How do I find the right creative mentor when I don't know what I'm looking for?

The honest answer is that you're already looking in the right way by asking this question. I've found that the best mentors aren't always the ones with the most impressive credentials—they're the ones who can see what you're actually trying to do, not what you think you should be doing. Start by noticing whose work makes you stop and pay attention. Whose creative choices feel true to something you recognize in yourself? Then look at their process, not just their output. Do they write about their thinking? Do they teach? Have they written essays or given talks that feel like they're speaking directly to the questions you're carrying? A good mentor is usually someone a few steps ahead on a path similar to yours, but with enough distance that they can see around corners you haven't reached yet. Don't wait for perfection. The relationship between a creative and their mentor is itself creative—it requires observation, vulnerability, and a willingness to be changed by what you learn. Start with curiosity about one person's work, reach out respectfully, and see if there's mutual recognition there.