It was while attending an Arvon Foundation crime writing course led by Dreda Say Mitchell and Frances Fyfield that Lawrence had the idea for her debut young adults' novel, Orangeboy.

[11] Her follow-up book, Indigo Donut (2017), was described by Alex O'Connell in The Times as "addictive", having "many of the themes of a Jacqueline Wilson novel: bullying, fostering, teenage relationships.

Yet Lawrence’s tale is told with unfettered dialogue and broad-ranging cultural references for an older audience who don’t need to be spared the details.

"[12] The Guardian reviewer wrote: "Her award-winning debut Orangeboy, a gripping urban thriller, announced Patrice Lawrence as a bold, fresh voice in young adult fiction.

[15] In October 2021, Lawrence was announced as taking on the role of ambassador for First Story, a charity promoting creative writing for young people, with a focus on those in low-income communities.