Linkun Chen wrote:

I was a Biology major in college and I don't have any experience in writing. But I want to become a serious writer and I was hoping that someone would be interested in mentoring me. I don't really have anything to offer in return, but I figured it can't hurt to ask. I know I could just take classes, but I feel like the structure of writing classes is too tight. I don't want to just learn the rules so I can get a good grade. I think that will limit my creativity. But on the other hand, I'm not so stubborn that I would blatantly disobey the rules just to be creative. That's why I need someone I can go back and worth with and bounce ideas off of.

So here are the qualifications:
1. Experienced Fiction Writer (short stories and novels)
2. Knowledge of the theory of story-telling (I don't want to know, I want to understand)
3. Read some of my works and can see my strengths and weaknesses (Midnight Man, Genie From Hell, or The General and The Son)
4. Would consider plot-building and story-telling on of your strengths
5. Preferably Published
6. Preferable over the age of 20

Being my mentor won't be very time consuming. The plan is to simply exchange emails back and forth whenever I have questions, and occasionally some form of instant messaging where I can bounce ideas with you. If anything, I consider myself an expert question-asker. I'm very good at pinpointing exactly what I want to know. Anyways, if you're interested just email me at linkun_chen@yahoo.com or post a reply with your email address.

The best mentoring you can get is by reading books in the genre you favor. See how the giants do it right and the wannabes do it wrong.

If I recall, when I read a few chapters of one of your stories it reminded me of Robert Silverberg's story Dying Inside. That was named one of the 100 best science fiction novels a few years back. There's a most interesting preface in that book that talks about the writing of it. Here's a link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Inside-Robe … amp;sr=1-1

Memphis Trace

I recommend Kal Bashir over at http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html - he knows what he's talking about. Watch his videos. I'm always buying skype lesson packages from him. I was working on my first story alone and couldn't finish it but with his help I got it done in two months.

He uses a lot of technical terms, so I recommend you get his book (2000+ stage Hero's Journey And Transformation Through A New World / State) and go over it first.

Once you've gone through the process, you can apply it again and again. I use Bashir as a sounding board / writing partner now that our rapport is well developed. I'll go through an idea with him and he'll help me flesh it out and fill the gaps.

Email him beforehand with questions and to make sure his schedule fits yours.