Thank you for serving as a recommender for an applicant to ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program! This is where you can paste your brief recommendation statement. The statement should be one or two paragraphs long, and should address the applicant’s ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers. 

Your statement must be uploaded by 11:59pm on November 30, 2026.

Please send questions to Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada at kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Read more about ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program on our website.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working with literature from Taiwan into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.                   

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months of the mentorship. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                  

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.                     

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                   While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                     For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                      

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in literature from Taiwan with Natascha Bruce. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:   

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include:

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text IN ONE DOCUMENT. Prose, poetry, hybrid work, and drama are all welcome.
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                    

September 1, 2026: Submissions open                   

November 30, 2026: Submissions close                   

Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                 

Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                   

Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                   

Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)

December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Natascha Bruce translates from Chinese and Italian. Her work includes Lake Like a Mirror by Ho Sok Fong, Mystery Train by Can Xue, and Owlish and City Like Water by Dorothy Tse. Owlish was a finalist for the NBCC Greg Barrios Book in Translation Prize and one of the New Yorker’s best books of 2023. After some years living in Taipei and Hong Kong, Natascha now lives in Amsterdam.  

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working on Speculative Fiction from a South Asian Language into English.

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected in the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the ALTA conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. SALT-funded mentees receive an additional $1,000 travel stipend to attend the London Book Fair from in March 2028. Receipt of travel stipends ($1,500 for the ALTA conference and $1,000 for the London Book Fair) is contingent upon travel to and participation in these events. Confirmation of your intention to travel will be due to ALTA in advance. (ALTA understands that actual travel plans may be subject to visa restrictions or other factors.)

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).

 This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.

While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators. 

For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.  

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027. 

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Speculative Fiction from a South Asian Language with Anton Hur. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the nine-month mentorship. Proposals should include:

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose): 8-10 pages of a novel, OR the complete text of an illustrated picture book, OR 4-5 poems from a children's poetry project, along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT.
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the SALT Project.

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is: 

              September 1, 2026: Submissions open

              November 30, 2026: Submissions close

              Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified

              Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced

              Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting

              Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)

              December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program

About the Mentor

Anton Hur is the author of Toward Eternity and the translator of Kim Choyeop’s If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light, Bora Chung’s Cursed Bunny, Baek Sehee’s I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, Lee Seong-bok’s That Summer’s End, Kyung-Sook Shin’s Violets, and others. He was double-longlisted and shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, a finalist for the National Book Award, and nominated for the Dublin Literary Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He resides in Seoul.

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Korean prose into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.                

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                   

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.                   

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                   For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                    

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Korean prose with Janet Hong. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:   

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced), along with the corresponding source text IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with LTI Korea.       

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                    

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                   
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                   
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                   
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                   
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                   
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program

About the Mentor 

Janet Hong is a writer and translator based in Vancouver, Canada. She is a recipient of the TA First Translation Prize, the LTI Korea Translation Award, and the Krause Essay Prize, as well as a two-time winner of the Harvey Award for Best International Book for her translations. She has been a mentor for ALTA’s Emerging Translator Mentorship Program since 2020. Her debut novel, When We Swallowed the Sea, is forthcoming from Flatiron Books in 2027.

-------------- Please contact ALTA's senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Korean poetry into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.               

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected in the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                   

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.                  

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).       

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                

While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                  For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                   

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Korean poetry with mentor Jack Jung. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include:

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project, along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with LTI Korea.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                  

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                 
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                 
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                 
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                 
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                 
• Fall 2027: Mentorship reading at ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program 

 About the mentor 

Jack Saebyok Jung is a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Translation Fellow and the author of Hocus Pocus Bogus Locus (Black Square Editions, 2025). A Truman Capote Fellow at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he co-translated Yi Sang: Selected Works (Wave Books, 2020), winner of the MLA’s Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for a Translation of a Literary Work. His most recent book of translation, Kim Hyesoon’s Lady No, is published by Ecco. He serves as a translation editor at The Massachusetts Review. He teaches at Davidson College.                   

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Japanese into English.

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.

Additionally, applicants may not have previously held a mentorship funded by the Yanai Initiative.

For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments. 

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Japanese with Takami Nieda.

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text IN ONE DOCUMENT. 

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the Yanai Initiative at UCLA.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:

September 1, 2026: Submissions open

November 30, 2026: Submissions close 

Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified 

Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced

Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting

Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)

December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Takami Nieda is the translator of GO by Kazuki Kaneshiro, Finger Bone by Hiroki Takahashi, The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park by Michiko Aoyama, and Traveling Practice by Yusuke Norishiro. Nieda serves on the advisory board of the University of Washington Translation Studies Hub, was a translator-in-residence at Princeton University in fall 2026, and teaches writing and literature at Seattle Central College.

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Sindhi into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.                     

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                     

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. SALT-funded mentees receive an additional $1,000 travel stipend to attend the London Bookfair in March 2028. Receipt of travel stipends ($1,500 for the ALTA conference and $1,000 for the London Bookfair) is contingent upon travel to and participation in these events. Confirmation of your intention to travel will be due to ALTA in advance. (ALTA understands that actual travel plans may be subject to visa restrictions or other factors.)                        

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                     While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                        For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                         

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Sinhala with Rita Kothari. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

•  Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the SALT Project.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                    

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                   
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                   
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                   
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                   
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                   
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027 - January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Rita Kothari is one of India’s leading multilingual literary theorists, scholar and translator. Her monographs and edited volumes have been noted for shifting discourses on communities, identity, language politics, border studies and most importantly, translation. She has been the recipient of several awards and fellowships in India and overseas. Her noteworthy works include The Burden of Refuge and Unbordered Memories – based on Sindh region and Sindhi language. Her study Translating India and the edited volume Chutnefying English as well as A Multilingual Nation have made a significant mark. Kothari is the translator of Angaliyat: The Stepchild (the first Dalit novel in Gujarat and India at large). She is a rare scholar who moves between multiple under-represented languages and engages deeply with India’s multilingual diversity. Kothari is a Professor in English at Ashoka University where she also co-directs the Ashoka Centre for Translation. Kothari is currently curating (along with Abhijit Kothari) The Big Book of Gujarati Literature and her most recent translation is Kahe Latif, a Hindi retelling of Shah Abdul Latif’s sufi poems Shah Jo Risalo.

                         -------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Nepali into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.                  

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                  

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. SALT-funded mentees receive an additional $1,000 travel stipend to attend the London Bookfair in March 2028. Receipt of travel stipends ($1,500 for the ALTA conference and $1,000 for the London Bookfair) is contingent upon travel to and participation in these events. Confirmation of your intention to travel will be due to ALTA in advance. (ALTA understands that actual travel plans may be subject to visa restrictions or other factors.)                     

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                  While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                     For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                      

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2026.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Nepali with Rohan Chhetri. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

•  Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the SALT Project.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                     

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                    
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                    
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                    
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                    
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                    
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027 - January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Rohan Chhetri is the author of Lost, Hurt, or in Transit Beautiful. A 2021 PEN/Heim Grant recipient, his translation of Avinash Shrestha's poems, The Dust Draws its Face on the Wind, was published in 2024, and his ongoing translation of Parijat's Flowers of the Siris Tree is a recipient of the 2026 Armory Square Prize. He recently served as the Anisfield-Wolf Distinguished Visiting Writer at Case Western Reserve University and is currently an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at American University of Sharjah.

                      -------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Panjabi into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.                  

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                  

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. SALT-funded mentees receive an additional $1,000 travel stipend to attend the London Bookfair in March 2028. Receipt of travel stipends ($1,500 for the ALTA conference and $1,000 for the London Bookfair) is contingent upon travel to and participation in these events. Confirmation of your intention to travel will be due to ALTA in advance. (ALTA understands that actual travel plans may be subject to visa restrictions or other factors.)                     

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                  While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                     For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                      

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Panjabi with Haider Shahbaz. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

•  Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the SALT Project.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                     

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                    
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                    
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                    
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                    
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                    
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027 - January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Haider Shahbaz is a translator and writer from Pakistan. He has previously translated works from Urdu and Panjabi, and his forthcoming translations include Balraj Manra's Compositions, 1964-71 (Ugly Duckling Presse) and N.M. Danish's Children, Butterfly, Flower (NYRB). He works as an Assistant Professor of World Literature at Smith College.

                      -------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Assamese into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.                  

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                  

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. SALT-funded mentees receive an additional $1,000 travel stipend to attend the London Bookfair in March 2028. Receipt of travel stipends ($1,500 for the ALTA conference and $1,000 for the London Bookfair) is contingent upon travel to and participation in these events. Confirmation of your intention to travel will be due to ALTA in advance. (ALTA understands that actual travel plans may be subject to visa restrictions or other factors.)                     

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                  While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                     For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                      

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Assamese with Aruni Kashyap. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

•  Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the SALT Project.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                     

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                    
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                    
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                    
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                    
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                    
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027 - January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Aruni Kashyap is the author of How to Date a Fanatic (2026), The Way You Want To Be Loved (2024), and The House With a Thousand Stories (2013). Along with editing a collection of stories called How to Tell the Story of an Insurgency (2020), he is the translator of four novels from Assamese to English. A 2024 Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, he is also the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Translation. 

                      -------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Swedish into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.              

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected in the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.                 

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.               While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                 For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                  

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Swedish with Rachel Willson-Broyles. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include:

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship 

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the Swedish Arts Council.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                 

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open               
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close            
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor Rachel Willson-Broyles is a freelance translator specializing in translating contemporary literature from Swedish to English. She received her BA in Scandinavian Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2002 and her Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013. Recent translations include Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius and The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson. Rachel lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.                     

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Tamil into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.              

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected in the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                 

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.                 

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.               

While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                 For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                  

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Tamil with Peter Constantine. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include:

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship 

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with Vishnupuram Literary Circle.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                 

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close                
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7, 2027 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor 

Peter Constantine is publisher of World Poetry Books and Professor of Translation Studies at the University of Connecticut. His translations include works by Rousseau, Voltaire, Machiavelli, Gogol, and Tolstoy for Random House / Modern Library. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and has been awarded the PEN Translation Prize for Thomas Mann’s Six Early Stories and the National Translation Award for The Undiscovered Chekhov. His novel The Purchased Bride was published by Deep Vellum in 2023.

       -------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working from Ukrainian into English for the inagural Razom Mentorship for Decolonial Translation. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.              

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected in the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.                 

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding.                 

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal).      

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.               

While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                 For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments.                  

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.      

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Ukrainian with Dominique Hoffman. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:    

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include:

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship 

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced if prose), along with the corresponding source text, IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

 This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with Razom for Ukraine.     

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:                 

• September 1, 2026: Submissions open                
• November 30, 2026: Submissions close
• Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified                
• Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced                
• Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting                
• Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7 in Tucson, Arizona)
• December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program      

About the Mentor

Dominique Hoffman translates literary fiction and nonfiction from Ukrainian. Her translations have received support from English PEN, the Ukrainian Book Institute, and Razom Literature. Published translations include Olena Stiazhkina's Cecil the Lion Had to Die; Yaroslav Hrytsak's Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation; and a co-translation of Oleksii Nikitin's The Face of Fire. Her translations of novels by Victoria Amelina and Anastasia Levkova are forthcoming.

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working on translating Poetry from Hong Kong into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette. 

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall.

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. 

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal). 

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                   For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments. 

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027. 

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Poetry from Hong Kong with Jennifer Feeley. 

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:   

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced), along with the corresponding source text IN ONE DOCUMENT. 

This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is: 

 September 1, 2026: Submissions open

November 30, 2026: Submissions close 

Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified 

Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced

Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting

Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7, 2027 in Tucson, Arizona)

December 2027-January 2028: First Look Program

About the Mentor

Jennifer Feeley is the recipient of the 2017 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize and a 2019 National Endowment for the Arts Literature Translation Fellowship. Her translations from Chinese include Gigi L. Leung’s novel Everyday Movement; Lau Yee-Wa’s novel Tongueless; Xi Xi’s Mourning a Breast, Carnival of Animals, and Not Written Words; Chen Jiatong’s White Fox series; and Wong Yi’s Cantonese chamber opera libretto Women Like Us. She is currently working on a new translation of Xi Xi’s My City. She holds a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures from Yale University.                    

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.

Accepting applications for emerging translators working on translating literary Prose from Hong Kong into English. 

The ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship Program is designed to establish and facilitate a close working relationship between an experienced translator and an emerging translator on a project selected by the emerging translator. The mentorship duration is one year. The emerging translator is expected to choose a project that can be completed in that time, and they will only be advised on that particular project. ALTA's Emerging Translator Mentorship Program was founded by former ALTA board member Allison M. Charette.

All mentors and mentees meet via video conference at the beginning of their mentorship in February, and continue their work through individual meetings either in person, over Zoom, or by phone. A minimum of six meetings is expected during the first nine months. The mentorship will feature a presentation of the mentee’s work in a reading at the annual ALTA conference in the fall. 

ALTA's mentees also have the option to take part in our "First Look" program, which allows participating publishers to be the first to read excerpts of the translations mentees have worked on throughout their mentorship, for possible publication. The $1500 travel stipend covers travel to the conference location and on-site accommodations. ALTA conference registration is also covered for both mentors and mentees. Please note that each of our program funders may have different stipulations regarding travel funding. 

The program is open to emerging translators at no cost to them. An emerging translator is someone who has published no more than one full-length work of translation. While ALTA’s Mentorship Program is open to all applicants, we especially encourage applications from those who don't have an MA, an MFA, or some other equivalent type of training, such as a mentorship from the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorships (UK). Though English is the target language, the emerging translator need not live in the United States. The selected mentee’s proposed project will be worked on based on availability (applicants are not expected to secure rights for their proposal). 

This program is distinct from the ALTA Travel Fellowships. Previous years' Fellows are welcome to apply for a Mentorship. Applicants may apply to both programs in the same year, but only may only receive one award.                While applicants are encouraged to apply simultaneously to multiple mentorship programs (such as those offered by the National Centre for Writing, LTAC/QWF, etc), please note that successful applicants will only be allowed to pursue one mentorship at a given time. In other words, applicants selected for more than one mentorship will need to choose one to accept. This allows our programs to support the greatest number of emerging translators.                   For more information, please see our website for details, as well as introductions to former mentees and their accomplishments. 

Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm PT. The selected mentees will be announced in February 2027.

Please use this form to apply to the mentorship in Prose from Hong Kong with Jacqueline Leung.

Applications must be submitted online through our submission platform, and must include:   

• Your CV (please note that a CV is different from a resume—a CV provides a full, comprehensive history of your academic and work experience, your publication history, and any past training in relevant fields)
• A project proposal of no more than 1000 words. Projects must be reasonably expected to be completed within the scope of the mentorship. Proposals should include: 

1. The author's name and project title clearly stated in the first paragraph
2. Information about the original author
3. Information about the importance of the source text
4. How the emerging translator would benefit from mentorship

• A sample translation of 8-10 pages from the proposed project (double-spaced), along with the corresponding source text IN ONE DOCUMENT. 
• Two brief recommendation statements, to be submitted by your recommenders through this form. These statements should be 1-2 paragraphs long and should address your ability to collaborate and contribute positively to a cohort of peers.

This mentorship is being offered by ALTA in partnership with the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global.      

The timeline for the mentorship program application process is:

September 1, 2026: Submissions open 

November 30, 2026: Submissions close

Late January, 2027: Selected mentees notified 

Early February, 2027: Selected mentees announced 

Early February, 2027: Mentorship program begins with a virtual meeting

Fall 2027: Mentorship program reading at the ALTA50 conference (November 4-7, 2027 in Tucson, Arizona)

December 2027-January 2027: First Look Program

About the Mentor 

Jacqueline Leung is a writer, translator, and art editor from Hong Kong. Her translation of Hon Lai Chu’s novel Mending Bodies (2025) is a winner of PEN Presents by the English PEN. Her work has appeared in HEAT, Wasafiri, Gulf Coast, Asymptote, Nashville Review, SAND Journal, the Asian Review of Books, Cha, Books from Taiwan, and elsewhere. She is a translation editor for The Offing. Her work has been recognized by the Asian Cultural Council, the Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference, and the British Centre for Literary Translation.

-------------- Please contact ALTA's Senior Program Director Kelsi Vanada with any questions: kelsi@literarytranslators.org.