Eye of newt and toe of frog! It’s finally time for
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| courtesy google images |
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words spooky, black cat, and cackle. Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words (you can count black cat as one word) and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 🙂 [Note: of you choose to use cackle as a verb, any form is acceptable – cackles, cackled, cackling…]
Post your story on your blog between now and Thursday October 31st by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list below. There will be no Would You Read It or Perfect Picture Books this week, so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. I hope everyone will visit everyone and you’ll all get your friends and relations to visit, read and enjoy too! If you don’t have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section below. (If you have trouble, and alas, people sometimes do, just email your entry to susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com and I’ll post it in the comments for you!)
The Judging: my lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we’ll see) top choices which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 4th. The winner will be announced with Would You Read It on Wednesday November 6th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd.
The Prizes:
Second Prize is a PB manuscript and query letter critique from talented author Heather Ayris Burnell, author of Bedtime Monster.
Third Prize is a set of personalized signed picture books just in time for the holidays – Charlotte Gunnufson‘s Halloween Hustle, Tiffany Haber’s The Monster Who Lost His Mean, and Amy Dixon’s Marathon Mouse (perfect timing because NYC Marathon Sunday is next weekend!)
Please join me again in thanking these very generous authors for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books for holiday purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up 🙂
I’m actually a little amazed (and worried) because the inaugural Halloweensie Contest, won by Cathy with Untitled was postponed due to 2 feet of snow – which around here is unusual for the end of October. The 2nd Annual Halloweensie Contest, won by Julie with Hallow’s Eve was delayed and interfered with by Hurricane Sandy! So fingers crossed we don’t get any wild weather this year!
Now then. Time for my sample entry which I provide both because I wouldn’t ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself, and because in case anyone is worried about the quality of their entry they have only to read my abysmal attempts to be filled with confidence that their’s is MUCH better!
So without further ado:
A Witch For Spooky (100 words)
Spooky was a black cat with no witch.
Things just never worked out.
Grimelda’s potions were too stinky for his delicate nose.
“Scram!” said Grimelda when he kept sneezing.
Hauntabelle flew her broomstick like a maniac.
“Scat!” said Hauntabelle when he got broomsick.
Armathystle’s cackle made Spooky run and hide!
Spooky had almost given up when he found Serena. She was very small, but she didn’t smell bad or fly fast or cackle.
“You can be my Pookie,” she crooned (which was close enough!), and she carried him home in a candy-filled plastic pumpkin.
Spooky had a witch at last!
and, to provide one in rhyme (kinda storta :))
Spooked! (100 words)
A pirate, a witch, and a gypsy queen
Went trick-or-treating one Halloween.
Away past the farthest edge of town
To the ramshackle home of Farmer Brown.
Up the dark lane where no one dared.
The gyspsy queen said, “We’re not scared!”
A spooky shadow loomed ahead!
“Relax,” said the pirate. “It’s just a shed.”
“Eeeek!” shrieked the witch as she danced about.
“Something touched my leg! Look out!”
“It’s just a black cat. Come on, let’s go.”
But then came a sound they didn’t know.
Cackle-cackle! “It’s witches on the loose!”
And they ran helter-skelter from the Farmer’s goose!
Everyone feeling better about their stories now? I HOPE so! 🙂
I can’t wait to read all of yours! I hope there will be a lot – the more the merrier! And there are still 4 days to write, so you have time if you haven’t written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! 🙂
Don’t miss 19 entries in the comments section from Megan, Pia, Linda, Michele, Stacy, Laurie, Kathy, Patricia, Eileen, Nancy, Pam, Pat, Kristen, Teresa R., Teresa S., Suzy, Tracy, Heather, and Karen! (Marcie is now on the link list at #15, Jackie is now on the link list at #33 – she has a brand new blog!, Laura S is on the list at #40, and Deirdre is on the link list at #52. I hope I’ve caught all the doubles, but there may be a couple more.)
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Remain calm, Erik, you still have nearly 4 days. I know you can do it! 🙂
As the mother of three boys, it's a fantasy for me!
🙂
Oh, Halloweensie once again. I love your two examples. Though I'm not able to participate, I know it will be another success 🙂
Thank you, Angela! I know you're very busy. But if Chipmunk needs some diverting reading material, I bet she'll enjoy skimming through the entries – there are so many fabulous ones already I don't know HOW I'm going to pick finalists!
Honestly, I don't know how you do it. The entries are always so wonderful. 🙂
I'd say the quality has been going steadily upward with each successive contest!
Oh, this was great, Jackie! So much fun. I love the spookiness of the tale with a nice twist at the end. Well done!
lol, I love it! Very cute and funny. Excellent, Marcie!
SWAK, I like that! You're always teaching us something new, Robyn. 🙂
Thank you, Cheryl. Nice to “meet” you!
Nice to meet you, too! 🙂 These contests are so much fun.
What a fun twist! Great job, Megan! 🙂
Hey Cheryl, tell my kids that. Please! 🙂
lol! 🙂
Oh Marcie! LOVE the twist at the end. Great job.
Whoa! This…is….so….GOOD! Boy is this contest getting off to the bestest start, ever! Nice meeting you, Jackie!
Erik, I just can't wait to see what you come up with!!!
Oh the road less traveled. I love the difference it makes. Delightful, Megan!
Twenty posts already!? You're famous for your contest, Susanna. I look forward to your sample entry. And your poem is GREAT! They both are. I”ve already read some and I can't believe the early talented entries. BTW, I really appreciate the generosity of these authors. There are some AMAZING prizes! Have you and your assistant chosen the coffee you'll be drinking to stay sharp for the judging? I know you've got your chocolaty snack.
I meant to say I always look forward to your sample entry.
Oh my…that is scary…and chilling! Great story, Jackie…very unique and perfect for Halloween!
GREAT story, Marcie…with a rollicking limerick feel! I commented on your blog site as well.:) Nice to meet you.:)
Lovely rhyme, Megan! And I love that your princess knows who and what she wants to be, no matter what.:)
Here is my entry:
Once Upon a Halloweensie
By Pia Garneau
Once upon a Halloweensie
Trick or treating down my street
I heard an evil witchy cackle
Yup, my heart did skip a beat
I was terrified and scared
But I tip-toed right along
Since my belly craved candy
And my sweet tooth was so strong
The raucous grew louder
As I neared the spooky house
Cackle! Rattle! Snort!
“Eek!” I screeched just like a mouse
A black cat purred to greet me
I peeked behind the door
Inside was a jolly old witch
Telling jokes galore
Then I cackled and cackled til my cheeks were sore!
I tip toed out of the woods to join with my attempt at writing a story. link added above. It was actually more fun than I thought.
I love the twist in the tale! Great story, Jackie.
“Since my belly craved candy
And my sweet tooth was so strong…” – That could be me! Pia, I love your poem.
I bet your princess will be pink! Megan, I love your take on Halloween.
Delightful, Pia! You have captured that childish love-for-candy-overcomes-all-fear feeling that many kids experience at spooky houses, and your description of cackling til your cheeks are sore is perfect! Thanks for joining in the fun with such a great entry! 🙂
I'm so glad to see you, Grannymar! Can't wait to come over and read your entry! 🙂
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I am having fun working my way through all the other entries.
I'm probably going to have to rope in more than one assistant for this one, Pam – very high quality entries! And yes, we will be brewing coffee and sustaining ourselves with all manner of chocolate! Don't forget – you still have 3 whole days to come up with 100 little words 🙂
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It's an impressive batch! So many good ones!
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Great examples, Susanna! I love them both…but you know me and rhyme! So, the second is my fave!
I read through many of the entries yesterday and as usual they are making my Halloween week all kinds of fun!!! I finally finished my post this morning. I wanted to add a little graphic to add to the Halloween spirit and I'm always slow about those things!
Thanks so much for hosting and offering such great prizes. You're the best at conjuring up holiday spirit!
Now off to read the other entries!
Ha! I love Kat Cackle-stein! So clever. Cute entry!
Love your posts and contests, Susanna. I always learn something from you. Here's my entry:
Halloween Surprise
By Linda Boyden
On a dark and spooky night
bats zoomed,
black cats yowled on tip-toe prowls,
ghosts booooed, goblins hooooed,
vampires hissed down alleys and streets,
witches shrieked on broomsticks sleek,
I lurked in the shadows,
not frightened or addled
and scared them away
with my secret cackle: BWA-HA-HA-BOOO!
I'm with Grannymar…I loved “Since my belly craved candy
And my sweet tooth was so strong”. Maybe because my sweet tooth is so strong 🙂 Fun entry, Pia!
Very fun ending!
I loved your entry and your graphic, Penny! So glad you were able to join the Halloween fun 🙂 You will certainly enjoy the other entries – what a line up we have this time! Choosing finalists is going to be nearly impossible!
Oh my goodness! I guess that cackle WOULD scare them away… if it didn't make them laugh 🙂 Thanks for a delightful entry, Linda! So glad you came to join the fun! 🙂
First Flight
On All Hallows’ Eve
A timid black cat
Hid in the cone
Of a young witch’s hat.
As the little witch tried
To cackle and shriek,
The scaredy-cat cat
Ventured a peek.
His glowing green eyes
Frightened the witch.
Her high-pitched scream
Made the cat twitch.
They stared at each other
For a moment or two.
Fear slipped away
With a purr and a coo.
This friendship forged
This spooky night
Gained strength and depth
On witch’s first flight.
Yay! Michele! I'm so glad you entered! I love this – so cute how they're afraid of each other until they form a solid team 🙂 Nice twist on a Halloween story and great use of the words! Thanks so much for playing along with the Halloweensie shenanigans 🙂
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Thanks Susanna! What a fun way to get our creative juices flowing and get us in the Halloween spirit! Thanks for hosting this contest. I'm glad I could be a part of it.
Thank you Penny! Glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun writing this.
Thanks Grannymar! From a sweet toother to another, hope your day is full of sweetness.
Phew, didn't think i'd make it, now to try and catch up on reading all the others between my assignments.
Thanks, Pamela! Nice to meet you!
OLIVIA VS. THE WITCH
The witch threw her head back and cackled, her eyes flickering orange. A bowl of candy sat at her side, a still black cat on her lap.
Olivia looked at the witch. Then the candy.
The candy. Then the cat.
She tiptoed forward. Spooky fog swallowed her small slippered feet. Just as she reached the bowl, the witch cried, “A-ha-ha, A-HA-HA-HAAA.”
The cat’s eyes flickered. Olivia pounced.
Right on top of the candy bowl.
“That was scary, Mommy,” said Olivia, as she dragged it toward the steps. “It’s good I’m a ninja ballerina, or nobody would get any candy tonight.”
So…that's my entry. Happy Halloween everybody! Tons of fun stories!
Cuddles and spookiness! Nice!