Saturday, April 14, 2012

A to Z Challenge: M is for Mentor




Welcome to Day 13 of the A to Z Challenge

Many bloggers have chosen a theme for the A to Z.  My pledge since becoming a blogger is to post about writing, so for this event, I will being posting about what I've learned about writing a novel.

________

M is for Mentor:  a wise or trusted counselor or teacher; an influential sponsor or supporter. (Dictionary.com)

I’ve wanted to do a post on mentors for a long time.  As a neophyte writer, I’ve come to depend on a select few to advise and steer me in the right direction.  The three ladies I constantly call on are skilled writers, as well as savvy bloggers. 

They are Jami Gold, Lynda R. Young, and Julie Musil.  All three are highly informed writers who share their considerable insight and experience on their popular blogs.  They each write on topics all writers should educate themselves on, both on craft and on the business, marketing, and platform side of things.  I find every one of their posts to be informative and entertaining.  I suggest scrolling through some of their old posts.  I guarantee, you’ll learn a lot.

Who are your most trusted mentors and why?  How did you find them?  

19 comments:

Jaye Robin Brown said...

My mentor is actually a real-time friend. Joy Neaves who works at Namelos Press and teaches classes through The Great Smokies Writing Program. I too two of her courses and have maintained e-mail contact - she's incredible.

Unknown said...

I don't have one mentor but perhaps many because I search out those kind of sites you mention (I do follow Julie Musil and she's fabulous). I don't know where I'd be without the internet, to tell you the truth!

Bish Denham said...

Angela Ackerman has been a wonderful mentor to me, as well as Vijaya Bodach. Both are writers, teachers so willing to share their knowledge. I am indebted to them for all the right reasons.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Lynda is so wise! I have a few I trust, including critique partners Rusty and Jeffrey.

Heather M. Gardner said...

I'm not familiar.
I'm going to check them out!
Heather

Georgina Morales said...

Very interesting post. I don't have A mentor, instead I've come to know and appreciate many people. Blogging and networking on Facebook has introduced me to a wide group of very helpful fellows from which I absolve every bit of knowledge I can. I also go to them when a question nags me out of sleep. So far it has been a very enriching experience.

Good luck on the challenge.
From Diary of a Writer in Progress

Jami Gold said...

Nancy, thank you so much for including me! Truly, I'm honored. *hugs* I hope my blog helps other writers in some way.

I started with Theresa Stevens and Alicia Rasley (editors at edittorrent.blogspot.com) as my mentors. Their posts encouraged me to aim higher with my writing skills.

cleemckenzie said...

I'm really lucky to have super mentors in my life. A former teacher from my freshman year in college is still one of my guiding lights here on earth.

My writing mentors are several: Mel Higgins, YV Ventrenesca, Heather Couthard. I lost one of my wonderful writing mentors two years ago and miss LK Madigan terribly.

Great M day post. Thank you.

Golden Eagle said...

I follow Lynda and Julie, but not Jami. Off to check out her site!

Sara said...

I don't have an official writing mentor. I did have a professor decide he was going to mentor me in College, but that didn't work out, he wanted me to write something that I couldn't get my brain around.

I do have a few people I look to for advice, and a couple of great critique partners though.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Oh wow, Nancy!!!
Thank you so much for the mention. That means a lot to me. It's good to know my posts have made a difference.

Julie Musil said...

Nancy, thank you SO much! What an honor. Lynda and Jami are both awesome, you're right about that.

Each writer/blogger is a mentor to me, and I've loved the way we are learning and sharing together. How cool is that?

Chuck said...

My wife was standing over my shoulder when your site loaded and she says she loves your Facebook hair! Just thought you should know.

icedgurl said...

trekking your blog!! my experiences. learned a lot.

cheers!
..TREK..

Liza said...

I am so grateful for so many folks in Bloggerdom who have been helpful to me. It is inspiring to realize how many caring people are out there!

Rebecca Bradley said...

I'm not sure I can say I have a mentor, but I will definitely check out the three blogs you recommend.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

She wouldn't like it if she knew I consider her my mentor, but Vicki is. As yet unpublished, she has a wonderful eye for the rhythm in writing. Her prose are exceptionally smooth and elegant, but best of all, when critiquing my work, she brings out the best in my writing.

jp said...

My father was my mentor. He used words as if they were gold and spent them wisely, never wasting a scrap.

Lisa Regan said...

Read this! Visited the blogs. GREAT, GREAT blogs. I will have to go back when I have more time to sift through older posts! My mentor? Wow. Not sure. So many people have helped me along the way--including you! Hard to say!