1. The first part of the process is to pick the topic I want to write about.
Let’s say my topic is reading.
2. Second, I pick two words that relate to the topic. The two words I pick must be words that are easily rhymed. I would never select a word like chartruse because I can’t readily think of rhymes for it. I’d pick yellow or green instead.
The two words I’ll pick for my topic are happy and friend.
3. After I have the two words selected, I create a sun/spider web (a graphic organizer I use when teaching middle school kids) and brainstorm as many words as I can. You’ll have to just imagine it, because I can’t draw pictures on this blog.
friend: bend, blend, spend, end, depend, lend, pretend, mend, recommend
happy: sappy, crappy, nappy
3.1. If during my brainstorm I find out that I can’t create at least 4 rhyminng words, then I select a different one.
So instead of using happy, I’m going to use fiction.
fiction: depiction, eviction, friction, restriction, diction, prediction, addiction, etc.
4. Next, I number my lined paper 1-8 because triolets are 8 lines long.
5. Then, I focus on the first line. Whichever word that I find more rhymes for, is the word that ends the first line.
In this case it would be friend.
Example: Novels can be better than a friend.
6. I do a syllable count once I get the first line. I shoot for 8 or 10 syllables. Ask me why I do that later, if you want to know. It’s not something you should feel required to do.
So if the syllable count is wrong, I revise the first line.
Example: A novel can be better than a friend.
7. On my lined paper, I write this first line on lines 1,4, and 7.
8. I repeat the process for line 2, and write it down on lines 2 & 8
Example: reading is my favorite addiction
9. Then I work on lines 3 & 5 because they both rhyme with line 1.
Example: always ready, on books I can depend
I can tell you which ones I’d recommend
10. Finally I work on line 6, which rhymes with line 2.
Example: memoirs, sci-fi, poetry, and fiction
11. And that’s it. I read the poem a few times and make sure it sounds right, give it a title, add punctuation (if needed), revise a bit, and then I’m finished.
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Books > Friends
A novel can be better than a friend
reading is my favorite addiction
always ready, on books I can depend
a novel can be better than a friend
I can tell you which ones I’d recommend
memoirs, sci-fi, and young adult fiction
a novel can be better than a friend
reading is my favorite addiction.
