ReFoReMo Day 2: Melissa Stewart Shares the Power of Mentor Texts

3/2/2015

---- KNOCK KNOCK! HOUSEKEEPING! ----
Registration ended last night at 11pm CST. We have 270 officially registered participants and about 100 silent subscribers. If you know others that did not make it to registration in time, they are still welcome to subscribe for ReFoReMo guest educator posts by email. However, only officially registered participants will be admitted to the ReFoReMo Facebook Group and be eligible for prizes at the conclusion of ReFoReMo. I am hearing lots of amazing revelations in the Facebook group! I am so proud of our community! Let's read! ~Carrie

by Melissa Stewart

Whenever I do a book signing, there are a few people who tell me that they dream of writing a book for children and ask how they can get started. I always give the same two pieces of advice: (1) join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and (2) read 100 books in the genre they would like to write. I first heard this second tip from Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park back in 2006, and I couldn’t agree more.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized what I was doing from an educator’s point of view. I was suggesting that the aspiring authors use mentor texts. A hundred of them.

Educators know that using children’s literature as a model for student writing can be powerful. But the truth is that ALL writers can benefit tremendously by reading and studying the techniques employed by other writers. I often use mentor texts as I’m thinking about elements like voice and structure.

While I was writing Feathers: Not Just for Flying, I was struggling to find just the right voice. I can remember asking myself, “How did April Pulley Sayre craft the light, lovely voice of Vulture View?” To understand her process, I knew I had to put myself in her shoes, so I typed out the text of the entire book. Seeing the words, phrases, and sentences in manuscript form gave me enormous insight into how language devices can play off one another in books with a strong lyrical voice.

When I realized that No Monkeys, No Chocolate would have a structure in which one piece of information builds upon another, I looked closely at the cumulative structures of various versions of The House That Jack Built and The Gingerbread Man. Even though these classic stories are fiction, they helped me see possibilities for my own manuscript.

I also looked at an assortment of books with layered text, including Beaks by Sneed Collard, When the Wolves Returned by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, my own book A Place for Butterflies, and several books by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. In each case, the layers were executed differently and served a different purpose. Understanding the range helped me see how I could use layers to the best effect in my own manuscript.

Do mentor texts have to come in book form? No way! The bookworms in No Monkeys, No Chocolate were inspired by Statler and Waldorf, the two old guys in The Muppet Show balcony. While watching an episode of the show with my nieces, I thought about their purpose—they commented on the action on the main Muppet Show stage and added humor. I instantly realized that my book needed a similar element, so I created characters and wrote dialog as a third layer of text. It solved a major problem with the book by allowing me to reinforce complex science concepts in a fun way.

No matter how much experience we have as writers, mentor texts can guide us as we strive to stretch in new and exciting directions.

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 150 nonfiction books for children, including No Monkeys, No Chocolate; Feathers: Not Just for Flying, Under the Snow, and Animal Grossapedia. She maintains the blog Celebrate Science and serves on the board of advisors for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. You can follow Melissa's books at www.melissa-stewart.com.

159 Comments

Kim Chaffee

3/1/2015 07:38:40 pm

I love the tip of typing up the text of the book into manuscript form! What a great way to see what a successful book looks like when submitted! Thanks for your post!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:13:13 am

Thanks for your comment, Kim.

Pam Brunskill link

3/2/2015 02:43:23 pm

I do the same thing! It's a GREAT way to learn the rhythms of picture books and how to develop the page turns.

Deborah Allmand

3/1/2015 08:01:20 pm

I attend every workshop or intensive of Melissa Stewart's I can get to. I try attend the SCBWI Conference in Los Angeles each year and you can find me in her sessions. As a former educator she breaks down nonfiction into understandable segments. Loved the post and looking to seeing you in LA again this year.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:12:40 am

Thanks, Deborah. I hope to be at SCBWI-LA again this summer.

Tanya Konerman link

3/1/2015 08:20:37 pm

Wish I had heard the 100 book advice when I was just getting started, but I'm there now. Great list of mentor texts for a couple of ms. I'm working on now...thanks!

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 06:36:33 am

Yay, Tanya! So happy ReFoReMo is helping you! Reading is where it's at! :)

Linda Schueler link

3/1/2015 08:49:10 pm

ReFoReMo is a great way to read those 100 books we were advised to read. Thanks for the post.

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 06:35:48 am

And that's why we are here, Linda. :) Happy reading!

Elaine Hillson

3/1/2015 09:06:56 pm

I have only just recently tried typing up the text of a picture book and it really does change the way you see the book. It gives more of a feel for the language being used, a way to see the text without the pictures. Thanks for a great post.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:14:26 am

Yes, I totally agree with you. thanks, Elaine.

Julie Burchstead

3/1/2015 09:17:51 pm

Melissa, thanks for these tips. I have always been so appreciative you have often left such a reflective path of your process. I have used your video timeline to inspire student writers many many times. This is the second time I have heard tie advice to type out manuscripts to make them easier to analyze for writer's craft. I am plan to try it now! Thanks for the wonderful ideas.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:15:55 am

I'm glad you like the timeline, Julie. I've received lots of good feedback from educators. It really helps beginning writers to understand that the road to publication is long and winding.

Caroline Twomey link

3/1/2015 09:56:12 pm

I love your tip to type up the PB text in order to really see the breakdown of language/techniques used! Definitely going to start doing that with mentor texts! Thank you ")

Sue Poduska

3/1/2015 09:59:50 pm

Love your books. It's a pleasure seeing them from the other end. Thanks for the books added to the list.

Kirsti Call link

3/1/2015 10:06:31 pm

Melissa, I had the privilege of talking with you at the NESCBWI last year...we ADORE Feathers at our house and your tip to read 100 books in your genre is a fantastic one!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:17:12 am

Great to hear from you, Kristi. Thanks for your kind words about FEATHERS.

Rebecca Colby

3/1/2015 10:06:51 pm

Awesome tips! And I loved hearing what mentor texts you referred to when writing your books and how they helped you!

sharon giltrow

3/1/2015 10:19:18 pm

I love the advice about reading 100 books in the genre that you write invaluable advice thanks

Joyce Tucker link

3/1/2015 10:25:56 pm

Melissa,
Thanks for sharing your insights. Voice is a hard trait to really nail in writing. I appreciate the advice you gave to guide us in creating voice. Love the old guys from the Muppets!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:18:04 am

Yes, voice can be tricky. But it's worth the struggle. It can make such a big difference.

Manju Howard link

3/1/2015 10:30:15 pm

I'm hooked! I need to read No Monkeys, No Chocolate, since you were inspired by Statler and Waldorf. :)

Shannon Hitchcock link

3/1/2015 10:34:28 pm

Reading mentor texts is bound to improve us all. Thanks for providing the structure!

Marianne Kuzujanakis

3/1/2015 10:51:00 pm

Thanks so much, Melissa Stewart! You have made such an impact in the area of nonfiction PBs for children. I love your advice and mentor recommendations. I'm now off to read as many mentor texts as possible!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:19:03 am

Thanks, Marianne. Good luck with your WIPs.

Kim Erickson

3/1/2015 10:52:50 pm

I love the idea of re-typing the text!

Ariel Bernstein

3/1/2015 10:57:51 pm

This is wonderful advice! I recently typed up the text of a fiction picture book to see how it worked page by page but I have to try that with non-fiction too. I've been intimidated when thinking about trying to write a non-fiction story. I think it will help to keep reading them and typing out the text before thinking of starting one of my own :)

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 06:38:29 am

So happy to hear you try something new, Ariel! Have fun exploring and growing!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:20:17 am

Seeing the raw form of a manuscript really can help to make them less intimidating. We all start off in the same places as writers, and we can all learn from one another.

Linda Carpenter link

3/1/2015 10:58:32 pm

Many thanks for the great insight! Anxious to read the books! 100 books will come fast at this pace...

Jen Swanson link

3/1/2015 11:00:53 pm

Fantastic post Melissa! Thanks for giving us a peek into your process.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:21:04 am

Great to see you here, Jen. So glad you enjoyed the post.

Lisa Connors link

3/1/2015 11:06:59 pm

And when we start that 'stretching in new and exciting directions', it feels so good! I've a languishing draft because the story spans the mc's life and I couldn't figure out how I might keep the reader engaged. I just read A Violin for Elva by Mary Lyn Ray and said, 'aha.' Now time to start stretching! Thank you Melissa!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:22:38 am

Lisa, your could consider a book that covers just part of the MC's life. When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan is a great example.

Please see my blog for more ideas about different kinds of bios.

Carol Gordon Ekster link

3/1/2015 11:20:06 pm

And Melissa, your books can serve as mentor texts for beautifully written nonfiction! Thanks for the inspiration.

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 06:40:03 am

I agree 100%, Carol! Melissa's NF makes great mentor texts!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:23:35 am

Great to see you here, Carol. Thanks for suggesting my books as mentor texts. As I said above, I think we all have so much to teach one another.

Rita Lorraine link

3/1/2015 11:23:38 pm

Great post, Melissa. I especially loved your explanation of where the bookworms came from (I love those grumpy old guys too!). Thanks so much for sharing your process.

JANET SMART link

3/1/2015 11:28:34 pm

I'm going to start writing out the text of picture books. Thanks for posting.

Doreen Lepore link

3/1/2015 11:39:16 pm

Thanks for great advice - definitely going to try typing some mentor texts!

Angela Hawkins link

3/1/2015 11:40:39 pm

Great Tips Melissa! I'm a firm believer in the 100 book rule!

Joni Klein-Higger link

3/1/2015 11:47:03 pm

Typing texts from my favorite picture books has been extremely helpful to me. It forces me to pay attention to details I frequently overlook. Thanks to ReFoReMo, I am now typing out texts daily and am, to my surprise, appreciating books I normally would pass over in book stores and libraries.

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 06:40:52 am

That is AWESOME, Joni! You go! :)

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:25:02 am

When the art is in place, it's easy to overlook the intricacies of the text and how the text leaves room for the art. All that is so much clearer when you look at the raw manuscript.

Cathy Ballou Mealey link

3/1/2015 11:52:38 pm

I agree that 100 books is a wonderful guideline. I began to take careful notes and practice writing reviews of really stellar mentor books. This helps me slow down and analyze them carefully, really cementing the details in my brain.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:25:31 am

That's a great idea, Cathy.

Renee Kirchner

3/1/2015 11:56:53 pm

Thanks for the great tips Melissa. I plan to check out the books mentioned in your talk.

Rebecca Hirsch link

3/2/2015 12:09:47 am

Great stuff, Melissa! I love using mentor texts. Another advantage of typing the text: you can see for what a picture book manuscript looks like with no pictures, just text on a page.

Chana Stiefel link

3/2/2015 12:27:00 am

Melissa, Your advice is always spot-on! Thanks for this terrific post. I've never thought of typing up someone else's manuscript. What a brilliant idea. I'm just afraid I'd be editing away as I go. :)

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:28:06 am

You're right, Chana, you do start editing. That helps you see that no manuscript, no book is perfect. Sometimes great authors leave holes--and if you can learn to fill the holes, you'll become an even better writer.

Nicole Popel link

3/2/2015 12:42:10 am

Read, read, read to learn. Great advice.

Debra Shumaker

3/2/2015 12:52:47 am

LOVE Melissa's books. And I love writing non-fiction PBs so I plan to take a closer look at all these books she mentioned. I'm familiar with so many of they, but well worth looking at again! Thanks for this great post!!!

Lynne Marie link

3/2/2015 12:54:22 am

I am a big fan of Picture Book Skeletons and find them extremely helpful in the learning/growing process. Great tip to share!!

Lori Dubbin

3/2/2015 01:02:33 am

Thank you, Melissa Stewart, for sharing your writing process and for your sound advice. Reading lots of picture books, retyping texts, and watching the Muppets -- what a great recipe for ReFoReMo and getting a manuscript to shine.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:29:03 am

LOL!

Sue Heavenrich link

3/2/2015 01:19:56 am

Thanks, Melissa! Your post comes at a most opportune moment. In fact, I just grabbed my copy of "Feathers" off the shelf to get a feel for how you structured it. I type some books out, like Melissa does. But sometimes I write them out, in a big storyboard so I can see the book as a whole, and page turns.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:31:24 am

Yes, in looking at structure, physical manifestations can help--sorting with sticky notes, storyboarding. I even know one nonfiction author who builds sculptures so that she can physically see the structure and work on improving it. So many fascinating ways to approach writing. Try everything to see what works for you. Have fun with it!

Rachel Hamby link

3/2/2015 01:31:19 am

Thanks for these book recommendations. I need to do more text typing. I've done it once or twice, I forget how helpful it can be.

Jennette Mutolo

3/2/2015 01:33:37 am

Melissa,
I will definitely be typing some texts today! What a great tip! Thank you!

AJ Irving link

3/2/2015 01:34:14 am

So many wonderful tips! Thank you, Melissa!

sally suehler

3/2/2015 01:36:38 am

Thanks Melissa! Love the 100 rule and I passed it when I had new surgery. My poor husband was my book carrier since I was on crutches. I am trying to combine fiction and non-fiction. I love it!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:33:00 am

Combining fiction and nonfiction can be tricky because librarians and booksellers don't know where to shelve it. You may want to go one way or the other.

Laura J / Laura Jenkins link

3/2/2015 01:39:39 am

Thanks for the great tips. You should know, we currently have "Feathers: Not Just For Flying" checked out from the library. I love the way it's written because the text at the top of the book is more for younger minds and "back matter" has been interspersed through the book for those who are older or more interested in the topic or who can grasp the subject matter.

Heidi Yates

3/2/2015 01:43:01 am

Thank you for the great post Melissa! I have read 100's of picture books, but never typed in the text before. A very helpful suggestion. :)

Erin Nowak link

3/2/2015 02:17:13 am

I enjoyed the fact that you shared the specific texts you used to mentor your individual books. I can't wait to read them all!

Heather Pierce Stigall

3/2/2015 02:24:15 am

I also find it helpful to type mentor PB texts. I save them for future reference.

Robin Currie link

3/2/2015 02:30:14 am

Love cumulative tales. I would like to do more non fiction - your advise to read in that area is well taken. I have been using fiction books as my mentor and that is not working! Thanks.

Bev Langill

3/2/2015 02:30:32 am

Wonderful post with great advice! Lots of books to read and learn from.

Kristi Veitenheimer link

3/2/2015 02:43:52 am

I need to remember to type out some of the mentor texts that I'll be reading. Thanks for the reminder!

Kathleen Birmingham link

3/2/2015 02:51:48 am

Fabulous examples, Melissa. I especially like that you encourage us to look beyond mentor texts, but for anything that might get the message across. You mentioned Statler and Waldorf (as fitting for children's writing) but it reminded me of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 "peanut gallery" which does the same thing. Clever way to use both humor and a different approach to help kiddos absorb the material.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:35:11 am

You're right, Kathleen. Inspiration is all around us. We just have to open our minds and listen.

Marlaina Gray Cockcroft link

3/2/2015 02:58:00 am

I love that Statler and Waldorf were inspirations. They make me giggle. :) Thanks for the informative post!

Pat Miller link

3/2/2015 03:04:20 am

The Muppets--how fun to hear how Statler & Waldorf inspired the clever worms in your NO MONEYS, NO CHOCOLATE book. Looking forward to seeing you, Melissa, at the NF 4 NF Conference in September!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:36:07 am

Hi Pat,

I'm looking forward to your wonderful conference. Thanks so much for organizing it.

Gabrielle Snyder

3/2/2015 03:34:24 am

Thanks for the helpful post, Melissa! I will try typing out the text of some PB mentor texts. Great idea!

Deirdre Englehart

3/2/2015 03:36:10 am

Melissa, I am reading through your post multiple times! Great information and perfect for me right now!,

Jilanne Hoffmann

3/2/2015 03:40:33 am

Great post! I came to the kid lit party after getting my MFA in fiction for adults and giving birth to my son. And after reading a kazillion picture books to my son, I decided that I wanted to write them. Funny thing was, my picture book reading left me knowing the books I liked and those I didn't, but it didn't really prepare me to write them. When I started studying how they worked and taking some classes in writing picture books my writing really improved. I especially like your last insight, though, about pulling inspiration from other forms. Those two old guys are memorable. Now, I've got to find No Monkeys, No Chocolate and give it a whirl. Thanks!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:37:57 am

Yes, deliberately studying books with specific goals in mind really helps to inform our own writing.

Anita Banks

3/2/2015 03:48:50 am

Thank you for the great post! I am getting busy now with my mentor texts!

Juliana Lee link

3/2/2015 03:58:16 am

I have always used mentor text while teaching. (We used to call them touchstone books.) It only makes sense to do the same when learning yourself!

Romelle Broas link

3/2/2015 04:02:46 am

Great post, Melissa! Adding these books to my reading list. Got lots of reading to do...and writing!

Heather Gale

3/2/2015 04:28:38 am

Love your books Melissa, especially, No Monkey's No Chocolate, and your journey to get the book where you wanted it to be. Great post - thank you!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:38:51 am

Thanks, Heather. I love my job, but it can take a long time to get a book just where I want it to be.

Nancy Brown

3/2/2015 04:38:53 am

Great idea to type out the text of a mentor text! Thanks.

Joanne Roberts link

3/2/2015 04:41:48 am

Thanks to all for including so much NF. That's what I'm working on right now. Headin' to the library later. Hooray!

Janie Reinart

3/2/2015 04:44:14 am

Melissa, I love the idea of a third layer of text!! Thank you for the exciting post!

Debra Daugherty link

3/2/2015 04:58:37 am

Melissa - solid advice. Typing out the text of a PB is something I am gong to try.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:40:45 am

I also think that handwriting our own manuscripts can be useful. To me, the tactile-ness of it makes my mind shift to working in a different way. It's a trick I often try when I'm really stuck.

Kathy Mazurowski

3/2/2015 05:03:27 am

Thank you for the great advice. I have typed out texts of PBs and sat in the "little chairs" at the library for hours. I love you were able to use an inspiration from the Muppets for a third layer. So many ideas are bombarding my brain right now.

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 06:44:57 am

Yay for little chairs! :)

Catherine Friess link

3/2/2015 05:29:44 am

Thank you Melissa. I have just started typing out picture book texts to help with my writing. I's amazing how much you learn from the process :)

Lauri Meyers link

3/2/2015 05:33:01 am

Thank you for the great recommendations - a few osund like perfect mentor texts for one of my mss.

Jennifer Judd link

3/2/2015 05:44:44 am

Great advice--I am going to try out the "text typing technique" (like that alliteration? ;)) today with my mentor texts. I have never tried writing nonfiction before but I so admire it, especially when it's written lyrically. Thanks for this insightful post, Melissa!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:41:38 am

Good luck, Jennifer. You should definitely give NF a try.

Annette Bay Pimentel link

3/2/2015 05:53:50 am

I appreciate your specific example of how you used fictional mentor texts to help solve nonfiction problems.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:53:51 am

Anyone (or anything) can be a mentor and any book can be a mentor text. Inspiration and solutions are all around us. We just have to pay attention.

Kathy Cornell Berman

3/2/2015 05:57:47 am

Thanks for this helpful post. I am using FEATHERS as my mentor text for adding lyrical language to my nonfiction book. I love your book suggestions for adding layers to create more depth.

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:54:21 am

Thanks, Kathy.

Noel Csermak

3/2/2015 06:00:18 am

Thank you for the suggestions and I'm looking forward to adding even more mentor texts to the growing pile in my living room.

Val McCammon

3/2/2015 06:01:36 am

Love your points, Melissa, especially the way you note that studying mentor texts lets you/us see the next steps in our own manuscripts.

Mary McClellan

3/2/2015 06:24:14 am

My dream job was to write for Statler and Waldorf! Who knew they weren't just weisenheimers, but MENTORING weisenheimers! Thanks so much for these great tips. The reading/writing/learning quest continues!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:55:09 am

Wow, that's so cool, Mary.

Maria Laso

3/2/2015 06:35:36 am

Ann Whitford Paul advised us to type up mentor texts more than a decade ago. It's great for studying pacing and page turns too--type up the text first, then try to guess/remember where the page breaks go, then go back and check your work. We actually cut up a printout of a book text and pasted it into a dummy. It's beyond ILLUMINATING!

Melissa

3/2/2015 07:56:33 am

Yes, I should have mentioned how typing books out helps to get a sense of the best place for page turns. that's an important aspect of many nonfiction books--fiction or nonfiction.

Vivian Kirkfield link

3/2/2015 07:50:56 am

Sharing is caring...so thank you for caring so much, Melissa! Using mentor texts is such a simple concept...but the help they give writers is many-layered. :)

Laura Renauld

3/2/2015 07:55:38 am

I'm happy to put some of your books on my "to borrow" list! Thanks for suggesting ways to use published books to glean ideas for structure and tone.

Maria Gianferrari link

3/2/2015 08:06:25 am

Thanks, Melissa! Lots of great tidbits and advice here! I also really enjoyed reading the story of how No Monkeys, No Chocolate evolved, and the timeline, on your website. It just goes to show that writing picture books takes time, lots of attention to craft, and sometimes things just have to marinate a bit before we find the right voice and approach. Thanks for all of the great suggestions and mentor texts! I'm also a big fan of April Pulley Sayre's work. And Feathers is just stunning and so well done--congrats!

Melissa

3/2/2015 08:25:15 am

Thanks, Maria. YES! Marinate is the perfect word. My books seem to require a whole lot of it. Thinking and ruminating is 80 percent of writing.

Meridth Gimbel link

3/2/2015 08:48:24 am

Wonderful post! So many books to dissect and digest!

Christie Allred link

3/2/2015 09:43:49 am

The idea of mentor texts is fairly new to me, and I'm soaking it in. Thank you :)

Yvonne mes link

3/2/2015 10:00:53 am

Thanks Melissa, great post with some more great mentor text suggestions. I have based one of my PB on those grumpy Muppet men as well ;-)

Kaye Baillie link

3/2/2015 11:16:47 am

Opening up lots of new ideas, thanks, Melissa. Was only able to find 'Beaks' at the library, no luck with the others :(

Melissa

3/2/2015 11:44:34 pm

Kaye, you should try interlibrary loan, which allows you to borrow from other libraries in your region.

shirley johnson

3/2/2015 11:40:20 am

Great ideas! Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Maria Marshall

3/2/2015 11:43:38 am

Wonderful books! I love that the crotchety muppets were the inspiration for the bookworms. Great selection of mentor texts as well. Thank you for pulling us up as you go!

Suzy Leopold

3/2/2015 11:48:21 am

Thank you, Melissa for affirming that typing out entire texts is an excellent tool. Statler and Waldorf are two cool guys. Thank you for sharing how they helped you to share complex Science facts in a fun way. ~Suzy Leopold

Beth Anderson

3/2/2015 12:06:30 pm

Excellent! I love those 2 old guys! What great inspiration!

Meg Miller link

3/2/2015 12:16:24 pm

Great post Melissa, I've got some books to add to my library list. Thank you!! :D

Karen Brueggeman

3/2/2015 12:30:40 pm

Wonderful post and I love your 2 tips. I look forward to reading the books you mentioned. :)

Kristen Kirwan Browning

3/2/2015 01:07:32 pm

Thanks for the great advice. I look forward to reading these books and to learning different techniques for NF--especially that of adding several layers to the text.

Melissa

3/2/2015 11:46:14 pm

Layered text is becoming increasingly popular in science-themed picture books. There are lots of great examples.

Ann Kelley

3/2/2015 01:59:40 pm

Thanks for all the advice! I can't wait to get started researching the books you recommended for structured layers. Just what I was looking for!

Carrie Charley Brown

3/2/2015 02:34:32 pm

The interaction here is supercalafredilisticexpialidocious! Not gonna spell check that one...just gonna wing it! ReFoReMoers, you are doing GREAT! Keep it up! :)

Melissa

3/2/2015 11:46:54 pm

Love that word, Carrie.

Karen Nordseth Roos

3/2/2015 02:53:34 pm

I'm getting ready to attend my first SCBWI conference (SF/South), and will be going with an armload of mentor texts to keep me busy during down time! Thanks for this helpful post. :)

Damon Dean link

3/2/2015 04:03:55 pm

Melissa, one of the best things you ever shared was your timeline on the life of your No Monkey No Chocolate book. Helped me realize the process needed to produce a great book.
Looking forward to NF4NF in September to learn more from you.

Melissa

3/2/2015 11:47:53 pm

I'm so glad you like the timeline, Damon. I look forward to meeting you in September.

Keila Dawson link

3/2/2015 05:10:57 pm

Yes, yes for typing out mentor text in manuscript form. I really pay attention to page breaks when I do this. Love No Monkeys, No Chocolate and bringing in the funny guys to help digest the science is brilliant.

Myrna Foster link

3/2/2015 05:13:08 pm

Thanks for the tips! I love that you have nonfiction commentators based on Statler and Waldorf.

Kathy Phillips

3/2/2015 08:53:15 pm

Great post Melissa. I cant wait to get my hands on the books you mentioned :)

Mary Worley

3/3/2015 01:26:09 am

Thanks for a great list of NF to study and the reminder that inspiration can come from everywhere.

Bridget Magee link

3/3/2015 02:26:27 am

I love the book suggestions! NF is not my genre to write, but I do enjoy reading it. On second thought, it may inform my fiction as well. =)

Sandy Powell

3/3/2015 02:47:36 am

I love how you were inspired by the two old guys in the balcony from the Muppets. It's amazing where we can get ideas and inspiration.
Thanks for the post.

Janet Disotell

3/3/2015 03:22:21 am

Melissa, I love your two suggestions of how to get started as a writer. Mentor texts are definitely something I need to look into. Thank you for your insight.

JEN Garrett link

3/3/2015 03:22:33 am

I'm not an educator, but maybe I think like one. I knew when I wanted to be published that I needed to read books published by companies I would submit to. Of course I've read countless other PBs, but have always paid special attention to the flavor of recent publishers' books.

Sydney O'Neill

3/3/2015 04:15:39 am

I recently began typing mentor texts and it does help me see things that I might have missed without typing. Also, I like having the exact wording handy for reference.

Rene` Diane Aube

3/3/2015 11:16:02 am

Thank you for the great questions to ask myself as I use picture books as a mentor texts. I guess I'll have to start counting...since I didn't know I was supposed to over the past three years. Glad I know now :)

Helen Dening link

3/3/2015 01:45:48 pm

Melissa, thanks for the great tips. I'm checking out the list for layering texts--an area I need to explore more.

Juliann (Juli) Caveny

3/3/2015 02:18:57 pm

Great advice! Melissa, do you have a favorite author that you consider your biggest "mentor" when it comes to writing? I write MG more often than PB, but when ever I work on a project like this challenge, I find it funny that I tend to gravitate towards Patricia MacLachlan PB books, too! (She's definitely one of my top 5--all around!)

Darlene Frybarger

3/3/2015 02:19:22 pm

Thank you for your wonderful inspiration. I am going to start typing out texts of PBs with an eye towards understanding more about layering texts and the flow of PB stories.

Laurie J. Edwards link

3/3/2015 03:57:44 pm

So glad to see your info on nonfiction picture books, which is where my heart is.

Juliet Clare Bell link

3/4/2015 01:06:45 am

Thank you, Melissa. That was really useful. It's strange being over in the UK where there are so few of these true story picture books. Here's hoping we get the same increase that you've had over in the States (though we don't have your Common Core, so possibly not!). Still, I'm a huge fan of the nfpbs I've bought online from the States. Enjoy reforremo everyone. I completely missed it, somehow!
All the best, Clare.

Ann Magee

3/5/2015 05:31:42 am

Thanks for the post, Melissa. I, too, type out the text of books I admire and think would fit the "shape" of my manuscript--it really does work. I look forward to meeting you at the NF4NF Conference in September!

Debbie LaCroix link

3/5/2015 05:56:22 am

I'll often watch shows/cartoons for character inspiration to see how they interact. Now I need to watch more muppets. ;)
Thanks for sharing!

joanne sher link

3/5/2015 09:12:56 am

I have only typed out maybe. Half a dozen picturebooks, but, very one had helped. Probably need to do it more often. Fabulous post. Thanks a bunch!

B.J. Lee link

3/6/2015 04:00:27 am

interesting about the layering! Great post, Melissa!

Carrie Finison

3/6/2015 07:54:21 am

I'm glad you mentioned typing out the text of a published book. I do that a lot after reading the recommendation in Ann Whitford Paul's book and it is so helpful! Especially if I am not in the writing mood, it can help to jump start my writing. I just picked up Vulture View and No Monkeys No Chocolate at the library & will look forward to reading them!
Thank you!
PS. I met you a couple of years ago at a SCBWI luncheon - thanks for all you have done for New England SCBWI, too!

Kelley Lewis

3/6/2015 12:01:09 pm

Great advice - inspiration is everywhere!

Heather Pierce Stigall

3/7/2015 08:01:12 am

I agree -- joining SCBWI and reading mentor texts has worked wonders for me. I had read 1000s of PBs before joining SCBWI and will probably read 1000s more, but they can be so inspiring. Thanks for the post!

Sandy Perlic

3/7/2015 10:09:08 am

Great advice! I'm definitely checking out No Monkeys, No Chocolate - if you modeled part of it out of those crotchety old coots on the Muppet Show, you've sold me already. Thanks!

anita nolan link

3/8/2015 06:40:35 am

Great post, and great list. Thanks!

Denise Engle

3/8/2015 09:21:22 am

Melissa, I am so glad you endorsed SCBWI one more time in the world of writers. There are so many amazing resources available through SCBWI. I also appreciate your list of mentor texts. As a retired educator and English teachers, I cannot stress the value of reading 100's of books in the genre. Your post for us was great reading. Thank you!

Zainab

3/9/2015 05:08:52 pm

Thanks for the advice. I'm off to read 100 books in my genre.

Gina Silvester

3/10/2015 02:57:57 am

Interesting that mentor texts don't have to be texts at all. I am looking at things around me in a whole new way!

shereentv

3/12/2015 11:51:55 pm

I've been typing out the text of books to show page turns and including notes on the illustrations. It has been extremely helpful in analyzing different aspects of a book.

Carol Munro link

3/16/2015 12:41:24 pm

Great post! Since reading NO MONKEYS, NO CHOCOLATE sometime last year, I've been focused on adding layers to my mss. Your marginal bookworms were quite influential. And you're my biggest influence in my leaning toward writing NF for kids. Thanks!

Beth Gallagher

3/18/2015 01:42:09 am

Thanks for some wonderful advice, inspiration, and mentor examples! I'm really excited to delve right in. ;)

Jeanette Bradley

3/29/2015 10:46:19 pm

What a great list! And thank you for the insight on your process of crafting voice and structure in your books.

Amie Valore-Caplan

3/31/2015 05:35:04 am

Thank you for your great advice. Because of your suggestions, I've been paying attention to how authors (and book designers) handle layered text. And I've been enjoying reading some of your many wonderful nonfiction books!

ReFoReMo Day 2: Melissa Stewart Shares the Power of Mentor Texts

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