This mentorship is designed to help horror/thriller novelists and screenwriters complete the first 15-20k words of their novel or the first draft of their screenplay respectively.

In three months, not only will you have a large number of words/pages written, but you’ll also have a future plan of attack for how to best tackle revisions, submit your work to industry representatives, and lay the beginning groundwork for a career in the publishing/film & TV industries. Through rigorous yet achievable milestones/deadlines and bespoke, hands-on developmental guidance, my goal is to give you a taste of what it’s like to be a working, professional novelist and screenwriter.

I’m Peter Malone Elliott, a critically acclaimed horror/thriller novelist and screenwriter, as well as a vastly experienced publishing professional. Most recently, I was the author of Blue Ridge, released in January 2024 from Level Best Books. Before that, I was a “Best Screenwriting, Motion Picture” nominee at the 2022 Leo Awards and the Grand Prize Winner of the highly prestigious Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition in 2018. Before founding my own business, Fortiter et Recte Literary, I ran Book Pipeline, a highly successful author-discovery platform, from 2019-2023. Through my meticulous editing and experienced industry knowhow, I have helped writers achieve literary representation, publishing contracts, and long-lasting careers of which they can be proud. Born and raised in Virginia, I now live in Brooklyn, but still hold the magic of the mountains and Southern living near and dear to my heart. When I’m not writing or editing, you can find me kickboxing, playing soccer, climbing a mountain, or roughhousing with my pit bull in Prospect Park.

Who this mentorship is for:

This mentorship will be most beneficial for authors and screenwriters who already have a firm grasp of the basics of the fiction writing and screenwriting craft, but are seeking a fun yet challenging, accelerator-type program to provide them with the motivation, accountability, and guidance to create a new work. 

It is a one-on-one program, so each mentorship will be tailored specifically to you and your project. However, all submission deadlines and word count/page count requirements are firm–so don’t apply if you are not fully committed to the program!

By the end of our time together, you will:

• For authors: 
• Have 15-20k total words completed (3k-5k words each month)
• Have a compelling yet concise draft of a submission query letter
• Have a curated list of literary agents to query once your manuscript is complete
• For screenwriters:
• Have a completed first draft screenplay (90-110 pages; one Act each month)
• Have a compelling yet concise draft of a submission query letter
• Have a curated list of literary managers to query

Mentor’s Input:

• Initial Zoom consultation
• Authors: must come prepared with a logline and/or outline for their novel
• Screenwriters: must come prepared with a logline and/or outline for their script
• Bespoke plan-of-action and accountability schedule (with recommended readings/viewings of comp titles).
• Weekly email check-ins and regularly scheduled bi-monthly Zoom consultations.
• Editorial feedback: critique letters (1-2 pages) and in-line comments.
• Moral support.

Mentees’ Responsibilities:

• Hit all writing deadlines and turn in work on time.
• Participate in all email check-ins and Zoom consultations
• Read and watch all suggested readings and/or viewings
• Be open to constructive feedback and fully committed to the process

3 Month Mentorship Outline:

Month 1:

• Week 1: Initial 60 minute Zoom consultation, where we discuss your logline/outline for your work, construct a bespoke plan-of-action for drafting, and select recommended readings/viewings for comp titles.
• Week 2: Email check-in on your progress
• Week 3: Email check-in on your progress
• Week 4: 60 minute Zoom Consultation 
• End of Month: Writing Packet #1 Due (first 3-5k words for novelists, first act for screenwriters)

Month 2:

• Week 1: Email check-in on your progress
• Week 2: Feedback on Writing Packet #1 delivered; 30 minute Zoom Consultation
• Week 3: Email check-in on your progress
• Week 4: 60 minute Zoom Consultation 
• End of Month: Writing Packet #2 Due (second 3-5k words for novelists, second act for screenwriters)

Month 3:

• Week 1: Email check-in on your progress
• Week 2: Feedback on Writing Packet #2 delivered; 30 minute Zoom Consultation
• Week 3: Email check-in on your progress
• Week 4: 60 minute Zoom Consultation 
• End of Month: Writing Packet #3 Due (third 3-5k words for novelists, third act for screenwriters)

Post-Mentorship:

• One month after conclusion of mentorship, the following materials will be delivered by email: 
• Feedback on Writing Packet #3
• A personalized query letter for your manuscript/screenplay
• A curated submission list of literary agents/managers for your manuscript/screenplay

PRAISE FOR PETER MALONE ELLIOTT:

“BLUE RIDGE is briskly plotted and smartly structured, moving back and forward in time without making a single confusing or gratuitous move. And even while keeping the cast of characters blessedly small, the story still manages to offer surprises and twists. (I actually gasped a few times, but I might be an easy mark.)…BLUE RIDGE will grip readers seeking a tense and evocative tale of big feelings, sparely expressed, and bigger sacrifices.”

—Annie Berke, Washington City Paper

"Elliott delivers this story in a way that is fast-moving and vivid. He brilliantly develops this unusual fraternal relationship by giving both Cillian’s and Christopher’s perspectives through most of the book. The flashbacks to the night that severed the brother’s relationship, paralleled with the current mystery of Christopher’s murder, allows readers to gradually put the pieces together and experience suspense at the end of every chapter. For readers looking for a shocking, fast-paced psychological thriller with an ending that they will never see coming, BLUE RIDGE is a must-read."

—Madeline Suarez, BookTrib

“...the film makes for an intimate drama-thriller involving a daughter who has been wronged by her father and that father wanting to be better. Let alone that this dramatic element makes for a compelling dynamic, it also serves to present an intriguing twist on the home invasion genre.”

—Michael Pemental, Bloody Disgusting (review of WIRED SHUT)

“…WIRED SHUT manages to keep things moving, never dragging out a chase or hide-and-seek for two minutes longer than it needs to. It’s a great accomplishment in indie horror.”

—Vogue Horror

"Peter Malone Elliott is a writer's best friend, best secret weapon, and all-around best one-man support system! The enthusiasm and positivity with which he approaches projects make you believe in yourself and your work no matter what stage it's in. Whether you're in the initial brainstorming muddle on a screenplay or are fine-tuning a novel manuscript for the hundredth time, Peter brings a wealth of technical experience and expertise along with an incredibly valuable big-picture industry view. He is fun to work with as well - extremely engaging and knowledgeable, precise and thoughtful with edits and comments, and very quick to respond to fragile writer-ego concerns with kindness and unflagging encouragement. "

—Melissa Duge Spiers, Author & Screenwriter

"Peter has an expert eye for story. Not only is he a talent in crafting his own books and screenplays, but he also has a unique ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the work of others. Speaking from experience, he will elevate your story from average to excellent with his keen sense of pacing, structure, character, and emotional resonance. Your story is in good hands with Peter."

—Ciara Duggan, Novelist & Screenwriter

Click HERE to Apply Now.