thoughts on the reality of Mentoring Writers in the 21st
Century. Next week I will deal with Finding the Perfect Critique
Group. The following week, I will wind up with Starting Your Own
Critique Group.
Please join me, and enjoy this three-part series on writing for children.
When Editors Mentored:
Once upon a time, many editors took promising new writers under
their wing. Trained professionals, these editors spotted emerging
talent, nurturing it until the writer was ready for publication. This
was known as mentoring. These days, due to computers access,
sky-high slush piles, and changing publisher economics, fewer editors
have time to spend mentoring prospective authors. Editors who
mentor may not be as extinct as the dodo, the typewriter, or the
five-cent ice cream cone, but they are certainly hard to find. Nowadays,
budding writers surf the Internet for guidance, join critique groups,
and receive enough rejection slips to paper a small room.
Find Helpful Online Writing Lists:
Writers today must discover new ways of learning the secrets of
writing for children. Your Internet connection can hook you up to a
host of helpful writing lists. These message boards encourage writers,
from beginners to the highly experienced. Members post questions
and offer their own valuable experiences. Answers flow, and often
lead to informative debates on many aspects of writing for children.
Not mentoring one-on-one, I agree, but a great way to tap into a
valuable resource. Look for online lists that specialize in writing
for children. Surf around until you identify message boards that have
published and advanced writers – people that know the children’s
writing game. After you sign up, and become a valid member, lurk
awhile. Absorb the helpful writing and publishing information flying
back and forth on a daily basis. When you feel comfortable and at
home, ask your writing questions. Below are three helpful message
boards.
The CW List (Childrens Writers)
[email protected]
Send a blank e-mail with “Subscribe” in the subject line.
Write4Kids.com ( The Yella board ) .
http://write4kids.com/cgibin/discus/discus.cgi
The Childrens Book Writer’s Café -
http://groups.msn.com/TheChildrensBookWritersCafe
Go to “Join Now” on the left
Critique Groups Inherit the Mentoring Crown
- Sort of:
critique groups that flourish among their members. Ask these lists if
there are vacancies, and mention the type of books you write. No,
critique groups do not mentor in the traditional way. There is no
one-on-one – more like a rotation of five-or-six “critters” helping one.
A critique group offers a chance to work with, and seek guidance and
information from, writers who are more experienced. Each member
receives helpful feedback on their plot and characters, voice, and much
more. Encouragement and support is the backbone of these groups.
Today, picky editors demand an almost perfect manuscript. Working
with a trusted group of peers encourages you to look deeper, weed out
what is weak, or rework that troublesome chapter one more time.
This is the age of the search engine and self-help! If genuine mentors
are hard to come by, be independent. Think out of the box! Most
published writers, and many who are not yet published, have websites.
Think octopus! The many-tentacled links snaking from these websites
can divert a flow of “how-to” information onto your computer screen.
The wisdom of experienced writers is only a mouse click away. With
help from Google, or other search engines, you can explore sites that
offer current information about publishers, agents, or any aspect of
writing for children. A few clicks will put you in the magical world of
writing for children.
Below Are Some of the Best Children's Websites
Owned by Writers:
The Purple Crayon - Harold Underdown's website for children’s
writers. Great articles and links. Harold’s book, “The Complete
Idiot’s Guide To Publishing Children’s Books,” plus his vast
experience & writing wisdom, makes this a must visit site.
Greg Fishbone’s Writing Links -
writing resources are listed here – plus much more. Scroll down Greg’s
writing links page to find what you need.
Margot Finke - offers Manuscript Critiques at reasonable fees, Secrets
of Writing for Children, and Books. Her "Musings" column also
appears in The Purple Crayon, Her latest book, “Rattlesnake Jam”
is now available.
Jan Fields - "Nuts & Bolts & Magic Wands." covers children's
writing from A to Z Well published, with talent to burn, Jan's website
and magazine writing advice + great links, is most helpful.
Aaron Shepard's Kid Writing Page -
and information. Check the links page. A must visit.
Verla Kay - This multi published author offers a website full of
excellent resources. Don’t miss this one.
Due to the influence of modern technology, mentoring today has
changed. It did not expire with the dodo bird, or when many editors
threw up their hands and cried, “No more time!” Mentoring dove
into the 21st century, and evolved via the Internet. Mix a little
do-it-yourself research on writer’s websites, with membership in
a message board or two, plus some experienced critique group input.
Hey-presto, your manuscript is ready for a publisher.
E-MAIL ME - We can chat about writing