[OhHeySaraA Posts: 4 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

New here! --As I work on my first PB, I've done LOTS of reading of the boards, author/agent blogs, and stalked lots of links people have shared here, but still am trying to better wrap my head around the difference between 'rhyme' and 'lyrical language.' Because of the taboo around rhyming PBs, I've seen people recommend calling a rhyming PB 'lyrical' in queries, but feel like there's a difference between rhyme and lyrical language. Might anyone have PBs that are great examples of 'lyrical' that I could check out?

[Elizabeth Maginnis Posts: 86 Status: Offline "The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world." WWW]

Hi,

It is near impossible to find anyone in the industry willing to sign a rhyming/lyrical PB writer, which is unfortunate since language plays such an important part in speech therapy. My daughter-in-law works with preschoolers as a speech pathologist and tells me that rhyming stories are quite helpful.

I received many rejections of both my completed manuscripts until they were finally accepted. It can get discouraging, but don't give up. Please feel free to check out my first book ("There's a Dog on the Dining Room Table").

Best wishes,
Elizabeth

[kwlarson Posts: 180 Status: Offline Books for curious kids WWW]

Sara, I think your instincts are spot on. There is a big difference between rhyming and lyrical. Kate Messner's OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW is an excellent example of lyrical writing. I am sure there are many more.

[CarrieF Posts: 201 Status: Offline WWW]

I think that, technically, lyrical can mean either rhyming, metered verse, or poetic prose. But when presenting work to an editor or agent, I would usually say "lyrical prose" or "rhyme" to be really clear about what it is.

Examples of lyrical, non-rhyming books might be-
If You Want to See a Whale or And Then It's Spring
Owl Moon

[Vijaya Posts: 7,375 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

Our own Diana did a great interview about lyrical PBs here: https://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/examining-lyrical-picture-books-with-diana-murray/

I have a lyrical PB that's come close a couple of times but no cigar yet. Will keep trying. But my novelty book, Ten Easter Eggs, is in rhyme. I do think publishers want great rhyming stories because kids love them. It's the poorly executed rhyming books they don't want.

Happy reading and writing.
Vijaya

[JodyJS Posts: 1,283 Status: Offline Preorder now! Out April 2021! WWW]

Marla Frazee's All the World is in rhyme (though I would suggest it's also lyrical). All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan is lyrical and doesn't rhyme.

[jojocookie Posts: 350 Status: Offline WWW]

Those are good recommendations, I intend to check out. In addition, I would also suggest RED SINGS FROM TREE TOPS by Joyce Sidman. I have typed in 'lyrical picture books' in my library's portal website.

Lyrical languages also uses figurative language to set a tone or mood, sound devices, assonance, consonance, alliteration, and internal rhyme. Rhythm can paint a picture as well as words and lyrical language has a musical quality and uses words that evoke a specific effect. 

[Anne Marie Posts: 2,855 Status: Offline VAMPIRINA season 3 is on Disney Junior now! WWW]

I realize that conventional wisdom is that rhymers won't sell, but in fact rhyming books are published all the time.  There are very few editors who refuse to look at them at all.  Publishers dissuade people from submitting rhymers in marketing guides because the truth is, most people who think they can write in rhyme actually can't.  (Not referring specifically to anyone here, of course--I have no idea about anyone's writing here.)

As for the distinction between rhyme and lyrical language, they are two different tools in the writer's toolbox.  Lyrical language sounds mellifluous, lovely, musical, beautiful, imaginative, unique. Rhyme rhymes.  Rhyme may be a part of lyrical language, but is not necessarily part of it.  Lyrical language may be part of a rhyming manuscript, but not necessarily so.  A rhymer might be rough-and-tumble, crazy, word-play, not really lyrical at all, but still good.  A lyrical manuscript might not have one bit of rhyme in it, even as it uses assonance or consonance for different effects.

[Schriscoe Posts: 1,804 Status: Offline www.sharonchriscoebooks.com WWW]

I realize that conventional wisdom is that rhymers won't sell, but in fact rhyming books are published all the time.  There are very few editors who refuse to look at them at all.  Publishers dissuade people from submitting rhymers in marketing guides because the truth is, most people who think they can write in rhyme actually can't.  (Not referring specifically to anyone here, of course--I have no idea about anyone's writing here.)

As for the distinction between rhyme and lyrical language, they are two different tools in the writer's toolbox.  Lyrical language sounds mellifluous, lovely, musical, beautiful, imaginative, unique. Rhyme rhymes.  Rhyme may be a part of lyrical language, but is not necessarily part of it.  Lyrical language may be part of a rhyming manuscript, but not necessarily so.  A rhymer might be rough-and-tumble, crazy, word-play, not really lyrical at all, but still good.  A lyrical manuscript might not have one bit of rhyme in it, even as it uses assonance or consonance for different effects.

  This. Well explained Anne.

And it's so true that editors actually do love rhyme. Well, there are the exceptions as always. I've heard of at least one editor that refuses to look at rhyme. But in the end, the story (just like prose) has to be great as well. A lot of times rhymers try to put the rhyme first, then make the story work around it. This doesn't work, and the editors can tell.

[Pons Posts: 2,664 Status: Offline]

I agree with Anne Marie and Shriscoe. There are so many ways to go wrong with rhyme that it gets painful to read it after a while and some agents may shut the door. That being said, rhyme, done well, is a great seller and agents and editors know it. It's just such a rare thing. I love Julia Donaldson's Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo.

And one of the big ways people go wrong with rhymes is with the rhythm. You need to know about about poetic feet and how to use them.

All that being said, if I had written a rhyming PB, I'd be up front about it. If you call your writing lyrical and it isn't, it won't work in your favor. It only takes a glance to know if the PB is intended to rhyme or not, and I don't see much advantage in trying to snooker something past an agent.

Best of luck. 

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,937 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

I find that most people who try to write in rhyme have perfect rhymes, but the rhythm will often be sloppy. We have an explanation of what makes rhyme (verse) so hard to write well in here: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?topic=76959.0.

Anne Marie has given you a wonderful explanation of the differences and Pons is spot on about calling your manuscript what it is.

[Melissa K Posts: 655 Status: Offline]

All that being said, if I had written a rhyming PB, I'd be up front about it. If you call your writing lyrical and it isn't, it won't work in your favor. It only takes a glance to know if the PB is intended to rhyme or not, and I don't see much advantage in trying to snooker something past an agent.

This.