The Mentoring Scheme is our annual programme aimed at emerging writers who are looking to spend dedicated time on their craft and career development with a matched, professional writing mentor, who will help them focus on a particular project.

The programme will match 8 writers with experienced writing mentors, and at least 3 of the cohort will be from a diverse background, therefore we will particularly welcome applicants who come from an under-represented background or community, declared in their own words.

Writing East Midlands can award 8 writers a year the following support:

* 5 Mentoring sessions with an established professional writer matched to them in a writing discipline similar to their own

* 3 Peer Network meetings

* 3 workshop or masterclasses on craft and career development, to be programmed and tailored to the Momentum cohort’s needs and interests

* Free Society of Authors advisory session

* Free attendance to the 2027 Writing East Midlands Writers' Conference

The programme will last up to a year, with the mentoring sessions to be taken at a pace which suit you and your matched mentor.  Mentoring is aimed at writers who have finished at least 80% of their first draft, enabling them to step beyond the private process of writing and onto new levels. Ultimately, the scheme aims to help writers to develop their work to a publishable standard.
 

The Mentoring scheme is free for writers, and we are particularly interested in supporting writers from lesser heard communities or voices.

This may be writers who identify as being from a diverse background, from working class origins, are currently low income or are currently a carer or identity as disabled D/deaf or neurodivergent. This may also be writers who are located rurally, and have less access to arts provision or development programmes, or who feel that they are less represented within the literature and publishing world. 

Due to our dedication in removing barriers to participation, we are very broad on our interpretation on this, and welcome applicants who come from an under-represented background or community declared in their own words.  It is our aim that at least 3 of our cohort will come from such areas, and we aim to increase this as time progresses with the programme in subsequent years.  

The WEM Mentoring Scheme is very popular and attracts an increasingly high number of submissions each year. 

Unfortunately we don’t have the resources to offer individual feedback on submissions. However, in light of the growing popularity of the scheme, we’re pleased to offer a limited number of short critiques from one of our trusted East Midlands tutors to applicants who show particular promise and talent but who have not been shortlisted for the Mentoring at this time.
 

Submission Guidelines We will require writers to develop a specific piece of work-in-progress. This work-in-progress should have a first draft that is at least 80% completed. The mentor will offer constructive criticism and support in a number of sessions to help take the work forward. This scheme would best suit emerging writers able to display real commitment. The mentoring scheme is also available for established writers in one form who are looking to develop their writing in different forms.
 

Eligibility Writers must be a resident in the East Midlands at the time of application and intend to continue to live in the region throughout the mentoring period. Writers will not be accepted for the service more than once in any three-year period. The scheme will be open to published or unpublished writers and includes submissions of prose, poetry, spoken word, play / scriptwriting, and creative non-fiction (including life-writing). This scheme is not suitable for applicants who are currently in education studying towards a creative writing related qualification. Applicants must be over 18 years of age.
 

At least 3 of the Mentoring Cohort appointed will identify as being from a diverse background, therefore we will particularly welcome applicants who come from an under-represented background or community declared in their own words.

To Apply Applications should include a sample of the work in question of up to 1,500 consecutive words and a short one page synopsis. Please submit the beginning of your piece if you are submitting a novel or radio play etc. You can also submit a number of videos, or links to videos, to a maximum of 15 minutes, if you would like to submit spoken word. Please submit the work and synopsis on one document and please do not send additional attachments other than the ‘Reasons for Applying’ accompanying document. For poetry please submit 6 poems, to a maximum of 60 lines per poem. Please submit all poems on one word document. For scripts, we recommend sending 15 pages, along with a one-page synopsis.
 

Please ensure that all references to your name or contact details are removed from both uploaded documents as submissions are read anonymously.

Key Dates

Deadline for submissions: 9th October 2025

Interviews – TBC November
 

If you require any assistance with your application, or would like to discuss the Mentoring programme further or any accessibility needs, please contact So on Progs@writingeastmidlands.co.uk 

Whether you're looking for work opportunities as a Writer in Residence for one of our community projects, volunteering or work experience, or a position facilitating one of our young writers' groups, fill out this form and put yourself on our radar.

We'd love to hear about your areas of interest. Once you've filled out the form, and submitted your CV and cover letter, we'll be in touch when opportunities become available.

The Open Call will remain open throughout the year to applications for our work with adults. When work becomes available we think will be of relevance to you, we will be in touch to let you know and invite you to apply.

For more information on what we do, visit our website:

https://writingeastmidlands.co.uk/