Mentoring Young Authors

THE GOAL

• This scheme will ensure creating a pool of authors in 22 Indian languages who are ready to express themselves and project India on any international platform, as well as it will help in projecting Indian culture and literature globally.
• The young authors so mentored shall become proficient in writing in various genres like fiction, non-fiction, travelogues, memoirs, drama, poetry and so on.
• It will make sure to bring reading and authorship as a preferred profession at par with other job options, making the children of India take reading and knowledge as an integral part of their grooming up years.
  • A total of 10 young authors from each of 22 official Indian languages + 1 English Language will be selected, i.e.
    230 (23 x10) + 20 (nominated as per outstanding work in the field of literature) Total = 250 young authors

Phase I – Training (6 months)

• The National Book Trust, India will organise a Two-Week Writers’ Online Programme for the selected candidates for the first three months.
• During this period, the young authors will be trained by two eminent authors/mentors from NBT’s panel of accomplished authors and writers, for each language group.

PHASE II – Promotion (6 months)

• The young authors will get to expand their understanding and hone their skills through interaction at various international events such as Literary Festivals, Book Fairs, Virtual Book Fair, Cultural Exchange Programmes, etc.
• Selected child authors will also be paid annual scholarship
• A book or a series of books written by the young authors will be published by NBT, India as the outcome of the mentorship programme.
• Efforts will be made to get the selected books translated into UN and other international languages and promote the same through Indian embassies in collaboration with NBT.