Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!
“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”
Learning With Mentor Texts
Co-hosts Melissa Stroh, Brandy Brow, and Johnnie Alexander present examples of fictional works that can be used as “mentor texts,” published fiction that demonstrates specific techniques and skill. Melissa read the opening paragraphs from Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead, to show how to establish sense of place, introduce the protagonist, and set a tone for the story. Brandy read excerpts from Lowcountry Bribe by C. Hope Clark, which effectively uses description to establish characters and the setting. Johnnie read the prologue to All Things Matter by Susie Finkbeiner, and the opening paragraphs from her own short story, A Souvenir In My Pocket, to show the difference in tone of two works written in the first person. As writers, we know how important it is to read in our genres. By purposefully studying the stories our readers love, we can improve our own skills.
Watch the December 5th Replay
Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. The permanent Zoom room link is: http://zoom.us/j/4074198133
Best wishes for 2024 from Writers Chat.
Regularly scheduled episodes return on January 9th.
We love helping your growing in your writing career.
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