william fargason

William Fargason is the author of Love Song to the Demon-Possessed Pigs of Gadara (University of Iowa Press, 2020). His poetry has appeared in Ploughshares, The Threepenny Review, Prairie Schooner, New England Review, Barrow Street, Narrative, and elsewhere. He earned a BA in English from Auburn University, an MFA in poetry from the University of Maryland, and a PhD in poetry from Florida State University. He is a poetry editor at Split Lip Magazine. He lives with himself in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland.

Why they are a mentor and what they are looking for in a mentee:
I’m so excited to be a mentor this summer. Mentoring, and conversely, being mentored, is an
integral part of every writer’s growth. I’m looking for a mentee who is passionate about poetry, and who is ready to work hard and push themselves to be a better writer.

Writing discipline: Poetry

ashley

Ashley Hajimirsadeghi is an Iranian-American multimedia artist, writer, and journalist. Her writing has appeared in Barren Magazine, Hobart, DIALOGIST, Rust + Moth, and The Shore, among others. She is the Co-Editor in Chief at both Mud Season Review and Juven Press, Programs Assistant and former Playwriting Apprentice at New Perspectives Theatre Company, and a contributing writer at MovieWeb. Cartography of Trauma (dancing girl press, 2022) is her debut chapbook. More of her work can be found at ashleyhajimirsadeghi.com
Image Credit: André Chung
MENTOR/MENTEE: When I was a younger writer, my years of having writing mentorship and a steady practice truly were all great experiences, and so I’d like to help kickstart another young writer’s journey. Navigating the publishing industry is really difficult for those who don’t come from arts backgrounds or solid economic standings—I personally came from a household that didn’t make enough money to truly encourage the arts as a career—and for writers of color.
I’m hoping to work with a mentee that likes to break rules—whether it’s form/function, content, or hybrid work, I’m all for that. A good fit would be someone who is curious about the world and willing to take risks. I also value a distinct sense of authenticity and voice in your work, e.g. pieces that resonate.

Writing discipline: Can do poetry, dramatic writing (screenwriting/playwriting), or editorial/journalism writing

sarah lao

Sarah Lao is a Chinese American writer originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She is the editor-in-chief of EX/POST Magazine, and her poetry appears in AGNI, Narrative, The Rumpus, Black Warrior Review, and the Georgia Review, among others. Her work has been recognized by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the National YoungArts Foundation, and Sundress Publication's Best of the Net Anthology. She has previously attended the Iowa Young Writers' Studio under Janelle Effiwatt and the Adroit Summer Mentorship Program under Kyle Dacuyan, and she currently studies at Harvard College. 

Why they are a mentor and what they are looking for in a mentee:
I've had the good fortune of meeting many mentors who have radically changed the ways in which I write and view writing, so I hope that my mentorship this summer will offer paths to growth and a lifelong sense of community. I'm looking for a mentee who is passionate about poetry, unafraid to take risks, and ready to be honest and intimate with their work.