Photo by: Monica Melton

Guest Post by: Geary Smith

Mentoring 101: 

The Importance of Having a Mentor for Writing Success

     “The mediocre mentor tells.

The good mentor explains. 

      The superior mentor demonstrates.

The greatest mentors inspire!”

–Lucia Ballas Traynor

 

As I think about this quote, I think of my mentor. She explained and demonstrated to help me to become a better writer. She inspired me to become a successful writer.

I was truly at a time in my writing career when I despondent and unsure about my skills and abilities due to receiving so many rejection letters from editors. 

However, when I was about to give up on my dreams of being a writer, serendipitously, my mentor entered into my life and things began to change.

Why is having a mentor so very important for your writing success? 

I believe there are a myriad of qualities to look for in having a mentor for your writing, but here are a few to examine and ponder. 

First, a mentor must be willing to squeeze your project into her busy schedule.  It takes time for a mentor to read, edit and comment on your writing projects.

Secondly, a mentor will give honest feedback and comments on your writing.  Criticism can be tough to hear, but I was never offended by my mentor’s suggestions, red marks, and corrections, because I knew she was trying to help me become a better writer. 

Finally, a mentor will motivate you to keep writing. They believe in you even when you may not believe in yourself.

In conclusion, I am truly fortunate and blessed to find a mentor that came into my life and helped me become a successful writer.  In fact, we still stay in touch. Today, I smile and have a sense of purpose, joy and fulfillment about my writing career, seeing my work being published and actually getting paid for something I love to do. 

I want to leave you with a thought to never give up on your dreams of being a writer.  You just have to find the right mentor that will help guide, lead and inspire you in the right direction.

Geary Smith has been writing for children and young adults for over 35 years. His work has been published in Highlights for Children, Child Life, McGraw-Hill, ProQuest, Kids Imagination Train and many other publications. He has won the Pewter Plate Award by Highlights for Children. Geary Smith is the current Mayor of the city of Mexia, Texas and a member of the Executive Board of the Heart of Texas Council of Governments.  Geary Smith has a B.S. in Psychology from Morehouse College and M.Ed. from Stephen F. Austin University.
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                                                                                                                                                        Photo: Levi Meir Clancy

WAITING SOME MORE  

In the past five years, I've queried a lot of agents.  That boils down to a lot of waiting.  It can take up to 12 weeks to hear back.  That's a long time, but it's part of the submission process.  Writers have to be patient.  And we know this, but the problem ends up being some agents never respond.  You have to submit and see if the agent will reply.  

For instance, several months ago, I've queried someone for the first time.  I received an automatic email confirmation saying she received my submission.  But it's been 28 weeks and I've yet to hear back.  Even after I sent a polite follow-up. 

Most agents use the Query Manager form for submissions and writers will receive a decision within two months.  But some agents avoid answering these queries.  This puzzles me.  Why would an agent set up a Query Manager account and ignore the submissions?  Like this one:

This is sad and disappointing.  I follow many agents on Twitter and find that they tweet multiple times a day.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  But come on.  If they have time to tweet, wouldn't they have time to respond to a few queries? 

Like most writers, I put a lot of thought, time, and research into selecting an agent.  I compose a professional query and submit a manuscript that might be a good match for their manuscript wish list.  At the very least, I expect some kind of a reply.  

But there are a few agents don't feel the need to inform a writer of their decision.  What's that all about?  How hard can it be?   Are they too arrogant to reply?  Overworked?  Are they disorganized or simply don't care?  It seems like some have forgotten that at the end of a query is a diligent, hard-working writer. 

My writer friends say don't take it personally (I don't) and it happens because they're swamped (yeah, I'll remember that when I see agents tweeting what they're deciding to have for dinner or posting pictures of their pets.)

I'm over sending polished manuscripts and filling out detailed query forms only not to hear back.  So, when I encounter agents who keep me waiting and never respond, I cross them off of my list.  They are not the agents for me.  

Now you may think this situation, this not hearing back sounds discouraging, but in truth, it can be avoidable.  

Here's my plan:  I can keep good records of the agents who have replied to my queries versus the ones who haven't.  I can go to Query Tracker to learn what other writers have said about the response time from agents.  I can check in with other writers to find out what their experience has been in submitting to a specific agent. It's up to me to pinpoint the ones who are trustworthy, the ones who are professional, the ones who are compassionate.  There will always be agents who will not respond.  But I can choose agents who recognize writers are earnest and are waiting to hear back.       

✌ and ♥