
The conscious use of mentor texts is a new part of the journey for me. ReForWhat?! I thought when my friend Maria first mentioned the challenge to me last February. I had no idea what a mentor text was until the moment that I signed up. I had already written four picture books by then including my newest book: Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit
Anytime
I’m near a store selling children’s books, I’m sucked in as powerfully
as if I went too close to the event horizon of a black hole. It is an
unstoppable force for me because reading great picture books is my happy
space. But, I have never poured through them as voraciously, or
studied and analyzed them as deeply as I was inspired to do last March
when I joined the ReFoReMo challenge.
My
process has been to avoid reading picture books while writing them, so I
am not subconsciously influenced by another writer's work, especially
on a similar topic. I want my writing to flow organically and without
analysis first. Then I get in several rounds of edits. When my
manuscript feels grounded, then I’m ready to pick up picture books
again.
As a kid, I read piles and piles of Peanuts books. After I wrote Planet Kindergarten,
I realized that the voice of Charlie Brown (no relation right Carrie?)
had influenced the voice of my hero ranting about his feelings of
inadequacy and failure. But unlike Charlie Brown, those rants turn into
empowerment for my kindernaut character - "Failure is not an option!"
While I did not seek these out as mentor texts, I consider them
retro-mentor texts that were filed away in my mental library from
childhood.

Planet Kindergarten was a guide for Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit to make sure the
story elements and NASA inspired dialogue carried over into my newest
book. I also used Even Superheroes Get Diabetes to remind myself to
keep it short (my first book was over 1200 words and way too long). So,
if one can self-mentor text, I did that too.

I
still plan to wait until I have written my story to read similar
topics. But my new plan is to keep reading while writing. Bring on the
next ReFoRemo!
Thanks, Sue,and happy launch day for Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit!
Registration for the third annual ReFoReMo 2017 opens February 12! Will you read and research along with us?
Thanks, Sue,and happy launch day for Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit!
Registration for the third annual ReFoReMo 2017 opens February 12! Will you read and research along with us?
Sue Ganz-Schmitt is the author of: Planet Kindergarten, Planet Kindergarten: 100 Days in Orbit, The Princess and the Peanut: A Royally Allergic Fairytale, and Even Superheroes Get Diabetes.
She is co-founder of an AIDS orphanage in Haiti, produces children's
musical theater, performed in RENT on Broadway, and has been a NASA
Social Media correspondent.
Thanks for sharing your process, Sue! I can't wait to read your books because I also teach kindergarten.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a joy to teach the little ones, isn't it, Tina?! I loved Planet Kindergarten and can't wait to read the sequel.
DeleteFun post--I think it's fun to look back and analyze what influenced our writing even *before* we were actively looking for texts to be mentored from. Congrats on all your pbs!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. It is fun to look back and discover those influences that you didn't consciously realize were impacting your writing.
DeleteSue, makes sense to not read any picture books while in the course of writing them. I did that too for a while but for me, I was just getting started in writing the stories. You had already published some and knew what worked. I am getting closer to the stage of being published and what has helped me is to read as many pb's as I can and show myself what worked or didn't work for me in the book which has helped me tremendously in finding what is not working in my own during revision.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the fantastic work with your books, I love PLANET KINDERGARTEN, and it was one of the mentor texts I used for one of my stories.
Wow! You just made my launch day even more meaningful Traci. I look forward to using one of your books for my mentor text! ReFoReMo is such a great place to accelerate your writing skills. I have learned so much here. Great to be part of this community with you :)
DeleteThanks for the pointers, Sue :). I also try not to read while drafting. Once I have something in place, then I may seek out similar ideas and concepts. Congrats on your books!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Maria! There are so many different ways to get to the same place, but I am loving the process of discovering new tools and devices and I have found at ReFoRemo!
DeleteI adore your books, Sue. Thanks for sharing your process and ways that mentor texts have influenced your writing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you Kirsti and Carrie for this informative and nurturing community you have created! ReFoReMo rocks more than moon rocks!
DeleteIt rocks so much more with you in it, Sue! Thank you for being part of mentor text love!
DeleteWhat a great idea for a book! We loved celebrating 100 days when I was teaching kindergarten! Can't wait to read it! Happy writing! Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Angie. I have you have fun with the journey! How lucky to have taught kindergartners. What a happy universe!
DeleteIt's always interesting to see the stew from which new books are made. Thanks for sharing your process!
ReplyDeleteStew indeed Jiilanne - Planet Kindergarten began cooking when I was in kindergarten and loved watching the NASA rocket launches! Funny how it bubbled up over the years and became a book.
DeleteCongratulations, Sue! I know this will be another fantastic book to go with my copy of the first Planet Kindergarten!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Dow. I have cleared some space on my shelf and am waiting for your new books. Can't wait to celebrate together next time I see you my friend!
DeleteRead your own work as a self-mentor text! Brilliant idea! Congrats on the newest Planet Kinder. Greaat post.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your support Kathy. It put a smile in my day!
DeleteThank you, Sue, for sharing your process. Congrats on your latest book. I'm looking forward to reading it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Charlotte! I hope you have had the chance to have a look at it.
ReplyDelete