In 2023, GrubStreet launched a Mentorship Program that offers writers 25-minute appointments where they can meet one-on-one with a GrubStreet instructor and ask focused and specific questions about the writing craft and career. These appointments are tuition-free and open to all writers at any level, with an additional focus on community members with financial needs and from historically under-represented groups. We hope to expand and grow this into a more robust, long-term program in the future.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact [email protected].
Mentorship Office Hours Schedule
The Mentorship Program sessions have all been filled at this time, but we're going to return late Spring 2024 with more. Thanks for your support and feedback in making this pilot year so successful! Stay tuned to this page next year for more updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this program really tuition-free?
Yes! Thanks to our generous donors, we’re able to make Mentorship Office Hours free to students. We also hope to grow this program in the future. As we are compensating mentors for their time, it’s important that students turn up for their appointments. If you can’t make it for an appointment after signing up, please email [email protected] so that we can release the appointment and someone else can use the time.
Where will Mentorship Office Hours be held?
Mentorship Office Hours take place either in person at the Seaport or remotely on Zoom. You will receive a reminder email one week before your appointment.
If you have an in-person appointment, it will also contain details about the classroom location and parking or transport reimbursement. If you have a Zoom appointment, you will receive two emails: the one-week reminder, and an email with the Zoom link 15 minutes before the appointment begins.
What’s the best way to use these appointments?
We suggest that students prepare a list of questions in advance. It’s best to keep your questions focused and specific, like: “I am having X challenge with my plot/protagonist and have tried these things without breaking through. Do you have suggestions for how I can try to resolve this?”
Students will also have the opportunity to submit questions in advance to help their mentor prepare. This is optional during the registration process but highly recommended, as it can make the meeting even more productive.
Please note that the 30-minute appointments are actually 25 minutes; the last 5 minutes are to allow time to transition from one appointment to another.
Can I use my appointment time to get on-the-spot feedback on manuscript pages?
If you choose to use your time for this, sure! However, given that the appointment is for 25 minutes, it may be challenging to get meaningful feedback within this structure. The mentor is not being compensated for any outside work before or after these appointments, and we don’t expect or require them to complete any projects outside of the appointment times.
You might want to consider another program that might be better suited for manuscript reviews. Consider a Muse & the Marketplace Manuscript Mart appointment where you submit work ahead of time for feedback on several pages. Scholarships are available! There are other types of manuscript consultation programs available at GrubStreet as well.
How many appointments can I sign up for?
Please sign up for only ONE appointment. If you would like a second appointment, please check the schedule one week before that particular appointment. If it is still available then, you may register for it. You will receive a reminder email one week before your appointment.
What if I miss my appointment or arrive late?
If you know you aren’t going to make your appointment, please email [email protected] and let us know. We will release the appointment and another person can use the time. Last-minute cancellations or no-shows cannot be rescheduled. If an unexpected emergency arises, we’ll do our best to reschedule, though we can’t make guarantees. If unfortunately, you miss your appointment, remember that more Mentorship Office Hours will be offered later this year! You can certainly sign up again.
What if I have a suggestion or feedback about my session or the program?
Everyone will receive a survey within a week or two of their session. If you would like to submit feedback outside of a survey, feel free to write to [email protected].