2023 Mentorship Program
2023 WGA Mentorship Program Participants Announced
The WGA is thrilled to announce the participants for the 2023 Mentorship Program!
In January 2023, fourteen Alberta writers will begin their participation in the WGA’s annual mentorship program. 2023 marks the twelfth year for the program, which pairs emerging writers with established Alberta authors to develop the emerging writer’s literary work, and also to provide support and encouragement. This program has seen many of its participants grow and succeed as published authors.
This year’s participants are:
- Tracy Fox will work with mentor Lee Kvern (Tracy Fox is this year’s Mary Bell Scholarship recipient)
- Alexander Shay (Levi Hayes) will work with mentor C.J. Lavigne
- Falon Fayant will work with mentor Darcy Tamayose
- Saraswoti Lamichhane will work with mentor Jenna Butler
- Felicia Zuniga will work with mentor Kat Cameron
- Katherine Abbass will work with mentor Micheline Maylor
- Anna Shannon will work with mentor Theresa Shea
The mentorship program runs for four months. A virtual celebration of this program, complete with the emerging writers reading from their work, will be held in the spring.
Congratulations and all good wishes to all the participants!
About the Program
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
The Writers' Guild of Alberta’s Mentorship Program, modeled off of similar programs, matches mentors with apprentices for a 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.
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 are expected to devote 15-20 hours a month to program work while apprentices commit to a minimum of 20-25 hours per month. A public reading takes place after the mentorship is completed.
Past Participants
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
View the 2017 mentors and apprentices
View the 2016 mentors and apprentices
View the 2015 mentors and apprentices
View the 2014 mentors and apprentices
View the 2013 mentors and apprentices
View the 2012 mentors and apprentices
Photo Galleries
Our Gratitude
The WGA gratefully acknowledges the support of the RBC Foundation, 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, the John Gillese Fund and the Sharon Lynne Henderson
The WGA is also grateful for mentorship program donations from Ted Bishop, Jacqueline Guest and Brenda-Ann Marks.
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