Successful recipient of the NZSA Mentor programme - that's me!

NZSA Mentor Programme 2011 Announced


The Mentor Programme was set up in 2001 to give beginning writers who demonstrated potential and commitment the opportunity to work closely with an experienced writer as their mentor. Kindly sponsored by Creative New Zealand the current estimated value of each full mentorship is $1,100. The programme is only open to financial members of the NZSA.

The programme is designed to help new and emerging writers by developing skills which will sustain them throughout their future careers in writing. Working on a specific project, successful applications will get an opportunity to discuss ideas and problems, practical and editorial advice, and benefit from the experience of published writers.

Since its inception, the programme has had many successes. Mentored projects including poetry collections, novels, and work for children have been accepted for publication and many graduates have gone on to develop successful careers in published writing.

We are delighted to announce the successful recipients of the 2011 NZSA Mentor Programme

Catherine Bennetto, Auckland
Chris Tse, Lower Hutt
Hannah Smaill, Auckland
JAN GOLDIE!!!!!, Tauranga
Julie Charman, Greytown
Kate Waterhouse, Auckland
Kelly Joseph, Paekakariki
Lee Murray, Tauranga!!! (my fellow writing group member)
Linda Hunter, Christchurch
Marisa Maepu, Wellington
Melanie O’Loughlin, Auckland
Peter Wichman, Auckland
Raewyn Peart, Auckland
Ro Cambridge, Nelson
Sue Younger, Auckland
Tonimarie Verhoeven, Wanganui
Wendy Nuttall, Christchurch

There are 15 places offered this year, as well as two half-mentorships of 10 hours each. The selection panel members were Janice Marriott, Norman Bilbrough and Cilla McQueen. With thanks to Creative New Zealand for continuing to support this important programme.

Mentoring takes place either face-to-face, by telephone, fax, email or a combination of these. Mentors are available for a maximum of 20 hours in the case of full mentorships, and 10 hours for half-mentorships, to discuss ideas and address areas of weakness in the writer’s work. The mentor also provides encouragement
and practical advice and specific examples of how to improve the work. They share the benefit of their experience as published writers. Mentoring must be completed by 31 December 2011. (text taken from the NZSA newsletter.  See their website http://www.authors.org.nz/)