Mentoring
Every once in awhile you meet someone that turns the light on. Some new writers may believe there is only one light; once turned on, it will illuminate everything and all will be books signings, roses, and millions of dollars.
But reality is very different. Each step in the process of learning to become a writer is illuminated not with one large glaring sunbright light but little fairly lights. How do you know if you’ve learned it all… how do you know if you’ve journeyed as far as you need to to become a great writer???
The answer: Mentors.
I’ve been very fortunate to have had so many fantastic mentors both in copywriting (David G–you’re the best!), life transformation (Bob Proctor–everyone needs Bob in their life) and most of all in my novel writing.
Each of my mentors has shone light on so many things for me. Each illuminating my path in new ways that blow my mind.
Natasha Moore, Ellora’s Cave author and soon-to-be Harlequin author, taught me the basics. She broke me in as it were and really showed me the process of editing and fine-tuning my mss. I thought I’d had something sale-able but she dug in and ripped my POV, head-hopping, and other issues to shreds. She’s the one that gave me a reality check… the “you’re not all that girl… here’s what you need to do to begin to get as good as you think you are.” (Yeah, I have an ego.)
My second mentor, Kate Pearce… She came at the perfect time. I thought I had “it.” I mean I thought, “Man, I can’t get any better than this. She’s going to have a tough time finding anything. But you know… I haven’t sold yet; so maybe (maybe) I’m doing something wrong.”
Yeap, within a week, she had me broken, my mss in tiny puzzle pieces, looking around at the tornado that is Kate. She didn’t just shine some twinkly lights she brought a HUGE 1000 watt (do they make those? If not, Kate needs to develop a patent) light to my writing. And woah, it was gruesome. I mean, epic carnage and massive trauma.
After three months with her, I felt I could conquer anything. I mean I thought I had deep POV, plotting, head-hopping, repetition, and story building down. I had conquered all— now I just needed to get published.
A year later, still unpublished and wondering if my ideas are just too quirky for most publishers, I thought I’d try again. There were so many great mentors in the Romance Divas mentor program: Rowan Larke, Jennifer Leeland, Cup ‘O Noodles, Gwen Hayes… oh, my wish list was a mile long.
I knew it would be hard to beat Kate but with so many Divas with such great track records, I knew I couldnt’ go wrong. I lucked out BIG TIME and got the perfect Romance Diva for the task – Sela Carsen. And WOWSER the woman is making me work. She’s found my secret Achilles heel – character development. I’ve hated doing it for so long; but she has me hooked. I’ve read her stuff… I love her stuff.
She’s also extremely good at whittling away at all my faults and all those things I’ve slacked off on. She’s hitting home all those past lessons from my other mentors and throwing them up in my face, making me remember them, fine tune my craft. Make it all better.
I swear she sees right through me and is making me dig into all the facets so I’ll be a well-rounded, brilliant writer.
I’ve got to tell you – just one of these is worth he weight in gold.
So if you ever think you can’t mentor because you’re not published or not good enough… bull hockey. Even I have something to offer, mentoring another writer who’s just starting and making rookey mistakes.
You can too… Who are you mentoring today????
Really, I’m a pussy cat, ask anyone
(anyone who hasn’t had me for a mentor) And you are right, everyone has something they can teach another writer and we can all keep learning.
Hey April! Glad you’re getting so much from your mentoring experiences. Sometimes it’s as simple as hearing the same thing in different ways to make things click.
And…um…do you know something I know?? Soon-to-be-Harlequin author???? I wish
Mentors are the best! I so wanted to do it again this year, but my luck didn’t hold out for it to happen. Can’t wait for next year, though! I wish I had one year round. Wouldn’t that be great! Mentors are worth their weight in gold!
thank you for passing on your lessons learned, April!
I’ve taught and/or mentored people all my life, but this is the first time I’ve had a mentor. Jennifer “I’m Made of Awesome” Leeland deserves an award for putting up with me (in my mind she accepts it Sally Field style). I have learned so much in such a short time that it can be a bit overwhelming, but it was just what I needed.
Good topic, April!
I’ve had the good, the okay, and the not again with a ten-foot-pole experiences with mentorships. But, I am so grateful to those who have taught me and even the not-so good experiences taught me a life lesson.
I want to say a special thank you to Jennifer Haymore because she coached me and encouraged me to find my own way and my own voice and not be so obsessed with the opinions of everyone around me. She was a gentle mentor, but just what I needed after some difficult experiences.
And, thanks to an unofficial mentor who has always been there for me: Eden Bradley. Despite my occasional stubborn nature, she still listens to me, helps me with character motivation, and reminds me that all writers have their ups and downs with each story. I adore her immensely.
And, thanks to Madelynne Ellis who helped me when I was starting out and Crystal Jordan who has recently extended a hand to me. I also had a great critique partner when I started out who taught me that description isn’t a dirty word. Belle Scarlett has seen me through my many incarnations.
I love these girls. I’m a better writer because of them. Still have a ways to go, but I’m improving every day.
Man, I was WAY nervous about being a mentor. I certainly didn’t think I had much to pass on, but I’m so grateful I did it.
I’ve LOVED mentoring Sasha Devlin. It’s been a great experience, first realizing how much talent Sasha had and being able to give good feedback. And then, discovering I do have some stuff to pass on.
Aw shucks.
It helps as a mentor to have someone who’s willing to listen and talk. I’ve had several great mentors who arrive in the guise of friends. You can learn something from everyone — even if they only serve as a horrible warning! *lol*
Wow… look at all this mentee love!!!!!!!! What’s absolutely awesome is that I’ve learned something unique from everyone who has posted here — either on RD through chats and forum discussions or through personal conversations.
There’s an episode of Bones where Hodgens and Bones are trapped in a car underground. After they’re rescued, Booth sits there and looks at Bones and says (roughly translated), “It was all of us. Take away one of us and you would still be in that car, buried. We were all in that car with you. You would have taken us with you.”
It’s true – in that episode, every single one of the people involved did something subtle yet powerful and life-saving. Hodgen’s figured out how to clean air and could text fast, Bones tore out the back seat to reach a tire to pop open for more air and busted out the front windshield. Booth, Zach, Cam, Angela…. they all did something small but immensely important in tracking down what happened and the location and then helped dig Bones and Hudgens out.
The same holds true for writing – each person helps us on our path. Some are little pieces of mulch that soften our way and help us find the path and others are huge stepping stones and bridges that take us where we need to go.
I’m so blessed to have all of you there for those snippets.
April