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Creative Writing Mentoring Program

Nurturing creative writing students at Arizona State University

The Creative Writing Mentoring Program aims to facilitate creative and professional collaboration, growth, and connection between graduate and undergraduate students in the Creative Writing program at Arizona State University.

Being a part of the Creative Writing Mentoring Program involves learning about and cultivating your own leadership style, building strong interpersonal relationships, and building a healthy writer community at ASU. It's a role that's rooted in humility, openness, and hard work. 

Though the mentorship program is designed to be a commitment for the full academic year (Fall to Spring), we aspire to create pairings that will last a lifetime,

To learn more about the Mentoring program, you can use the accordion menu to find more information below. 

Who can apply?

Who can apply?

Who can apply? 

Mentors are current Arizona State MFA creative writing students.

Mentees are creative writing BA students who have completed the undergraduate portfolio process and are currently taking the 488/487/498 courses (or have already completed them while still attending ASU).

Both poetry and fiction concentrations are encouraged to apply, and are paired according to a variety of interests. 

How many students are selected? 

Mentors and mentees will be paired one on one. This is a competitive process as only up to five mentors and five mentees are chosen per academic year. 

I'm interested! Should I apply? 

Yes! Here's some of the criteria that we are looking for in our mentors and mentees

Mentors (MFA students) are chosen by the following criteria:

  • Enthusiasm to connect and support undergraduate students on a twice-monthly basis
  • Making their mentees a priority and providing thoughtful, constructive feedback on professional and creative work
  • Ability to build a timeline/curriculum specialized for their mentee's needs and goals
  • Willingness to grow, adapt, and accept that they may not have all the answers, but will work to find solutions by communal support
  • Ability to work well with other mentors and Piper Staff in a team environment while sharing resources and information

Mentees are chosen based on the current number of mentors, and the following:

  • Willingness to grow, adapt, and accept constructive feedback on creative and professional written work by their mentor
  • Availability to attend literature and book events with their mentor throughout the academic year
  • Enthusiasm to connect with peers and build professional and meaningful relationships within the creative writing program and beyond
  • Clear professional goals outlining what they hope to accomplish by seeking mentorship from an MFA student

 

What are the requirements?

What are the requirements?

What are the requirements? 

Mentors must:

  • Attend the mandatory Mentor Training prior to the mentorship period
  • Attend the beginning and end-of-the-semester Mentoring Program launch and closing events (fall and spring)  
  • During the first meeting, will get to know your mentee and fill out the Volta Undergraduate Creative Writing Mentoring Program Initial Meeting Form. On the second meeting, both the mentor and the mentee will go over and sign the completed intake form, and a copy will be made for each of you, and a copy sent to the Director of Volta Mentoring Programs 
  • Provide early documentation of mentees needs/interests and clearly outline goals and objectives for sessions, culminating at the end of the semester
  • Mentors will attend at least one creative writing reading, talk, class, or event with their mentee during the semester
  • Be prepared to connect with their mentee every other week, ready to engage in work assigned
  • Fill out a Mentor Check-In Survey (mid-semester and end-of-semester; fall and spring) 
  • Be evaluated at the end of their mentoring period by their mentee
  • Maintain professional and respectful boundaries with their mentee
  • Remain adaptable and communicate any programmatic challenges to the Director of Volta Mentoring Programs. Any serious/personal student concerns must be communicated directly and as soon as possible to the Assistant Director of Creative Writing.

Mentees must:

  • Acknowledge and sign an agreement form between the mentor and mentee outlining goals and objectives for the duration of the mentorship period
  • Attend the beginning and end-of-the-semester Mentoring Program launch and closing events (fall and spring)  
  • Keep and maintain, 1 hour appointments, every other week, made with their mentor
  • Be prepared to connect with their mentor every other week, ready to engage in work assigned
  • Maintain professional and respectful boundaries with their mentor (no texting/calling unless agreed upon by mentor, etc.)
  • Mentees will attend at least one creative writing reading, talk, class, or event with their mentor during the semester
  • Fill out a Mentee Check-In Survey (mid-semester and end-of-semester; fall and spring) 

How do I apply?

How do I apply?

How do I apply? 

Applications for the 2019-2020 academic year are now open!

Applications are open until April 5, 2019. Students will be notified via email.

Mentors: If you are an MFA graduate student in ASU's Creative Writing program, click here to apply to be a mentor.

Mentees: If you are a BA undergraduate student in ASU's Creative Writing program, click here to apply to be a mentee.

Questions?

Questions?

Questions? 

For more information about Volta mentoring programs, email Program Director Kalani Pickhart at kalani.pickhart@asu.edu. 

You can also click here to read student stories and learn more about our mentoring program's impact.