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Apply for a Mentorship

To be considered for the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program, writers must meet the following criteria.

  • You must be a current General Member of WFNS. General membership is open to anyone who writes.
  • You must be a permanent resident of Nova Scotia, meaning that you have lived in Nova Scotia full-time for at least the past twelve (12) months and that you file your personal income taxes in Nova Scotia. (Out-of-province post-secondary students and seasonal residents are ineligible.)
  • You must be an emerging writer in the form of writing for which you seek mentorship, meaning that you have not published a book-length literary project within that form, including all genres and sub-genres within that form and including traditionally published, partner- or hybrid-published, and self-published projects.
    • In the context of the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program, WFNS considers there to be four primary literary forms: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and writing for children or young adults.
    • WFNS reserves the right to determine whether you will benefit from mentorship given your non-book-length (e.g., periodical or anthology) publications and other experience in the form for which you seek mentorship. If you are uncertain of your eligibility, please contact us.
    • If you have published any number of book-length literary projects in forms other than the form for which you seek mentorship, you remain eligible.
  • You must be 19 years of age or older by the current application deadline.
  • You must submit only one application to the current application deadline.

In addition to the above criteria, writers must be available for following program-wide meetings and capstone event.

2025 program-wide meetings:

  • Thursday, Feb 20 (10am – 11am), virtual
  • Thursday, Apr 10 (10am – 11am), virtual
  • Thursday, May 15 (10am – 11am), virtual

2025 capstone event:

  • Celebration of Emerging Writers, Wednesday, June 11 (7pm – 9pm), in-person (Halifax)

Any participant unable to attend the capstone event will be required to submit a pre-recorded video reading in advance.

Application packages must contain all components listed below and must be submitted by the program deadline. Each application package must be submitted as a single digital document (in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format) with a file name as follows: FirstName LastName – Mentorship (where “FirstName” is your given name and “LastName” is your family name or chosen surname). Incomplete, late, non-digital, or misnamed application packages are ineligible.

A. ‘Cover letter’—that is, personal responses to the following questions—of up to 2 pages (single-spaced; in 12-pt Times New Roman or Arial font). All questions must be answered within these 2 pages, but the length of any particular response is up to you. For each response, please start a new paragraph and include the question number.

  1. How long have you been writing creatively?
  2. Summarize your creative writing activity for the past twelve months.
  3. Describe the work you’ll have available for the mentorship period (e.g., number of pages or poems completed of your prose or poetry manuscript).
  4. Outline what you propose to work on during the mentorship period.
  5. What goals have you set yourself to achieve during the three-month mentorship period? Be specific.
  6. How will you prioritize writing during the mentorship period, and how will the mentorship fit into your schedule?

B. Writing sample of the work-in-progress of up to 10 pages (double-spaced for prose, or single-spaced for poetry; in 12-pt Times New Roman or Arial font). Shorter samples are accepted, but we recommend taking advantage of the full 10 pages. Poetry samples may use others fonts only if typeface is integral to the project.

All applicants will be notified of their applications results by early February. Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we ask that you not query the office about the status of your application prior to that time.

After applications packages have been processed to ensure they are complete and eligible, they will be shared with a peer assessment jury of three professional writers contracted by the WFNS. The jury will assess application packages based on 

  • the merit of the writing sample,
  • the merit of the proposed writing project, and
  • the applicant’s commitment to the proposed writing project.

The jury selects apprentice writers from the applicants received and recommends a mentor for each successful applicant from a list of writers submitted Expressions of Interest to serve as mentors. The jury’s selection of apprentice writers will be final. In order to accommodate availability and other logistical factors, the final selection of a mentor for each successful applicant will be made by WFNS staff.

Applications are accepted only through the form at the bottom of this page. Please note that completing the application form is the final step in our recommended application checklist:

☐ Ensure your eligibility.

☐ Ensure your application package is complete and correct. In the event of an error, please contact our office to explain the issue before submitting a revised application package. No application package or revised application package can be accepted after the program deadline, so we encourage you to apply early.

☐ Pay the $34 application fee. Please ensure you log in to your member account before attempting to pay the application fee online. This fee covers most but not all of the administrative and assessment costs for each application. As such, a refund of this fee will be considered only if an applicant is deemed ineligible due to too much experience in the form of writing in which they wish to apprentice. This fee cannot be refunded under any other circumstance, including incomplete, ineligible, or unsuccessful applications.
Pay application fee online

To pay fee by phone, call us between 9am and 4pm on weekdays at 902 423 8116 with your credit card details.

To pay fee by mail, send a cheque (payable to “Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia”) post-dated for no later than the application deadline.

☐ Complete and submit the online application form, visible at the bottom of this page when applications are being accepted. After clicking the “Submit application” button, please wait until the green confirmation message appears (confirming that your form has been successfully submitted) before exiting this page.

If the application fee and/or membership dues present a barrier, please contact communications@writers.ns.ca before applying. Funds are available to help underwaged writers with application fees and membership dues.

Applicants to the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program must submit a ‘cover letter’ (i.e., personal responses to six questions about their writing) and a writing sample. Beyond submitting both of the necessary documents on time, what can writers do to strengthen their applications?

WFNS staff interviewed some key program participants, whose advice converged in the following five tips.

WFNS’s Program Manager (Arts Education), Linda Hudson, who administers the MacLeod Mentorship Program, emphasized that mentorships are intended for unpublished writers who are ready to make a serious commitment. “The program is for any writer who is working on a manuscript that they would like to take to the next level. The program is very intensive and will require devoting hours to researching, re-writing, editing, and creating new content for their manuscript.”

We also talked to some former peer assessors about what kind of candidate they looked for when assessing applications. Peer assessor Monica Graham summed up the ideal candidate as “a writer with a future who needs guidance.”

Sal Sawler, another former peer assessor, echoed Monica’s remarks, saying that they looked for an applicant’s “dedication to their craft,” for whether “they’ll be willing/able to take constructive criticism,” and for manageable goals. “Once the jury had our shortlist, we narrowed it down more with a few other factors, like whether the person has made room in their life for the mentorship program.”

Sal stressed that apprentice writers should also have room to grow: “Someone who has been through another program and wants to go through the mentorship program just to polish their final draft might have less of a chance [of being accepted] than someone with a rougher draft who hasn’t already had the opportunity to work on it in an established program.”

Bretten Hannam, who participated in the program as an apprentice writer, stressed the importance of setting aside enough time for the application process. He told us he produced “multiple drafts” of his writing sample before the deadline.

Starting the application well before the deadline also gives participants the chance to ask questions about the program. Program Manager Linda Hudson, said that applicants should feel free to get in touch but that they should do so as early as possible. “Don’t leave your questions for the eleventh hour,” she warned, “or they might not get answered.”

Speaking of time management, many respondents agreed that taking time to revise the writing sample multiple times was essential for ensuring its strength. “Quality of writing” was the first thing peer assessor Sal Sawler said they looked for when going over the applications. “For me,” they explained, “a standout application shows that the applicant is taking writing seriously—that they’ve made room in their life for it somehow, and are invested in developing their craft.”

According to peer assessor Monica Graham, “simple writing that says a lot in a few well-chosen words” can help an application stand out. “If someone can read it and internalize the concept or story without having to move their lips or notice individual words, then it may be spot on—depending on the reader!” She qualified this comment: “As you can tell, it’s partly subjective. However, without strong writing skills, there is nothing to be subjective about.”

While it’s important to focus on the bigger picture, our experts also brought up the importance of detail in the application process. Apprentice writer Bretten Hannam advised applicants “to have a very specific goal and timeline [for your project] when submitting. Something that’s ambitious but not outside of the realm of your abilities.” 

Similarly, Program Manager Linda Hudson suggested that applicants take advantage of the cover letter to show how they take their writing seriously, which means providing a detailed plan for the mentorship. “The impression made through the cover letter informs the committee and staff on the individual’s personality and level of commitment. The more individuals can let us know about their plans for the manuscript, how much time they plan to devote to the program, and how they would handle being challenged by their mentor, the better.”

Peer assessor Monica Graham recommended setting aside time to double-check details and proofread the application. “Touch on all the points requested in the application,” she said. “Make the spelling and grammar as perfect as possible. The odd typo is just a typo, but consistently poor skills make me cringe.”

Almost everyone we spoke with advised applicants to let their personalities come through. Peer assessor Monica Graham mentioned that she enjoyed reading “something unique” in a writing sample, whether that be “point of view, protagonist, plot twist, style, or genre.”

“When you write your application don’t forget to add something of yourself,” appentice writer Bretten Hannam advised. “Some heart. It’s easy to answer with proper words and things people might want to hear. But it’s better to speak to who you are. Why this is important to you. What you’re sharing with the world through your own words.”

Applications for 2025 MacLeod Mentorships closed on Nov 28, 2024

Applications will open on Oct 9 and close on Nov 20, 2025

For MacLeod Mentorships to be undertaken March through May, 2026

Application form

You must be a General Member to participate in this program. General Membership is open to anyone who writes.
If it is discovered that any of the above declarations is false, your application will be ineligible.
If the name you commonly use or publish under differs from your legal name, please include your legal name in parentheses—i.e., "Common Name (Legal Name)." If you perform at the Celebration of Emerging Writers, your legal name will be required for honorarium payment.
Must include city/town, province, and postal code.
WFNS reserves at least two mentorships each year for writers from equity-deserving communities, including writers with marginalized (dis)abilities, ethnicities, genders, or sexualities. Your willingness to disclose can help WFNS offer mentorships in a more equitable way. Any information entered in this field will be viewed only by WFNS staff and will not be disclosed to peer assessors.
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.
• Your application package must be a single digital file (.doc or .pdf format) that contains all components identified in the above section "2. Application Package."
• Your application package must use a file name as follows: [Your Name] - MacLeod Mentorship.
• Incomplete, misnamed, or file-unreadable application packages may be deemed ineligible.
If the form of your work-in-progress is not listed above, please contact wits@writers.ns.ca to ensure its suitability for the program.
Indicate the method by which you paid the Mentorship Program application fee detailed in the above section "4. Application Checklist & Fee." Fee payment must be sent before you submit your application.

For questions or further information, please contact us.
We advise reaching out at least one week before the application deadline.

1113 Marginal Road

Halifax, NS B3H 4P7

902 423 8116

contact@writers.ns.ca

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The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is based in Kjipuktuk, in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties do not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognize Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and establish the rules for an ongoing relationship between nations.

© Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, 2025. All rights reserved.

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Simultaneous Submissions

The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) administers some programs (and special projects) that involve print and/or digital publication of ‘selected’ or ‘winning’ entries. In most cases, writing submitted to these programs and projects must not be previously published and must not be simultaneously under consideration for publication by another organization. Why? Because our assessment and selection processes depends on all submitted writing being available for first publication. If writing selected for publication by WFNS has already been published or is published by another organization first, copyright issues will likely make it impossible for WFNS to (re-)publish that writing.

When simultaneous submissions to a WFNS program are not permitted, it means the following:

  • You may not submit writing that has been accepted for future publication by another organization.
  • You may not submit writing that is currently being considered for publication by another organization—or for another prize that includes publication.
  • The writing submitted to WFNS may not be submitted for publication to another organization until the WFNS program results are communicated. Results will be communicated directly to you by email and often also through the public announcement of a shortlist or list of winners. Once your writing is no longer being considered for the WFNS program, you are free to submit it elsewhere.
    • If you wish to submit your entry elsewhere before WFNS program results have been announced, you must first contact WFNS to withdraw your entry. Any entry fee cannot be refunded.

Prohibitions on simultaneous submission do not apply to multiple WFNS programs. You are always permitted to submit the same unpublished writing to multiple WFNS programs (and special projects) at the same time, such as the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program, the Emerging Writers Prizes, the Jampolis Cottage Residency Program, the Message on a Bottle contest, the Nova Writes Competition, and any WFNS projects involving one-time or recurring special publications.

Recommended Experience Levels

The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) recommends that participants in any given workshop have similar levels of creative writing and / or publication experience. This ensures that each participant gets value from the workshop⁠ and is presented with information, strategies, and skills that suit their career stage. The “Recommended experience level” section of each workshop description refers to the following definitions used by WFNS.

  • New writers: those with less than two years’ creative writing experience and/or no short-form publications (e.g., short stories, personal essays, or poems in literary magazines, journals, anthologies, or chapbooks).
  • Emerging writers: those with more than two years’ creative writing experience and/or numerous short-form publications.
  • Early-career authors: those with 1 or 2 book-length publications or the equivalent in book-length and short-form publications.
  • Established authors: those with 3 or 4 book-length publications.
  • Professional authors: those with 5 or more book-length publications.

Please keep in mind that each form of creative writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and writing for children and young adults) provides you with a unique set of experiences and skills, so you might consider yourself an ‘established author’ in one form but a ‘new writer’ in another.

For “intensive” and “masterclass” creative writing workshops, which provide more opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback, the recommended experience level should be followed closely.

For all other workshops, the recommended experience level is just that—a recommendation—and we encourage potential participants to follow their own judgment when registering.

If you’re uncertain of your experience level with regard to any particular workshop, please feel free to contact us at communications@writers.ns.ca