Writing a Picture Book In Rhyme
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Writing a picture book can be tough in today’s market, especially if you want to write in verse (otherwise known as rhyme). When I was a children’s book literary agent, I often dreaded dealing with rhyming picture books. Except I like poetry, and think it can be really powerful. So what gives? And how do you navigate writing a picture book in rhyme? Read on to find out.
Considering Writing a Picture Book in Rhyme?
Out of all my agenting clients, there was only one writing rhyming picture books. Meanwhile, approximately eight out of ten submissions in my slush pile were in verse. This phenomena that’s unique to writing a picture book is because, historically, more rhyming texts used to be published, leading writers to think that writing a picture book in rhyme was the only way to publish a children’s book.
The truth is that if you visit a bookstore, you'll see that rhyming texts are not as common as they used to be. Yes, rhyming texts are published every Tuesday, but they are not the only style for writing a picture book these days.
When I left agenting and became a freelance editor, I changed my tune on rhyme. I had the necessary training in creative writing and poetry to dig into rhyme more deeply. Writing a picture book in rhyme isn't just about putting nice-sounding words together, or writing for kids by only using alliteration, but some writers don't seem to realize that.
Writing a Picture Book That’s Unique and Saleable
Many of the rhymes I see in manuscripts are as mundane as “cat” and “hat”. If I come across a less than expected rhyme within the text, that tells me the writer knows what they’re doing. A prevalent mistake I notice many writers make when writing a picture book is letting rhyme dictate the story instead of the other way around. This can lead to random-seeming plot points that make no sense in the context of the story. When writing a picture book in verse, writers need to remember that the story should come first, before letting rhymes run away with the meaning.
Having knowledge of poetics is also helpful when writing a picture book in rhyme. It’s important to read aloud and count syllables to make sure everything flows together properly. If you haven’t done this, then you should do it as soon as possible! If I try reading your rhyming script out loud and the rhymes are great, but the syllabic counts are all over the map, then this is what it looks like to me:
7 syllables
6 syllables
7 syllables
8 syllables
9 syllables
7 syllables
Writing a picture book is about consistency, among other things. And syllabic counts that break an established pattern really tend to stand out when writing a picture book.
Books Teach Us How to Read Them
What's going on here? Well, rhyme and rhythm are patterns. Rhyming books let readers know that if the first line ends with rhyme A, the next one will, too. Then in the next couplet it will be rhyme B and so forth. This way, if you're writing end rhymes, why not consider rhythm when writing a picture book as well?
Some writers struggle with counting syllables. The trick here is to read your work as it's written, instead of how you intended it to sound. You'd be surprised at how writers will often adjust their work to fit a rhythm they want, even if that isn't what they originally wrote. Or better yet, have someone else read your work aloud and then listen to their struggles. What sentences caught them off-guard? It's a hugely informative exercise, even if it can feel uncomfortable. Picture books need read-aloud potential, since that is how they will be transmitted to your target audience.
The Odds Against Writing a Picture Book In Verse
Maybe it sounds like I'm nitpicking or that having an MFA has made me a bit too big for my boots. But I’ve seen this story play out more times than I can count—a perfectly good picture book idea is taken down by subpar rhyme.
Agents and editors don’t usually love rhyming children’s books. Plus, agents prefer books that sell well, since they are basically working commission-based sales jobs. Editors also get a lot of rhyming submissions, but they’re only able to take on a handful of rhyming picture books each year. Writing a picture book means you have to take the market into consideration, and listen to what it’s telling you.
One excellent example of rhyming done right is Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar. It’s such a wonderfully crafted text that after reading it, I never wanted to try writing rhyming children’s books. If there are authors out there who can create texts to this high standard, they will get the chance to publish as editors look for top-notch talent for their limited number of rhyming picture book acquisitions. This is the kind of virtuoso performance that you need if you want a book deal for writing a picture book.
Know What You're Doing When Writing a Picture Book in Rhyme
It is important to understand the rules and ideas around writing rhyming children’s books. Investigate college poetics textbooks and other resources to learn the intricacies of poetry. Rhythm and rhyme may turn into something freeing and creative when you’re writing a picture book, or they could be a set of handcuffs if you commit to a rhyme scheme without knowing what you’re doing. (I always counsel writers to learn the rules before breaking them and freewriting.)
If you are writing a picture book in rhyme, make sure your work is of the highest quality. This is true for any type of writing, but especially when trying to get work past gatekeepers. Many rhyming picture books spark from good intentions, but unfortunately lack the quality and craftsmanship necessary to stand out in the market. Writing a picture book is a fun journey and you can play around with rhyme and decide whether it’s for you.
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Click here to purchase Writing Irresistible Picture Books, my book on children’s picture books. This comprehensive guide is crammed with craft advice and groundbreaking original research, including a survey of 1,000 upcoming picture book deals, a breakdown of 80 modern and marketable picture book topics, and in-depth analysis of over 150 published picture books.