Once upon a rhyme...How epic tale sprung to life

Juggling bursts of inspiration with everyday commitments can be a challenge for any author. But here, former Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson shares in illuminating rhyme how The Snail and The Whale came to life

Tea in bed. Second cup. Dislodge cats. Get up.

Son to school. Spouse to work. Sit at desk – mustn’t shirk. Scratch head. Dream up snail. Maybe team her up with whale? Chew pen. What next? Can’t think. Feel vexed. Feed cats. Open post. Read it, over slice of toast. Little boy wants to know date of birth of Gruffalo. Little girl wonders why giant gave away his tie.

Out to shops. Get idea (Big grin, ear to ear): brilliant climax – whale gets beached! (Rhyme a problem...reached? Beseeched?

Leeched? Well never mind, just now.) Snail then rescues whale – but how? Back home, get stuck.

Go off snail. Consider duck. Phone rings. Who is it? School, requesting author visit. Check diary...shocked to see “Monday, Brookwood Library”. That’s today! Leap in car.

Thank goodness, not far.

Tell a story, act and sing.

Kids join in with everything. (Teacher sits there marking books, blind to my accusing looks.) Answer questions. Back to house. Joined by son, later spouse. Open bottle. Cook salmon. Practise piano. Play Backgammon. Have bath – that’s when Inspiration strikes again:

Snail could learn to write with slime! (Quite an easy word to rhyme.) Crawls on blackboard, leaves a trail... Children run and save the whale. Story planned! Tomorrow, start Writing it – the easy part.