tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post6798512014384654316..comments2023-11-13T11:46:37.183-05:00Comments on Midlife Passions: Mentoring~Pay It ForwardAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11715223968136858921noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-34141946463998434152012-11-01T23:03:54.206-04:002012-11-01T23:03:54.206-04:00Toba, you made the squad and then some!
Amazing t...Toba, you made the squad and then some!<br /><br />Amazing to me that those with the busiest schedules somehow find the time and energy to reach out in service to the community, and to individuals who need their help.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715223968136858921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-23536737224691063002012-11-01T22:57:10.404-04:002012-11-01T22:57:10.404-04:00Congrats on that award, Rebecca. You've been a...Congrats on that award, Rebecca. You've been an inspiration and a hands-on advisor to scores of writers. And, Nancy, whether one does it in an organized fashion, or as an organic expression of a natural impulse towards generosity, the outcome is the same: people helping people.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715223968136858921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-38662337581540077472012-11-01T14:05:06.670-04:002012-11-01T14:05:06.670-04:00I told N about your post, and he said I should let...I told N about your post, and he said I should let you know that I was awarded the Washington Romance Writers' Mentoring Award this year. I was in Belgium when they gave it out, and I had to track it down, but it's finally here, where you can see it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797338879140793709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-81109529429062419842012-11-01T09:18:12.377-04:002012-11-01T09:18:12.377-04:00Ruth is right--she's been mentoring other writ...Ruth is right--she's been mentoring other writers for decades. For me it's been a much more occasional and very organic thing. For example, I never said to myself, "I going to mentor Jeanne," I just saw an enormous talent, and was given a couple opportunities to help bring a little attention to it. The cookbook biz, and the writing biz in general is a tough one, and it is quite gratifying to help others just coming along the rocky path. Nancy Baggetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02851138020743719189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-76833503796566000472012-11-01T00:03:27.401-04:002012-11-01T00:03:27.401-04:00Teaching young people that "it's not how ...Teaching young people that "it's not how smart you are, it's how you are smart" is so rewarding. Many students have no idea that they can accomplish so much. They've never been asked to do their best. Sometimes they need one-on-one to help them understand their potential. Once, I volunteered to accept the challenge of helping a dyslexic student who was quite capable intellectually, but had never experienced academic success. After a few months of driving a distance to meet him once a week, he challenged me and asked, "Why do you do this?!? Why do you come every week? Why are you so nice to me?"- he still didn't "get it"...<br />I responded, " Aren't other people nice to you?" <br />"No," he said...not knowing where I was going.<br />"Well, they should be!!!!" and that was the end of that discussion. He never asked me again. We worked together for 4 years. <br />I always wanted to be a cheerleader in High School, but never even made it to the call-back list.<br />I finally found a way to make the squad.<br />One of the marvelous things about mid-life is having time to find the way to make your earlier dreams come true.<br />Thanks, Toby, for your blog post. Thanks for including me.Tobanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-78517412047085640852012-10-31T22:53:55.380-04:002012-10-31T22:53:55.380-04:00I've benefited from wonderful mentors over the...I've benefited from wonderful mentors over the years (Rebecca and you included), so I'm doing what I can in my new locale to pay it forward. It's fun and rewarding, but I always remember why I do it - thanks to friends and mentors like you.Willa Blairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465306036271972772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876489727977929042.post-26087082538125982852012-10-31T21:18:44.029-04:002012-10-31T21:18:44.029-04:00I've been mentoring people in my critique grou...I've been mentoring people in my critique group for the past 30 years. It's a great feeling when someone sells a book that you worked on with them. But even though I do a lot of mentoring, I still need an a little help from my friends. It works both ways. And I think we're never too experienced to take advice when it's needed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797338879140793709noreply@blogger.com