On Being Mentored by Susan Barclay

As I was mulling over this month's prompt, I found myself in somewhat of a quandary: although I've attended numerous conferences, workshops and courses, submitted my work to writers-in-residence, and participated in writing groups, I wasn't sure whom to identify as a specific mentor who's given me "insight and encouragement" on my writer's journey.

I decided that the best place to begin answering this question was with a definition of mentoring. I found this description at the National Center for Women and Information Technology:

Mentoring is a process through which an individual offers professional expertise as well as support to a less experienced colleague. A mentor serves as a teacher, counselor, and advocate to a protégée... The intent of mentoring is not to remediate weak performance, but rather to shape a career that shows promise.

I remembered submitting a piece to Wayson Choy when he was the visiting writer-in-residence at my local library. It was he who powerfully spoke the words, "You are a writer," and made me feel that it was really true. Then I remembered previously writing something about that experience here and found this post on affirmation.

But think how crazy my life must have been this year for me to forget the most important mentor-student relationship I've had to date, apart from being a life-long reader who has learned from others by osmosis. And to have forgotten when it only took place over the last twelve months! I was embarrassed when it struck me that the answer lay so near. If you are reading this, Jane Ann, a thousand apologies for not thinking of you immediately.

 

I first met Jane Ann McLachlan at Write! Canada a number of years ago and submitted a piece for critique in a one-on-one appointment. It was then that she told me, "You have something to say." She encouraged me to finish the piece I was working on and to email it to her for further feedback when I was done. Sadly, the months then years went by and I never completed it. The opportunity slipped through my fingers like sand through an hourglass, if you'll pardon a  cliche that's as tired as I am.

 

But God wasn't done with this connection yet! A couple of years ago Jane Ann did a series of workshops at my library. I took part and signed up for her email list. When I received an email last fall, letting me know that Jane Ann was starting a mentorship program for a limited number of writers, I was interested, but questioned the timing. I had much on my plate, including a greater degree of eldercare. On the other hand, I wanted to finish my novel; it had been languishing too long. Could I take this on, push through and complete the work? By the time I decided to go for it, there was only one spot left. It was mine!

 

As mentioned in previous posts, I'm a pantser by inclination. So I wasn't overly thrilled to discover we had to begin by creating an outline and fairly detailed character sketches, using Jane Ann's very good book, Downriver Writing. That being said, I found the process useful and will likely make use of it again. 

Jane Ann definitely cheered me on with comments like

• "You write very well - keep on going, you'll get this story written and it will be great!"
• "What a gift for words you have."
• "You are a good writer, and you’re here to learn. You have not made a single mistake here that I didn't make in my learning years, many times."

She also provided helpful feedback to improve my writing, pointing out what I couldn't initially see for myself, given my proximity to the story. She helped me identify my particular writing weaknesses and strengths, showing me ways to overcome the former and build on the latter. In my testimonial at the end of the course, I wrote: "Working on my novel-in-progress with Jane Ann over a 9-month mentorship has been a blessing and an encouragement. Although I have had to rethink my story and start over from the beginning, I know it will be a much better work because of her insight and direction. I look forward to working with her again in the future and highly recommend her to anyone who needs a strong set of editorial eyes."

Have I finished my novel? Alas, no; those eldercare issues grew more prominent after the new year and even more so after Covid hit mid-March. My mom fell in June and is scheduled for a pacemaker this month (unrelated issues). It was difficult to fit in the necessary writing time.

But I did finish the story I was working on when I first met Jane Ann and it is good. All I need to do now is decide on whether to self-publish it as an ebook or find a more traditional publisher.

If you haven't worked with a mentor in this formal way, I do suggest it. A mentor "knows things" and is willing to build into your life so that you can succeed as well. 

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You can find out more about Susan Barclay's writing at www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com

On Affirmation - by Susan Barclay

Writers crave affirmation, and I've been blessed to be surrounded by people who've believed in my gifting. From my mother, who encouraged me to write down the songs and stories I verbalized at a very young age, to my husband, who said 'yes' when I talked with him about quitting my 'day job' to pursue the dream. And to those in between and beyond.

There was my grade three teacher - Mrs. Weiss - who, years later, could still recite the conclusion to a story I wrote in her class. There was my grade ten and twelve English teacher, Mrs. Michna, who with her enthusiasm, enlarged my passion for literature. And what would the discussion be without referencing my grade 13 Creative Writing teacher, Mr. Weir, who told us all to forget about writing? Plumbing was certainly a respectable profession. Not quite affirmation, but he explained privately that it was his way of motivating us to prove him wrong.

Writing for pleasure took a back seat during my university years, and it was only after I married and was on maternity leave with my first child that I started writing again. Perhaps not surprisingly, my efforts turned to children's picture books. Fast forward a few years, and the decision to pursue the dream meets up with the formation of a local writers' group. With the first meeting just hours away, I manage to drum up a page-worth of words for an initial submission. At the evening gathering one of the writers seems awestruck after reading my piece. "You have enough substance here for a novel," he says.

A novel? The thought hadn't entered my mind. But now it does, and it lingers there, urging me on. Fast forward again; the writers' group membership has shifted and changed, morphing into something new, something good and solid. My novel too has taken shape. One evening, Jenn, one of the other writers says, "I could see this being a One Book, One Community read someday." I am stunned.

I pass my work under the eyes of various Writers-in Residence. Wayson Choy, famed Canadian author of The Jade Peony among others, meets with me. "You are a writer," he says. Wow. He probably says that to all the participants, but still. Wow.

In grade 7, my son misses a visit with author Eric Walters at his school. His classmates tell him he missed an amazing event, but he just shrugs. "I live with an author," he says. "My mom writes books." I love my son :) Who else his age would prefer me to Eric?

I hope you have people in your life who encourage your writing, as I have. We writers can be very hard on ourselves and need others to believe in us and spur us on. With all those rejection letters, we discourage easily. But if God has truly given us the gift of communication and imagination, we need to keep going, trusting that He will open doors for our work to find readers. We have to rely on His affirmation most of all.

Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. ~ George Mueller

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For more of my writing, please visit my blog Notes From Innisfree and my website.