National mentoring programme for writers

Are you an aspiring/emerging writer looking for some guidance to help get your work published? Apply now for the Words Ireland national mentoring programme, supported by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin City of Literature, in association with a number of other organisations.

Words Ireland is initiating twenty-nine literature mentoring relationships to begin in September 2021. Closing date for applications is noon, Thursday 22 July, 2021. The opportunity is available to writers of: literary fiction, creative non-fiction, children’s / YA fiction, poetry. 

Writers from all thirty-two counties can apply. Twenty-three of the twenty-nine mentorships are made possible thanks to the generous support of fifteen different arts offices, arts centres, libraries and literature organisations. 

Five mentorships are available to writers living in ‘all other counties’ thanks to funding from the Arts Council, who also make the administration of the National Mentoring Programme viable.

Mentors are nominated by selected mentees from Words Ireland’s growing panel of experienced, professional writers.

This opportunity is specifically for:

• emerging writers who can demonstrate a commitment to writing e.g. creative writing training or courses undertaken, journal publications, awards or notable mentions, or other recognisable achievements.
• Writers who have published one or two books and who feel they could benefit from further professional guidance and feedback on their work-in-progress.
• Writers with 3+ book publications who have begun writing in a form in which they have yet to publish a book.

Each mentorship consists of four meetings with an experienced writer over a period of approximately 6–8 months. The mentor will read your work in advance of each meeting, and will give feedback and advice at each meeting. They may also provide professional information and advice.

There is no fee for application. Words Ireland actively encourages applications from writers from diverse social, economic or cultural backgrounds.

How To Apply

Applicants are asked to submit the following information through Submittable :

A Statement of Intent outlining what project you will focus on during the mentoring process (max 200 words)
A Statement outlining your writing style, wider literary interests, and/or books or writers you have an affinity with (100 words max)
A Statement of Benefit outlining why and how you think you’ll benefit from mentoring (max 200 words)
A writing CV listing any previous publications, writing experience, awards or recognition, creative writing classes or mentoring.
More details here.