Based in the UK, Gold Dust is a unique writer mentoring scheme, founded by novelist Jill Dawson. 'During the pandemic many writers have really welcomed the regular support we offer via Zoom or telephone and find that their writing output can remain steady if they have regular deadlines to meet, and a keen reader/mentor to egg them on. We have places available with our top team, including Andrew Miller, Jill Dawson, Tim Pears and many others.'
We offer what Jill herself wanted when she was an unpublished writer working on her first novel: to be able to show it to an established, award-winning author whose work she admired, and get their feedback and advice.
If you are awarded a Gold Dust mentorship we will provide 16 such hours with your mentor, spread out usually over a year. This will be in the form of eight hour-long meetings. Between meetings, the mentors will read your work for a further eight hours, and offer feedback on the writing, as well as an insider’s advice on the publishing world and finding an agent.
There may also be opportunities to attend book launches and other events where you can meet with mentors, other writers, agents and publishers.
We also offer bespoke mentorships of 18 hours which can be spread out over two years.
The Gold Dust fees are £3500 and £4000 for bespoke mentoring. Please note some mentors charge VAT.
Gold Dust’s mentors are chosen for their writing and teaching accomplishments. They must have published at least five books (often the figure is many more) and have won, judged or been nominated for a major national or International literary prize. Many have been RLF Fellows, meaning they are particularly skilled at working one-to-one. In addition, all have taught on the best writing courses and many are, or have been, senior professors and course directors.
Find out more and apply here