Woo-hoo!!!
Spring is here!
And so is
The March Madness Writing Contest!
The Contest: Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 400 words, that is a fractured fairy tale. Feel free to add a theme of spring, or mix in one of the spring holidays if you like – St. Patrick’s Day, April Fools Day, Easter or Passover, Arbor Day, Earth Day… Have fun with it! The madder* the better! 🙂
*as in wild and wacky, not angry 🙂
You do not have to include spring – that is optional.
The story can be a picture book or a short story – whatever you like.
If it’s a picture book, you may NOT include art notes, because we get into a weird area of whether that’s fair in terms of word count and added description etc. So if you write a picture book that’s wonderful, but make sure art notes aren’t necessary to understand it.
“Fairy Tale” apparently turned out to be a very debatable term, so my fellow judges and I will do our best to handle whatever you’ve come up with.
Title not included in word count.
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Monday March 24 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below which will remain up through Wednesday March 26 so we can all take our time reading and enjoying everyone’s stories! (No PPBF on Friday March 21, no new post on Monday March 24, no WYRI on March 26). If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)
The Judge: My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Thursday March 27 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Sunday March 30 and the winner will be announced on Monday March 31. (No PPBF on Friday March 28.)
The Prizes!:
– 1st Prize is a read and critique by
Karen Grencik of
Red Fox Literary!!! (Unless for some reason you don’t want a read and critique by an agent, in which case you may swap for any of the other prizes)
– 2nd Prize is a picture book manuscript critique (for rhyming mss only) by
Lori Degman, author of 1 ZANY ZOO and the forthcoming COCK-A-DOODLE-OOPS!
OR a picture book manuscript critique (for non-rhyming mss only) by
Cori Doerrfeld, author/illustrator of LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO and PENNY LOVES PINK as well as illustrator of many others.
– 3rd Prize is personalized signed copies of THE THREE NINJA PIGS and GOLDI ROCKS & THE THREE BEARS by
Corey Rosen Schwartz PLUS a $25 Amazon Gift Card
– 4th and 5th Prizes are your choice of any two of the following picture books PLUS a $20 Amazon Gift Card:
– THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG by Eugene Trivizas
– CINDY ELLEN: A WILD WESTERN CINDERELLA by Susan Lowell
– LITTLE RED WRITING by Joan Holub
– THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF by Mark Teague
– THE PRINCESS AND THE PEAS by Caryl Hart
– THE WOLF’S STORY: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD by Toby Forward
– GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS by Mo Willems
– 6th Prize (which just skated in under the wire – thank you Sudipta!) is a personalized signed copy of hot-off-the-presses SNORING BEAUTY by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
And don’t forget, all you illustrators, that this will be followed by a related Illustrator Contest in April!!! (to be announced and elaborated on as soon as the writing part of the contest is over! :))
And now, so that everyone will feel happy and confident about posting their stories, I will share my sample, a Wild West twist on The Gingerbread Boy at exactly 400 words (phew!):
The Cornpone Cowboy
Once upon a time (because that is the way all good fairy tales begin), Farmer Bubba and his lovely bride ThunderLily had the most beautiful ranch in the Wild West.
The grass was emerald green.
The rivers were pure as morning dew.
The cattle were sleek and fat and gave such rich, creamy milk that all the ice cream makers in the world fought over who would get it.
But even with all this beauty and excellent ice cream, Bubba and ThunderLily were sad. For though they were surrounded every spring by velvet-eyed calves and stilt-legged foals, fluffy chicks, pink piglets, and wooly lambs, they never had a child of their own.
Luckily, ThunderLily was not one to sit around moping. “If I can’t have a child, I’ll make one,” she told her darling Bubba.
She got cornmeal and buttermilk, eggs, salt, and bacon drippings, and quick as you like she whipped up a sturdy little Cornpone Cowboy.
“We’ll call him Charlemagne,” she said dreamily as she plucked the skillet from the barbeque pit.
“You’ll have to catch me first!” snorted the Cornpone Cowboy, and off he rode as fast as his cowpony could carry him.
He passed the pigpen and the piglets grunted, “Oh, Charlemagne! Come be our friend!”
“Don’t call me that!” said the Cornpone Cowboy, and he galloped on his way.
He passed the sheepfold and the lambs baahed, “Oh, Charlemagne! Come be our friend!”
“Don’t call me that!” said the Cornpone Cowboy, and he galloped on his way.
He passed the cow barn and the calves mooed, “Oh, Charlemagne! Come be our friend!”
“Why does everyone insist on calling me that?” said the Cornpone Cowboy, and he galloped on his way.
And so it was at the hen house…
. . . the horse pasture…
. . . and the goat shed.
Along about sundown a voice called, “Hey, Cowboy! Won’t you come set a spell by the campfire?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” said the Cornpone Cowboy, tuckered out from galloping. He hopped down from his pony, spurs a-janglin’, and came face to face with…
. . . COYOTE!
Quick as a wink he twirled his lariat. . .
. . . hog-tied Coyote . . .
. . . and lit out for home!
When Bubba and ThunderLily heard his story, ThunderLily said, “That’s our boy! Lightning fast!”
Which is how he came to be called LightningCharlie instead of Charlemagne (because really, who could live with that?) and they all lived happily ever after!
The End
Wasn’t that nice of me? Now you can all feel brave and smug, secure in the knowledge that your story is better than that!!! 🙂
Anyone besides me feeling an urge to sing?
“Like a Cornpone Cowboy
riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Cornpone Cowboy…“
No? Darn! I was hoping the exceptional quality of my singing would distract you from that story even though “cornpone” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as “rhinestone” 🙂
I can’t wait to read what you have all come up with! Let the fun begin! 🙂
And remember to check back here for entries added in the comments. I’ll list them as they come in 🙂 (Titles link to stories in comments – give them an extra moment to load)
Jennifer C – The Princess And The Pete
Pat H – Jack And The Giant
Angela – The Belle And The Sticker Burrs
Sean – No Spring Chicken Little
Shelly – Prince Frog
Kirsten B – Goldi And Red
Pen – The Sweetie Witch
Connie – Chocolocks And The Three Bunnies
Karen – Little Red Hen’s Shiny New Friend
Teresa S – Little Red’s Green Cloak
Eric – A Sleeping Beauty
Katie – Little Dead Riding Hood
Robert – Jack And The Beanstalk
Lisa – Rabbi Wolfberg And The Boarmans Celebrate Sukkot
Denise – The Biscuit Man
Kristen – The Boy Who Cried Spring
Jennifer Mc – Little Red Ray
Debbie – The Three Kittens
Gaye – Chocolate Muffins
Nancy – Big Bad Wolf And Red Riding Toad
Robert2 – The Emperor’s New Clothes
Kelsi – Goldinocks And The Three Scares
Jen – The Mischievous Fire Truck
Heather – Rap-unzel
Robert3 – Humpty
Hilary – Hare And Tortoise
Sandy – The Three Little Pigs And The Shoemaker
Kelly V – A Fractured Fairy Tail (Literally)
Susanna Leonard Hill 
You know Susanna, your entry is very good. I loved it!
So much to love about this story. Rhythm, voice, comedy, and a clever ending. Thank-you for posting it.
A holiday and a half-dozen fairy tale characters? Congratulations! Well done.
LOL Nothing runs like a . . . hen? Great twist!
Aw, Pat! You're so sweet. You know just what to say to make me feel less humiliated. Thank you! 🙂
Like Chocolocks, I can't resist a good chocolate egg. 'Can't go wrong with a chocolate story!
Lovely story with rollicking rhymes. Clever ending too.'Loved it!
How fun! Great way to spin the tales together and twist them in knots.:)
The way you turned this one on it's head made me laugh. Great!
Clever. And I love CL's tweet!
This is too too too funny…great lines…and a super message as well…I'm glad our heroine didn't cave in and marry in haste. 😉
What a lovely story…and a unique twist on the Princess and the Pea…love the sticky burrs and the snake under the glass lamp…brave heroine…glad she got her man.:)
Erik…you had me going for a bit…and then I figured it out.:) So well done…a VERY modern take on an old classic. Love the GPS flub…it's true…they don't always get it right.:)
I love your take on the Prince and the Pea, so funny, especially when the prince himself crawls into the mattress! I laughed out loud 🙂 And what a smart girl this fair maiden is 😉
Hi Erik, I loved the modern, high-tech twist, and the princess's high-tech attitude to match. Very fun!
Nice job pulling all these characters into one story! Very cool.
Oh those poor chickens, how naive they were! What a great twist (or turn?)
Love that cotton-candy smoke! Very visual descriptions and fun rhymes. I love the ending, turning them both to frogs, what a great surprise twist!
I love the name Chocolocks, and how sweet of Mother bunny to take such good care of her!
How did you do that, Teresa? You highlighted some of the most beloved fairy tales…and got it working in a fun story that kids would love.:) Great job!!!!
Thank you Karen for the kind remarks. I typed this story really quick this morning. We are leaving town tomorrow for the weekend and wanted to get something together for the contest. It really needs some polishing but I was in a hurry.
The Little Red Hen is one of my most favorite tales…and you've done a super job with fracturing it, Karen! I love your modern twist with the John Deere. 😉
Thanks for commenting on my story. It still needs some work but I was in a hurry. We are leaving town. Thanks again.
Love this story!!! Angela…what a great job you did. I thought I commented…but now I don't see the comment…but if there are two from me, the story is so good, you deserve them both.:)
Chocolocks was pretty lucky the bunnies were so forgiving. 🙂 I'm glad she won't worry her mother again. What a cute story, Connie…I'd love to take a walk in that chocolate store…I'm sure Susanna would as well.:)
Thanks Susanna for your nice comments. I wish I had read over better before I sent to you. I see a couple of words that are incorrect but I guess it is too late to fix anything. I had fun typing the story this morning before I sent to you. Thanks for all you do.
Well, I am a total fan of all kinds of ice cream…but I'm not quite sure if fly ice cream would be to my liking. So glad that Hansel and Gretel will live happily ever after…very cute fractured fairy tale, Pen.
Oh my goodness…this is so clever…mashing up some of our favorites…and such a cute twist that they were trying to trick each other. Well done, Kirsten. 🙂
Shelly…this is awesome! Love that the frog becomes a little boy and then needs a kiss to turn back to a frog. Great lesson in environmental awareness as well. 🙂 And 'Zippit' is genius!
Bravo, Sean! This is great…I loved the next to the last verse…so very clever.:) Funny, funny tale!
Thank you Vivian! I really appreciate the encouragement:-)
Thanks Joanne!
Thanks Sean. I'm glad I surprised you:-)
Thanks Erika:-)
I love the Valley Girl talk! Great twists!
Oh boy, this was fun. I enjoyed Tad's dilemma in being human and especially your message. I'm thinking Tad and the dragonfly could have a talk with a few corporations. Again, thoroughly enjoyed your story.
Thanks Pamela!
OMG, You've done it again, Erik. This is a riot. I'm so glad you participated. I always look forward to what you bring to Susanna's contests and you surely delivered. Well done.
Okay, how long did you work on this? Getting all those tales into one story is magician's work. Oh and the way Red frustrates Rumpelstiltskin is too funny. I can tell you had fun with this story.
I had not tried a fractured fairy tale before, but I must say it was fun. I'm afraid that mine took a gruesome twist.
Little Dead Riding Hood
Mr. Wolf was napping when he felt the first bite.
He fled up a tree.
“What are you doing?” he yelped.
Little Dead stared at him with her big glassy eyes. Her mouth gaped open. Her pointy teeth gnashed up and down. Her breath smelled sour and sort of moldy. She moved closer. Mr. Wolf climbed higher.
“If you’re looking for Granny, she lives over that way.”
Mr. Wolf pointed. He watched Little Dead stumble down the path. Her right leg fell off. She stooped to pick it up. Somehow, she stuck it back on.
Mr.Wolf tugged at his whiskers.
He took the short cut and arrived at Granny’s house ahead of Little Dead.
“Granny,Little Dead is on her way, and there is something really odd about her.”
Granny nodded.
Mr. Wolf sniffed. “Fried chicken?”
“Help yourself. I’ve got to go.” Granny pulled on her cloak and rushed out.
When he heard Little Dead stumbling on the porch, Mr. Wolf hid in Granny’s bed,under the covers. The bed was soft and warm, but Mr. Wolf lay stiff. He pulled Granny’s night cap over his ears. He pulled Granny’s pillow over his head. He tried to be invisible.
“Granny, It’s me.”
Little Dead grabbed the pillow. “Granny?”
“My,what a deep voice you have, my dear,” said Mr. Wolf, scooching back a bit.
“The better to great you with,” said Little Dead, coming closer.
“My,what big eyes you have, my dear.” said Mr. Wolf, scooching back a bit more.
“The better to see you with,” said Little Dead coming closer, and closer.
“My,what big teeth you have, my dear,” said Mr. Wolf, scooching WAY BACK!
“The better to eat you with,” said Little Dead and she dove for Mr. Wolf.
Mr. Wolf howled and fell out of the bed.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
“Tis I the huntsman come to save you, Granny.”
Little Dead turned her pointy teeth towards the huntsman.
“Yikes! Little Red you’re looking a Little Dead! You’re a zombie!”
Little Dead chased the wolf and the huntsman, but her right leg fell off again. They got clean away.
She re-attached her leg and hobbled back into the woods.
“Any luck?” asked DeadliLocks.
Little Dead shook her head. “They were too quick for me.”
Deadlilocks yanked on her matted gold hair. “Come with me. I know where three bears live.”
I love your frog / prince switch in this, Shelly, you made me laugh, and you even managed to fit in an “environmental clean-up” lesson!
I love your fun language style, Angela, and the funny take on an old story that usually makes us girls look weak and pathetic! I think you've got all of us chuckling with the “burrs to a sweater” phrase!
Wow, very clever and scary! Loved the way you also brought in DeadliLocks at the end!
You had me singing “Cornpone Cowboy” to myself merrily with this, Susanna. Loved your funny western twist on the tale, especially the “Why does everyone insist on calling me that” plea!
If this is supposed to be a bad example to encourage the rest of us, though, it is much too good, and therefore failed badly on that front!
Very imaginative, love it! Dead's leg falling off was hilarious 😀
Thank-you Joanne 🙂
Thanks Karen 🙂
Yes, I personally prefer tutti-frutti! Thank you for reading and commenting Vivian 🙂
Spelling guys! This entry is not Erik's! He posted his this morning on his own blog. This entry is my husband, Eric's! 🙂
You're welcome, Connie! I'm glad you joined in! 🙂 And I will fix it for you if I can 🙂