Retreats and Mentoring in Writing Part 1 of 15
I’m sure you’re all reading this and thinking retreats and mentoring what does that have to do with writing? Well bear with me and I’ll explain. First though welcome to all who’ve just come by. Feel free to comment and look at any of my other blogs and comment there.
For those in the know, I’m really excited, as yesterday I received John Stors’ new novel Dragon House,which is out September first. He was kind enough to send me an advanced review copy, so I’ll break this series to do a review… but Don’t fret, I’ll continue the series later in the day.
I’m in the middle of a great debate with a couple of writing friends, which is the heart of this series. We talk about writing retreats, and about mentoring. Now before we go on, I’m using the term retreat instead of conference/ workshop/class as this is really the same idea.
When you take a class you have a professional teacher right? Or better yet, someone who has experience in the art of publishing a book. I don’t think I would want to go to a retreat to sit with others who have no experience teaching me. I’m not suggesting that many don’t or can’t teach without experience but I like to have someone who knows tell me what I’m doing wrong. I want to be able to correct it and have them say looks better this way, but in my experience….
You could almost call these people mentors. Some of the best act this way. They tell you why your project looks good, and how to make it better. You can go to them and list your questions and needs and worries and they guide you to a better project.
When I first started thinking about it, I always looked at the “bad” things about writing retreats, the money, the time, the money, the time…. you know the “bad” things. Then I found a online workshop, and my first teacher was great. She was awesome. While she didn’t work in my genre she encouraged me to write as if I’m seeing it in a movie. Often I wouldn’t write in detail.
Then there is Rachel my editor. She works for outright communications, which deals with book publishing. I knew I had something, when she looked over my manuscript and said “this is okay, but I would suggest a few things.” She is one person I would consider a mentor she encourages me and pushes me to be better than I ever thought I could be.
My Question for today is this: Would you go on a writing retreat or would you look for someone to mentor you?
6 Comments
B.J. Anderson
I think mentors are great, and you can learn so much from the one on one contact. But I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE writer's retreats. They are so much fun! If I had to choose, I'd pick the mentor, though.
Amy
Hi! Just found your blog. Always nice to get more writing advice.
I'd rather have the mentor even though going to classes is always a big help.
On the other hand, going "away" somewhere really jump-starts the creative batteries for me, whether it's across the world, a few hours away, or even a small overnighter.
I agree with B.J. The one on one thing is what helps to work out the bugs.
Cicily Janus
Of course…I have to leave my comments on this. As the owner of Writing Away Retreats, I combine the best of both worlds…thanks for leaving that WIDE open for me Rebecca.
I offer both, the getaway and the mentors. For me the getaway is REALLY important. I'm away, I don't have to worry about the kids, the housework, the calls etc….
I shut myself out from the world and the muse comes right back.
The mentor thing…you made a good point. I would def. make sure you have someone "qualified" to be in this position and be careful of disgruntled writers who say they offer the answers to getting published. When someone squelches the already irritated and frustrated writer's muse it might not come back, you encourage it and that spark of creativity with the right helpings of love and nurturing and you might just be astounded at the results…
Great Blog Rebecca.
Cindy
I think both writing retreats and mentors can be wonderful. Typically both involve learning something from someone who has more experience in the area of writing. We might not benefit from every little bit of advice we receive but most likely we'll glean enough from it to improve our own writing in some way or another.
Rob
I prefer mentors. I've talked to several people who write and who have given me tips and insight to things I never would've thought possible. Plus, they care to preserve your work.
I guess I've always viewed writing workshops as firing squads. I'm sure you'll get one or two bitter writers who don't like you're work because they know it's good and they seek to destroy it.
AmberInGlass
I've had alot of good results with both mentoring and retreats. It's always a good thing to get another's perspective outside of your own. Even if that perspective may be critical and bitter to a fault like Rob was saying. think in the end it is up to us to find our own voice and decide just how much we should be listening to others for ourselves.