Two mentors who have inspired me
Writing can be such a lonely career. So much of our time is spent in front of a computer or poring over notes. In between, we are either submitting manuscripts or preparing them for submission.
After an endless round of performing such tasks, it’s no surprise we find ourselves wondering if we have the strength to continue. And that’s why communicating with other writers is essential.
Not only will it help you stay motivated during those times when the creative juices are waning, but connecting with fellow authors also provides you with job references and opportunities for networking.
The only mentors I had when I began to think about becoming a writer were teachers. I used to arrive at my classes with a huge notebook of stories I'd written, eager for feedback. The encouragement I received did a lot to boost my confidence, but I wanted to have the experience of talking to someone who actually wrote for a living.
My chance to form a lasting friendship with an author came in late 1999, when I contacted LC Van Savage, an as-told-to biographer, poet, and columnist, about a book she had written with actress Virginia Mayo. We started corresponding, and we have been in touch ever since. LC has been immensely helpful to me over the years. Even before I was ready to start submitting my work to publishers and editors, she was urging me to take that next step.
Another enormously motivating person entered my life in September of last year. When I first wrote to Kitty Kelley, I had no idea how influential she would become to me. From the start, she has been cheering me on, even during the most difficult times. Had it not been for her, I would not have connected with a literary agent or become a columnist. She recognized true potential in me, and I will always be grateful to her.
There have been others along the way, and I try to learn something from every writer, editor, agent, and publisher I come into contact with.
There is another benefit to having a mentor, too. When you share your work with someone, you can get an objective opinion. As writers, we don’t always catch our own mistakes. A mentor can point out those errors we've neglected to fix, as well as see the overall manuscript in a way we may have failed to consider.
Being encouraged by others to pursue writing has made me think about the kind of role model I want to be to those embarking on a literary career. It is my hope I can provide beginners with the tools they need to become successful. Just as LC and Kitty have helped me, I want to help others believe in themselves and realize that they, too, can get published.
The mountain they’ll have to climb in order to get there might seem endless, but it’s not impossible.
