Mentoring's a Blessing
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As president of Chesapeake Romance Writers, our local chapter of Romance Writers of America, I strongly urge our members to mentor or seek a mentor. Mentoring not only benefits the protege, it benefits the mentor.
When I joined Chesapeake Romance Writers five years ago, I was a good writer from a technical standpoint, but not a good writer in terms of storytelling. I knew nothing about the business. Quite frankly, I was too ignorant to know just how ignorant I was. Judi McCoy, Denise Jeffries, and Felicia Mason were beyond generous in helping me learn what I needed to know to make a success in my own writing career. No question was off limits or considered stupid. They were always just an email or phone call away, and their presence at chapter meetings let me know I wasn't alone on my journey toward getting published.
Now that I'm enjoying my successes and serving the chapter as president, I have taken on three novice authors in hopes I will be half as helpful as my mentors. There's a sense of pride in stepping up as an equal to those who once mentored me. There's an even more profound joy and pride that comes in seeing my proteges make success in some small part to the information and guidance I've provided. I am now the one who's just an email or phone call away, and nothing pleases me more than having the opportunity to celebrate their moments with them - the first rejection letter, the first positive feedback from an editor, and joy of all joys, the first contract.
One day, I will have the very great privilege of purchasing a book one of my proteges has written, asking her to sign it, then welcoming her to the ranks of the published with a big hug. I can't wait.
