Apply | SUNHOUSE Summer Writing Mentorship

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Mentee applications for 2025 are currently open! The deadline to apply is Friday April 4th at 11:59PM PST.

Please note that in line with our mission statement, we do give preference to BIPOC and/or low-income applicants when making final decisions. However, we absolutely still welcome applications from writers who do not fall into either of these two categories for our 2025 cohort. All applications are considered carefully and in full.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are conducted through a Google Form and consist of 2 writing prompts, a creative writing sample, and a few short answer questions. Applications are, and will always, remain cost-free.

In order to minimize barriers to applying, we have marked 1 of the 2 writing prompts as optional; however, if you have the time, we would love to see your answers to both.

With these prompts, we hope to get a sense of your personal voice, the strength of your connection to writing, and your ability to communicate your insights. We value potential over perfection, and there is no one way to write your essay(s).

We do not allow any use of generative AI in the creation of your work, and when reading, we screen all responses for potential AI use.

Additionally, please refrain from including any information regarding potential past accolades you have achieved (such as publications, contest recognition, attendance in other writing programs, etc.).

If, in your responses, you feel naturally compelled to discuss a professional experience you’ve had because it has been truly formative to your identity as a writer, then feel free to do so. However, keep in mind that we do not make any decisions based on the “merit” or number of an applicant’s past achievements.

WRITING PROMPTS

Please respond to the prompts below. All answers should be in size 12 Times New Roman and double spaced. In your document, please indicate which prompt number corresponds to which of your responses and include a page break between the two if you are answering both.

All answers should be in the same document and uploaded in a .docx or .doc format to the Google Form.

PROMPT 1 *REQUIRED

In 200 to 350 words, briefly describe what you hope to learn from the program, as well as how writing, or even language as a medium in general, has impacted you. What inspires you to write? When inspiration fails, what continues to tether you to your words, or even others’? What about writing remains mysterious to you? In your response, your answers may be as abstract or concrete as you like, and topics can range anywhere from a specific poetic device to generally wanting to better explore your relationship to writing.

PROMPT 2 *OPTIONAL

In 300 to 400 words, tell us about your favorite piece of art, why it means a lot to you, and how this has influenced the way you approach your own art. While the mentorship will be for creative writing specifically, you may discuss anything from a witty short story to a nostalgic pop song to a meaningful conversation you held with a friend. Can an image be a poem? Can a casual anecdote be beautiful? Take this as a chance to show us what you care about. How does your love for other ideas, subjects, or people translate into your own writing?

SUMMARIZING YOUR WORK

We also ask that you provide a brief 1-3 sentence description of the topics or themes that often appear in your writing. Your response here holds no weight in your application decision and is only used if you are accepted. More details will be available in the application form.

WRITING SAMPLE

Upload a portfolio of your original work in the genre(s) you are applying for. For prose and poetry (and when applicable, hybrid) portfolios, the font should be size 12 Times New Roman and the document should be in a .docx or .doc format. If necessary, you may use a .pdf format if the form of your work is difficult to preserve otherwise.

All prose work should be double spaced. There is no spacing restriction for poetry.

I'M APPLYING FOR POETRY

Your portfolio should consist of 3-5 poems (10 pages max).

I'M APPLYING FOR FICTION OR NONFICTION

Your portfolio should consist of 1-2 fiction pieces (10 pages max). All lengths and forms are welcome, from microfiction to flash to novels. Excerpts from longer pieces are fine.

I'M APPLYING FOR SPOKEN WORD

Your portfolio should consist of 1-3 videos of you performing your work, as well as transcripts of your performed pieces.

I'M APPLYING FOR HYBRID

Regardless of whether this is the only category you are applying for, please keep your written sample within 12 pages and include everything in the same document. This is also the only category where we accept samples of creative nonfiction/memoir work.

✺ I'M APPLYING FOR FICTION AND POETRY

Keep your sample within 10 pages and include everything in the same document. We try our best to prioritize your preferred genre in our final decision.

✺ I'M APPLYING FOR SPOKEN WORD AND ANOTHER GENRE/OTHER GENRES

Keep your writing sample within 7 pages and include 1-2 performance videos.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Check our FAQ or email us.

******

Mentee applications for 2025 are currently open! The deadline to apply is Friday April 4th at 11:59PM PST.

Please note that in line with our mission statement, we do give preference to BIPOC and/or low-income applicants when making final decisions. However, we absolutely still welcome applications from writers who do not fall into either of these two categories for our 2025 cohort. All applications are considered carefully and in full.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are conducted through a Google Form and consist of 2 writing prompts, a creative writing sample, and a few short answer questions. Applications are, and will always, remain cost-free.

In order to minimize barriers to applying, we have marked 1 of the 2 writing prompts as optional; however, if you have the time, we would love to see your answers to both.

With these prompts, we hope to get a sense of your personal voice, the strength of your connection to writing, and your ability to communicate your insights. We value potential over perfection, and there is no one way to write your essay(s).

We do not allow any use of generative AI in the creation of your work, and when reading, we screen all responses for potential AI use.

Additionally, please refrain from including any information regarding potential past accolades you have achieved (such as publications, contest recognition, attendance in other writing programs, etc.).

If, in your responses, you feel naturally compelled to discuss a professional experience you’ve had because it has been truly formative to your identity as a writer, then feel free to do so. However, keep in mind that we do not make any decisions based on the “merit” or number of an applicant’s past achievements.

WRITING PROMPTS

Please respond to the prompts below. All answers should be in size 12 Times New Roman and double spaced. In your document, please indicate which prompt number corresponds to which of your responses and include a page break between the two if you are answering both.

All answers should be in the same document and uploaded in a .docx or .doc format to the Google Form.

PROMPT 1 *REQUIRED

In 200 to 350 words, briefly describe what you hope to learn from the program, as well as how writing, or even language as a medium in general, has impacted you. What inspires you to write? When inspiration fails, what continues to tether you to your words, or even others’? What about writing remains mysterious to you? In your response, your answers may be as abstract or concrete as you like, and topics can range anywhere from a specific poetic device to generally wanting to better explore your relationship to writing.

PROMPT 2 *OPTIONAL

In 300 to 400 words, tell us about your favorite piece of art, why it means a lot to you, and how this has influenced the way you approach your own art. While the mentorship will be for creative writing specifically, you may discuss anything from a witty short story to a nostalgic pop song to a meaningful conversation you held with a friend. Can an image be a poem? Can a casual anecdote be beautiful? Take this as a chance to show us what you care about. How does your love for other ideas, subjects, or people translate into your own writing?

SUMMARIZING YOUR WORK

We also ask that you provide a brief 1-3 sentence description of the topics or themes that often appear in your writing. Your response here holds no weight in your application decision and is only used if you are accepted. More details will be available in the application form.

WRITING SAMPLE

Upload a portfolio of your original work in the genre(s) you are applying for. For prose and poetry (and when applicable, hybrid) portfolios, the font should be size 12 Times New Roman and the document should be in a .docx or .doc format. If necessary, you may use a .pdf format if the form of your work is difficult to preserve otherwise.

All prose work should be double spaced. There is no spacing restriction for poetry.

I'M APPLYING FOR POETRY

Your portfolio should consist of 3-5 poems (10 pages max).

I'M APPLYING FOR FICTION OR NONFICTION

Your portfolio should consist of 1-2 fiction pieces (10 pages max). All lengths and forms are welcome, from microfiction to flash to novels. Excerpts from longer pieces are fine.

I'M APPLYING FOR SPOKEN WORD

Your portfolio should consist of 1-3 videos of you performing your work, as well as transcripts of your performed pieces.

I'M APPLYING FOR HYBRID

Regardless of whether this is the only category you are applying for, please keep your written sample within 12 pages and include everything in the same document. This is also the only category where we accept samples of creative nonfiction/memoir work.

✺ I'M APPLYING FOR FICTION AND POETRY

Keep your sample within 10 pages and include everything in the same document. We try our best to prioritize your preferred genre in our final decision.

✺ I'M APPLYING FOR SPOKEN WORD AND ANOTHER GENRE/OTHER GENRES

Keep your writing sample within 7 pages and include 1-2 performance videos.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Check our FAQ or email us.

******

Mentee applications for 2025 are currently open! The deadline to apply is Friday April 4th at 11:59PM PST.

Please note that in line with our mission statement, we do give preference to BIPOC and/or low-income applicants when making final decisions. However, we absolutely still welcome applications from writers who do not fall into either of these two categories for our 2025 cohort. All applications are considered carefully and in full.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are conducted through a Google Form and consist of 2 writing prompts, a creative writing sample, and a few short answer questions. Applications are, and will always, remain cost-free.

In order to minimize barriers to applying, we have marked 1 of the 2 writing prompts as optional; however, if you have the time, we would love to see your answers to both.

With these prompts, we hope to get a sense of your personal voice, the strength of your connection to writing, and your ability to communicate your insights. We value potential over perfection, and there is no one way to write your essay(s).

We do not allow any use of generative AI in the creation of your work, and when reading, we screen all responses for potential AI use.

Additionally, please refrain from including any information regarding potential past accolades you have achieved (such as publications, contest recognition, attendance in other writing programs, etc.). If, in your responses, you feel naturally compelled to discuss a professional experience you’ve had because it has been truly formative to your identity as a writer, then feel free to do so. However, keep in mind that we do not make any decisions based on the “merit” or number of an applicant’s past achievements.

WRITING PROMPTS

Please respond to the prompts below. All answers should be in size 12 Times New Roman and double spaced. In your document, please indicate which prompt number corresponds to which of your responses and include a page break between the two if you are answering both.

All answers should be in the same document and uploaded in a .docx or .doc format to the Google Form.

PROMPT 1 *REQUIRED

In 200 to 350 words, briefly describe what you hope to learn from the program, as well as how writing, or even language as a medium in general, has impacted you. What inspires you to write? When inspiration fails, what continues to tether you to your words, or even others’? What about writing remains mysterious to you? In your response, your answers may be as abstract or concrete as you like, and topics can range anywhere from a specific poetic device to generally wanting to better explore your relationship to writing.

PROMPT 2 *OPTIONAL

In 300 to 400 words, tell us about your favorite piece of art, why it means a lot to you, and how this has influenced the way you approach your own art. While the mentorship will be for creative writing specifically, you may discuss anything from a witty short story to a nostalgic pop song to a meaningful conversation you held with a friend. Can an image be a poem? Can a casual anecdote be beautiful? Take this as a chance to show us what you care about. How does your love for other ideas, subjects, or people translate into your own writing?

SUMMARIZING YOUR WORK

We also ask that you provide a brief 1-3 sentence description of the topics or themes that often appear in your writing. Your response here holds no weight in your application decision and is only used if you are accepted. More details will be available in the application form.

WRITING SAMPLE

Upload a portfolio of your original work in the genre(s) you are applying for. For prose and poetry (and when applicable, hybrid) portfolios, the font should be size 12 Times New Roman and the document should be in a .docx or .doc format. If necessary, you may use a .pdf format if the form of your work is difficult to preserve otherwise.

All prose work should be double spaced. There is no spacing restriction for poetry.

I'M APPLYING FOR POETRY

Your portfolio should consist of 3-5 poems (10 pages max).

I'M APPLYING FOR FICTION OR NONFICTION

Your portfolio should consist of 1-2 fiction pieces (10 pages max). All lengths and forms are welcome, from microfiction to flash to novels. Excerpts from longer pieces are fine.

I'M APPLYING FOR SPOKEN WORD

Your portfolio should consist of 1-3 videos of you performing your work, as well as transcripts of your performed pieces.

I'M APPLYING FOR HYBRID

Regardless of whether this is the only category you are applying for, please keep your written sample within 12 pages and include everything in the same document. This is also the only category where we accept samples of creative nonfiction/memoir work.

✺ I'M APPLYING FOR FICTION AND POETRY

Keep your sample within 10 pages and include everything in the same document. We try our best to prioritize your preferred genre in our final decision.

✺ I'M APPLYING FOR SPOKEN WORD AND ANOTHER GENRE/OTHER GENRES

Keep your writing sample within 7 pages and include 1-2 performance videos.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Check our FAQ or email us.

Apply Now ✺