REPORT OF THE SLM AUGUST 2018 MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The Sprinng Literary Movement Mentorship Programme is an intensive 3-weeks programme for developing Nigerian writers with great potential and willingness to learn. It is for Nigerian writers between the ages of 16-25 who reside in Nigeria, and who have not published a book. In January 2018, 9 writers were mentored in the programme and in August 2018, 20 writers participated in the programme.

This programme focuses on 4 genres: Poetry, Fiction, Essay, and Book Review. During the 3-weeks, the August 2018 mentees were in contact with their mentors, sending them work and receiving reviews, tips, and commentaries. Mentors and mentees aimed to work on at least 3 work (poems/short stories/essays/book reviews) per week.

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE PROGRAMME REPORT AND COMMENTARIES BY MENTEES

​PROGRAMME REPORT - AUGUST 2018

During the August 2018 Mentorship Programme, the SLM team implemented new strategies and expanded resources to serve the programme participants. The following were affected:

• Communication access beyond emails; to phone calls, text messages, WhatsApp
• An online portal with all the programme resources and assignments
• Check-in sessions with mentees and mentors to ensure their progress
• Extended programme ending date to accommodate the needs of mentees
• Use of online forms compared to our previous use of Word documents
• Reminders about deadlines to essential tasks

 
All the new strategies proved successful and beneficial to the programme participants. In the final feedback form, all the programme participants agreed that the programme was well planned. The SLM team were praised for their efforts. A mentor, Lanre Oranyeli who participated in both January and August 2018 mentorship programme wrote:
I think that enough thought was put in the programme because of how it has changed from January. The new web portal, personal logins, group correspondence and so much more added a lot of professional touch and ease to the programme.
 
A mentee, Emmanuel Thompson wrote:
I feel that enough thought was put into the programme planning; from the programme itself, the management, the mentors, the swift dissemination of information, etc. SLM is unique and indescribable. Kudos to the team that brought this excellent idea into actualization. ​

​All the programme participants reported that they experienced positive change from their commitment to the programme. Emmanuel Thompson continued stating,
I came into the programme so raw and undefined regarding creative writing(s). The way I structured most of my poems were appalling, but my Mentor guided me through. He ensured that every little detail was taken into consideration.
 
Even the mentors were not spared from this positive impact. In the feedback form, a mentor, Toju Takure wrote:
I enjoy teaching a lot. So, the program helped me get even better at teaching. For example, teaching from a distance (online) can be a different ball game. It takes dedication and discipline to pull through. SLM helped me in that regard.
 
The SLM Mentorship Programme was a humbling experience for many mentors, even for some, who are best-selling authors. Some discovered their passion and others refined their creative writing skills through the programme. Christtie Jay, the author of At War With Love, who participated as both a mentor and mentee in the programme wrote;
The programme helped challenge and develop my writing skills. I was forced to read authors outside my comfort zone, to comment on the assignments given. I found the mentor portal highly educative. I wrote a lot more, and I even realized that I might have a calling in editing.
 
Seun Lari-Williams, author of the award-winning book Garri for Breakfast in his feedback, wrote:
Because of the programme, I had the opportunity to visit the poems that made me fall in love with poetry, some of which I shared with my mentee, Woli Kafilah. I also relearned my figures of speech and other literary devices which I find that I'm now using again. Thank you for this.
 
Notably, Pamilerin Jacob who participated as a mentee in the January 2018 cohort of the programme was re-invited to serve as a mentor in August 2018. His profound excellence and successful release his debut anthology titled Memoir of Crushed Petals led to the decision for his return. Just like Pamilerin Jacob, Sanni Oluwatimileyin, a mentee in the August 2018 cohort will be returning in 2019 to serve as a mentor of the programme. His proactive and enthusiastic attitude accompanied by his unique writing skills and style has made him worthy of serving as a mentor in the programme, in 2019. After the programme, Sanni’s mentor: Ifeoluwa Shoola described him as a pretty established writer. She highlighted his humility by mentioning that despite his wealth of knowledge he made use of the feedback provided to him and showed significant progress during the programme.
 
Regarding the programme time frame, many mentees and mentors reported that they wish the programme could be extended for a longer period. Most mentors went the extra mile to work with their mentees for about 2 weeks to review and catch up on all the necessary information,   even after the programme officially ended.
 
The mentees in the programme reported improvement in their creative writing. The following points were common in most of the mentees report about their progress in the programme:

• Increase in confidence
• Knowledge about punctuation
• Improved grammar
• Exploration of themes
• Enhanced use of imagery in writing
• Improved organization of ideas
• Discovery of their “unique perspective” in writing
• Increased use of writing devices
• Exploration outside their comfort zone

 
While discussing how the programme helped boost her confidence, Mohammed Zaynab, a mentee, wrote:
Previously, I did not believe in calling myself a writer because I felt that my writings were not creative enough, especially in poetry. However, with this programme, there is a new confidence in my writing, and I am even willing to send my poems for publication.
 
When asked if they would love to participate in a similar opportunity again, all mentees responded: Yes!
 
The programme experience had some ups and downs, however, we commend the effort of mentors like Ayoola Goodness; who through thick and thin ensured that he provided excellent services to his mentee: Emmanuel Faith. In Ayoola’s feedback, he wrote:
At first, it was like I would not be able to continue with the mentorship programme because of other pressing engagements. I had some other technical constraints, but then, I refused to give up to the extent that I had to sacrifice my sleep to meet up with some reviews and lectures with my mentee. I have, however, learned from this experience, that a lot could be achieved through an enduring commitment. And what the outcome is, on the side of my mentee, is something I am very proud of.
 
Through the feedback form, suggestions were provided for the next cohorts of the programme, such as:

• Having a separate communication platform for the mentees only
• Hosting weekly contests for the mentees in the programme
• Interchanging with mentors to gain additional perspective of their work
• Increasing the programme duration to a month or more
• Creating more specialized genres of mentorship
• Organizing events where mentees will meet their mentors in person
• Creating an anthology for the mentees works

 
To conclude their feedback of the programme, many participants shared their appreciation for the SLM team. Ayoola Goodness, an award-winning poet and the author of Mediations, a collection of poems wrote:
I want to sincerely thank the team for the opportunity to mentor. This, I consider a rare privilege. I believe that this movement of impartation is evidence of a secured future — an establishment of a unique and great community of literary giants.
 
Going forward the SLM team will evaluate the feedback provided by the mentors and mentees of the programme, then, plan towards the re-opening of the programme in 2019. Although the application and programme dates for 2019 are yet to be decided, we hope to host a larger number of mentor and mentees in the third cohort of the programme.
 
Written by Oyindamola Shoola
CEO of Sprinng Literary Movement
www.sprinng.org

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PROFILES OF THE AUGUST 2018 MENTEES