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Revealing ReFoReMo: Juliann Caveny Grows Stories from Seeds

5/3/2015

19 Comments

 
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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!

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“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.

19 Comments
Rachel Hamby link
5/5/2015 03:30:00 am

Thanks for sharing your experience, Juliann. I had a great experience too. Digging in and studying mentor texts is such a valuable, educational endeavor!

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 05:56:26 am

Such fun too!

Reply
Kirsti Call
5/5/2015 03:50:40 am

Thanks for a great post, Juliann. ReFoReMo is a great opportunity to really learn from the mentor texts that we are reading. I'm going to have to read some of the books that you mention!

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 05:58:59 am

My "boys" loved Weasels! The humor works! And Petite Rouge odd not to be missed!

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 08:04:41 am

(odd=is) Replying via phone this a.m. was tricky!

Sandy Powell
5/5/2015 03:55:52 am

The way you chose to read and look at picture books is pretty much the same way I choose them. I was wondering what did you do to narrow your selections so you could become a better reader and author? Thanks for taking the time to write the post. I really enjoyed it.

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 06:02:27 am

First pages.... Narrow down what you are focusing on in your own texts (voice, rhyme etc) and pull mentor text with those first. :)

Reply
Gabrielle Snyder
5/5/2015 05:02:51 am

Thanks for sharing this fantastic post, Juliann! I appreciated your specifics on of how these mentor texts helped you cultivate your own stories.

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 02:29:15 pm

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you get the opportunity to read through a few of these mentor texts. ("One Big Pair of Underwear" is simply fantastic for anyone looking for a repetitive structure...) ;)

Reply
Cassie Bentley
5/5/2015 07:09:21 am

Juliann, thank you for sharing the connections you make between the mentor texts and the stories you are working on.

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 02:24:01 pm

Read. Write. Repeat. :)

Reply
Manju Howard link
5/5/2015 08:16:05 am

Great post, Juliann! I agree that what works as a mentor text for one writer may not speak to another writer.

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/5/2015 02:20:39 pm

Recommendations are a great place to start. I've been known to look up a few "lists" of what to read, but it's always important to find what works for you!

Reply
Suzy Leopold
5/6/2015 03:41:45 am

And you, too, Juli, help me to plant the seeds for ideas and to grow and learn as a writer. I am thankful that we can blossom together as we share our love of reading, writing, creating and teaching with each other.

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/6/2015 04:33:20 pm

Missed you Monday, Suzy! I can never over-emphasize the power of critique groups/partners. Writers can not survive in this crazy world alone... :)

Reply
maria gianferrari link
5/6/2015 06:22:29 am

Weasels looks so funny--I have to get our library to order that one, since they don't yet have it.

And I love Kevan's Bunnies!!! It's very sweet.

Thanks, Juli & Carrie!

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/6/2015 04:37:28 pm

Recently, I brought up "Weasels" to my mother as well. (She's an author/illustrator.) The silly little weasels in lab coats running around in the jammed-packed illustrations adds to the silliness! I hope you enjoy it!

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Jilanne Hoffmann
5/6/2015 07:27:46 am

Interesting insight into how you methodically "use" mentor texts. Thanks for giving us a peek into your process.

Reply
Juli Caveny
5/6/2015 04:40:53 pm

Hope you've found it helpful! It took nearly a month to get me to that point. (You should see how I'm digging into nonfiction at the moment. My head is spinning!)

Reply



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