Wednesday, April 2, 2014

WORD FOR THE WEEK


RHYME: A repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs.


EXAMPLE: There are many types of rhyme,  but the most common occurs in the final syllable of a verse or line

QUOTE:  Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind. Dr. Seuss

I am participating in RhyPiBoMo this month.
It's all about writing picture books in rhyme.
Writing in rhyme is more than having your last words rhyme - much more.

Many publishers say 'not interested in rhyme submissions.' They say this because they get so many submissions of 'bad rhyme.' But children, and adults, love reading picture books in rhyme.

To write a good rhyming picture book, you must also think of the other ingredients. Your book must first have a good STORY. Just because it rhymes, doesn't mean it is a good story. It has to have a beginning, middle and end. Then add the RHYTHM and RHYME.

Avoid sentence structure where the words are arranged to accommodate the rhyme. That is lazy rhyming.
Avoid using overly simple rhyming words. Add spice and variety. Challenge yourself and use unique word pairings.
Avoid using near rhymes.
Avoid cliches.

Do read lots of rhyming picture books.
Do practice and try to write rhyme every day.
Do learn about meter! This is very important.
Click here to learn about meter. Go to the bottom of the page and read about RHYTHM, the icing on the cake.

I am reading rhyming picture books this month. What are some of your favorites? Do you have any suggestions that I can add to my pile of rhyming books?

Let your mind go. 
A good story and rhyme can burst forth overnight.

Posted byJanet Smart on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.

8 comments:

  1. I love rhymes and rhyming books. I will need to think of some to recommend- but they always pull me in. Wishing you the best of luck on your rhyming picture book writing. :) I will have to check out the meter information.

    ~Jess

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    1. Hi Jess, thanks for coming over and commenting. I love rhyming books, too.

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  2. Hi, Janet. I'm doing RhyPiBoMo, too, so I'm reading lots of rhyming picture books as well. My absolute favorite so far is Little Chicken Duck by Tim Beiser. I also really love It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree.

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    1. Hi Rosi. I've not read those yet, I'll have to look them up.

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  3. I'm glad you mentioned meter. I find that more student mss. flub the meter than the rhyme. I'm also interested in the point on near rhymes. I always hear, "Don't use them," but you see them in print all the time.

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    1. Hi Marcia. Meter is very important and at times hard to achieve.

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  4. These are a lot of great ideas about rhyme, Janet. I'm not good at writing rhyming poetry, but these ideas are great to try my hand at this kind of poems. Meter is very important, but hard to write. It's always uplifting to visit you blog because you give great writing ideas.

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    1. Hi Brenda. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. You are a very good poet.

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Thank you for your comments. I love comments!