The Live Literature Mentoring Programme is inviting début children’s or young people’s writers to apply for a new fully-funded programme. This is a new scheme encompassing creative and practical supports. The selected Mentees will be connected to a welcoming community and supported in developing their live performance practice.
The Live Literature Mentoring Programme is facilitated by Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde. Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council. It is managed and delivered on Council’s behalf by Children’s Books Ireland, and also supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
What is the Live Literature Mentoring Programme?
The Live Literature Mentoring Programme is aimed at supporting four début writers who would benefit from support in presenting themselves and their book to a live audience. Mentees will be assisted in creating successful events for schools, libraries and festivals. They will also be supported in attending training sessions, in doing two live events with young audiences and to attend the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference.
Our aims are:
- To increase writers’ confidence in performing live literature events,
- To give writers tools to use in the classroom, or on stage to help their events run smoothly,
- To create engaging and creative events for young audiences which suit the Mentee’s work and personality,
- To ensure the continued provision of excellent events for young readers.
Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde says, ‘I am looking forward to helping début writers present fun and interesting events for young readers. As someone who has been doing live events for a very long time. I can’t wait to pass on all the tips and tricks I’ve learnt along the way. This is a great opportunity to work with a small and supportive group and discover the best way to present your book to children in schools, libraries and festivals.’
The creative and practical supports included in the Mentorship programme are as follows:
- Mentorship from Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde
- A training weekend in Galway City with guest speakers who have strong events and performance backgrounds
- An individual school visit for each Mentee accompanied by Patricia Forde, followed by a group Zoom to reflect on the individual sessions
- A solo school visit, co-ordinated by the Laureate na nÓg office
- A final training and reflection day with fellow Mentees and a guest speaker
- Professional photography providing Mentees with headshots which can be used for event pitching
- Opportunities to connect and network with the community at Children’s Books Ireland’s artist coffee mornings and other social events including the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference in September 2025
- The tools, information and guidance needed to develop and manage your own events and practical supports and information around being a writer and an artist e.g. PLR schemes, Tax Free Status etc.
- A critique from Children’s Books Ireland of the Mentee’s final event pitch document – including event description, biography etc