WITH TIM MCCANNA

Meterology 101

Four Meters That Work Well in Picture Books

Taste and Style Instinct Genre Vocabulary

Picking a Meter

1.2.3.4.

Ideally, meter evolves out of the story, not the other way around.

“Meter is the rhythmic pattern that flows through our words like a subtle drum beat.”

Action Item: Grab a handful of rhyming picture books and see if you canidentify the meter.

Action Item: Pick a fairy tale (could be one of the following).

See which meter might work well for telling this story. Write a couple ofstanzas in that meter. Have fun with it!

The Five C's of Critiquing Meter

1. Clarity: It's crucial to establish the ground rules for your meter in the very firststanza.2. Consistency: Meter isn't just about counting the syllables in each line, butbeat count is still an important part of your meter's design.3. Context: Which meter works better with your subject matter to create theright voice?4. Construction: Picture books are all about condensed storytelling with aneconomy of words. Look for ways to break up long sentences.

5. Craft: If you're a rhymer, then meter is part of your craft.

Is the story strong enough? Is the plot compelling? Does my main character have an objective with real stakes? Is the setting interesting? Did I leave room for the illustrator?

Evaluate the Foundational Pillars of Your Story

1.2.3.4.5.

Essential Revision Tools

Research: The more you dive into your subject matter, the more vocabularyand details you'll have at your fingertips to make the world of your story richand authentic.

Thesaurus: It will give you a list of synonyms that can spur fresh ideas forworking out trouble spots.

Rhyming Dictionary: Looking up alternate rhymes for a two-line rhymingcouplet might present new avenues for saying the same thing, but in asnappier or simpler way.

Action Item: Pick one of these characters and give them one of theseproblems.

Julia DonaldsonLinda AshmanDiana MurrayJosh FunkChris Van Dusen

Write two versions of an opening stanza for your scenario, using a differentmetric style in each version. See how meter impacts your storytelling style ineach version.

Be sure to read the top rhymers on the market. Some of those include:

Revision Tips

In every revision, search for ways to diversify your phrasing to add action,dialogue, better pacing, interesting page turns, read-aloud-ability, and drama.Avoid dense text. Mix up phrasing. Break up long sentences. Look for ways toconvert bland narrative/description into character dialogue. Play on all thesenses.

Action Item: Ask a fellow writer or critique group member to read yourrhyming picture book to you. Ask them what the read-aloud experience waslike for them. Listen. Take notes.

Books Referenced in Lesson Videos: Interstellar Cinderella by DeborahUnderwood, Shoes for Me! by Sue Fliess, Jamberry by Bruce Degen, and LadyPancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk. Also works by Shakespeare and Twasthe Night Before Christmas. Bitty Bot by Tim McCanna and Writing PictureBooks by Ann Whitford Paul. A Leaf Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas and You’reMy Boo by Kate Dopirak.