From: Sherryl Clark <sherrylc1_at_optusnet.com.au>
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:32:30 +1000

Elsa asked: Can anyone explain some of the considerations that, to put it simply, can determine which words go in one line and which in another?

As a writer of verse novels, I can try to answer from my point of view! For me, there is a fine balance between story and poetry. Not every story makes a good verse novel - I've tried and failed with a few. But a story that has a deeper emotional heart works well. I can use poetry to "under-explain", to leave lots of room for the reader, to focus on emotion with a light touch without overdoing it. I choose line breaks for several reasons - one is voice. Some characters have longer lines than others as part of their voice, and longer lines can also work to show mood. A dramatic urgent poem will have shorter lines, as will an urgent voice. Mostly I work with shorter lines because I like the way you can use them instead of punctuation, and create pauses and anticipation, as well as pace. My verse novel, "Runaways" (not out until 2013), has two voices and one is that of an 11 year old boy with ADD. I had a lot of fun working with his voice and scattering lines across the page to show his scattered thoughts and a ctions, but there were times when he was focused and I could use line breaks more tightly to convey this. I also am conscious that I am writing poetry and work to include imagery and other poetic devices. I admit that I, too, get very frustrated with "verse novels" that seem like chopped up prose.

Sherryl Clark "Farm Kid", "Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!), "Motormouth" - verse novels (published in Australia)
Received on Sat 14 Apr 2012 03:32:30 PM CDT