WOO-HOO! Let the joyous news be spread! It’s time for
The Contest: Write a children’s story about a Holiday Mishap, mix-up, miscommunication, mistake, or potential disaster (a la Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer :)). Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words not counting the title (aren’t I being generous?! 🙂 It can be as short as you like, but no more than 350!) Did the dog knock over the Christmas Tree? Did little Johnny’s costume get grape juice all over it moments before the holiday pageant? Did the menorah go missing? Did travel arrangements get snarled or miscommunicated? Did Santa’s sleigh have to make an emergency landing? The field is wide open! Have fun! (And because so many people have mentioned this, the story does not have to be funny! You can have a holiday mishap that is serious or sweet or mysterious… Please don’t feel that you have to go the humor route! Also, because a number of people have mentioned it this time, no art notes please.)
– A Picture Book Manuscript Read and Written Critique by Karen Boss, Editor at Charlesbridge!!! (Priceless!) Karen Boss is the editorial assistant at Charlesbridge Publishing in Watertown, MA. She has a master’s degree in children’s literature from Simmons College and is currently editing projects that range from picture books for younger readers to picture books for older readers to middle-grade novels, both fiction and nonfiction. (But let’s face it, folks! You’re getting YOUR picture book manuscript in front of an actual editor at a highly regarded publishing house! Who knows where that could lead?)
– A Gold Membership to Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 2014 (a $150 value)
Little GOLDen Book Membership includes:
- Full access (view and post) to the Main 12 x 12 Forum and Critique Connect (where you can find critique partners)
- Access to the members-only 12 x 12 Facebook Group
- Ability to view the Events, Member Books, Videos/Trailers and Help An Author Out (HAAO) sections of the 12 x 12 Forum
- Opportunity to win craft-related prizes from the monthly featured authors
- Full (view and post) access to the Events, Member Books, Video/Trailers and HAAO sections of the 12 x 12 Forum
- FULL (view and post) access to these additional sections of the 12 x 12 Forum: Query Corner (get feedback on your query letters), Pitch Perfect (get feedback on loglines and pitches), and Manuscript Makeover (get feedback on the first 250 words of your ms)
- Access to the Submission Station section of the 12 x 12 Forum, which will provide information about that month’s agent or editor and instructions on how to submit to him or her.
– 2 signed Picture Books by Linda Ashman – RAIN! and PEACE, BABY! (Keep for yourself or give as a holiday gift to a little person in your life :)) PLUS
a $25 Amazon Gift Card
– A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Erin Molta Erin is an experienced senior editor of picture book, early readers, chapter, middle grade, and YA books, as well as novelty and licensed titles. She has been in childrens publishing for more than twenty years and has a keen understanding of early reader through YA audiences. She has an excellent reputation with established authors, illustrators, and agents.
– Enrollment in the Online Writing course Making Picture Book Magic in the month of your choice (a $99 value)
– A signed copy of TUGBOAT by Michael Garland (not even released yet!) AND
a signed copy of A TROOP IS A GROUP OF MONKEYS by Julie Hedlund (Keep for yourself or give as a holiday gift to a little person in your life :)) PLUS
a $25 Amazon Gift Card
– A Picture Book Manuscript Critique from author/illustrator Sarah Frances Hardy, author and illustrator of PUZZLED BY PINK (Viking Juvenile, April 2012) and the forthcoming PAINT ME!. A great choice for someone who is both an author and an illustrator – and I know we have quite a few of those here 🙂
– 2014 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market by Chuck Sambuchino (your choice of paperback or Kindle edition)
– The Crock Of Charms Anthology – a three volume collection of stories for readers of all ages from writers all over the world including some you probably know 🙂 Robyn Campbell, Cheryl Secomb, Clarike Bowman-Jahn, Theresa Milstein, Lenny Lee, and me, to name a few 🙂
(Run your mouse over the prizes, books, authors, etc… most of them are links)
Wow! Let’s get the Holiday Party started! 🙂
Here is my sample… to prove that in can in fact be done… and because I wouldn’t ask you to do anything I won’t do myself… (But seriously, whose idea was 350 words? It’s cramping my style! :))
And away he flew in the red velvet suit he’s worn ever since.
So now! Everyone filled with confidence about their entries? I certainly hope so after that display! Never let it be said that I’m not willing to be a fool for my art 🙂
I can’t wait to read all of your (much better!) stories! 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 and want to join the fun. 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!
Don’t miss 38 entries in the comment section below (which thanks to Penny I’ve figured out how to link, so if you click on the person’s name it will take you directly to that story so you can read and comment… just give it a second to load 🙂 And this intelligence just in – if you’re trying to work these links on iPad or iPhone you will need the google Chrome app to get them to work – Safari won’t do it.)
Nancy – Toby’s Christmas: Ho Ho Ho Or No No No?
Suzy – Reindeer In The Eggnog
Mandy – One Squirrelly Christmas
Lakshmy – Santa’s Stocking
Kristen – The Great Christmas Morning Mix-Up
Teresa S – Always Ready Or Not
Michele – Santa Is Stuck
Kim – Popcorn For Santa On Christmas Eve
Ryan (Rino) – The Adventures Of Jonathan James
Alissa – Santa’s Stuck On the Toilet
Kirsten (not to be confused with Kristen above) – Blackout!
Karen – Santa’s New Toy-Making Machine
Anne – The Gingerbread House Disaster
Ann – The Christmas Present
Sue – Pup Unwrapped
Tim – O Deer
Diane – Frank’s Adventure With Santa And The Elves
Karen Z – Santa’s Snow Angel
Michelle S – Cookies For Papa Noel
Pat – Santa’s Paws
Vicki – Mrs. Claus Saves Christmas
Charlotte – Goldilocks’s Night Before Christmas
Susan – The Christmas Wagon
Pia – Santa Baby
Rachel – Fresh Frosting
Bonnie – The Sound And Smell Of Christmas
Martha – A Christmas Surprise
Patty – Santa’s Special Gift
Susan S – Snowman On A Roll
Kristen 2 – No Sleep For Santa (same author as The Great Christmas Morning Mix-Up above)
Debbie – Home For Christmas
Rita – George’s Christmas Present: A True Story
Sue – Blue Latkes And Salsa
Ruth – Santa Claus Has Lost His Voice
Heather – Behind Schedule
Morgan – A Brother For Christmas
Kelly – Happy Birthday Bambino
Kristen S – Dasher Does A Dash
Happy Writing and Happy Holiday Season!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Very sweet! I'll never forget how upset my son was when we brought his little sister home 🙂 Your story is one any kid could relate to!!
Love the rhyme and the solution!! Funny!!
Oh I loved this! I lived in Australia for a year and it brought me right back!! If it were up to me, I'd be laying out on a beach in Western Australia too – sweat and all it's one of my favorite places in the world!! 🙂 Lovely story!
I love this so much, Martha! Your language has made it so easy to visualize. I especially like the fact that Jack was so tickled to surprise those in the south with snow!
Thank you, Ruth! 🙂
Thank you! My daughter is still adjusting to having a little brother and he is 8 months old 🙂 There are times she loves him and other times she wants to “send him back”
Thank you! I feel like my daughter would have acted very much this way had her brother been born Christmas Eve. The only thing she has asked for this Christmas is a green bike with a basket (she is 3) 🙂 I intentionally left the gender and age of the main character ambiguous so the reader can assign their own
Really enjoyed this story! Happy Holidays!
What a great idea!!! I have to tell you after your post idea, I recorded my grandson Anthony playing the drums and singing it…we had such fun doing it! Thank you for your great idea! I will try and post a link to you tube…Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much for your post! We do have such fun singing it! especially the Bambino ending!
I wish I knew how to link a FB or YouTube link so you could hear my grandson sing it with me, we had a lot of fun!
Villagrich , your comments were closed so I'll comment here. Love that Gavin made up the table just right after all. With Great Christmas cheer from everyone. 🙂 .
Love this beautifully written fantasy story! Here in Florida, my children would love a visit from Jack Frost and the North Wind. Just a little bit of snow magic would really make their day!
Thanks Teresa,
I enjoyed the story , It wouldn't be Christmas with out old Jack
A beautiful, touching story. Thank you.
I didn't see that coming, squirrels pulling a sleigh, nice job
A snowman with a sense of adventure– love it! Glad he found his way home, though.
What a lot of kid appeal in this story! Let's hear it for creative problem solving!
You had me guessing up until the end… then you had me laughing!
Nice story…I love Jack Frost!
I bet she's hooked now! She may never want to go back to being the same ol' Mrs. Claus again.
This worries me a little because chocolate is toxic to dogs and can kill them. Just had to tell you in case you ever go to press with your sweet story. Maybe Santa left the puppy a puppy treat dog biscuit shaped like a bone instead?
What a beautiful, heartmelting story, made all the more lovely by the fact that it was based on something that really happened!
I can imagine how special this song is to you!
It is Michelle…thanks for noticing! I actually wrote it for Anthony's birthday but then soon realized…what a great way for him to sing for Jesus's birthday! It was a win win situation! Happy Holidays and thanks for posting!
Ruth that was very cute and a great ending!
Really sweet story Morgan and love the ending 🙂
Heather, very clever story! Moose names were great 🙂
I actually got the idea for the story by researching unusual weather events and found out that there had been a freak, massive snowstorm in the south, including Florida, back in the late 1800's. I was already wanting to use Jack Frost as a character and then the story just took off from there! Thank you for your kind comment! 🙂
Very sweet story Kelly and no doubt your grandson was smiling a lot!
It wouldn't, would it? I'm glad you enjoyed the story! Thank you! 🙂
Thanks, Kelly! I appreciate your kindness. Have a wonderful holiday! 🙂
Thank you Kim for posting and yes he was smiling a lot…when I first read it to him he couldn't stop laughing! We found ourselves humming the tune around the house lolHappy Holidays to you!
Great story Kristen and loved the “code.” 🙂
What fun! So glad Toby had a good Christmas and got what he wanted.
What a charming version of 'The Magi'…aimed right at little ones. This is a beautiful message for the world…thank you for retelling it so well.:)
I thought of 'Little House' as soon as I started reading…it was the episode where they get a tin cup, an orange and a penny. 🙂
Love the Christmas snow on the beach concept…I imagined it was Hawaii or Miami.:) What a unique Christmas story…I'm glad the people were happy about it!
Perfect…just like this story.:) What a lovely message…with just the right dash of humor with the baby brother and animals sabotaging her hard work.:)
A traveling snowman…that is brilliant! And I loved that he discovered there was no place like home. Great rhyme.:)
Hurray for the magic of Christmas and a great Christmas story! Love that the children knew just what to do.:)
This is a lovely story…you kept me wondering until the very end. I'm glad it was a wonderful Christmas for the whole family. You did a great job of relaying the combination of joy and trepidation that Nani felt.:
What a beautiful message…and told with humor and rhyme…not an easy task! 🙂 I especially love the last verse.:)
Thank you, Vivian! I may be an optimist, but I like to think that Christmas snow in Florida would be a welcome surprise (maybe not, but we won't go there…). 😉
So happy Santa regained his voice in time.:) And done in rhyme! Great job…lots of fun!
Now that is CLEVER! I was wondering what they had used.:) I used to make graham cracker gingerbread houses with my kindergarten students over 40 years ago…and this weekend, I'll be making one with my 5-year old grandson. Thanks for a wonderful Christmas story that brought back lovely memories.:)
A baby Santa…what a great image.:) I can just see the illustrations! Lots of humor and fun in this story!
Hurray for Mrs. Claus! Great rhyme and fun story.:)
Love the story..love the message..love everything about this! Hurray for the spirit of Christmas, may it live in our hearts all year long.:)