Mentor Programs
© 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
The #PBChat Mentorship
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
Picture Book Rising Stars 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 Note : April 11 Virtual Meet the Mentors Panel and Q&A event. Register here
Middle Grade/YA/Adult
Author Mentor Match for MG/YA writers; currently inactive
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: watch website for announcements
Pitch Wars : Pitch Wars and #PitMad have stopped their program
AWP: Writer-to-Writer Mentorships
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
Write Team Mentorship Program What: apply to a 4-month mentorship. Who is eligible: writers of MG, YA, adult novels When to apply: watch website for details Diverse Voices DVMentor Program 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) DVDebut Program 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) Avengers of Colour 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 Rogue Writing Mentors 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 For Canadian MG Writers What : apply for a mentorship with middle grade author Jessica Vitalis Who is eligible : Canadian writers
All Levels PB-YA
SCBWI Mentor Programs
What: a variety of mentorship programs for children's authors and illustrators
Who is eligible: SCBWI members
When to apply: check individual listings
We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program
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
Children's Lit Fellows
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) #QueerKidLit Mentorship Program 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 Mentorship for Desi Writers 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 Write Mentor Summer Program 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 Latinx in Publishing Writers Mentorship Program What : a mentorship program for writers who identify as Latinx Who : un-agented, unpublished writers of books When to apply : September 2022 Editor-Writer Mentor Program What : pairs writers from underrepresented groups with experienced book publishing editors (from Simon & Schuster) When to apply : Spring 2022 Agent Mentorships Literary Agent s of Change 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 Rooting for U Pod What : A podcast about the publishing journey
