No. Professionals who share their time and expertise on demand should be compensated accordingly. In setting minimum fees for services we have tried to balance good value with affordability. However, these fees are flexible for Mentors and Speakers who understandably may wish to set their fees higher than the minimum for their mentorships or speaking engagements. Advisors receive a percentage of the fee while Adventure Leaders and Judges receive an honorarium plus covered expenses. augustwords.org retains a percentage for donations to literary and literacy charities, the heart of our work, and to offset administrative costs such as website operation and credit card prosessing.
Are there any costs associated with being an augustwords.org Advisor, Mentor, or Speaker?
No. You will be listed on augustwords.org at no charge and receive compensation for any work you do. We retain a portion of fees for donations to literary and literacy charities which is at the heart of augustwords.org, plus administrative costs such as website, marketing, and credit card processing.
How will I be listed on the augustwords.org website?
All Advisors are listed on our Advisory Group page, including a photo and a link to your website. Your listing will help you build your valuable circle of true fans. Mentors and Speakers will also be listed individually in our bookstore with a photo, bio, offered talks, even a YouTube video if you like. It is your responsibility to notify augustwords.org in any changes to the accuracy of information in your listing.
May I publicize that I am an Advisor for augustwords.org?
Absolutely. Once your application is accepted and approved, you will have earned the title of an Advisor with augustwords.org and may use that, for instance, in your author's bio, website, or blog, promoting yourself as an “Advisor for augustwords.org.” Likewise, Mentors and Speakers may promote themselves as a “Mentor for augustwords.org” or “Speaker for augustwords.org.” It's good for you and for augustwords.org to spread our names around in as many places as we can. We're all here to help one another. However, becoming an Advisor for augustwords.org is not an endorsement for an Advisor’s work or an Advisor's firm by augustwords.org and should not be represented as such.
Can I take time off from being an Advisor?
Of course. We all have writing deadlines, book launches, book tours, research trips, vacations, and such to schedule around. Just drop us an email and we won’t schedule any new projects until you let us know you're available once again.
How long will I be an Advisor?
Once you are accepted as an Advisor for augustwords.org, since you may be available in the future, you will remain listed in our Advisory Group until you inform us otherwise, whether you are currently listed in our bookstore to provide a resource or not. However, to protect our reputation and those of your fellow Advisors, please understand your status as an Advisor for augustwords.org may be rescinded at any time if you no longer represent the high standards of augustwords.org as evidenced by illegal, immoral, or questionable behavior. Advisors must operate in accordance with our nondiscriminatory policy regarding race, religion, gender, color, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Can I be a Mentor if I’ve never been a mentor or protégé?
Absolutely. If you agree with the augustwords.org mission to write well and do good, and you have publishing experience and positive encouragement to share, plus a willingness to nurture, then you’ll do fine.
How does a writer make a Mentor Connection with me? Can I say no?
A writer purchases a mentorship with you in our bookstore, submits an online Protégé application, and we email you with the details. Only when we receive your email acceptance and we have notified the writer, is connection made and the writer's credit card charged. Alternately, you may reject their application and we'll notify the writer you are unavailable, suggesting they request you at a later date you indicate, or try another Mentor.
When do mentorships begin? How long do they last?
Writers may apply for a Mentor Connection anytime you are listed online as available. Mentorships begin as soon as possible after you accept the writer's application and then receive an email from us notifying you of a confirmed Mentor Connection. You’ll send your new Protégé a welcoming email establishing the Mentorship Connection for the following 6 weeks using your email address at augustwords.org assigned exclusively for their use. At the conclusion of the 6-week Mentor Connection that email address will expire, approximately 7-8 weeks after the writer's initial request for a Mentor.
Who determines the content of the mentorship?
You do. These mentorships are unique in that our Mentors are not editors critiquing a writer’s work, but rather career counselors guiding writers to focus their energies, orchestrate their careers, and challenge their muse. We will provide a Mentoring Guide to help you develop your own mentorships tailored for each of your Protégés. While we provide guidelines, the mentoring style is strictly your own.
Who determines the fee for a mentorship?
You do. Although we have established minimums, you are free to set the price of your mentorships at any amount above that. Plus, as you gain in popularity, follow the laws of supply and demand and adjust the price up at any time for future mentorships. Just let us know. And remember a percentage goes to support literary and literacy charities.
How will I be listed?
All our Mentors are listed in our bookstore in the Mentor Connection with a description you provide. You want to include your name, photo, author website, genre, and a short bio describing who you are, what you’ve written, and why you are just the person they need as their Mentor. If you like you may also include a few additional photos or a link to a YouTube video, all in an effort to intrigue writers to choose you for their Mentor. If your schedule fills up or you take time off, we’ll note that mentorships with you will be available at a future date. Besides the writers who make Mentor Connections, your listing will help you build your circle of true fans. You will also be listed among our Advisors on our Advisory Group page.
Can I take time off from mentoring?
Of course. We all have writing deadlines, book launches, book tours, research trips, vacations, and such to schedule around. Just drop us an email and we’ll post on your listing that you will be available in the future, and we won’t schedule any new mentorships until you tell us you have at least a couple of months flexible enough to drop mentorships into your schedule. If you haven’t been booked as a Mentor for more than a year, you could be considered inactive and your listing can be suspended. You can place yourself in inactive status and suspend your listing at any time by email notification to augustwords.org.
How does the mentorship email exchange work?
Our email system is designed specifically to keep your personal email address anonymous and to protect your privacy. When a Mentor Connection is made, you and your Protégé receive an exclusive email address which will expire at the end of the mentorship, ie: for Mentor John Doe and Protégé Jane Smith, expiring June 25, 2015: 150625jdoe-jsmith @ augustwords.org. All mentorships are conducted through this handy mailbox and you may send and receive email easily via the Internet using our email program, which is simple and works much like Gmail.
How often am I required to respond to my Protégé?
Each mentorship is for a 6-week period during which you will have a minimum of 6 email exchanges, approximately one long, juicy email from you to your Protégé each week, discussing and analyzing the previous week's work, setting tasks for the upcoming week, then building upon their responses for each week. If you wish to email back and forth more often than that, that’s entirely up to you.
What should I include in my emails?
Following your initial welcome email to your Protégé establishing the Mentor Connection, the content and scope is up to you. Beyond the 6 required emails, each 6-week mentorship will vary, based on your Protégé, their needs, and their goals. Our detailed Mentor's Guide will help you shape mentorships for your Protégés. We encourage you to give freely of your hard-won and valuable knowledge as we want our Protégés to feel their Mentor Connection was beneficial and worthy of repeating, either with you or another Mentor.
Will I be editing my Protégé’s work?
No. We will pass along the writing sample from their Protégé application so you can get a sense of where they are in their writer’s journey, to get a handle on their particular style, writing abilities, and needs. You may wish to request additional samples of their work or you may wish to request outlines, query letters, etc, to help you achieve a sense of what they should study to succeed. Be careful not to be persuaded into accepting any writing for evaluation unless you want to read more for your own enjoyment.
Can I mentor more than one writer at a time?
Absolutely. How many Protégés you can juggle at one time and still deliver a valuable Mentor Connection is up to you. Since the augustwords.org Mentor Connection is so flexible, with mentorships starting at any time, you can mentor when you like, as many as you like, while taking breaks when you need. However, be careful you don’t over commit yourself and have trouble following through. Start with one and as you become comfortable with the process and the demands on your time you can take on more.
Can a writer repeat a Mentor Connection with me?
Yes, unless you indicate to us otherwise, in which case we will advise the writer we feel they will be best served by broadening their reach with another Mentor.
Can I be a Mentor and a Protégé at the same time?
Sure. Every writer needs to keep learning to keep their writing fresh. Plus, what plums you learn through another Mentor you can pass along to your Protégés.
How much time is required each week to be a Mentor?
Each mentorship is different, requiring more time some weeks than others, and varies from Mentor to Mentor, their level of expertise and that of their Protégé. If you are hectic, just surviving, under immense pressure to get everything done and feeling like you have little to give, then perhaps now is not the time to be a Mentor. Perhaps you even need a Mentor of your own to help you develop a plan to make your writing life more efficient and productive. Alternately, if you are so successful that to take on one more thing would be schedule suicide, then this may not be the best time to become a Mentor. However, if you are succeeding as an author, are willing to share your experience, and looking for a new challenge, then being a Mentor should be perfect for you.
Must I be their new BFF?
At any point in time you may see yourself as advisor, guide, coach, confidant, guru, cheerleader, inspiration, counselor, master, patron, role model, developer of talent, opener of doors, or teacher. Like all mentoring relationships, the character of the relationship is determined by the Mentor. If you are made to feel awkward at any time, simply set limits by informing your Protégé that what they are asking is outside the realm of the mentorship.
How long will I be a Mentor?
Once you are accepted as an Advisor for augustwords.org you will remain listed on our site as an Advisor until you inform us otherwise, whether you are currently available for mentorships or not. However, to protect our reputation and those of your fellow Advisors, please understand your status as an Advisor for augustwords.org may be rescinded at any time if you no longer represent the high standards of augustwords.org as evidenced by illegal, immoral, or questionable behavior. Mentors must operate in accordance with our nondiscriminatory policy regarding race, religion, gender, color, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
FAQ Advisors, Mentors, & Speakers
Speakers
How does the Speaker Connection work?
We make it easy for you to connect and build your fan base, while having your expenses covered and something for your time. You handle your presentation, computer hook-ups, and travel arrangements so you can have everything to your liking. We handle everything else: listing you in our Speaker Connection as you like, marketing the Speaker Connection to groups, accepting bookings, and processing payments so all the uncomfortable financial discussions are eliminated from your relationship.
How does a group book me? Who picks the date? Can I say no?
When a group selects you from our Speaker Connection they note their preferences and indicate their first and second choices for dates and times and we will email you. Only after we receive your email approval of their request is the booking confirmed and their credit card charged.
Can I direct interested groups to augustwords.org to handle my speaking engagements?
Certainly. No need for you to take up your time with details, especially awkward discussions of money, with a group who may or may not be serious. Simply provide a link on your website directly to our Speaker Connection and your listings. We'll take it from there and handle all the details of the booking.
If I join the augustwords.org Speaker Connection must all my speaking engagements be booked through you?
No, we do not require exclusivity. However, we do feel you'll find it so simple and satisfying, you'll want us to handle all your appearances - especially knowing a percentage goes to support literary and literacy charities.
How will I be listed?
All our Speakers will be listed in our bookstore in the Speaker Connection, including your name, photo, author website, genre, and a short paragraph describing who you are, what you’ve done, and why you are just the person they need as their Speaker. If you like you may also include a few additional photos or a link to a YouTube video, all in an effort to intrigue groups to host you as a Speaker. Plus, you can also have separate listings for particular workshops or seminars at a special price. If your schedule fills up or you take time off, we’ll note that you will be available at a future date. Besides the groups who book you, your listing will help you build your circle of true fans. You will also be listed among our Advisors on the Advisory Group page. If you haven’t been booked as a Speaker for more than a year, you could be considered inactive and your listing can be suspended. You can place yourself in inactive status and suspend your listing at any time by email notification to augustwords.org.
Who determines the content of my presentation? Does anyone need to pre-approve it?
You determine your presentation, although we encourage you to leave plenty of time for questions and interaction with your audience. Groups may request the nature of your presentation, such as a keynote address, panel, or workshop and what they'd like you to concentrate on, such as fiction, poetry, or more specifically, topics such as characterization or interviewing techniques.
Who determines the fee for a speaking engagement?
You do. Although we have established minimums, you are free to set your fees at any amount above that. You may also wish to have a separate listing for a specific type of presentation, such as a particular workshop, and price that separately. Speakers receive a percentage of the fee and augustwords.org retains a percentage for donations to literary and literacy charities and to offset administrative costs such as website operation and credit card fees.
What if the group cancels the booking after it is confirmed?
If a group cancels a booking for an appearance after it is confirmed, a partial refund will be given and you will receive a portion of retained funds.
What if I don't want to travel for on Site appearances? Or only want to speak in person?
You may be listed only as a Speaker by Satellite, only as a Speaker on Site, or both. Also you decide which listings you want: 1-hour, 3-hour, or 6-hour. Alternately, you may only wish to have individual listings for special workshops or seminars.
Do I need special equipment to be a Speaker by Satellite?
No, all you need is a computer - Windows or Apple - with an Internet connection capable of handling video, a webcam, a microphone, and a working knowledge of Skype with your own free Skype account. Using our Speakers by Satellite, you can have a coast-to-coast book tour and never leave your desk.
What if something happens and we can't make a Speaker by Satellite connection?
If after due diligence you just can't make it happen, then call it a day and we'll reschedule with the group for another date and time, based on your acceptance, of course.
For Speakers on Site, what are 1-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour presentations?
This is the block of time you are scheduled into an event, up to 1 hour, 1 - 3 hours, or 3 - 6 hours, in one or more sessions. Time at the event which is not scheduled is not included, such as meals, breaks, or attending other event sessions, only the time you are required to be present, including talks, workshops, panels, meetings with attendees, etc.
For Speakers on Site who takes care of the travel arrangements?
You pay your own travel expenses so that you can make arrangements to your liking with no scrutinizing by anyone. Use your own travel discounts or frequent flyer programs, include companion arrangements, coordinate with bookstore appearances, stay over extra nights, or take advantage of offers of a night's stay on your college roomie's couch. Treat yourself to first class or pinch pennies to finance your own book tour. We have set minimum fees sufficient to be inclusive of all usual and expected travel expenses, such as airfare, rental car, gas, taxi, and meals en route, plus one night in a hotel for 1-hour appearances and two nights in a hotel for 3-hour and 6-hour appearances. Compensation is paid quarterly following your appearance.
What if something happens and I can't make it for an on site appearance?
If you are unable to appear at the appointed time, you must notify us immediately so that every effort can be made to reschedule or supply a replacement speaker of equivalent caliber (substitute Speaker will then receive your fee). Unfortunately, any expenses you may have incurred cannot be reimbursed.
All publishing professionals who have been approved to work with augustwords.org are called Advisors. They do this in many ways, such as through the Mentor Connection and Speaker Connection, and are then more specifically called Mentors and Speakers. Some Advisors also serve in other capacities, such as competition judges, adventure leaders, contract reviewers, editors, or technical wizards.
