A description of the mentoring program by Meic.
The overriding aim of the Neopoet Mentor Program is to assist and support individual members in the creation, establishment, development and promotion of their own personal poetry. Such support might include, but not be restricted to, the development of a unique poetic voice, critical analysis and technical advice and suggestions.
Mentors would be expected to commit to the program with a maximum of five protégés for an initial period of six months, and will be expected to take on some of the following roles and qualities, although the details of the transactions between mentor and protégé are subject to mutual negotiation:
MOTIVATING protégés to become the best they can be.
EMPOWERING protégés by letting them know they are valuable and valued. Have and communicate realistic, yet high expectations.
NAVIGATING protégés by being a wise guide as they discover more about themselves and their work.
TEACHING protégés by being a coach, role model and cheerleader wherever appropriate.
OPEN-MINDED, being non-judgmental and objective, able to look at all forms and writing solutions etc. encouraging them to interact positively with other writers on the site.
REFLECTING: taking time out to teach your protégés how to review their output, looking for the positives, and learning from mistakes.
These roles would be delivered having regard to:
RESPECT: both for the protégé and for yourself; able to acknowledge the right of your protégé to make choices.
INTEGRITY: being honest and truthful at all times; being consistent and giving time as punctually as possible; reliable and committed to the relationship.
EMPATHY: being able to do your level best to place yourself in the shoes of your protégés to understand their work better, will help you to inspire them to greater things.
NURTURE: The key is to be a great LISTENER; commit to them; believe in them; be accessible to them; give as much time as possible.
DEVELOPMENT: encourage protégés to become the writer they wish to be, a process that takes time and requires patience, perseverance and the understanding that such development is a process that takes time. No “saviours” or “quick fixes” are available.
