Don't Limit Your Vocabulary

My three-year-old called his sister a miscreant today. I almost fell out of my chair.

ME: Did he just say miscreant?

HUSBAND: Oh, yeah. You've never heard him say that before? They call each other miscreants all the time.

Where did they get it from? Ice Age 2.

So, if you are writing a picture book and you are thinking of limiting your vocabulary, DON'T!

If kids aren't exposed to big words, how are they going to learn them?

To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme?

I've been so engrossed in my new picture book manuscript, 3 Karate Pigs, that I haven't had time to blog, or comment so much on other blogs. (Sorry to all my blogging friends!)

I got a full draft done myself and then turned to Becky Sat. morning for help with the meter and rhyme. "I have to say this..." she typed into AOL messenger. Uh-oh. I knew what was coming. "Perhaps the story shouldn't be in rhyme?"

This is a common debate for us. I always want to write in rhyme, or partial rhyme. She often prefers drafting a story in prose.

It's not that I have anything against prose. I love lots of non-rhyming picture book such as Knuffle Bunny, That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown and Scaredy Squirrel.

But my inclination is to write in rhyme. Rhyme can make a thin plot sparkle and shine. Could Bear Snores On have worked in prose? My guess is "no." The story is too slight. It's the fabulous language and perfect rhythm that makes this book such a winner!

An itty-bitty mouse
pitter-pat, tip-toe
creep-crawls through the cave
from the fluff cold snow.

Mouse squeaks, "Too damp,
too dank, too dark."
So he lights wee twigs
with a small, hot spark

The coals pip-pop and the wind doesn't stop.

But the bear snores on.

On the con side, people say it is harder to sell a rhyming manuscript.

But I see many more arguments for the pro-rhyme position:

1) Rhyme could differentiate us. There must be hundreds of fractured Pigs manuscripts in the slush. Why should an editor pick ours?

2) Rhyme is way more fun to write. It is like a complex puzzle and I find it very challenging to make the pieces fit just right.

3) Rhyming stories are great for developing literacy skills. Rhyme helps kids predict what is coming to they can chime in, and it helps emerging reader decipher words.

To rhyme or not to rhyme, that is the question?

Can I Write Alone?

All right, so I was interviewed about writing with a partner, and now I am wondering, "Could I write alone, if I wanted to?" I really want to give the Karate Pigs story a try, and Becky isn't as available as she used to be. When we started writing together, she was a stay-at-home mom, but last year, she took a job working in an elementary school. So, now when I'm free (mornings while my kids attend preschool) she is not.

My parents believe I can do it on my own. They had absolutely no confidence in my ability to find a husband, but they seem to think that when it comes to writing for kids, I have what it takes.

I have a great opening. (and I usually suck at beginnings)

I have the entire plot. (That's the nice thing about fractured fairy tales; the story is already outlined for you.)

And I have the rhythm and rhyme skills (I don't think anyone has done a Pigs story in rhyme, but correct me if I am wrong)

So, why am I completely stuck after only three stanzas? Am I just lazy (like the first little pig?) Or insecure? Or do I really need a partner to fill in the holes in my thinking?

I am a big believer that the whole is equal to more than the sum of its parts.

The Little Red Hen - Starring Thing 1

Okay, I got photo tagged by my friend, Laura, from the fabulously funny Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? I'm bending the rules a little bit. I'm supposed to pick the fourth photo from my fourth folder, but I needed a way to tie this in to picture books somehow. So, I fudged a little.

This picture is from a Little Red Hen photo book I am making for my daughter's class.

"Who will help me pick apples for a pie?" asked the Little Red Hen.
"Not I," said Zachary.
"Not I," said Ella.
"Not I," said Stefani.
"Then I will pick the apples myself," said the Little Red Hen.
And she did.

Last year, we made a Brown Bear Book.

Jordan, Jordan, who do you see?
I see Alex looking at me.

It was a huge hit! I couldn't wait to get it back at the end of the year, but then I got a note from Jordan's teacher, "Thanks so much for the lovely book. What a special gift." Ooops!

I'll have to be more careful this year!

On Writing with a Partner

I've just done my first interview. I feel a bit like Steve Martin in The Jerk when he sees himself in the phone book. I'm somebody. I'm somebody.

So, head over to Tara Lazar, if you want to read about what it's like to collaborate on a PB or if you just want to enter to win a signed copy of Hop! Plop!

Don't Worry: I'll Find a Way to Make You Laugh!

Why can't I be as funny as Nicola Morgan? I've decided if I am going to keep all of my 17 Followers, I need to up the entertainment value of my blog. And since my kids have not said anything amusing today, I will have to lead my loyal fans to a post high on the hilarity meter. So, here you go: Boots and Bats: Method Writing, Level 1

The Verdict

The verdict on my last post seems to be that it is acceptable to "drop' blogs if they no longer interest you. Guess I am just way too sensitive. But I knew that, already. It's a slight clue when you cry during Disney movies. If you want to see me really bawl, watch me viewing the Christian the Lion video on YouTube. Gets me every time. The first time I saw it, I had to explain to my kids that I was crying because I was "happy". Try explaining that to a three year old boy. My four year old daughter tried to help.

JORDAN: Joshy, sometimes it is good to cry. It shows you are sensitive. Mommy and I are sensitive butterflies.

JOSH: Daddy and I are sensitive motorcycles.

Anyway, the post did get me a new follower. (Thanks, Mom!) Now I am off to answer my first interview question. I am being interviewed by Tara Lazar on the collaborative process of writing, something I have not blogged about yet. Should be fun.

You may want to hop over to Tara's blog and comment so you can be eligible to win a $25-$35 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice!