Mentor Texts for Writers 2015: Guest Posts
On Tuesdays, I will be feature a new series for a few months in 2015. I love to see how other writers use mentor texts to help them become better writers. I have some amazing writers who are doing guest posts to tell us how they use mentor texts! I hope this will give you (and me) some tips for how to use mentor texts. It will give us a glimpse into others’ writing process.
Mentor Texts I’m Using Right Now
The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse by Patricia MacLachlan
What Forest Knows by George Ella Lyon
Both are lyrical. Both are spare in text. Both are “quiet” books, but they are just the kind of book I love. I want to really study what sets these books apart. Of course, they are written by two amazing veteran writers. But they are standouts. The writing is excellent.
How I’m Using Them
I’m typing the texts outs. I want to study what they look like on the white page—without all of the illustrations. I want to see how these writers constructed beautiful poems that became fully illustrated 32 page picture books. When I see the book as a manuscript (just words on a page), it helps me to really see how the book was written.
Join Us!
Are you a writer who uses mentor texts to help you become a better writer? Do you want to do a guest post on how you use them? I still have spots for Tuesdays in 2015. E-mail me (marcie AT marcieatkins DOT com) and I will put you on the schedule.
