Ok, let’s get going!

Alayne, welcome! I love that Turkey speaks in rhyme! Do you normally write in rhyme?

AKC: Thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, Ellen. TURKEY ON THE RUN was the first book that I dared to try rhyming. And it took a really long time to get the hang of it. But since then, I’ve sold another rhyming book to a Penguin Random House imprint. I am impatiently awaiting the official announcement. So, I’m finding myself writing more and more rhyming stories, and I love it. For me, it is super hard, but it gets easier with time. The worst part about writing in rhyme is that you can work all day just to get two lines worked out. But finally, you get what you think is a really good rhyming story completed. Then you pat yourself on the back and send it to your critique partners. “Wait what? It needs almost a complete rewrite?” Or “Wait what? I have to kill those darlings that took me entire day to perfect?” But, for me, what’s fantastic about writing in rhyme is I get lost in it. I get lost in all my writing, but rhyme takes me to a place that feels even happier than my other writing places.

The next best thing about having two books written in rhyme with a big five is that I am actually starting to believe in myself and my abilities to write good rhyme and good stories.

EL: I’m interrupting to say I ALWAYS believed Alayne had amazing abilities. OK…Continue. 🙂

AKC: Without Renée LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab, I wouldn’t have considered even trying to write in rhyme. But I also needed to have the drive and determination to try, try, try, and try again. The more I do it, the more I understand. And just like my writing in prose, I can look back at old work in rhyme and see what I didn’t know then. It’s nice to acknowledge how much I’ve grown. Some of my growth is also thanks to great critique partners who have published rhyming picture books and often help me see when things aren’t clicking with my story.

EL: Do you have a writing group or groups? How important do you think they are?

AKC: I almost answered this question above, but I will add a little bit here. I am in a rhyme only critique group, which has been a blessing. And I am in a long-standing picture book critique group that I love. I also have a few critique/writing buddies, with you, Ellen, being one—thank you. I have a very close brainstorming, critique, and all-things-writing discussion friend. She is invaluable to me both as a friend and a writing buddy.

I believe critique groups are a major key to picture book writing success. Not only do you get feedback to consider. You also get to see what is working and not working in your partners’ stories, which is a great way to learn and grow as a writer. In addition, getting feedback from critique partners is the best way to develop a thick skin, which helps tremendously when in the submission trenches. Getting several different opinions from critique partners is important. When you get comments from several people about the same section of your story, it is likely that it is a trouble area that you need to focus on. Getting several opinions is helpful with submissions as well, because of the subjective nature of manuscript reading. Five different editors might find something different about your story that they like or dislike. So, by getting subjective feedback from many critique partners, you have a better chance of weeding out what might help or harm your chances of getting an offer.

EL: Absolutely! Do you have any words of advice for aspiring kidlit writers?

ACK: We’ve covered critique groups. That would always be one of my top tips. Don’t be in a hurry to submit. The most exciting thing that can happen to a kidlit writer is to see our book in print, but if we rush the process, our chances of getting a published book can be diminished. Odds are, the work isn’t ready, and therefore isn’t publishable. That’s another good reason for critique groups; they help you to know when your story is ready.

I have a recent good example of me forgetting my own advice about not being in a hurry. I’m working on a new rhyming story, and I got so excited about it that I almost sent it to my agent without another round with critique partners. I found myself putting a timeline on this story only because I’m excited about it and anxious to find another winner. I took a step back and realized I was rushing it. It has now been through one critique group twice, one critique buddy twice, one critique group once with plans to have them look at it again. The result has been two significant rewrites so far.

Had I sent the story to my agent, and she chose to send it out, it would never have become my next winner. Or there is the possibility that she would have said, “I don’t think the story is ready yet.” That would have been embarrassing for me. My unannounced forthcoming book took me about ten years to perfect. TURKEY ON THE RUN took over ten years. Good writing, at least for me, takes time.

Other premature submissions were in the different stages of my writing growth. In the beginning, I thought I knew what I was doing, and I couldn’t wait to get a published book, so I sent out work that would make me want to dig a hole and hide in it today.

I’ve had a long, hard journey as a children’s book author, which has left me with enough advice to fill a book. But I will be kind to your readers and stop here.

EL: Great advice, Alayne! (not the stopping of advice!)  On another note, as a former upper elementary and middle school teacher, I would have definitely read TURKEY ON THE RUN to my class. I believe picture books are wonderful for ALL grade levels. What are some ways you think that teachers could use this in their classes?

ACK: Coincidentally, I just finished creating classroom companions, and I will be adding more to my website soon.Here is a link to the free downloadable guides. https://alaynekaychristianauthor.com/teacher-guides-school-visits

A sampling of what you will find is listed below.

Compare and contrast, character sequencing, cause and effect, vocabulary, crossword puzzles, word scramble, word search, writing, drawing, alphabetizing, maze, crafts, bingo and more.

EL: This is great. I hope teachers take full advantage of this.  Check out the book here! 

BIOS

Alayne Kay Christian is an award-winning author, a former acquisitions editor, and a writing teacher. Her books include An Old Man and H is Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin; The Weed That Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Story of the Toledo Christmas Weed; and Turkey On the Run!  Born in the Rockies, raised in Chicago, and now a true-blue Texan, Alayne’s writing conveys her creative spirit, a bit of her funny bone, and the kinship to nature and humanity that lives within her heart. https://alaynekaychristianauthor.com/

Neha Rawat from India, is an author/illustrator of children’s books. Her illustrated works include Masala Chai, Fast and Slow, Zuni and the Memory Jar, and The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother. Her debut author/illustrator picture book Ghungroos for Gauri will be published by Candlewick Press in 2026. When not drawing, Neha enjoys yoga, board games, hiking, and cuddling floofs. https://neharawat.com/       

EL: Congrats to both Alayne and Neha!

And now it’s time for a

Alayne is happy to give away the choice of a book (US only) or a 30-minute Zoom first-impressions manuscript critique. Just comment on this post to get in the running. You won’t regret it!

Until next time,

Ellen