The 4th Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!!!

FINALLY!  It’s here!

The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!
WHO ATE THE BLUEBERRIES???!!!

I am so excited about this!  I look forward to these contests so much because so many wonderful, talented writers contribute such fantastic stories!  I can’t wait to read what you’ve all come up with this time!!!

The Contest:  Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 400 words about the 4th of July in which a secret is revealed or a mystery is solved!

You may choose any 4th of July setting you like: country, city or small town, sleepaway camp or vacation, with family or friends or all alone, at a parade, a picnic, a fireworks show or a bonfire, in the middle of the woods or in a country where the locals don’t celebrate 4th of July.  Your secret or mystery doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering.  It could be who took Granny’s award-winning Fourth of July cherry pie?  Or what did Robin tell Sarah who told Olivia who told Gracie about Anna in cabin 7?  Or where did the flags for the parade disappear to?  Or why doesn’t Becky Sue want to go to the fireworks show? Or what Old Mrs. Hootenspiegal knows about the mayor!  Just as long as a secret or mystery of some kind is revealed or solved by the end.

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between Monday July 1 at 12:01 AM EDT and Friday July 5 at 11:59 PM EDT, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below which will remain up through Sunday July 7 (no Would You Read It on Wednesday July 3… and although the post will remain up through Sunday to give everyone plenty of time to read and enjoy, the entry list will be closed at midnight Friday so we have time to judge).  If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on this post by midnight Friday July 5th.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)

The Judging:  My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five (or possibly a couple more :)) finalists which will be posted here on Monday July 8 for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed at 6 PM EDT on Thursday July 11 and the winner will be announced on Friday July 12.

The Prizes!:  The first place winner will receive (I am not making this up!) a picture book manuscript critique from Simone Kaplan!!!!!  Yes, THE Simone Kaplan!!!  I wish I knew how to put that up in lights and make it all sparkly! 🙂  Simone Kaplan has been editing children’s books and magazines for over 20 years.  She was an editor at Henry Holt and Company, and then a Senior Editor at HarperCollins.  More recently she has worked as a consultant to various authors, illustrators, and publishing houses.  She also runs a wonderful website called Picture Book People (where you can sign up for her free newsletter among other things.)  A prize like this makes me wish I could compete in my own contest! 🙂

If we get more than 15 entries, we will place through 3rd.  If we get more than 25 entires we will place through 5th.  Additional prizes will include:
 – a $50 Amazon gift certificate
 – a picture book manuscript critique from yours truly (a $75 value)
 – the writing craft book of your choice (up to $30 value)
 – a place in Making Picture Book Magic (my online PB writing course) (a $99 value)

Here is my sample (and I will admit this was a REAL challenge for me!  I’ve never tried writing a mystery before (as I’m sure you’ll be able to tell!), so that was hard enough, but fitting it into 400 words nearly killed me!  In fact, I didn’t quite manage, but it was past my bedtime.  I had to cut so much out to get it near the word count that I’m not sure it even makes sense anymore 🙂  Be forewarned this may qualify as the worst story I’ve ever written – that’s what happens when you over-schedule and write at the last minute! 🙂

The 4th Of July Parade

Lola longed to lead the Crumb Creek 4th of July Parade.
But Granny crashed her motorcycle and broke her arm, and it looked like there would be no 4th of July Pie this year.
“Never mind the parade,” said Lola.  “I’ll help you bake.”
“Fiddlesticks!” said Granny.  “I can bake pie with one hand tied behind my back!”
Lola gave her a hug.  “I’ll be your other hand right after tryouts.”
“Knock their socks off, Sugar-Pie!” said Granny.
At tryouts, the boys hopped on YankeeDoodlePony one after another. Lola hated to admit it, but they were pretty good riders.
When it was her turn, Lola rode her best.
Afterwards George said, “You won’t win.”
“I have just as much chance as you,” said Lola.
Henry said, “You’re too small.”
“I’m the right size for YankeeDoodlePony,” said Lola.
Billy said, “You’re not a boy.  Yankee Doodle was a boy.”
Lola had nothing to say to that.
“This year, the leader will be Lola!” announced Mayor Fluffbottom.
Billy had nothing to say to that.
George stuck his tongue out at Lola, but she was too happy to care.
“They picked me, Granny!” Lola sang, rolling piecrust while Granny picked one-handed through seventeen quarts of blueberries.
“I knew they would!” said Granny.
By bedtime, fifty pies cooled on the counters.
“How will you get these to the Village Green without your motorcycle?” worried Lola.
“I’ll figure a way,” said Granny.  “Sweet dreams, Sugar-Pie.  Big day tomorrow!”
In the morning Lola raced to the barn.
“Hey!” said Billy.  “YankeeDoodlePony is gone!”
“What?” Lola gasped.
George and Henry smirked.
“What did you do with him?” demanded Lola.
“Nothing!” the boys insisted.
The parade started in thirty minutes!
Lola had to find YankeeDoodlePony!
“Help me look for him!” she begged.
They searched high and low, but YankeeDoodlePony was nowhere to be found.
Lola discovered hoofprints and wheel tracks on the driveway.
“It looks like someone drove a pony out here, but he’s long gone.  I guess I won’t be leader after all,” Lola said miserably.
Clip-clop-rattle-rattle.
YankeeDoodlePony came down the road at a smart trot pulling a little cart.  Granny drove one-handed!
“Sorry I’m late, Sugar-Pie!  Had to deliver the pies!”
Lola turned to Billy, Henry and George.  “I’m sorry I thought you hid YankeeDoodlePony,” she said.
“That’s okay,” said Billy.
Lola hopped aboard YankeeDoodlePony
George handed her the flag.
Then Lola rode out to lead the 4th of July Parade.
She sat tall and straight and proud.
YankeeDoodlePony pricked his ears and pranced.
The American flag waved its stars and stripes in the hot breeze.
The crowd along the sidewalk cheered.
And afterwards, there was 4th of July Pie for everyone!

Now then!  That was quite spectacularly awful!  So I hope it will fill you all with confidence, because I know you can all do better than that!

CAN’T WAIT to read your stories!!!  Don’t forget to add your post-specific links below, or copy and paste to the comment section!  Look for Sidney, Sian, Pam, Michele, and Brianna’s stories in the comments.

160 thoughts on “The 4th Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!!!”

  1. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Nonsense, Robyn! Yours is better than mine! I was embarrassed to post mine and only did it because I always provide a sample and I figured it would be encouraging to people whose confidence was at low ebb. I needed SO many more words. It was literally painful to cut and cut and cut down to this!

  2. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Oh! Sad face! I'm so sorry you're not going to get one in – I was really looking forward to it! I hope your schedule change is all good things and you're having a fantastic summer so far! 🙂

  3. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Oh! What a wonderful, sweet story, Delores! And one that truly captures the spirit of 4th of July! Great work! I will check your link and see if I can fix it, but I'm so glad you posted this here just in case! Thanks for a great entry!

    Settings

  6. Grannymar says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I too, read all the entries, but a few had barriers tougher than the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, so, I gave up trying to comment. 😦

  8. Stanley & Katrina says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    So were we. It is all good. We are moving and the date was pushed up, so our computer/online time is being drastically impacted but DD will be able to have a few weeks in the new home before school starts – so, yes, it is ALL good! Thanks.
    ~Cool Mom

  12. Cathy C. Hall says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thanks for the writing fun, Susanna–and your funny story! I mean, Mayor Fluffbottom? That's a keeper! 🙂

  13. Sidney Schuhmann Levesque says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thank you, Jarmila! It was a good opportunity to sit down and sum up what America means in just a few words and then try to illustrate that. A fun challenge.

  14. Teresa Robeson says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I'm having trouble posting a comment at Jannatwrites' blog (Butterfly Wings and Enchanted Trees entry), but just wanted to let her know that I did visit…and hope the comment will show up at some point.

    Okay, I'm done hijacking your blog now, Susanna! 😉

  17. sharon mayhew says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    What a wonderful opportunity for some lucky writer! I wish I had been paying attention. (UGH) Good luck to everyone who enters.

  25. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    So fun! Love the little details like Red Velvet Cake…one of the 4th of July favorites of many.:)

  27. Cheryl Secomb says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Wow, I really liked this. What a great way to honor the holiday. Love the names for the children. Great story!

  28. Pam Brunskill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Hi Susanna, Here's my 4th of July story for the contest.

    An Even Better 4th of July

    Martha Sanders loved fireworks. For as long as anyone could remember, her backyard was the place to celebrate the 4th
    of July. Every year townspeople would cram onto her porch, drink iced tea, and watch the nighttime show.

    But this year, no one volunteered to set off the town’s fireworks.

    “You won’t still have your party, will you?” people asked Martha, and she assured them she would.

    A week before the celebration, Martha bought sparklers, garden lights, and a fancy new dress. “This might be even better!” she said. People scratched their heads. “Fourth of July without fireworks? It won’t be much of a party.” For the first time, people turned down her invitation.

    The day before the celebration, Martha made apple pies and wrapped ribbons around her porch, decorating like never before. “This might be even better!” she said. But no one noticed. For the first time, people didn’t comment on the sweet smells from her home.

    The day of the celebration, Martha hung out flags and lined up sparklers just so. She put on her new dress and waited in her red, white and blue rocker. “This might be even better,” she said. But she didn’t really believe it. For the first time, she was alone on the 4th of July.

    Just when she was about to put the pies in the fridge, her old friend Billy Lane walked into her yard.

    “I’ve a secret,” he told her. “I know how much you love those fireworks. So I was the one who always lit them come 4th of July. But this year I reckoned I’d celebrate with you instead.”

    Martha blushed. Before she could reply, a little girl passed by with her family. “Your house is pretty,” she told Martha. “I just wish there were fireworks.”

    Martha looked at Billy. She had an idea.

    For the first time, Martha closed up her home, gave away her pies, and helped Billy set up fireworks near the park. “I have a secret, too,” she told him. “I threw these parties because I always hoped you would come.”

    Billy handed her a flare. “I’m sorry your party didn’t work out.”

    Martha lit a firework. “That’s okay,” she said, and watched the sky brighten. “This might be even better.”

  29. Cheryl Secomb says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Susanna, I'm having trouble loading entry #19. Maybe it's just me? I'll try again later. Thanks! Happy 4th of July! 🙂

  36. Cheryl Secomb says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Oh, how fun! A sweet love story. I think things might turn out even better for Martha and Billy. 🙂

  37. Clarbojahn says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I've tweeted about this contest making my own hashtag looking like this; #mysterystorycontest. Hope you find it y'all.

    I've loved reading these entries. Each one is better than the last. Susanna is going to have a hard time finding the winner. Lol.

    It's great fun to read. I couldn't have done better. Did I chicken out? I'm just enjoying the summer writing. But not this contest. Sorry, Susanna. I will next time. You have no lack of entries though. they are all great! 🙂

  38. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thanks so much for tweeting and sharing the word, Clar. I'm sorry you're not entering this one, but I know you're busy with other writing 🙂 And yes, we have LOTS of terrific entries and it's going to be VERY hard to choose!

  43. delores @ thefeatherednest says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    So many wonderful stories…I've read and enjoyed them all. I certainly don't envy you your job of choosing the winners.

  45. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    What a beautiful love story, Pam! I think the fireworks between Billy and Martha will be igniting for a long time to come.:)

  46. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Good thing I came back tonight…there were three more entries! What a great turnout, Susanna…your holiday contests are the best!

  49. Nathan Worrell says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Great contest, with a wonderful prize. This was y first experience with your website. I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have to offer.

  50. Michele Norman says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Hi Susanna — What fun! Here is my story…

    The Incredible, Unforgettable Birthday Wish
    By Michele Norman

    Here in Independence Hollow, you learn that July 4th is America’s birthday before you can talk or walk.

    And before you even start school, you learn that here in Independence Hollow, America’s birthday is a big deal. Here in Independence Hollow, July 4th is really, really big deal.

    In every town all over America, July 4th is a day to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But in Independence
    Hollow, it is also a day to celebrate creativity, wonder and surprise.

    It’s a tradition that began hundreds of years ago on July 4, 1777.

    That day, they say, began like every other day.

    Before sunrise, farmers were up milking cows, collecting eggs and tending to their crops.

    The blacksmith fired up his forge and the silversmith went to work on a very special teapot that would soon be a wedding gift.

    While horses and cows grazed in the pasture, Mothers gathered their baskets and readied the children for a walk to town to trade things they had made or baked.

    But as the people of Independence Hollow made their way to the town common, a simple dimple of green amidst a ring of towering oaks, it quickly became clear that this day was not, in fact, an ordinary day.

    On the grass in the center of the common, a collection of carefully laid sticks of varying sizes spelled out a simple message: “Happy Birthday America!”

    As word spread and more and more people gathered to see the message, the people of Independence Hollow began to guess how the message came to be.

    Some thought the Schoolteacher might have left the message on the lawn.

    Others speculated that it might have been the Minister.

    Still others believed it might have been the Governor or his men.

    To this day, nobody knows who wrote that message in sticks. But because of that mystery now hundreds of years old, the people of Independence Hollow have made creativity, wonder and surprise a July 4th tradition.

    Each and every year, the July 4th birthday wish to America seems to magically appear in the most unlikely of places.

    On the side of a cow…
    Pulled by a plow…

    In the crust of a pie…
    On a kite in the sky…

    Lit with candles at night…
    In vapory puffs of white…

    Where will the message appear this year?

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