Megaphone Mentoring 2023: what is it?
Our latest round of applications closed at midnight on 31/08/2023. We’d like to thank everyone who applied. If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hestitate to get in touch. Every applicant should now have received an email acknowledgement of receipt.
In 2023-2024 we are offering 8 places on the Megaphone 1-1 mentoring scheme.
Each mentee writes a book for children or teenagers during the year, and receives
- a year of mentoring by a published children’s or YA author, feeding back on their work-in-progress.
- small group workshops focused on career skills for writers.
- at the end of the scheme in November 2024, a launch to bring the completed novels to the attention of publishers and agents.
All activity, except the launch, will be online using remote video conferencing.
How do I apply?
Applications are via a Google Form (link in button below). 2000 words of writing must be submitted.
Places are awarded on merit by a team of judges with extensive publishing experience. We’re looking for writing that has a strong chance of becoming a publishable novel in one year.
However for the first time, only in cases where applications have equal merit, we’re preferring applicants resident in Arts Council Priority Areas and applicants who have not previously been on a similar scheme. We hope this will encourage a wider range of people to apply, especially those who haven’t had the chance to be on a scheme like this before.
What does it cost?
Places cost £300 but extensive discounts, including full funding, are available and no-one is ever refused a place due to cost. You do not have to pay anything until you have been awarded a place on the scheme. For more information on how we fund mentees, please see the page of frequently asked questions or the mentoring agreement. There is no entry fee.
The mentoring scheme is online which keeps costs down and helps with accessibility. You will need access to a computer and internet so you can write and attend meetings. We plan to organise a London based launch at the end of the scheme and we will support reasonable travel costs (within England) for this.
Megaphone Community 2023: what is it?
We want to make sure that as many people as possible can get some support from us on their writing journey, so we are, as previously, offering membership of a moderated, closed forum called Megaphone Community and a year-long programme of completely FREE writer development opportunities to the first 60 people who submit an eligible application for mentoring. This includes:
- monthly author-led writing workshops sponsored by ALCS, including Tola Okogwu, Maisie Chan and Namina Forna.
- a monthly book club led by experienced editor Stephanie King where we look at what makes great writing work
- a monthly Q&A with publishing professionals to demystify publishing and help you become a more publishable writer
We don’t expect every member of Community to attend every event – you will be sent information about how to sign up for the events that interest you, closer to the time.
The first six books for the book club are planned in advance, the next six titles we read will be decided with attendees.
You can see the books here on The Colourful Bookshelf, an online shop specialising in children’s books by authors of colour, part of http://www.bookshop.org, where you can choose to support your favourite independent bookshops. (Of course you can use any bookshop you like, or find them at the library): https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/megaphone-book-club
For full details on what’s happening at Megaphone Community, including dates for workshops, download the briefing below:
For the first time, rather than planning every event from the beginning, we’re going to ask YOU what topics you want to explore in the second half of the scheme. This is because we want to provide the content that our community wants and values most.
In the case of oversubscription, priority for live events will be given to new joiners in 2023, as existing members of Megaphone Community have already had the opportunity to experience a year of events. We will record wherever possible so you can watch events at your leisure. Recordings will only be shared in our Band group.
We started Megaphone Community because we think that writers benefit from being in a community of practice. Membership of the forum does not expire. Previously members of Community have used contacts in the forum to set up peer critique groups, arrange real world meet ups and more. It’s good to be in contact with other people who are on the same journey you are!