17. April 25, 2000
Dear Writer,
Thank you for sending your work to me to consider for publication with Orchard Books.
I have now given your submission careful readings and, as much as I enjoy certain elements of
the writing, overall I do not feel it is strong enough to publish successfully on the Orchard list.
I’m sorry I can’t send better news. I am returning you manuscript herewith along with
my best wishes for placing it elsewhere. Thank you again for your interest in Orchard Books.
_______________________________________________________________________
95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (212) 951-2600 Fax (212) 213-6435
21. Rhythm
• RHYTHM - the cadence, or rise and fall of your
voice
• the pattern of stressed and
non-stressed syllables
•
22.
23.
24.
25. VIVID VERBS AND COLORFUL WORDS
• Vivid Verbs and Colorful Words
• Vivid Verbs and Colorful Words
• Vivid Verbs and Colorful Words
•
• Vivid Verbs and Colorful Words
• Vivid Verbs and Colorful Words
• Vivid Verbs and Colorful Words
26. VIVID VERBS AND COLORFUL WORDS
• He went out the door and
took a drink.
• Sam bolted out the screen
door chugging his Gatorade.
87. This is the alley
where schoolchildren meet
for a stick-and-ball game
in the cobblestone street
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98. Couplet
Two (2) lines that rhyme
It’s hard to catch a butterfly
Because he flies across the sky.
Lightening, thunder, all around!
Soon the rain falls on the ground.
99. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.
Jack jump over the candlestick.
100. Couplets
Two lines that rhyme
School’s out! Summer’s in!
Livelong days begin again.
Hiking, biking, cookouts, camps.
Overnight at Gran and Gramps.
Lightening bugs and lemon squeezes.
Sunburned noses, skinned-up kneeses.
Freckled cheeks and ice creamed chins.
School’s out! Summer’s in!
101. Writing a Couplet
1. Think about your topic. Think about what
you want to say about it in your poem.
2. Make a list of words that rhymes with the
last word in your sentence.
3. Write your second sentence. Does it rhyme
with the first line? Does it have the same (or
almost the same) number of syllables?
102. Triplet
Three (3) lines, at least two that rhyme
Up, up, up in flight
Sails my rainbow kite.
What a pretty sight!
104. Quatrain
Four (4) lines with several possible rhyming patterns:
AABB – lines 1 and 2 rhyme, lines 3 and 4 rhyme
ABCB – lines 2 and 4 rhyme, lines 1 and 3 do not rhyme.
105. Cookies
Cookies are my favorite snack. A
While I eat I smack, smack, smack. A
Each flavor is so very sweet, B
But chocolate chip cannot be beat. B
Mister Sun
Mister Sun wakes up at dawn, A
Puts his golden slippers on, A
Climbs the summer sky at noon, B
Trading places with the moon. B
106. Mary had a little lamb A
Its fleece was white as snow. B
And everywhere that Mary went C
The lamb was sure to go. B
107. Quatrain - ABCB
A Row, row, row your boat,
B Gently down the stream,
C Merrily, merrily, merrily,
B Life is but a dream.
108. Limerick
An amusing/silly verse of fine lives. There are
three long lines, and two short lines that rhyme.
A There once was a girl who loved bugs. 8
A She kept them in jars, cups and jugs. 8
B She tickled their shins, 5
B Scratched under their chins, 5
A And carefully game them all hugs. 8
109. Limerick
There once was a poor boy named Sid
Who thought he knew more than he did.
He thought that a shark
Would turn tail if you bark.
So he swam out to try it --- poor kid!
There once was a bear at the zoo
Who could always find something to do.
When it bored him to go
On a walk to and fro
He reversed it and walked for and to.
110. Writing a Limerick
Line 1 ___________________________________A
Line 2 ___________________________________A
Line 3 ________________________B
Line 4 ________________________B
Line 5 ___________________________________A
1. Choose the name of the person, place or thing your limerick is going
to be about.
2. Create your first line. (You may want to follow the pattern “There was
a _______ named __________.” or “There once was a ___________from
____________.” Make a list of words that rhymes with the last word in
your first line.
3. Think of a second line that rhymes with your fist line.
4. Write two short lines that rhyme which tell something about your
topic.
5. Now think of a final line that rhymes with your first line. (You may want
to repeat part of your first line.)
111. Writing a Haiku
Line 1 ______________ 5 syllables
Line 2 __________________________ 7 syllables
Line 3 _______________ 5 syllables
1. Decide on your topic. You may want to use a picture to get
started.
2. Make a list of phrases that tells where the action is
occurring. Remember to refer to nature or season.
3. Make a list of phrases that tells what is happening.
4. Make a list of phrases that tells when the action is taking
place.
5. Write a haiku using your favorite phrase from each list.
6. Make changes until you have seventeen syllables.
112.
113. Tired cat sleeps all night.
He needs lots of rest for a
Long day of napping.
114. On the moonlit beach
restless waves move endlessly
Quiet summer night
