Write2Ignite

Okay, you may have been hesitant with my article What Writers Can Learn from Walt Disney. You may have seen the Peanuts comic strip in a new light with What Writers Can Learn from Charles Schulz. But Dolly Parton? Surely, Kyle, you’re taking this thing too far! But hey, a writing job is more than just working 9 to 5. In fact, it can feel like you are just an Island in the Streams. So put on your Coat of Many Colors, and let’s see what writers can learn from Dolly Parton.

Poetry

The first obvious lesson here, is that a songwriter is a poet. While I am not a big fan of poetry, I like my picture books to rhyme. I’ve noticed my nieces give an extra amount of attention to the picture book I’m reading to them when it rhymes. So, as I begin writing my own picture books, I find myself turning to songs for inspiration. A good song has an interesting rhyming scheme and the ability to tell a simple story in just a few minutes time. Take for example Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors. It’s such a sweet little song, it could be a picture book. Oh, that’s right: it already is! At just 327 words, Dolly wrote a song that tells a true story from her childhood that feels like it was straight out of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book. And she’s not the only one to turn her song into a children’s book. Bart Millard of MercyMe turned I Can Only Imagine into a sweet picture book about seeing God’s handiwork on this earth. Nursery rhymes like Five Little Ducks or Old MacDonald can either be sung or read as a story. I remember reading Simms Taback’s book There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, while my mother taught me the melody. If you write your picture book as if you’re writing a song, you might be surprised by the outcome.

Humor

If you know anything about Dolly Parton, you know that she has a great sense of humor. But it’s not just in her interviews where she shows off her humor. I mean, instead of saying she woke up and poured a cup of coffee, she says “Tumble out of bed and I stumble to the kitchen/ pour myself a cup of ambition.” Backwoods Barbie is a brilliant response to the criticism she’s received for her looks. While neither 9 to 5 or Backwoods Barbie should ever be made into picture books, Dolly still shows her ability to use lyrics that make you chuckle or grin. And it is that same approach we should use when writing our picture books. Cute will only get you so far with children. In the words of Donald O’Connor, “Make ‘em laugh!” Perhaps the funniest Dolly Parton song is one that few know about called I’ll Oil Wells Love You. And the fact that she wrote this song before her classic I’ll Always Love You makes it even better. Use your sense of humor. You don’t have to be a comedian to make a kid laugh. Just add some whimsy, and charm. Just like how a song can improve your mood, your picture book should have the same ability.

Prolific

By the time I publish this blog post, Dolly Parton will be a few days shy of celebrating her 77^th birthday and she’s still writing new songs. She’s estimated that she’s written over a thousand songs and had over 400 of them recorded by either her or other artists. Just like Disney and Schulz, Dolly is prolific. She still feels like she has something to say. Just last year she released a song about a dream she had where God was lecturing the world. Don’t Make me Have to Come Down There is witty, thought provoking, and charming. If you’re looking to write a picture book, try setting it to music. If you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, use a well-known melody and sing it in your head. Who knows? You may have just stumbled upon the next great picture book. Or written the next country music hit. Either way, tumble out of bed, pour yourself a cup of ambition and get to work!

What is your favorite Dolly Parton song? What song do you think would make a good picture book? Let me know in the comments!

Just like his two older brothers, Kyle Morgan was homeschooled from Kindergarten through High School. When he is not busy writing, the next classic children’s book, Kyle loves spending time with his family, all things baseball, and watching black and white movies. He is a monthly contributor to Write2Ignite where he blogs about writing for children. His work has appeared in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, The Caldwell Perspective and StarLight Magazine. You can check out his Facebook page or follow him on Instagram.