's mentorship program. Kate is an editor of deep skill and compassion, able to nurture writers and their projects through the long and arduous arc of conception to realisation with unwavering nerve. I am convinced that I would not still be writing, and would not have improved so much, without her support and expertise.

    Jossi Clyde

  • I met Kate through Writers Victoria, when she conducted a manuscript assessment of my first fiction manuscript, and our working relationship continued through the mentoring program there.

    Her feedback on my work has been astute, well-informed, and constructive, and she has been an important and ongoing source of advice and support in my writing career.

    She shares her knowledge of the craft of writing, and of the publishing industry, with generosity, intelligence, and integrity.

    I would recommend her to anyone wanting to develop their writing practice.

    Kylie Mirmohamadi

  • I recommend Kate Ryan unreservedly as a writing mentor and manuscript assessor. 

    Kate asks all the right questions, probes gently but with great insight, offers thoughtful advice but never jumps in to ‘fix’ the problem for you.

    Most of all, as a writer herself Kate understands that criticism can weigh heavily on the artist and must be delivered with compassion in order to nourish not quash the creative process.  

    Kate is dedicated to her work as a champion for new and emerging writers, and gives her full attention and care to each writer she works with.

    Chloe Adams