Any PEG member can apply

Any PEG member who has completed a recognised course in copy editing and proofreading may apply for a mentorship.

See our list of training providers for more information on training courses.

Cost: R2 750

The R2 750 gets you a minimum of ten hours of a mentor’s time. The cost includes a non-refundable application fee of R250.

If you are approved for a mentorship, you can pay the remaining R2 500 in full before the mentorship starts or you can pay it in up to five monthly instalments of R500 each during the mentorship. (You may also opt for fewer instalments of a higher amount.)

The first instalment must be paid before the mentorship starts.

A certificate of completion will be issued once the full amount has been paid.

Duration

Ten hours over five months

At least ten hours of interaction time with your mentor, spread over a maximum of five months. (A mentorship may take longer only if the mentor is temporarily unavailable because of work or personal commitments.)

Format

Real-world examples

As a mentee, you are expected to complete several editing exercises assigned by your mentor. These exercises are designed to introduce you to the kind of texts you would be expected to edit in the field/s your mentorship focuses on.

Your mentor will give you detailed feedback on each editing assignment and the opportunity to discuss this feedback, if required.

Outcome

Certificate of completion

At the end of a successful mentorship, both the mentor and mentee evaluate their experience. The mentor compiles a report on the mentee’s performance, and the mentee is issued with a certificate of completion.

Why a PEG mentorship is an investment in yourself

As language practitioners, we need to keep up with developments in language use, technology and the many disciplines and subjects covered in the texts we edit.

While training courses and workshops play a crucial role in our continuing professional development (CPD), mentoring is a more personalised approach. With input and guidance from an experienced editor, you can explore new fields, try your hand at different genres and build confidence in a supportive environment.

1.    You can focus on areas that interest you

If you’re considering a career as an editor, a mentorship that covers a range of editing disciplines (structural editing, plain language editing, proofreading) and a variety of texts can help you decide which editing avenue to pursue and give you a good idea of what the profession entails.

Perhaps you’re looking to switch genres, from academic editing to fiction editing, for example, or simply want to develop your knowledge of and skills in a particular area. A more focused mentorship will help you get to grips with the nitty-gritty aspects of your field of interest.

We match you with an experienced mentor who will give you detailed, one-to-one feedback on a range of editing exercises that are tailored to your learning needs and development areas.

2.    You can build both your language and professional skills

Whatever it is you want to learn, a PEG mentorship can put you on the fast track to gaining knowledge and confidence.

Our mentors cover the ‘technical’ aspects of editing – spelling, grammar, and so on – as well as the things you don’t always learn in formal training: the fine lines between rewriting, editing and proofreading, for example. They’ll guide you on how to:

• interpret an editing brief;
• give constructive feedback to writers;
• estimate the time it will take to complete an editing assignment; and
• charge a fair rate for your services.

In addition to giving you texts to edit, they will share useful resources you can consult when you have a tricky grammar or style question. They can also share tips and best practices for working in various software packages, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Adobe, so you can use these tools to edit more efficiently and effectively.

3.    Mentoring fits into your schedule

Ten hours spread over five months means an average of two hours a month.

You and your mentor will agree on how to run your mentorship so that it suits your schedule and theirs. Most mentorships are now run online, with mentors giving feedback electronically and over video or voice calls.

It is up to the mentee to drive the process. The mentor ensures that the mentee’s objectives are met and that the momentum of their mentorship is maintained.

Testimonials from PEG mentees

‘My mentor has guided me through my career change in a way I would never have had the confidence to do alone.’

‘Being mentored successfully through a number of real texts and exercises has offered me professional peace of mind.’

‘Having a mentor – someone who is more experienced or has greater expertise – can really help an editor along the way.’

‘I’ve been able to grow faster within a safer space than I could have done on my own.’

Whether you are new to the profession, changing genre, in need of expert guidance or going freelance, a PEG mentorship could be just what you’re looking for!

Contact for queries

If you need more information on becoming a mentee or mentor, please contact our national mentoring scheme coordinator at: mentoring@editors.org.za.