Breakthrough mentoring for LGBTQIA+ writers

This programme will give four talented LGBTQIA+ writers of nine months of mentoring from a published author, plus a tutorial with a literary agent.

This mentoring will run from June 2025 to March 2026 and seeks to support five aspiring authors with one-to-one guidance from a published author-mentor, plus a tutorial with a literary agent.

Mentoring sessions will take place via Zoom/phone calls. We are able to make accessibility adjustments to the programme if required. For example, by providing a British Sign Language interpreter.

You can apply to be mentored for a project at any stage of writing (from just starting to redrafting) and written in any of the following genres/categories:

• Novel written for adults
• Novel written for children (older than 7) or young adults
• Collection of short stories
• Memoir
• Narrative non-fiction

Eligibility

This mentoring is open to anyone over the age of 18, who identifies as LGBTQIA+ and fulfils our low-income eligibility criteria.

Your submission does not necessarily have to be about LGBTQIA+ experiences, although we are particularly interested in stories with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer characters or themes.

Applicants must also fulfil our financial criteria:

• Unmarried and not co-habiting with a partner, with an annual (gross, pre-tax) income of less than £25,000 and personal savings of less than £5,000.
• Married or co-habiting with a partner, with a total annual (gross pre-tax) household income of less than £35,000 and personal savings (jointly or individually) of less than £5,000.

If you don’t quite fit our financial criteria but are nonetheless financially challenged, then do apply, explaining your circumstances in the form.

Terms & conditions

• Applicants to the Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for LGBTQIA+ Writers must fulfil our eligibility criteria. Our form asks you to make statements about your gender identity and sexuality, your financial income and the reason you deserve this fully funded opportunity.
• With respect to the earnings thresholds set out in our eligibility section: for salaried applicants, your current salary at date of application must be under the threshold. For self-employed applicants, your gross pre-tax profits (average figure for the last two financial years) must be under the threshold. State benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance should be counted as income.
• Applicants may be asked to provide proof of their financial circumstances in support of their application.
• Applicants must not be currently represented by a literary agent.

Ready to apply?

Curtis Brown Creative offers mentoring places on the basis of proven writing ability. We ask applicants to send us the first 3,000 words of a novel/memoir/short story/ narrative non-fiction project in progress, with a one-page synopsis, and to fill out our application form. Mentoring places will be awarded to applicants with submission material that shows the greatest potential and promise in our view. The decision will be made by the Curtis Brown Creative team.

Our application process is simple, and we encourage all writers meeting the eligibility criteria to apply.

Don’t worry if you have little or nothing to say in response to questions about e.g. writing experience or employment. Just fill out the form, upload your work and we’ll be in touch soon.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 8 June, and we will respond to applicants by Thursday 12 June 2025. If you encounter any problems during the application process or have any more questions about the courses, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.

Please include in your application that you found this opportunity through Creative Access.