L.A.Mitchell-articles

L.A. Mitchell

Romance...Out of Time

The Trojan Horse of Writing : A Mentor

As early as the Middle Ages, education has been based on apprenticeship. From the bread makers of medieval France to the modern-day neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins, the skills necessary to excel in a chosen profession are shaped by those who’ve come before them. So why, when aspiring writers make the decision to pursue publication, do many choose to go it alone?

A mentor, derived from the name of Odysseus’s trusted advisor in Greek mythology, can be invaluable to beginning and seasoned writers. Where larger environments such as critique groups or peer writing courses provide feedback that can often seem scattered and conflicting, one mentor willing to approach a writer’s work with a deep focus and personal investment in success can shave years off the publishing industry’s lengthy learning curve.

Writing coaches are one kind of mentor. In today’s virtual age, a number of online companies specialize in combing over a writer’s novel for a fee. Often, these coaches have backgrounds in the industry as editors, agents or multi-published authors and are highly efficient at shaping manuscripts into marketable products. They enter a writer’s life for a season, often the duration of one chapter or a single manuscript, and fill a temporary need for wisdom and guidance. They’ll find major plot holes and determine the perfect way to speed up a story’s momentum, but won’t care that the latest rejection or the death of a beloved pet has gutted a writer’s creativity.

Writers often seek a more enduring, personal relationship with a mentor who can act as an advisor, role model and support system. How does a writer go about finding such a mentor? And how can understanding the dynamic of such a partnership ensure its success?

Finding a Mentor

Writers who have found any measure of success are usually more than willing to share their knowledge. Writing organizations, talks and lectures given by authors and industry professionals, and online forums run by established authors can be fertile ground for initiating contact. Emailing or writing a note to an admired author in one’s chosen genre can be a great way to set a dialogue in motion. Dr. Shirley Peddy, Ph.D., author of “The Art of Mentoring,” advises writers seeking mentors to become informed about a potential mentor’s professional career and his or her body of work. Be respectful. Ask if he has time to answer a few questions. If the answer is “no”, ask if he knows any other writers who may be able to help. Writers should never reveal they’re seeking a mentor. The connection must grow organically from a place of common ground.

After a positive response, set up a time to talk and stick to the amount of time agreed upon. Peddy recommends giving potential mentors a reward for their help. A piece of writing reflecting their advice or a thoughtful gift or note can extend the connection and reflect a two-way relationship.

Candy Havens, author of the supernatural chick-lit “Charmed” series for Berkley, founded Write_Workshop, a free online community where she teaches classes, as well as bringing in other authors, agents and editors to share their knowledge. She cautions that finding a mentor can be difficult. “I won’t say who,” she says, “but I can remember sitting across from a very famous author and thinking, ‘Please, be my friend.’ I had this whole scenario where if she were my friend, she would introduce me to her editor—you know how it works. You can’t push these things. They have to develop naturally.”

The Dynamics of Mentorship

While no two mentor relationships are the same, understanding the natural cycle of a successful pairing benefits both parties. Peddy believes dynamic partnerships adhere to three stages: lead, follow and get out of the way.

In the first stage, mentors lead by example. The role of the writing mentor is to model successful behavior, provide perspective and guide the learner through imaginary trip-lines on the way to pre-determined goals. Wisdom and judgment are the mentor’s paramount gifts. Open communication and a learner’s willingness to listen are essential in this phase.

At some point, often at a time neither person recognizes, the relationship shifts to the second stage: follow, in which the learner assumes the leadership role and the mentor becomes a sounding board and support system, offering advice only when asked. The mentor focuses on building the learner’s resilience. The relationship has reached a more vulnerable stage where the mentor may reveal deep personal challenges and stories of failure.

The final, mature stage of a mentor partnership is what Peddy calls “getting out of the way.” During this phase, the mentor grants the learner the right to refuse her advice and recognizes that the most effective lessons are based upon the learner’s own decisions. Maturity and judgment come into focus. The mentor may suggest other people who can continue to help and support the learner.

This process is far from static, and all mentor relationships end eventually. Recognizing this natural progression is part of the growth for both parties ensures the experience remains positive and inspiring for all concerned.

Becoming a Mentor

At first glance, the mentor relationship may seem one-sided. For a time, it is. Mentors have a desire to serve, to uncover what is right for the one who seeks their guidance. Along the journey, however, mentors discover that sharing a part of themselves and their experiences can enhance their own careers in ways they never anticipated. The rich connection to another reminds them of the reason they became writers.

Writing, by definition, is a solitary art. The pursuit of success doesn’t have to be. Mentor played an essential role in Odysseus’s life. What role can a mentor play in yours?

Resources

Peddy, Dr. Shirley, Ph.D. (2001) The Art of Mentoring: Lead, Follow and Get Out of the Way. Houston: Bullion Books.

Candace Havens’s website/Write_Workshop classes: www.candacehavens.com

Writing Coaches

Margie Lawson, Deep Edits Service: www. margielawson.com

Sandra Haven, Bristol Services International: www.bristolservicesintl.com

Your Words Your Way: www.yourwordsyourway.com

The Writing Mentor: www.thewritingmentor.com

Mentor Hook-ups

Writer’s Mentor U: www.writersmentoru.com

Writer’s Guild of America: www.wga.org

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