Mentorship should be as distant as possible ~ Jaiyeoba Amatesiro Dore
I learnt something very profound from my step dad as I was growing up as a writer and young man, it is very important to leave people to wander alone as they come up in life. Clap for them, let them have access to your resource materials/library if you live in close quarters. Feed their confidence by listening to their fears and let them find the solutions within themselves. All that is required to do better in literature is continuous access to good literature, application to writing workshops and seminars, entering for competitions and prizes and simply jotting down whatever creative thoughts that comes to mind. But it is very important never to enter into the personal space of an artist. Not to influence their styles with your own personal politics and syntax. We are not just artists but also equal creators and humans. The best gift you can give an artist is a mind of his own. Namwali Serpell met an inspiring writer at Harvard during her Ph.D programme and that