Mentor Programs
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| © Emilie Boon |
One of best ways to learn your craft and the business of children's writing is to get a mentor. You can network and find mentors individually, or apply to organized programs. Here are several highly recommended mentorship programs:
Picture Books
- What: a 3-month mentorship with a traditionally published picture book author
- Who is eligible: un-agented, not previously published, not under contract, and not been mentored in the past year
Middle Grade/YA/Adult
Author Mentor Match
- What: a mentorship to revise a completed MG or YA manuscript with agented/published MG/YA authors
- Who is eligible: un-agented & unpublished MG/YA writers
- When to apply: AMM Round 9 opens January 2021 (sign up for the newsletter for news)
Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program
- What: a six-month mentorship for advanced MG & YA writers with two in-person conferences
- Who is eligible: SCBWI members
- When to apply: by Jan. 31, 2021
Pitch Wars
- What: apply for a mentorship to polish your completed, full-length MG, YA, or adult manuscript with a published author to prepare for an agent showcase
- Who is eligible: un-agented & unpublished writers
- When to apply: Sept. 25-30, 2021
- What: matches emerging writers and published authors for a three-month series of modules on topics such as craft, revision, publishing, and the writing life
- Who is eligible: members of AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs)
- When to apply: open twice a year, in August 1-12, 2020 & January
- What: apply to a 4-month mentorship beginning March 20, 2021. Apply to a weighted lottery to participate in #WTPitch, a Twitter pitch event, from which the mentors will invite submissions
- Who is eligible: writers of MG, YA, adult novels
- When to apply: by Dec. 1, 2020
- What: a 6-month mentorship programs beginning June 1, 2021 for your WIP to revise and prepare for querying
- Who is eligible: authors and illustrators who identify as marginalized book creator
- When to apply: May 1 (apply to be a mentor April 1-15)
- What: a mentorship for authors debuting between June and Dec. 2021
- Who is eligible: authors/illustrators identifying as marginalized book creator
- When to apply: May 1 (apply to be a mentor April 1-15)
- What: apply to a mentor for your MG, YA, or adult manuscript
- Who is eligible: un-agented authors of color who are ready to query
- When to apply: between August 26-30, 2021
All Levels PB-YA
- What: a variety of mentorship programs for children's authors and illustrators
- Who is eligible: SCBWI members
- When to apply: check individual listings
- What: apply for one of 16 mentorships with award-winning book creators (PB text, illustration, MG, YA)
- Who is eligible: children's writers or illustrators from diverse backgrounds
- When to apply: Oct 1-31, 2021
- What: a year-long paid customized course for PB, MG, YA writers. Includes one-on-one mentorship and two in person conferences
- When to apply: by Nov. 15, 2018
Be Your Own Mentor (a website providing resources on revising, industry, craft)
- What: a three-month mentorship for PB, MG, YA pre-published writers and/or illustrators
- Who is eligible: traditionally unpublished LGBTQ+ writers & illustrators
- When to apply: June 1-15, 2021