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Ask Carrie + Bonus Links Worth Your While

5/28/2015

Kaye Baillie wants to know:

Maple Lam said to do thumbnails of entire mentor text on one sheet and look at whole piece. Have you tried that, Carrie and if you did, did you see how the piece worked?

Carrie:
I use thumbnailing to assist me with my own manuscripts, Kaye, but I have yet to try that with a mentor text. Instead, I sometimes type up the entire mentor text, taking time to explain in words what each illustration shows and how it interplays with the text. Although I do think visually, my thumbnails are not able to relay the same beauty, feeling, and detail that is shown in the illustration. I can get more detail by relaying it in words, and this immediately sparks the visual picture I have saved in my mind.

I used this technique while studying A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black. I chose to study this book to help me master persuasion in manuscript I was working on at the time.

Here are a few paginated examples from that study:

Pages 10-11 [Normal sloppy, realistic looking pig illo mostly on p 11 with gray shadow shading coming into p 10- white space on p 10 w text]
“The only problem is, a pig parade is a terrible idea.”

Pages 26-27 [full spread of pigs gathered around hay and record player feeling sad. First line of text on 26, rest on 27]
“No they will not. They will play sad, sad country music ballads with titles like, “My Tears Are Wet ‘Cause My Mud’s Gone Dry” and “I just Wanna Plop into This Bucket of Slop.” That kind of music is fine for slow dancing at hoedowns, but is not appropriate for a parade.”

If you would like to try thumbnailing instead, check out THIS POST by Pam Brunskill over at Marcie Atkin’s blog. Pam uses text vs. pictures, as well, but in a thumbnail layout.

So, what works for you? Feel free to share in the comments below. Thanks!

Bonus Links
While you search for an agent and yourself as a writer, consider THIS POST from Writers Rumpus (and Yours Truly):

Marcie Flinchum Atkins Petite ReviMo post was brimming with awesome mentor texts!

How about an author study of Karen Beaumont’s work? Linda Ashman did an awesome post on Karen’s musically versed, humorous picture books as mentor texts!

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May Mentor Text Check-In & Challenge

5/19/2015

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I've been thinking about my ReFoReMo family a lot lately. How are your mentor text efforts going? If you are like Suzy Leopold, your stack looks like this. Goooo Suzy! (Check out Suzy's post on how she uses mentor texts over at Marcie Atkin's blog.) I haven't seen too many stack pictures coming in to the Facebook group lately, but I know you are still reading. At least, I hope you are. It will keep your fire burning and fuel your writing support.

New Challenge
I feel as if the Diversity Challenge should definitely be an ongoing goal for us, and I am thankful for those of you who took me up on the challenge during ReFoReMo. (View the original challenge and follow-up recommendations and posts.) I hope your efforts are soaring. Mine are on simmer for now, so I thought I would present a NEW challenge, as well. I love it when a picture book involves the reader so much that they interact and feel like they are part of the story. Therefore, my new challenge to you will be to research exactly how picture books invite interaction in different ways. Hopefully, it will lead you to amp up the interaction in your own picture book manuscripts, as well.

Sometimes one sentence can be so powerful. Check out these two examples in the following mentor texts. Then feel free to list your favorite interactive lines and texts below in the comments.

Chris Haughton’s Oh, No George!
Main character: George, a well-intended dog that gravitates toward trouble
Interaction Invitation: “What will George do?”
Oh, you're asking me? Cool! The reader is directly invited for their opinion and minds start buzzing with mischievous vs. obedient predictions.

Melanie Watt’s You’re Finally Here
Main character: A very frank, talk-your-ear-off bunny
Interaction Invitation: “You’re finally here!”
But, it doesn’t stop there. This book character converses with the reader. Or should I say lectures. As the bunny addresses the reader, he bounces from direct and confrontational to celebratory and grateful. This is a classic example of metafiction.

Keep in mind, books do not have to be metafiction to be interactive.

So tell me: Are you up for the Interactive Challenge? What are you reading that invites interaction?

Two Reminders Before I Sign Off Today
-Ask Carrie: Feel free to leave a mentor text question for me in the comments below and I will choose one or two to answer in next Thursday's post.

-Call for Submissions: Revealing ReFoReMo (first Tues of each month) is open to submissions from all 2015 ReFoReMo participants. The submission guidelines are posted HERE. We've had wonderful posts from Jen Garrett and Juli Caveny already. Romelle Broas is up next month and then it could be YOU! Consider sharing what you have learned. It's a great way to give back to the kidlit community.

Bonus: For a QUICK peek inside Pat Zietlow Miller's mind and newest mentor text WHEREVER YOU GO, visit HERE to THINK QUICK.

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May Author-Educator: Deborah Underwood

5/11/2015

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Deborah Underwood is an author with a wide range of ability. Many of us have read the first two books in her humorous CAT series and the third (Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat) is set to release on May 19. She has numerous fiction picture books, including Bad Bye, Good Bye, The Quiet Book, and Part-Time Princess, among others. But, you may not know that she has twenty-eight nonfiction picture books published, as well, and her newest release, Interstellar Cinderella is a rhyming fractured fairy tale.

As we learned during ReFoReMo and continue to learn through this blog, mentor texts can help us analyze the picture book craft and strengthen our own writing. As you research Deborah Underwood's two newest mentor texts, keep your eyes open for these strengths:

Interstellar Cinderella
-Character development is huge here! Cinderella is an independent, intelligent girl with dreams and perseverance. She thinks outside the box and succeeds at what she puts her mind to. She is not the Cinderella of ages ago, but a very current, stand-up-for-yourself version, that will leave girls (and women) feeling empowered.
-Rhyme and rhythm are consistent and lively...nothing boring about them. Are you working on rhyme? Read it aloud 10 times and internalize the meter.
-Surprise ending! Yes, even a fairy tale can have a surprise when it is fractured. This version sets itself apart as a clever, unique Cinderella retelling. If you are writing a fractured fairytale, or hope to one day, consider comparing different fractured tales to the original versions. Notice which ones stand out and why.

Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat
-Metafiction: Because this book encourages interaction between the narrator and Cat, it plays with the fiction form. Take note of how the interaction takes place.
-Page turns leave us in suspense and propel us forward to read more.
-Distinct voice & character: Even though the narrator tells the story, notice how we get a distinct grasp on Cat's character and how this voice flavors both the narrator and Cat. Even without talking, Cat's "sign language" and facial expressions convey a determined, moody "catitude". Interplay between text and illustrations is a biggie in this series!
-Humor: Kids love to laugh and Cat will not only keep them laughing, but make them want to reread the story over and over again.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Deborah as the May Mystery Author at the Carrie On... Together blog. Take a peek into her writing process HERE and consider conducting an author study on all of Deborah's work. You will find her fiction titles HERE and nonfiction HERE. (Extra bonus: There is a GIVEAWAY going on at the interview!) Enjoy!

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Revealing ReFoReMo: Juliann Caveny Grows Stories from Seeds

5/3/2015

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by Juliann (Juli) Caveny

Since participating in ReFoReMo 2015, I have drafted three picture books and am looking at new approaches to the seeds of ideas I have squirreled away. Each of my stories have sprouted with the care and attention I gave to my writing and reading during March.

First I Picked the Varieties--

At the beginning, I chose books randomly. (More was better, right?) One had a pretty cover; one had a nice title; another was “recommended.” But as the month continued my choices narrowed. Superficial details took a back-seat to what was needed. I was beginning to grow as a reader and author.

What I Need #1: Fresh Voice (Sunshine)
The first idea sprouted while I was reading books with distinct voice and unique narration. I love the Cajun dialect and the folksy narration in PETITE ROUGE by Mike Artell. WEASELS by Elys Dolan and PRESIDENT TAFT IS STUCK IN THE BATH by Mac Barnett both break the 4th wall and address the reader directly to bring the reader into the story. All three text excel in voice. Instinctively, I knew this was what my stories needed.

What I Need #2: Repetition (Rain)
Then, I purposefully chose books that used simple repetition like BUNNIES!!! by Kevan Atteberry. Another story that made me laughed out loud was ONE BIG PAIR OF UNDERWEAR by Laura Gehl. Despite the minimal word count, these stories create enormous tension in plot as the exaggeration builds. These texts fed my story structure.

What I Need #3: My Notes (The Soil and Seeds)
Although most of what I was learning during March was a direct result of the books I read, a true “seed” of an idea can come from anywhere. Luckily, I’m an avid note taker. My thoughts are scribbled in tablets and labeled by time, “Vacation 2014,” or subject, “Fort Sumter.” I am drawn to historical landmarks, natural settings, legend and lore. These foundations support my thoughts and store them until I’m ready to nurture them into something new. By combining voice, echoing lessons from PETITE ROUGE, and repetition from ONE BIG PAIR OF UNDERWEAR with a seedling I had stored in my notes, my first story of the month broke through the ground and began to grow!

Other stories I’ve recently cultivated result from the combination of these same elements in other ways.

The simple word by word repetition in BUNNIES!!! combined with the exaggerated tension in CRANKENSTIEN by Samantha Berger, react like fertilzer on an idea! As the character in CRANKENSTEIN's anger increase through the repetitive text, the action is visible in the illustrations. The double-whammy characterization can be a real boost to the right story.

Another seed sprouted when I read IN MY HEART by Jo Witek, READ ME A STORY, STELLA by Mary-Louise Gay and RED by Micheal Hall. RED gives a voice to complicated issues while still connecting with young readers. Adults often find serious topics confusing or difficult to discuss with children. With these mentor text, I have models of ways to approach topics that are sensitive. Some stories require that extra nurturing touch.

ReFoReMo has been inspiring! Carrie Charley-Brown, the other participants and authors planted seeds of knowledge and gave me the tools to cultivate new stories. They have helped me grow as a reader and writer. I hope you have too!

“Story” has always been important to Juliann Caveny. She grew-up indulging neighbors with long, windy tales. As a teacher, she shares her love for books while helping students write their own. She writes middle grade fiction, but dabbles in other genres. Her local SCBWI and fellow writers are key to motivation! Follow her writing journey at her blog: Puddle Jumping.

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Ask Carrie + Bonus Links Worth Your While

May Mentor Text Check-In & Challenge

May Author-Educator: Deborah Underwood

Revealing ReFoReMo: Juliann Caveny Grows Stories from Seeds

ReFoReMo

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