[sericmarr]

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.

[Barbara Baig]

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).

[sericmarr]

Thanks for your comments. Very much appreciated.