Find a mentor (I)

Writing a book is a hard work of months, even years. The support, understanding and help of others always comes in handy, sometimes it is even essential. In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to deal with all that on our own, we could count on someone who has already gone through all that and is willing to guide us. But unfortunately, this is not always the case. Not everyone has the opportunity to have a mentor who is there every time he or she is needed. In my experience, the mentor figure is a must, but doesn't have to be an expert writer. During this year, several friends have played that role for me. People who understand what it takes to get a novel or any kind of artwork done. They are there to review texts, give honest opinions, provide new ideas. They appear when the motivation is gone and you need someone to remind you that you should be writing. They complain when the release date that you have promised of the draft is approaching and they haven't received anything to review yet. They rejoice when the story is finished and they celebrate when the book is finally published. Mentor, coach, teacher, call it whatever you want, but find someone who will bring all that to you and your next novel will appreciate it.