Free Mentoring Call!
Working class aspiring writers apply here
I have been so busy lately that it has somehow got to the end of the month and I have forgotten to put out a call for applications for free mentoring, so, I will extend the deadline by a couple of days, and below is all you need to know to apply.
Regular subscribers to my Substack will know that since September, I have been offering free mentoring to working class aspiring writers – that means those who are unrepresented by agents and unpublished. What you get during that month is a weekly 30-minute zoom meeting with me and access to my private Facebook group where you will meet a community of like-minded writers. Even after our month working together, you can still ask me anything in the group if you get stuck, and we have a group zoom at the end of each month where a mystery guest author, agent or editor, comes to speak to us for a Q&A. My aim is to build a writing community that can be supportive and nurturing, and as a working class council-estate kid myself, I know that opportunities like these don’t come along often for people like us.
Before we go any further, you might be interested in hearing from one of my recent mentees.
Anita was my mentee for December, and this is what she had to say about the experience:
“The writing life can be tough enough; it’s even tougher when you’re a working class writer who doesn’t have the opportunities and connections that others may have. So I was thrilled when Anna responded to my application with the offer of month’s free mentoring.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to get to know an experienced, published writer who has written texts of various genres and has deep knowledge of the industry. Anna is ideally placed to know what you’re going through; she gets it and has been there.
“The Zoom meetings are a chance to explore all aspects of writing, from the technical to the psychological, from how to frame a chapter, for example, to imposter syndrome. Previously, it had mostly just been me and my words; I rarely, if ever, talked about my writing with anyone, certainly not another writer. It was so refreshing to talk about the writing I’d done that week (or not done), to ask questions and address issues, either specific or general.
“Not only does Anna know her stuff, but she is kind, and down to earth about the reality and graft of writing. In addition, she doesn’t just leave us on our own when the month’s sessions have ended: we get access to a Facebook group of supportive previous mentees. So if you’re thinking about applying for the mentoring, I would recommend it wholeheartedly. It really makes a positive difference to your writing life. I still can’t believe that the opportunity came my way. But thanks to Anna, it did!”
So, what do you need to know to apply?
For now, I’m only offering this to those in the UK and Ireland, you must be over 18 and have a work in progress you need some help with. It can be memoir, non-fiction or fiction. The mentoring will last for one calendar month, so that will be four online meetings one-to-one, access to group sessions with a mystery author and to my closed Facebook group community where you will find writing advice, encouragement and get any questions answered in between our sessions.
If you would like to be considered, please email outlining for me in no more than 300 words your current writing project, why you feel you need help, and a little of your background. As I said, this is open to unpublished, unrepresented aspiring writers from working class backgrounds only. We will be working together in February 2022 so you need to get your applications in before midnight Thursday 3rd February. I’m afraid I will only be able to reply to the applicant who is successful. If you are unsuccessful this month, try again for March (the same goes for those who applied for January – you can reapply however many times you like over the next nine months), and subscribe to this newsletter so you see my next prompt here first.
My email address is: anna@annawharton.com
I can't wait to hear your stories!
Hi Anna,
I am finding your posts really helpful and a great insight to the world of writing. I have working class roots being the son of a general labourer, but owing to my mum's encouragement and to be fair, the education system of the 60s and 70s, would put myself squarely in the lower, middle-class (or perhaps professional class) bracket now, if indeed these categories have any authenticity these days.
I have enjoyed writing the odd bit over the years, no doubt naively but having retired I've been working on a shortish story and wonder how I might have it critiqued. I feel like the subject in the Beatles song 'Paperback' Writer' in begging your indulgence here, but do you take a look at amateurish offerings, or if not can you direct me elsewhere? Appreciate you must be extremely busy so this is an imposition and I'll understand if you haven't the time to do so.
Best regards,
Alex