I had a mentor once, a long time ago.

I’m not one for mentors, I’ve always tended to make my own mistakes and learn from them - eventually. But right now I’d give at least an elbow for one.

My old mentor, lovely man, had such a positive effect on my writing, really lifting my game. His advice wasn’t free, nor should it be, but he was worth every penny. And right now I wish I could get him back. It was a professional friendship, and he opened my eyes in so many ways, but it’s not to be.

The reason why I pine for him, or for someone to fill his rather sparkly shoes, is that I currently face the daunting task of rewriting my Grimshaw manuscript, and the edits required are so extensive that it’s akin to writing an entirely new novel. Sure the themes will remain the same, as will certain scenes and some characters, but it took writing the first draft for me to finally understand the central character. Thus far he was the victim of a story, battered by the plot and beaten by the themes… but now that I have a better understanding of who he is, his life, his experiences, his personality, and his purpose, he is an entirely different man to the one I originally thrust into the limeylight. The changes he has undergone in my mind are so vast that I am quite tempted to rename him entirely to sever any connection to his first incarnation.

And here’s the crux of the matter: a writer’s peers, aspiring writing groups and like-minded friends will always support the writer, even if he’s making a grave mistake. Sure they’ll be as honest as they can; but they cannot bring years of experience and training and professional acumen to inform their advice, to guide the writer and propel the writer into achieve new levels of ability.

If you can find a mentor who you trust and you have a connection with, treasure them: they’re worth their weight in words.

Jeremy