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 
Ick!
ENTRY POSTED FOR JESSICA
SPOOKY SHARING by Jessica Harley
I watched the candy fall to the ground,
It fell in slow-motion, there wasn't a sound.
I reached and stumbled, but could only grab one,
“NO!” I shouted, “WHAT HAVE I DONE?!”
My candy all sat in a puddle of mud,
My broomstick came down too, thud.
I tried to stay calm as my eyes filled with tears,
“Whyyyy,” I whimpered, “maybe next year…”
And then a loud creak, something moving toward me,
I squinted my eyes as I tried hard to see.
All of a sudden a pumpkin was there,
“Don't worry, friend, I have candy to share.”
Aw! Poor little witch losing all her candy! And how nice that the friendly pumpkin was willing to share! Thanks for joining in the Halloweensie fun, Jessica! 🙂
Ooh, Alistair! That was creepy! Excellent job! “Brought living evil to the place” and the pumpkin ate the bird that brought it to life – wow! Very halloween-y! Lovely language and rhyme! Thanks so much for scaring the pants off us and joining in the Halloweensie high jinx!
Thanks! I can see his headlights bouncing out in the field as his old truck grinds along…
Kirsten, this is absolutely fabulous! So clever! Love the names, and the details (bright red ten speed broomstick! :)), and the word play – just tons of fun all around! Great job! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie shenanigans! 🙂
What a sweet, fun, kid-friendly story, Jodi! Love the sound effects! Spooky (but not too scary :)) and all kinds of fun 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR ANNE
THE PUMPKIN PATCH SCARECROW by Anne Bromley
(100 words)
By tomorrow I’ll be gone. They’ll give away my hat, shirt, and jeans and throw my straw into a bale.
I watch costumed kids race out the creaky Haunted House door. They want pumpkins, caramel apples, and popcorn or scream time in the jumper.
They don’t want me.
But then a little witch hops by on a broken broomstick. She shakes and shivers. “That was no fun,” she tells her Darth Vader dad.
“We’ll get a pumpkin then!” he says.
But she walks up to me instead!
Pulling on my shirt, she smiles with blackened teeth. “I’d rather have you.”
Aw! It's alway nice to be wanted, isn't it? I'm glad that little witch saw something to love in the lonely scarecrow! Thanks for a lovely story, Anne, and for joining in the Halloweensie hysteria! 🙂
I love doing these contests, Barbara – so much fun! Everyone is so talented and creative, and we all have such a good time visiting each other 🙂
It's great practice for us picture book writers, though! After this, 250-350 is a piece of cake 🙂
I'm so glad you came to join the fun, Lori! And I will be VERY careful with my bag of treats 🙂
Glad you're enjoying it, Barbara! I think it's tons of fun 🙂
We're currently at 88 entries, 517 blog comments, so, let me calculate… yes! that equals not going to bed tonight, well, er, probably this week! 🙂 I'm glad you're having fun, Vivian! I love it! So much talent and creativity, so much sharing and generosity, so much fun getting to meet new people and visit new blogs – I'm thrilled! 🙂
Ooh! I LOVE that title! I think I want everyone to call me that for the rest of this week! 🙂
Actually Renee LaTulippe gets the credit for coining “ghostess.” (I figure I better 'fess up before she sees this comment!) You wear it well, though.
Ah! I should have known! I may borrow, but I could never compare to Renee! 🙂
“Halloween Night”
Orange pumpkins
Tricks and treats
Fancy costumes
Stairs that creak
Bat wings flapping
To and fro
Broomsticks waiting
In a row
Black cats sneaking
Through the trees
Scary noises
Shaky knees
Apple cider
Fun for all
Creepy spider
On the wall
Dry leaves rattle
Then they fall
Spooky shadows
Owls call
Children’s laughter
Running feet
So much candy
Lots to eat
Sleepy faces
Time to dream
See you all next
Halloween!
IN THE WEE HOURS OF HALLOWEEN
By Hope Lim
In the wee hours of Halloween a witch’s broomstick was found by a boy who happened to be up and peer outside upon hearing, “CREAK!”; not a door, not a floor, not a roof, but a lost broomstick that creaked and cried for a new rider under the silvery, pumpkin moon that had been watching the boy who dreamed of a broomstick ride on Halloween before he grew too old to believe in the Halloween
magic that made his dream come true with a creaking broomstick in the wee hours of Halloween…
What a wonderfully evocative poem, Carol! Love the mood you create, and all the details – so perfect! It makes me want to be a kid again on Halloween 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR NICOLE
Black at Night by Nicole Hair
I heard a creak and then a bump.
Next I saw the pumpkin gunk.
I thought to run, but then I saw
the very crow that went cuh-caw.
I grabbed the broomstick from the back,
swinging at some flying black.
I realized then, it was a bat,
and that was that!
I scurried over the creaky floor,
right on out the creepy door.
Then I saw something fat-
Jack the big black cat!
Just as I turned a corner,
I once again felt the horror.
Then I heard a shrieking BEEP,
awoken from my crazy sleep.
Oh my goodness! What a scary Halloween dream! The kind where you run and can't seem to escape the critters that insist on coming after you! And worst of all to be woken by the alarm clock 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloween fun, Nicole! 🙂
Hope! Yay! You wrote an entry! And what a lovely idea – that a boy should get a ride on a broomstick before he's too old to believe in Halloween magic! 🙂 Love the phrase “the silvery pumpkin moon” – beautiful! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! 🙂
Thank YOU for stepping up to the plate with awesome entries 🙂
What generous children! Great story Melissa
They do rise up out of that compost heap don't they! Very sweet.
Great rhyme. Even greater organic story! Too funny. You should send this to one of those organic grower's shoppers magazines!
Arabella the Witch
Arabella loved her
house. She and her mom moved in the day
before.
“Arabella,
let’s decorate the front porch with our pumpkins.”
“Yes,
Mama.” She stepped outside as the sun
was setting, carrying a pumpkin. She
walked past their broomsticks and set the pumpkin down on a creaky step. Just then she saw a witch coming up the
sidewalk. She looked just like Arabella!
“Trick
or treat!” said the witch.
Just
then the witch took off her mask and smiled.
Arabella
screamed! She ran into the house,
knocking over the broomsticks. That was
the scariest thing she’d ever seen!
Thank you for hosting this contest, Susanna. I had so much fun writing this story!
And I had fun reading it 🙂 Thanks so much for participating! 🙂
The Witches’ Gathering by Donna Rossman
“Who’s there?” Johnny whispered as he heard the floorboards beneath his bed creak.
Almost before he could finish the thought his bed bounced once, twice, three times then lurched out the window into the night sky.
Witches on broomsticks cackled and flew over, under and around him.
As the clock tower struck midnight the bed landed softly in a pumpkin patch.
As he looked around he saw more beds with children landing all around.
Witches ran from one child to the next handing out candy.
“Welcome children,” they sang, “It’s Halloween, come join our party!”
I entered! Looking forward to reading through the others. Always a lot of fun. Good luck all.
Visiting all the blogs is like trick or treating without the tricks! How fun to leave little treats on all on the blogs' doorsteps!
Cute twist, Maggie!
Love the visual ending and the little witch's blackened teeth! Nice one, Anne!
Love all the fun details of a multi-generational reunion! Clever, Kirsten!
Enjoyed this 🙂 nicely rhymed, great job!
Etty Bitty Belina, by Cat Clerkin (100 words exactly, whew!)
Etty bitty Belina hung by her toes.
She waited very patiently,
As her excitement rose.
Tonight was the night, she thought,
The best night of the year.
A night of pumpkins, tricks and treats.
A night that others fear.
Creak.
It was almost time!
Creak.
She opened her eyes.
Creak.
Just one more step…
…Ding-dong…
Now for the big surprise!
Belina swooped down gleefully.
She spread her wings open-wide.
Eeeeek!
Someone gave a shriek,
Don’t let the bat inside!
A broomstick swatted at Belina.
She quickly fled the scene.
But she smiled as she flew away,
Happy Halloween!
Etty Bitty Belina By Cat Clerkin
Etty bitty Belina hung by her toes.
She waited very patiently,
As her excitement rose.
Tonight was the night, she thought,
The best night of the year.
A night of pumpkins, tricks and treats.
A night that others fear.
Creak.
It was almost time!
Creak.
She opened her eyes.
Creak.
Just one more step…
…Ding-dong…
Now for the big surprise!
Belina swooped down gleefully.
She spread her wings open-wide.
Eeeeek!
Someone gave a shriek,
Don’t let the bat inside!
A broomstick swatted at Belina.
She quickly fled the scene.
But she smiled as she flew away,
Happy Halloween!
I've just submitted my slightly unusual story. It's probably a bit dark for small children but I thought it would be OK for teens. Possibly. It's the Halloween SMS story, which I've posted on my blog as an image to get the right feel (using comment call-out text boxes). Hope people enjoy it!
On This Night
by Mandy Yates
Full
moon drifting
Fog
mist lifting
Shadows
shifting
On
this night
Ravens
stalking
Graveyards
talking
Skeletons
walking
On
this night
Mummies
lurching
Zombies
searching
Vampires
perching
On
this night
Goblins
prowling
Werewolves
howling
Frankenstein’s
growling
On
this night
Shutters
banging
Cobwebs
hanging
BEWARE!
Sign clanging
On
this night
Pumpkins
glowing
West
winds blowing
We’re
tiptoeing
On
this night
Black
cat’s shrieking
Porches
squeaking
Doorknobs
creaking
On
this night…
Party
Crashing!
Monster
Mashing!
Apple-Bob
Splashing!
On
this night
Broomstick
Whacking!
Piñata’s
Cracking!
Sweet-treat
Snacking!
On
this night
Candy
Trading!
Masquerading
and
Parading!
On
this night!
I love this, Michelle! What a great surprise ending. Amazing that you told this complete story in so few words.
ENTRY POSTED FOR GINA
HALLOWEEN CHASE
By Gina Silvester
The pumpkins were glowing, but I still couldn't see
There was someone or something coming for me
I glanced over my shoulder when I heard the stair creak
My heart leapt from my chest and my legs became weak
I gasped when I saw her, all ghoulish and green
She was staring right at me, eyes angry and mean
Her broomstick was poised to crash down on my head
I wished I could fly, but my feet felt like lead
My fists began swinging, I was ready to fight
My sister took off her mask and just laughed with delight
Wonderful, Gina! Great job making us shiver with fear only to reveal a mischievous sister – and isn't that so like a sister?! I'm so glad you found us over here in Halloweensie land and came to join the fun! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR KELLY V
The Pumpkin King
By Kelly Vavala
Beneath the glow of a Harvest Moon
On a misty Halloween night
The Pumpkin King sat on his broomstick
His tears glistened in the light
He heard a CREAKING noise
And then a branch did crack
A witch came tumbling down,
Landing on her back.
“Why is it that your crying?” witch asked,
As she recovered from her fall.
Pumpkin: “I wish to be a coach again
And drive the princess to her ball.”
“I’ll trade your broomstick for a wish.
But at midnight it is done.”
Pumpkin coach and witch drove off
Having the most magical night of fun!
How nice that they helped each other out, Kelly! Love the idea of a Pumpkin King wanting to be a coach – it seems like it would be the other way around! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
What a fun description of Halloween, Mandy! Love your selection of details and the rhyme and rhythm of your story. It sounds spooky and fun! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR ERIC
The Scarecrow by Eric Hammond
The honeydew-colored moon hung high over the field that crackled with dried corn husks and scurrying mice.
A carved pumpkin, a broomstick, a tattered shirt and a pair of old gloves comprised the scarecrow. He creaked in the crisp autumn wind, and cast his hollow triangular gaze beyond the gate, toward the farmhouse. Motley cats gathered on the porch awaiting the evening's table scraps.
With knotted straw muscles he tugged again at the rope that bound him to the post. It loosened, unraveled.
The screen door squeaked open.
A throttling chuckle hissed from his wide saw-toothed grin.
…or was she TRULY a sorcerer disguised as a innocent child…and when the greedy troll doesn't heed her warning not to eat all the treats at once, he will pay the price of a tummy ache! He he hee…
Ooh, this is wonderfully creepy, Eric! Love his “hollow triangular gaze”, “knotted straw muscles” and “throttling chuckle” – Yikes! I think I'd high-tail it if I was those cats! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!