Hi. I am considering a creative course with the London School of Journalism. Has anyone had any experience with this school? Also the Literary Consultancy offers a mentoring scheme, it is quite expensive. Are schemes of this sort worth it, and if so do you know of anything less expensive?

Marlo

It depends on what you require - is there a specific area of writing you are interested in or are you still looking for a specialization? Do you already have a novel in production and a good grounding in the basics?

Mentoring schemes are best suited for writers who are in the middle of a project and require guidance as they write, rather than as a general CW course.


- NaomiM

Hi,
It depends where you live. Arts Training Central run a great- and free- mentoring scheme for arts practitioners based in the East Midlands.

Sorry to but in.
Antartic would you have a contact number for the arts training central or maybe an email address.
Thanking you in anticipation.

Foundit

A quick google brought up this:

http://www.artstrainingcentral.co.uk/

Nik

This just popped into my in box. I'm not going, but someone might find it useful.


Writers, Mentoring and Professional Development


Mentoring for and by writers is recognized increasingly within the sector as a highly effective tool for professional development. Mentoring can also offer a useful source of income for established writers.

The New Writing Partnership, in association with New Writing North, Literature Training and the National Association of Literature Development, is offering an afternoon of discussion and debate on the value and opportunity offered through the mentoring relationship for both mentors and mentees, followed by a networking event where you will be able to meet other writers and literature workers.

Tickets include a £5 discount on a new book produced by New Writing North, The Write Guide: Mentoring and an invitation to the networking event where drinks and canapés will be served.

Places are limited and are going fast, so if you think this event is for you, get in touch with us to reserve a place as soon as you can!



Full details follow:

Only the Lonely? Mentoring for Writers

Is mentoring for me? Explore the opportunities offered by mentoring, both as a mentor and a mentee.

In association with New Writing North

Saturday October 6th The Maids Head Hotel, Tombland, Norwich.

2.00pm to 5.30pm Tickets £10.00

2.00- 3.30pm Panel Discussion: featuring Claire Malcolm, Director of New Writing North, Anne Caldwell, Professional development manager, National Association for Literature Development, and novelist, Royal Literary Fund and Escalator mentor, Jill Dawson.

Join Claire, Anne and Jill for a discussion about the benefits of mentoring and hear about their experiences of managing schemes and being a mentor. Hear the panel’s views on when is an appropriate time for a writer to embark upon a mentoring scheme, about how mentors are selected, and the ways in which mentoring schemes can be funded. This panel discussion will be followed by workshops for mentors and mentees.

4.00- 5.30 Workshop for mentors: with Jill Dawson

What’s in it for you
Setting yourself up as a mentor
Preparing for your sessions
The sessions
Questions


4.00-5.30 Workshop for mentees: with Claire Malcolm

What is mentoring and is it for you?
What are the other options?
How do I get started?
What might mentoring lead to?
Questions


5.45- 7.30 Networking Event

Join invited guests from the regional literary world, and national industry professionals for drinks and networking.

Tickets £10 available from The New Writing Partnership;

Email info@newwritingpartnership.org.uk, or call 01603 877177 to book your place.

This entitles you to a £5.00 discount on the cost of New Writing North’s publication, The Write Guide: Mentoring, which provides advice for writers and arts professionals on establishing and monitoring successful mentoring schemes.

Written by experienced mentors Sara Maitland and Martin Goodman, The Write Guide: Mentoring provides a single resource on mentoring for prospective mentors, emerging writers and arts development professionals. It includes:

· case studies on previous mentoring schemes

· interviews with experienced mentors

· guidelines on how to recruit mentors and select appropriate mentees

· funding mentoring schemes

· troubleshooting

· establishing non-traditional mentoring schemes (eg. distance learning, electronic mentoring)

· a sample mentoring contract

The book is designed to provide a step by step guide for writers at all stages of development, and for arts professionals who might be engaged in setting up such schemes. It provides a clear framework for establishing new schemes and explore the benefits of mentoring for both the mentee and the mentor. www.newwritingnorth.com/mentoring

Darn it, can't make it, but the book sounds useful, many thanks for posting that, Juliet

Emma