Ten Mentor Texts to Inspire Your Writing
What are mentor texts?
Mentor texts are models for writers, well-done examples of specific writing skills that authors can use to learn how to become better writers.
Whatever areas upon which you feel you could improve as a writer, finding a mentor text to inspire and teach you is always a great idea. First, know your target audience and read the kinds of books that you feel will reach that audience. After that, whether you want help with character development, plot and story arc, pace, voice, dialogue, structure, tense, point of view, or world-building, find the books that feature the specific skills you’re looking for and read as many as you can.
Here are ten recommendations:
Picture Books:
The Napping House by Audrey Wood. Cumulative text, humor, story arc.
Plants Fight Back by Lisa Amstutz. Humorous, rhyming nonfiction with sidebars and a gold mine of information for the school curriculum.
teaches math skills.
Ah-Choo! by Lana Wayne Koehler and Gloria G. Adams. Interactive, rhyme, repetition, story arc,
teaches empathy.
Chapter Books:
The Zoe and Sassafras series by Asia Citro. Relatable characters, story arc, dialogue, voice,
how to write a series.
The Cody series by Tricia Springstubb. Relatable characters, life lessons, dialogue, voice, story arc, how to write a series.
Middle Grade:
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. Fantasy, character development, voice, world-building.
Young Adult:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Social/political issues, strong character development, suspense, world building, writing a series
Here’s a tip from the writers at Journeytokidlit.com: “Try typing out the full story or 1st chapter to get a better sense of what it was like to be the writer of the book. It will help you learn word choice, sentence structure, and voice.”
TEN BEST SUBMISSION PRACTICES
By Kate Carroll
In today’s tight publishing market, submissions are serious business. It's vital to tailor your work for an exact fit. Kid lit professionals would love to uncover the next big hit, and with a little work, yours may be the story that gets their attention. Look at this list to give your manuscript the best chance at being seen.
1. Know your audience. Be sure you study what the agent or publisher is looking for, and submit only if your manuscript is a match.
2. Follow the submission instructions provided by the agent/publisher exactly. They streamline their requirements so that they can assess as many manuscripts as possible - which is to your benefit. If they are bogged down with material that isn’t formatted to their liking, it takes away precious time. Bottom line: If you don’t follow the rules, don’t expect to play.
3. Never use a question to begin your pitch. It is overdone and a guaranteed pass.
4. Manners always matter. Submitting is like interviewing for a job. Bring your very best attitude and demeanor to your cover letter.
5. If your manuscript is over the word count for your genre, think twice, no, three times about sending it out. The economy of words matters. Make each word work in your story or toss it!
6. Use a formal salutation in your letter to an agent/editor. Include his/her correct name! Research the right person for your book genre and interest. Sending a PB to a YA agent/editor only takes time away from the readers and doesn’t help you at all. In fact, it could have a negative impact for future submissions.
7. Do not query too soon after submitting a project. Give an agent/editor time to evaluate your work in and among the many tasks they do each day. Websites usually indicate how long it takes for an agent/editor to respond to a submission. After that time, and only after that time should you reach out again.
8. Never sit back after making a submission. Move on to your next project.
9. Be humble. Your best friend or your mom may have told you how wonderful your work is, but the industry professionals prefer to make their own decision!
10. Be open to rejection. It is a huge part of acceptance in the world of publishing.
TEN MUST-HAVE BOOKS
Informative resources to support you throughout your journey as a children’s writer.
1. Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands On Guide From Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul
2. Writing For Children and Teens, A Crash Course, By Cynthea Liu
3. How to write a Children’s Book and Get It Published by Barbara Seuling
4. Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market, 33rd Edition, Newly Revised Guide and Update
5. The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl Klein
6. Queries, Pitches & Proposal by Moira Allen
7. Children’s Writer’s Word Book, 2nd edition, by Alijandra Mogilner
8. How to Write a Children’s Picture Book, Tips and Tricks For Writing Illustrated Picture Books for Kids by Darcy Pattison
9. Writing Irresistible Picture Books, Insider Insights into Crafting Compelling Modern Stories for Young Readers by Mary Kole
10. Writing Irresistible Picture Books Workbook: Guidance, Checklists, Worksheets, and Reading Lists to Go from Theory to Practice by Mary Kole
TEN REASONS TO LOVE WRITING FOR CHILDREN
Here are ten reasons to love writing for kids.
1. We can explore our own creativity. We can write anything from picture books to poetry to chapter books. Along the way, we can let our imaginations run wild. Will it be make-believe? humor? mystery? We have the freedom to write about anything we choose and to unleash our creativity while doing so.
2. We can create new characters and get to know them. Anything can become a character – a scarecrow, a car, a dog, a person. The choices are unlimited. As we choose our characters and develop character sketches for them, we get to endow them with all sorts of traits which can be important in the story. Sometimes these characters even try to take over the story – which leads to even more creativity.
3. We can shut out the outside world and get lost in our own mind. As we develop our stories, we can play with structure and plot and shape our stories in any way we want. We can play around with different ideas until we discover the one that brings us satisfaction.
4. We can get back in touch with our own childhood. Remembering people and incidents which impressed us as we were growing up can provide fodder for stories. Sharing some of our interests or personal history might help today’s children make sense of their world.
5.
We get to hone our craft and improve our skills.
Through all the steps of the writing process, we can become better writers.
Whether editing, rewriting, or wordsmithing, we grow in our knowledge of what
works and what does not. By attending workshops and joining critique groups, we learn from
others. Applying what we learn helps us perfect our stories so they are just right.
6. We grow and learn as we write for kids. As we do research about time periods or search for information needed for nonfiction, we absorb many helpful facts and are exposed to new ideas which just might lead to that next great story.
7. We have the opportunity to change the world and make it a better place. Stories can teach our readers important ideas about life. As we craft stories about such topics as empathy, kindness, and friendship, we can inform and educate children and guide them to develop these values. When kids internalize these values, they grow as individuals and become more compassionate. Our stories can provide different points of views, expose kids to different cultures, or just help them to better understand life. The possibilities are endless.
8. We can help foster a love of reading and literature. Reading about topics which interest them helps children keep reading. Every author wishes that his work would capture the interest of a child and inspire him to keep reading. There is a child just waiting for a certain story to touch his heart.
9. We have the opportunity to meet wonderful, like-minded people. The kid-lit community is filled with kind, gracious, fellow authors who are willing to be teachers, mentors, and critique partners. Not only do these folks help us hone our craft, but they can become wonderful supportive friends.
10. We have fun! Yes, writing can challenge us in multiple ways as we try to reach our full potential. But if we are honest, who among us does not enjoy playing around with the ideas swirling in our brains and perfecting them until they come out our fingertips at the keyboard? It is fun to see our stories take shape and give us such a sense of satisfaction. Many other reasons to love writing for children exist. Which ones would you add to the list?
Ten Writing Prompts for 2025
by Gloria G. Adams
To celebrate our tenth year of writing A Song of Six Pens blog, we begin with 10 writing prompts to get your creative ideas flowing for 2025. Have fun!
1. Once upon a time there was a tiny green frog named Thomas. One day he woke up and he was no longer green. He was a brilliant shade of…
2.
As soon as I saw the look on Mama’s face, I knew
exactly what had happened.
Who are they?
What happened
to them?
Are they
related to each other?
What
is the setting?
What sensory
details does the picture conjure up?
What
will happen to them?
4. Write a story about a world where everything is upside down, except for people.
5.
Make up a story in which a little girl is
obsessed with wanting to be an astronaut.
6.
Research an unusual animal, insect, or plant and
write a lyrical nonfiction picture book about it.
7.
Write a picture book about things in nature that
are black. For a bigger challenge, write it in rhyme.
8.
Make up a story using this picture.
9. Maggie was the naughtiest dog in the whole neighborhood. She was always getting into trouble. But then, one day…
10 Celia
Carolina Crawford counted everything. She counted how many times she brushed
her hair. She counted the number of tiles on the kitchen floor. She always
counted each of her stuffies every morning. (Then, something related to counting goes
wrong.)