September 3rd update: 8 entries on the link list, 4 in the comments, and at least one other that is neither linked nor in the comments – all fantastic! What talent! Come read, enjoy, and add your own – there are still 2 days left to enter (today and tomorrow!)
It’s August 31st, and we’re sending summer out in style with a fun and fabulous contest!
Fingers on the keyboard?
Writing gears engaged?
Ideas sparking like mad?
Then let’s get cracking! 🙂
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| illustration copyright Heather Newman 2012 used by permission |
Contest Rules:
The contest is for a children’s story of 250 words or less based on the picture above and in which somebody somewhere in your story says, in dialogue, “Did/do you see that?” (you may substitute any of the other senses – “Did/do you hear/feel/taste/smell that?”) and somebody somewhere in your story says, “Goodbye!” (you are allowed to substitute “Farewell!”, “Au revoir!”, “Sayonara!”, “Ciao!”, or “So long!”)
Entries must be posted on your blog (or, if you don’t have a blog but would still like to enter, in the comment section of this post which will stay up through Tuesday September 4) between today and Tuesday September 4 at 11:59 PM EDT. (I’m giving you an extra day to post, because I realize it’s Labor Day weekend!)
Once your post is up you must add your post-specific link to the linky list below so everyone can come visit you and read your amazing story (or, if you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your entry into the comment section as mentioned above – everyone please be sure to check the comments for entries so you don’t miss any! :)) Special note: I know some people have been having trouble commenting on my blog since disqus updated. If anyone has trouble, please email your entry or your link or whatever you need to me at susanna [at] susannahill [dot] com and I will make sure your link gets linked or your comment gets posted!!!
Finalists – we’ll say 3, but you know me… it may be more like 6 🙂 – will be chosen by me and my assistant judge and posted for you all to vote on on Monday September 10. I’m guessing we may not get tons of entries, what with it being Labor Day weekend and all (although I’m hoping I’ve given people enough time to plan ahead and pull it off! :)), so we’ll probably only have one winner. But if perchance we get lots of entries – more than 20 say 🙂 – we’ll expand to 1st , 2nd and 3rd places.
Prize choices will be:
1. A PB manuscript critique by yours truly 🙂
2. Your choice of 2 picture books.
3. Your choice of 2 paperback middle grade books.
4. Your choice of 1 paperback YA book.
5. Your choice of 1 writing craft book.
and whoever wins will get their first choice of those options, whoever’s second will get second choice, etc…. Hopefully there’s something in there that will appeal to every writer! 🙂
So here’s my demo: (And I admit, I had a TERRIBLE time getting down to 250 words. I have 5 other stories – all better! – that I couldn’t get below 286, 547, 272, 308, etc. I guess I should have tried this before I published the guidelines… :)) Anyway:
(249 words)
I hope that gives you the courage to post your entry, should you happen to be feeling doubtful – surely your story is better than that! 🙂 And I would also like to remind you that we really have a lovely community of people here – kind, generous, and supportive – so your entry will be read with friendly eyes by people who want to find the good in what you’ve written and cheer you on! So go ahead – add your entry post-specific link to the list below, or copy and paste your entry into the comment section. Remember, if you have any trouble, email me and I’ll do it for you!
I can’t wait to read your stories!!! Let the contest begin! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
I wish I could enter. I do love that picture. My brain is fried from revisions and edits and still I must persevere so I can make sure my story isn't a complete shamble lol!! I adored reading your example thought 🙂
Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you enjoyed it, humble offering though it was! Good luck with your revisions, and if you have a minute, hop ver to Joanna's – her story is up and tons of fun!
I will post mine on Monday! I love your story! 🙂
I love your story….totally funny!!! Perfect picklely solution! I'm posting mine 🙂
I absolutely love your story, Susanna! I am not sure if I can turn in something, but I'll try.
You are being VERY kind! 🙂 I can't wait to read your story!!!
I don't have a blog, so here is my entry (247 words):
Title: Avery's Fairy Tale
“Once upon a time, a princess lived in a castle tower.”
Avery
stopped writing and pondered the sentence. She glanced at her dresser mirror and
wrote “raven-haired” in front of princess.
“Avery!
Are you doing your homework or goofing off?” her mother called from the
kitchen, where she was cooking dinner.
The
girl grimaced and wrote a new sentence: “Once upon a time, a raven-haired
princess was trapped in a castle by a mean old witch.”
Her dog, Trixie, sleepily raised
his head and sniffed. “Do you smell
that, girl?” The odor of burned toast wafted into the room. Avery picked up her
pencil.
“Once upon a time, a raven-haired
princess lived in a castle surrounded by fire and guarded by a dragon named Trixonia.”
Avery looked over the pictures taped
to the dresser mirror. One pictured her little brother in his goofy outfit from
Colonial Day at school. Another showed her grandmother in her favorite apron. Avery
blushed when she looked at the third photo.
“Once upon a time, an evil witch
trapped a raven-haired princess in a castle tower by stealing the key to her
heart. Only the bravest of men could battle the fierce dragon guarding the
fire-ringed castle and free the princess with true love’s kiss.”
“Avery! Time for dinner,” her
mother announced.
Sighing dreamily, Avery blew a kiss
to the boy’s face on her mirror. “Goodbye!” she said. “And start thinking about
how you are going to save me from that dragon!”
This is terrific, Sidney! So imaginative, and so different from the direction my thoughts went… obviously 🙂 I can just imagine Avery sitting up in her room creating her story… I did that every day when I was a kid… and, well, look what I do for a living – I still do it 🙂 Thanks so much for participating!
Oh, I DO hope you will, Romelle! I will look forward to it!
You guys are all being so nice 🙂 That's what I love about this community. I thought this story was GACK-awful! 🙂 But I cannot WAIT to read yours! I coming right over!!!
I LOVE the pickle solution and your very cunning goodbye, Susanna!
Thank you, Susanna. This was a fun writing exercise. I love your story! I just got the phone to my mother describing it to her, and we were laughing at that bubble-gum chewing dragon belching pickle-smelling fire!
Sidney, this is a clever take on the story, and so authentic! I love it.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it – I loved yours! Thanks so much for joining the fun! 🙂
Sidney Schuhmann Levesque wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
Thank you, Susanna. This was a fun writing exercise. I love your story! I just got the phone to my mother describing it to her, and we were laughing at that bubble-gum chewing dragon belching pickle-smelling fire!
Link to comment
IP address: 150.252.11.20
Thanks, Joanna – you're too kind 🙂
Thank you, Joanna! One of my favorite parts of your story was the cook calling out “Witchy-Poo!” So funny 🙂
This is great!!! Very creative. I love it!
Love your story Susanna. Very clever and funny. Have read all the entries. Heather's drawing is amazing. Each story has been quite unique. Have had trouble finding time to enter. I know I have until Sunday.
Sydney, I love your entry. I didn't know where you were going with it, but I was surprised at the end. Unique.
Thank you! I had trouble getting inspired to write a more traditional story. This one reflects on how we draw on our lives to create a fantasy world in our writing.
Blog is having growing pains at the moment– so I'll post here! (250 exactly– praise!)
Nora was a lonely princess.
There were no princes professing love or fire-breathing dragons.
She just sat alone, wishing that one day things would change.
Then, one morning, she awoke to find a rose at her window.
She picked up the flower, curiously.
“If only a handsome prince had brought me this rose!” she thought
as a petal slipped from the flower, falling toward the ground.
Then, a puff of smoke! And there below her was a dashing prince.
“Did you see that?” the princess whispered to herself, “My
flower must be magic!”
“Then…. he shall have a horse !“ she thought as another
petal fell.. Puff! A valiant steed appeared.
“And of course, what is a prince without a dragon?” Puff! A
roaring beast appeared.
“And a moat of fire!”
This was all becoming too much fun. The petals were dropping
like raindrops as Nora dreamed bigger and bigger.
Suddenly, Nora looked down , realizing the chaos below her.
The dragon licked his chops, ready to
devour the horse. The prince, forlorn, was trying to jump the fiery mote. Soon,
both he and the horse would be dragon barbeque!
In horror, Nora threw her flower to the ground, yelling “au
revoir!”, and wishing it all would just disappear.
Then Puff! In a whisp of silvery smoke everything had
vanished.
There were no more princes professing love or fire-breathing
dragons.
Instead she sat alone. And, for the first time, she was satisfied
that things were just as they should be.
Posted from a family member who is not allowed to compete but wanted to do a story for fun!
Are We There Yet?
“Dad, can you please turn on the radio? My ipod just died.
If I have to listen to another book on tape I’m going to jump out of the
window…how much longer?”
“Sweetheart, we’re almost there, maybe 10 more minutes to
go, I’m turning on the radio…wait a minute…Oh my god! Did you see that?”
“See what!?”
“The raven with the golden key in its mouth! It just flew up
into that tree right over there, I swear!”
“Are you serious? Come on, you’re making it up to keep me
from being bored right?”
“No, totally honest, it just flew up into that tree and
landed on the branch. Right above the kettle that’s brewing on the fire, I mean
the kettle that the witch is standing next to, you know, right there with the
fox.”
“What!? Witch!? Where!?”
“Right by that huge flaming fissure in the earth by the
dragon…right there! By that castle-fortress thing, I swear!”
“We didn’t pass a castle, we’re in Westchester for goodness
sake! Dragon? What?!”
“Well maybe it’s a tower then, there was a girl with long
hair up in a window I think, and somebody else was hanging out of another
window waving there arms…it all went by so quickly…it was insane!”
“Dad, you’re insane…there was no castle or tower or dragon
or raven with a golden or a witch or a fox or whatever…wait, we’re home! Thank
goodness, stop the car, I’m out of here!”
So fun and creative, Jen! And so well done in 250 exactly! That was hard, wasn't it?! I'm glad the prince and the horse didn't become dragon BBQ! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining the fun! P.S. What's up with your blog?
Even better, Pat! You have until TUESDAY! I know you can do it! 🙂
Hi Susanna! Thanks and I love YOUR story up above! Right now I'm designing my illustration site and I'm working on getting my blog synced up to it… It may be a little bit before its all ready to go 🙂
Why did I not know you were an illustrator? Can I see samples? I might have a project… 🙂
JKB Young wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:
Hi Susanna! Thanks and I love YOUR story up above! Right now I'm designing my illustration site and I'm working on getting my blog synced up to it… It may be a little bit before its all ready to go 🙂
User's website
Link to comment
IP address: 74.66.130.135
“With
five bedrooms, three and a half baths, and a dungeon, you’re not going
to find another castle on the market like this. At least not in your
price range” said Mrs. Beatrix White, spiritual guide and realtor
extraordinaire. “It meets all your ‘must haves’ plus the dragon is
included, of course. I’ll just wait out here and make some tea. That’ll
give you two a chance to look around.”
“Oh
Lancelot, did you hear that? No extra cost for the dragon. It has
everything we want. I can see the rose garden from the master bedroom.
And I smell lilacs. Plus the kids are going to flip when they see all
the secret doors and passageways.”
“I
don’t know Gwen, a lot of the stones look crumbly. It needs updating.
And see that massive, cavernous hole in the front yard? That’s a red
flag if I ever saw one. What kind of drainage does this place get? Talk
about erosion. What if the kids fall in?” said Lance.
“Oh
Lance, it’s an old castle. What did you expect? When we said ‘good-bye’
to Camelot you promised we’d find a place just as nice. WITH a dragon.”
“Do we really need a dragon?”
“Every good castle needs a dragon. I love it. It’s perfect.” She looked at him with hopeful eyes.
“Mrs. White? Mrs. White! We’ll take it!” they said together. And they lived happily ever after.
This is fantastic, Hilary! You totally made me laugh! It's entirely possible I've seen a few too many episodes of house hunters 🙂 What a fun twist! Thanks so much for joining in the contest!
I went ahead and emailed you a response– too much to say for a comment box!
What fun, Susanna! You've helped to make my summer such a creative writing adventure…I do so appreciate that. I've added my link for “Boot Camp at Old Dragons-Lair”…240 words.
It's REALLY late now…but I'm looking forward to coming back tomorrow and reading all of the other entries…both in the linky and in your comment section.
Have an awesome Labor Day weekend everyone!!!!
I'll add the link for the blog here, just in case the linky doesn't cooperate: http://viviankirkfield.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/sunday-post-reflections-do-you-love-yours/
Vivian Kirkfield
Brilliant twist. I love this, Hilary.
Hahahaha
Love the line 'the petals were dropping like raindrops'. This story was a lot of fun.
Thanks for a wonderful entry, Vivian! I thoroughly enjoyed it 🙂 And I'm so glad if you've found Summer Shorts and the contest fun! 🙂
Here's my contest entry. It's 250 words exactly! Whew…
Title: Broadway or Bust
Maria was done playing the damsel in distress in her high school production of How To Train Your Dragon. Her heart just wasn’t in it anymore.
“Cut!” yelled the director. “Maria, did you see the dragon’s breath? The fire? That’s your cue!”
Even during rehearsals, Maria’s mind wandered as she dreamed of the bright lights of Broadway. Ever since her mom took her to New York to see The Lion King at the Marquis Theater she knew Broadway was where she wanted to be. Not this pathetic stage in go-nowhere-ville.
She took a deep breath and said, “Sorry Mr. Johnson. Let’s take it from the top.”
Maria wasn’t sure if she could stomach today’s matinee. She hated watching parents drag their kids, kicking and screaming, down the aisle just to see cousin Sheila or the neighbor boy on stage. They almost always arrived after curtain time and never turned off their cell phones.
Maria flubbed more lines as she absentmindedly prepared her Tony acceptance speech or pretended to sign autographs for adoring fans.
“Cut!” yelled the director. “Maria, pay attention! Football practice starts in a half hour.”
Maria threw her apron on the ground. “That’s it. I quit,” she said.
Football might be Mr. Johnson’s priority but Maria had bigger ambitions. What was she waiting for? As she told the performers of her Broadway dreams they watched, wide-eyed, as she blew kisses in the air and ran out the door with her suitcase.
“Farewell! I’ll remember you when I’m famous!”
This is great, Kim! I love how everyone's ideas are so different, and all the stories go such original ways all from the same prompt! I can imagine your budding star perfectly! Thanks so much for joining in the fun! 🙂
Kim…what an unbelievably original way to view the illustration and contest…a modern twist is what we were missing. 🙂 Great story!
You know…the talent in this group is unmatchable! Hilary, this is super cool…you are very very clever! The story was totally believable. 🙂
What fun…love this story…so true actually because when I used to drive my kids someplace, I'd often see something interesting or odd flash by…and they had missed it and didn't believe me. Someone is VERY creative here, Susanna…must be in the genes. 🙂
250 on the dot…special prize for that, I think. 🙂 Great story, Jennifer…love that she enjoyed the excitement of the moment, but was happy with her own life. 🙂
This is wonderful, Sydney! I love that the story built on the familiar…they say we should write about what we know, right? It was so believable…I'm sure many of us parents with teenagers are seen as the “evil witch” at one time or another. 😉
Love the real estate angle!
Original! Like the modern take.
Thanks, Vivian!
“A colossal belch of pickle- scented fire.” I'm so glad that this wasn't in smellavision! This was fun, and everyone seems to be cranking out the creativity!
Glad you enjoyed it Julie! I would have loved to read one from you – I know I would have been rolling on the floor 🙂 And I think I'm pretty relieved that smellavision doesn't exist! 🙂
Oh. My. Word. Susanna, please promise me you will turn this into a PB ms and start sending it out. Because I want to buy it and own it and read it over and over. You are FUNNY! I love Balkazar, and how he talks (Ack! Get it off!), I love the concept and the innocence behind the idea of being turned pink from the inside, I love that colossal belch of pickle-scented fire. And — call me a sourpuss — but I rarely laugh at loud, and this one made my shoulders shake. Brava!!!!
*rarely laugh ALOUD*
Aw, you are so nice, Renee! And you've made my day with your enthusiastic comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this little story, and maybe, since you're so keen on it, I will try turning it into something 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment. And I'm still hoping for a story from you – you've still got 2 days…! 🙂
Susanna Leonard HillChildren's AuthorWebsiteBlogFace Book PageTwitter
Subject: [susannaleonardhillblog] Re: Susanna Leonard Hill: The Summer Send-Off Contest!!!
Aw, you are so nice, Renee! And you've made my day with your enthusiastic comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this little story, and maybe, since you're so keen on it, I will try turning it into something 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment. And I'm still hoping for a story from you – you've still got 2 days…! 🙂
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