Year-round mentorship program

Byron Writers Festival year-round mentorships are paid services available to members throughout the year who are seeking a professional mentor to assist with the development of their work.

We have compiled a list of locally-based writers of various genres and categories, (both fiction and non-fiction), as well as professional editors, who are willing to act as mentor to a developing or emerging writer.

Mentorships provide emerging writers with a chance to develop their writing and they also provide employment opportunities for writing professionals living in and beyond the area. The mentorship program is therefore designed as a fee-for-service scheme and is available only to members.

Mentorships, as distinct from manuscript assessment or editing services, provide a two-way relationship where writers are able to be nurtured and to ask questions, seek feedback,  and gain industry-related advice.

Is it for me?

A mentorship would be most beneficial to writers who:

• have a well developed manuscript and would like feedback from a professional who is working in their area of interest
• have a long term commitment to writing and the development of their craft and are ready to take advice and make changes to their work
• have already developed their work through writers’ groups, or by attending workshops or classes on writing
• have specific areas of their work that they want to address such as character development, structure, plot, writing for publication etc.
• have done their research into the genre in which they are writing and are having difficulty bringing their work to the word lengths or standards required for that genre, or
• have published already and are working on a project in a new genre.

Mentorship Fees

Tier 1 – Firsthand Feedback

Cost: $385 (inc gst)

Includes:

• The first 20 pages + 300 word synopsis (5000)
• Manuscripts should be double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font
• Equates to 3 hours work for mentor (2 hours reading / assessment / feedback preparation; 1 hour feedback meeting or written report if preferred by mentee)

Tier 2 – First 40 Pages

Cost: $605 (inc gst)

Includes:

• The first 40 pages + 300 word synopsis (10,000)
• Manuscripts should be double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font
• Equates to 5 hours work for mentor (3 hours reading / assessment; 1 hour feedback preparation; 1 hour feedback meeting or written report if preferred by mentee)

Tier 3 – First 80 Pages

Cost: $1045 (inc gst)

Includes:

• The first 80 pages + 300 word synopsis (20,000)
• Manuscripts should be double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font
• Equates to 9 hours work for mentor (6 hours reading / assessment; 1 hour feedback preparation; 2 hour feedback meeting or written report if preferred by mentee)

How to apply

Fill out the application form here. A member of our team will get back to you regarding your options.

Please contact us for more information.

Call +61 2 6685 5115 or email [email protected]