Being a Mentor…

Sometimes I Make Writers Angry at Me…

In the last three days I have had two writers I am working with as a mentor get angry at me because I was blunt. (Right now my friends who have known we for decades are saying, “No, not Dean…” and then laughing their asses off.)

I have promised the writers I work with that I will always be honest with them as best I can. I try not to toss out advice they have not asked for, but if a question is asked, I am blunt and honest.

Both writers and I have worked it out. Got a hunch the advice got through to both of them.

But having this happen caused me this week to step back and sort of look at the writers I have been helping, some for years.

Two writers sadly have died and I announced that early on in the summer that I had openings and two more writers who thought I would be helpful jumped in. And both are challenging me in great ways.

I have four writers that no longer report in to me much at all, using me when they are stumped on an answer to something. These four have been making fantastic progress over the years, are full professionals, and I am glad to be here if needed.

Two writers came back this summer and started reporting regularly again after life rolls and asking questions after a few years of being gone.

And I have one writer who reports in weekly that I can not help and the writer doesn’t want my help. Just wants to report in.

So I looked at it all and realized that I had a spot open because of the writer who only reports in and doesn’t want my help and never asks for it.

Why would I open up a spot? Because I really like getting the letters and the questions each week, I like knowing a writer’s career and what they are working on and trying to help. And mostly I like being a cheerleader. So many of us just need cheerleaders.

Turns out the challenges I started last January are me mostly being a cheerleader for writers doing great word counts and kicking my ass. I love doing that, watching other writers get ahead, make progress on their dreams. I might be older, but I remember clearly what those early years were like trying to learn. And wishing I had a mentor I could report in to regularly.

So one spot open for me to be a mentor in your writing. Write me directly if interested. I promise to be honest on every question you ask, and maybe sometimes a little too blunt. (grin)