What does it take to write a rhymed picture book that makes the grade and is accepted for publication?
Because rhymed text is pleasing to the ear and people respond to it on an emotional level, it is often the first type of story an aspiring children's book author thinks about creating.
Rhyme looks and sounds so simple . . . but is it?
Many a writer creates a rhymed story and sends it out, hoping to acquire a publishing contract. The story is charming and the writer believes that if the right publisher sees it, it will be accepted for publication.
When the rejection letters come in, the writer takes a hard look at the story to try to determine why the manuscript isn't "working."
On some level, the writer knows that something must not be right with the words but . . . how to fix it?
Rhyme in a Picture Book
Because rhymed text is pleasing to the ear and people respond to it on an emotional level, it is often the first type of story an aspiring children's book author thinks about creating.
Rhyme looks and sounds so simple . . . but is it?
Many a writer creates a rhymed story and sends it out, hoping to acquire a publishing contract. The story is charming and the writer believes that if the right publisher sees it, it will be accepted for publication.
When the rejection letters come in, the writer takes a hard look at the story to try to determine why the manuscript isn't "working."
On some level, the writer knows that something must not be right with the words but . . . how to fix it?
Rhyme in a Picture Book
While many people love the sound of rhyme, they do not fully understand how it works in a picture book. Publishers, on the other hand, know only too well what works for rhymed picture books and they will only accept those stories that make the cut.
For example, imagine you are writing a story about a princess who has lovely long hair. The hair is a key element of the story because it sets the stage for the adventures to follow.
Try to pinpoint what's wrong with the following example of rhymed text:
The lady fair, let down her hair
Her hair, her hair, you see,
That lady fair, she brushed her hair
With brush strokes three.
Can you pinpoint why a publisher might reject it? The words rhyme so why would this end up in the dust bin?
It is possible to get a rhymed picture book published?
When you create a story that has the elements a publisher is looking for, your chances at publication improve immeasurably.
Robyn Opie is an Australian children's book author who has earned her living writing children's books. Robyn has been so successful that she has produced 80 published children's books--and she has more stories in the works.
Robyn is an expert and her outstanding record is recognized and mentioned across writing sites. How did Robyn break into and nail a market that can be so hard to crack?
Robyn says the key is in knowing how to create a story that makes it past the 90% that get rejected. Robyn says that there is really no mystery to getting a children's book published. Once you give publishers exactly what they want, you will become a published author.
Learn more about Robyn Opie and how to write a rhymed picture book that gets published.
Robyn offers free writing tips and expert advice:
For example, imagine you are writing a story about a princess who has lovely long hair. The hair is a key element of the story because it sets the stage for the adventures to follow.
Try to pinpoint what's wrong with the following example of rhymed text:
The lady fair, let down her hair
Her hair, her hair, you see,
That lady fair, she brushed her hair
With brush strokes three.
Can you pinpoint why a publisher might reject it? The words rhyme so why would this end up in the dust bin?
It is possible to get a rhymed picture book published?
When you create a story that has the elements a publisher is looking for, your chances at publication improve immeasurably.
Robyn Opie is an Australian children's book author who has earned her living writing children's books. Robyn has been so successful that she has produced 80 published children's books--and she has more stories in the works.
Robyn is an expert and her outstanding record is recognized and mentioned across writing sites. How did Robyn break into and nail a market that can be so hard to crack?
Robyn says the key is in knowing how to create a story that makes it past the 90% that get rejected. Robyn says that there is really no mystery to getting a children's book published. Once you give publishers exactly what they want, you will become a published author.
Learn more about Robyn Opie and how to write a rhymed picture book that gets published.
Robyn offers free writing tips and expert advice:
- Getting a Children's Book Published, the Pony Game
- What Do Publishers Want?
- How Do You Get a Children's Book Published?
- Finding a Publisher for Your Children's Book
- How to Edit Your Children's Book
- Writing Picture Books
- Starting Your Career Today
Robyn offers these tips as well as others. Read Robyn's Free Writing Tips. (Select the fifth heading on the left on Robyn's page.)
