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.

Mentee opportunities are open to writers of any age, race, gender, nationality who are resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. All mentees will avail of the relationship for free. 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 (weblink below):

• 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.
• Sample text relating to one of the below three:
  • Prose writers: Two pieces of work, approximately 2,000 words in total. One piece, up to 1,000 words, from a work you consider finished (where possible this should be from work that has been published) and a second piece, also up to 1,000 words, from your current writing project.
  • Poets: 1 published poem + 2 poems in progress, no more than 160 lines in total.
  • Children’s writers: Two pieces of work, approximately 2,000 words in total. One piece, up to 1,000 words, from a work you consider finished and a second piece, also up to 1,000 words, from your current writing project.

Only one submission per applicant is allowed. If you have received literature mentoring through this particular mentoring programme within the last three years, you are ineligible to apply. Applications for mentees will only be accepted through Submittable.

Applications will be scored through a combination of externally judged blind readings of your sample work, and a Words Ireland panel review of additional information (CVs, Statements, etc), with a respective 75%/25% split between these two.

Deadline: (NOW CLOSED) 22 July 2021