tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post4367050616310220047..comments2023-10-09T12:51:42.666-04:00Comments on MiG Writers: How to Use a Mentor Novel to Improve Your WritingS. J. Laidlawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15331913537063339275noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-74416710559189821612013-03-13T15:49:14.294-04:002013-03-13T15:49:14.294-04:00Great post! I always read what you call mentor nov...Great post! I always read what you call mentor novels -- books that inspire me by their characterization, handling of action (which I think is hard to write well), and development of plot. I'll have to check out The False Prince. Stellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321805301687762360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-61709094432930946322013-03-09T15:23:20.356-05:002013-03-09T15:23:20.356-05:00So true! Actually, now I'm starting to pay muc...So true! Actually, now I'm starting to pay much more attention to elements of craft while I'm reading.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-8434242152349615492013-03-06T14:20:51.081-05:002013-03-06T14:20:51.081-05:00Interesting. I love reading and I find that everyt...Interesting. I love reading and I find that everytime I read a book, I learn something more that can develop my craft. Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-22479346605619795172013-03-02T20:52:51.449-05:002013-03-02T20:52:51.449-05:00So true, Karen. When I need to know how to do some...So true, Karen. When I need to know how to do something in my writing, I look to my favourite books to see how other authors handled it.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-49915697423327076582013-03-02T20:51:10.804-05:002013-03-02T20:51:10.804-05:00I think it's more that some writers don't ...I think it's more that some writers don't read in that genre while they're working on their own writing, because they don't want the voice or style to bleed into their writing.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-34221589632447579052013-03-02T00:44:19.045-05:002013-03-02T00:44:19.045-05:00I've taken hints from this and that novel, but...I've taken hints from this and that novel, but I've never actually used one novel as a mentor. It's a wonderful idea. And I'm going to get The False Prince, because it keeps popping up everywhere I look. Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-30440240771272517402013-02-27T20:20:37.206-05:002013-02-27T20:20:37.206-05:00The best writing mentors I've had is through r...The best writing mentors I've had is through reading books. Sometimes even books that may be in the same vein as mine. I think we all have an unique voice -- there are no new stories under the sun.<br /><br />Mentor novels spark ideas and when you deconstruct them, they offer a vast amount of knowledge.Karen Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697785820907711723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-81021421945477601832013-02-27T14:08:39.432-05:002013-02-27T14:08:39.432-05:00I reread Harry Potter 4 and Stephen King's It ...I reread Harry Potter 4 and Stephen King's It every year to improve my writing. I also pay close attention to writers who are great at writing background description, since I often forget to set the scene and have to revise my settings in draft two. Ingrid Law is awesome at setting and description, so I reread her stuff.middle grade ninjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15132043736808253237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-91072691962587900422013-02-27T07:42:26.634-05:002013-02-27T07:42:26.634-05:00I do this all the time. :D
Okay, that's just ...I do this all the time. :D<br /><br />Okay, that's just plain dumb not to read the genre you write. How do you know if your idea is fresh? And if you don't read the genre, you can't be all that passionate about it. I write and read YA and NA because I love those stories. I couldn't imagine writing them but not reading them. That would be crazy wrong. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-68546902801549936342013-02-27T07:13:08.490-05:002013-02-27T07:13:08.490-05:00Natalie, I just finished The Runaway King last nig...Natalie, I just finished The Runaway King last night! I enjoyed it, though my 13-year-old had a different experience. She stopped reading near the beginning saying it was "too political". I'll have to try to get her to make a second attempt.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306844181126721639.post-60070182333875110022013-02-27T06:37:13.618-05:002013-02-27T06:37:13.618-05:00Yes, I study books too, or at least, watch for thi...Yes, I study books too, or at least, watch for things I'm struggling with. I've even outlined books out when I was a newer writer. You've hit all the great reasons The False Prince is such a fantastic book. I'm reading The Runaway King now and it's just as fantastic.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com