Thanks to the changes Facebook has been making to groups, we have been able to roll out a Mentors for Writers program. This mentorship program pairs more experienced writers with anyone wishing to take part.

Mentors for Writers FAQ

What do mentors do?

Your mentor will talk to about your writing goals. Together you will identify one or two specific goals that you will work towards over the weeks that follow.

Each week, a new discussion point will be presented to you to guide the conversation between you and your mentor towards your writing goals.

Common goals might include finishing a story, editing a novel, or submitting to agents. You are not limited to any specific goals – the targets you settle on should reflect whatever milestones of success you want to work towards.

Who can request a mentor?

Any member of the group can invite one of our volunteers to mentor them. If you see a person listed as a mentor that means they are available as a potential mentor. Each mentor will fill out a profile indicating what strengths and topics they might be able to support you with.

Who can become a writing mentor?

Anyone who is a member of the group and feels they have experience or skills they wish to share can make an offer of support in the Mentors for Writers programme. As a mentor, you are not expected to have all the answers. Indeed we would be very surprised if you even came close to that. What matters most is that you are willing to share your opinion and knowledge with others.

How much time should I commit to the mentorship programme?

While this program is new and we do not have much information yet, Facebook reports that people spend a total of roughly one hour each week talking to their partner and reviewing the programme’s steps.

It is up to you to work out with your partner how much time to invest and when to invest it.

How much experience should mentors have?

While enthusiasm for helping others is a must, there are no set criteria for mentors. Mentors should have enough experience with writing or editing to give good advice to someone who is newer to the craft. Ideally, you should have been writing fairly consistently for at least a few years.

Do I get to decide who my mentoring partner is?

Absolutely, yes. You can browse the profiles of potential writing mentorship partners; then simply start a conversation with someone who seems promising. Members of the group can see your profile and, if they think that you may be a good match, send you a message.

You will have a few days to get to know each other. Use that time to make sure that you want to continue the mentorship. You can see the profiles on the Mentorship tab of everyone who has joined. As more group members join, you will be able to see their profiles too.

How do I communicate with my partner about the mentorship?

As soon as you have been paired with someone, you will be connected via Messenger as well as via a one-to-one mentorship programme on Facebook. You can find your mentorship in the Thanet Creative: Writers Facebook group.

May I recommend (my) products or services in my mentorship?

Mentorship is not the place to sell ebooks or other programs. While it is okay to tell your partner about products that you use and have worked for you, your main role must be that of a trustworthy advisor.

Some resources you may wish to point your partner towards are the guided feedback and character creation forms available in the files section of the group. Another useful resource is the learning modules which are useful prompts that members can work through at their own pace.

Are mentors vetted? Do they speak for Thanet Creative?

There is no formal selection process. Participation in the mentoring program is entirely voluntary. As a result, anything your mentor says is only their own opinion not. Mentors are not there to speak for Thanet Creative (we’ve got moderators and admins for that), they are simply volunteers offering to support you.

The usual rules of common sense when using the Internet apply in this situation too. Unless you already know your partner, it may be best to keep things online only.

What happens if my partner asks me about something and I don’t know the answer?

Honesty is the best policy. No one expects mentors to have all the answers. Even professional authors admit there are things that they just don’t know.

Be honest with your partner about your areas of experience and insight. You could always bring the question back to the group and pose it as a discussion point. Maybe someone else knows the answer and might share if prompted.

Where do I join?

Mentors for Writers is available to anyone who joins the Thanet Creative: Writers group. The program is open both to writers seeking mentorship as well as those that would like to give something back to the community by mentoring a writer.