yep I pretty much psl him now. I like combing both ideas. I npc one of his former NYU teachers as his writing mentor so maybe he sought out a second opinion and approaches her to review and critique his work? She could be his in with a editor, who she's currently dating?
I tend to like the idea of them meeting and feeling each other out as well? I figure age wise he's in his mid twenties give or take, unless you wanted him younger I can adjust that for the line.