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A Writer's Notebook Read, Read, Read Read Like a Writer Create Your Own Story Character Books For the Young Writer |
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Lola is hosting a literature conference for teachers, librarians, parents, and writers of all ages on November 2, 2007 at Unicoi State Park in Helen GA. Its title is Voices in Children's Literature. The following day - November 3 - is a writers' intensive entitled Wordworks for people who do or would like to write for children. Details can be found at: www.voicesinchildrensliterature.com |
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| Congratulations! You write or you want to write. It’s a life-long journey that will bring you great satisfaction. You must already realize that you have stories, poems, and ideas that you want to share with others. Or maybe you keep a journal just for yourself. Either way, you’re taking time from the busyness of life to be a thinker. That’s one of the gifts of writing – it creates a calm in the everyday rush. |
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A Writer’s Notebook Writers jot notes to themselves all the time. Many keep a writer’s notebook with them –in the backyard, at school, in the car, or by their beds. You can put bits and pieces in your notebook – words, photos, names, movie stubs, quotations, cartoons, headlines, book titles, sketches, dreams, characters, lines of poems – any scrap that you may use someday to begin or include in a piece of writing. Ralph Fletcher, a well-known author and speaker, has written a helpful book for young writers entitled A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. If you’re interested in keeping a literary scrapbook, a tool chest of ideas for future writing, you need to read his book. When you read through your own notebook, you might see many similar entries. That’s probably because you have a special interest. Run with it! Use your familiarity with a place, a person, or an activity to be a solid support as you begin planning your piece. Most often, authors write what they know and care about. If you’re a great soccer player, you might choose to set a story or poem at a soccer game. After all, you know soccer lingo, how a game is played, and the needed concentration and determination. Your story or poem will be authentic because of your knowledge and experience. If you’re a budding naturalist, someone who studies and enjoys plants, animals, and the great outdoors, then your writing might be filled with precise descriptions and actions of life at the pond. This could become an information piece, or the setting for a story, poem, or playful concept. Once you’re in the habit of using a writer’s notebook, you will want to read: Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer’s Notebook by Aimee Buckner. This author shows how the notebook can become a living organ that breathes life into a writer’s process. Aimee explains how a notebook can indeed be a writer’s best friend.  |
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Read, Read, Read! Most writers are avid readers. That makes sense. Reading leads us into an appreciation of the power of words. And those words offer a connection to authors and the emotions of their experiences. A habit of reading provides rich vocabulary, natural pacing, purposeful dialogue, believable characters, and logical plot development. Never, ever stop reading. To write well, one must read well. Children and adults are always asking me, "What’s your favorite children’s book?" I have hundreds. But I will list a few of my favorites here as seeds for our own web page library. Picture Books the dot by Peter H. Reynolds Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles The Girl on the High-Diving Horse by Linda Oatman High If You Were Born a Kitten by Marion Dane Bauer My Name is Georgia by Jeanette Winter Night Noises by Mem Fox Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root One Is a Snail, Ten Is A Crab by April Pulley Sayre One Small Blue Bead by Byrd Baylor Owen by Kevin Henkes Thesaurus Rex by Laya Steinberg Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert Poetry Doodle Dandies by J. Patrick Lewis Flicker Flash by Joan Bransfield Graham Fresh Paint: New Poems by Eve Merriam Give Yourself to the Rain: Poems for the Very Young by Margaret Wise Brown I’m Small by Lilian Moore A Lucky Thing by Alice Schertle Small Talk: A Book of Short Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Splash: Poems of Our Watery World by Constance Levy When Riddles Come Rumbling by Rebecca Kai Dotlich Easy Readers or Early Chapter Books Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler Fox At School by James Marshall The Golly Sisters Go West by Betsy Byars Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park Minnie and Moo by Denys Cazet Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat Night of the Full Moon by Gloria Whelan Chapter Books or Novels The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia DeFelice Baby by Patricia MacLachlan Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Hear the Wind Blow by Mary Downing Hahn Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos The Land by Mildred Taylor Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt Jumping the Scratch by Sarah Weeks Whenever you read a good book, pass it to a friend. Then, the two of you can talk about your favorite parts. A book’s enjoyment doubles when you share it with a friend. |
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Read Like A Writer For many years I watched my own classroom students read like writers. All that means is that a writer goes back and rereads favorite books to see how the author handled specific craft elements. For instance, one of author Cynthia Rylant’s strengths is that she creates characters who have their own distinct voices. As a writer, go back and read passages from The Relatives Came, Missing May, A Fine White Dust, or The Van Gogh Cafe. Study how this author fleshes out character with what they do, think and say. Some authors have a knack for creating suspense in their writing. Mary Downing Hahn does an excellent job of this in Promises to the Dead, Wait Till Helen Comes, and The Doll in the Garden. Notice, as you read her books, the spots where you get nervous or worry about the main character. Are there places where you dread what’s going to happen next? Are you ever surprised by the story? If you’re a writer who would like to capture the humor in everyday life, read James Marshall. He was a master at poking fun at our silly behaviors through his characters. Read and reread his easy readers about Fox to see how he used simple settings and dialogue to create humor. Several titles are: Fox and His Friends, Fox on the Job, Fox Outfoxed, Fox on Stage, and Fox in Love. He also used his gift for humor in his George and Martha books, as well as The Cut-ups. Read to see how other authors create compelling leads, write hopeful endings, provide a sense of setting, and create believable characters. And don’t be surprised if you notice something new every time you pick up the same book and read like a writer. |
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Create Your Own Story Character Strong fiction begins with a character that breathes life into the story. Many writers spend a good deal of time creating a character that is believable and likable. If you enjoy writing fiction, this exercise may help you birth a character that will live through many stories. You can start in one of two ways. Some writers like to "see" their character first. They go through magazines, catalogs, or photo albums looking for a picture of the type of character that they imagine. Then they add written details to form a personality. Other writers start with the written profile. Later, they sketch their own idea of what the character looks like, or find a picture that matches their vision. For the written profile, start by asking yourself these questions and jotting an answer next to each: |
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Is your character a girl or boy? How old is this person? Where does he/she live? Does he/she have a pet? Does he/she have brothers or sisters? Does he/she have athletic ability? Does your character make friends easily? Would he/she rather be in a large group of people or with one good friend? Where’s his/her favorite place to go to be alone? Does your character have a particular piece of clothing that he/she always wears? What is something that he/she can do well? If your character is a student, what grade is he/she in? What subject does he/she like best? What subject does he/she dislike the most? Why? Does your character have a pet phrase that he/she likes to say? What talent does he/she have? Does he/she use this talent? How? Is your character’s best friend a person or an animal? Name one flaw of this person’s personality. (shy, procrastinates, bossy, takes the easy way out, show-off, worries too much, doesn’t think for herself, argumentative, etc.) What part of his/her personality is most positive? (dependable, honest, helpful, compassionate, responsible, plans ahead, friendly, polite, confident, etc.) What one thing would he/she change about himself/herself? What was the last thing that caused this person to be afraid? Is there something that this character needs to be healthier or happier? Why doesn’t this character have this something now? What does this character do for fun? What made him/her laugh last? When this person prepares lunch, what does he/she make? How tall is he/she? What color of hair does he/she have? Does this person have any unusual physical markings? When was the last time this person was afraid? Why? What does this person do when he/she is afraid? How does this person’s face look when he/she smiles? What color eyes does he/she have? If you had to give a nickname to this character, what might it be? Why did you select that nickname? What was the last thing that made this character unhappy? Why? Now, you can add your own questions to flesh out this character even more. When your list is complete, you may want to go back and change some answers since the character is now taking shape in your mind. You want a character that makes sense, that seems believable. Even if she is a space alien, the reader has to be able to identify with her on a personal level. Now, tuck everything you know about this character into your memory, and plan your story. The reader will hear very little of this information. But because you now know your character, you will be able to write what he says, does, or thinks in almost any situation. All that’s left is a name. Writers like to give their characters unusual names that fit their personalities. If you want some good ideas, pick up several picture books or novels and make a list of interesting names. Some writers open a telephone or baby book and scan the pages, sometimes mixing and matching until they find names that suit their characters. To launch a story, look back over your character profile for the personality flaw, need, fear, dislikes, or desired changes. From one of these answers you can create a problem that will cause conflict or struggle for your character. Once you have a character and a problem, you're ready to write. Good luck! |
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Books for the Young Story Writer These three books will offer you more help in developing character and plot for your own stories. Our Stories: A Fiction Workshop for Young Authors by Marion Dane Bauer, Clarion Books. Teaching Narrative Writing by Lola M. Schaefer, Scholastic Professional Books What’s Your Story? A Young Person’s Guide to Writing Fiction by Marion Dane Bauer, Clarion Books. Books for the Young Poet Poems From the Homeroom: A Writer's Place to Start by Kathi Appelt Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets by Paul B. Janeczko |
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