The scheme matches successful applicants with sympathetic professional writers who will guide them through their writing projects, whether that’s a novel, collection of poems or stories, spoken word, creative non-fiction, or scripts for radio, stage and screen.

The scheme is free to apply for but highly competitive. They are able to award mentoring places to two writers each year. If you’re an emerging writer, or an established writer who’s looking to work in a different genre or discipline, the mentoring scheme might be the ideal opportunity for you to get the guidance you need.

As well as these places, Writing East Midlands also provide career development workshops, taught by the brilliant Cathy Grindrod, to the shortlisted writers. They will also offer a number of short critiques through their Writing School tutors to applicants who show promise in their work but haven’t been shortlisted.

Deadline

11th November, 2018

Eligibility

Writers must be resident in the East Midlands at the time of application and who will continue to live in the region throughout the mentoring period.

Writers will not be accepted for the service more than once in any three-year period.

The scheme will be open to published or unpublished writers.

This scheme is open to submissions of prose, poetry, creative non-fiction (including life-writing) and scripts for radio, stage and screen.

Writing East Midlands decisions will be based on a balance of factors:

• The literary quality of the work submitted
• The probability of publication by a bona fide publisher (Preference will therefore be shown to writers who are able to provide evidence of genuine publisher or agent interest in their work.)
• The need to encourage a range and diversity of new writing from the East Midlands

Guidelines

These relationships will be for an agreed periods of time, between 6 – 12 months, and will focus on developing the work of writers who have reached a critical point, enabling them to step beyond the private process of writing and onto new levels. Ultimately, the scheme aims to help writers to develop their work to a publishable standard.

They will require writers to develop a specific piece of work-in-progress. The mentor will offer constructive criticism and support in a number of sessions to help take the work forward.

All shortlisted applicants will be required to attend a Creative Development Planning workshop (free of charge) to identify further areas of focus. This will be held in early January, 2019 (date TBC).

This scheme would best suit emerging writers able to display real commitment. The mentoring scheme is also available for established writers in one form who are looking to develop their writing in different forms.

Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend a Creative Professional Development workshop (date and location to be confirmed). Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview and, should the applicant be successful, a mentor will be matched with an established writer. Other areas where Writing East Midlands can support the unsuccessful shortlisted applicants will be identified during the selection process.

For information on submitting and to apply please go to http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/services/mentoring/