SECRETS & TIPS ON WRITING FOR KIDS -- POETRY 1 -- BEGIN WITH A GRIN
(posted 1/09)
Writing poetry for kids is great fun, and can be profitable too. Don't think you could ever write a publishable poem? Remember that silly chant you made up for your favorite three year old? The one that made them laugh and shout "again! again!" That was poetry for children and you can write many, many more. There's always a market for children's humour so - let's being with a grin.
How would you begin a funny poem? Your first line is very important -- if you can attract attention immediately you are on to a winner. Writers call that first sentence the "hook" for obvious reasons. In a poem, especially a humorous one, it is more important than ever because you have such short time to get across what you want to say.
Take a look at these two beginning lines: First this one -- Once upon a time a little furry cat . . . 'yep boring'. Now try something like -- A cat spat at a rat, the rat spat back. It's already more interesting. Apart from the punchiness of the words, there's a good chance that something is going to happen and kids will want to know what.
Take a minute to find out . . .
A cat spat at a rat -- the rat spat back.
'Drat,' said the cross cat and gave the cat a smack.
'Bully,' said a big Dog, 'try someone your size.
Drop that fatty Ratty or you'll get a big surprise'
A passing Horse said 'nay, I'm not allowing that.
Just look at you, you nasty dog you're bigger than the cat.'
No one made a movement, they all just stood and glared.
Until their mothers came for them then everyone was scared.
I had no idea what was going to happen to the Cat and the Rat when I first began writing that poem. Which shows you that as long as you start with interesting words your brain will take up the challenge.
Starting in an unusual way then, is good for the writer as well as the reader. Short and snappy works well for the nonsense poem too -- try jotting down two words, two words that create a picture in your mind. I recently opened a dictionary and picked two at random -- "arachnid" and "egg." Not an obvious poem and I struggled with them but came up with . . .
An egg-head arachnid
wanted to be marr-i-ed.
He was bright but too timid
in his spider web he hid.
Okay, so it's not wonderful, but it does show what can be done with words you choose for yourself. And I may even think up a reasonable ending one day. But to concentrate on beginnings for now -- if you can't think of something that conjures up a strange picture how about a first sentence that starts with some action:
"A lion nearly ate me."
That should get some attention -- lets try it.
A lion nearly ate me.
A tiger tried to too.
It's lucky they were in a film
and not outside a zoo.
I'm sure you get the idea. Start your children's poem with words that "grab" your reader like the start of a tickle and you're halfway there.
Sharon Tregenza 2009
Article from "SECRETS & TIPS ON WRITING FOR KIDS