Reading Signposts: Words of the Wiser
Greetings and salutations Scribblers!
The Reading Signposts Blogs will cover six reading signposts discussed in the book Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading by Kylene Beers, and Robert E. Probst. This book is designed for classroom reading and ELA teachers, but the reading signposts they talk about are excellent for authors to be aware of as well. Not only are they elements of good storytelling, but if you’re hoping your novel ends up as part of a classroom curriculum, taking note of these six signposts could help convince educators to give it a try.
The first signpost we’re going to discuss is Words of the Wiser. This is exactly what it sounds like. A wiser, usually older character will give advice to the main character in order to help them make a decision, come to a realization, or learn a life lesson.
And who doesn’t love a good mentor figure in a story? Yoda, Uncle Irho, Gandolf to name a few well known mentors. In so many Young adult and middle grade books it’s a grand parent, aunt or uncle, or sometimes a teacher the main character encounters. Not only are they fun to read about, but they're fun to create. I love giving my characters mentors, especially when my characters pick the wrong one to listen to, making their lesson that much more difficult to learn.
For readers, this element helps to identify the theme of the story, character development, and elements of the plot. When a reader encounters one of these moments, they challenge them to stop and ask what’s the life lesson to be learned here and how could it affect the character”
As writers, we should be asking ourselves the same questions when we have a wiser or older character giving advice to our main character. What is the lesson being shared and how does this tie into the theme, character development, and the plot of the story? If, as an author, you can’t provide a clear answer for each of those, you might need to go back and reassess the advice that is being given to your main character.
Words the wiser is a great way to check your story and see where your protagonist is getting help and it can be way to indirectly be direct about the theme. Being aware of this layer is so important.
You can also have fun with it and incorporate some false flags depending on the journey your character is on. In my current novel, my two protagonists each have the people they look to for inspiration and affirmation. But they aren’t the best choices. So they ignore the good advice being given to them and are taking advice from people they shouldn’t. Part of the theme is is realizing that there are people who only want to use you for their own gain and how to break free from those kinds of emotional and mental manipulations.
So don’t be afraid to play around with your mentor figures and experiment with how you can subvert that trope. And remember to ask yourself, how does this advice fit into the theme of the book, my character’s development, and the plot!
The book is great if you want to check it out and read through it. It’s called Notice and Note by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst.
As always, your mileage may vary! Take what helps and leave what doesn't! I’d love to hear who your favorite fictional mentor characters are! Tell me about down in the comments!
