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 fun to hear… 🙂 Thank you, Vivian!
Thank you, Cheryl!
hehe… 🙂 Thank you, Teresa!
Thank you, Susan!
hahaha… yes, yes! Thank you, Pia!
Thank you, Penny!
Thanks so much, Susan! Would you drink it? 🙂
Thanks Kathy! Yeah, ditto on that pumpkin pie.
Thanks Joanna!
Thanks Pen!
Okay Susanna, guess who just abandoned everything everything else she was supposed to do today and wrote a Halloweensie story. Yippee! I love being a rebel! 😉 Here's the deal, though. I already have scheduled posts on my blog for everyday this week featuring other people. Would you mind terribly if I post my story here in the comments instead?
PS. BTW, as usual, I think you were too modest about the quality of your sample stories! I thought they were both great and especially loved the mood you set with Pirate Ploy.
Of COURSE I don't mind! Post away 🙂
Love this! :0)
Great job, Sarah! :0)
Too funny, Suzy! :0o
I'm happy big, ole' Joey got his porch, Rachel. ;0o
Bwahahahaha! This would have given us entrants a huge run for the money. Great job, Eric! :0)
Fun, fun, Tracie. I'd love a lil' black puppy for Halloween! :0oooo
The imagery of this is wonderful…and delightful too, Angela! :0oooo
Great job, Sue! :0oooo
Oooh, can I be next? Fun entry, Kimberly! :0o
Yep, it's a good one, Ann! :0oooo
Thanks, Donna!
The Trick or Treat Bag
by Lori Dubbin
Jake got his spook on,
He dressed as a ghost.
He rushed past the pumpkins,
Craving sugar the most.
There came a drizzle,
Then drops turned to rain,
Jake dragged his bag o’er
A mist covered lane.
Each house he went to,
He heard moans and creaks
But not one sound scared him,
He focused on treats.
The rain got quite strong,
His dragged bag got wetter.
Riding a broomstick
Would have been better.
Jake headed home,
But by now it was moot.
No candy was left — though
Jake’s sibs shared their loot.
Halloween in a Box
“Skeleton!! It’s here!” Witch cackled. “Halloween in a Box! I
ordered it on the Making Potions and Brew Magic website. ‘Fun Guaranteed!’”
Witch looked inside. “Pumpkin centerpiece? Broomstick
garland?? Party plates??? That’s it????” She flopped onto the floor and wailed, “My party is ruined!”
Skeleton picked up the box. “I’ll be back.”
Skeleton returned with the box. “Open it.”
Witch lifted the flaps. Out jumped Black Cat, Ghost, Monster
from Under-the-Bed, Zombie, his mother Mummy, and Hairy Spider.
“Now THAT’S a Halloween in a Box!” Witch screeched.
“Fun Guaranteed!” Skeleton said, dancing a creaky jig.
Love it, Ashley! I'm a sucker for a happy ending!
Pia, this is so funny! Still chuckling. I'm with Sue. Bring on the pumpkin pie.
Lori, this is great! I love your rhyme and am happy that Jake's sibs came through for him. 🙂
I love this, Melissa! I want to see that patchwork pumpkin.
I, too, loved the tall stem on your little pumpkin. Great active language, all zippy and fun. Nice job!
Nice going, Pumpkin Jack. I love that last line.
I love the idea of a witch's first broomstick. I also love that Otto gets his own seat. Nice job, Abigail.
Ooh, Michelle, this is deliciously creepy. Nice job!
I love this! It's so fun and I especially like the line about zombie being so in right now. Nice job, Susan!
So lovely, Sarah. You've captured the essence of Halloween in rhyme.
Cute and fun! Great rhyme. Nice job, Suzy!
Whew! I am so glad the Halloween Fairy found Joey a home. This is really cute! I can see some great illustrations of him starting out as a little seed and growing bigger and bigger and bigger! Nice job, Rachel!
Eric, this is hysterical! 🙂
Ah…sounds like your witch might prefer a black puppy anyway. Cute story, Tracie!
This is so sweet and fun! I love Grandma doing a two-step with pumpkin seeds flying around. Great job, Angela!
Now that's a party I could get into! I love the sleuths at the beginning trying to figure out who-dun-it! Nice job, Sue.
I love your use of language and the picture of the pumpkin's flickering face as she wooshes past. Nice job, Kimberly!
Max loved movies. One day, Max watched a movie about a pumpkin and got an idea.
He tiptoed around the house, collecting what he needed. First, he gathered a piece of orange paper and a hat. Then, he found a broomstick. Last, he grabbed the iPad.
Later, Max displayed his movie. Daddy smiled when the pumpkin dressed as a witch, gasped when a creak frightened her hat off, and chuckled when she lost her broom. Best of all, he hugged Max when another pumpkin helped pick up the hat, find the broom, and offered a Halloween treat.
Happy Halloween, friends!
Oh, this is sooo cute. Two of my favorite stories mixed together. Nice job, Ann.
Thanks so much, Debbie!
I love it, Debbie!
Oh, Nomie. So cute how you have Mabel sweeping the dust and grime INTO her house. And all the monsters are normal people. Fun!
I love the imagery! I can just see a little boy so determined that his little costume drooped though the glint in his eye remained bright 🙂
What fun! I like how the witches are afraid of the talking pumpkins and then they all turn fun colors. Nice job, Lata.