First have a children’s story idea. It can be what a child
is thinking about when he’s supposed to be doing his homework, the vacation he
took last year, sled riding or any other thought that a child would think. You
might want to write a child’s mystery or maybe a fantasy with unicorns, evil
witches and good wizards. Where do you go from here? Take a sheet of paper from
your notebook. Write down words that have something to do with your idea. Leave
space under these words. You’re going to need it. Next, write down words that
rhyme with the words you’ve already written down. It doesn’t matter if they
stay with the subject at all. You might not use them all. Now, what?
Start with a good hook. That’s right. Just like in any good
story written in prose, you have to have a good hook at the beginning. The
subject of your rhyming story should be memorable and one your reader will want
to revisit. Who doesn’t remember Mary and her lamb? There’s a whole story in
that nursery rhyme. Just like a story in prose, use strong adjectives and verbs
so your reader can visualize what’s happening. Kids like repetition. Use a
meter in your rhyming story. What’s meter?
Meter is the rhythm that’s in every good poem or rhyming
story. For more information on meter, please watch this video:
Here’s a poem that my friend, wrote. Note the way he handled the description and meter:
THE STAR TREKKING
SHOOTING STAR
“Where do all the
stars come from?”
Tracy asked her
brother.
He is eight and knows
so much
of one thing or
another.
“I think they’re
‘specially made,” he said.
“Somewhere in the
sky.
Where they’re brushed
with silver paint
And spread around to
dry.”
“And what about the
shooting star,
With it’s fiery
tail?”
“I’d say it’s
carrying messages
or delivering the
mail.”
“How is it the moon
never keeps
its’ smooth round face?”
“It probably bumps
into stars
On its way through
space.”
“And how is it the
sun can stay
All day so nice and
warm and bright?”
“That’s because it’s
batteries
Get recharged at
night.”
“You know a lot,” she
said with pride.
“It’s true, you
really do.
I hope when I’m eight
years old,
I’ll know as much as
you!”
Can’t you see in your minds’ eye, Tracy and her big brother having a conversation while they watch the stars? Notice the sing–song meter and the satisfying ending to the conversation? So, get your paper, pens out or boot up those computers and try your hand at this. Young children just love stories in rhyme!
