How to Write in Iambic Meter Tutorial | Poetic Meter & Rhyme Basics

#iambicmeter #poeticmeter #rhymingpicturebooks #peekandcritique #picturebooks #kidlit
In this video I show you an iambic meter example and explain what is iambic meter, how iambic meter works, and how you can vary iambic meter to keep your verse from being singsong-y. I also look at word choice, imagery, personification, and diction.
PEEK & CRITIQUE -- for writers of rhyming picture books, prose picture books, and children's poetry -- is a series that explores concepts taught in The Lyrical Language Lab online course, such as poetic meter, rhyme, sound devices, word choice, lyrical language, imagery, and scansion. I read and critique YOUR submitted writing samples of rhyming picture books, prose picture books, and children's poetry, explaining concepts along the way.
This is a FREE service for kidlit writers! You do not need to have taken my Lyrical Language Lab course to participate. This service is open to ALL kidlit writers!
Want to submit a writing sample for Peek & Critique? Go here:
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Learn more about the Lyrical Language Lab online course:
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[@kaitlynsanchez2807]

Thank you so much for critiquing my piece. You get me! It did just come to me, and I adore knowing why it works. You're the best!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

It was a pleasure, Kaitlyn. So much to talk about in it!

[@kaitlynsanchez2807]

@@LyricalLanguageLab *blushes* thank you!

[@marcialynch8103]

Kaitlyn! Just read and loved your color poem. How did it turnout as an illustrated piece?

[@ceceliavassar3189]

I have watched numerous videos on this subject and this is BY FAR the best explanation particularly for how poems vary meter within a given framework. Renee, you have the gift to teach such complexities. Thank you for your time.😊

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thank you so much for your kind comment, Cecilia! I'm so glad you found the video helpful. 😊

[@jamesponza]

I found Renée enlightening on this my first foray into the world of metric feet -- I learned so much today I now realise I didn't hit the target that she said about including colour here -- I've just lit up bright red

[@mr2darcy]

Great job with your analysis, Renee - and a superb sample written by Kaitlyn! One thing folks might keep in mind is that this poetic form - the 3/4/3/4 ballad stanza - is so common they probably don't even realize some of their favorite poems and songs are written in precisely this form. Proof: the lyrics to Amazing Grace and the Gilligan's Island Theme can both be sung to each other's melodies - and this poem can be sung to both of THEIR melodies! (I hope your followers will try it!) Keep up the good work!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Yup, the 4/3/4/3 ballad stanza is everywhere! I don't usually like to use songs as examples since they can be wonky, but Amazing Grace is a perfectly consistent example of this meter.

[@RobinWiesneth]

Great scan and analysis. I love how you took apart the meter variations to show why this piece works so well. Well done Kaitlyn.

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thank you! :)

[@kaitlynsanchez2807]

Thank you, Robin, that means so much to me

[@zahhoran7116]

I made these veres after I watch your two videos, what is your comments as an Arab new beginner in poetry Can you take my heart to the light sing and dance with you to the night feel and love and make surprise all I need from you to realize that I have a breath and live don't be crul with me and die

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

I applaud your dedication to poetry and the courage to write in a second language. However, since it IS a second language, I would recommend starting with free verse. Rhyme is difficult for first-language speakers and I feel it might hold you back. The sentiments expressed in the above poem are lovely but I feel the rhyme is keeping you from being able to express yourself completely and freely. Free verse is very liberating and beautiful!

[@kishorethapa1527]

Exceptionally explained in a meticulous manner. After vigorous research of quatrain indepth analysis this definitely stands out pheneninal , I am attempting one quatrain which i shall post , Pl examine and let me know . Thank you 🙏

[@rrussell3787]

Well done, Kaitlyn! Such a great poem story. :) And thank you, Renee, for breaking down iambic and trochaic meter so well. You're an awesome teacher, and I'm loving each one of your videos.

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Aw, thank you so much! I'm so glad you find the videos helpful. :)

[@kaitlynsanchez2807]

Thank you!

[@AtiqahSafiyyah]

You're a good teacher. I could understand your explanation clearly in one sitting!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thank you -- I'm so glad you found the video helpful!

[@writerjolene]

So much to learn from this video! I'm watching it for my second time and I have SO much respect for people who write in rhyme. Kaitlyn, you are a genius, and Renee, you're a wonderful teacher!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thank you so much, Jolene! I'm thrilled you found it so helpful!

[@kaitlynsanchez2807]

awww, thank you so much Jolene, you're a genius too! And isn't Renee the best?!

[@chipomuk]

So useful! Thanks so much for this. As a beginner have referred to this a few time already!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Oh, that's great to hear! I'm so glad your found it helpful! :)

[@kaitlynsanchez2807]

Aw, yay!

[@missea6547]

This is so informative. Thank you.

[@genehayes]

Listening to this with headphones and the audio is only in the left channel haha

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thanks for letting me know! My microphone records on one channel, but I will look into fixing this in my video editing program.

[@jemarkortega8228]

You're my hero. Thanks for this

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

So glad you found it helpful! :)

[@amyansara9381]

I love your channel and it makes me so much more confident as a writer! I submitted in the link and hope to her back!!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Hooray! I'm so glad you find the videos useful, Amy! :)

[@stphnlyns]

you ate this video right up ma'am

[@boyandbelugee]

Thank you so much for this lesson! We love poetry and have so much to learn!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

I'm so glad you found the video helpful!

[@rajaramvarun]

This is brilliant. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

So glad you found it helpful, Varun! ☺

[@sophiawilliam4315]

Thank you so very much.. you explained it so well... and lovely poem... this is going to greatly help fix those troubled notes i get stuck with... I'm so glad to have found this video🙏

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

You're very welcome, Sophia! I'm so glad you found the video helpful! 🤗

[@saadianaz3284]

Wonderful Description

[@gk411]

I just came across your site, it's excellent, I enjoy listening and learning from you very much.

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

And thank YOU for watching! :)

[@lisasdubois-writeinyourfac6206]

Wow, thank you for such an understandable video on this...

[@riyazenglish3576]

Lovely . Love you and your art

[@sohitchouhan6122]

Very nice 👍

[@Itsik2]

Thank you so much!

[@nonono-r1b]

ayoko na

[@truesurrealist]

Dubai , an iamb China, a trochee Interesting! Clarity 🙂

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Ha! Hooray for clarity! :D

[@Melissa77100mac]

it is so good

[@jameslabs1]

The audio is only in the left ear. Please fix

[@danielstamm9957]

Are rhymes always always always falling on a stressed beat, in all meters? If I have the anapestic line "and if YOU asked her GRANDson, he was SUREly an ODD one”, for example, wouldn’t the rhyme fall on the unstressed beat?

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Hi, Daniel. YES, rhymes must always fall on a stressed beat no matter what meter it is. In your sample, I would not read those as rhyming words; rather, I would look to the LAST stressed syllable (GRAND and ODD) and think "Hey, those don't rhyme." The rhyme will not necessarily be on the last SYLLABLE of a line, but it will always be on the last STRESSED beat of a line. Here's a sample of two anapestic tetrameter lines with feminine endings (ending on an extra unstressed beat) to show you what I mean: the SNOW flurried DOWN and the WIND blew in BOLD-er / therm-OM-et-ers DROPPED and the NIGHTS became COLD-er. BOLD-er and COLD-er are perfect rhymes even though they end with an unstressed beat.

[@danielstamm9957]

Got it - thanks so much, Renee!@@LyricalLanguageLab

[@c.maciel4828]

What a masterpiece I've just found! Thank you for this wonderful video!

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

You are very welcome! I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@natecanfield3375]

Your audio is left only

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thanks for pointing that out! I figured out how to fix this in editing for future videos. :)

[@paolajofre]

There is no audio 😞. Can you set captions so we can read what you say please ?

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Hi Paola. I have audio when I play it, so perhaps it's a setting on your computer...? But if you can't get it to work, you can just click on the CC to see subtitles.

[@paolajofre]

@@LyricalLanguageLab thank you for your quick response. I can hear you on my Mac. Last night I was on my Iphone and couldn't hear many of your videos. I will look into and see if there is a setting I need to check off. so happy I can hear you now :)

[@bwashburn1972b7]

Does this go for music also? Like writing lyrics?

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Great question! I'm no expert in lyrics, but I would say no. If I try to scan lyrics to any song, it just doesn't work out. Consider that any given syllable in a song can be held for many beats, while in metrical verse one syllable gets one beat (either stressed or unstressed).

[@bwashburn1972b7]

@@LyricalLanguageLab true ...i guess this is geared more towards poem and writing books maybe?

[@lawsonhanson6377]

A magnificent description of the mechanics of iambic meter through the example of Kaitlyn's very clever poem. Thank you for producing this excellent tutorial.

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Lawson!

[@Handsonlearning-VSH]

How do you know the difference between a headless foot and an error?

[@LyricalLanguageLab]

Great question! It really comes down to experience ... and whether the line still flows smoothly. Generally speaking, a headless foot will work if the rest of your meter is solid. And remember that headless means the omission of UNSTRESSED beats. We can't play with the number of STRESSED beats once the meter is established, because that would really throw readers off. Be sure to always read your work out loud as you are composing to see how it flows.