Lake Superior Writers Mentoring

Lake Superior Writers' Mentoring Program

Having a Mentor | Becoming a Mentor | List of Mentors |

Having a Mentor

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS

Mentor: a writing tutor or coach who works individually with students to help them achieve their artistic goals. Mentors can help clarify goals, shape the path, and point out strengths and areas to work on.

Could you use a jump-start with your writing? Are you willing to pay an experienced writer and teacher $25.00 per hour for help? This is a bargain!

Here’s the Procedure:

A. Check the LSW Web Site for a list of mentors (see below), or request a list from the Lake Superior Writers.

B. Contact the mentor of your choice for an initial meeting.

C. Prepare, and bring to that initial meeting:

1. A writing sample of up to ten pages
2. An artistic statement including:
Where you believe your writing is
The challenges you’re facing
The ways you feel you would profit by having a mentor

Together you and the mentor will agree on goals, as well as the time, place, and frequency of meetings.

You will pay the mentor directly $25/hour for time spent with you and with your writing.

Either of you may terminate this agreement at any time.

* This opportunity is open only to current members of Lake Superior Writers.

Becoming a Mentor

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPERIENCED WRITERS

Lake Superior Writers offers you a unique opportunity to earn money while helping other writers in your area(s) of expertise.

If you are an experienced writer and you are interested in becoming a LSW Mentor, here’s what you do:

Submit a letter of intent, with a brief resume including publications and teaching/ interpersonal experience, along with a one time $10.00 fee.

Here’s what we do:

Post your name and information on our LSW Web Site, and on a list to be distributed to interested students.

Here’s how it works:

Students select and contact the mentor of their choice.

Mentor and student set up an initial meeting to discuss goals, and procedural questions such as time, place, and frequency of meetings.

At this meeting, the student will bring a writing sample of up to ten pages, and an artistic statement including: Where s/he believes her writing is; The challenges s/he is facing, and the ways s/he feels s/he would profit by having a mentor.

Students pay mentors directly, $25.00/hour.

(Note: it will your responsibility to keep track of time spent on mentoring, and to be clear about payment due.) Either mentor or student may terminate the agreement between them at any time.

*Mentors must be current members of Lake Superior Writers

Submit your letter of intent and resume to:
Lake Superior Writers, 1301 Rice Lake Road, Suite 132, Duluth, MN 55811

Mentors

The following people are mentors in the Lake Superior Writers mentoring program. .
For details on the program see above: Having a Mentor | Being a Mentor

Cal Benson
Poetry. Fiction, Creative non-fiction
An experienced and committed teacher, on his retirement Cal was honored with the Outstanding Editor Award from Phi Delta Kappa. In 2006 Cal published Peterpie Moon, a poetic memoir for his son, who had died the previous year. Cal writes: “Writing requires so much discipline that a structure which holds one accountable is critical…a mentor can supply this structure.”
218-724-2724; calbenmn@chartermi.net

Deborah Cooper
Poetry
Deborah has three published chapbooks and has had poetry included in numerous literary journals, including Loonfeather, Minnesota Monthly, California Quarterly and Nimrod. Most recently, she is one of five poets anthologized in The Moon Rolls Out of Our Mouths. She has participated in a variety of writing workshops and readings, taught LSW classes, and worked collaboratively with visual artists, musicians, and dancers. For many years Deborah worked as a hospice/hospital chaplain.
DeborahDebCoop@aol.com; 218-728-2097

Jeannie Eddy
Fiction, Non-Fiction
Jeannie is an editor for the flash fiction publication, Flash Me Magazine. She is also a writer and has had several of her short stories and poetry published in various print and online publications, including Enigma, Long Story Short, The Dazzling Desert and Apollo's Lyre. She belongs to several writer's and online critique groups and has participated in many writer's workshops and retreats. 320-242-3278 jmeddy@centurytel.net

Mara Hart
Memoir
Mara has published memoirs in Dust & Fire, Lifeboat, Lovecraft Studies, Minnesota Literature, and Sing! Heavenly Muse, among other places, and has recently edited Lovecraft’s New York Circle: the Kalem Club, 1924-1927. She holds an M.F.A. in Memoir Writing. Mara has received both an Arrowhead Regional Arts Fellowship and a Travel Grant, and a Jerome Foundation Travel Grant. She is an experienced teacher. Mhart2@d.umn.edu; 218-728-1253

Kathleen Hills
Fiction
Kathleen has published mystery novels Past Imperfect, Hunter’s Dance, and Witch Cradle, and several short stories. Her books have been favorably reviewed in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Boston Globe, among many other places. She has worked teaching communication skills in the public schools and has done much editing and critique work. She says, “I would have been able to cut through much of the initial fumbling and the false starts if I’d had the information and assistance of one who had been there. That’s what I can give to another aspiring fiction writer.” Kathleenhills@btopenworld.com

Justin Powers
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
Justin has moderated workshops, writing seminars, and monthly critique groups. He has studied writing at UMD for seven years. His resume includes articles for various magazines and newspapers. Justin says: “From me writers will get unique perspectives, thoughtful challenges, and the inspiration to find their voice with great clarity and leave a lasting impression on their reader and work.” 218-723-1541; jpowers@d.umn.edu

Cheryl Reitan
Fiction, non-fiction
Cheryl is a writer and editor of university publications at UMD. Her fiction has been included in numerous literary journals, including Dust & Fire and The Roaring Muse. She has received residency awards at Hambidge Center for the Arts, Nantucket Island Center for the Arts, Norcroft, and others. She has also participated in a variety of writing workshops and readings.
218-728-3154; cheryl@cherylreitan.com; www.cherylreitan.com

Jessica Roeder
Fiction, poetry, and non-fiction
Jessica has taught writing for more than fifteen years in a variety of venues, including the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and the Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver. Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in The Threepenny Review, The American Poetry Review, Third Coast, Quarterly West, Alaska Quarterly Review, Southwest Review, Denver Quarterly, The Chattahoochee Review, Mid-American Review, and elsewhere. Her fiction earned a Pushcart Prize, a Writers at Work fiction fellowship, and a Loft-McKnight Award in Creative Prose. She holds an MFA from the University of Florida.
218-727-8286; jaroeder2@google.com

Donna Schilling
Memoir
Donna has been working on a collection of life stories since 1999. Her book, Slices of Life, will be published by X-Presso Books in 2006. She had a memoir included in the book, Small Town, U.S.A., 2005. Her experience in writing and publishing will prove helpful in guiding new writers.
218-525-1012

Gail Trowbridge
Fiction, non-fiction
Gail has worked as a writer and editor for fifteen years, and has published stories in Sing! Heavenly Muse, Mpls/ St. Paul Magazine, and the WARM Journal, and has sold non-fiction articles to Lake Superior Magazine, The Duluthian, Your Life, The Duluth News Tribune and BusinessNorth. She has edited three books, including The Will and the Way, a 2004 Duluth history now in its second printing. Gail holds a B.A. in Journalism. 218-728-1354; gailwill@chartermi.net.