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My Tuesday #pitchwars advice: Discard the idea of a dream mentor.
Dream mentors are like dream agents. They exist, but you won't know until after you pick them. You can fall in love because of social media, but until you're talking about your book...you don't know.
Dream mentors are like dream agents. They exist, but you won't know until after you pick them. You can fall in love because of social media, but until you're talking about your book...you don't know.
My agent is the perfect agent for me. But I did not know that when I queried her. When I had my first phone call, I started to believe it. I didn't know for sure for a couple of months.
Because here's the thing: You can't know.
Because here's the thing: You can't know.
You can listen to what other people say about them -- in the case of #Pitchwars, past mentees, or critique partners. But all that tells you is that they were a good mentor or a bad mentor for *that* person.
Your mileage may vary.
Your mileage may vary.
I can't tell you how many times I've been discussing agents in a group and had one person talk about how good an agent is and another talk about their bad experience.
It's almost like good relationships take two people.
It's almost like good relationships take two people.
The same goes for mentors. Your dream mentor is the one who has a vision for your project that fits with yours and who communicates/edits in a style that fits you.
Some mentors (and agents) can vary that style. Some are more set in a way that has produced results for them.
Some mentors (and agents) can vary that style. Some are more set in a way that has produced results for them.
You're probably not going to figure that out from a wish list (or an MSWL).
So my advice? Don't stress it too much. Do your research, make your picks, and trust that 95% of the time the relationships work out.
So my advice? Don't stress it too much. Do your research, make your picks, and trust that 95% of the time the relationships work out.
