Throw pink confetti! Open the chocolates! It’s here! It’s here!
And do you know why I’m so excited?
It’s not because I’m about to publicly humiliate myself with my sample entry. (Although I suppose that does beg for a certain amount of excitement.)
It’s because I’m going to get to read all of your FABULOUS entries!!!
At least I hope I am. Was anyone able (or willing?) to write one?
We shall see…
For any who may not have heard yet and who might like to join us in our contest, all the info is HERE. (Please scroll down below the slugs, and please note the word count, slightly raised from the original.)
Meanwhile, for your roll-on-the-floor-and-possibly-die-laughing-at-me pleasure, here is my sample:
So it’s Valentines Day and we’re in the Secret Clubhouse.
We is me, my little brother Ty, and our dog, Leroy.
Not Bronwyn.
I’m boss of the club because I can talk.
Ty and Leroy are perfect sidekicks because they can’t.
Bronwyn wore a dress to school today. Traitor.
“Here’s the problem,” I tell them. “Valentines Day is so full of silly it ruins the only decent girls.”
“Lala,” says Ty.
“Exactly,” I say. “Pink overload. It’s probably poisonous.”
Ty and Leroy do not disagree.
“Luckily, I have a plan.”
Here it is:
1. Cancel Valentines Day.
I am a master of simplicity.
Someone bangs on the clubhouse roof.
It’s Bronwyn.
“Go away!” I say.
Ty eats some dirt. Leroy wags his tail. Traitor.
“I’ve got worms,” says Bronwyn. “Want to do some Valentine fishing?”
Fishing Valentine?
Maybe her mother made her wear that dress. “Okay,” I say.
As we head for the fishing hole, I make up a Valentine for her.
Yikes! Looks like the pink poisoned me, too!
SO. After that, I think everyone should feel pret-ty confident they can do better! I had trouble getting an idea I could squeeze into such a low word count. This was 22,067 words at the outset. (Well. I may be exaggerating a little :))
This time I am remembering the link list on the first try (yay me!) so get your entry-specific links right on there so we can all come applaud your genius! I can’t wait to read everyone’s stories!!!
Remember, this post will stay up until Monday evening, and you have until 5PM EST Monday to post your link. Then we’ll have a special post Tuesday with the finalists for you to vote.
Ready?
GO!!!
(Oh, and P.S. I am being featured today, February 11, on Kai Strand’s blog, on the topic of industry love! Should you care to pop over and have a look, I wrote about my indie :))
Also, please check the comments – there are at least 2 entries posted there, one under jrzoch and one under my name due to posting trouble.
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Hi Susannah,
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share with this awesome community of writers! Your story made me smile and remember back to when my kids were small and my daughter wanted to tag along with her older brothers.
I tried to link up…but I don't think your linky likes me. 😦
Here is the link to my post if you are able to work your magic: http://viviankirkfield.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/valentines-day-contest/
I can't wait to read everyones entires. 🙂
Oops, sorry Susanna, I just submitted my PPBF to the wrong link. Please ignore 🙂
Barbara
Grade ONEderful
Susannah…I did it!!!! I was able to link up my Valentine's Day Contest post. 🙂
Thank you so much for providing this opportunity to share with such a great community of readers and writers.
Your story brought back memories of when my own children were small and my daughter wanted to tag along with her older brothers.
I'm in the process of writing mine–so you can count on at least another entry! 200 words or less is tough!!! 🙂 I loved your “Roses are Red” poem at the end of your story–I'm going to have to teach that one to my boys… “girls are gross…” (except for me) 🙂
That was so cool Susanna. I love your dialogue and characterisation. The two things I need to improve on.
I'm posting mine tomorrow. Are you doing my secret Valentine contest on Tuesday?
I like yours. What do you mean others can do better? Here's mine. I stuck to 150 words because I had finished it before you changed the word count. It could be a lot better but the time has run out for me. I have to do other things, like write on ms. Thank you, Susanna for this fun contest. I had a lot of fun. It was so much fun! *did say that already* but I mean it. lol
Thanks, Natalie – I'm glad you found something to like 🙂 I will look forward to your entry!!!
Oh Susanna! They are unlikely Valentine's for sure. I'm still working on mine, so I'm not reading the others until I get mine ship shape to post. I'll post early on Monday and link then.
I'm so excited you're going to post one! Yay! I can't wait 🙂 And thank you for finding something nice to say – I was definitely not at my most inspired this week 🙂 (Replied to your other question via email)
I'm so glad you had fun, Clar!!! And I'm rushing right over to read your entry this very second 🙂
Working on mine now, Susanna, but not posting or reading anyone else's until Monday morning! 🙂
Your dialogue is so authentic and believable. That's the biggest problem with my January draft: plodding dialogue that no 5-year-old would say! Will have to study your evil secrets…
“Maybe her mother made her wear that dress.” I love that kid! So does Bronwyn – that's why she brought the worms. Worms probably are the best way to a boy's heart!
Looking forward to reading all about the unlikely love stories. Happy Valentine's Day!
You guys are all so nice. You are hauling me out of the depths of despair this morning after a pretty harsh career-related interchange yesterday which has left me considering a career move to emptying septic tanks, so I can't tell you how much appreciate any encouragement today 🙂 I need to learn your evil secrets to whimsy. In fact, that exact word came up in the interchange!
Thanks, Stacy! I will be eagerly awaiting yours!!! 🙂
Roses are Red
Tulips are Pink
Your story is cool
That's what I think!
Thanks, Cathy 🙂 I loved yours! And it looks like quite a few entries may be posted on Monday – at least 3 people have said they're waiting until the to post and to read. So we will just have to be patient. So hard! 🙂
Oh man, I'm such a chicken when it comes to these things! Sounds like a hoot, though… Loved yours! Happy Valentines weekend!
Aw, thanks Erik! And who knew you were such a poet?! 🙂 Will you be posting a story? I hope so!
(here is my weaker return :))
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm lucky to have
Readers like you 🙂
Don't feel chicken-y! We're all among friends here 🙂 Please join in if you'd like! It's just for fun!
Thank you! I'll (probably) post it on Monday! 🙂
I will be looking forward to it 🙂
I like your poem!! It's so good, as your writing always is, Susanna! Heading on over to Kai's blog now. Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much, Laura! I think I'll head over to Kai's too – it wasn't up when last I checked!
Hurray!
Loved your story!
Hope the memories were good ones 🙂
No problem 🙂
Don't dive into the septic tanks yet! If I ever get a decent prose draft done that I'm not ashamed to show you, we will definitely trade secrets! But we can talk whimsy whenever you want. 🙂
Well…of course, the rhyme is going to be my favorite part in any story! 🙂 And what do you know??? My entry for the contest will also be in rhyme… 🙂
(sigh) Patience is not my strong suit.
😀
Oh what fun! Thanks for hosting the contest, Susanna. My entry is a short 123 words…including the title 🙂 I wrote it when the limit was 150…but I think I got my point across. Hee! Hee! The entries are amazing!
Sorry, I've been a bad blogger buddy lately with a lot of busy-ness happening. But, I LOVED your sample. I couldn't stop giggling once Ty put in his two cents. Too cute!
Mine either!
Cathy Mealey (unregistered) wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
(sigh) Patience is not my strong suit.
😀
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Man, you and Cathy are awesome at this! I bet yours is in rhyme too. I'm going to pit the two of you against each other next time in a separate category and make you tell your stories in 7 words 🙂
Busy-ness well understood! Thanks for finding time for this blog now. And thanks for you kind words – I'm glad you liked it.
No septic tanks for you! I love your writing. I'm working on an entry, but I'm not happy with it. Good, bad, or ugly I promise to post it Monday.
On the contrary, I thought this was quite sweet. Great job!
Susanna, I enjoyed your post at Kai Strand's blog. I wsh I had a bookstore like that in my town.
Love it Susanna. “Pink overload!” — that's my favorite line. Totally sounds like something I would say.
I entered a story in your contest and now realize it was supposed to be a children's story (i got the unlikely valentine's part) I write childrens' stories so I could have done that. Sorry! Also enjoyed your article on Kai's blog.
Loved your story Susanna, so cute. Have had fun reading some of the others. Boy there is some stiff competition out there. I wasn't going to join in, thinking this is way over my head, but had a sudden change of heart after an afternoon outing, so I have (hopefully) posted a link to my blog of my silly attempt at aValentines poem…lol.
Fun, fun! I've enjoyed reading the entries so far. And thanks, Susanna, for the inspiration. You've inspired me to write only my third blog post in over a year. 🙂
Hurray for inspiration! I'll have to come over and read it 🙂
I'm so glad you're joining in, Diane! I'll be right over to read. First I'm going to try to put your link on the list!
I'm so glad you entered, Darlene! If you want to qualify for the contest, there's still time to write and post a children's story. Meanwhile, feel free to add your blog link to the list and we'll all come read it even if it doesn't qualify! But I don't have your blog address!
Thanks, Penny. I'm so glad you liked it, and I appreciate you going over to read! It is a wonderful bookstore!
Aw shucks, Julie, you're just being nice 🙂 But I appreciate it! 🙂
Well, let's face it – Valentines Day is a bit on the pink side for most boys 🙂
SEVEN?? (gulp) OK, if Penny's in, I'm in. but I want everyone to play along!
my blog address is http://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/
where I have posted Tea For Two. I will try to write a children's story as well.
I added mine. It's not showing yet, but it should soon. It's only about 123 words. I already have ideas for how I can lengthen it though, so if it weren't for the fact that Blogger is being difficult today, I would have waited until tomorrow to add it here and spent the time adding to the poem/story.
I forgot to mention that I loved yours! A really cute idea!