[header] How to become a mentor to young aspiring writers [title] Gain writing experience. [step] Achieve a level of expertise in your own career. You don't need to be a seasoned veteran or a particular age to be a mentor, but you should have at least some writing experience under your belt. 
Working professionally as a writer and gaining experience in the publishing industry gives you credibility as a mentor. [substeps] Established mentorship programs may ask for at least two years of experience writing professionally; they may or may not require you to have published work.