Max Tell / Rhythm / An Introduction - Part Two

Photo: Courtesy The Big Box of Art

This is Max Tell with my 6th instalment of writing exercises for professional and novice writers, those of you who are or would like to write poetry for kids.

Note: When referring to poems, I am also including songs. When referring to songs, I am usually focusing on the unique elements or qualities of songwriting.

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In my last instalment, I talked about part one of Rhythm, and introduction.

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RHYTHM: An Introduction - Part Two

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Max Tell / Rhythm / An Introduction - Part One

Photo: Courtesy The Big Box of Art

This is Max Tell with my 5th instalment of writing exercises for professional and novice writers, those of you who are or would like to write poetry for kids. My apologies for not reaching my deadline last week. I will do better.

Note: When referring to poems, I am also including songs. When referring to songs, I am usually focusing on the unique elements or qualities of songwriting.

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In my last instalment, I introduced you to the Basics of Writing Poetry: Rhythm, Rhyme, and Story. Today, I would like to focus more specifically on Rhythm. I won't be able to cover all that is important about Rhythm in one blog entry, so this will be an introduction as well. However, I will add a great deal more in subsequent blogs. As a matter of fact, most topics will be dealt with in small helpings, building slowly to a complete whole, so I will not mention this again.

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RHYTHM: AN INTRODUCTION PART ONE

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Have you listened to rain drip-dropping onto a roof or into a puddle? Have you listened to the clip-clop of a horse galloping, or a basketball being drib-dribbled?

Max Tell / Max Tell Songs / 12 Samples

Song List

Vomit Comet . . . 1

The Pirate Couldn't Keep His Parts . . . 2

The Best Mommy . . . 3

sWhat's Your Game . . . 4

Little Larry Light House . . . 5

Cat in My Hoody . . . 6

I'm the Boogyman . . . 7

Monster Under My Bed . . . 8

Animal Crackers in My Soup . . . 9

I'm an Astro - Not . . . 10

Don’t Walk a Mile with a Crocodile . . . 11

Waves On the Water . . . 12

* Arrangement available

1)Vomit Comet

Max Tell / Max Tell's Poems / 10 Samples

Poem List

My Teacher Was a Creature . . . 1

Always Feed Your Monsters . . . 2

Mr. Twister Upside Down . . . 3

I Wish I Weren't a Monster . . . 4

The Knight and the Ogre . . . 5

Dexter the Dog Didn't Wand to Be Dead . . . 6
Monster in My Bed . . . 7
Pumpkin Pie Dad . . . 8 
Words . . . 9
Bobby Kaboomba . . . 10

1) My Teacher Was a Creature

Max Tell / The Basics of Writing Poetry for Kids

Rythm, Rhyme, and Story
Keep in clear and equal focus

This is Max Tell with his 2nd installment of writing exercises for professional and beginning writers for kids.

Note: when referring to poems, I am also including songs. When referring to songs, I am usually focusing on the unique elements or qualities of songwriting.

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One cannot write a good poem for kids without rhythm, rhyme, and story. True or faults? 

True. 

Even the simplest poem for kids depends on a strong coordination between rhythm, rhyme, and a solid story. 

But you might say, "There are some great kids poems that don't rhyme."

Is that true?

Max Tell / Emotions: Fear

Break the Fear with a Poem

This is Max Tell with his first instalment of writing exercises for those poets currently writing for children or wishing to, young or old. 

Whenever writing for children keep honest, write vividly, and write from the heart. Kids know when we aren't, even when it's only on the page.

Let's start with emotions, and an easy one.

FEAR

1. Create a long list of things many children are afraid of like bullies, spiders, and snakes.
2. Write one stanza for each fear.
3. End the poem with a switch, turning fear into its opposite, bravery.
4. Now try another emotion: love, anger, or joy. When writing about love or joy, rather than ending with an opposite, you may want to end with a twist.

Example:

I'm Afraid of Everything