KidLit Author Alyssa Reynoso-Morris on the value of mentorship programs
Updated: Feb 8, 2023
Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is a kidlit author, purveyor of dad-jokes, wonderfully kind human, and The Word's Program Deputy. But long before joining us here, Alyssa was one of the recipients of our annual Editor-Writer mentorships!
Alyssa is a mover and shaker in the writing world, and on her journey she's had multiple mentorships (and a drive that just won't quit).
Read Alyssa's article about the value of mentorship programs for writers and to see a list of mentorships that are available.
Here are some of Alyssa's key thoughts on the value of mentorship--Read the article for more!
"Who better to learn from than someone who has already done it successfully?"
A mentor can help shed light on some of those opaque aspects of the biz--plus it doesn't hurt to have a partner to let you know what's "normal."
"A mentor can provide you with insight into the business aspects of writing."
Because, yep, at the end of the day, when you're dealing with publishers, it is a business.
"There is so much information out there that it can be overwhelming and hard to know what is true. A mentor can help you filter out the noise."
It can definitely be easy to get sucked into the sphere of social media that is capital-P Publishing, and having author-friends is both great and muddying in some ways.
"Writing is quite solitary but working with a mentor prepares you for the collaborative nature of working with an editor."
Learning how to collaborate and share also lets you learn how to work better and without hard feelings.
"My mentors helped me connect with other authors and build community."
Having folks to celebrate with and commiserate with--isn't that what being a human is all about?
We host our Editor-Writer Mentorship annually in the spring!
Want to know when the 2023 program opens? Get latest via our socials:
Alyssa's point about mentors helping you filter out the noise really resonates with me. I've definitely gotten lost in the sea of publishing advice online, and having someone who's actually been through it would save so much second-guessing. Speaking of cutting through noise, I recently found a fun little tool called bad quality image maker that does the opposite of what you'd expect—it deliberately degrades images for memes and reaction pics. Not exactly writing-related, but sometimes you just need a silly break between drafting sessions.
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The point about mentors helping you filter out all the noise online really hit home for me. I’ve spent so much time confused about what advice to follow, and having someone guide you sounds way better. I actually found a similar community through Krillion that helped me connect with other writers, just like Alyssa mentions.
Love seeing how tools like rasterbator make it easy to turn any image into a big, bold statement—perfect for classroom walls or home decor without needing fancy equipment. Great for creative projects and budget-friendly art!