In the late 1980s, Lott briefly worked as the editor of City Limits, a magazine based in London.

In 1996, Lott's first book, a memoir, The Scent of Dried Roses, was published and won the PEN/Ackerley Prize for autobiography.

His next work, and first novel, White City Blue, was published in 1999 and won that year's Whitbread Award for Best First Novel.

He has since published The Love Secrets of Don Juan, The Seymour Tapes and Fearless, a young adult novel for Walker Books, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize.

He has also featured prominently in the literary magazine Granta, appearing in its 21st anniversary edition as having authored one of the most significant pieces published in the previous 21 years.