I’ve launched a new system to help writers. It uses the ingredients of automation, a dash of AI, and a heavy pinch of agent matching. But before I tell you about that, let’s take a little detour…

I grew up at a time when things like dyslexia weren’t diagnosed. You were just ‘thick’ and sent off to endless remedial classes. It was brutal. But I always say good things come out of bad situations, and this is no exception. It taught me a few tricks along the way. If I couldn’t spell the word “restaurant” (which I still can’t), I’d swap it. Maybe “diner.” Or better: “we ate at the two cent place on the corner that serves slop and calls it buttery mashed potatoes.”

As others taunted me about it, I found humour was the perfect shield. That survival tactic turned into a writing style, and that shame turned into resilience. I didn’t know it then, but those were the first tools in my writer’s kit. In hindsight, I can see that navigating around limitations honed a skill for finding unexpected turns of phrase, creating pictures with words instead of just following rules. And in writing, that can be a superpower.

What does this have to do with anything, I hear you ask? Well, it led to my love of writing. In my early twenties, I co-wrote a comedy show for radio. I loved it. I was writing and laughing and being paid for it. Not bad, right? But then real life happened. Money pressures, small kids, ageing parents—and I found myself joining the 9 to 5 workforce like so many of us do. I told myself it was temporary, I’m still saying that 20 years on.

Still, I kept the literary love going in the background. I wrote novels in snatched moments—nap times, commutes, the occasional 2 a.m. burst of inspiration. I was proud of them. So proud, in fact, that they now lie at the bottom of a virtual drawer gathering digital dust. I tried to get them published. Researched agents. Got rejection after rejection. I lost track of the number of queries I sent out. I mean I quite literally lost track of who I’d sent submissions to and who I hadn’t, it was a stressful mess. I had two small children and a demanding job, I didn’t have the time to keep sending out a novel (which, let’s be honest, might’ve been crap) to people who weren’t interested? I gave up. And for a long time, I gave up writing too. If no one reads it, why write it?

I promise, we’re getting to the point.

Luckily for you, the 9 to 5 was in tech. And eventually, I realised that maybe, just maybe, I could use what I’d learned to build something better. Something that would make it easier for the next writer down the line. Someone like me, but just a bit earlier in the giving-up cycle.

Say hi to Lumatra.

It’s a platform designed for writers who are fed up with the slog of submissions, but still believe in their work. It helps you find the right agents faster, submit smarter, and maybe even hang on to a bit of hope. Here’s what it does:

● You upload your manuscript.

● Our system scans a database of around 2,000 agents and recommends those most aligned with your work.

● You can send out submissions and track your replies from one place.

● And if you’re struggling with writing a synopsis, pitch, or email? There’s a built-in AI feature that gives you a draft to work from. Entirely optional. Entirely under your control.

Now about that AI—and I know it might raise an eyebrow or two. Let me say up front: we don’t condone AI-written manuscripts. That part needs to come from you. But if you’ve ever stared at a blank screen trying to describe your 90,000-word novel in 500 words, then you know what kind of help I’m talking about.

Let’s face it, writing a synopsis and pitch—even the email to the agent—is a skill in itself that is different to the skills you have in your creative writing locker. So let’s try to even the playing field so your novel has a fighting chance of being read.

The AI feature is there to give you a starting point. Something to edit, reshape, or throw away entirely. It drafts a synopsis, a pitch, and an agent email based on your uploaded manuscript. And no, it’s not perfect. But sometimes, a not-perfect paragraph is all you need to unlock the better one inside you.

I’ve spent hours—days—writing and rewriting my own synopses. I’d get two sentences in and doubt every word. But when the pressure’s off and you’re just editing a rough draft instead of creating from scratch, everything feels lighter. It becomes less about proving yourself and more about presenting your story in the best way possible.

Why I built it (and why you don’t have to)

I built Lumatra for the version of me who was juggling too much and had almost nothing left to give to her writing. The person who didn’t have the skills to write a formal email to an agent but was funny. I’m not saying this will get you published. But I am saying it’ll save you time. It’ll help your work land in front of the right people. It might even help you keep going when giving up starts to sound reasonable.

A quick note for editors and writing coaches…

If you support writers and think Lumatra could help them, we run an affiliate programme. It’s our way of saying thanks to those who lift others up. A chance to offer your clients a tool that makes their submissions stronger, smoother, and more strategic. You want to see them published too. This might be one more way to help them get there.

Here’s the thing…

We can help you find the right agent. We can help you write and send your submission. But in the end, it’s still about you, your story, and your voice.

Whether you use Lumatra or not, please—don’t give up. We need your words in the world. Even if it takes longer than you hoped. Even if no one replies for a while. Keep going.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering… no, I didn’t use AI to write this. Just me, a keyboard, and a packet of Maltesers.

www.lumatra.net