WOO HOO!!! Let the joyous news be spread! It’s time for. . .
The 4th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!
 |
| Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! |
Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
The Contest: Write a children’s story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) in which wild weather impacts the holidays! Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :)) (It can be as short as you like, but no more than 350! Title not included in word count.) Any kind of weather will do: sun, rain, sleet, heatwave, blizzard, tsunami, monsoon, hurricane, hail, tornado, etc! Weather may be atypical for your setting (rain in Maine, frost in Florida), it may be extreme (blizzard instead of regular snow, drought instead of lush greenery), or it may be unheard of (spring flowers in Antarctica, snow in the Sahara, bathing suit weather at the North Pole), but whatever you choose, make us feel the impact on the holidays! The wild weather may be a hindrance, a wish-come-true, a threat, a pleasant surprise, etc. The field is wide open! Have fun! The wilder and wackier the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you’re competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Friday December 12 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below. This post will remain up through Sunday December 14 (no WYRI or PPBF this week) so there will be plenty of time for everyone to post their entries and visit each other and enjoy all the other entries. If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comment section below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please
email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)
The Judging: My lovely assistant(s) and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 15 or Tuesday December 16 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Thursday December 18 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 19. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place. Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity of weather use in plot, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.
The Prizes!: In the spirit of the holidays, winners will be named for 1st – 10th place. In addition to the incredible fame of being able to say you won (or placed in) the Pretty Much World Famous 4th Annual Holiday Contest, the following AMAZING prizes will be awarded: (items in color are links for more info!)
– A picture book manuscript read and critique by Shari Dash Greenspan, Editor of the multi-award winning Flashlight Press! I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter HERE!
– A picture book manuscript read and critique by Jennifer Mattson, Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency!
– Enrollment in Renee LaTulippe‘s highly praised and recommended Lyrical Language Lab Course (in a month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and Renee) ($249 value!)
– Enrollment in Jon Bard and Laura Backes’s fantastic Kindle Kids Mastery Course ($197 value!)
– A website or blog design or redesign by Arturo Alviar. Arturo will design (or redesign if you already have one that needs updating or a new look) a website or blog for the winner of this prize. The site will be built on WordPress so that after he is done designing it, the winner can manage it themselves with ease. Arturo will include a Home/Welcome page, an About Me/Bio page, a Works/Books/Gallery section, and a Contact section (4 pages total), as well as a blog section if the winner would like to have that integrated with the new site. Different organizations can also be made, for example if the winner would like a “Services” section with separate “School Visits” and “Critiques” pages, or a “Works” section divided into “Black and White” and “Color” illustration galleries. The winner can choose any of the WordPress themes (if they choose one that isn’t free, the cost of the theme will be covered by them), or have Arturo choose a theme based on their vision, and Arturo will modify it based on their color and layout preferences (some themes will have more constraints than others). Arturo can also design a personalized banner or header image to customize the website. If you already have a website and/or blog and prefer a redesign to update, refresh, or just redecorate, Arturo is willing to work with Blogger, Wix, Drupal, and WordPress.
– Enrollment in Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class – in March or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
– A picture book manuscript critique by fabulous author Amy Dixon, author of MARATHON MOUSE and the forthcoming SOPHIE’S ANIMAL PARADE.
– A picture book manuscript critique from
Katy Duffield, author of more than 20 books for children including
Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows (Cooper Square Publishing 2003) and upcoming titles
Loud Lula (Two Lions) illustrated by Mike Boldt and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too (Candlewick) illustrated by K.G. Campbell. – 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!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
– 2015 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, a signed copy of Boy And Poi Poi Puppy by Linda Boyden, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
– a pack of Deb Lund’s amazing Fiction Magic Cards
– another pack of Deb Lund’s amazing Fiction Magic Cards
The Contest Winner will have first choice of the prizes. 2nd place will have next choice of what’s left and so on. (I’m doing it this way in the hopes that no one will get something they already have and also because I think all the prizes are fabulous and I wouldn’t want to make anyone feel less valued by giving them as 6th place as opposed to 1st.)
So let’s get the Holiday Party started! 🙂
I want to warn you in advance that this may actually be the worst story I’ve ever written – embarrassing for me, but very comforting for anyone who is worried about the quality of their story – I can say with complete confidence that ANYTHING you write will be better than this sample! 🙂
Almost Not Christmas
(332 words)
Three days before Christmas a southerly breeze
Heated the earth to one hundred degrees!
“My goodness!” said Santa. “This just isn’t cool!”
And he sent all his reindeer to chill in the pool.
The heat wave refused to let go of its grip
In time for his once-a-year Christmas Eve trip.
So as Santa took off for his round-the-world flight
He clucked to his team and sang into the night:
“Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen!
Let’s hope we can get all our Christmas chores done
Without melting like popsicles left in the sun!”
But HEAT didn’t trouble St. Nick as he drove.
As his journey continued, the temperature dove.
And YOU know what happens when warm and cold meet –
— Fog tiptoes in on its little cat feet!
At dawn Christmas morning young children stopped short
When they heard this unthinkable Special Report:
“This just in! Here’s the hot-off-the-presses news scoop!
Santa is lost in that murky pea soup!”
Santa lost? When he’d battled that wild weather night
To ensure each child’s Christmas was merry and bright?
From North Pole to South, from New York to Japan
Christmas morn was abandoned to think up a plan.
In pajamas or nightgowns, in socks or bare feet,
Kids spilled from warm houses and met in the street.
“Santa comes through for us year after year.
It’s our turn to give him some Christmastime cheer!”
Puerto Toro* to Nunavuk* in a straight line
They climbed to their roofs with whatever would shine.
They lit up a beacon as bright as could be
With candles and glowsticks and lights from their tree.
An arrow of light that would gleam through the gloam
So Santa could finally find his way home.
“It’s official!” the newsfolk were happy to say.
“St. Nick made it back with his reindeer and sleigh!”
At last, filled with joy, kids began to unwrap
And Santa? He took a long afternoon nap!
*In case you’re wondering, Puerto Toro, Chile is the nearest settlement to the South Pole, and Alert, Nunavuk is the nearest to the North Pole 🙂
I have another equally bad half-finished story in prose that I might swap out for this one at some point during the week if I just can’t stand it any more 🙂
So now! Is everyone filled with confidence about their entries? I certainly hope so after that display! Never let it be said that I’m not willing to make a fool of myself for you guys 🙂 It just proves how much I love you 🙂
I can’t wait to read all of your (much better!) stories! 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 and want to join the fun. 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!
Don’t miss the 37 fabulous entries in the comment section! Click on the names or titles to go to the story. Please note that it takes a minute to load. And please also note that clicking on these links will allow you to read the story and leave your own comment, but not see previous comments left on that story… I don’t know why… so if you want to see all the comments left on the story, you’ll have to scroll through the whole comment section.
Melissa – On Top Of Hot Cocoa
Suzannah – The Christmas Storm
Kimberly – We Knit You A Merry Christmas
Anne – Christmas Eve At Gate 25
Rosa – My Unicorns Fought The Mean Storm
Gina – A Christmas Prayer
Kristen – Maple Syrup Meltdown
Zainab – Abe’s Cloud
Bronwyn – Jack Quits
Julie – Santa’s Satnav
Kristen – Polar Warming
Jim – Snowflake: A Christmas Tail
Laura – Mordecai’s Hanukkah Miracle
Sharon – Boomer’s First White Christmas
Rachel – A Christmas Miracle
Carol – The Best Christmas
Hilary – No Sweat Santa
Amy – Rain, dear
Tracie – The Under The Weather Weatherman
Kirsten – Hurricane Coal
Anne – What Will Santa Do?
Pam – My Snowman Is Sick
Carol Ann – Wish You’d Been Here
Nina – Only Mermaids Can Find A Christmas Tree In The Sea
Sharon – A Little Christmas Miracle
Ruth – Harry And Genie
Marty – Countdown To Midnight
Rene – Best Christmas Ever!
Angela – A Snowy Night
Patricia – The Christmas Miracle
Susan – Libby’s Blizzard Gift
Charlotte – Hanukkah At Gramma Golda’s House
Kim – The Great Sleigh Ride
Heather – Dreaming Of A White Christmas
Summer – The Snow Miracle
Amelia – The Night The Sun Stayed Up
Sally – Just Ice And Snow
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Oh hot fudge in a pan. I forgot about the contest. My brain has been on overload and not functioning properly. Well, at the least, I enjoyed your story. I'll have to come back, visit some more blogs and fill myself with Christmas fancy in all the reading 🙂
Oh, and I am sharing this pan of hot fudge with you. Cheers!
Susanna, once again you wrote an awesome story, despite your modesty deflection technique! You cajoled me into it…I have decided to enter. It may take me longer than usual to read all the entries, and I may lose a few hours of sleep in the process, but the lengths I go to for you! 😉
Adorable fun, Susanna!
Hi! Thanks for letting me know about the line glitch in my story! I was having issues with WP yesterday. 🙂
I laughed reading your story (murky pea soup!). I've been reading some wonderful stories through the links this morning!
Hehehe, loved yours. Too bad you can't enter it.” Fog tiptoes in on its little cat feet!” LOVE THAT LINE!!!
Susanna, gah! Is there any way to change my url in the entry to teresarobeson.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/susanna-hills-4th-annual-holiday-contest/ ? WP screwed up my publishing date (1969?? sheesh). Thanks!
I loved your story, Susanna! 🙂 Thanks for running the contest again, it's so much fun!
All fixed lovey, no worries 🙂
Thank you, Angela, you're so kind 🙂 And don't forget, you've still got over 4 days to write and submit an entry… you could still do it! 🙂
You're welcome. WP can be tricky and slippery at times.
Fun story, Susanna- you modest one! Good luck to tall the entrants!
Hi Susanna!
I brought Peanut Butter Cookies w/ M&Ms sprinkled in them. Careful! They're still hot. But isn't that the best way to eat them. 😉
Thanks for doing this and posting your story. As always, you've done a lovely job. I'll be posting mine (as well as promoting your blog) Wednesday! Having fun reading and commenting until then!
Thank you, dear!
AWESOME! Contest! Story! Everything! WOOOO!!!
Yours is NOT horrible. Really! Working on trimming mine (and making it better). I WILL be entering again this year!
Let the fun begin!!!!!!!!!
On Top of Hot Cocoa
By Melissa Bulls
On top of hot cocoa,
all covered in froth,
I lost my marshmallow
when I started to cough.
I coughed my marshmallow
right out of the mug.
It plopped down beside me
on the kitchen rug.
I bent down to reach it.
It started to roll.
It rolled out the doorway
and into the cold.
I grabbed my snowboots,
my scarf, and my gloves
because out the window,
snow fell from above.
The marshmallow kept rolling
right into the street
that was covered in ice
from yesterday’s sleet.
I slipped, slid, and skidded,
my mug still in hand.
The hot cocoa sloshed
and made mud on the land.
Sloshing through sludge,
I finally flopped.
My mug went flying,
And hit my head when it dropped.
I thought I heard bells
as I lay in brown goo.
Then I heard snow crunch
‘neath a heavy black shoe.
Pounding and throbbing,
a figure in red
packed his hat with snow
and placed it on my head.
He lifted me up
and took me back home.
As the door closed,
I heard, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
Hours passed by
as I slept on the couch.
When I awoke
I remembered my ouch.
With a concussion,
My thoughts were unclear…
a vision of Santa,
a mug and reindeer?
I shook my head,
“No it couldn’t have been.”
But someone had been here
while I was nappin’.
Beneath the tree,
a mug of cocoa.
On top of it sat
my lost marshmallow.
Cheryl, I don't know if you have comment-approval on, but I didn't see my comment show up. So if it doesn't show up for you either, let me know and I'll go repost it. 🙂
*giggle* That was such fun (and you got me singing it with the “On Top of Old Smokey” tune)!
Gotta say that your worst is better than my best attempt so far. Don't know if I will have time to improve it to the point of willing exposure to the elements.
Oh, good! I'd hate for you to think I didn't comment on your story. 🙂
lol, thank you, Teresa! 🙂
I think your story sounds great Susanna! I loved the surprise ending of how the kids helped Santa through the fog. If Santa had pulled out a cell phone to call Rudolph then maybe I would have cringed!
I'm hoping to post my entry tomorrow, silly me forgot my flash drive at home today. But I think I've finally come up with a title!
Thank you! Your story was so creative! I never would have thought to take a sci-fi twist!
It's too bad you can't include your story in the contest, Susanna. All the best to everyone who enters another of your fabulous contests. 🙂
The Christmas Storm
By Suzannah Hekel
It was Christmas Eve, and Santa was all in a hurry.
The sleigh was packed and now he could start his long journey.
“Oh no, Santa.” said the elves “We sense a bad storm approaching.”
Santa did see a small storm cloud within the sky, but continued on his way.
The night started with ease as he went from house to house.
He was excited to bring joy and cheer to all the children with gifts and presents.
“Look Santa!” said the reindeer as they continued their way.
The small storm cloud had formed into a scary dark cloud which was taking over the clear night sky.
“What will we do?” said Rooty the Elf, who was tagging along.
Spilling from the cloud was not snow or ice, but coal!!!!
Dark, dusty, coal started swirling down upon the houses.
“Coal raining down on everyone's homes will surely ruin Christmas,” said Santa.
Santa dashed his sleigh towards the center of the storm.
Rooty, ran towards, the back of the sleigh to find Santa's globe.
“Here is your magic globe Santa, This will surely help.”
Santa grabbed the globe from Rooty's hand.
If all the children believe in me then this globe will become magic!
Santa shaked the globe and threw it as far as he could.
As the globe soared in the sky it started to glow a bright green light.
Then suddenly all the coal and dust turned into SNOW!!!!
The storm started to diminish and turned back into a clear starry night.
“Hooray!” cried Santa, Rooty and all of the Reindeer.
“Woah, that was a close one!” Rooty cried.
“It's okay, we can handle anything with a little bit of hope, imagination and most of all believing!”
“Lets get the rest of these presents delivered to all of the boys and girls who have been waiting all year, and afterwards we can all celebrate with some hot cocoa and sugar cookies!” Santa said happily.
And that's exactly what they did.
Ha! You're just being nice (which I deeply appreciate :)) The only reason I posted that story was because it was 1 AM and I was too tired to stay awake and write anything else and I always post a sample. But I'm thrilled if it has encouraged you to write and enter! 🙂 You are so kind to go to all those lengths! 🙂
Well obviously if he'd had any sense (of direction) he would have! How could anyone pass up the opportunity for chocolate something something?! 🙂
Aw, you're so nice Cheryl! And it's my pleasure holding the contests – it really is! I so enjoy getting to read everyone's wonderful stories!
Yeah, well, I stole that one from Carl Sandberg… at least I think that's who I stole it from 🙂
Thanks, Linda 🙂
It's fun, isn't it Ariel? Once you've got your own story written so you don't have to worry about it, it's so great to go around and read everyone else's! Everyone is so creative, and we always end up with so many different kinds of stories even though we all start with the same parameters. Have fun! 🙂
Flattery will get you everywhere, Elaine 🙂 I look forward to reading your entry! 🙂
You're just being nice, Iza! But I appreciate it 🙂
Ooh! Bribery? With an offering like that, it just might work 🙂 Thanks so much! I will look forward to reading your story on Wednesday, and so appreciate you promoting my blog!
It's impossible not to love your enthusiasm, Erik! I can't wait to read your entry, but you're going to have to work hard to top last year's! 🙂
Hahaha! Thank you Joanne – you're SO nice 🙂 Good luck with the trimming (remember, that means taking AWAY words :)) I look forward to reading your story!
Woo hoo!!! *throws confetti*
Jilanne, I am serious! I posted that piece of $#%^$ – I KNOW yours will be better and you should definitely expose it! 🙂
Well I'm very glad you liked it, Kimberly 🙂 You're so kind! Very much looking forward to reading your story, and hurray! for the title 🙂
It's only too bad because they I could be last instead of someone else 🙂 Thanks for your well wishes! I was hoping we'd get an entry from you! 🙂
It was. He's one of my favorites.
P.S. I live not far from where he lived.
And I like sand. So that makes us practically twins 🙂
So cute, Melissa! What a clever take on the original, all dressed up for a wild weather holiday! And I'm with Teresa – now I'm singing the tune 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun! 🙂
Oh, my! A coal storm is certainly weather of the wildest kind! I'm so glad the children believed in Santa enough that he could work his magic… and get home for hot cocoa and sugar cookies! 🙂 Thanks so much for a magical entry, Suzannah
🎵🎶🎵🎶 Laaaaaaah. You got me singing on this one. 😉😊
I think it's pretty unfair that you can, with a flick of your wrists, type out such fun stories. I really do like this one. Okay, I want to do tension like this too.
When I read, “Fog tiptoes in on its little cat feet!” I thought, this chick is way deep. Then I thought, hey wait a minute. Hahahaha. Still this is some good stuff girlfriend. Thank you again for this contest. It is the Pretty Much World Famous Holiday Contest, ya know.
A coal storm… genius! I bet everyone thought they were naughty. 😉😊