SOL #2
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I am a writer. This takes courage to say, and dedication to make it true. I have been working on a middle grade novel for a while. I started it in Teachers Write in 2012. If you are a teacher who writes, put this on your list of summer activities. Led by Kate Messner and featuring many wonderful authors, it’s the best writing camp ever.
So now that I am writing, my reading is pretty much confined to middle grade novels. This week I read Augusta Scattergood’s newest novel, The Way to Stay in Destiny. I had the pleasure of meeting Augusta at NCTE in the fall. We were fast friends. We made an easy connection since we both grew up in Mississippi, and we have people in common. The south is all about who’s your momma, who’s your daddy. Nevertheless, her books are as friendly as she is.
I had a favorite great aunt who we all called Sister, so I was particularly drawn to the character of Miss Sister. Miss Sister runs the Rest Easy (and a dance studio) where Theo is staying with his uncle, a Vietnam veteran. Miss Sister finds talent in Theo and encourages his piano playing. Theo’s uncle is full of anger that Theo’s piano playing exacerbates. Eventually, the uncle works through his anger, thank goodness, and comes to love Theo.
You can find an interview with Augusta Scattergood at Caroline Starr Rose’s blog here.
As a writer, I noticed some things about Augusta’s writing. In each chapter she includes inner thinking by the main character. This inner thinking keeps the reader on track by giving you a semi-synopsis from Theo’s head.
After school the next day, I sit on the Rest Easy’s front porch glider waiting for Anabel. Pushing away what my uncle said about moving, about my name, and about my parents, I stare at the heat rippling off the street. It’s hard not to turn into a sweat ball in Florida. (Ch. 13, p. 82)
After noticing this again and again, I went to my work in progress (WIP) to find a place that I could put in inner thinking/summarizing. Revision can be tedious, but when you are working with a book you like and using a technique you feel confident in, it becomes more like playing. How could I review the previous chapter in a natural way? Here’s my teaser from Sunshine.
Before we leave for Mae Mae’s house, I call Momma to do my daily check in. I tell her all about Sunshine’s new adopted egg, how Ms. Fullilove brought over a fertilized one from Mr. Jim, even about how Harmony will help tend to Sunshine, but I leave out the details about Harmony’s homelessness. I’m not sure yet what she might say. I think it best to tell her face-to-face.
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King
I am taking time to read more carefully, to be aware of what authors do to draw me in. I am reading like a writer.
Reflections on the Teche 
I loved that you shared your process and your excerpt, Margaret! I also really appreciate the validation that you give to the confinement of my reading. It’s hard to explain to everyone that I rarely read anything but middle grade fiction when I am writing. All of your writing always has such a clear and shining voice.
I love having a “clear and shining voice.” You are wind, you know that?
Margaret, you continue to be a brave writer. You put out for all of us your process and your fears and you inspire. Thank you.
~Deborah
Brave as in my OLW Reach…trying!
The power of mentor texts! I want to share this with my students – this is exactly what we mean when we advise them to read like writers. You never know where one writer’s craft move can help your own writing.
I was having a discussion this morning with one of my students. I pointed a craft move out in a book she was reading. She said, “Hey, I’m gonna try that!” Love these conversations.
Thanks, Margaret-
One of the hardest things for me to learn 13 years ago when I left my school library job was to read like a writer. ( It may be more fun to read like a reader!) But I learned so much from great middle-grade fiction. Your post today really delighted me, and i appreciate your reading THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY.
Have a super week! Augusta
I would love to have a writer to writer conversation some time.
Beautiful advice, and I enjoyed seeing both the pieces, Margaret. Your book’s character already has a strong voice! I have Augusta’s book since my conference, know I need to read it! Hope it’s soon. Thanks for this good post about reading/writing.
I am always telling kids that reading makes you a better writer and here is the proof. Thanks for sharing.
This is a mentor post. You and the readers of you blog astound me. I love how you provided a snapshot of what you sort through as a writer, a synopsis of a book, background on your relationship with Scattergood, AND how to use a mentor text. All in a slice. Sheesh….
Thank you so much for this perspective of your writing process. I have contemplated writing after I retire in a year or so, but I find that sometimes reading superb middle grade fiction is intimidating. You’ve opened my eyes to how it can be inspirational.
This is wonderful! I just heard Penny Kittle talk about this very thing at OCTELA this past weekend. She talks about bringing in mentor texts – poems, articles, essays, excerpts from novels, etc., to talk with students about reading like writers. Today, I used a couple slices to talk about craft and structure with my students. I noticed a lot of them weren’t paragraphing, so I wanted to show them decisions I made on my first slice. I think it’s really fun to read like a writer. Sometimes it’s just a matter of reminding yourself to do that. I loved The Way to Stay in Destiny. Your teaser definitely makes me want to read more!!
I suppose even reading “not so good writing” is going to help even. Shouldn’t it help you know where you don’t want to go?
Loved your “inner thinking” addition. I need to go read some more.
I just met Augusta at ALA last month and she was wonderful. I loved The Way to Stay in Destiny.
Thank You for giving us a peek at your process. It is amazing what we discover when we read like a writer and write like a reader.
That is so true. Thanks for sharing your study. One piece of advice I keep hearing – read at least a 100 books in the genre you want to write.
You never cease to amaze me. Tomorrow I have a post about wanting to be like the cool kids. Margaret, you are a “cool kid” and I want to be like the cool kids when it comes to writing. I just received this book today from the giveaway I won. Can’t wait to read it.
This is such a wise post, Margaret! I love how you wove Augusta Scattergood’s technique into your writing. I’ve been reading picture books differently over the past few weeks. There is so much to learn!
Margaret, I love “reading like a writer”. That idea has stayed with me since I read Katie Wood Ray’s Wondrous Words. Augusta Scattergood won me over with Glory Be. She has a wonderful style, and I like that you saw enough of yourself and your character in her writing that you felt you could “try on” one of her techniques. It sounds like it is working for you! Keep on writing– that book will come! 🙂
Hi there Margaret – I love how your reading informs your writing. I thoroughly agree with Stephen King – whenever I hear questions from parents about how they can turn their kids into writers, I tell them that they first have to be readers. Those two things form the heart and soul of any narrative. 🙂