Lit:Up Applications to Free Mentorship Programme Now Open
Publishing is a competitive industry. So, when you’re just starting out, how do you get to the front of the line and get noticed?
Lit:Up, our brand new mentorship programme offers aspiring writers, agents, journalists and publishing professionals the opportunity to work with industry professionals, who’ll provide guidance, 1-2-1 consultation on their work, and career advice.
See below for more details on the programme, and to find out how your work could be published by us.
What are we doing?
From July 2020 we’ll be running a three-month mentorship programme for five talented writers – fiction or non-fiction – budding agents, fledging industry journalists or wannabe publishers…
The mentorship will be run remotely and will include five consultation sessions, with review, feedback and email correspondence in between each session.
Successful mentees will be matched with a suitable mentor for their needs and work. You’ll have the chance to agree clear progress objectives and targets to work towards, and the Lit Platform team will be there to support you and help make sure the mentorship runs smoothly.
Lit:Up will run from 15 July – 15 October 2020, culminating in a celebration event (hopefully in person!) with mentors and mentees. At this event we plan to showcase the work that you create with your mentor.
Is it for me?
You could be a fiction writer, a poet, a non-fiction writer, a zine producer, a blogger, an editorial assistant, a journalist with a passion for books, a future literary agent, or a publisher – but above all, you’re brimming with potential and looking to learn.
Lit:Up is currently open to UK residents aged 18+, who do not have a literary agent, book deal or publisher in place, and are yet to have their work published. In the case of agents and publishers, the scheme is open to applicants at an early stage in either activity or with an aspiration to move into that profession.
How do I apply?
- Provide a written application, outlining what you would like to achieve with your career and / or projects, and how you think the mentorship might help you reach those goals. Please try to keep this to one A4 page.
- Send us a creative submission. This can be in a format that you feel shows your talent and that you are most comfortable with. For example, are you a fiction writer? Send us a short story or an extract from a story. Are you a journalist, or blogger? Send us an article. Are you a publisher? Share a pamphlet, a sample of your best work or an idea you’d like to bring to life. Are you a future agent? Video record a reading recommendation or hot tip, or tell us what you love about literature. If you’re sending in fiction or another piece of writing aim for no more than 2,000 words.
Please bear in mind that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to respond to everyone with feedback.
Apply by emailing The Lit Platform creative producer, Hazel Beevers, [email protected] before the deadline of midnight on Sunday 5th July
The application window runs until midnight on Sunday 5th July. Successful applicants will be notified and connected with their mentor by 10th July 2020.
About The Lit Platform
The Lit Platform exists to push publishing possibilities and act as a creative bridge for new writing talent.
From our head-tilting quarterly journal, to our workshops and events, everything we do is designed to offer insight, opportunity and access for the individuals and businesses interested in shaping what publishing means today and tomorrow.