LLL – Intro: Self-study meter/rhyme

Welcome…

…to the SELF-STUDY RHYME AND METER CRASH COURSE, brought to you by THE LYRICAL LANGUAGE LAB: Punching Up Prose with Poetry!

I’m thrilled that you’ve taken this step toward learning all the nitty-gritties of meter, rhyme, lyrical language, and poetry, which is what TLLL is all about. My goal with this course is to give you a solid foundation in the mechanics of rhyming verse, as well as help you unlock more poetic tools and show you how to use them to convey story, emotion, and meaning through lyrical language. Understanding the elements of poetry will enhance all your writing, whether it be poetry, prose and rhyming picture books, or novels.

Facebook group support

If you have questions on the lessons or need clarification of a specific concept,just post in our dedicated Facebook group at any time. You will need to request to be added, which I will do ASAP: Rhyme and Meter Facebook Group.

While I prefer to answer questions in this group, I realize that the entire world is not on Facebook. If you prefer to email your questions, you may do so at renee@reneelatulippe.com.

Assignment feedback

At the end of the course, you have the option of sending me two assignments for detailed feedback. Just choose the two you prefer and either post them in the Facebook group or email them to me. Please be patient, though — the turnaround will depend on the volume of assignments I have at that time.

Feedback on the course

This course has been carefully researched and developed to maximize learning while keeping the daily time commitment to a minimum. I am, however, always open to improvement and welcome your feedback at any time. If something doesn’t quite work for you, don’t hesitate to let me know via email at renee@reneelatulippe.com.

Legal stuff

I have worked diligently to create a comprehensive yet affordable course that is accessible to most writers. Please help me protect my work by not sharing emails, links, passwords, or content in any way. If you find the class helpful, I would be most appreciative if you recommended the course to those you feel would benefit from it.

Introduction

In the world of children’s literature, poetry often comes off as the eccentric cousin – the one everyone admires from afar but doesn’t get too close to. And that is a darn shame! Besides being a delightful medium to read and share, children’s poetry also has so much to teach us about the craft of writing.

But enough of this waxing poetic business! You will soon receive the link to Lesson 1, and we still have some things to do to get ready.

How the course works

On alternate days, you will receive an email with a link to that day’s lesson. All content is hosted on password-protected pages on my website at www.reneelatulippe.com. Simply click the link, enter your password, and start learning! Please do not share your password with anyone. The password will expire at the end of the course.

YOUR COURSE PASSWORD: LLL-write2017

For your convenience, practice sheets and supplemental materials are also offered in PDF format, which you will find at the bottom of each website page in the Downloads and Links section. You may print them out and keep them in a binder for future reference, but I do ask that you not share them with anyone else.

How long are the lessons?

This course is designed to put you in control of how much or how little you do. Concepts have been broken down into manageable chunks that can be read in about 30 minutes a day, plus writing time. Some students spend a couple of hours on a lesson while others may spend a couple of days or more. Each lesson also includes suggestions for extra exercises and assignment options in case you want or need more practice. And of course you can always go back to those extra exercises later.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

The following materials from the Downloads and Links section below:
- Recommended Reading and Resources
- Glossary of poetic terms
Computer with Internet access
Access to Facebook support group – request it here
A generous selection of poetry books (see Recommended Reading PDF)
A generous selection of rhyming and prose picture books that should include The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Highlighters of various colors
Many students use the course to work on WIPs, so you may want to have some manuscripts handy, either rhyming or prose