While writing is a solitary pursuit, you walk the path alone
at your peril. Not only do we need people to help us improve our craft, we need
emotional support in this crazy business. In the best of circumstances, you can
get both of these things through a mentor.
For a long time, the term mentor was used in the business
world as a person who would show the less experienced worker the ropes, steer
them in the right direction, and help them craft their career. As time has
become scarcer, it’s hard to find people willing to give of their time to
mentor. But you can hire a coach.
It works much the same way in the writing world. When you
are just starting out, it’s helpful to have someone show you the ropes, point
your writing in the right direction, and help you craft your career.
Whether you are looking for a mentor or a coach, here are
some things to keep in mind.
What is a mentor/mentee relationship?
- Every
group/relationship is different
- Can be
as simple as providing a thorough critique and advice or as deep as a good
friendship.
It can be a variety of things. It
can be anything from an in-depth critique that takes your writing to another
level to someone to hold your hand on the writing journey. It can be one person
or a group of people. Some of the best mentor relationships are a group of
writing friends that challenge each other with their craft and give emotional
support.
How is it different from a critique group?
In many ways there is a lot of
overlap. If you want a mentor who will help you with your craft, you will get a
critique of your work. But they can also explore the world of fiction and how
to write it. With my clients, we’ve talked about POV, characterization,
grammar, plot, sentence rhythm, pitching, and goals. We’ve discussed some of
our favorite books and what we can take away from them. I’ve recommended books
on craft. Yes, these things have all come up in my critique group, but in my
mentor groups, we’ve addressed them more deliberately and more in depth. For my
coaching students, they can get a private, individualized fiction class.
What kind of mentor do you want?
This is something you’ll want to
spend some time thinking about because your answers will determine who you look
to for help. Do you want market info, encouragement in making a pitch, someone
to hold you accountable, or someone to teach you craft? You can have any or all
of these things with a mentor. They key thing is to be upfront in what you are
looking for and to realize that not all mentors will necessarily be willing or
able to give you what you need.
There isn’t a formula for what
makes a good mentor relationship. A good mentor relationship is when everyone
is getting what they need out of it.
What to expect from a mentor. What to look for.
- More
experienced writer than you but not necessarily published.
- Someone
who’s growing and continually learning in their craft
- A
person that you click with
- Honest
communication
Someone who has more experience in
writing than you do. This doesn’t mean they have to be published, but if you
look at Randy Ingermanson’s level of writers, you’re looking at a senior, maybe
a junior.
You also want someone who’s
growing and learning in their craft. You want that, not only because the market
changes so quickly, but because someone who is learning and growing is excited
about fiction and likely to pass that on to you.
Someone with whom you click. This
is that indefinable chemistry. You want someone who gets what you’re writing.
It doesn’t have to be the same genre but you need them to be excited about your
work and pulling for you. You don’t need someone who’s going to beat you over
the head or be negative. Now that’s not to say they shouldn’t be honest. But
their style of communicating needs to mesh with yours.
It needs to be someone you can
trust to have your best interests in mind. If they say something isn’t working,
you need to be able to trust their opinion on that. That doesn’t mean you have
to take everything they say. But you need to be able to trust that they are
trying to improve your work, not sabotage it or bring you down.
Additionally, they need to respect
your voice, or help you try and find it, without making you sound like them.
At the same time there needs to be
a level of honesty both ways. You can’t have someone who tells you everything
you write is great. You won’t improve that way. And you need to be honest enough
to tell her what you’re looking for and if her feedback is helpful or not. If
there’s something you want to learn more about, you need to tell her that to. Your
mentor won’t be able to read your mind or know what you need if you don’t speak
up.
At the same time, respect the fact
that your mentor is working on her writing career as well and might not always
be available at your beck and call. Again, good communication and talking about
expectations can go a long way to avoiding hurt feelings.
Stayed tuned for Part 2 and learn how to be a good mentee and how to end your relationship without burning bridges.
Jennifer's latest books. Coming Home A strong- willed young woman must discover her brother’s killer before she’s the next victim. The prequel, Be Mine, is also available. Can a simple thank you note turn into something more?

Jennifer's latest books. Coming Home A strong- willed young woman must discover her brother’s killer before she’s the next victim. The prequel, Be Mine, is also available. Can a simple thank you note turn into something more?


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