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 
ENTRY POSTED FOR JULIE
Santa's Satnav by Julie Abery
(348 words)
'Twas the week before Christmas and in the North Pole,
Santa's list was still short by ten thousand or so!
Letters from children so beautifully written,
With wishes for scooters and fluffy white kittens,
Were stuck at the post office tied in a sack,
Some children will not have a gift to unwrap!!
An elf called on Santa, had he heard the news?
Post vans were stuck, mail was not getting through.
The snow had been falling for many a week,
They said on the radio as much as six feet!
The fog and the ice storm had grounded all flights,
The Polar Express had no power for lights!
Santa declared he would fly into town
And try out the Santa-nav on the way down!
They harnessed the reindeer, programmed in directions,
The elves looked around in a final inspection.
“Up” called out Santa “Up, up and away!”
With a flick of the reins they were soon on their way.
The littlest elf who'd been loading the sack,
Popped up behind Santa quite taken aback!
“Ho, ho, ho little Jack” called out Santa with glee
“What are you doing up here with me?”
“In one mile…” said Santa-nav “left at the star”
But snow swirled around and they couldn't see far!
Jack looked on worried, and Santa just blustered
“But Madam, I can't see the stars, not a cluster!”
Grim as a blizzard! Jack heard a bell sound,
Gave a tug on the reins and he turned them around.
“Whoa” cried out Santa and straightened his hat,
“I hear the town bells…Good job little Jack!”
Down flew the sleigh with a bang and a clatter!
“You have arrived” the Santa-nav chattered!
They bundled the letters in Santa's big sack,
“Christmas un-cancelled! Thank you, little Jack!”
“Up” called out Santa “Up, up and away!”
The Santa-nav off, Rudolph's nose led the way!
The elves loaded presents for all girls and boys
And on Christmas Eve he delivered the toys,
With Santa-nav jingling all through the flight!!
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Love the Santa-nav, Julie! Especially when she said, “You have arrived”! – that is exactly what they say… even when you haven't 🙂 So glad Little Jack saved the day with his keen hearing 🙂 Thanks so much for a fun, clever entry and for joining in the holiday fun! 🙂
And hot tea and hot coffee!
What a clever twist on the original miracle of the oil lasting 8 nights, Laura! I love that the biodiesel truck made the 8 miles and planned to make the return trip off the vegetable oil from the latkes! 🙂 And so fun that you included the Yiddish (and very helpful translations – I knew most, but not the jelly donuts :)) Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun! 🙂
Thanks!
Informative – ha! I admit I did need to Google a few things 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
Thanks Alayne!
Ha! Cute story! And I read it right before bedtime and I'm not sure if the tune will lull me to sleep or keep me up dancing 🙂
Nice job! Kids can “bring” Christmas no matter what, can't they?
Love this! Very cute and creative 🙂
🙂
Thanks Susanna 🙂 Your contest is such a wonderful way to squeeze some writing into the craziness of the holiday season! Very excited to see all the fun (and interesting!) stories everyone has come up with!
Susanna! I love your story, once again! You are so creative!
ENTRY POSTED FOR SHARON
Boomer’s First White Christmas
By Sharon Giltrow
G’day!
Boomer’s my name! I’m a grey kangaroo, part of the Australian Animal exhibition at the New York City Zoo. I flew thousands of kilometres to get here on the flying kangaroo. Not a real flying kangaroo, Qantas our Australian airline. Kangaroos can’t fly but boy can we bound.
We bound from one tree to another, stopping for a nose wiggle and to nibble grass. And can you believe it, people love it. They watch us for hours. I feel bad for them we’re not that interesting.
I like it here in New York City it’s exciting, and the trees are lovely. When we
first arrived the leaves were a deep green, then they turned golden. The plain old gum trees we have back home don’t do that.
It’s a little bit cold here though, and it’s getting colder. The mob; that’s what we
call ourselves have been spending more time amongst the rocks. We’re all a bit
sleepier, not our usual bounding, booming selves.
Now all the leaves have fallen off. There’s piles of them everywhere. It was fun at
first. We made leaf angels and jumped right into the middle of the pile but now
it’s getting a bit eerie. None of the other animals seem to mind, but I haven’t see old Reginald the Rhino out and about in a while and Barry the Bear I haven’t seen him in days. The ducks are gone they just up and flew away. On no what’s happening! I’m starting to panic its too quiet.
Calm down Boomer. Wait what’s that floating down it looks like a butterfly. It’s so pretty and so white. Oh it’s landing on me. Oh its cold, it’s sticking to my fur. What is it? I’ll ask Ma.
“Ma, come look at this. Is it white dust?”
“Oh darling It’s snow!” “It’s Christmas, and in New York City it snows at Christmas.”
“Really snow at Christmastime. Ma I’m scared.”
“Boomer its okay, the people will look after us. Come on go somewhere warm.
What a cute story, Sharon! Imagine how scary snow might be if you've never seen it – and if where you come from Christmas happens in summer! Very creative! Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun!
This was so fun to read! I laughed out loud more once 🙂 Awesome story & I'm very glad the narrator got her marshmallow back!
A very sweet story with the perfect Christmas message 🙂
A coal storm! Love this idea! The coal and the magic globe are so creative 🙂
I have a feeling children would love reading about how elves need syrup to get through the day 🙂 Such a great fix to have them use agave syrup!
I love how all the adults are flabbergasted but it all makes perfect sense to Daniel 🙂 Great twist that they ended up in Baghdad and a very sweet ending!
Oh goody! I try to be funny with little success most of the time 🙂
Hope you rested well and maybe danced a little too!
Rain, dear.
by Amy Ozay
drip, drop, drip, drop
Mrs. Claus: “Ah, I love that sound.”
Santa: “What sound?”
Mrs. Claus: “drip, drop.”
Santa: “clip, clop?”
Mrs. Claus: “The drip, drop of rain, dear.”
Santa: “The clip, clop of reindeer?”
Mrs. Claus: “Yes, it’s the rain, dear.”
Santa: “What about the reindeer?!”
Mrs. Claus: “It’s raining rain, dear.”
Santa: “It’s raining reindeer?! Holy snowballs! I better go check my fleet.”
Mrs. Claus: “What’s wrong with your feet?”
Santa: “They may be in a jam.”
Mrs. Claus: “You better not have your feet in my homemade gooseberry jam.”
Santa: (opening the door) “Ho, ho, ho! It’s just a little rain, dear.”
Mrs. Claus: “A little reindeer? Prancer’s son?”
Santa: “No chance of sun. Just rain, dear.
You should keep that story up. It's very fun!. I'm loving the entries so far. Thanks for another great contest.
NO SWEAT SANTA 348 words
It was Christmas Eve and Santa in his red wool suit was ready to go. The night turned out to be blazing hot, the hottest night of the year.
After a few deliveries, Santa dripped sweat. He was so sweaty, his broad face and chubby cheeks looked gaunt. His big round belly no longer shook like a bowl full of jelly. It wasn't big or round but was flat as a pancake. His eyes didn't twinkle. His dimples were gone. Santa was wasting away.
At his next stop, he slipped down the chimney with such ease, he crashed right into the tree. With some quick thinking, he gobbled the cookies and chugged the milk, but still didn't feel right. He found his phone to facetime Mrs. Claus.
“Honey, I’m not doing well. It’s too hot out.”
“Who is this?” she said, not recognizing the skinny old man in the oversized coat.
“It’s your husband,” said Santa. “This wool coat is too warm.”
“I knew you should have gone with a cotton-polyester blend,” she said. “Can’t you just take it off?”
“And ride in my sleigh in the buff?! Someone might see. No, no, that won’t work,” said Santa.
Then, Santa felt a tug at his coat. “Who are you?” said Timmy.
“Whoops, got to go,” said Santa, hanging up. He puffed out his chest as best he could and in a deep voice said “I’m Santa.”
“Santa is jolly and fat,” said Timmy unconvinced.
“Well, uh, you see, it’s very hot out tonight. I’m a tad dehydrated.”
Timmy knew what to do. This happened to his grandma sometimes. He ran to the kitchen and returned with another plate of cookies and a box of Ensure. He sat Santa under the ceiling fan and cranked the AC. After a little rest, relaxation, and refueling, Santa was as good as new.
He placed some presents under the tree and thanked Timmy for everything.
“No sweat, Santa!” said Timmy. After Santa tucked Timmy back into bed, he jumped in his sleigh and flew off into the blistering night sky completely naked.
Oh so very clever. I could totally see this in a kid's magazine.
The sunshine makes me more cheerful and invigorated too! 😀 And flamingo poop…hahaha!
Very fun tie-in for Hanukkah and I loved learning the expressions.
Hilarious and really well done. I enjoyed it very much.
Being from AZ, I really appreciate Mrs. Claus's fix. This was ver original.
I was singing along while laughing. Fun to read. Good luck on the contest.
Santa knows! 😉
Cute! I like Snowflake. 🙂 Good luck.
I loved this – made me laugh out loud! Good job, and good luck. 🙂
What a fun way to tell a story. I'm glad he came back 🙂 Good luck!
I lie how you use all these Yiddish words in your story. 🙂 What a cute idea to have the oil in the car be synonymous to the oil in the Hanukkah story.
I like all the gifts having sand in them. 🙂 Poor Santa didn't have much time to get the gifts ready but he did!
I had no idea elves were so difficult! 😉 Thanks for sharing your fun story.
Danny got to fly like Dorothy and his wish came true- to be with his dad. Thanks for sharing your fun story. 🙂
What a cute idea. I like seeing snow falling from a kangaroo's point of view. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
Thank you, Stacy 🙂 And I too have loved the entries I've read! I'm a bit behind due to circumstances beyond my control, but can't wait to get over and read yours!!! 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR RACHEL
A Christmas Miracle
(347 words)
By Rachel Krackeler
Kate loved her grandma's bright eyes, swingy earrings, soft sweater hugs and chewy cookies. She loved her warm laugh and dancing feet.
Visiting her grandma was Kate's favorite thing on earth. Luckily it was just a short car ride across the foggy Golden Gate Bridge and through the Rainbow Tunnel to
Grandma's house.
Christmas Eve was the best time of all to visit Grandma's. Every year when they arrived the fireplace was warm and bright, the cozy beds were ready for their guests, and beautifully wrapped presents waited under the tree.
This year Kate was most excited about the present she was making. After Grandma gave her needles and knitting lessons last year at Christmas, Kate decided to thank her with a hand knit rug this year. It would be an especially perfect gift because this winter in San Francisco had been the coldest ever. Kate pictured all the toasty toes on top of the rug on Christmas morning and she worked hard to finish it.
She knit while baking gingerbread. She knit while decorating the tree. She even
knit while sledding.
She finished just in time. Just as her father came in from the foggy cold to say they wouldn't be going to Grandma's this Christmas Eve night. “It's so cold in San
Francisco that the fog has frozen the Golden Gate into a solid block of ice. There's no way across until morning…if it warms up.”
Kate flung herself onto her rug. Her brother Henry joined her. Eventually even their mom and dad found a spot on the cozy new rug. They fell asleep with hopeful visions of Grandma's house dancing in their heads.
By a Christmas miracle the rug and its sleepers were lifted up off the floor and out into the icy night. Kate's dreamy eyes opened as they traveled through the starry sky, over the bridge and tunnel, and into the warm beds waiting at Grandma's house. She wondered if it was all a dream, but when she turned to see her rug beneath the Christmas tree, she was sure it wasn't.
Oh, Grandma and her house sound lovely! I can see why Kate was anxious to visit! And how lovely that the rug, knit with such love, carried them all to their destination in spite of the terrible weather! Thanks so much for a heartwarming story, Rachel, and for joining in the holiday fun!
I love all of the Yiddish expressions! Great story!
Wow, impressed with this story that you cranked out overnight! I'm no expert, but the rhyming really works and you managed to cover so many cute details. Love it!
Aw, what a sweet story, Carol! I'm so glad Spotty got a happy Christmas after waiting so faithfully! Thank goodness for that wild weather 🙂 You did such a lovely job of pulling on the heartstrings! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the holiday contest fun! 🙂
Hahaha! Oh, my, Hilary! You made me laugh at Timmy's certain knowledge of how to take care of dehydrated old folks 🙂 What a clever, fun story! Thanks so much for joining in the holiday contest fun! 🙂
Hahaha! VERY clever, Amy! This sounds just like my parents 🙂 I love the play on words and the misunderstandings… like the game of telephone but with only two people 🙂 Thanks so much for an original and clever entry and for joining the holiday fun!
Thank you, Carrie 🙂 I barely slid in under the wire with this one 🙂
This contest is making my day so much better! Love reading all the entries!