My Struggles with the Ballad

As I said in a previous blog, I wanted to write a middle grades book in ballad form, but had never written a ballad before. So, as I explained, I studied up on the ballad a bit and re-read some ballads such as “Sir Patrick Spens,” “Streets of Laredo,” and others.

And then I adjusted my chair in front of my computer and began to write the story I had in mind. 

Here’s what happened.

2017 — First Draft

The line stood firm, the line stood fresh
Robert Stroud sat tall and proud
On Castle, t...