Where Would We Be Without Mentors

One of the greatest blessings I’ve ever received as a writer was the divine appointment the Lord made for me with the person who became by mentor and my friend.

I met DiAnn Mills at the North Texas Christian Writers Conference in September, 2008. She read the first few pages of my novel, Journey to Riverbend, and liked them. She saw something in me, in my writing that struck a chord.

Since that meeting, she has taught me, inspired me, challenged me, and supported me. She wouldn’t let me give up on myself or my writing. Through her words of encouragement, I stepped out, took risks, attended workshops, conferences, retreats to learn the craft, to develop and hone my skills.

When I whined about not having enough time to write, she spoke to me with the directness of a two-by-four up the side of my head: “Get up earlier.” Those three words turned my writing life around. They helped me develop and apply the self-discipline I needed.

We all need to be alert and aware of those opportunities to mentor others and to be mentored. The mentoring relationship could set us on our own path or allow us to help others on the path to be award winning writers.