Is studying poetry helpful for picture book writers?
Absolutely. I took a poetry class at a local university a few years ago to help me write picture books. What I noticed is that it helped me write more visually in my longer books, too. I prefer writing in rhythm rather than in rhyme, which is why the stanzas are varied in Mommies and Daddies. I’m currently experimenting with different ways of telling a complete story in rhythm. 8) How do you switch between the different kinds of books you write? Do you change your writer’s “voice” with each book? I find it relatively easy to click into the voice of a 15 year old or a 12 year old. However, when I’m working on chapter books with younger characters, it’s more difficult for me to find the right voice. The solution is to spend time around 8 to 9 year olds, listening, until a character comes to you. I’m attempting completely different voices for a few new middle grade projects I’m working on. I think a writer needs to do this so that his/her books do not all sound alike. It’s easy to fall ba
