Application Process:

Complete Application Questionnaire.

We are very excited to offer a limited enrollment one-on-one 6-Month Novel Mentorship Program with Meg Eden Kuyatt, author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, including the young adult novel “Post-High School Reality Quest” and the middle grade novel in verse “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023). She is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and her work is published or forthcoming in magazines including Writer’s Digest, Prairie Schooner, The Rumpus, Poetry Northwest, Crab Orchard Review, RHINO and CV2. She received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland College Park, and has taught creative writing at a range of places, including Anne Arundel Community College, Southern New Hampshire University online, University of Maryland College Park, MTSU Write, Eckleburg Workshops, and The Writer's Center in Bethesda since 2013.

This is an immersive one-on-one course designed to encourage hardworking kidlit writers, and identify the next steps for their individual project (writing, revision, querying agents, publication, etc). 

The ideal applicant should be a writer seriously interested in writing middle grade or young adult novels, who has started or completed a manuscript in their given age category. They should be willing and interested in actively reading books in their age category that have been published within the past five years, and have a spirit of willingness to receive and consider feedback to make their work as strong as it can be. While applicants of all experience levels are welcome, this program is best for writers who have been submitting their work to agents and publishers and received positive feedback, but are not sure how to take their work to the next level, or writers who have completed projects in the past but feel stuck or unsure about their new project. Applicants should have a goal for the 6-Month program when applying.

Whether you are still working on your idea or are well into writing it, this mentorship will meet you where you are, and motivate and inspire both beginning and advanced kidlit novelists. Writers accepted into the program will already have a basic knowledge of the tools and craft of writing fiction and are looking for an intensive experience without the cost of a graduate program. Interested applicants will understand that growth in craft requires critique, consistent work, and an eagerness to grow. Accepted applicants will agree to be punctual in submission of work. This is in fairness to Meg, the other students in the course, and themselves.

How It Works:

-Upon acceptance into the mentorship program, you will schedule an initial one-on-one call with Meg to discuss your project and goals, allowing Meg to get a sense of your previous experience and preferences around feedback. Together, you’ll create a work plan for the next six months. This is largely a text-based mentorship, with periodic one-on-one check-ins, ideal for writers who need a flexible, accommodating program.

-Revision will be a key part of the mentorship. Writers will be expected to revise at least once over the 6-month mentorship program. The bulk of the mentorship will consist of Meg giving personalized feedback and advice within the manuscript itself, as well as via follow-up emails that will develop organically. Critique will include feedback on what’s working well and what could be clarified or improved, particularly focused on character, plot, voice, dialogue, POV, and market/industry perspective. Meg will recommend additional resources that she thinks will benefit the writer.

-The number of pages due for each packet will depend on the writer and their project, and will be worked out in the initial conversation. With each packet submission, you will also send an informal reflection where you can note areas of concern and victory during that month, as well as any questions you may want Meg to particularly focus on addressing. Sharing your own sense of victory is as important as sharing the areas of challenge.

This Six-Month Mentorship Consists of the Following:

• One-on-one check-in via zoom or email, up to once a month 
• Personalized calendar for achieving your project goals
• Accountability
• Access to mentor via email for six months
• Five critiques of new pages, including line edits and bigger-picture notes and questions (done in Microsoft Word using Track Changes)
• Personalized readings and assignments based on your specific development needs
• If applicable, access to optional networking (via email or zoom) with other mentees in the program

Mentor’s Input:

• Emails that discuss individual monthly goals and progress
• In-line comments and critique on submitted manuscript pages
• When applicable, mentor will suggest new readings or exercises to aid in growth
• Available to answer questions and provide encouragement via email

Mentee’s Responsibilities:

• Send pages to mentor based on individual project goals negotiated with mentor
• Process-reflection letter discussing achievements and areas of growth for the month
• Read materials mentor may assign to aid growth in specific areas
• Participate in email conversation with mentor to review individual progress and areas of growth

General Dates for 6-Month Novel Mentorship with Meg Eden Kuyatt:

• Month 1
  
• 1-8th: Initial consults scheduled
• 22nd - Packet 1 due
• Month 2
  
• 5th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #1
• 5-12th: (Optional) Consults scheduled
• 26th - Packet 2 due
• Month 3
  
• 3th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #2
• 3-10th: (Optional) Consults scheduled
• 24th - Packet 3 due
• Month 4
  
• 7 - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #3
• 7-14th - (Optional) Consults scheduled
• 28th - Packet 4 due
• Month 5
  
• 4th - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #4
• 4-11th - (Optional) Consults scheduled
• 25th - Packet 5 due
• Month 6
  
• 2nd - Latest you’ll receive feedback from Meg on Packet #5
• 2-9th - Wrap-up consults scheduled

Application Process:

Complete Application Questionnaire.