Sophie by Galia Alena
Writing mentors, like fabulous friends, great lovers and oodles of cash, are a fantastic addition to one's life. They too, sadly, do not grow on trees. The prime question is not, where do I find a mentor, but, do I need a mentor at all? Need is a word that is a little abused these days. You can be a perfectly happy writer without anyone spurring you on and making the learning curve less severe. But if there is this someone in your life... well, you're one lucky dude.
What is a mentor?
A mentor is often mistaken for a pygmalion but while they can be one and the same, if you expect your mentor to be a pygmalion, you run into problems. A mentor is there to help you and guide you, not propel you towards super-stardom. While he may turn out to be the super-well-connected expert who can pass your precious manuscript to your dream agent, networking, palm-greasing and publishing deals aren't part of a mentor's job description.
A mentor nourishes and helps you grow. A mentor supports you and inspires you. A mentor rejoices in your successes and keeps a cool head when you hit the fan in a rage or melt into the tear-filled puddle of rejection. A mentor is a lifeline when you've run out of patience, hope or ideas; he is the guiding light who may not have all the answers but will surely seek them out on your behalf.
Where do I find a mentor?
You know, that's a bit like that 'how long is a piece of string?' question. There's the widespread misconception that those who work in the academia make great mentors and those who study at a uni are therefore fast-tracked to a relationship that lasts forever. Not so. A brilliant mentoring relationship is easier to score than a winning lottery jackpot but only just. No matter how hard you try, a rewarding relationship is something that you only chance upon, not something that you can force.
Mentoring just happens. Or it doesn't. And a good writing mentor, like a great artist, can come from anywhere. He can be an editor, a high-school teacher, a fellow writer, a proofreader, a poet, a librarian or just someone who loves to read. Don't make assumptions on the basis of your idealised views. Don't close doors before you've taken a peek inside the room.
What makes a good mentor?
Anyone with acute interpersonal skills and a profound interest in people development can make a great mentor. You can chance upon your perfect mentor while studying, but beware of academic mentoring schemes which often end up shoving square pegs into round holes. I have been around universities for over fifteen years and I can only think of two teachers who made good mentors. The others were self-centered, blinkered individuals who much preferred pontificating to zipping their gobs and occasionally listening to others.
Similarly, beware of corporate mentoring schemes, something that is getting increasingly popular as large companies fight the implied accusations that they are soulless, arid places to work in (they are, no matter how loudly they protest). You are extremely unlikely to find a writing mentor within a corporation. I remember people who never said good morning or good-bye or even thank you, people who were so stuck up their own asses that they never saw the light of day being appointed as mentors. That's a travesty of what mentoring is about. Don't be forced into such a relationship; you are much better off flying solo than with a dead weight attached to your ankle.
Have you ever heard of 'Those who can, do; those who can't, teach'? It's a funny little thing spat out by a certain Henry Louis Mencken. I don't remember when or where I heard it first, but what I do remember is that I thought then, as I do now, bollocks to that. Yes, bollocks. Precisely. A mentor teaches you to develop, to gain experience, to grasp opportunity, to stretch your imagination, your writing muscles and your limits. A mentor is the most exciting type of teacher you will ever come across in your life. And there is absolutely no shame in being great at teaching.
Are you a mentor? Have you got one?
Yes my writing mentor is Nick Daws and his fab courses. No I don't need him but I know without him and his courses I would never have had the confidence to try.
Posted by: Lesley Galston | 21 June 2010 at 09:03