Mentorship Program
The Women in Horror Arts & Media Association Mentorship Program connects horror and dark literature creators with experienced professionals who can offer craft, career, and industry guidance.
Please read this page in full before applying.
Our mentorship program aims to help women and gender-diverse creators strengthen their craft, navigate the business of horror, and build more sustainable creative careers. Mentors may offer guidance on structure, atmosphere, voice, and revision, as well as contracts, pricing, submissions, pitching, budgeting, and evaluating professional opportunities. The program also creates access to practical knowledge, relationships, and professional networks that have not always been equally open to everyone in horror.
Mentorship provides guidance and support, but participation does not guarantee publication, representation, employment, funding, or any other specific professional outcome.
Program Details
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Mentorship is offered at no cost to accepted mentees who are active members.
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Mentors participate as volunteers.
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Applications are open until December 15, 2026. Mentorship pairing will start in mid-January for a three-month period. Mentees who are not in the winter program will be placed in the summer program.
How it Works
All individual memberships include:
The WiHAMA Mentorship Program is not a course with a graduation date. It begins with a structured three-month period to help mentors and mentees establish a productive relationship and work toward agreed-upon goals.
After the formal mentorship period ends, mentors and mentees are encouraged to stay in touch when appropriate. Mentees are welcome to reapply for future mentorships at that point.
The mentor and mentee set goals, meet on an agreed cadence, and check in with the program periodically over the program’s three-month mentorship.
Please note: mentors are not writing coaches or editors. Rather, they are experienced professionals who can answer questions, share knowledge about their specialties and offer general guidance and perspective.
Ongoing support
Throughout the mentorship program, the WIHAMA mentorship chair and volunteers will check in periodically, as well as provide additional support and resources.
Group workshops and panels will also run on a rolling calendar and are open to all active mentees.
Who It's For
Mentees are adults 18 and over who are women, including cis and trans women, and nonbinary and gender-fluid adults working in horror writing, filmmaking, or another horror arts and media field. No publication, production, representation, or festival credits required. Mentees must be a member of WiHAMA to apply.
Mentors are qualified professionals of any gender who support the association's mission, meet the program's experience and safety standards, and agree to the WiHAMA Code of Conduct. Mentors should have meaningful experience in horror arts, media, publishing, or a related creative field, along with a willingness to support emerging and developing creators. In general, they should meet the following criteria:
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Experience: At least 2 years of professional experience in their area of expertise (horror writing/editing/reviewing, filmmaking, publishing, visual arts, podcasting, games, or other horror arts or media disciplines), and/or or a body of professional work, credits, publications, productions, exhibitions, or other accomplishments appropriate to their field.
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Knowledge: Demonstrated professional knowledge and an understanding of practices relevant to their field, such as submissions, pitching, contracts, production, budgeting, publishing, distribution, marketing, or career development.
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A Mentoring Mindset: A willingness to listen, provide constructive feedback and perspective, respect the mentee's goals, and share knowledge. In addition, an an ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and a commitment to inclusion and fostering a respectful environment consistent with WiHAMA's mission and Code of Conduct. Mentors must also be able to commit to the three-month mentorship period and maintain the agreed-upon meeting schedule.
WiHAMA recognizes that professional experience takes many forms. Traditional publishing or industry credits are not required if an applicant can demonstrate substantial experience, expertise or accomplishment in their field.
WiHAMA reserves the right to decline or remove a mentor based on conduct, conflicts of interest, inability to maintain boundaries or other concerns affecting participant safety.
What this program does not do
Mentorship is guidance; not a brokerage or representation relationship. Please read this before applying.
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A mentorship match is not guaranteed. Submitting an application does not guarantee placement with a mentor.
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Mentors cannot guarantee publication, representation, production, funding, employment, festival acceptance, or any other professional outcome.
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Mentors do not serve as an attorney, therapist, agent, employer, publisher, producer, or guarantor of outcomes unless a separate written professional relationship explicitly establishes that role.
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Discussion of contracts, rights, and creative-business basics is general information only. It is not legal advice.
Code of Conduct
Every participant, mentor and mentee alike, must read and agree to the WiHAMA Mentorship Program Code of Conduct as part of their application. It covers respect, confidentiality, professional boundaries, scope of role, and how to raise a concern.
Read the Code of Conduct (forthcoming)
Original Work Only
Work brought to this program must be your own. Writing or creative material generated with AI tools will not be accepted for mentorship, and applications including such material will be declined. Mentors are giving you their time and craft knowledge, and that exchange only works on work you actually made.
Questions About the Program?
Questions about the program: membership@womeninhorrorassociation.org