Updated, 16 July 2025:

• The call for applications for 2025-2026 mentees is OPEN until 30 September 2025.

General Information

I’m a fiction writer from Singapore, now living in the US, who mentors promising fiction writers in Singapore who are earlier in their careers to help them advance their craft. I’ve been writing fiction for almost fifteen years. My debut novel, Names Have Been Changed, will be published in June 2026. by Tiny Reparations Books, an imprint of Penguin. My short fiction has received a Pushcart Prize special mention, been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize, and won the Mississippi Review Fiction Prize.

I believe that the act of writing can change both ourselves and the world (even Singapore). I’m particularly interested in mentoring writers from communities in Singapore that are underrepresented in publishing and who lack access to traditional routes and resources for development such as university programmes, government grants, and professional services (e.g. coaching or editorial consultation).

I have mentored two writers every year since 2021 and eight writers in total (scroll to the bottom of this page for the list of current and previous mentees).

How the mentorship works:

• The mentorship is free to mentees. I volunteer my time.

• I usually mentor two fiction writers, each for six months. This cycle, because of my personal schedule, the mentorship will run for five months from late October 2025 to end-March 2026.

• I speak with each mentee one-on-one on a video call for one hour every month. During this year’s five-month mentorship, we’ll have at least five calls; we’ll squeeze in a sixth if schedules permit.

• Because I live in the US, the calls are usually scheduled in the mornings or evenings Singapore time.

  • One week before the first and third calls, the mentee sends me the craft questions they would like to discuss.

  • One week before the second and fourth calls, the mentee submits a draft of a short story or novel excerpt (maximum 5,000 words) that I provide feedback on during the call.

  • For the fifth call (and the sixth, if we’re able to do it), the mentee and I will discuss how to allocate the time between discussing craft questions and reviewing another draft by the mentee.

• One mentee position is dedicated to a short story writer. The other spot is for someone writing either a novel, novella or short stories. I do not accept mentees in other forms of writing.

• That said, developing a full novel manuscript is beyond the scope of this programme. If you’re applying with a novel project, I advise you to choose a specific section of the manuscript to focus on for the mentorship period.

• I expect that mentees will use the six-month period to work on their writing, not merely talk about it. If a mentee repeatedly does not submit drafts, prepare for calls, or attend them, I have the discretion to terminate the mentorship. Mentees who find that the programme is not a good fit also have the discretion to terminate the mentorship.

Application information:

• I’m looking for mentees who are at least 18 years old, whose writing shows promise, and who are not currently enrolled in any of the following and have no plans to attend such programmes in the 2025 calendar year (it’s okay if you’ve done them in the past):

  • An advanced degree programme (such as an MA or MFA) in creative writing, English or literature.

  • A mentorship programme or government grant from the National Arts Council, Singapore Book Council or other government-affiliated bodies in Singapore.

  • Other mentorship programmes in Singapore or abroad.

• There is no upper age limit.

• I welcome writers of all identities to apply. As a mentor I undertake to make mentees feel welcome, valued, safe and heard, and to provide professional advice that will empower them to work towards their own artistic goals as fiction writers.

• Writers who have been mentored by me in this programme cannot apply again.

• Writers who applied previously and were not successful are welcome to apply again with a new or revised writing sample (see below).

• Please send 2 documents in one email:

  • A fiction writing sample of 2,000-5,000 words. Excerpts of short stories or novels are welcome, as long as they don’t exceed the word count. Send your best work. It must be fiction. If you have applied before, please send a new writing sample or one that is significantly revised.

  • A description of not more than 500 words (shorter is good too) of your writing goals for the six-month mentorship and how having me as your mentor would help you reach them. Be as specific as you can.

  • In the body of your email, please acknowledge that you are:

    • At least 18 years old;

    • Residing in Singapore until March 2026 (citizenship is immaterial);

    • Not currently enrolled in any of the following and that you do not have plans to attend such programmes in the 2025 calendar year:

      • An advanced degree programme (such as an MA or MFA) in creative writing, English or literature.

      • A mentorship programme or government grant from the National Arts Council, Singapore Book Council or other government-affiliated bodies in Singapore.

      • Other mentorship programmes in Singapore or abroad.

  • Do not include your name or any personal information in the documents. Please create an identification number for your documents using the last 3 digits of your NRIC and the last 4 digits of your mobile phone number, and label your files as “1234567 writing sample.pdf” and “1234567 mentorship goals.pdf” (PDFs preferred).

  • Send your applications to ascleanasabone@gmail.com by Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 2359 hours SGT. Emails received after the deadline will be ignored.

Selection timeline and outcome:

• I will read submissions blind. A friend who helps every year will hold the password to the email account and send me the applications without any identifying information. She will give me the email password only after I’ve selected the two mentees.

• I will treat all materials received confidentially and not share or speak about them with anyone other than the writer. The friend assisting me will do the same.

• I will email all applicants with the outcome by Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

• I will not be able to provide unsuccessful applicants with a critique of their work or an explanation for my selection.

• Time permitting, I will organise an “Ask Us Anything” Zoom session with one or two Singaporean fiction writers. It will be open to all mentorship applicants, regardless of outcome. (I held similar sessions for applicants in the previous three years.)

• Questions? Email yumei.balasingamchow@gmail.com. Do not send applications to this email. I will delete them immediately without reading.

Previous and current mentees (in alphabetical order):

• Sarah Ang

• Isha B.

• Wisha Jamal

• Mohamed Shaker

• Marcus Ong Kah Ho

• Jay Panicker

• Audrey Tan

• Yap Shi Quan