Hive Online Fiction & Mentoring Programme

7 weeks of creative writing, fiction craft & one-to-one support with Rachel Bower
For new, aspiring and emerging fiction writers aged 17–30 across the North of England & Midlands. Monday evenings, 6.30–8.30pm on Zoom | 11 Jan – 22 Feb 2027 | Bursary places available

Writing can be a solitary and tricky business to navigate, whether you’re starting out or have been at it a while. It’s difficult to know where to get feedback, or if what you’re writing is as good as it can be. And then there’s what to do with a piece of work once you’ve finished it (if you finish it!).

Whether you’re new to fiction or have been writing for a while, this programme is about developing your writing, wherever you’re at. Through supportive, generative workshops led by novelist, short story writer & poet Rachel Bower, you’ll explore the craft of fiction, spark ideas and generate new drafts. Alongside this, individual mentoring support will help you develop and edit your fiction towards a finished draft.

“Rachel was so accommodating to everybody’s needs, we really couldn’t have asked for any more.”

Expect a warm, inclusive group where you can ask questions, share ideas and explore your writing without judgement. Rachel brings a wealth of experience in both short and long-form fiction, and you’ll learn and develop alongside other writers.

Through workshops and individual support, you’ll:
Explore the craft of fiction, focusing on different elements and techniques, from character and dialogue to point of view, voice and structure
Generate new writing through inspiring examples, prompts and exercises, sparking fresh ideas and drafts to develop further
Develop and edit your work, learning how to strengthen a piece of fiction through practical editing techniques and before-and-after examples
Receive individual mentoring support and feedback on your writing, helping you develop your ideas and move towards finished work
Build confidence, knowledge and motivation to develop and finish your writing projects
Explore publishing & submission opportunities, with tips and insights into getting your work out into the world and sustaining your writing practice beyond the programme

“Incredibly useful and helped me to make sure I prioritised writing.”

How the programme works
The seven Monday evening workshops will explore different aspects of fiction craft through writing exercises and discussion. Individual mentoring will begin around the programme’s midpoint, with one-to-one meetings alongside other forms of feedback and support.
Workshop dates: 1) 11th | 2) 18th | 3) 25th Jan | 4) 1st | 5) 8th | 6) 15th | 7) 22nd Feb

We’d love for you to leave with new drafts and finished pieces, practical techniques and resources to return to, creative connections and the confidence and motivation to keep writing.

“… my confidence has grown so much! I’ve written more in these last few weeks than in a long time.”

Who’s it for?
The programme is for new, aspiring and emerging fiction writers aged 17–30. As it’s on Zoom, it’s open to writers from across the North and Midlands. Both those who’ve taken part in fiction workshops or courses before and those new to them are welcome to apply. We’re also keen to hear from people who feel they wouldn’t normally be able to access this kind of opportunity.

You might want fresh prompts to spark new writing, or a regular reason to write and connect with others. Perhaps you lack direction, sticking power or confidence, or want to kickstart a project or get back into one. You might be struggling to finish or edit something you’ve written or want to sharpen your skills and craft. Whatever stage you’re at, the programme is designed to support you and your writing.

How to apply
We ask for a little information about you and a writing sample – not to judge your work, but to help us understand where you’re at and whether the programme will be a good fit for you. Please send (in one Word or RTF document, with your age, date of birth, contact number and home or term-time address at the top):

• A small sample of your fiction, up to two A4 pages. It can be a draft idea, a finished piece or an excerpt of something bigger you’re working on. No pressure at all if you don’t have much to send 🙂
• A little about yourself and your writing interests. You might tell us about your writing experience, what interests you about fiction and anything you’d particularly like to explore or develop through the programme and mentoring. (Up to 300 words)

With ‘Fiction Programme’ in the subject line, send it to [email protected] by Mon 14 Dec 2026. Places will be limited to keep the group small and supportive. We’ll be in touch with everyone by 19 Dec. If you have any questions, please do email us!

 Cost & bursaries
The programme includes seven weeks of live fiction workshops, one-to-one support, writing resources and practical guidance to take away. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England through Word Honey, celebrating a decade of Hive, the programme fee is subsidised to make professional writing development more accessible to young writers.

Standard subsidised fee: £150
We know that even a subsidised fee won’t be affordable for everyone, so we’re offering a limited number of additional bursary discounts of 30% and 70% off the standard fee for young writers who would otherwise struggle to take part.

If you’d like to be considered for a bursary, please mention this in your application, specifying which discount you’re applying for and briefly telling us about your circumstances. We ask applicants to request only the support they genuinely need, so we can help as many young writers as possible. Bursary funding is limited and we may not be able to offer everyone their requested level of support.

About Rachel Bower

Rachel Bower is a novelist, short story writer and award-winning poet based in Sheffield. She is the author of three poetry collections and her debut novel, It Comes from the River, was published by Bloomsbury in January 2025. Rachel won The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2019/20 and the W&A Short Story Competition 2020. She has also been listed for the White Review Short Story Prize 2019, the RSL V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize and the BBC Short Story Prize. Her poems and stories have been widely published, including in The Guardian, The London Magazine, The White Review, Magma and The Rialto. She edited the Family Lines anthology with Simon Armitage (Faber & Faber, February 2026). Her latest poetry collection, Bee, was published by Hazel Press in June 2025 and her work is represented by Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown.