Rhyming, My Personal Challenge.
Posted on: November 27, 2009
I love reading a great rhyming picture book. They are what is really attractive to me but alas, I am not a rhymer. Just ask some of my fellow critique members. I can handle a line or two but that is it. This is an excerpt of a great article on rhyming. To read the rest of the article go to
by Dori Chaconas
“Please, no rhyming stories.”
I heard it at conferences. I read it in the market guides. What? No rhyme! But I love to write in rhyme! What about all those beloved nursery rhymes? Surely they had laid the foundation for rhyming picture books.
I put the ideas for rhyming stories on my I’d-Better-Not-Do-It list, and there they stayed until I became involved in a good critique group. The writers in that group started to sell their stories, and those stories were written in rhyme. And it wasn’t just an occasional rhyming story that sold. They sold consistently. Like magic, within three years, members of the group sold a total of thirty-six books. Twenty-seven of those were written in rhyme. Then I sold three picture book manuscripts—all written in rhyme.
4 Responses to "Rhyming, My Personal Challenge."
November 28, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Great Post. I love rhyme as well. I find is comforting but many editors would rather see “no rhyme, than bad rhyme”, it’s really too bad.
Suzanne http://writingonthesidewalk.wordpress.com
November 28, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Suzanne,
Thanks for the nice comment.
If the truth be known, I actually would rather not rhyme if I can’t do it well. I do find them comforting to read and will continue to pick those rhyming books up and dream about being able to rhyme.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Feel free to stop by any time. I am always looking for new things to add to the blog.
Peg Finley/peg366
November 27, 2009 at 8:24 am
I really enjoy rhyming books, I seem to find something soothing and restful in the sing-song verses. I especially like to read them to the little one at bed time as they seem to find them restful as well.
Maueen. http://www.thepizzagang.com
November 27, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Maureen,
I agree. I find them restful as well. From my early days working with preschoolers as well as my times with my own nieces and nephews I have found rhyming picture books a pleasure to read.
My niece who stayed with me for a while as a little girl and I loved being cuddled up on the couch reading.
Thanks so much for checking out my blog and leaving me a comment. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to do so. Stop by again as I am always adding more.
Peg Finley/peg366