Supporting Writers Who Have Been Historically Excluded from Children’s Publishing
Launched in 2021, this yearly mentorship program supports works in progress of emerging, underrepresented writers whose access to children’s publishing may have been limited. In creating the program, we wanted to take concrete and ongoing steps to address issues of inequity and representation in kids’ publishing by offering writers time, professional guidance, compensation, and an opportunity to learn more about an industry that has not provided equal access to everyone.
We accept applications in September and mentorships start early- to mid-January.
New for 2024-25! Starting this year, we will announce a shortlist for the mentorship in October! Final selected mentees will be shared by early December, following this shortlist announcement. All applicants will receive personalized feedback on their submissions by the end of the year.
Applications for the 2024–25 mentorship will open on September 3, 2024. Please continue to check this page and Annick's social media accounts for exact dates and other new information!
Why apply?
- Selected mentees will receive a $1,000 bursary for a four-month mentorship period beginning in January 2025.
- Mentees will be paired with an Annick editor, who will tailor the program to the mentee’s goals and interests.
- Mentees will have the opportunity to meet and learn from Annick staff across different departments, including Marketing, Sales, Foreign Rights, Art and Design, and Production.
- A virtual mentee meetup will give mentees the chance to meet each other and share their experiences.
What we’re looking for:
- Original writing projects that are a potential fit with Annick’s list.
- Works in progress, including picture books, novels and graphic novels for middle readers or young adults, and children’s non-fiction. We are excited to work with you on developing your project for potential publication, and we don’t expect a polished, final draft for the purposes of the application.
Who can apply:
- Emerging writers (one traditionally published book in North America or fewer). Books under contract for future publication count as published books. Please email us if you have any questions about past title(s) you have released.
- Writers whose perspectives have historically been excluded from children’s publishing. This includes but is not limited to LGBTQ2SIA+ writers, Black writers, Indigenous writers, writers of color, writers living with disabilities, and anyone living at the intersections of these identities.
- We only accept applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
- Writers who have previously published with Annick are not eligible for this program.
Please check back on September 3 to download the application form and for more information on how to apply for the program!
About Annick Press:
Founded in 1975, in Toronto, Ontario, Annick Press publishes 20-25 books a year for children and youth. Our editorial vision has always been to publish books that reflect the society we live in; the content in our books reflects a range of people, characters, and experiences that help enrich and inform the conversations happening in the real world. We strive for this in all the books we publish, which range from board books for the very young to picture books for emerging readers, to novels and non-fiction for middle readers and young adults.