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 
ENTRY POSTED FOR ERIC (who technically can't win because he's married to one of the judges :))
There once was a Witch who hated Halloween Night.
Ghosts and Goblins gave her a Fright.
She jumped out of her skin when she heard a weird Creak.
Of Pumpkins and graveyards she would never speak.
Being a Witch just wasn't her thing.
She should have been a Dancer or learned how to sing.
So late in October just before the full Moon,
She flew on her broomstick for a week in Cancun.
ENTRY POSTED FOR RACHEL
A Home on Halloween
by Rachel Krackeler
When Joey the pumpkin seed was planted in the patch he hoped for a home on a creaky, creepy porch.
“I'll grow to be the biggest pumpkin and be picked for sure,” he said.
So he drank up most of the water in the patch and soaked up most of the sun, scaring off the other pumpkins. By Halloween morning he was the biggest pumpkin, and the only one left, too big to budge.
Homeless and hopeless he cried. But the Halloween Fairy appeared. Waving her magic broomstick she sent Joey to a lonely porch in need of a pumpkin.
Nice job, Barbara! I love the contrast…a troll and all the pink and glitter 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR SUZY
WITCH IN MY HAMPER
By
Suzy Levinson
There's a witch in my hamper.
I'm not sure why she's there.
All I know is her broomstick's
popping out in midair.
There's a wolf in my closet.
Can you hear how he creaks?
I can't guess what he's up to.
He's been howling for weeks.
There's a ghoul who's quite creepy
with his big pumpkin head.
Please stay calm when I tell you
that he's under my bed.
I'll invite all three monsters
for a nice meet-and-greet.
Halloween is upon us
so we'll go trick-or-treat!
I love the way you incorporated all the colors. Very clever!
Putting the creak-creak into the floorboards is especially fun! Nice entry.
The title fits so perfectly! Love the wordplay and the ending 🙂
Cute! I'm glad Joey got what he hoped for. Those fairies come in handy when it comes to all things pumpkin!
Trick-or-treating is a good way to clear the house of creatures! Cute story.
This is adorable. Great job, Suzy! 🙂
What a neat story! I love happy endings. Well done, Rachel!
HaHa! Great story. I love the ending! 🙂
Aw, so cute. What a fun story. Great job, Tracie! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR SARAH C
The Moon is Up!
By Sarah Crist
The moon is up, it’s dark outside.
Black cat creeping, eyes big and wide.
Orange pumpkins, round and aglow,
Candy corn in our favorite bowl.
Porch light lit, broomstick in hand,
Fright tunes spilling from radios like sand.
Wooden steps creaking, under afoot,
Black painted on faces, like soot.
Excited for candy, fun and friends,
Prancing under the moon, don’t want it to end.
Noses chilled from autumn’s cold,
Piled leaves on lawns, like mountains of gold.
One day a year, none in between,
Hooray for this day, it’s Halloween!
There was a mistake in the link. I think I've fixed it, but you might have to refresh your browser 🙂
Beautiful, Sarah! Love the Halloweenish mood. Great job!
It works for me now. Thank you! 🙂
These are all so fun to read! Here's my entry:
The Contest
By Susan Halko
Witch swooped.
Skeleton creaked.
Ghost moaned.
Zombie drooled.
Jack-O-Lantern smiled.
The judges made their decision.
“This was a treat!” they said.
“But it was tricky, too.”
“Witch is so nasty.”
“Ghost is so eerie.”
“Skeleton is so spine-tingly.”
“And Zombie is so in
right now.”
“But the prize for Scariest Halloween Character goes to…
Jack-O-Lantern!”
Witch fell off her broomstick.
“What?!” she cried.
“He’s just a pumpkin! He doesn’t even do anything!”
But when the lights went down,
Jack-O-Lantern's candle lit up.
Everyone's face glowed.
And Jack-O-Lantern whispered,
“BOO!”
Witch shrieked.
Ghost squeaked.
Zombie freaked.
Skeleton “Eeeek!”ed.
And Jack-O-Lantern smiled.
Yay! 🙂
Woof! Cute, Tracie
Aww! Joey is welcome on my lonely porch!
Sounds like the narrator has caught all that's needed for a fright-filled night!
Me too! Sweet surprise, Sue!
Reminds me of myself, stealing my sisters shoes! She had quite the collection in high school!
I posted my link, I can't wait to read the others! This is putting me in the Halloween spirit. (Well, this and the 2 bags of Halloween candy I bought today…)
Love this! Well done, Susan! 🙂
HaHa, Carrie! 🙂 Loved your story.
Ah fun.
All you poets are amazing.
What fun images this conjures up.
We'll take him!
Haha! I could do Cancun…
Oh that sounds like my day…:)
Ah cute. Made me smile.
How fun and so festive, Susanna! I'll have to remind myself to come back and check out the entries.
Nice ending to a spooky mystery.
I was sure she'd be reaching for her trick-or-treat stash. That's what I'd have done, but a broom is much better.
Have you written one? hint, hint 🙂
Touche…fun twist there.
Only 2 bags? You're so self-disciplined 🙂
This is really fun. You might want to consider subbing this out some day. 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR MICHELLE V
The Halloween Sneer 100 words, by Michelle Valencia
Eating his pumpkin bread
He heard a creak down the hall
Slowly he moved
Nearly tripping on a ball
Peeking around the corner
A movement caught his sight
Disappearing too quickly
He got a little fright
The house had been empty
It was Halloween again
A broomstick in the corner
Would be his new best friend
Again the creak occurred
He listened for more clues
He would take one more look
What did he have to lose?
He saw an image of himself
With a sneer upon its face
The floor dropped out beneath
And the image took his place!
Well done, Susan! Great story, nice repetition, wonderful ending, and all in 100 words! Thanks so much for joining in the fun! 🙂
Pumpkin’s Plight
By: Ashley Bohmer
I’m a pumpkin all alone.
No one will take me home.
A woman with a broomstick bought my brother.
A man with a pointed hat and a creaky cane took my mother.
My father is gone now too.
Oh no, now what am I going to do?
My sister was taken by a girl with a glitzy crown.
My cousin by a red-nosed circus clown; still no one wants me
so I start to cry.
Then a boy with a cape catches my eye.
“This one’s perfect!” He shrieks with delight.
Can we carve him when
we get home tonight?
What a beautiful job you've done of evoking Halloween, Sarah! I love the “noses chilled from autumn's cold” and the “piled leaves like mountains of gold” and all the lovely details of the creeping cat and glowing pumpkins! Nicely done 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
I love the hide-and-seek fun of where all the monsters are hiding, Suzy! What a cute, fun story! I can imagine you and the monsters will have a lovely time trick-or-treating 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! 🙂
Love this cute story, Rachel! Joey maybe learned a little lesson about being greedy 🙂 And how nice that the Halloween Fairy showed up, took pity on him, and made sure he had a happy halloween! I'm glad it turned out happily 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx 🙂
Smart cookie 🙂
Poor little witch, trying so hard! Maybe she and the puppy will find their own way to celebrate Halloween 🙂 Thanks so much for a very cute story, Tracie, and for joining in the Halloweensie fun! 🙂
Aw shucks, Penny, you're just being nice – but thank you 🙂 I hope you enjoy reading all the entries. I love it! So fun to see how creative and talented everyone is, and what a variety of stories we get based on the same three words! I hope you're posting one! 🙂