It's Not a Crime to Write in Rhyme

I love to write rhyme. Unfortunately, rumor has it that children's book publishers are reluctant to look at it.  When rhyme is not done well, it can be downright painful to read. However, new picture books in rhyme are being published constantly so I will remain optimistic and stick with what I love.

As I gear up for Rhyming Month in April, I am trying to read everything I can find on the topic. Here are a couple of sources I found helpful:

I heard Leslie Bulion at an NESCBWI conference. She was great! This is her guest post on Diy MFA

This post by Juliet Clare Bell on the Picture Book Den is informative and looks at how NOT to write in rhyme.

The Rhyme Weaver blog has great nitty gritty information about meter, stress and rhyme.

I found this fact filled post by Margot Finke How to Write a Picture Book with Fabulous Rhyme and Meter . I refer to it often.  It was on Harold Underdown's site.

RhyPiBoMo

I had such a great experience with Picture Book Idea Month, I thought I would try one that focuses on writing in rhyme. This one is organized by Angie Karcher and I'm looking forward to it!

How Wolves Change Rivers

Yellowstone is one of my favorite places! I found this interesting, and the scenery was stunning.

Dreaming of warmth

I am sitting in frigid New England, dreaming of the hot dry air of Arizona. I am also thinking of my word for the year...CHALLENGE and reading some inspirational literary quotations that might spur me on...

“What is that you express in your eyes? It seems to me more than all the print I have read in my life.” 
― Walt Whitman

Facebook

I have dipped my toe into the world of Facebook. Check out my author's page at Daryl-Lynne Gottier, I will try to keep it up-dated with fun information for writers, teachers and nature lovers alike.

PiBoIdMo

I was thrilled with the challenge of Picture Book Idea Month. Thank you Tara Lazar and all the wonderful guest bloggers that made it happen. I completed it and have 30 new ideas to start refining. I also won a prize, a picture book ms critique!

My word for the year- CHALLENGE

I recently heard Jon Gordon speaking about New Year's resolutions on the Today Show (yes, I was procrastinating when I should have been writing!) He suggested that while resolutions are often broken, people find success in choosing a word to guide them through the new year. We decided to try this in our family. My word was inspired by this tree we saw in Arizona...it is Challenge. I would like to challenge myself to grow, to expand, to try things outside my comfort zone and to get more writing published. I may need to bend, twist and change direction but like this tree, I will not break. I will be stronger for it.