Summary

The website content discusses the importance of mentorship in writing, emphasizing the value of learning from experienced authors and the benefits of helping others to improve one's own skills.

Abstract

The article "Mentoring Writers From the Basics" delves into the significance of mentorship in the writing profession. It recounts a personal experience where assisting a classmate with Physics questions unexpectedly led to the author's own academic success, reinforcing the idea that teaching others can also enhance personal understanding. The piece underscores that writers at all levels rely on the guidance of those who came before them, much like learning the alphabet is foundational to reading. It suggests that continuous learning and practice are essential for a writer's growth, recommending two specific books that have been instrumental in the author's writing journey. The author acknowledges the challenge of balancing learning with actual writing, encouraging new writers to focus on writing consistently to improve. The article concludes by inviting readers to share which writing books have most influenced them.

Opinions

The author believes that mentoring others can lead to personal improvement and success in writing.
There is a strong emphasis on the importance of learning from established writers and their works.
The author suggests that writing is a craft that requires continuous learning and practice.
The article posits that comparing oneself to accomplished writers can be a trap that hinders new writers from producing their own work.
The author recommends specific books as valuable resources for new writers, implying that these books have been beneficial in their own writing development.
The author stresses the importance of not only reading about writing but also engaging in the act of writing regularly.
The author is not financially motivated in promoting the mentioned books, as there is no affiliation with the authors or Amazon Associates links.

Mentoring Writers From the Basics

These two great authors mentor writers from the first principles.

We were all gearing for the first term exam on that day. The first subject was Physics. It was our third year in the secondary school. Our introduction to pure science subjects had commenced three months earlier.

The exam was less than an hour away and many students were brooding with last minute revisions. That was when one of my classmates, Taiye approached me. Physics was not her favorite subject. She needed some clarifications on some points. I answered her questions as best as I could. Lo and behold, those were the questions that came out in the exam. And that was how I scored 100% in my first Physics test.

Most of the Physics questions covered in those last minute check up I had with Taiye was what gave me a head start in that test. My class mates thought that I was a science whiz kid. Far from it. It was the last minute spent helping a co-student that gave me a first mover advantage. Today, after three decades, I can still recollect some of the questions.

I have since corroborated this lifelong lesson over and again. Out of altruism or otherwise, lifters do at times end up lifting themselves higher. The point here is that everyone of us need mentors. In no field is this more necessary than in the profession or pursuit of a writing lifestyle.

Writing advisers are many. What we need now is more mentors.

Many great writers, old and new, have written, taught and poured out their experiences in books for future generations. The works of authors like William Zinsser, Annie Dillard, Mary Karr and others are “must haves” in many writers’ libraries. On Medium, dozens of great writers have been sources of inspiration. Some of these writers were partly responsible for some of us joining the bandwagon of writers on this platform.

Irrespective of where you are in the league of writers, we all lean on the shoulders of giants that came before us. No more can a writer flourish without taking cues from other writers than he can read without first learning the alphabet. Writing is a learning-by-doing profession. Show me, from among us, any writer who is no longer learning and I will show you a writer who is no longer growing.

Two books have been of immense benefit ever since I resolved to jump into the waters of writing with my two feet. Spending time on these books is like having a caring mentor hovering over your shoulders.

Writing a review on any of these two books will be like a fresh student trying to review the work of his professors. I do not know enough to be able to do that. I am not suggesting that these are the best books on the subject of writing or blogging. It’s just that I have used them and many newbies will find them helpful while navigating the ocean of writing options at our disposal. Many people on the Medium are already established writers with great following. These books may not appeal to them, but some of their students may find them useful.

Some of my friends aspiring to become writers do often ask me where to start from. I always recommend these books to them. Shipped from USA via DHL, I was fortunate to get them from Amazon some years back. To get these books new today, will cost me more than ten times their listed prices because of shipping costs and custom duties. My Medium cash out to date can’t pay for a cup of coffee yet. No, I’m not griping. I will get there someday, I’ve already promised myself that.

One new writing wisdom building on older ones contribute to making us better writers if we act on them. It’s akin to Michelangelo chipping away at the rock until angel David emerge from the rough marble.

Every block of stone has a statute inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

For new writers, the flip side of learning and ever learning is that they may end up ever learning and never getting down to the real business of writing. I know because I’ve been there. New writers often spend disproportionate times reading. We often compare our baby footsteps with those of experienced giants.

Ensnared by comparison trap, we are often wondering if our writings could ever be half as good as those from authors we so much admire. You become better at writing by writing and writing and writing some more. I repeat, wake up from your sleep and put your butt behind your scribing devices. Your dreams are more likely to come true in hard or e-prints that way. You may ask me “Chris are you practicing what you preach?” My answer is, “Yes, the physician is taking or trying to take more of his own medicines these days.”

My main points here is that, anyone keen on writing well must not neglect the basics of writing. These books have fueled me on on my writing journey. Irrespective of your level of experience, you or any of your followers may find them very helpful.

Which writing books have affected your writing career most ? Which ones will you recommend to those lost in the labyrinth of books and advice on writing?

Disclosure I am not in any way connected to any of these authors and this story does not in any way promote any of my Amazon Associates links here.