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 
So glad the disaster was averted and Santa was able to deliver the gifts and get home safely. What a fun story…kids would love this one.:)
As I mentioned to Susanna, it was inspired by my experiences as a single mother. One difficult Christmas, someone came to the door with boxes and boxes of food and gifts. I was speechless and overwhelmed and so very blessed. The characters, culture, cookies, etc. in this story are fictional. But, I DID make cinnamon tortillas when we couldn't afford other sweets. Even though we are in a better situation today, we still make cinnamon tortillas!
What a precious story! I love your MC's unexpected reaction when she finds out she got a bike afterall.
Thank for for reading my story, Kelly. Merry Christmas to you, too!
Yummo! Especially loved this line: “With a pat-pat, slap-sizzle, Papa tossed the latkes into the hot oil.” This is when my tummy started rumbling!
What a lovely story that is all about the true meaning of Christmas! So glad Jonathan James stepped up and shared what he had.:)
Such a fun story! I laughed out loud at the line about velcroing the GPS to a reindeer's rear.
Thank you, Vivian. Your encouraging words made my day. I have been working on a longer version of the story for the past couple of days and can't wait to see how it turns out. Merry Christmas!
I could really relate to this great story…I have a big bowl of popcorn EVERY night.:) And you've brought the internet to the North Pole…does that mean I can email my list to Santa? 🙂 🙂
Cinnamon tortillas ARE very good, cheap, and easy to make as long as you don't burn them. Haha.
Thank you for reading my story, Elaine. Merry Christmas!
Your comment means a great deal, Penny. Developing character within 350 words is very difficult. Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Cecilia. I still believe there is a place for inspiring messages of hope and love. Merry Christmas!
Love your clever counting book…and the eggnog party sounds delicious.:) Fun rhyme and great images!
How fun! Love this silly and lighthearted romp!
Thank you, Stacy! I am sure most mothers will relate to needing to come up with a creative solution fast. How many of us have forgotten that the tooth fairy was suppose to come? And I have seen quite a few posts about forgetting to move that elf on the shelf… Merry Christmas!
Thank you for reading my story. Merry Christmas!
I'm glad her love came through the story. Merry Christmas, Karen!
Thank you, Laura, for reading my story. Merry Christmas to you, too!
What a treat! And so believable…when my husband would go to work in the morning, I would have to lay out his wallet, keys, briefcase, gloves, etc…or he would leave without them. Great story…I loved it!
For the bulk of my teaching career, I worked in Title 1 schools that served Spanish speaking children. I found their culture to be very underrepresented in the world of literature. How they craved to hear stories about children who looked and sounded like them. There are even fewer stories about children who are poor. Thank you for reading my story. Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Elaine, for reading my story. Merry Christmas!
Wonderful story…filled with a little bit of disaster and a lot of love and joy!
What a great fractured Christmas tale! Love all the clever details– like the fact that none of the fruit cakes were just right, the double meaning of “darn it” in the stocking sequence, and the line, “Be good,” Santa said, “but don’t lose that spunk.”
Great story…would be perfect for kids with new siblings. 🙂
Who *wouldn't* love an adorable puppy like Paws! Glad he turned out to be a hero, but I'm sure Santa would have found a good home for him regardless. 🙂
Wonderful story, Sue! Love that the family pulled together while Mama was off spreading the Christmas spirit…if you make it a picture book, you could include the latke recipe at the back of the book.:)
You can't ask for a better Christmas present than that!
Oh, this is hilarious. I love your story…fun rhyming, too!
We just moved 2000 miles across the country and my husband got a GPS for our car. We love it…but I can see how programming millions of addresses might cause it to explode. Hope there is a good return policy at the store where Mrs. Claus bought it.:)
Thanks, Vivian!!
Haha! Unfortunately this all sounds WAY too familiar! Thanks for making me laugh. 🙂
Oh my, I got goosebumps toward the end. Beautiful imagery…lyrical language…great job!
I'm glad Goldi tried to make things right! What a clever funny mash-up.:)
Great story– love that last line!
Oh yay! So glad Paws got his chance to show what a wonderful puppy he was. Clever sweet story!
Great story– super idea to have Rudy & co hitch a ride with Father Time, but too bad the moose didn't work out. I would have liked to hear about them lumbering through the sky! Next story, okay?
So glad Frank got his chance to travel with Santa! Fun story…and who knows…maybe this is what every dog would like to do. 🙂
Oh dear! That kept me smiling from beginning to end.:) Clever tale and lots of fun.:)
Why wouldn't they go back for Dasher? Poor guy, baking on the beach like a fur-lined potato. Makes for a great story, though!
I could have used that puppy when I was a little girl and didn't like some of the foods I had to eat for dinner.:) Very cute story!
So happy for Eliza that she won a blue ribbon also! And hurray for the courage she showed when she let everyone see her broken gingerbread house.
OMG, I can't believe I commented on all of the entries (except for the Tumblr ones because I couldn't figure out how)… and it's not even Sunday yet. Oh… well it's only Sunday by 20 minutes or so. Susanna, I do not envy your task of narrowing these down!!!
I love the rhyme. I like the adventures to had him on. 😉
It's a very tough job, Michelle! So many really excellent entries! I wish everyone could win 🙂
Thanks Vivian and thank you for taking the time to read my story! Merry Christmas!
Well it's a lovely story, Michelle. (And those cinnamon tortillas sound yummy! :))
Thank you for stopping by my blog; it inspires me to think that you have read ALL of the entries in your holiday contest. What a gift!
I have thoroughly enjoyed every single one! Which is what makes it SO HARD to narrow a field of 118 stories down to a handful of finalists!
Kristen, I thought I commented on your story, but I'm not seeing it. So sorry if this is a repeat! I love “No deer left behind” and the “Reindeer Code”. So much fun. And I'm so glad dasher decided that the beach wasn't for him! Really cute story!
Thank you Vivian! Happiest of Holidays to you!!