Writing mentorship

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=143 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="16500963.jpg"> <div> <B>Sue Randall</B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#330066" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div>            Writing mentorship</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>        </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sue Randall"><B>HOME</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="sue_randall_editing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Academic editing"><B>Academic editing</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="writing_services.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Academic research"><B>Academic research</B></A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c866003300.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Writing mentorship</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="life_story_notes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life stories and fiction"><B>My Life Story</B></A><B> </B></div> <div> <B>   - notes for writers</B></div> <div> <A HREF="writing_inner_critic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Your Inner Critic"><B>Your inner Critic</B></A><B> </B></div> <div> <B>   - dealing with writer's</B></div> <div> <B>     block</B></div> <div> <A HREF="my_story_guidelines.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mentorship"><B>Guidelines</B></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=337 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Many people these days are interested in writing their life stories. Others want to write fiction in the form of novels, novellas (short novels) or short stories. Some people write as a creative hobby, while others want to share their stories with friends and family. Still others have a bigger dream, and may be interested in the possibility of self-publishing.</div> <bR> <div> I offer writing mentiorship, but please note that I charge for this service. I receive too many queries and requests for help to be able to offer such mentorship for free. I have therefore structured my mentorship into bite-sized pockets, with each payment from you covering a fixed number of my hours. The number of payments you make is flexible. It is up to you how much or how little mentorship you want to receive, or over what period/s of time.</div> <bR> <div> I am not a literary agent, and I will not represent your work to publishers. I also do not give advice about how to approach mainstream publishers, magazines, websites or any other potential publishing outlets. My focus is on the <B>technique</B> of writing and the perfection of this skill. I do, however, offer guidance through the process of self-publication for those who are interested in this option.</div> <bR> <div> Techniques and aspects of writing which are covered by my mentorship include:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">descriptive writing </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">narrative voice (e.g. first person)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">dialogue and dialogue tags</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">structure and flow</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">how to revise and edit</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">breaking through creative blocks</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f066003300.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">self-publication. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Writing like fiction</B></div> <bR> <div> Many people start writing their life stories without realising the full extent of what they're getting into. But sooner or later we run into the complexities, the challenges, the uncertainties of working with our own narratives. The act of writing itself may mean that we start to see things a new way, and it can be confusing to know what to put in, what to leave out, and how to handle the more delicate or traumatic memories. I can help you to find you way through these issues and give you the chance for professional feedback and critique.</div> <bR> <div> The main focus is always on turning your story into something that resembles fiction but is true to life. Why? Because it needs to be readable! Your main character (that's <B>you) </B>needs to be someone with whom the reader wants to associate and about whom they care. You have to make yourself vulnerable to achieve this. You have to make your own personality look real and interesting to the reader. You have to tell them at least a few of those funny little dark secrets we all have... or risk seeming boring and unreal.</div> <bR> <div> Fiction grips readers emotionally. But while fiction creates imaginary characters, plots and reversals in fortune, true life stories draw on remembered "givens". We will look at how to present these in a vibrant, fiction-like way which will draw your readers close to you, the narrator.</div> <bR> <div> The best time to get feedback is while you are still writing, not at the end when you think your story is all told. A critical reader or mentor can give you a fresh and neutral point of view, and help you to fix problems which you otherwise may not have been aware of. Even if you disagree with what your mentor says, thinking about his or her comments is a very valuable exercise. It will bring clarity to your own thoughts and ideas, and that translates directly into more focused, powerful prose. </div> <bR> <div> Being able to make good use of literary feedback matures us as people and as writers. But for many beginner writers this is an extremely hard step to take. Showing someone else what you have written feels a bit like taking your clothes off in front of a stranger. The confidential nature of private mentorship eases this dilemma and gives you an excellent launching pad from which to establish yourself as a more serious writer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Payment</B></div> <bR> <div> My mentorship is structured in bite-sized pockets. Each pocket costs R2 000 (ZAR 2000) and payment must be made in full before each period of mentorship can begin. Payment can be made by EFT, direct deposit or PayPal. Currencies accepted are ZA rands, US dollars, UK pounds or Israeli shekels. I do not accept credit cards, and cheques take a long time to process (and accrue bank charges).</div> <div>  </div> <div> For each R2 000 pocket, you will receive from me 16 hours of confidential, individual mentorship. This includes 8 hours of emails or Skype / phone calls valued at R170 per hour (thus R1 360 for mentoring and feedback). In addition you will also receive 8 hours of my reading time, valued at R80 per hour (R640 for reading time).</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330066" FACE="Arial" >If you are interested in writing mentorship, please email me at </FONT><A HREF="mailto:writing@mystory.za" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:writing@mystory.za">writing@mystory.co.za</A><A HREF="mailto:writing@mystory.za" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:writing@mystory.za">.</A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>As a free bonus</B>, here are two articles which address a few questions that are often asked about writing a life story.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="life_story_notes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life stories and fiction"><B>My Life Story</B></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330066" FACE="Arial" > - notes for writers</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="writing_inner_critic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Your Inner Critic"><B>Your inner Critic</B></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330066" FACE="Arial" > - dealing with writer's block</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Sue Randall</U></B></div> <div> January 2011</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>