Scottish Book Trust mentoring 2014

The 2014 Scottish Book Trust mentoring partnerships are all now coming to the end. Nine months of hard work for all involved has led to some dramatic results. Thank you all involved!

As an example of what can be achieved through mentoring, the following was the result of an earlier short nine-month period…

• seven new novels completed or nearing completion;
• one debut stage play written and about to go in to active rehearsal with support from the National Theatre of Scotland;
• one writer given help, support and confidence when at a very low ebb;
• one novel that had lain uncompleted for six years, now complete;
• one debut novelist signed to an agent;
• one writer found inspiration and the skills required to take her from the printed page to the screen;
• one young writer took her first steps by pulling together a portfolio to apply for a creative writing course;
• two writers who had already completed the mentoring process reported astonishing results – one won an international screen-writing competition and another gained a BBC commission for a Gaelic television series. Both were new to screenwriting at the start of the mentoring arrangements;
• six new mentors (writers – printed word and stage – agents and editors) experienced and keen to take on more.

‘‘I had a real sense that he was taking me and my work seriously and that he would push me to get the best out of myself, and that is what matters most.”