Mentor Programs
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| © Gela Kalaitzidis |
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:
The Power of Mentorship: Or How Roald Dahl Helped Me Become a Writer
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
- What: a 3-month mentorship with an agented picture book author or agent
- Who: un-agented picture book authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators, plus agented PB creators without book deals
- When: apply April 17-27
Middle Grade/YA/Adult
Author Mentor Match for MG/YA writers; currently inactive
Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program
Pitch Wars: Pitch Wars and #PitMad have stopped their program- What: a six-month mentorship for advanced MG & YA writers with two in-person conferences
- Who is eligible: SCBWI members
- When to apply: watch website for announcements
- 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: by March 31, 2023
- What: apply to a 4-month mentorship.
- Who is eligible: writers of MG, YA, adult novels
- When to apply: watch website for details
- 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
- What: apply for a MG, YA, or adult mentor
- Who is eligible: not traditionally published author over 18 years old
- When to apply: April 22-25, 2022
- What: apply for a mentorship with middle grade author Jessica Vitalis
- Who is eligible: Canadian writers
- What: apply for a year-long mentorship for a novel manuscript
- Who: aspiring authors (at least 50% BIPOC mentees will be chosen)
- When to apply: Oct 31-Nov. 6, 2023
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 15 one-year 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: Aug. 15-Sept. 15
- 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: on hiatus during pandemic
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
- What: a 6-month mentorship pairing a published Desi author with a Desi writer for one full manuscript critique
- Who: one PB, MG, and YA writer will be chosen
- When to apply: by Nov. 15, 2021
- What: apply for a four-month mentorship for your PB, CB, MG, or YA followed by an agent showcase in September 2022
- When to apply: April 7-8, 2022
- What: a mentorship program for writers who identify as Latinx
- Who: un-agented, unpublished writers of books
- When to apply: September 2022
- What: pairs writers from underrepresented groups with experienced book publishing editors (from Simon & Schuster)
- When to apply: Spring 2022
- What: work with middle grade author Sylvia Liu on a full middle grade manuscript for 2-3 months
- Who: un-agented writers with a middle grade manuscript who are members of Inked Voices
- When to apply: by June 20. Contact Emily (at) inkedvoices (dot) com for more info about details
Agent Mentorships
- What: a year long mentorship program with experienced agents to increase the promotion and retention of people in the business from historically underrepresented groups; also a summer fellowship program for college students
- When to apply: Feb. 1 deadline for Mentorship program; March 1 for summer fellowship
Other
- What: A podcast about the publishing journey