Wednesday, March 31, 2010

METER....

(I wish I had a picture of a cake to put here...)

Meter…


If you are writing a picture book manuscript that has rhyme in it, does every stanza need to have the same meter throughout the book? Could the meter vary as long as opposite page has the same meter? I’m totally stuck!

The pans I will cover with oil and flour, (9)
Pour in the batter, bake for an hour. (9)

I’ll frost it all over and add a flower, (11)
Above my head this grand cake will tower. (11)

Any suggestions?

30 comments:

  1. I wish I could help; like Shelli, I don't write PBs (or poetry). With flowers and cake, though, how could you go wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shelli--Thanks for stopping in. :)

    Jennie--Hopefully I'll figure it out...Thanks for stopping by today.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry - I don't know anything about meter. I love your flower picture, though! Madeline and I decorated her first communion cake today, I could have emailed you a picture.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Susan--Thanks, most of my favorite pictures are from Costa Rica. I hope Madeline's cake doesn't get eaten before Sunday...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't help either, but I do lend my sympathy. I'm sure a PB'r will stop by soon and save you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't think you always have to have the same meter (or is it metre? I forget) Anyway, Dr. Seuss will switch it up from page to page sometimes, and if Seuss can do it, so can you!

    Good luck!

    Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  7. MG--Thanks for hoping a PB'r stops by. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shelley--Did MG ask you to stop by? You made me panic: meter or metre? I googled it, it's okay. :) Thanks for your input!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi

    What a lovely rhyming poem! Having been through a poem writing section of my course, I'm still none the wiser! But there are types of syllabic lengths per stanza that could be repeated or varied as well as types of stanzas that can be used. So really basically, so long as there's a rhythm within a type of poetic form, Bob's yer uncle!

    Gosh. Am I even making sense? Probably not! LOL!

    Good luck with this - it's really very good and very sweet!

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  10. i'm a big stickler for meter, so i would say they need to be identical.
    But that's just me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kitty--Thanks for sharing what you've learned. :)

    Falen--I guess that means I should break out the full-caf and get busy...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sharon, I think I'd agree with Falen. I think you'll be happier with the flow if they match. :)

    BTW, I gave you the Prolific Blogger Award if you'd like to accept it. :) Thanks for the great blog!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Amy--I got a lot closer today. It's amazing how hard writing a poem/pb with a storyline can be...

    An award for me! Thanks, you are so sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read your magazine story. It's lovely :o)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Do you remember rhyme and meter patterns from school: aa bb; abab; abc abc?

    When you want your meter tight, like letters should have the same count. So a's can be one thing; b's can be another; c's can be another.

    You go girl!!

    Happy Easter! Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hope the writing is going well and hope you have a lovely weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Niki--Thanks, I'm glad you liked my story. :)

    P.J.--I guess my pattern is aa. Thanks for the reminder. You have a nice Easter too!

    Ocean--Struggling, but it's getting better. Thanks...You have a good one too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sharon - we had her first communion last night, on Thursday. Whew - that would have been one stale cake! And I love the new picture again!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Susan--I read that on facebook...I just figured it would be on Sunday. I love switching up the pictures on here. I'm glad you like this one. Grandad took Katherine and me to this pub in the countryside the last time we were in England.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm like Shelli--that's exactly why I avoid pbs!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beth--Thanks for stopping in and congratulations on your good news!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for your comment and have a wonderful Easter Day from Blogging From A to Z April Challenge

    ReplyDelete
  23. I admire those who can write PB. I've never been able to say anything in less than 40,000 words...

    ReplyDelete
  24. uh oh.

    i have no idea.

    but on another note -- PB don't always have to rhyme, do they..?

    hehe best of luck with your work!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lee--How did you get a link imprinted into your comment? I hope you have a nice Easter too.

    Nora--I REALLY REALLY want to publish a picture book. Some of my favorite parenting and teaching times involved picture books. I want to give that feeling to someone else with my words. :)

    Tahereh--The other pb manuscripts I've written don't have rhyme, but this one about baking a cake works...I can visualize the over-the-top illustrations that will go with it. Thanks for stopping by. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your photograph is beautiful! I don't know much about writing, sorry! Happy Easter!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I don't write poetry, so my two cents worth would be fairly useless!

    However, you can't go wrong with cake and flowers - can you? No, I don't think you can :)

    Best of luck, Sharon :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm not sure about the rules either, but I think it sounds close enough here. I love this!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Kathleen--Thanks for stopping by! My favorite pictures come from Costa Rica...

    Wendy--Thanks for the encouragement...

    LiLa--Thanks. :) I think it will be a cute pb if I can get it perfect.

    ReplyDelete