Become a Mentor
2020 Mentor Applications open January 2, 2020.
Mentor Guidelines
Eligibility
RWA members who are
General PAN, PAN-Eligible, PAN-Equivalent, or
past RITA winners are eligible to apply to be RAMP Mentors. Mentors will be selected by RWA Staff.
Mentors will participate in a one-month-long reading period followed by three months of work with their mentee.
While a rewarding act of service, mentorship will require a significant time commitment, so please take this into consideration when applying.
The Process
Once selected, mentors will provide their bio and wish list to be posted for potential mentees to view. Mentee applicants will submit their manuscripts to mentors they wish to work with. Mentors will have approximately one month to read through these submissions, which will include a query, synopsis, and first three chapters, and choose who they would like to work with.
Mentors will work with their mentees over the course of 3 months to revise a full manuscript, as well as a query, pitch, and/or back cover blurb.
The goal at the end of the program is for the mentee to have a manuscript and collateral materials that are ready to submit to an editor or agent, or ready to go to a proofreader before self-publication.
Minimally, we expect mentors to perform:
- One edit round on the full manuscript with an edit letter delivered to mentee
- One edit round on either a query, pitch, or a back cover blurb, depending on mentee’s preference
Optionally, mentors may want to perform a final read-through of their mentee's manuscript before the showcase begins, and set aside time for their mentee to ask questions related to career and the publishing industry.
If you have questions, please contact
RAMP@rwa.org or check out our Mentor FAQs below.
Important Mentor Dates for RAMP 2020
January 2: Mentor applications open
January 16: Mentor applications close
January 30: Mentors announced
February 7: Bios and wish lists due to RWA Staff
February 12: Mentor wish lists posted
February 18: Mentee submissions open
March 3: Mentee submissions close
March 27: Mentor selections due to RWA Staff
April 7: Mentees announced
July 13: Traditional Showcase begins
Why Mentor?
"Authors are some of the kindest and most generous people in the world — maybe because we know how tough the publishing industry is. In addition, many people have helped me along my path, providing a word of encouragement when I needed it most. I want to pay this kindness forward, and mentorship programs are a perfect way of doing so!" --Pintip Dunn
"For the past five years, I've chosen to mentor in Pitch Wars to pay it forward, but in turn, I continue to reap even more benefits. While I have experiences to share, teaching is a fast track to learning since I'm constantly forced to brush up on or research totally new-to-me aspects of craft or the industry so I can give the most relevant and up-to-date advice. Plus, when the window closes, it's rewarding to have a stake in an emerging author's writing success--and a new friend." --Mary Ann Marlowe
"RAMP offers you an opportunity to help another author achieve their dreams by sharing how you achieved yours. And that’s something I don’t mind in the least because so many RWA authors helped me!" --Denny S. Bryce
Mentor FAQs
Do I have to be an RWA member?
Yes. Eligible mentors must be RWA members who are General PAN, PAN-Eligible, PAN-Equivalent, or past RITA winners.
Do I have to be agented or have prior mentor experience to apply?
We will consider a variety of factors when reviewing mentor applications, but being agented or having prior mentor experience are not required.
What if I am not interested in any of the mentee submissions I receive?
Contact
RAMP@rwa.org.
Can I request more information from my mentee applicants?
Yes, you will be able to request more materials or ask questions via email during the one-month reading period.
What if I choose the same mentee as another mentor?
Mentors who choose the same mentee applicant will be able to make their case to the applicant, who will then choose their preferred mentor.
What if I am selected and can't complete the mentor requirements?
Contact
RAMP@rwa.org immediately so we can attempt to reassign your mentee.
What if I can't get in touch with my mentor or am having other issues?
Contact RAMP@rwa.org.