Emerging Translator Mentorships 2022–23

The National Centre for Writing (NCW) in the UK is calling for applications from translators into English for the 2022–23 NCW Emerging Translator Mentorship programme.

The scheme matches up experienced translators with emerging translators for six-months during which they work together on practical translation projects, developing their craft through working on a chosen text or texts. The mentor acts as an adviser to the mentee on aspects of life as a professional translator, such as time management, meeting deadlines, managing finances and understanding contracts, and as an advocate for their mentee with publishers in search of literary translators.

The mentoring period lasts for six months, from October 2022 to March 2023, with an additional in-person meeting in Norwich and London from 17–20 April 2023. During this time, the mentoring pair will meet at least four times, either in person or virtually.

There are a number of languages this year, including:

Danish (mentored by Paul Russell Garrett)
Hindi – The Saroj Lal mentorship (mentored by Daisy Rockwell)
Indonesian – Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize (mentored by Khairani Barokka)
Italian (mentored by Howard Curtis)
Japanese (mentored by Juliet Winters Carpenter)
Korean (mentored by Anton Hur)
Norwegian (mentored by Rosie Hedger)
Polish (mentored by Sean Gasper Bye)
Swedish (mentored by Nichola Smalley)
Visible Communities Mentorship (mentored by Meena Kandasamy); open to UK-based literary translators who are either Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse or are working from heritage, diaspora and community languages of the UK.

What successful applicants receive

A 500 GBP bursary and reasonable travel expenses associated with the mentorship
An online Industry Week with tailored training events and talks
Access to UK industry events such
A concluding digital showcase to amplify the translators’ work to wider audiences

Who can apply?

The programme is open to emerging translators who have published no more than one full-length work of literary translation.
MFA and MA students in translation can apply, but priority may be given to those who do not have access to this kind of guidance.
The emerging translator need not live in the UK (with the exception of the Visible Communities mentorship).

Application guidelines

Deadline: 31 August 2022