FINALLY! It’s here!
The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!
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| 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.
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)
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.
Susanna Leonard Hill 
What a neat story! I really enjoyed that the mystery is unsolved and will never get old. 🙂
Better late than never – Thanks again, Susanna!
Hi Michele…love the story…the couple of lines of verse near the end are a nice touch! Very clever to have the mystery remain unsolved.:)
Ooh, yay! Can't wait to read it! …but cooking dinner so will have to wait a little! 🙂
Settings
Dessert to the rescue!! Fun story!!
Michele, this is lovely. I like the setting. I especially liked your phrase, “the town common, a simple dimple of green amid towering oaks…' gorgeous imagery.
Sidney, this is wonderful!!! Depicting our rights and freedoms as a gift to America – and yet the gift is really to us. Wonderful reminder!
Very sweet. I love the language you used.
As an illustrator, my fingers are itching to draw the secret message in all those unexpected places! Thanks for firing the imagination.
Awww! Thanks for sharing this sweet story. I love your clever use of repetition, and your romantic surprise.
I admire your bravery. You did a marvelous job. I love your parade characters (and would secretly like my own piece of red velvet cake!)
You kept me guessing with the children's mysterious gifts. Well done!
This was such a challenge for me. I squeaked a submission in before midnight (Yay!) but now that I've started reading everyone else's stories I see you and I both have a character named Lola (Oh No!) Honest, I didn't do it on purpose. I guess my subconscious must've seen the name in your story as I was scanning the rules. (Yikes!) That's the only explanation I can think of. Well, I guess that makes this the Fifth of July Mystery.
Thanks for keeping us on our toes. Love your biker Granny!
Poetry and prose, very clever. I love the idea of haw the annual celebrations begun. Good luck with the competition.
A lovely touch of romance. Nicely told. Good luck with the competition.
Holy crumbs! A great story. I am not American either and the sound of red velvet cake has me drooling. I am off in search of a recipe to try making it!
Good Luck with the competition.
Sidney, this is a wonderful story and would make a great school lesson for young children.
Good luck with the competition.
POSTED FOR BRIANNA (who is 10 and did submit this in time – I'm just posting it the morning after :))
Who is in the Flag Costume?
On the Fourth of July, there was a Gwinnett County Fair. There was also going to be a parade. When the parade was about to start, Kim and David saw something very suspicious. There were two flag costumes. There were two different flags. One was the US flag, but the other was different.
One of the highlights of the fair was the Fourth of July flag parade. Kim and David were curious about the new flag they saw, so they went to the place where they first saw the flags, but before they could look at them, they were gone. So they didn’t get a chance to look at them.
When the parade began, the American float was the first one, but there was only one flag costume on the float. So they thought they may see the other flag on another float, but they didn’t. Kim and David went back to where they first saw the two flag costumes, but the flags were gone. Kim and David decided to look around for the suspicious flags. They only found the US flag. They couldn’t find the other one. Kim and David gave up looking for the flags, and enjoyed the rest of the fair.
Hours later as they were going to get something to eat, Kim and David found both flags again with people inside them! They said, “Who are you?” It was Francis Scott Key and John F. Kennedy! Kim pointed at Francis Scott Key and said, “Aren’t you the one who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?” David said, “Aren’t you there 35th president of the United States?” Both costumes answered, “Yes we are!”
What a day! They had fun at the fair, they solved their mystery, and they saw two important people in history!! It was the best time of their lives!
What an interesting mystery, Brianna! I love that you included some history in your mystery 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful story with us!
What a fun story, Michele! I love that the mystery continues! Your use of both prose and poetry was very clever. And some of your language was particularly delightful – I loved the “simple dimple of green” 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the fun!!!
I thought it was funny that you had a Lola too 🙂 And I think you did a great job with your story (challenging or not! :)) and I'm so glad you squeaked in under the wire. Enjoy reading all the others – that's the fun part after your work is done 🙂
Thanks everyone for your kind comments.
Fun, surprising characters that are all patriotic in theme. Thanks for sharing.
Such a perfect reunion, and such a perfect story for a 4th of July mystery.
Awww, this was a sweet secret story! Love how you circled back to your phrase for the ending!
What fun ideas!
This is really sweet!
I can smell that cake!
A 4th of July Romance….awwww…..total surprise!
Brianna, great job setting up your story. You had me guessing to the end.
I love this Michele! The rhyme mixed in made it really fun to read. Nice idea to have the mystery go on and on. 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
How SWEET! I love Martha! And of course I love a love story. The ending is precious! I really enjoyed reading. Wishing you good luck. 🙂
Mmm. I love to make cake. Any kind. Hahaha. Problem solved! Haha. Great job! Good luck in the contest! 🙂
Wonderful job! What a great story that kept me reading. The names for the children are so well thought out. Good luck! 🙂
This is so sweet. And just very well written. I really enjoyed it. The BEST reunion ever! 🙂
Brianna, your story kept me wondering. History mystery! What a funtastical job. You MUST be a real honest to goodness writer. Am I right? Good luck and thanks for showing us your story. I loved it!
That would be moi! xoxoxo Mayhew!
I wish you had entered. You're the mystery gal. *wink*
I cannot find Pam's. I searched through. Did I miss it? Is it our Pam? Whatever Pam it is, I wanted to read it, but I don't have a lot of time right now. I read all the others. 😦 CRUD!
I agree!
Sweet!
Thank you for your kind comments everyone!
Brianna…I loved the air of mystery throughout the story…it was great that the kids were able to enjoy the parade, even though they were still wondering about the other flag. And what fun for them to connect with famous people from history. 🙂 You are a super writer!
And every time I return here, there are MORE entries…good thing submissions are now closed.:) What an awesome turnout.:)
Such an imaginative story, Brianna! What fun to bring Francis Scott Keys and Kennedy together. You did such a wonderful job with this story! 🙂
Great 4th of July love story, Pam!
Fun story with a historical flavor!
It's Pam Brunskill's, Rob, not our Pam. She didn't have enough time 😦
I'll try to find it. xoxo
Love the rhyming ending that leaves us with a mystery! The entire story was delightful!