WriteHive Mentorship Program

#HiveMentor

Nicole Zelniker

Mentor Expertise: Indie/Small Press
She/They

Mentor Bio

Nicole Zelniker (she/they) is the author of several books, including UNTIL WE FALL, which was a finalist for the Forward Indie Awards in LGBTQ+ adult fiction. Their forthcoming YA debut, ALL I KNOW SO FAR, comes out with Inked in Gray in May 2025. She’s also the founder and editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Knee Brace Press. In her free time, Nicole enjoys re-reading her favorite books, posting about being chronically ill on TikTok, and bothering her semi-feral tabby cat.

Mentorship Expectations

I’d love to have a mentee who’s interested in building a career in publishing, whatever that looks like for them. I’d love to have someone interested in telling underrepresented stories. At this time I cannot guarantee multiple feedback/editing rounds, but I’m certainly open to it.

Manuscript Wishlist

What I’d like to read:

  • Anything queer, especially sapphic or aro/ace stories, but if it’s gay I’ll read it
  • Disability rep! All disability rep!
  • Anything with an “unlikeable” woman protag
  • Anyone from any historically marginalized community is encouraged to submit to me
  • Contemporary, especially contemporary YA or NA, but I’ll take adult too (I’m open to reading more genres, but this is where my publishing expertise is)
  • In genres outside of contemporary, some of my recent favorites are The Sunbearer Trials, Iron Widow, and The Sacrifice, so anything in those veins is also welcome

I definitely want to see your work if you can comp any of the following:

  • Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
  • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • Turtles All The Way Down by John Green
  • One For All by Lillie Lainoff
  • A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
  • Forever In Now by Mariama J. Lockington
  • Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
  • The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

Things I would prefer not to read right now

  • On the page domestic violence
  • On the page sexual assault
  • Anything that has to do with eating disorders or purposeful weight loss
  • Animal death

Nicole Zelniker

She/They

Indie/Small Press

Return to Mentors