Programs and Services

» Mentorship Program

Click Here For Application Guidelines

About the Program 

The Saskatchewan Writers' Guild mentorship program allows developing writers (the apprentices) to work in a supportive environment under the guidance of professional writers (the mentors). The mentor provides the apprentice with one-on-one instruction (not editorial services) in the craft of creative writing.

How Does The Program Work? 

The program is open to writers in all genres and is tailored to the apprentice's individual needs. The pairs are in weekly contact and can communicate through E-mail, phone, and face-to-face meetings. When an apprentice and mentor do not live in the same community, at least one face-to-face meeting is required (to take place within the first two weeks of the program).

Because the focus of the program is on craft development, apprentices should not expect to have a completed manuscript by the end of the program (although that sometimes occurs). Sometimes apprentices focus only on a limited section of their work in order to go deeper into it.

Also, because the program will focus on the apprentices' development of their craft, it's possible that apprentices may not produce a significant amount of new work during the mentorship, but will instead work with previously written material.

At the end of the program, the apprentices give a public reading of their work. 

When Does The Program Run?

The program runs from January—April each year (this is contingent upon receipt of funding each year).

Indigenous Mentorship program run dates vary.

Who Can Apply To Be An Apprentice?

Eligible applicants will meet the following criteria:

• they will have a body of work of sufficient quality to benefit from the program
• they will have work in progress when they apply
• they will not have had a book published (or have had a book-length manuscript accepted for publication) in the genre in which they wish to apprentice
• they will have demonstrated their commitment to writing by having participated in some form of formal or informal professional development (e.g. workshops, Manuscript Evaluation Service, working with a Writer-In-Residence)
• they will be free to devote a significant amount of time to the program: a minimum of 20-25 hours per month; some past participants have spent up to 40 hours per month. As this program offers a prized and rare opportunity for development as a writer, past participants have recommended that future participants consider arranging their schedules so they can devote as much time as possible to it. Some previous apprentices have taken time off work or reduced their working hours in order to do so.
• they will be Saskatchewan residents 19 years of age or older

Who Can Apply To Be a Mentor?

Mentors are required to have the following qualifications:

• the possession of a significant body of published work
• experience as a teacher, workshop leader, mentor, writer in residence, or editor
• the ability to commit time (15-20 hours per month) during the mentorship period
• Saskatchewan residency

Application Deadline

Applications must be postmarked by the last Friday in September (in 2018, October 1).

Application Information

The application information for both apprentices and mentors can be found here. 

Potential applicants are encouraged to wait until the call for applications is issued each year before submitting their application to ensure that their applications are complete.

The call for applications will be found each year on the Guild home page beginning in late-July.

For more information, please contact:
Yolanda Hansen, Program Manager
T: 306.791.7743
E: programs@skwriter.com

This program is supported by generous funding by the Canada Council for the Arts.