Short Story Writer (Volunteer)
About the role
Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability. The Short Story Writer (volunteer) role at PromisePages focuses on creating original fiction that entertains, inspires, and sparks imagination while reflecting MAP's commitment to empathy, resilience, belonging, and hope.
Responsibilities
- Create original short stories for children, youth, and family audiences
- Write engaging characters, settings, and storylines
- Explore themes of resilience, friendship, belonging, kindness, courage, and hope
- Revise manuscripts based on editorial feedback
- Collaborate with illustrators to support visual storytelling
- Work with editors throughout the publishing process
- Contribute to collaborative writing initiatives
- Support MAP's educational and creative programming
- Promote positive values through storytelling
- Uphold ethical and respectful storytelling practices
- Partner with PromiseLearning to develop educational storytelling resources
- Collaborate with PromiseStudios on adaptations for animation, film, podcasts, or multimedia projects
- Support PromiseVoice through creative storytelling initiatives
- Work with PromiseBrands on publications and literary campaigns
- Align creative work with MAP's mission and organizational priorities
Qualifications
- Experience in creative writing, fiction, children's literature, or storytelling
- Strong command of narrative structure, dialogue, and character development
- Excellent writing, editing, and revision skills
- Ability to write for diverse age groups and audiences
- Passion for literacy, storytelling, and creative expression
- Interest in mission-driven publishing and education
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in creative writing, fiction, children's literature, or storytelling
- Strong command of narrative structure, dialogue, and character development
- Excellent writing, editing, and revision skills
- Ability to write for diverse age groups and audiences
- Passion for literacy, storytelling, and creative expression
- Interest in mission-driven publishing and education
Why This Role Matters
The Short Story Writer helps create stories that encourage children to dream, families to connect, and readers to see hope where it may have once seemed out of reach. Through storytelling, this role helps build empathy, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading. Success measures include quality and originality of completed stories, contribution to literary publications and creative projects, editorial excellence and storytelling quality, reader engagement, and educational impact.
What You'll Gain
- Opportunity to publish original stories through a growing literary division
- Collaboration with writers, editors, illustrators, and creative professionals
- Portfolio-building experience through mission-driven storytelling
- Professional references and letters of recommendation
- Meaningful impact inspiring children and families through the power of literature
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and include their resume, cover letter, and one or more writing samples demonstrating creative fiction or storytelling. Please highlight experience involving fiction writing, children's literature, creative writing, literary arts, storytelling, or related disciplines.