The 2013 Halloweensie Contest Finalists! – Vote For Your Favorite!

Holy Halloweensie!

You guys sure know how to give a judge a run for her money!

Gone are the days of the first Halloweensie Contest when we got 7 or 8 entries!

My assistant judges (yes, I called in reinforcements!) and I agonized over winnowing this amazing field of entries down to a manageable number for you to vote on.

And I have a few comments.  (Don’t I always :))

First of all, I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time and care to write an entry for this contest.  It was far and away the most well-subscribed contest we’ve ever had.  79 entries at the final count (because yes, I counted wrong on Friday :)) and the quality of the entries across the board was fantastic.  There were no easy cuts.  (Except, sadly, for one that went over the word count to 114 and had to be disqualified.)

Second, I’d also like to thank EVERYONE – writer, reader, or both – who took the time to go around and read as many entries as you could and leave supportive comments.  This means so much to the writers who worked hard on their stories.  It helps them see what they did well, as well as giving them the joy of knowing that their stories were read and enjoyed.  I hope you all got as much delight  and entertainment out of the reading as I did!  Plus, we got to meet quite a few new people which was a wonderful added bonus! 🙂

Third – SURPRISE! – as a result of the quality and quantity of entries, I have decided to give prizes through 6th place instead of only through 3rd.  I have also decided that you might need a little extra time to vote and that the post that announces the winners should be exclusively devoted to that celebration.  So the post with the winners will go up on THURSDAY November 7 (not with WYRI on Wednesday as I originally planned.)

Before I list the finalists, I want to say once again how difficult it was too choose!  There were so many fabulous entries.  Really.  I could find at least something terrific about every single one.  There were so many good ones that in the end some got cut on the basis of a word or phrase that we felt was a little off, or a concept we weren’t quite sure a child would get.  So if yours didn’t make the final cut please don’t feel bad.  There was a huge amount of competition.  Judging, no matter how hard we try to be objective, is always subjective at a certain point – we all have our own preferences for what makes a great story.  And the fact that you didn’t make the final cut DOES NOT mean you didn’t write a great story.  Everyone who plonked their butt in a chair and worked hard to write a story for this contest is a winner!  You showed up.  You did your best work.  You practiced your craft.  You wrote to specifications.  You bravely shared your writing with the world.  And you have a brand new story that is now yours to expand beyond 100 words if you like and maybe submit at some point to a magazine or as a PB manuscript.  So bravo to everyone who entered!

Now, without further ado, here are your finalists.  There is a mix of poetry and prose, stories for youngest readers and stories for older kids, funny, cute, and spooky – quite a spread!  We really tried to keep it to 10… but we couldn’t… though we came close 🙂

Remember that the judging criteria were:

1. Kid-appeal! – These stories are intended for a young audience, so entries that were well-written but lacked child-friendliness did not make the cut.
2. Quality of story – the rules stated that entries were to tell a story, so if they appeared to be more of a description or mood piece, they didn’t make the cut.
3.  Halloweeniness – the rules stated a Halloween story, so entries that failed to mention anything Halloween-y did not make the cut even if they were well-written.
4. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.

Finalists will be listed by title and without author for now in case that helps you be more objective 🙂

#1 Are You Scared Yet?

“I’m ready, ” said the little black cat.

“Let’s hear it,” said the big black cat.

“Booooooo,” said Little Cat.

Big Cat curled up. “Not spooky enough.”

“Ah ha ha ha,” she cackled, wrinkling her nose.

Big Cat yawned. “Not creepy enough.”

Little Cat bared her teeth. “Mwah ha ha,” she said.

“I’m still not scared,” said Big Cat, closing his eyes.

Little Cat took a deep breath and growled from her belly, getting louder until her body vibrated.

“Rawr!” she bellowed, and Big Cat jumped straight into the air.

“Not bad,” Big Cat said.


Little Cat smiled. I’m ready.

#2 Treat Or Trick

Headstone Hill’s a spooky place.
Wanda Witch lives there.
It’s said she steals small children.
Little ones beware!
Dared to go on Halloween,
Rip approached her house.
He tiptoed past the black cat.
Quiet as a mouse.
Wanda pulled the creaky door,
Stretching a sly smile.
“My, a sweet young child is here!”
EWWW, they’re all so vile!
Shaking, Rip held out his bag,
Waiting for some stuff.
Wanda gave a sugared snake.
“This was not so tough!
I don’t need to be afraid.
You gave me a sweet.”
Then she yanked Rip in, cackling,
“BEAST, come get your treat!”

#3 Miss Sadie

A bumbling witch named Miss Sadie
yearned to be wicked and mean.
When she tried to be spooky,
she came off quite kooky,
the clumsiest witch ever seen.
“Perhaps what I need to be scary
is something eerie and dark!”
So she found a black cat,
and a tall pointy hat,
and hid in a tree in the park.
“Trick or treaters, beware,” cackled Sadie,
“I’m here to give you a fright!”
Sadie laughed with such glee,
she fell out of the tree,
and “boo hoo-ed” on Halloween night.

#4 Drusella, The Black Spooky Cat

Drusella, the Black Spooky  Cat waited all year for this day…HALLOWEEN!
KNOCK KNOCK
 “BOO!” she screamed.
“Cute nose!” the goblin said.
“I’m SCARY not CUTE!” Drusella cried.
KNOCK KNOCK
“BOOO!” Drusella yelled.
“Beautiful eyes!” the dragon said.
“I’m SCARY not BEAUTIFUL!” Drusella hollered.
KNOCK KNOCK
“BOOOO!” Drusella screamed.
 “Pretty nails!” the Witch said.
“I’m SCARY not PRETTY”
KNOCK KNOCK
“BOOOO!” Drusella shouted.
 “Perfect ears,” the Witch cackled.
“I’m SCARY not PERFECT!”

“I give up!” Drusella sighed, “Next year I’m gonna be a Princess!”

#5 Black Cat, Black Cat

Black Cat, Black Cat

where are you going

this Halloweensie night,

a foul wind blowing?

Off to join the witchesfor their spooky spree.

Every Hallows Eve – a creepy jamboree.

Black Cat, Black Cat

who’s that on the broom

sat twixt the witch and you,

spewing words of doom?

That’s my bud, Ghoul One,

he plans his hex all year.

Ghouls Two, Three & Four

join in to up the fear.

Black Cat, Black Cat

what’s that in the pot,

cackling & bubbling,

oozing smoking hot?

Tis my Haloweensie meal –

tuna bake with spice.

Me and the neighbor kits

we like it with fried lice.

#6 The Dare

Joseph walked out in the dark of night.
The thought of his quest gave him a fright.
Shouldn’t have taken that dare.
The street was damp and empty as well.
The cold breeze blew up in a big swell.
Shouldn’t have taken that dare.
The air filled with a spooky thick mist.
Joseph jumped back when a black-cat hissed.
Shouldn’t have taken that dare.
The full moon shone in a bloody red.
The cemetery gate was ahead.
Why did I take this dare?
Tombstones and graves abruptly appear.
A dead voice cackled in Joseph’s ear.
“Shouldn’t have taken that dare.”

#7 Foe Or Friend?

October chill.
Argyle night.
Spooky shadows.
Black Cat’s delight.
Panther-like.
Freeze in a crouch.
Whiskers twitch.
Ready to pounce.
Leaves crunch.
Beginning to doubt.
About to bolt…
A cackle rings out.
A pointed hat.
A wide, black brim.
Gnarled hands.
A sharp, warty chin.
A hiss. An arch.
Fur stands on end.
A reach. A pat.
A new-found friend?
“It’s only me.”
A whisper is heard.
“Do you like my costume?”
Black Cat just purred.

#8 One Ghostly Halloween

Halloween was Billy’s favorite holiday. “I’m gonna scare someone good!”
But Billy was a ghost in the spookiest ghost town west of Texas. And ghosts don’t scare easy. She tested costumes:
A black cat,
“Ain’t you adorable,” said Sheriff.
A witch with a mean cackle,
“Ooooh…spooky,” said the cowboys guffawing.
A tarantula, a headless cowboy, a were-coyote. But nope, nada, not even a whimper.
Billy frowned. A ghost who couldn’t scare wasn’t worth a penny – especially on Halloween.
She thought and thought until…
“AIYEEE! Float for your lives!” cried the town-ghosts.
“Trick or treat!” said Billy, the ghost hunter.

#9 Witch And Ghost

Witch and Ghost walk hand in hand.
They pass Black Cat, sleek and grand.
A tree branch rattles.  Cold winds blow.
But Witch and Ghost have far to go.
Their shoes clip clop on long, dark roads.
Their backs are bent with heavy loads.
Witch climbs the steps.  She pulls the gate.
Ghost slips through.  They can’t be late.
They hear a cackle!  A spooky shriek!
A dark door opens with a creak.
Witch grips her broomstick.  In Ghost glides.
What frightful sights await inside?

#10 The Scary Spell

“Harrison!” cackled Leona. “Time to get scary for the witches’ ball.”
Harrison flicked his pointy ears. Oh no. Leona’s wand broke after the wart-away spell.
She waved it over him. “Abracadarey, big and scary!”
What? Now he was a boring, black cow.
“Mooo!” said Harrison, wishing he still had claws.
Leona waved again. “Abracaglarey, mean and hairy!”
Stamping tiny goat hooves, Harrison growled. “Naaa!”
Leona tried one more time. “Abracadat, spooky black cat!”
Sparks flew. Harrison’s fur crackled. He bared his teeth.
“You’re scarier than me!” Leona said. “You’d better stay home.”
Perfect. He could have a monstrous cat nap.

#11 On Halloween

On Halloween,

The moon was full,

And the night was still.

Raccoon and Badger crept up the lonely path.

A cackle echoed from the trees,

And Raccoon froze. “A witch?”

“A bird,” said Badger.

A dark streak dashed across their path,

And Raccoon jumped. “A monster?”

Badger shook his head. “A black cat.”

Up ahead, glowing eyes flickered,

And Raccoon trembled. “A goblin?”

“A Jack O’ Lantern.”

They approached a spooky old house.

The door slowly opened.

Creeeaaak

Raccoon stuttered. “A g…g…ghost?”

Badger laughed. “My Grandma!”

And Raccoon giggled.

Raccoon and Badger raced to the door.

“Trick or Treat!”

#12 Hallowontsie

Halloween colors are orange and black,
but Spooky Black Cat was tired of that.
“Why can’t I be pink? Or salmon? Or bronze?”
she said as she stepped in the beauty salon.
Before you could cackle, that cat was festooned
with sparkly fur that left all in a swoon.
“You’re not going to scare anyone, pretty as that!”
“That’s what I want,” said the former Black Cat.
“Halloween is for goblins, monsters and ghosts,
but also for princesses, which I like most.”
She found an angel that night with wings of foam
who petted her till she purred all the way home.
So ready?  Get set… VOTE!  And PLEASE!  We will need all the votes we can get even though I know the choice is very, very hard!  Please cast your vote by Wednesday November 6 at 5 PM EST.
Thank you all again!  For writing, reading, commenting, and voting, and generally participating to make this such a fun contest!

I can’t wait to see who the winners will be!  And I have some more surprises planned for Thrusday’s Special Halloweensie Contest Winners post, so stay tuned!!!  (And don’t forget WYRI on Wednesday :))

115 thoughts on “The 2013 Halloweensie Contest Finalists! – Vote For Your Favorite!”

  1. Michelle Heidenrich Barnes says:
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    Thank you, Susanna, for running such a fun contest! With so many outstanding entries, it must have been tremendously difficult to narrow them down. Congratulations to all of the finalists!

  2. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thank YOU for your very cute entry, Michelle (which we loved but gosh darn we just couldn't pick everything!) and for reading so many and leaving such nice comments for people. I'm so glad you enjoyed the contest and hope you'll come back for the Holiday Contest in December 🙂

  3. ELAINE KEARNS says:
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    These finalists are wonderful (and kudos to you for being able to narrow it down, what a job!) I had a hard time trying to decide! Good luck to all of these writers!

  5. iza trapani says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Great entries! Definitely hard to choose. I am glad you had so many participants, Susanna.You run the best contests! Good job everyone!

  7. nrhatch says:
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    I did NOT envy you having to narrow the pool for us . . . but you did a stellar job. Especially given your Halloween Candy Hangover.

    What's that?
    You didn't overdose on chocolate this year?
    Got it.
    I'll say no more. 😉

  8. This_Kid_Reviews_Books_Erik says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I am so TOTALLY honored I got into the finals! I couldn't believe how many entries there were and they were all GREAT! I picked my favorite out of the finalists (and it wasn't mine), I hope I don't lose by one vote! hee hee

  13. pathaap says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Great stories to pick from! Thanks for the contest, Susanna. It was fun participating in it and reading all the stories!

  14. Vivian Kirkfield says:
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    This was the best Halloweensie Contest ever! Thanks for hosting this, Susanna. Such an amazing turnout of fabulous stories. It was definitely hard to pick one out of this delightful dozen…but I did.:) Congrats to all who participated…there are many possible picture books out there among those!

  15. Joanna Marple says:
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    So awesome that so many joined it. I think it had to do with the minimal word count and the growing special place of Susanna's blog in the kidlitosphere. Honored to be among the finalists. Now the hard task – voting!

  17. Andrea says:
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    I have no idea how you and your assistants managed to narrow it down to twelve! I really enjoyed the challenge of writing such a short story. I'm honoured to be included as a finalist among such strong competition! Good luck, everyone!

  18. Julie says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Congratulations to the fabulous final entry authors, and many thanks to allwho dared! This was so much fun, even if Susanna and her troops are pooped!

  20. Beth Stilborn says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Well done, everyone, and WOW, well done, Susanna and assistants. You certainly made the voting easier for me, by including my favorite story in the finalists! What an amazing contest this was.

    I hope, hope, HOPE you get some rest time now. You have earned it. You have also earned many somethings-chocolate. Thank you for all you do for the writing community!

  24. Buffy Silverman says:
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    Terrific tales on this list–thanks Susanna (and assistants) for all your hard work in narrowing down this list.

  26. Catherine Johnson says:
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    Your eyes must be full of words after reading all those, Susanna. Great job narrowing them down. They are so entertaining!

  27. pennyklostermann says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    I imagine you and your assistants are dreaming cackles, black cats, and all other sorts of spooky things! I don't see how you did it! I have been sitting forever just trying to pick one from the twelve. Nice job finalists!!!! Good luck to you all.

  30. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Thanks, Iza! But really, what makes my contests fun are the writers who are game to give them a try and put forth such great work and all the people who go around reading and commenting so that we can all have a good time! 🙂

  32. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Thank you for saying we did a stellar job, Nancy. There were so many good ones that now I'm second-guessing myself, so I'm glad you approve. We did love your black cat rap! As for ODing on chocolate, that is hard to do when you have built up such a tolerance for it 🙂

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  34. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Michele! We were very taken with your little witch heading out on her first flight with her newfound friend. Such a cute story! I hope you'll feel rested up and ready to take part in the Holiday Contest in December! 🙂

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  37. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    It was a big job, Ruth! Fun because we loved reading all the entries so much. Not fun because we hated having to narrow the field! Thanks so much for voting! With 12 finalists, we need all the votes we can get! 🙂

  40. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Thanks so much, Pat! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! We loved your entry with all the fun Halloween games and the carpets shaped like bony hands. Your rhythm and rhyme were engaging, and you had us until judges 2 and 3 balked at the brew… I said it was harmless witches' brew… they argued it sounded too adult… 2 against 1… but you did a great job!

  41. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Oh, I definitely agree, Vivian! I was amazed and delighted at the turn out and the quality of the stories! And I think you're right about there being some wonderful potential PBs among them! Of course, that made it a desperate job trying to choose finalists…! Congrats to you too on a wonderful, fun rhyming story! Thanks so much for entering, reading, commenting, voting… everything! 🙂

  42. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    I think you may be right, Joanna. 100 words sounds so manageable… although to me the shorter length is often harder! We loved your black cat – especially the rhythm of Black Cat, Black Cat which reminded us of Brown Bear, Brown Bear and we thought was so fun to read aloud, and judge 3 was especially taken with the lice in the tuna bake 🙂

  43. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Unknown's avatar

    Thanks so much for voting, Mike! We need all the votes we can get! And congrats to you on a very fun story – we loved your spooky piggy and the accompanying illustration! Sorry we couldn't choose everyone!

  44. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    It wasn't an easy task, Andrea. It's best if you never know how many pounds of chocolate went down 🙂 We loved Harrison and Leona! We loved Harrison's grumpiness, Leona's determination, and then, after all that trying to get him scary, how she didn't want to be outshined by her own cat 🙂 Thanks for a delightful entry! 🙂

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  45. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    We are a tad pooped, but it was tons of fun! Well, the reading of so many delightful entries was fun. The having to narrow down was not fun. But everyone did such a great job – you are really all winners!

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  46. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    Thank YOU for your wonderful entry, Beth! We did so love your scared little kitty who turned brave! There is no rest for the wicked – now I have to catch up on all the things I didn't do in the last week 🙂 But it was worth it for so much fun!

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  47. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    I know, Cathy, the choosing is awful, isn't it? I'm still chuckling over you roaming in your suzuki! 🙂 I'm so glad if you had fun and hope you'll be rested up and raring to go for the Holiday Contest in December… for which there is QUITE an awesome prize…!

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