It's a Secret: I Like to Rhyme
I like to rhyme.
There I said it.
I've read all those fancy pants writerly books that said
don't rhyme, rhyming picture books don't sell, rhyming is the quickest path to
the devil (I don't remember which book said that, but I do recall having to have
the house blessed after reading it)...
Well, here's what I know:
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| Even Rhymezone can't handle orange. (slice by Michal Zacharzewski, SXC) |
1. Rhyming makes me happy
2. I enjoy reading rhyming picture books to my children.
3. Some rhyming picture books sell, because I've
read a few hundred.
4. Rhyming is not illegal.
I can rhyme anywhere I want. Any
time I want. With anyone I please.
(Unreasonably long
sidebar: When I lived in Detroit I lived
on high alert of running into Eminem at the Meijer store and having to bust
rhymes with him. It was almost as bad as
my current fear of walking into a taping of the Real Housewives of New Jersey dressed
in yoga pants and yelling at my children.)
That said, I understand rhyming rules have been created to protect
us novice rhymers. Those in power don't
want to be responsible because some new writer gets horribly stuck in inverted
speech (they all still feel guilty about what happened to Yoda). I empathize with the rule makers who don't
want to be called "enablers" for letting lazy writers get away with "near
rhymes."
I submit to those rules, because rhyming stimulates a part
of my brain prose can't access. So even
if I can't publish in rhyme, I sure as heck (or there I am going to the devil
again) am going to keep practicing rhyme.
So go ahead and tell me your fancy pants rules about not
rhyming in picture books, and I will say to them: I think, therefore I rhyme.
Or maybe:
I'd love to bust some dope rhymes
With Eminem by the limes.
Or even:
You think I'm mentally stable?
Watch me flip this frickin' table!
("Today's rhyme brought to you by the letters N and
J")
Do you secretly rhyme, but not want to admit it publicly? It's okay to tell me in the comments; all rhymers are welcome here.
I didn't know we shared a secret love! Life is just better in rhyme. =)
ReplyDeleteI just want to confirm the secret love is rhyming and not a deep desire to throw rhymes with Eminem behind the Kmart on 15 mile road...
DeleteMy name is Romelle and I am a rhymer...okay, not really. I am a rhymer wannabe.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Romelle! Feel free to rhyme if you please.
DeleteWe have the perfect spot for rhyming wannabes.
This is perfect for a children's book author. Forget what "they" say. Dr. Seuss is a rock star and he rhymed in almost every book.
ReplyDeleteNow, if only I could get away with making up words like zifferfoos to complete my rhymes! I guess when you are the first, you don't have to worry about rules because there aren't any...
DeleteDeath, taxes, rhyme - all unavoidable.
ReplyDeleteRhyme is the only one that is enjoyable!
OK, I'm working that one into a blog post someday!
You are right Cathy - it's not just a tendency for children's writers to rhyme, it's unavoidable! Now, I see all of my attempts to resist its lure were futile.
DeleteFor some reason these days there's lots of rhyme hate.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that this trend will not soon abate.
Nice. Why doesn't "abate" get more play in picture books?
Delete"Tommy abate your constant poking me in the ear with a wet finger!" That rolls off the tongue so much easier than "Tommy no more wet willies!"
I have rhyme envy! I have tried, and failed miserably, but Lauri, I'll read your rhymes any day! Keep rhyming and give Eminem my best!
ReplyDeleteI'm texting him right now.
DeleteI know you can rhyme. It just takes patience and a ridunculous amount of work!! I actually like the rules - I don't want to be caged in, but I don't mind a framework to work in. It defeats the little voice inside you who says "this is good enough, right?"
What about Dr Seuss for heavens sake? children love rhymes heck, adults do too. I think the rules of no rhymes only applies to grown up serious poetry, which oddly, is also called non fiction. (I never understood that rule either - if I wanted to write some fictional fantasy poetry, thats not allowed?) :-)
ReplyDeleteWait, you can't rhyme in adult poetry any more either? Ugh. I suppose you have to wear black and be moody and sit in Starbucks all day to write poetry too? Too many rules!
Delete