Mentorships are a great way to take your work to the next level in an efficient way. Of course, you can go it alone and learn from your mistakes, or you can make your life a lot easier and receive guidance from a professional who has already made a lot of mistakes and learned from them. I have help dozens of people just like you focus on and implement their next steps toward their goals through thoughtful analysis, constructive feedback, and personalized guidance that empowers them to move forward with clarity, confidence and purpose. I welcome you to fill out this application form in order to begin our mentorship!
What past mentees have said about working with me:
“Bonnie is a wonderful mentor, and I’ve learned so much from her. We worked together to set my goals for a 6 month mentorship, and we’ve covered so much ground – from the basics of picture book writing, to the revision process, to manuscript standards, to the querying trenches. I could have spent years muddling around on my own and not progressed as much as I have during the mentorship.
I’m beyond grateful to Bonnie for her wisdom, warmth, and generosity of time. I highly recommend the mentorship to anyone willing to put in the work to make the most of the 6 months – it will be so helpful to you, no matter what stage of your writing career you’re in!”
—Grace O., picture book writer
“Working with my mentor, Bonnie Kelso, has been an incredible experience. Bonnie’s creativity, guidance, and generosity have truly inspired me in my journey as a writer/illustrator. Bonnie has a gift for storytelling and illustrations and also an excellent methodology in mentoring my picture book creation. Her patience, availability and encouragement have helped me grow as a writer and artist. I’m grateful and lucky to be learning from such a gifted and skilled professional!”
—Maggie Y., picture book writer and illustrator
“This has been a really beneficial experience. Bonnie is very generous with her time and knowledge. Her suggestions make good sense and have improved my story. Having deadlines and homework is helpful! I appreciate her good nature and sense of humor too.”
—Sidne T., picture book writer and illustrator
“I have had an outstanding experience with Bonnie Kelso.”
—Michael C., picture book writer and illustrator
Pricing and Timelines:
You can string multiple months together to work on additional manuscripts or portfolio pieces. If you are working on a picture book that you are also illustrating yourself, I recommend several months of working together. We can start with one, and see where things are after that time. The more you put into a mentorship the more you will get out of it. Ultimately, you are the catalyst for getting the work done to the best of your ability!
$300 – Best Value. Four consecutive weeks of zoom meetings (one hour each week) with intensive goal setting with homework assignments. Devotion to one picture book manuscript or illustration portfolio piece.
$100 – One hour long zoom consultation with constructive feedback and goal setting devoted to one picture book manuscript or illustration portfolio piece.
$50 – One thirty minute long zoom ask me anything consultation devoted to general questions, guidance, or industry explanations.
Payments need to be made through Paypal, Venmo, or Zelle before our first meeting can be scheduled. Please understand this requirement. There are no refunds once our appointment has been confirmed. You may reschedule an appointment if I am given 24 hour notice via email.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me at artistbkelso at gmail dot com.
