Frequently Asked Questions

What is this? What happens?

The Write Team Mentorship Program is an application-only Twitter pitch event where WTMP mentors will like your pitch to invite you to submit to them for consideration. All this means is that this is the order of events:

On July 14th 2024, you will apply to enter the lottery that selects event participants. This application is simply your twitter info, your book info, and your first 500 words.
If you are selected in the lottery, you will be added to an exclusive list that will be shared with mentors, and used for the pitch event, using our #WTPitch, on September 1, 2024.
If a mentor likes your pitch during the Twitter pitch event, it is an invitation for you submit to them for consideration. This application is your liked tweet, your book info, your query, synopsis, and first 25 pages. You have until September 3, 2024).
During this time, career mentors can request additional pages. If a mentor selects you as their mentee they will then talk with you about expectations, critique your manuscript, and give you career and craft guidance over the next 4 months. If a critique mentor selects you for submission package critique, they will read over your materials and critique your sample pages, returning their edits after 45 days.

Can I enter?

We ask that all participants enter with a completed, polished/revised manuscript. It should be in its best shape by September 1, 2024, the day of the pitch event.
You can enter if you're already querying, however you should not be agented upon acceptance into the program.
Self-published authors are okay to enter, however most of our mentors specifically work in traditional publishing.

How can I make sure my manuscript is polished?

We highly advise all writers to find critique partners and take part in writing groups. We’re all about community here!

Are there any manuscript requirements? Word count limits?

We only encourage you to have your manuscript as polished as you can make it. Not just because it gives you a leg up - but because if you've done the best you can, your possible mentor or critter can make it that much better. Get the most out of this experience.

Do I have to pay?

Nope. It's free!

What is this for?

The WTMP is an opportunity for free professional development and a mentored invitation to a whisper network. Think of it as borrowing a community - the team and mentors will help you understand the industry with what we’ve learned from our networks, and hopefully you’ll pass it on. All of our community events are held with the same frame of mind!

Can any genre apply?

We currently do not have mentors for graphic novels, nonfiction/memoir, and poetry genres. We hope to in the future!

I want a mentor - but I also want a submission critique! What if I want both?

You may apply for both the mentorship and submission package review tracks, or either individually. If you are selected for a mentorship, you may not receive all of your submission package critiques (to spread the love and give critiquers the bandwidth to critique someone else who won't get a mentor!).

If I am selected for the pitch event, will I get a mentor?

Getting selected for the pitch event does not guarantee you get a mentor, however we have a few exclusive events planned for the 100 selected, whether or not they get a mentor!

What hashtags will be used during #WTPitch?

#SR - You would like to be considered for Submission Package Review ONLY

#MS - You would like to be considered for Mentorship ONLY

#PM - You would like to be considered for BOTH mentorship AND submission package review. (Use this, rather than “#SR #MS” during the pitch event to save on characters!)

-Age Category-

#MG = Middle Grade

#YA = Young Adult

#NA = New Adult

#A = Adult

-Identity Information-

#PC = Black/Indigenous/Person of Color Author

#IM = OwnVoices Immigrant

#OL = OwnVoices LGBTQIA+

#IR = Ownvoices Interracial/Multicultural

#DS = Ownvoices Author with Disability

#ND = Ownvoices Neurodiversity

-Genre-

#AC = Action

#AV = Adventure

#CO = Contemporary Fiction

#CR = Contemporary Romance

#CF Contemporary Sci-Fi/Fantasy

#D = Dystopian

#E = Erotica

#F = Fantasy

#H = Horror

#HU = Humor

#HF = Historical Fiction

#HR = Historical Romance

#MR = Magical Realism

#M = Mystery

#MA = Mainstream

#LF = Literary Fiction

#P = Paranormal

#PR = Paranormal Romance

#R = Romance

#RF = Romantasy

#SF = Sci-Fi

#SP = Speculative Fiction

#S = Suspense

#T = Thriller

#UF = Urban Fantasy

#UP = Upmarket Fiction

#W = Western

#WF = Woman’s Fiction

I have another question.

What is this? What happens?

WTMP’s Open Inbox is much like a company’s open door policy—we will have a form that writers can use to ask questions about writing craft and traditional publishing to our Mentors-in-Residence (MIR). For example, if you wanted to ask someone “what are some mentorship programs I can apply to?” you could fill in our Open Inbox form (which gives you the option to be anonymous!) and a MIR will respond to you to the best of their knowledge.

Who are these “Mentors-in-Residence”?

They’re the people who answer your questions! These mentors have traditional publishing experience as agented/published authors; are mentees who have completed a publishing mentorship program (AMM, PitchWars, WriteMentor, etc.); are active participants in the writing community with their own network of support; or are industry professionals sharing their knowledge.

Can I participate?

Of course you can! Unlike the WTMP Mentorship program, the Open Inbox is open to anyone who wishes to use it.

Do I have to pay?

Nope. It's free!

What is this for?

The WTMP is an opportunity for free professional development and an invitation to a whisper network. Think of it as borrowing a community - the team and mentors will help you understand the industry with what we’ve learned from our networks, and hopefully you’ll pass it on. All of our community events are held with the same frame of mind!

Community Events?

WTMP holds 2-4 community events each year to help writers learn information, discover resources, and make friends!

How is this different from the mentorship?

WTMP’s 4-month mentorship focuses on a full manuscript review, which does not happen with the Open Inbox. WTMP’s submission package critique focuses on a critique of the query, synopsis, and first 25 pages.

When is the mentorship coming back?

WTMP’s mentorship will be back in 2024! We hope you apply!

I have another question.

Frequently Asked Questions

4-Month Mentorship Questions