Strelitzia Award
Become a 2025 Strelitzia Mentor
Are you ready to share your love for the craft and mentor an aspiring writer?
Join us in mentoring others to unlock the art of writing captivating love stories. As experienced romance authors, you’ll have the opportunity to guide mentees through every step: from developing complex, unforgettable characters to crafting emotionally rich narratives that keep readers hooked.
Let’s help aspiring romance authors to bring their stories to life together!
2025 Strelitzia Mentorship Program OPEN for applications
Unlock Your Romance Writing Potential: Join Our Strelitzia Mentorship Programme in 2025
Are you ready to dive into the enchanting world of romance writing? If you’re a budding novelist and unpublished, our mentorship programme is tailor-made for you.
Discover the secrets of crafting compelling love stories that captivate readers’ hearts. With personalised guidance from experienced romance authors, you’ll learn how to develop unforgettable characters, weave captivating plots, and evoke emotions that linger long after the final page.
What do we offer?
- One-on-One Guidance: Receive personalised feedback and support from seasoned romance authors who understand the intricacies of the genre.
- Tailored Curriculum: Our programme is designed to meet your unique needs and goals, whether you’re exploring a different subgenre or honing specific writing techniques.
- Community Support: Connect with a vibrant community of fellow romance writers who share your passion and enthusiasm.
- Industry Insights: Gain invaluable insights into the publishing industry, from navigating submissions to building your author platform.
Ignite your passion for romance writing and embark on a transformative journey with our mentorship programme. Join us today and unleash your creative potential.
If you have any queries, please email Mariette at strelitzia@romancewriters.co.za. Please note that entries close at midnight SAST on 31 March 2025.
- Entrants will have exclusive access to private groups in which they are encouraged to motivate one another, share information, brainstorm ideas and swap critiques on one another’s work.
- During the mentorship phase, regular Q&As will be held with industry experts who will share their knowledge with entrants.
- Regular online workshops will be presented to assist entrants as they prepare their manuscripts for submission.
- While live events will be recorded, and slideshow presentations (if available) of the workshops will be available after the event, active participation is always HIGHLY encouraged, where possible.
- Each entrant will be allocated their own mentor who will be available to assist with goal-setting, advice on writing craft, and to answer questions.
- Entrants will receive feedback on their manuscript from their mentors. It isn’t, however, a free editorial service. Mentors should not be expected to provide detailed editorial feedback on chapters.
- Entrants will be required to submit a completed entry of between 40 000 and 42 000 words by no later than Tuesday, 2 September 2025, to be in the running for the ROSA award for Strelitzia Unpublished Author of the Year.
2024 Strelitzia Mentorship Program closed for applications
Unlock Your Romance Writing Potential: Join Our Strelitzia Mentorship Programme
Are you ready to dive into the enchanting world of romance writing? If you’re a budding novelist, our mentorship programme is tailor-made for you.
Discover the secrets of crafting compelling love stories that captivate readers’ hearts. With personalised guidance from experienced romance authors, you’ll learn how to develop unforgettable characters, weave captivating plots, and evoke emotions that linger long after the final page.
What do we offer?
- One-on-One Guidance: Receive personalised feedback and support from seasoned romance authors who understand the intricacies of the genre.
- Tailored Curriculum: Our programme is designed to meet your unique needs and goals, whether you’re exploring a different subgenre or honing specific writing techniques.
- Community Support: Connect with a vibrant community of fellow romance writers who share your passion and enthusiasm.
- Industry Insights: Gain invaluable insights into the publishing industry, from navigating submissions to building your author platform.
Ignite your passion for romance writing and embark on a transformative journey with our mentorship programme. Join us today and unleash your creative potential.
If you have any queries, please email strelitzia@romancewriters.co.za. Please note that entries close at midnight SAST on 25 May 2024.
- Entrants will have exclusive access to private groups in which they are encouraged to motivate one another, share information, brainstorm ideas and swap critiques on one another’s work.
- During the mentorship phase, regular Q&As will be held with industry experts who will share their knowledge with entrants.
- Regular online workshops will be presented to assist entrants as they prepare their manuscripts for submission.
- While live events will recorded and slideshow presentations (if available) of the workshops will be available after the event, active participation is always HIGHLY encouraged, where possible.
- Each entrant will be allocated their own mentor who will be available to assist with goal-setting, advice on writing craft, and to answer questions.
- Entrants will receive feedback on their manuscript from their mentors. It isn’t, however, a free editorial service. Mentors should not be expected to provide detailed editorial feedback on chapters.
- Entrants will be required to submitted a completed entry of a maximum of 25000 words by no later than Thursday, 31 October 2024 to be in the running for the grand prize of:
Ø A Developmental Edit
Ø A Copy Edit
Ø A Cover
Ø An Ebook Format
Ø Entry Into 2025 Imbali Awards
2020
Following a mentorship phase and two rounds of judging, the hotly-contested 2020 Strelitzia Award was won by Marianne Lomberg, for her novel Through Your Eyes.
The finalists in the second round for the contest were:
Kim Hunter, Mind Matters
Marianne Lomberg, Through Your Eyes
Kirsty Macfie, Heart of the Storm
2019
Following a mentorship phase and two rounds of judging, the 2019 Strelitzia Award was won by Meg Chronis, for her novel Seven Day Switch.
The finalists in the second round for the contest were:
Meg Chronis, Seven Day Switch
Kristien Wolmarans, Love Set in Stone
Marianne Lomberg, First, Do No Harm
2018
Following a mentorship phase and two rounds of judging, the 2018 Strelitzia Award was won by Amanda Holly, for her novel, Master for Life.
The finalists in the second round of the contest were:
Amanda Holly, Master for Life
Sumi Singh, Sydney’s Boxer
Tracy Wilson, Her Reluctant Protector