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Almost #authormentormatch time! I'm so excited to read subs starting next week. Thank you in advance to anyone planning to trust me with their story.
Here's a few tidbits that hopefully will be helpful to hopeful mentees.
#AskAMM
Here's a few tidbits that hopefully will be helpful to hopeful mentees.
#AskAMM
Due to work/family/life constraints, I will be able to offer feedback to anyone I personally requested a full from, who did not get selected as a mentee. I wish, wish, wish I could offer more than this, but keeping a healthy balance is vital.
As a former hopeful in many mentoring programs, I also know the waiting period can be very stressful. I won't personally be posting teasers, but some mentors may. Think about what you'll be able to tolerate re: uncertainty, and mute any hashtags needed to stay in a healthy space.
And...while waiting is really, really hard, it can also be really, really good practice.
It's valuable to get 'good' at waiting if you're in this for the long haul. There will always be long periods of silence...waiting for agents to read your query...
It's valuable to get 'good' at waiting if you're in this for the long haul. There will always be long periods of silence...waiting for agents to read your query...
Waiting for a response to a full...waiting for an edit letter...to go on sub...for editors to read your story...for an edit letter once you get a book deal...for a contract/final title/cover...for marketing info...it's the nature of the biz that there will always be waiting!
It's good to find something to do to help you with those waiting times. Spend time with friends/family, write the next thing, lose yourself in a good book or TV show. Find what helps you build the stamina to wait as best as you can.
Also, I learned after several mentoring program attempts that did not land me a mentor, that it helped to prepare my 'next steps' if I did not get chosen.
It was a solid action plan of what I would do next if the answer was no. It could have been digging in to a craft book, finding CPs or sending my story for other feedback, testing the query waters, or, even, deciding it was time to shelve the book.
Knowing that I had a plan for what to do the day mentor picks were posted, even if I didn't make it, helped alleviate that feeling of 'what on earth do I do now all my eggs were in that basket' kind of thing.
This waiting is also a wonderful time to find new writing friends. Don't be shy about making connections with other hopefuls. Finding CPs can feel a bit like blind dating, but if you keep at it you will find your people, whether or not this is the round you get a mentor.
I will be choosing a writer whose story I love but that I am also certain I can help. A lot of it is subjective, and a lot of it is matching my skillset as a mentor to a story that's a good fit.
So much of publishing is out of our control, even after signing with an agent or selling a book. I've found it helpful to do all I can with the things I can control (i.e. the writing and the effort!), and always, always find a way to keep moving forward. 
#authormentormatch
#authormentormatch
