How to Use Mentorship as a Powerful Tool for Your Writing
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Have you ever felt stuck in your story development or draft, unsure of the next step, underwhelmed by the quality of your words, and simultaneously overwhelmed by the idea of actually finishing a novel that others might enjoy?
Yeah. I know exactly how that feels.
When I first started writing, doubt and confusion kept me from finishing the novels I dreamed about. I had big ideas but no clue how to wrestle them into something cohesive, readable, and enjoyable.
Working with writing mentors—people who helped me see my potential and guided me through the twists and turns of the creative process—was a game changer for me.
Today, I'm thrilled to introduce one of those mentors to you in this week’s podcast episode and share how learning to trust in mentorship has changed not only my writing but also my entire life.
How Mentorship Changed My Life
I was about a month sober when I met my first mentor, the person who would later become my sponsor.
Before that, I’d had teachers and parents and bosses, friends and colleagues. People who knew more than me and people I was afraid of…especially the teachers and the bosses. I was scared they’d see right through me and discover how ill-equipped, inept, and stupid I was. That’s why I worked so hard. I was convinced that someday the curtain would come down, and I’d be exposed as less than whatever they needed or wanted me to be. I’m purposely leaving parents out of this chat because…well, that is another can of worms.
Back then, I didn’t know what a mentorship was, and initially, I thought a mentor was the same thing as a teacher–someone you learned from to pass a test. In fact, looking back, I kind of thought life was just a series of tests–usually painful, and sometimes I passed, and often I failed, and that determined my worth.
I was wrong about all of that.
It turns out that a mentor is different from a teacher. A mentor is a trusted guide with a lived experience similar to yours. They’ve walked the road you’re currently traveling on.
Do they know more than you about some things…yes, of course. Do they know everything? No (and they know that, too).
They do teach, but they also hold space for you to fight your battles and grow into your potential. Often, they see that potential, and the changes within you long before you notice anything is different.
A mentor is a sounding board and a mirror. They hear you, reflect, and help you see what you cannot, often where you are cutting yourself short or getting in your own way. They remind you of your growth and give you feedback to help you improve. They become role models, cheerleaders, confidants, and people who can provide you with critical and unbiased feedback to help you find your center and reach your goals.
Miraculously, they are both invested in your development, personally and professionally, but they are not affected by it. They do not hang their progress, status, or importance on yours.
In my twelve and a half years of sobriety, I've had three sponsors. The first one helped me through that hellish initial year of living as a sober human, where you feel like your skin is on fire or like you don't have one anymore. The next helped me grow a little more, and the last, well, we've held on to each other for over ten years. She gives me a hug when I need it and a kick in the ass when I need that (sometimes I need both on the same day). She knows me, warts and all, and I let her because I've learned to trust in that relationship.
I wouldn't have been open to a writing mentorship had I not had that experience with my sponsor. (Hell, let's be real: I wouldn't be here talking to you if I hadn't gotten sober). Had I not learned to trust someone in that position first. And because I did, I learned how to have boundaries and protect myself in a way that didn't isolate me from the world or inside a bottle.
It's been my privilege to have had several writing mentors in my career–all writing coaches and authors themselves. To me, a writing mentor is someone who not only teaches the technical parts of writing a novel but also holds space for you when you face the ugly, twisty, crunchy moments of self-doubt. They become the voice of reason when you want to quit, when you're turning yourself inside out because you're not getting there "fast enough." They help you with your plot and characters and show you how to make your writing more engaging, but they also let you cry and come apart, then breathe and get your head straight so you can go again once more.
To be in this position today, to turn around and give that back–holding space for other writers as their mentor–is an incredible honor and privilege.
I hope you find the right mentorship for you, and perhaps it could be working with me.
This is why I wanted to let you know that another cohort of my small group book coaching for fiction writers will begin in January 2025 and go until May. This program is for any commercial or genre fiction writer who wants to start developing their story idea and write their novel in the coming year.
Join a small, safe, and welcoming group of writers who are working through the same story struggles as you. Be mentored and get professional editorial guidance and novel-writing know-how. Plus, receive 1:1 support with individual book coaching sessions from me each month, ensuring your unique needs are met.
Space is limited to six writers, but you can secure a spot on the enrollment list right now.
Write It Scared Podcast Guest: Indie and Trad Powerhouse: Rachael Herron
Rachael Herron held my hand (well, she would have if we hadn't been on Zoom) with the first novel I ever finished.
She showed me how to trust someone with my story and how to let my writing be bad so I could actually finish something. She let me come apart, guided me to a climax I loved, fought for me, and kept our small writing group safe when someone stepped out of line.
To this day, Rachael keeps me honest and growing, whether through her podcast (INK IN YOUR VEINS) or when I asked her if she would be a guest on my podcast. She said, “Yes, of course. Love to. But hit twenty episodes first.” (She said it in a much sweeter way!) Regardless, she gave me a challenge because she’s a mentor. It's part of what they do.
Rachael is an internationally best-selling author who is both trad and indie and has published in more genres than I can count on both hands. She is not shy about sharing the truth about her writing journey—the highs and the lows, the ugly and the crunchy. It’s why I love her. You won’t find a more transparent person. We had a great conversation about story structure, the emotional rollercoaster of writing and revising, the unhelpful thoughts that come when you're working on your first book, and what we wish all writers knew about writing—that it's not supposed to be good. You make it good with time and iteration. The fact that you write badly just means you're a working writer.
Rachael opens up about her move to New Zealand, her battles with creative burnout, and how she handles imposter syndrome. Plus, we unpack some practical advice for handling self-doubt, writing shitty drafts, and learning to believe in yourself and your voice.
I hope this episode helps you deal with the emotional challenges of writing and reminds you that you're not alone and are not doing it wrong!
Here’s Rachael’s bio and her links!
Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she’s taught writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. A dual New Zealand and American citizen, she lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her banjo-playing wife and brick-eating dog.
Rachael Herron
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