Do you need a writing mentor?

When I started taking journalism classes and writing for my college paper, I found myself improving as a journalist faster than I was improving as a novelist. It didn’t make sense to me; I only got into journalism because it was related to writing, and I wanted to learn everything I could about the industry, media, and otherwise.

During one of our news conferences, in which we attended talks, participated in contests, and listened to speakers, I finally figured it out.

One of the speakers was a novelist who lectured on putting an idea to paper without confusing yourself. Basically, she taught us how to outline a story without creating an elaborate mess.

At this point, I had already written a novel and I knew it wasn’t good. I’d written two, actually, but I was still learning and growing as a writer, so I didn’t yet feel comfortable with my voice. I signed up to this novelist’s email list, and when she sent a thank-you email, I immediately responded—from there, we talked for months.

I learned so much more from her than I had in the months after I started to pursue writing. And she was so eager to help me. Around that time, I had created my Facebook writing group, Author’s Tale, and found that I was eagerly sharing all my skills and knowledge with my members, too.

What is a writing mentor?

The author I am talking about, by the way, is the brilliant Marjorie Brody, author of Twisted. I would call Marjorie a writing mentor with pleasure, despite the short span of time we spent talking. Usually, people assume that a writing mentor is someone who sticks around for the long term, however, this isn’t always the case. Marjorie helped me for a short while, and her advice was invaluable. 

So, in answer to the question, what is a writing mentor? In short, they are those who help you improve as a writer through their experience, knowledge, and influence. 

Although you may advance your writing skills/career with the aid of a mentor, it’s important to realize this isn’t a path to quick riches. A writing mentor is not meant to publish your book, recommend you to a publisher, or give you a publishing deal.

Who needs a writing mentor?

If you have questions about writing, editing, revising, outlining, publishing, the industry, publishers, or anything else that has anything to do with writing, a mentor is a great go-to resource.

You’ll have a lot of “mentors” throughout your writing career, but finding a trustworthy, knowledgeable mentor is well worth the time and dedication. Anyone can be in a writing group or read a blog post, but that doesn’t make them an expert or equip them with the skills needed to help you take your writing to the next level. Finding a mentor with writing, editing, or publishing experience will be far more helpful for you in the long run, for they will serve as a credible source of information, helping you discern the right information from the wrong.

When things don’t go according to plan

Mentors are also brilliant people to have by your side when you find yourself in a bad place. You’re going to come up against writer’s block, bad reviews, rejections, heavy critiques, lack of reads, and many other obstacles. These things are painful, even for those with the thickest of skin. It’s likely that your mentor will have suffered through all of these things at some point, too. 

Ask what got them through the process. Treat your writing mentor as your friend, because that’s what they are now, and they’re there to help you get back on track.

How to find a writing mentor

There are a couple of ways to find a writing mentor who is right for you, but you may have found them in other unique places. 

Your community

The first place to look is within your own community. If you know any authors who you’d love to sit down with for a few hours, this is a fantastic place to start. Reach out to them and introduce yourself. Read their work, become a fan, and take pride in your shared community. Local authors are typically proud of their town or city and often refer to important locations within their work, so who better to share their knowledge with than someone who has the same roots? They don’t have to have sold a thousand books to be helpful, by the way.

I would advise against introducing yourself with an overly keen “I know you’re a writer; I am, too, so I was hoping we could meet” line. You’re not the only writer in your town or city, and no one is obligated to talk to you just because you share an interest.

Connect with them. Read their work, make notes about what you liked or found particularly interesting. Ask them how they came up with a specific plot twist or mention how you loved the part where the main character did that crazy thing. Genuinely connecting with a writer is a good way to get their attention, and you could learn a thing or two as well. 

If nothing else, it’ll help you figure out whether you want them to mentor you. Not every writer has the same view of the industry as another, and it wouldn’t be the best mentorship if you didn’t take their advice.

Online

If you’re in a Facebook group, a LinkedIn community, or something similar, you’ll find a lot of published authors who are itching to tell someone what they know. Some authors go a little over the top after they’ve been published, so be careful! It can be especially difficult to identify excessive pride online; however, overly proud authors tend to degrade new authors, whether this is intentional or not.  

Those who play an active and positive role in the community are likely to be engaging and uplifting writing mentors. Of course, every group has lurkers, so why not flush those hidden published authors out by requesting some advice? Taper a question to meet your needs, for example: “Published authors, what are _______?” By aiming your question specifically at published authors, you can expect that they’ll be the ones responding. From there you can request to private message them and discuss things further.

Be respectful, understanding, and ensure you don’t bombard your new writing mentor with hundreds of questions right away. Take the time to get to know them and to understand their styles and goals. Your writing mentor will become one of your good friends, hopefully, so let them, and be a good friend to them, too.

Can I be a writing mentor?

If you’re asking this question, I almost want to say that the answer is “Not yet.” If you’re asking, you might not completely feel up to the task. Being ready to mentor someone is more about confidence and discernment than it is about time spent doing something, though that helps. If you’re a self-published author who hasn’t reached a satisfactory level of success, you are likely to have unanswered questions, just like your writer. This is the same for those who have been published traditionally, as well. You may have some advice to offer, but you will likely still be seeking some mentoring for yourself.

Not that mentors shouldn’t also need mentors, mind you. On the contrary. But if you are unsure, you may not offer the level of surety in the advice you share, and it may discourage someone you’re trying to help.

What about writing partners?

If you and a fellow writer share a few experiences but both have questions, you can definitely help each other! When I first started writing, I met a writer who was working on their first novel, just like me. We became each other’s alpha reader, and that helped us to finish our first books together. We also learned a lot along the way and shared that with each other, which made the learning experience rich.

Having a writing partner and being a writing partner is something all writers can do. Go for it!

How do I become a writing mentor?

Whether you’re self-published or traditionally published, remember how you fixed the problems that you came across so you can share that knowledge with someone else. A writing mentor doesn’t require all the answers, but they should be able to help other writers overcome difficult obstacles, help lift spirits, and provide support and comfort during tough times.

If you’re looking to become a writing mentor, remain humble. It doesn’t matter how successful you are in your career. You didn’t get there because you were born with a pencil in your hand. You had help. You learned things from dozens, if not hundreds, of people.

Becoming a writing mentor means that you will have the opportunity to play an important role in someone else’s journey. That doesn’t make you any better than anyone else, but it is a heavy responsibility.

We’re all still learning, making mistakes, and sharing what we know. So in a way, we are all going to be mentors to someone. But if you are conscious of it, take on the task with humility, and find joy in the experience.