All Stories relaunches mentorship programme for writers from underrepresented groups

All Stories, a mentorship and outreach programme for aspiring children’s book writers from underrepresented groups, is returning for a second year with an expanded programme.

The programme was launched last year and took on 14 mentees. It is funded by the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society and Arts Council England, which has now doubled its investment.

Year two will offer 10 mentorships to writers of middle-grade and young adult fiction across nine months, evolving from the previous format where writers for all age groups were mentored together for six months. Picture book and young fiction writers will be supported the following year, in an ongoing pattern.

Each mentorship will be delivered by a freelance editor, supported by seven webinars on craft and demystifying the industry. A private online community will be established for all mentees, and they will each receive a year’s free membership to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In-person and online writing workshops will also be rolled out to encourage people from underrepresented groups to write for children. The in-person workshops will be piloted with Essex and Thurrock libraries, with a view to expansion across the UK in future years. 

The mentees will also be involved in sessions held with sixth-formers from underrepresented groups, to encourage them to consider a career in children’s books.

“I could not be happier with how the first year of the All Stories programme went – and how brilliantly it was supported by people in the industry," said Catherine Coe, founder of All Stories. "All 14 mentees have learnt and developed so much, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for these incredibly talented writers. But we cannot stop there – we need to keep supporting and encouraging writers from underrepresented groups if we’re really going to make lasting changes and ensure children’s books are truly inclusive and representative.”

Applications close on 30th June, with the mentorships running from October 2022 to June 2023. Submissions are open to solely unagented, unpublished writers from underrepresented groups, residing in the UK.

All Stories patron and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence said: “I wish All Stories was around when I started off. As a Black writer from a working class family I had absolutely no idea how to be become a published author. I am so proud to be the patron of such a supportive and successful programme.”