Working with a writing mentor...
 

I have just begun working with a writing mentor. She is a gay woman who has experience working with adults who have been sexually and violently abused as children. Had our first session last Thursday. Very productive despite having a very difficult week personally. Anyone have suggestions on how to cultivate the mentor/mentee(?) relationship? This is a very new experience and a BIG step for me.

I think the most important thing to do when working with a mentor is to think about what, exactly, you want to learn from this person. A mentor may be very nice, congenial, and so on, but just not know the kinds of things you want to learn--or not know how to teach them. So I would encourage you, first, to be sure you know what it is you want to be learning. For instance, do you want guidance in the process of writing a poem: coming up with and developing ideas, or revision? Do you want to learn more about a specific aspect of craft (say, line breaks, or rhyme?) Do you want to get a better understanding of how to write for a specific audience? Do you want to learn how to use a favorite poet as a model? Once you have devoted some thought to what you want to learn, then you can make a learning plan with your mentor (and, in the process, determine whether this person really can help you learn the things you want to learn).

Thanks...
 

Thanks for your comments. Very much appreciated.