Tiger eye and mandrake root! 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 pumpkin, broomstick, and creak. Your story can be poetry or prose, scary, funny or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words 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 🙂 (And yes, I know 100 words is short but that’s part of the fun and the challenge! We got nearly 80 fantastic entries last year so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form – e.g. creak, creaky, creaks, creaking, creaked. No illustration notes please!
Post your story on your blog between right now this very second and Friday 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 Wednesday or Perfect Picture Book Friday this week, so this post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. (I hope you will all visit each other! :)) 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. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you!)
The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee – okay, who are we kidding? :)) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 3rd. The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 6th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off. I may post as many as 10 finalists and I’ll probably end up giving everyone a prize 🙂 But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it 🙂
The Prizes: we’ve got some seriously amazing prizes! (words in color are links to more info)
– Julie Hedlund‘s fantastic new course How To Make Money As An Author, interesting, educational and suitable for writers at any stage of their career
– a 2015 membership to Children’s Book Insider, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds, generously offered by Jon Bard and Laura Backes
– a picture book manuscript critique from the renowned Alayne Christian (prose only, 800 words or less)
Alayne Kay Christian is an award winning author of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA. She is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&Ink Literary Studio. To read more about Alayne, her critique service, and her books visit her websites and blog.
– a picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Website: www.traceymcox.com
Blog: www.traceymcox.wordpress.com
– an e-pub or PDF copy (winner’s choice) of Linda Ashman‘s Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books
– a personalized signed copy of I WANNA GO HOME by Karen Kaufman Orloff, the latest in the brilliant PB series that began with I WANNA IGUANA. (Reviewed HERE for PPBF)
– a personalized signed copy of I AM COW HEAR ME MOO by Jill Esbaum (reviewed for Perfect Picture Books HERE and HERE – yep, it’s so popular it got reviewed for PPBF twice :))
– a personalized signed copy of NINJA RED RIDING HOOD by Corey Rosen Schwartz, the riveting follow-up to THE THREE NINJA PIGS. (Reviewed HERE for PPBF)
– a PDF copy of Ryan Sias’s A Spooky-Doodle E-Book, “doodle pages, drawing lessons and writing prompts inspire kids to invent their own stories, characters and artwork.”
Now then. Time for my sample entry which I provide because I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. Also, in case anyone is worried about the quality of their entry they have only to read my foolish attempts to be filled with confidence that their’s is MUCH better! I have to confess, I was really down to the wire this year (my schedule is a little bit nuts!), so, ahem, yeah.. I’ll be proofreading after I post since I’m out of time 🙂 (And I usually do one rhyme and one prose, but I don’t have a prose one this year… yet… if I have time maybe I’ll write one and add it during the week :))
So without further ado:
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| Haggie, as illustrated by the fabulously talented Julie Rowan-Zoch click for PORTFOLIO, DIGITAL, SKETCHBOOK |
you owe me a pumpkin pie!”
Pirate Ploy (100 words)
shouts, “Mrs. Johnson! Trick-or-treat!”
Everyone feeling better about their stories now? I should certainly HOPE so! 🙂
I can’t wait to read all of yours! I’m so looking forward to them! 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!!! 🙂
There are already 57 entries in the comment section below that you won’t want to miss! (names are links):
Barbara – The Trick Or Treat Troll
Eric – Witch Poem
Lata – Halloween Colors
Nomie – Mabel’s Spooky Soiree
Tracie – The Misspelled Witch
Rachel K – A Home On Halloween
Suzy – Witch In My Hamper
Sarah C – The Moon Is Up!
Angela B – A Messy Halloween
Sue – Untitled
Kimberly C – First Flight Of Halloween
Ann – Off To See The Wizard
Susan – The Contest
Michelle V – The Halloween Sneer
Ashley – Pumpkin’s Plight
Abigail – Maddie’s First Broomstick
Jim – Jack
Melissa – Pumpkin’s Patch
Pia – The Green Witch’s Brew
Kathleen – The Littlest Pumpkin
Lori D – The Trick Or Treat Bag
Debbie – Halloween In A Box
Sharalyn – The Witch And The Pumpkin Contests
Jaymie – No Tricks, Just Treats
Jenifer – Broomstick Ball
Ellen – Emma’s Evening Ride
Beth – Halloween Night
Anne – What’s That?
Brandie – No Ordinary Witch
Marty – Winnie’s Spell
Michelle B – This Year’s Halloween Mascot
Jessica – Spooky Sharing
Alistair – The Raven And The Pumpkin
Kirsten – Family Re-BOO-nion
Jodi – Halloween Hide-And-Go-Seek
Anne B – The Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow
Carol – Halloween Night
Nicole – Black At Night
Hope – In The Wee Hours Of Halloween
Maggie – Arabella The Witch
Gina – Halloween Chase
Kelly – The Pumpkin King
Mandy – On This Night
Eric – The Scarecrow
Cat – Etty Bitty Belina
Julie A – Orinda Owl’s First Halloween
Donna R – The Witches’ Gathering
Kathy – Who Is It?
Robin – Kitchin-nastic Trick Or Treats
Sandy – Pete’s Pumpkins
Judy – Halloween Parade
Merry – Witch School
Victoria – Creaks
Amelia – Full Moon Rising
Colleen – Tell It To The Ghosts
Sydney – Midnight Critters
Stefanie – Monsters Rock
Susanna Leonard Hill 
So beautifully told !
Hi PJ! I couldn't figure out how to log in at your blog. Sorry about that. I enjoyed Happy Early Halloween. What a fun story! I love the ending. Thanks for sharing!
This is adorable! Doughnuts and cider sound good to me, too. 🙂 Great job, Marty!
What a fun idea for a story. I love the characters, setting and the conflict.between broomstick and pumpkin. Great job, Michelle!
That's a wonderful idea. I think I'll keep that in mind when I write part two.–Thanks so much for the encouraging words, Carrie. 🙂
Thanks, Janet!–Only time will tell… 😉
I'm a sucker for a ditty, doncha know. 😉 Thanks for being such a spooktacular contest ghostess.
Why thank you, Robyn! 🙂 I was giddy too when that line presented itself to me.
Thank you! 🙂
Almost 500 comments, Susanna!!!! Holy how much time will it take you to read all of these!!!! Sorry to be adding yet another, but I had to congratulate you on what a smashing (as in 'pumpkin heads':)) contest this is. SOOOO many new names and faces…HURRAY!!!
Yay…so great to see your fun Halloweensie here, Pia! Well done…just love the language…ultra-creative!
What fun, Jaymie! I love movies, too. 🙂 I love the sweet relationship between Max and his dad. 😉
Oh, I want to join little witch Winnie with the doughnuts and apple cider…I thought she was going to order take-out. 🙂 Lots of fun, Marty…good job with the rhyming. 🙂
Great characters and a fitting ending for the two combatants, Michelle…I love it. 🙂
Glad Luna gets her wish, Brandie…and hope we all get ours in this picture book writing journey. 😉 Love your spell words!
Yay…let's all go! Anne, you've got everyone here…and I know we are all ready. 🙂 Great job with the rhyme and sound words!
Good idea, Winnie – I'd love to join you!
I second that! Nice one, Michelle!
Halloween Hide-and-Go-Seek
by: Jodi McKay
It’s Halloween! It’s dark, it’s spooky, it’s perfect for a
game of Halloween Hide-and-Go-Seek!
Blurp! Bloop! Blub!
Are you in the cauldron?
No, just some toadstool stew.
Rustle! Swish! Swoosh!
Are you in the closet?
No, just an old broomstick.
Creak! Crack! Bang!
Are you behind the curtains?
No, it’s just the wind blowing the windows open and closed.
Scritch! Scratch! Raow!
Are you behind the chair?
No, just the cat settling down.
Giggle, Giggle
Are you upstairs?
Sssshhhhhhh!
Are you in the bedroom?
Hmmmmm.
Boo!
There are my little pumpkins!
You’ve had your trick, now how about your treat?
Love it, Ellen! Now the two little ones will be friends. 🙂 Great to see you here at the Halloweensie Contest. 🙂
Great job, Jenifer…love the lyrical language. 🙂
Oh dear oh dear! Great job, Sharalyn…I was worried something like that might happen. 🙂
Love it, Beth!!! Great cadence…love the golden straw all wrapped in twine. 🙂 So fun to see you here…glad you put one up!
Kit…this is fantastic! What great pathos when little Pumpkin thought he had been left…and then…YAY…great job…well done…terrific pacing…Jodell would be proud of you. 🙂 😉
Love the 'Halloween in a Box'…very clever, Debbie. Great story. 🙂
Hilarious, Pia! I love it!
FAMILY RE-BOO-NION
Around an old graveyard, so dark and so deep,
Sneak shadowy creatures that slither and creep.
A family re-boo-nion. The beastliest kind.
Old ghouls pull up tombstones to chat and unwind.
“Aunt Gourd just had twins, two new pumpkins to feed.”
“Lil’ Gritch got a broomstick, bright red and ten speed.”
“Heard Vampy got dental work, Wolfie has fleas,
And Mummy’s new wrappings stop just past her knees.”
They play Hide and Shriek and they gorge until dawn.
Then, “time to fly home,” creaks Bat with a yawn.
There’s lots of boo-hoo’ing, it’s been quite a scream.
Now we’ll wait for Re-boo-nion 2015.
I love it, Pia!!
Great story Jim! The children are so happy the pumpkins are here for Halloween!
Funny & charming! Halloween from the pumpkin's point of view, wanting to be picked. So glad the pumpkin was chosen! 🙂
So funny! Love how you rhyme using unique words not always seen in a poem. This one makes me smile, thinking of the health-conscious Moms trying to tempt their kids with healthy snacks. 🙂
Thanks, Abigail! 🙂
A great story showing a child being creative, and such a happy scene between father and son. Very sweet! 🙂
Now every family should have a re-boo-nion as fun as this one! Terrific story with playful characters! 🙂
What a fun story, Hide and Go seek with a Halloween theme. Love the Trick or Treat at the end, a child would enjoy reading this aloud! 🙂
Thanks everyone for your kind comments. It was so much fun to participate in your Halloweensie contest for the first time, Susanna! It does tend to rain on Halloween, so don't drag your bag or the wet streets will make a hole in it and you'll leave a treat trail.
That would be a dream come true, wouldn't it?! Thanks so much for reading! 🙂
Haha… Thanks! It was a challenge to write a 100 word story that's for sure! But, it was definitely fun! 🙂
Thanks!
Thank you!
I wish I could have used a few more words. I wanted to make him a spirit originally.
That would have been great. Make it a picture book.
Thanks for hosting this Susanna – some great entries below the line! Here's my attempt… haven't entered anything like this before, so hope you like it…
THE RAVEN AND THE PUMPKIN
The raven with the sleek physique,
Popped the seed into its cheek.
From the seed a pumpkin grew.
The raven coughed it up, and flew
Up, away on broomstick sleek.
It draped itself in night’s mystique,
Searching for the ancient sign –
Golden countenance divine.
Having found this rare antique,
Was carried back within its beak.
The pumpkin, carved to match that face,
Brought living evil to that place.
Pumpkin crept without a creak,
And ate the bird before it shrieked!
So this year to protect your house,
Light a pumpkin candle… or else!
crazy fun trying to get those 3 words in!
Thank you Vivian!
Johnell and Mishka, thanks for the confidence boost!
I think we should be thanking you for the opportunity to challenge ourselves Susanna. Plus, you totally got my vision…happy me!
Thanks Charbojahn.
Cold and probably green with warts. Happy Halloween!
The good and the evil…can't go wrong with a story about that duo. Thanks for reading it.