Thank you for reading my latest weekly note. We’re through our second week of summer break now and there hasn’t been much writing happening to be honest but I’m trying to fit in some spurts of creativity here and there. It reminds me of when my kids were little and writing was slotted in during nap times and sitting on benches at ballet lessons.
Currently obsessed with
📚 The Story of Art Without Men* by Katy Hessel - the history of art told through stories about those that have been left out of books, galleries, and museums. I recently taught an art program as a volunteer in my kids’ elementary school and all of the artists featured bar ONE were male. I’m so happy to have this book to learn more about the artists left out of history.
🍰 Smitten Kitchen’s Strawberry Cake - strawberries and cake, what more is there to say really? I can smell it in the oven right now (literally, it has 11 minutes left to bake at the time of typing.)
📚 Fourth Wing* by Rebecca Yarros - this book is sold out everywhere so get on your library's waitlist now or try your local indie bookstore. I devoured it in two days. I will never write a grownup, sexy, heart pounding, unputdownable, dragon fantasy, but it was still a mentor in action writing and world building. Read more on mentor texts below.
Writing Tip of the Week
Read mentor texts. When you’re tackling a story, look for books that can act as mentors for your work. This is especially useful when you’re working in a new category or genre but also if you’re struggling with a certain aspect of your manuscript such as pacing or dialogue.
Here are some more resources on finding and using mentor texts:
Using mentor texts to help with picture book pacing.
How to find mentor texts.
Vicky Fang on using mentor texts to write chapter books.
Writing Prompt
Write a poem about an object you can see right now.
I made up this one in my head after seeing an abandoned baby-sized Croc shoe on the side of the road as I drove by.
News
My book news this week is actually about my friend’s book. I’ll be at Linden Tree Books tomorrow (Saturday June 24 at 11am) to celebrate Hooked on Books by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Kristyna Litten.
Until next week, happy writing and reading. Let me know what you’re enjoying this week.
Christine
P.S. links marked with a * are affiliate and may earn me a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
I just checked out The Story of Art Without Men and have added it to my list – sounds like a must-have!