SBC Mentorships for
Emerging Writers and Translators
SBC has launched a new mentorship programme for emerging writers and translators. The programme aims to provide professional guidance and support for their development, as they work on their manuscripts. Through this initiative, we hope to build a growing community of writers and translators who can support one another in their journey.
The writing mentees can choose to work in any of the four languages (Chinese, English, Malay or Tamil). The translation mentees will be translating into English from any of the three mother tongue languages.
The pilot run of the programme will start in March and will focus on fiction first. The second run will focus on poetry. Each mentee will be paired with an established writer or translator over a six-month period, working on a selected manuscript.
Participation in the mentorship is free for successful applicants (there will be an application fee). There will be a selection process as there are limited places.
Applications are now open for the SBC Translator Mentorship (Tamil-to-English). Please visit the respective tab below for more information.
For more information, please view the respective tabs for each mentorship below or write to us at [email protected].
Our translator-in-residence, Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, will be mentoring translators translating from Tamil to English for a period of three months starting from Feb 2024 to May 2024.
Participation in the mentorship is free. Applicants who are accepted will have to commit to the entire programme and complete it.
Programme Structure
The mentorship will commence mid-Feb 2024 and will run over a period of three (3) months. Each mentor and mentee pair is required to meet at least two times each month for one (1) hour each time. They can decide how they plan to communicate with each other, virtually, via phone or email. The mentor will provide editorial feedback on the manuscript, as well as professional advice where applicable.
Mentees are expected to complete at the end of the mentorship:
- Two (2) short stories or five (5) to ten (10) poems
- Final report
Programme Schedule
- Mid-November 2023: Applications close
- Mid-December 2023: Successful mentees will be notified
- January 2024: Preparation for mentorship by mentee
- February 2024: Mentorship begins
- May 2024: Mentorship ends
- Late May to Early June 2024: Submission of Final Report
Eligibility
The applicant should:
- be 21 years old or above;
- be a Singaporean or PR;
- not have published one full-length work before (either a novel or a collection of short stories/anthology of poems)
Submission Guidelines
Please prepare the following materials in .pdf format for your submission.
- CV
- A personal statement that answers the questions:
- Why do you want to do participate in the mentorship?
- What do you hope to gain through the mentorship?
- A proposal of no more than 1,000 words. The proposal should include information and the importance of the source text that you plan to translate.
- A three (3)-page translation sample together with the original Tamil text. This can be a translation of the proposed work, or a previous piece of your translation. Please identify the source text.
- Written permission to translate the source text for the purpose of the mentorship
The submission deadline is Monday, 20 November 2023.
Successful applicants will be informed by mid-December 2023.
Please email [email protected] if you have any queries.
The SBC Emerging Writers Mentorship aims to provide professional guidance and support for emerging writers. Each mentee will be paired with an established writer to work on their craft and development, as they work on a selected manuscript.
The pilot run will focus on fiction in any of the four languages (Chinese, English, Malay or Tamil). It can be long form or short form. Each successful applicant will work with their mentor on a selected manuscript: It can be either three (3) chapters of a novel, or three (3) short stories.
The mentorship will begin late March and last for six months. The mentees will have to commit to the entire programme and complete it. Participation in the mentorship is free (there will be a one-time application fee).
One successful applicant will be selected for each language.
Programme Structure
The mentorship will commence late March and will run over a period of six months. The mentor and mentee can decide how they plan to communicate with each other, and the number of contact times. They can meet in person, virtually, via phone or email. The mentor will provide editorial feedback on the manuscript, as well as professional advice where applicable.
There are three main deliverables:
- 4th month point: Completion of two chapters or two short stories; and mid-point review;
- 6th month point: Completion of third chapter or third short story;
- 7th month point: Final report.
Mentees will also be invited to do a public reading of their works at the end of the mentorship (details to be confirmed).
Schedule in 2023
- February 12: Applications close
- Early March: Successful mentees will be notified
- Late March: Mentorship begins
- Late July: First deliverable and mid-point review
- Late September: Second deliverable
- Late October: Final report
- November: Public presentation (TBC)
- Three (3) chapters of one novel OR three short stories.
- Knowledge of the publishing process.
- A public reading (details to be confirmed).
Eligibility
The applicant should:
- be 21 years old or above;
- be a Singaporean or PR;
- not have published one full-length work before (either a novel or a collection)
Submission Guidelines
Please prepare the following materials for your submission. The mentorship programme is free for successful applicants, but there will be an application fee of $15. This fee is used to cover the administrative costs.
- CV
- A cover letter describing your writing journey and how this mentorship will benefit you.
- A proposal of no more than 1,000 words that describes the manuscript that you plan to work on during the mentorship, and why this story is important to you.
- A writing sample of no more than 3,000 words. It can be the piece that you plan to work on for the mentorship, or a previous piece of your creative writing.
The submission deadline is 12 February, 2023.
Successful applicants will be informed by early March 2023.
Please email [email protected] if you have any queries.- 4th month point: Completed translation of two chapters or two short stories; and mid-point review;
- 6th month point: Completed translation of third chapter or third short story;
- 7th month point: Final report.
- February 12: Applications close
- Early March: Successful mentees will be notified
- Late March: Mentorship begins
- Late July: First deliverable and mid-point review
- Late September: Second deliverable. Public presentation at Singapore Translation Symposium. (TBC)
- Late October: Final report
- English translation of three (3) chapters of one novel OR three short stories.
- Knowledge of the translation and publishing process.
- A public reading at Singapore Translation Symposium (details to be confirmed).
- be 21 years old or above;
- be a Singaporean or PR;
- not have published one full-length work of literary translation before (either a novel or a collection)
- CV
- A cover letter describing your translation journey and how this mentorship will benefit you.
- A proposal of no more than 1,000 words. The proposal should include information about the original Sing Lit author and the importance of the source text that you plan to translate.
- A sample of literary translation of no more than 3,000 words. This can be a translation of the proposed work, or a previous piece of your translation. Please identify the source text.
Successful applicants will be informed by early March 2023.
Mentors
- SBC Translator Mentorship (Tamil-to-English)
- Emerging Writers Mentorship
- Emerging Translators Mentorship
Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma (Tamil to English)
Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma is an author, translator, teacher, and performer. His translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece The Kural: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural, was recently published by Beacon Press. Other books include The Safety of Edges (poems) and Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar (translated from the Tamil). He speaks and performs widely, teaches, and has received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the U. S. Fulbright Program.
Photo: David Mielke
Meira Chand (English)
Meira Chand is of Indian-Swiss heritage and was born and educated in London. Before coming to Singapore in 1997, she lived for many years in Japan and India and is now a Singaporean citizen. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Western Australia and is the author of 9 novels. A Different Sky was a book of the month choice by the UK bookshop chain Waterstones, long listed for the IMPAC Dublin literary award 2012, and was on Oprah Winfrey’s recommended reading list. Recently, The LKY Musical, the hit Singapore production based on the life of Lee Kuan Yew, was developed from her original story.
林高 Lin Gao (Chinese)
林高是新加坡国立大学中文系兼任高级讲师。2013年赴韩国参加为期三个月的Toji文化馆驻馆作家计划。2014年获新加坡文学奖（小说）。2015年获颁新加坡文化奖。他的作品包括《记得》、《孤独瞭望：英培安小说世界》、《林高微型小说》、《遇见诗》、《框起人间事》、《被追逐的滋味》等。
Lin Gao is an adjunct senior lecturer at the Department of Chinese Studies at the National University of Singapore. In 2013, Lin Gao spent three months in South Korea as a writer-in-residence under the Toji Cultural Residency programme. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2015. His notable works include The Feeling of Being Chased, Reading by the Window, Flash Fiction by Lin Gao, Poetic Encounter by Lin Gao, and Framing the Worldly Matters.
Farihan Bahron (Malay)
Farihan Bahro, penerima Anugerah Harapan 2017, pernah memenangi beberapa sayembara penulisan kreatif termasuk Peraduan Asah Bakat 1998 (Hadiah Pertama - Puisi), Anugerah Pena Bakti 2000 (Hadiah Ketiga - Puisi), Anugerah Pena Emas 2003 (Hadiah Kedua - Puisi), Anugerah Pena Emas 2015 (Hadiah Pertama - Puisi dan Cerpen), Mencari Kristal 2016 (Hadiah Ketiga - Cerpen), dan Sayembara Puisi Kata-Pilar 2020 (Hadiah Utama). Kumpulan sajaknya yang pertama, Tukang Tunjuk Telunjuk, memenangi Hadiah Sastera Singapura 2018 dan Anugerah Persuratan 2021 bagi kategori puisi Melayu. Kumpulan cerpennya, Kepala Kotak, memenangi Hadiah Sastera Singapura 2022 bagi kategori fiksyen Melayu. Dia kini sedang menyiapkan dua buah novel belia.
Farihan Bahron received the Anugerah Harapan (Promising Writer award) in 2017. His literary works won various competitions including Peraduan Asah Bakat 1998 (1st Prize - Poetry), Anugerah Pena Bakti 2000 (3rd Prize - Poetry), Golden Point Award 2003 (2nd Prize - Poetry), Golden Point Award 2015 (1st Prize - Poetry & Short Story), Mencari Kristal 2016 (3rd Prize - Short Story) and Sayembara Puisi Kata-Pilar 2020 (Top Prize - Poetry). Farihan’s first poetry book, Tukang Tunjuk Telunjuk, received the Singapore Literature Prize 2018 and Anugerah Persuratan 2021 for the Malay poetry category. His short story collection, Kepala Kotak, won the Singapore Literature Prize 2022 for the Malay fiction category. He is currently writing his first two YA novels.
Kanagalatha (Tamil)
கனகலதா (லதா) 'தீவெளி' (2003), 'பாம்புக் காட்டில் ஒரு தாழை' (2004), யாருக்கும் இல்லாத பாலை (2016) ஆகிய மூன்று கவிதை நூல்களை வெளியிட்டுள்ளார். அவரின் நான் கொலை செய்யும் பெண்கள் சிறுகதைத் தொகுப்பு 2008ஆம் ஆண்டுக்கான சிங்கப்பூர் இலக்கிய விருதை வென்றது. 2022ல் வெளிவந்த இவரது 'சீனலட்சுமி' சிறுகதைத் தொகுப்பு தமிழ் உலகில் பெரிதும் கவனம் பெற்று வருகிறது. இவரின் சிறுகதைகளின் ஆங்கில மொழியாக்கம் The Goddess in the Living Room', 2014ல் வெளிவந்தது. லதாவின் கவிதைகளும் சிறுகதைகளும் சிங்கப்பூரின் பன்மொழித் தொகுப்புகளிலும் மற்றும் இந்தியா, மலேசியா, இலங்கை, பிரான்ஸ் போன்ற நாடுகளின் முக்கிய இலக்கிய சஞ்சிகைகளிலும் வெளிவந்துள்ளன. ஆங்கிலம், ஜெர்மன், பிரெஞ்சு மொழிகளில் இவரது படைப்புகள் மொழி பெயர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. ‘சிங்கப்பூர் கவிதை விழா’ எனும் அமைப்பின் நிறுவன இயக்குநர்களில் ஒருவர். லதா தமிழ் முரசு நாளிதழின் இணை ஆசிரியராகப் பணிபுரிகிறார்.
Kanagalatha (Latha) has published three collections of poetry in Tamil: Theeveli (Firespace) (2003), Paampuk Kaattil Oru Thaazhai (A Screwpine in Snakeforest) (2004) and Yaarukkum Illaatha Paalai (No man's desert) 2016. She has also published two short story collections Nan kolai Seyium penkkal (Women I Murder) in 2007, which won the biennial Singapore Literature Prize in 2008 and Chinalatchumi in 2022. The English translation of her short story collection 'The Goddess in the Living Room' published in 2014. Her poems and short stories have been published in multilingual anthologies in Singapore and various Tamil literary journals in India, Malaysia, France and Sri Lanka. Her works have been translated into English, French and German. She has edited, Letters from grandma and grandpa (Published by NLB, 2008) G.Sarangapany's Literary Leagacy, (Published by NAC & Tamil Murasu, 2013). Kanagalatha is one of the founding directors for Poetry Festival Singapore. She is currently the Associate editor of Tamil Murasu, Singapore’s Tamil daily newspaper.
Yeo Wei Wei (Chinese to English)
Yeo Wei Wei is a writer, educator and translator. She holds a PhD in English from Cambridge University and an MA in Creative Writing from University of East Anglia. In March 2023, her collections of translations, transcreations and adaptations of Soon Ailing’s short stories will be released in two books, Diasporic and Clan (Balestier Press). Wei Wei’s translations of Singaporean Chinese poetry have appeared in anthologies and journals. One of her most memorable translation projects to date is the translation of subtitles and xinyao lyrics for The Songs We Sang, a documentary by Singaporean filmmaker Eva Tang. She has over 20 years of teaching experience at university as well as other levels.
Nazry Bahrawi (Malay to English)
Nazry Bahrawi is a literary translator, critic and academic. He translates to introduce anglophone readers to the rich tradition of Bahasa literature. Trained in comparative literature, Nazry specialises in the study of non-material cultures through literary texts and films of the Malay Archipelago as part of the Indian Ocean cultural sphere. He is an editor-at-large at Wasafiri magazine and the essay & research editor for Journal of Practice, Research and Tangential Activities (PR&TA). Nazry Bahrawi is presently an assistant professor of Southeast Asian Literature and Culture at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Mentees
Sarah Ang (English)
Sarah Ang has won multiple international awards for her writing, including first place in the Wilbur Smith Author of Tomorrow Award, the iYeats Poetry Competition (Emerging Category), and the National University of Singapore Creative Writing Competition. Her work has also been featured in publications such as the Mithila Review, Idle Ink, and more.
陈楠 Chen Nan (Chinese)
国立大学中文系学生。多年的文学爱好者。2019年获“全国中学生创意故事大赛”特优奖。2020-2021年为第六届字食族专栏作家。
Chen Nan is an NUS student majoring in Chinese Studies. She is a long-time literature enthusiast who indulges in the beauty of words. She clinched the distinguished achievement award in the 2019 National Creative Story Writing Competition for Secondary Students and was selected as the sixth batch of Word Gobblers columnists from 2020-2021.
Fadhli Fadzil (Malay)
Fadhli Fadzil ialah seorang penggiat bahasa dan sastera yang aktif menulis puisi dan cerpen. Beliau telah menerbit sendiri sekumpulan sajak bertajuk 'Di Sebalik Jendela' pada 2020 sebagai rakaman perjalanan beliau menjalani Perkhidmatan Negara (NS). Kini, Fadhli merupakan seorang sarjana muda dalam bidang Pengajian Melayu.
Fadhli Fadzil, 24, often finds himself being immersed in reading and writing poetry and short stories. He has self-published a poetry collection called ‘Di Sebalik Jendela’ (Through the Glass) in 2020 as a memento of his National Service journey. Fadhli is currently an undergraduate in NTU pursuing Malay Studies.
S Priyashini (Tamil)
பிரியா தனது வாழ்க்கையின் பெரும் பாகத்தை ஒரு புத்தகப்புழுவாக கழித்து வந்திருக்கிறார். தமிழ் எழுத்தாளர் சுஜாதா அவர்களின் கொலையுதிர் காலம், என் இனிய இயந்திரா போன்ற நூல்களை படித்து குற்றவியல் மற்றும் த்ரில் கதைகளிடம் ஈர்ப்பு கொண்டதிலிருந்து, தான் அவற்றை போன்ற சுவாரசியமான, சிந்திக்க வைக்கும் கதைகளைய தமிழில் எழுத முடிவு செய்துள்ளார். அக்கதைகளின் மூலம் வாசகர்களை கவர்ந்து, முக்கியமான கருத்துக்களை முன்வைக்க முயல்கிறார்.
Priya has been an avid reader for most of her life and began writing fiction in 2020. Her writing began with short-form English fiction and she forayed into Tamil writing after reading Sujatha’s thriller and sci-fi novel “Kolaiyuthir Kaalam” [Season of murders]. She aspires to be the next Tamil thriller and detective mystery sensation.
Koh Jie Ning (Chinese to English)
Koh Jie Ning is a budding translator. She is currently pursuing a degree in Translation and Interpretation at Singapore University of Social Sciences. She is also a passionate foodieand has a diploma in Restaurant and Culinary Operations. She intends to be a translator who specialises in food and beverage related translation.
