Readers, regardless of how often or how long they read, base what they read on personal preferences. They want to be captivated, engaged, and interested whether their choice is fiction or nonfiction. If they are intrigued by a subject, they will seek every source to quell their thirst for information. If they prefer one genre or format over another, they will read favorite titles repeatedly. A reader knows what keeps their reader's heart beating.
Consequently, when you write, it will be fueled by those subjects, genres or formats you find most appealing. In a companion title to How To Read A Story (Chronicle Books, May 5, 2015) author Kate Messner and illustrator Mark Siegel collaborate again to bring us How To Write A Story (Chronicle Books, July 7, 2020).
STEP 1
SEARCH FOR AN IDEA---
a shiny one.
Sometimes, an idea will land right in front of you. Other times, you need to think a bit. You don't have to be thrilled with the idea or even know anything about it, but it is perfectly fine if it is one of your life's passions. Remember, don't worry if your idea is not shiny in the beginning.
Once you have your idea, you need to determine where this idea will be placed and when it will grow. Will it be at your soccer field at the stroke of midnight? Your main character can be anyone you desire, but for the story to continue they should be presented with a problem. It can be a little challenge or one that's out of this world. Whatever your character needs to overcome, make it as full of action as possible.
Many times, when you read a book, it is like watching a movie in your mind. This is the type of descriptive detail you should have in your writing. The next thing to remember is no story is rarely in its final form when first written. It needs to be refined. What will you do to make it better?
As you read through your story multiple times, look for grammatical and spelling errors. Is this the kind of story which will captivate, engage, and interest you? Dazzle potential readers with a memorable title. The true test of your story is to share it with others. Share it with your dog, your best friend, or a group of listeners. You know what you need to do now.
STEP 1
Not only is author Kate Messner prolific, but her ability to pen a book for a wide audience is masterful. Whether she is writing fiction or nonfiction, picture books or young adult novels, she meticulously presents a thoughtful and well-researched narrative. In this title, her ten steps are strengthened with conversational suggestions having allure for numerous young authors (older authors, also). Her advice inspires possibilities, provides examples, and encourages exploration. Here is an additional passage.
STEP 3
CHOOSE A MAIN CHARACTER
That's the person who grows and
changes the most as the story unfolds.
You can brainstorm and draw your
main character if you want. . . .
The character on the front of the matching dust jacket and book case is contentedly focused on her writing. It is clear she has already received guidance on how to write a story. Spread before her are several pages for one story or the beginnings of several stories. It's as if she has written down the musings of her mind. Many of the elements are varnished. To the left, on the back, the golden color shown at the top of the front is used to fashion yellow and white vertical stripes. This is a playful, lighthearted design.
On the opening and closing endpapers, and verso page, two hues of pink supply another vertical stripe pattern. On the title page, to the right and next to some of the text, is a stack of materials used by writers, notebooks, sticky notes, and a pencil. The colors and motif on the back of the jacket and case and endpapers is used again in the clothing of the main character.
Rendered
in ink and watercolor
these illustrations by Mark Siegel extend the text in cheerful depictions of setting and featured humans and animals. There are charcoal gray squirrels in most of the images, either in a natural setting or as humorous extra characters. When the girl is thinking, colorful speech clouds hold her thoughts. Readers of the first title will be pleased to see the return of two members of that book's cast. The illustration size is either bold, two-page pictures or spirited full-page images.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a single-page picture. It is enhancing the words:
or something a bit more adventurous . . .
In large capital letters in light purple we read:
SEA
MONSTER HATCHES
IN CITY AQUARIUM!
These words run into a large, angry and hungry-looking orange monster with spikes, long claws and huge teeth. It is half in and half out of the aquarium water with frightened fish and seaweed visible. Two visitors to the aquarium in a darker shade of blue (against the turquoise of the water) are running away and screaming with their hands stretched out for speed and in fright.
This title, How To Write A Story written by Kate Messner with illustrations by Mark Siegel, is a valuable and entertaining asset for writers at every stage of development. It's clarity, purpose and charming images combine to make it a stellar choice for your personal or professional libraries. You might want to pair this book with Peter H. Reynolds' The Word Collector or Rocket Writes A Story by Tad Hills.
To discover more about Kate Messner and Mark Siegel and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their respective websites. Kate Messner has accounts on Facebook, Instagram (private), and Twitter. Mark Siegel has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. At the publisher's website you can view interior images. Kate Messner wrote a guest post at author Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations and at School Library Journal about writing. Kate Messner is interviewd at educator Katherine Sokolowski's Read Write Reflect and LitWorld.
No comments:
Post a Comment