Annick Press Mentorship Program 2026–27: $1,000 Bursary for Emerging Children’s Writers

Annick Press is accepting applications for its 2026–27 Mentorship Program, an annual initiative supporting emerging writers and author-illustrators whose perspectives have historically been excluded from children’s publishing.

Applications for the 2026–27 program are open until September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

 

About the Annick Press Mentorship Program

The mentorship program was created to address inequity and representation in children’s publishing by providing creators who have historically faced barriers to publishing with access to professional mentorship and industry expertise.

Selected mentees will participate in a four-month mentorship beginning in January 2027.

Each mentee will be paired with an Annick editor who will tailor the mentorship to their individual goals and interests.

The program also gives mentees opportunities to meet staff working across Annick Press, including professionals in marketing, sales, foreign rights, art and design, and production.

A virtual mentee meetup will also allow participants to connect with one another and share their experiences.

 

Benefits of the Annick Press Mentorship Program

Each selected mentee will receive:

• A $1,000 bursary for the four-month mentorship.
• Individual mentorship with an Annick Press editor.
• Guidance tailored to their writing or illustration goals.
• Opportunities to learn about different areas of the children’s publishing industry.
• The opportunity to meet Annick staff across departments.
• Access to a virtual community of fellow mentees.

The mentorship is intended to support works in progress rather than completed, polished manuscripts.

 

Eligible Projects

Annick Press is looking for original writing projects that could potentially fit its publishing list.

Eligible works in progress include:

• Picture books.
• Novels for early readers, middle readers, and young adults.
• Graphic novels.
• Children’s nonfiction.

Projects do not need to be finished when submitted. Applicants are encouraged to submit work that is still being developed.

Projects that have previously been self-published are not eligible. However, writers and author-illustrators who have previously self-published may apply with an unpublished project.

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a writer or author-illustrator whose perspective has historically been excluded from children’s publishing.
• Be an emerging writer or author-illustrator with no traditional book publication history or up to one traditionally published book in North America.
• Be 18 years or older.
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• Not have previously published a book with Annick Press.
• The program welcomes creators from a range of historically underrepresented communities, including 2SLGBTQIA+ creators, Black creators, Indigenous creators, creators of colour, creators living with disabilities, and people living at the intersections of these identities.
• Books under contract for future publication count as published books for the purposes of eligibility.

Applicants who are unsure whether a previously released title affects their eligibility can contact editor@annickpress.com.

 

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a completed application form along with a sample of their project.

Please email the application materials to: editor@annickpress.com

Applicants should include their full name in the filenames of their submitted documents.

 

Picture Books

Applicants for picture books should submit a full manuscript.

The manuscript does not need to be perfect or in its final form. Early drafts are welcome.

Novels and Children’s Nonfiction

Applicants should submit either:

• A brief synopsis of up to 500 words, or an outline; and
• A writing sample of up to 3,500 words.

Graphic Novels

Applicants should submit:

• A one-page outline; and
• Either 10 low-resolution thumbnail spreads in PDF format or 10 pages of graphic novel script.

Applicants should also review Annick Press’s statement on artificial intelligence use before submitting their work.

 

Deadline

The deadline to apply for the 2026–27 Annick Press Mentorship Program is:

September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

The four-month mentorship begins in January 2027.

 

editing your manuscript.

Applicants can also learn more about the editing process through What Is Copy Editing? A Guide on Elementary Copy Editing.