Pilson receives Steph Bowe mentorship

Ella Pilson has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers.

Pilson, a recent graduate of RMIT’s Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing, was shortlisted for the Hachette Prize for Young Writers in 2020 and has been published in RMIT’s Catalyst and on ArtsHub. Pilson will be paired with an author for a 20-hour mentorship to develop her manuscript, ‘RIBS’, a contemporary coming-of-age novel about a queer sixteen-year-old artist called Leila who must navigate a new school and new relationships after a bullying incident, which was shortlisted for this year’s Text Prize. Pilson will also receive a 12-month membership with Express Media, Voiceworks and Writers Victoria.

Designed to encourage an exciting new writer in Australian children’s literature under the age of 25, the mentorship is awarded to the Text Prize entrant the judging panel believes would receive the most benefit from the mentorship. It was established in memory of the late Text author Steph Bowe and her long-standing commitment to fostering and mentoring young writers. Bowe’s first book was published when she was 16 and she became a highly sought-after speaker, who encouraged young writers and travelled around the country to visit schools and festivals.

Said senior editor Penny Hueston: ‘We are very proud to continue to support the Steph Bowe Mentorship in honour of the life and work of a wonderful writer.’

A Text initiative, the mentorship is delivered in partnership with LoveOzYA and supported by Express Media and the National Writers’ Centre Network. Last year’s recipient was Claire Matthews. Previous recipients were Ellie Casey and Emilie Morscheck.

Category: Awards Local news