Writing & Illustrator Mentorships
If we're missing a name or you'd like to be included in this list, please use the form at the bottom of the main resources page.
Author Mentor Match
Author Mentor Match (AMM) pairs aspiring writers with completed manuscripts with experienced authors for mentorship. Currently we offer mentorships for middle grade, young adult, and adult manuscripts.
DVDebut Mentorship
A mentorship program for debuting, marginalized book creators who are looking to survive their debut year. Mentors are seasoned authors who have been through it all before and are willing to guide a new author through the highs and lows of this experience with the hope of retention and expansion of our community.
DVmentor
The DVinc Mentorship Program is a 6-month period (June 1 - December 1) during which published and agented book creators who identify as marginalized will volunteer to mentor other self-identifying, un-agented and marginalized book creators, one-on-one. The purpose of the mentorship program would be to assist emerging book creators by providing information and advice with the goal of becoming agented and traditionally published. Mentorship would include: editorial feedback, querying guidance, and pitch help (if applicable) for participation in October’s #DVpit.
Las Musas Hermanas Mentorship
Las Hermanas is a selection-based mentorship program for traditionally unpublished Latinx kidlit writers and illustrators. It will connect unpublished creatives with current Musas and Madrinas. Mentees will benefit from the craft and industry experience of their mentor and will have the opportunity to ask for publishing/marketing related advice and/or receive help with a specific manuscript.
Latinx in Publishing - Writers Mentorship Program
The Latinx in Publishing Writers Mentorship Program is a volunteer-based initiative that offers the opportunity for unpublished and/or unagented writers who identify as Latinx (mentees) to strengthen their craft, gain first-hand industry knowledge, and expand their professional connections through work with experienced published authors (mentors).
Reese's Book Club Writing Fellowship
Powered by The Readership, LitUp will provide five emerging writers with an all-expenses-paid retreat, a three-month mentorship with a published author, and marketing support from Reese’s Book Club.
Round Table Mentorship
A mentorship program that focuses on content rather than the rat race of publishing, putting people, not their accolades, above all. The program is an application-only process which will ensure at least 50% of mentees and mentors are People of Color. Each applicant will apply to their genre, rather than to specific mentors; that way, the process is not about writerly accolades. Each of our mentors is highly qualified and experienced in writing, and all can help mentees professionally in the publishing landscape.
The Word Editor-Writer Mentorship
The Editor-Writer Mentorship pairs upcoming writers from underrepresented groups* with experienced book publishing editors! Our Editor Mentors provide substantive feedback to help raise a strong manuscript to its best position for submission to potential agents and editors. This is an opportunity to learn from the knowledge of experienced acquiring editors. This program is free of cost due to the generosity of our volunteer editors.
We Need Diverse Books - Mentorships (Multiple)
WNDB strives to create a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. To reach this goal, we've created programs to celebrate diverse books, to mentor diverse writers and illustrators, to support diverse publishing professionals, and to provide books to classrooms nationwide.
Write Team Mentorship Program
WTMP offers two programs in alternating years: a mentorship program and an open inbox. As this program is focused on building networks, there will also be events for participants to help with queries, critiques, and opening pages!
Author Mentor Match (AMM) pairs aspiring writers with completed manuscripts with experienced authors for mentorship. Currently we offer mentorships for middle grade, young adult, and adult manuscripts.
DVDebut Mentorship
A mentorship program for debuting, marginalized book creators who are looking to survive their debut year. Mentors are seasoned authors who have been through it all before and are willing to guide a new author through the highs and lows of this experience with the hope of retention and expansion of our community.
DVmentor
The DVinc Mentorship Program is a 6-month period (June 1 - December 1) during which published and agented book creators who identify as marginalized will volunteer to mentor other self-identifying, un-agented and marginalized book creators, one-on-one. The purpose of the mentorship program would be to assist emerging book creators by providing information and advice with the goal of becoming agented and traditionally published. Mentorship would include: editorial feedback, querying guidance, and pitch help (if applicable) for participation in October’s #DVpit.
Las Musas Hermanas Mentorship
Las Hermanas is a selection-based mentorship program for traditionally unpublished Latinx kidlit writers and illustrators. It will connect unpublished creatives with current Musas and Madrinas. Mentees will benefit from the craft and industry experience of their mentor and will have the opportunity to ask for publishing/marketing related advice and/or receive help with a specific manuscript.
Latinx in Publishing - Writers Mentorship Program
The Latinx in Publishing Writers Mentorship Program is a volunteer-based initiative that offers the opportunity for unpublished and/or unagented writers who identify as Latinx (mentees) to strengthen their craft, gain first-hand industry knowledge, and expand their professional connections through work with experienced published authors (mentors).
Reese's Book Club Writing Fellowship
Powered by The Readership, LitUp will provide five emerging writers with an all-expenses-paid retreat, a three-month mentorship with a published author, and marketing support from Reese’s Book Club.
Round Table Mentorship
A mentorship program that focuses on content rather than the rat race of publishing, putting people, not their accolades, above all. The program is an application-only process which will ensure at least 50% of mentees and mentors are People of Color. Each applicant will apply to their genre, rather than to specific mentors; that way, the process is not about writerly accolades. Each of our mentors is highly qualified and experienced in writing, and all can help mentees professionally in the publishing landscape.
The Word Editor-Writer Mentorship
The Editor-Writer Mentorship pairs upcoming writers from underrepresented groups* with experienced book publishing editors! Our Editor Mentors provide substantive feedback to help raise a strong manuscript to its best position for submission to potential agents and editors. This is an opportunity to learn from the knowledge of experienced acquiring editors. This program is free of cost due to the generosity of our volunteer editors.
We Need Diverse Books - Mentorships (Multiple)
WNDB strives to create a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. To reach this goal, we've created programs to celebrate diverse books, to mentor diverse writers and illustrators, to support diverse publishing professionals, and to provide books to classrooms nationwide.
Write Team Mentorship Program
WTMP offers two programs in alternating years: a mentorship program and an open inbox. As this program is focused on building networks, there will also be events for participants to help with queries, critiques, and opening pages!