Teeny Tiny Toady
by Jill Esbaum
Illustrated by Keika Yamaguchi
2016 Best in Rhyme Award Top 10
Congratulations Jill!
See the Top 20 Best in Rhyme Books for 2016
Is Your Rhymer Ready?
7 Troubleshooting Tips
by Jill Esbaum
Writing a character-driven rhyming story isn’t for the weak of heart. Rhyming stories must have perfect rhyme, consistent rhythm, and a story that not only makes sense, but connects with readers emotionally. Oh, and they should be FUN! Of those three things––rhyme, rhythm, and story––the toughest to get right, at least for me, is STORY.
Gleaned from many years of critiquing and writing, here’s a checklist you might use to determine whether or not your story is ready for editorial eyes, along with troubleshooting tips.
-
Have I introduced the conflict quickly? Is my main character’s (MC) problem/goal clear to
readers on the first or second page?
If you worry you may be easing into the story, you probably are. How might you cut text to jump into the action quicker? Is every bit of information you’ve included absolutely necessary to the story problem?
-
Is my entire story focused on how the MC goes about trying to solve his problem or achieve his goal?
If you think your story might be meandering, write a one-sentence synopsis. I often have to do this midway through a story, when I’ve been so consumed with rhythm and rhyme that my story has jumped the tracks. Oops.
-
Does the MC’s problem get worse? Does every stanza reflect that escalation?
If you aren’t sure the problem is getting worse, try jotting a phrase beside each stanza that encapsulates its reason for being there. It’s like writing a 50-word version of your story. Does the problem get worse? Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? Using the same trick, make sure no two stanzas are performing the same task. If they are, combine them into one stronger (and detail-rich) stanza.
-
Have I shown the story, or am I doing too much telling?
If your story feels lifeless, and you suspect you’re doing too much telling, think about your story as a stage play. How can you tweak to allow readers to feel that they’re onstage, living the story through your MC, rather than sitting out in the audience, watching from afar? A simple trick, whether writing in first person point of view or third, is to filter everything through your MC’s senses/thoughts/emotions. And if your story has no dialogue, add some! Nobody wants to watch a play in which the only one talking is the narrator.
-
Does my story show clear cause and effect, or is it a series of unrelated events that “just happen?”
Nothing in a story should happen without a reason. Ideally, it’s the MC’s choices, good or bad, that drive the story forward, cause “the next thing” to happen. Sounds simple. But it’s not.
-
Does my story have any do-nothing words that are included solely as filler?
If so, brainstorm other, more concise, ways to say things. There’s ALWAYS another way. I have to remind myself of this with every manuscript I write. Look for do-nothing lines, too. Weed out words/lines that don’t add anything new to the story. It’s crucial that every word of every line reveal character or move the story forward. Otherwise, snip-snip!
-
Have I given readers a satisfying conclusion or unexpected ending twist? Has my MC grown or changed?
If you suspect that your ending is ho-hum, brainstorm five different ways your story might end.
Yes, five. Look back through your story. How might your ending reflect your beginning?
Have fun, and your reader will, too. Rhyming and Wacky go together like the Three Stooges and finger boinks.
When it comes to crafting rhyming stories, practice really does make perfect. Besides tinkering with your own stories, examine a variety of published rhyming picture books. To get a feel for meter, type them out and read them aloud. Study their plot structure. Learn to recognize problem areas in your own work. Embrace revision.
And before you know it, you’ll be on the fast (okay, slow) track to publication. Good luck!
Jill Esbaum is the author of 11 picture books, many written in rhyme. Recent titles include If a T. Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party, Teeny Tiny Toady (starred review, Kirkus), and Elwood Bigfoot – Wanted: Birdie Friends. Several of her books have been nominated for state awards, and her I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! won SCBWI’s Crystal Kite award. Coming this fall: Frankenbunny. Jill is also the author of more than 20 nonfiction books for National Geographic.
Jill created a group blog of fellow picture book writers and illustrators called Picture Book Builders(www.picturebookbuilders.com), teaches and speaks at conferences around the country, and co-hosts the Whispering Woods Picture Book Writing Workshop each summer. She is on Twitter @JEsbaum. Find more information at her website, www.jillesbaum.com
Angie Karcher 
Thanks for the checklist. These are good things to keep in mind EVERY time we write a story, whether it rhymes or not!
Great to-do list for rhymers! Thanks.
Thanks for the great advice. You’ve given me some ideas for a MS I’m working on!
JILL: CONGRATS on your award–I ABSOLUTELY ADORE “Teeny Tiny Toady”!!! And just reading the title of “I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo!” is enough to make me smile! THANK YOU for your post today. I especially appreciate your editor-readiness check list. SO HELPFUL! SO INSPIRING! THANK YOU!!!!
Your comments today were just what I needed to hear. Thanks! I have work to do!
Thank you so much, Jill. This list of questions will be great to keep by my side as I revise.
Thanks for the tips, Jill. I wrote them out by hand to help the retention process.
Very nice photo. Compliments to the photographer.
Oh, my! See why I love this place?! So many supportive, sweet peeps! Thanks for commenting, all of you, and if anything on this list helps you refine a wip, I’m thrilled!
Jill
Thank you for your great advice. Your checklist is a great reference that I plan on using immediately. Thanks for sharing your wonderful books with the world!
Jill, your blog post is just chock full of helpful hints. Great advice. Thank you. 🙂
Great post, thanks so much!
Good, solid advice on how to write a winning story line. Thank you.
Thanks for the advice. You’re so right – the story itself is central. 🙂 5 different story endings sounds so hard – great idea!
Great advice, not to be forgotten when you get wrapped up in the rhyme! Thank you.
Thank you for all your helpful tips! They are very much appreciated!
Super-duper tips here, Jill. Thanks so much! My problem is usually filler words/lines, predictable rhymes, and plot. It was great meeting you at last summer’s WOW retreat. 🙂 Ann Magee
Great advice. I need to check out some of these books. Thanks!
Thanks for the great advice and the handy checklist to use for a WIP!
Thanks for the great list. This will be so useful!
Thanks for all the great suggestions. They are taken to heart.
Love checklists! Thanks for this one 🙂
Great checklist, thank you! I plan to use it on all my rhymers.
Perfect list–not sure I’m ready, but at least I have the list! 🙂
Wow! What a valuable check list!
I’m so excited to discover “Rhyme Revolution.” I’m looking forward to following along and learning more about the art and craft of rhyming PBs.
Thank you, Jill, for the outstanding tips. With the support of your checklist, I look forward to revising a WIP.
~Suzy Leopold
What a super-helpful Checklist… Many thanks indeed!
I often need to find ways to “show” more in manuscripts and filtering everything through my MC’s senses is a great suggestion. Thank you!
Wow, Writing a picture book 101 in a single blog post! I think I’m going to print this out and use it every time I’m revising a manuscript. Fantastic! And we LOVE (and own) Teeny Tiny Toady. 😍
Thanks so much for all the great tips! I can’t wait to read Teeny Tiny Toady!
Great advice. I agree – no ho-hum endings!
Thanks for the tips! This will be great to have handy as a check list.
Rhyming stories have a way of taking the bit in their teeth and bolting. This is such wonderful advice for getting them back under control. Definitely going into my writing checklist. Thank you, Jill.
Thanks Jill for this helpful checklist. I forwarded to my critique group from 12×12. Awesome post.
I love this check list! I think the steps could also be used for some stories told in prose. Thank you for sharing with us and reminding us to make the story strong and make it sing by editing rhyming stories just as hard as any other story. Thanks, Jill!
Best post! I loved your tips and the idea to check the book from the MC’s POV.
Wow! What a great troubleshooting list. Succinct and perfect. I am going to have to write these down and keep them handy as my go-to list for when I am stuck writing or in the editing process! ❤