In Your Own Words

 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). 

Through a series of numbered and easy to understand statements with accompanying and expanded hints and animated illustrations, this duo makes a map aspiring writers will enjoy following.  In fact, this will be a quest they'll embrace over and over again. 

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.

The Ritual of Reading

When I first hold a new book in my hands, no matter the format, I remove the dust jacket and open it up.  I look at the layout, design and palette used, flap edge to flap edge.  Next I look at the book case to see if it matches the dust jacket.  If it's anything but a picture book the color and texture generally have significance.  There might be a single element embossed on the front.  Lifting the cover I check the endpapers in the front and at the back.  As soon as I pass the title page, verso and dedication pages, whether the words are written or not, I think Once upon a time.

Every reader has their own personal approach for beginning a new book.  A recent release, How To Read A Story (Chronicle Books, May 5, 2015) written by Kate Messner with illustrations by Mark Siegel includes all the little intimate details, in a series of steps, making reading the pleasure it can and should be.  They recognize a great deal of the fun comes before holding the book in your hands.

STEP 1
FIND A STORY.
A good one.
It can have princesses and castles,
if you like that sort of thing,
or witches and trolls
(As long as they're not too scary.)

As any resident of life will know, many experiences when shared are much better.  It is the same with reading a book.  Although the choices are varied, it all comes down to finding a buddy who is most comfortable with you and you with them.  The only thing more meaningful is perhaps revisiting step one together.

And just like real estate tycoons say, location, location, location is as important as a good story and a cozy companion.  Be sure to select a special spot; preferably one where you can remain for as long as necessary.  Now take a good look at the unopened book.  Everything there tells a tiny tale.

There are specific things to remember when reading aloud; clarity and intonation go hand in hand.  Don't pig the pictures.  Remember to share the pages with your pal.

Pacing is essential to enjoyment; savoring the words and piecing them together to form questions and to seek answers.  As the conclusion nears and emotions heighten, be ready for whatever the author and illustrator have planned.  You and your friend are in this together until the very end.  (If step one has been followed, a group will have gathered to surround you both.)


Kate Messner has demonstrated her versatility as an outstanding author repeatedly; moving from pictures books Over and Under the Snow and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt to a young readers series culminating (to date) in Marty McGuire Has Too Many Pets, a middle grade series Capture The Flag, Hide And Seek and Manhunt, a middle grade level novel All The Answers and for slightly older readers, a science fiction thriller, Wake Up Missing to name a few.  It is easy for me to picture her seated in a circle with a group of children, a smile in her eyes and on her lips, speaking the words of this book, casually but committed, with love in her heart.  She wants new readers to be put at ease but also wants the experience of story to be memorable.  Each of these steps is identified but expanded in ways close to young people's lives.  Here is another sample passage.

... Make sure your reading buddy is nice and snuggly.
And make sure you both like the book.
If you don't agree...go back to Step 1.
Sometimes it takes a few tries to find just the right book.


Look at all the choices the young main character and his reading buddy have spread before them on the matching dust jacket and book case.  Their body postures are relaxed but ready for exploration.  On the back, to the left, the blue and white is used in a pattern of wide stripes.  The use of primary and complimentary colors (here and throughout the book) sends the intended audience an open arms welcome.  On both sets of endpapers two shades of yellow are striped on the pages, as is the pattern on the boy's reading chair.

Rendered in ink and watercolor, Mark Siegel brings a spirited quality to all the pictures.  A crisp white background supplies the perfect canvas to highlight his artwork.  Each of the steps is written in red.  Like the boy and his blue dog, the text and illustrations work in partnership.  The facial features and body positions are filled with humor; sure to illicit laughter more than once.  Siegel alters placement and size of his visuals appropriately to enhance the narrative.

One of my many favorite illustrations is of the boy and his dog trying to find a special spot for reading.  In this setting they are outside in the winter on a wooden deck.  They are both seated in a pale green Adirondack chair bundled in hats, mittens, a coat, a scarf and blanket.  (The dog only has on a hat.) The dog's eyes are closed in listening silence as the boy reads.  A cup of something hot is steaming on the chair arm.


Everyone, young and old, is going to appreciate this uplifting guide, How To Read A Story written by Kate Messner with illustrations by Mark Siegel.  Each reader and listener can see themselves in this book.  It's a charming conversation about something ordinary and extraordinary which will last your whole life.

For more information about Kate Messner and Mark Siegel please follow the links attached to their names to access personal and informative websites.