Mentorship Program

About the 2027 WGA Mentorship Program

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s Mentorship Program, modeled off of similar programs, matches mentors with apprentices for a literary mentorship taking place January-April. The program is designed to meet the needs of emerging Alberta writers for guidance, collaboration and encouragement while senior writers receive short-term employment and an opportunity to sharpen their mentoring/teaching skills. The focus of the mentorship will be on instruction in the craft, and to a lesser extent, the business of writing. There is no cost to the apprentices.

The program will take place from January through April 2027.
“I think that the most valuable thing about the mentorship program is the opportunity for an emerging writer to get support and guidance. Writing is a lonely affair and especially so for a writer struggling with their first manuscript. Sometimes all that is needed is for someone to read our work and ask the pertinent question — keys turn, worlds open, narratives find their direction. Another set of eyes is essential for work to improve and often emerging writers don’t know where to look for the right person. The WGA provides a tremendous service of matching mentors and authors with their stories. I think with this continued program we will see many more Alberta writers finding publishers.”

– Mentor, 2016

“Working with my mentor has taught me how to build a story from the hook through the climax. The mentorship was a much more motivational and thorough process than my Creative Writing Certificate through Humber. Having been given this gift from the WGA through the Canada Council meant that I could take my work as a writer seriously for the very first time and put my writing first. I was an “emerging voice” with the tutelage and support to see this project through to the end. I feel that I am closer than I’ve ever been to getting a book in print after a few short stories and other courses under my belt, this mentorship was the push over the hump that I needed. I have a finished draft of my novel thanks to the WGA’s program that I am now sending out to publishers. I will keep you posted!​”

– Apprentice, 2016

Roles & Responsibilities

Mentors and apprentices are expected to have an initial meeting in person. Subsequent meetings may take place in person or by telephone or email as distance may require. Mentors will be paid $2800 for their time, and are expected to devote 15-20 hours a month to program work. Apprentices must commit to spending a minimum of 20-25 hours per month on their work. A public reading takes place after the mentorship is completed.

The program is intended to meet the needs of emerging Alberta writers for guidance, collaboration and encouragement. This is not an introductory creative writing course; it is a one-on-one pairing of apprentices and mentors. The program is an intensive, hands-on opportunity intended to provide a disciplined and focused period of work for emerging writers.

Program Details & Eligibility

We will accept up to seven apprentices to work with mentors this year, including one pairing for the Mary Bell Mentorship Scholarship (awarded to an emerging woman writer 50 years of age or older), and one pairing supported by the Sharon L. Henderson Fund for Young and Emerging Writers. At least three spots will be reserved for pairings from Calgary. Two spots will also be reserved specifically for BIPOC writers. The Writers’ Guild of Alberts is committed to equity and inclusion in its programs and encourages applications from First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals.  

Both mentors and apprentices will be selected by an independent jury. Apprentices are selected first and then paired with a mentor applicant who is the best fit for that writer. There is no guarantee that all genres will be included in the final pairings. Decisions for the mentor applications will be made on the basis of the best match between apprentice and mentor. Individuals who have participated in this program as mentors in the previous year (2026 program) are not eligible to apply. 

Successful applicants will be notified in late November 2026.

Deadline: Applications must be received by 4:30 pm Friday, October 23, 2026.

Apply to be a Mentor
Apply to be an Apprentice

Past Mentors and Apprentices

View the 2026 mentors and apprentices

View the 2025 mentors and apprentices

View the 2024 mentors and apprentices

View the 2023 mentors and apprentices

View the 2022 mentors and apprentices

View the 2021 mentors and apprentices

View the 2020 mentors and apprentices

View the 2019 mentors and apprentices

View the 2018 mentors and apprentices
Scenes from the 2018 Mentorship Readings

View the 2017 mentors and apprentices

Thank you to our donors and funders!

The WGA would like to thank the Calgary Foundation for their significant funding of the 2027 Mentorship Program. 

The WGA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Government of Alberta, City of Edmonton, City of Calgary, Calgary Arts Development, Edmonton Arts Council, and the John Gillese Fund.

The WGA is also grateful for mentorship program donations from:

Sheila Birmingham, Jim Conley, Charlotte Corothers, Karen Farkas, Marilyn Fleger, Marilyn Fleger, Ann Goldblatt, Jacqueline Guest, Brenda Gunn, Lois Hammond, Greg Hickmore, Marlene Kadar, Richard and Beatrice Kerr, Kathy King, Mary Anne King, Jo-Ann Kolmes, Gregory Koop, Deborah and Steve Leighton, Jock Mackenzie, Margaret Macpherson, Brenda-Ann Marks, Kerry McKinnon, Joan McMillan, Kerry Mitchell, Taryn Pawluk, Sandy Romanow, L. Deborah Sword, Monica Walker, Marlyn Wall, Moira D Wiley, Johanna Wishart, and Marjorie Zelent.

Canadian Council for the Arts

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $154 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.

Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil  a investi 154 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays