Program Details and Requirements The Emerging Writers Mentorship Program gives participants the unique opportunity to work intensively with an experienced writing mentor for almost eight months, receiving support to reach individual writing goals while publishing regularly at Bearings Online. The program is open to writers who demonstrate skill and interest in writing about religious or spiritual topics. Participants are not eligible if they have published a book or are currently enrolled in an MFA program. The program is limited to six participants. In mid-September 2022, the program will kick off with a writing workshop in Collegeville, MN. The writing workshop includes formal seminars, individual mentorship and goal setting, peer-to-peer work, and time for participants to develop their first essay/article idea. Following the workshop, writers will complete three essays under the guidance of their writing mentor. Participants will meet virtually with their mentor, meeting 3-4 times per essay (800 – 1,200 words each), receiving direct feedback and instruction on specific writing techniques. In addition, the group will gather virtually on two occasions for instruction and/or conversation. Essays from each participant will be submitted to the Collegeville Institute’s online publication, Bearings Online, and proceed through the Bearings Online regular editorial process to publication. Participant Commitment This program is designed for people who are committed to their growth as writers, and it requires a significant investment in time and energy for program participants. Participants commit to: Attend the in-person workshop, hosted at the Saint John’s Abbey Guesthouse in Collegeville, MN, held Monday, September 19 – Thursday, September 22, 2022. Travel costs within the continental United States and room/board are covered by the Collegeville Institute. Ongoing post-workshop mentorship, including individual meetings with assigned mentor, an individual meeting with the Bearings Online editors, and two virtual group instruction and/or conversations throughout the duration of the program. Individuals must dedicate time to generating and polishing three total essays, which includes meeting 3-4 times with their mentor per essay to discuss revisions and responding to edits by the Bearings Online editors. Writing Mentors Michael N. McGregor Michael N. McGregor is the author of Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax (Fordham University Press), a finalist for a Washington State Book Award and several other prizes. His creative works have appeared in many journals and magazines, including Tin House, Orion, Image, Poetry, The Seattle Review, StoryQuarterly, The South Dakota Review, The Mid-America Poetry Review, Notre Dame Magazine, and Utne Reader. He is the 2022 recipient of the Oregon Historical Society’s Donald J. Sterling, Jr., Senior Research Fellowship in Pacific Northwest History and has received numerous awards for his teaching and writing, including commendations in the Best American Essays and Pushcart Prize series. To learn more about him, go to michaelnmcgregor.com. Patrice Gopo Drawing on her experience as the child of Jamaican immigrants, born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Patrice Gopo enjoys exploring issues of race, immigration, and belonging. Her essays have appeared in a variety of publications, including Catapult, Charlotte Magazine, Creative Nonfiction, Gulf Coast, and Full Grown People. Her radio commentaries have appeared on Charlotte, North Carolina’s NPR Station WFAE 90.7, and she is the recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship. Her essay “That Autumn” was a notable in the Best American Essays 2020 and earned a City and Regional Magazine Association award for best essay, criticism, and commentary. She is the author of All the Colors We Will See, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Her debut picture book, All the Places We Call Home, will release in June 2022. Patrice lives with her family in North Carolina. Application Process: The application deadline for this program has now passed.
