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I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. ~~Stephen Leacock
Good luck is when opportunity meets preparation, while bad luck is when lack of preparation meets reality. ~~Eliyahu Goldratt
The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment; it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.~~ Orison Swett Marden
Luck is believing you're lucky. ~~Tennessee Williams
Imagine if we were all magical leprechauns, and every wish ever made on a four-leaf clover obliged us to help others obtain their wishes. Now imagine if people simply lived like this were true .~~Richelle E. Goodrich
Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not. ~~George Bernard Shaw
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The original mentor was a character in Homer’s epic poem "The Odyssey." Odysseus, King of Ithaca, entrusted the care of his kingdom to Mentor when he went off to fight The Trojan War. Mentor served as the teacher and overseer of Odysseus' son, Telemachus. A mentor is a trusted friend and teacher who will help guide another along their way.
Mentoring is a way of passing forward what others have taught us. Becoming a mentor is not something you decide to do as much as developing a writing relationship and both parties realizing just how much they both gain in the process. A mentor helps tweak a piece and/or fine point the way for a writer to best express themselves. They are that external eye that is not too close to see! Much, much more than an editor because it is getting the writer to pull the words out rather than a mere correction.
One of the absolute best parts of being in a mentoring relationship is how much you both will learn. In showing and sharing with others ideas or concepts to help further their writing, one can realize what works (or doesn't) for themselves. A win-win situation all 'round.
Being members here at WDC, we have such brilliant opportunities to both find mentors and, in return, be one as well. We are all at differing levels and there will always, always be writers more accomplished than we are as well as those writers needing/wanting that help to get them to the next level. It isn't merely something that you can be taught. It is a knowing, a willingness to share, a giving of yourself and your thoughts to another. A friend of mine said, "One doesn't realize it until they are already knee-deep in the process."*
It is like taking the step of reviewing a mile further. Receiving a review that says, "That was great! I loved it." doesn't really DO much more than a momentary ego boost because it never tells the writer what specifically worked ... and why. Working with someone in a mentoring capacity can help a writer learn what skills they can sharpen to get to that next level, what wordplay can be utilized to that them be the quoted ones and to hone their work, having it be carved into that stone and be memorable.
Being a successful writer is far more than sheer luck. It is work. Hard work sifted with skill, embellished by a love of words and polished in blood.
Six steps for effective mentoring as well as being a mentee.
1. Set goals and expectations. What do both of you hope to gain from the mentorship? Do you anticipate this being a short or a long mentoring relationship?
2. Become invested regardless of which side you are on - mentor or mentee. Get involved in more than just the writing aspect. Learn about the other half of this partnership. Become an active listener as not only will you learn more about the person, you will also learn more about everything from their perspectives on life to their speaking and writing styles. In becoming more aware of their various idiosyncrasies, you will learn how best to approach them for critiques, writing advice, suggestions to improve their writing, or working together in general.
3. Timing. Sometimes you need to sit back and listen before leaping in with suggestions. Listen to what the writer perceives as the problem and then you will be better able to decide if they are looking for on-the-fly ideas or are looking for more in-depth help and suggestions. When one is a mentor, one needs to give the help that is needed and wanted without, in essence, trying to rewrite what they have done. One needs to be constructive; not critical.
4. Don't assume; ask. If you are unsure exactly what someone is asking for or saying, ask questions that will allow you to dig deeper and see the bigger picture. We all come from different places and have different experiences. Getting to openly get to a place where you both can appreciate the other will allow the relationship to have a give and take aspect to it, which allows a greater expansion of both worlds.
5. Celebrate! Be sure to give kudos for a job well done. Praise goes a long way with someone who is just learning. Positive feedback reinforces the work put into something, even if it may still have a ways to go. Enjoy the walking whilst they learn to fly!
6. Tip the scale. Give more than you are asked for. Sometimes, you may find that a less experienced writer is intimidated by one that seems much more advanced than they are. While they truly desire the help, they may be afraid to ask for additional help or guidance. Giving freely of yourself will only set you both up for success. Something along the lines of "What goes around; comes around." Karma will out. And we all need help sometimes!
Sure. It takes time, energy, and emotional support. Is it worth it? Absolutely. There is a friendship or partnership, if you will, that develops that has been likened to that of police partners or squadron members. I am still in touch with a mentor I had in 6th grade! Friends now for over fifty years and I could still, run something by them for their input and know that I could absolutely trust their input.
Consider bringing a bit of magic into another writer's life. If you have reviewed a lot of a writer's work and have ideas that might be beneficial for them, think about the possibility of furthering that to your becoming a mentor to them. If you particularly like and follow another writer's work, perhaps that could evolve into their mentoring you.
*Rhymer Reisen  |
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Imogen Elliott  says: Excellent newsletter and a great information resource! I look forward to this newsletter every week.
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Poetry: March 17, 2021 Issue [#10671]
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