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 
This is good. Thanks for sharing it. I love it. Spooky, cute, and fun.
Ooh! That is SERIOUSLY spooky, Deirdre! And I love the name Sorcha! Your link is working fine as far as I can tell, so I'll go over to your blog and comment there 🙂 Thanks for entering 🙂
Thanks, Clar 🙂 I'm completely blown away by the response to this contest! And I agree – it is so much fun to read everyone's entries, and I love the way everyone joins in the fun so whole-heartedly!
Other people have mentioned that. Beth found a way around it and posted it below in the comments. I will take a look at the link and see if there's a way to fix it.
I think I got it. Give it a try now.
Thanks so much for this Beth! I went into the link list and found the problem (I think) and I have hopefully fixed it so it will work properly now!
Settings
Yes, it's working perfectly now — just checked after getting your response. Thanks, Susanna!
Thank YOU for letting me know to check it. I haven't gotten to reading the newest entries on the list yet – been at the barn taking care of the horses all morning 🙂
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Very creative!
Thanks. It was fun to write. Halloween provides lots of fun opportunities for kids and big kids (spelled a-d-u-l-t-s) alike. 😉 From, A big kid
Thank you Jackie!
Susanna, Thanks! I don't know if you can leave comments on my blog.. I will try to figure that one out!
No problem, I am glad you shared it with us. I mean that!!
I tried commenting on the blog but I could not do so. Let me know when you have it up. Thanks.
I loved it.
Great rhyme and repetition, Teresa! So need to read it aloud!
Haunted hotels never die–esp. when captured in stories.
Good one, Jackie!
Thanks, Andrea! Another PiBoIdMo idea!
You're right! I couldn't comment on your blog! But I still love your spooky story – I've read it a few times now and it gives me goosbumps every time! 🙂
Thanks Stacy–Dr. Seuss is my hero. Love reading him aloud and fast!
Oh, well! I am trying to figure it out!
Thanks Jackie, I am trying to figure it ou!
What fun it is to read all of the stories. For those who have liked mine, thank you. Its always fun to write for the wee kiddos!
🙂
Apparently I'm losing my marbles. I know I wrote a response to this. The question is where? 🙂 Anyway, in case it was somewhere completely unrelated, I love this Teresa! I love the repetition of “Stir them, stir them, stir them in” and I think my favorite part is “Snitch them, snatch them just like that” echoed by the ending where poor Jake gets snatched! Thanks so much for joining in the fun!
I so agree, Debby! It's so fun to read all these wonderfully creative stories. So nice that we can all share this way!
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Great story! love the twisty ending. 🙂
Thank you. And thanks for the kind words. It is inspiring.
Thanks, Jarmila! I appreciate it.
I agree with Nicole, it is so frustrating when we make the effort to leave comments!
Thanks Susanna. it has been fun. The diversity of the stories posted given the criteria has been most impressive. Thanks again for hosting Halloweensie.
ENTRY POSTED FOR SUZY
BLACK CAT GOES TO SPOOKY SCHOOL
By Suzy Levinson
On the first day of Spooky School,
Black Cat had trouble fitting in.
“Do you put spells on people?”
the witches cackled.
“No,” Black Cat said.
“Haunt people?” the ghosts
booed.
“No,” Black Cat said.
“Eat people?” the zombies
moaned.
“Goodness, no,” Black Cat
said. “I like people.”
Black Cat stopped by Principal
Frankenstein's office.
“I don't belong here,”
Black Cat said.
“NO TIME FOR CHAT,”
Principal Frankenstein roared. “MONSTER TUNA FISH ATTACKING SPOOKY SCHOOL! NOBODY KNOW WHAT TO DO!”
“Tuna fish?” Black Cat
purred. “Mmm…”
On the second day of Spooky School,
Black Cat fit in just fine.
Sounds like Black Cat found a way to belong! What a cute story, Suzy! I'm glad you weren't able to resist the temptation of entering the contest! Thanks for joining in the Halloweensie Madness! 🙂
The Dark Corner
By Tracy Molitors
Jeremy was crying. Everyone knew why. His new fire engine
vanished into the Dark Corner.
Of course, the sirens and flashing lights stopped. Nothing
could survive the Dark Corner. No one ever went there. Even their black cat scuttled
away.
Nick made fun of Jeremy, but Nick didn’t go get the engine.
Jeremy knew what he had to do. He clutched his flashlight,
faced the spooky corner and lunged!
CACKLE! CRUNCH! Dusty
marbles skittered away!
Jeremy snatched his engine, then peeked at the empty corner.
He eyed his friends huddled in the light.
He turned off his flashlight and smiled.
I love the message, 'Eventually, we'll have to face our fear.” Thanks for sharing this story. I enjoyed reading it.
I love the message here, “If you wait around long enough, eventually, you'll find your purpose.” I liked this. Thanks for sharing.
Not sure if this is going to post correctly!
I see it! It's beautiful, Heather! 🙂 The poem and the art 🙂 “Spiderweb gossamer” – how lovely! And I love the idea of the moon being high on Halloween… although here it is currently pouring rain so no moon in sight :)… and witches racing on brooms! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
This was fun! I loved seeing what everyone came up with given three words and a few days. Here's mine:
A HALLOWEEN CLEAN
One Halloween, Big Witch gave Little Witch her first broom.
Little Witch cackled, waved the broom, and ran into the spooky night. “This Halloween, I will stay clean!”
Spiderweb threads on her head.
Sweep.
All clean on Halloween.
Black cat hairs on her leg.
Sweep.
All clean on Halloween.
Taffy-apple taffy on her face.
Sweep.
On the broom.
Pick.
On her fingers.
Grip.
On the broom handle.
“What's the matter?” asked Big Witch.
“I can't stay clean on Halloween.”
“Halloween's not about clean. Brooms have spookier things to do.”
Big Witch flew.
And sticky Little Witch flew too.
Excellent job pal! (I have a Ben, btw.) Love Kat Cackle-stein. 🙂
Adorable! This is so clever Nancy! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I want to learn rhyme. (This reminds me of our daughter a few years ago.)
Great idea. The cat waiting until everything gets back to normal. Sounds just like a cat.
Hahaha, a town named Black Cat. That's my kind of town! She did get her wish. Great entry!
Fantastic read aloud! The rhythm is fantastic! I like that “Snatch him, catch him, stir him in.”
Hey Pam. I finally found you! 🙂 Wanda is ultra witchy. Great job! Those kids might never come back. Ha!
I love a monster mash! 🙂 Great job.
This is positively spooktacular! Great job. I want to write in rhyme. You do it well!
Hahaha. Very cute! That ending is purrfect! We have a black cat. This might be him. 🙂
Excellent Pat. It's the epitome of Halloween! The ending is great!