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 
Barbara, this is so cute how a little pink bedecked girl takes Troll in hand. She finds his soft spot. Sweet story!
Thanks, Genevieve! Glad you're having fun! I'm waiting for one from you and Cupcake 🙂
It's my pleasure, Susan, really and truly! It's such fun to see all this creativity! 🙂
It's wonderful, Teresa! I commented at your blog 🙂
🙂
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Aw! Such a clever happy ending, Melissa! I'm glad the pumpkin got put back together (unlike Humpty Dumtpy :)) and I love the kids' ingenuity in thinking up how to solve the problem. Thanks for a fun entry, and for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx! 🙂
I'm sure you did, Carrie! Can't wait to read now that my internet is back on (touch wood)!
Hahaha! I LOVE this, Pia! So clever and funny! Love the humanely-farmed, gluten-free, triple-washed etc. – so current and PC 🙂 And poor Little Sue! I'm with her – I'd rather have pumpkin pie 🙂 Thanks so much for avery entertaining and original entry!
I'm so glad you found it, Carol, and I can't wait to read your entry! 🙂
It's inspiring and a little bit intimidating how wonderful all these entries are! I'm so glad you came to join the fun, Sarah, and glad you're enjoying everyone else's offerings too!
There are worse things this blog could be, so I'm glad it's your muse 🙂
🙂
and gee whiz – 100 words IS challenging! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR KATHLEEN
The Littlest Pumpkin by Kathleen Birmingham
Deep in the garden behind the compost heap
One little pumpkin peered from underneath
the great green leaves of the
longer,
bigger,
stronger
pumpkin vines.
Great footsteps started the leaves vibrating,
“Here’s mine!” they shouted, then retreated.
Yet the littlest pumpkin lay untouched, unchosen.
From inside the house he heard a sweet high voice,
“My turn, Mommy!”
A squeak of the door announced her approach
in her little witch costume, tiny broomstick, striped socks.
“There you are, Littlest Pumpkin. You waited for me,” she said.
“I’ve come to take you home.”
Halloween Night
Autumn sweeps in Halloween,
when pumpkins’ toothy grins are seen,
lit up with a candle’s light,
to shine a glow into the night.
A witch flies high across the moon,
belting out a creepy tune.
Her broomstick’s polished to a shine,
with golden straw all wrapped in twine.
Black cats meow at ghosts that moan
and chase a werewolf with a bone
taken from a skeleton dance
while he rested in a trance.
Costumed children laugh and roam:
an elf, a dog, a witch, a gnome,
a monster, horse and icy queen-
They all exist on Halloween!
Aw! The perfect match! The littlest pumpkin for the littlest witch 🙂 I'm sure they had a lovely Halloween together! Thanks for a sweet entry, Kathleen, and for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
Seriously, aren't they amazing???!!!
Aw, thanks, Kathy! You're so sweet 🙂
So glad you're enjoying it, Michelle 🙂
Sorry, I should have included “By Beth Gallagher”!
Aw, you're too nice, Michelle! Thank you 🙂
What a determined trick-or-treater, Lori! I love how committed he is to collecting candy… and I'm so glad his siblings shared when his wet bag failed him 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! 🙂
Fantastic, Debbie! What fun! And how original! I love that Skeleton saved the day for Witch – what a good friend! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie shenanigans! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR SHARALYN
THE WITCH & THE PUMPKIN CONTESTs (100 words) by Sharalyn Edgeberg
The classroom window creaked open. A witch flew in.
“Measure your pumpkins,” she ordered.
Tommy’s was the tallest. The witch whipped Tommy onto her broomstick. Off they flew!
Upon their return, the children clapped and screamed.
“Weigh your pumpkins.” She scowled.
Jada’s weighed the most. Off they flew!
Upon their return, the children stomped and yelled.
“Count your seeds.” She glared.
Sam’s had the most. Off they flew!
Upon their return, the children pleaded, “Take me, take me!”
“Carve your pumpkins.”
Tanya carved the witch exactly.
The witch scooped up Tanya, and off they flew!
Never to be seen again.
Ooh! Everyone else just got a ride, but Tanya got “adopted”! I'm not sure if that's a happy ending or a spooky one 🙂 but great job, Sharalyn! I don't think I'd want to mess with that scowling, glaring witch! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the fun!
This is terrific, Lori! It tells a fun tale, and I love the ending. Great job!
Clever Max to make a Halloween movie! And how nice that it was about helping others 🙂 Lovely that Dad appreciated it and that it was something he and Max could share. Thanks so much for your sweet entry, Jaymie, and for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
ENTRY POSTED FOR JENIFER
Broomstick Ball by Jenifer McNamara
On the last night in October
when the purple stars meet black skies
it is time for the Broomstick Ball,
where all Frights spookily arise
from coffins, pumpkin patches, and
the heart of the dark Wicked Wood.
Through the misty purple skies, their
sweeping, creaking brooms swiftly soar
with crowing Frights chanting wishcraft,
upon Halloween world they roar
wishing all a frightfully fun-
filled brimming, beaming Halloween.
Ooh, what a lovely description of the Halloween skies, Jenifer! I love “the heart of the dark Wicked Wood” – it sounds so spooky! 🙂 Thanks for a beautiful and chilling entry and for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
ENTRY POSTED FOR ELLEN
Emma’s Evening Ride by Ellen Leventhal
Word Count: 100
Emma carved
her pumpkin,
went out to
Trick or Treat.
But slam and
bam, a broomstick
knocked her
off her feet!
A gnarled
witch’s broomstick
dropped out
of the sky.
Emma grabbed
the handle,
hopped on, began
to fly!
She zoomed
up to the stars,
soared through
the moonlit night,
then landed in
a meadow
and saw a
beam of light.
She spied a
crooked house
and heard
the window creak.
Sneaking up
so softly,
Emma took a peak.
A tiny witch
flew to her.
“Come in!”
she said, “There’s room.”
“And thank
you for returning
my mommy’s
missing broom!”
What a delightful, kid-friendly story, Ellen! Emma got a real Halloween treat, and I LOVE the ending – just right! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx! 🙂
Thanks, Debbie! 🙂
Delightful, Beth! I love it! Love that the witch “belts out” her creepy tune 🙂 And what a beautiful opening stanza! Wonderful job! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
Love it!
Lovely smooth rhythm and rhyme, Beth!
Sweet!
Love the word wishcraft! Nice entry, Jenifer
Oh! What happened to Tanya? Certainly grabbed my attention!
So much fun, Debbie!
Halloween in the rain! Poor, Jake! Good thing for generous siblings!
So sweet! Could make an adorable board book, Kathleen!
Yes! Too much health and not enough pie, all kids would agree!
Thank you, Julie!
Thank you, Susanna! I'm loving all the Halloweensie shenanigans. Such fun stories including two prize worthy examples of your own! 🙂
Thank you, Jaymie! 🙂
Love it, Ellen, my poet buddy. Fantastic images popped into my head as I read through it. I read it over again. Talk about perfect endings. Yours is wonderful. I knew it would be good.
Cute! Bon bons for boo boos! Nice play with words, Melissa!
I was rooting for pumpkin, not thinking what might lie ahead. Maybe he'll be painted instead, so he gets to wear a costume, too? 🙂 A pumpkin that is as smart and aware as he is, will find a way out if it. 🙂 Fun poem, Ashley!
Sweet Pumpkin Jack filled the kids' hearts with joy! What a precious soul.
Ha ha! Gotta get those “healthy” ingredients into the kiddies! (Especially the fresh triple-washed frogs.) Super cute!