Mentor Programme

typewriter-751566_1280The NZ Society of Authors mentorship programme is for writers and comic book / graphic novelists who want professional development, a safe space to discuss their work, intellectual community, role models, accountability and substantive feedback. It is designed to give beginning or emerging writers and graphic novelists who demonstrate potential and commitment the opportunity to work closely with an experienced writer or graphic novelist as their mentor in order to hone their writing and illustration skills and, in the process, take a piece of work from the early stages to a polished manuscript with potential for publication.

This programme is open to financial members of the NZSA. There are 12 full and 2 half mentorships available in 2017. The two half mentorships are for the comic book writers / graphic novelists. Mentors dedicate 25 hours of their time to a full mentorship and 12.5 hours to a half mentorship. Each mentorship spans a 7 – 8 month period which starts in April when the match is confirmed and ends in November of that year.

Applications for 2018 programme are open from 1 December 2017 to 1 Feb 2018

To apply to be part of this programme you will need to fill out the online application form and mail printed copies of your application to NZSA office. Leave enough time for physical copies of your application to arrive at the NZSA PO Box!

More info

This programme is made possible thanks to support from Creative New Zealand

 

StartWrite Writing Sample and Synopsis Assessment Programme

once-upon-a-time-719174_optThe NZSA StartWrite Writing Sample and Synopsis Assessment Service is an excellent opportunity for writers and comic / graphic novelists who want to get an appraisal for part of a manuscript. Writers can send in a piece of writing, up to 6,000 words (for poetry up to 24 pages), and a one page synopsis. Comic / Graphic novelists should send in a synopsis and up to ten pages of finished work. The manuscripts are appraised by experienced authors and assessors in a one to two page report. They will also answer up to three specific questions that the writer may submit with the chapter and synopsis.

StartWrite offers writers a great opportunity to develop style and direction for a project in the early stages of development. The report comments on the writer’s technical ability, suggestions for improvement and advice on the next step, encouraging innnovation and exploration of ideas and techniques.

Subsidised submissions open in 26 January 2018. Unsubsidised StartWrite assessments are available.

  • Subsidised StartWrite Assessment programme – available to NZSA members only

  • Unsubsidised StartWrite Assessment programme – open to all genres and all writers (you do not have to be an NZSA member to access this)

For more information on getting a StartWrite Assessment: office@nzauthors.org.nz

Applications for the NZSA StartWrite Programme are available as online forms. Fill out the online form then print out your application from the email sent to you. You can then send in the printed version along with your supporting documentation to the NZSA National Office: StartWrite service, NZ Society of Authors, PO Box 7701, Wellesley St, AUCKLAND 1141

This programme is made possible thanks to support from Creative New Zealand

 

NZSA Youth Mentor Programme

NZSA Mentorship Programme 2016

With the support of Creative New Zealand, we offer a Youth Mentor programme aimed at senior secondary school students.

The aims are to nurture, encourage, inspire and develop emerging writers with the support of established authors through the mentoring process

There are three 12.5 hour mentorships available nationwide. Students will be matched with an experienced YA writer.

 

Applications for this programme are open from 7 Feb to 5 April 2018

For more information on the Youth Mentor Programme and for the link to the application form:

  • Youth Mentor Programme Information 2018
  • Youth Mentee Guidelines
  • Youth Mentor Programme Application Form 2018
  • List of Youth Mentors 2018

Here’s what one of our Youth mentees had to say about their mentorship

‘The relationship and communication with my mentor was amazing. All the goals I set were personally settled upon which allowed for great project development and personal achievement’.

This programme is made possible thanks to support from Creative New Zealand

 

CompleteMS Manuscript Assessment Programme

Finished_manuscript - 200X133This programme is supported by Creative New Zealand and is open to financial members of the NZSA.

The aim of the programme is to provide writers with that essential critical feedback on an advanced work, moving it closer to publication.  Manuscripts should be at 2nd or 3rd draft and can be poetry, fiction, short fiction or non-fiction; the emphasis is on a completed work that the writer feels requires the objective view of an experienced assessor who can provide constructive critiquing and suggestions for improvement and refinement. 13 CompleteMS assessments available for 2016.

Applications for 2018 programme open 1 March  2018 and need to be received as hard copy at NZSA office by 4pm 28 May 2018.

Applications for the NZSA CompleteMS Programme are now available as online forms. You need to fill out the online form then print out your application from the email sent to you. You can then send in the printed version along with your supporting documentation to the NZSA National Office.

Here’s what two of our writers had to say about their CompleteMS assessment.

“An assessment can pick up a manuscript, give it a shake-up and a new eye and give a writer a different direction and a boost for their work.”

“If any writer is harbouring doubts about where to take his/her manuscript, the CompleteMS programme provides a handy compass.”

This programme is made possible thanks to support from Creative New Zealand

Pictures and profiles of CompleteMS recipients of 2016

Pictures and profiles of CompleteMS recipients of 2017