Mentoring Bursary
Mentoring Bursary
Mentoring Bursary for Under-Represented Writers
With thanks to a generous donation from a previous mentee, we’re delighted to offer a fully-funded block of 5 hours of mentoring for an under-represented writer.
About the bursary
Mentoring is a bespoke service, designed to be flexible and fit with the different needs and writing stages of each author who contacts us. You could spend your mentoring hours with anything from face-to-face discussions about your ideas, to written feedback on sections of your writing, to a mixture of the two.
These mentoring hours will be with the brilliant Tom Witcomb. Tom has worked as both a literary agent and Big-Five commissioning editor and has extensive experience in helping writers to elevate their work.
What’s included?
If successful, you’ll have 12 months to use your 5 hours. Any time it takes for Tom to read and review your work will be deducted from your 5 hours, so we wouldn’t recommend this bursary if you are hoping for a mentor to read an entire draft of your manuscript. If you’re hoping for coaching and feedback while working on your manuscript, help with a plotting pitfall, or even advice on your next steps with querying, mentoring could be a great option for you.
Applications are open
Bursary applications are now open.
Bursary deadline: 31st July 2024
Successful applicants will be contacted by: 30th August 2024
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for 5 hours of mentoring via our bursary, you must:
- Not be published and/or represented by a literary agent – we want to help those who haven’t already taken a step on the publishing ladder.
- Be an under-represented writer or 18-25 years old.
We describe an under-represented writer as one or more of the following:
- Having a low household income.
- Being black, Asian or from a minority group.
- Being disabled.
- Being a primary carer.
- Being an ex-offender.
- Other under-represented background.
Apply Now
Applications are reviewed by our team. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission by the 30th of August 2024.
Frequently asked
questions
What is the deadline for bursary applications?
The deadline for the Mentoring Bursary is 23.59 BST on Wednesday 31st July 2024. Bursary applications submitted after this time will not be accepted.
Do I need to be a Premium Member to apply for the bursary?
No, you do not need to be a Premium Member to apply for this bursary. All writers are welcome to apply, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set out above.
How will I find out if my bursary application has been successful?
Bursary applicants will receive notification via email by Friday 30th August 2024. For the winner, this email will confirm the successful bursary and what it covers, and details on how to get started with mentoring. If you aren’t successful, we encourage you to check out our Bursaries page for future opportunities.
If successful, how long will I have to use my 5 hours of mentoring?
Your 5 hours of mentoring will need to be used within 12 months of confirmation. This expiry date will be confirmed with you via email.
Any extensions to these expiry dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and we will only grant these extensions with your mentor’s approval.
To request an extension, you should send a written request to both your mentor and Jericho Writers (mentoring@jerichowriters.com).
If successful, how can I spend my 5 hours of mentoring?
We’ll put you directly in touch with your mentor, Tom Witcomb, so that you can discuss your plans for mentoring and arrange your sessions.
Mentoring is a bespoke service, designed to be flexible and fit with the different needs and writing stages of each author who contacts us. You could spend your mentoring hours with anything from face-to-face discussions about your ideas, to written feedback on sections of your writing, to a mixture of the two. We’ve worked with writers of all stages, from those at the planning stage to those getting ready to query agents.
Any time it takes for Tom to read and review your work will be deducted from your 5 hours, so we wouldn’t recommend this bursary if you are hoping for a mentor to read an entire draft manuscript.
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