Roses are red

Violets are blue

Valentinies rock

And so do YOU!

Whether your characters are bubbling, bouncing, or buzzing with enthusiasm, feeling the consequences of too much enthusiasm, or wishing they could drum up some enthusiasm, the time has come for . . .

The 9th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest

~ for children’s writers ~

The Contest:  Since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentine’s Day is all about emotion, write a Valentine story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone feels enthusiastic!  They can be enthusiastic in a good way or a bad way. They can be enthusiastic about a person, an event, an activity, an animal, an art project, a performance. . . anything you like!, or overly enthusiastic causing negative consequences. Sky’s the limit!  Just make sure it is clearly Valentine-centered! Think beyond the obvious!  Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone enthusiastic (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentine’s Day 😊 ) You can go under the word count but not over! (Title is not included in the word count.)  If you are so inclined, you are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊  No illustration notes please!

Post your story in the comment section below between right now this very second and Wednesday February 14th by 11:59 PM Eastern.  There will be no regularly scheduled posts for the duration of the contest (Tuesday Debut or PPBF), so this post and all of your entries will stay up for everyone to enjoy.  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. If you need to send me your entry, please copy and paste your entry, including title, byline (that’s who it’s by – you 😊 – for example, by Susie Writer) and word count into the body of your email. No attachments – they will not be opened!

The Judging: over the following days, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to around 12 top choices depending on number and quality of entries which will be posted here and voted on for a winner as soon as we can get them up.   The winners and Honorable Mentions will be announced a few days after the vote. (I’m not even going to try to hazard a guess on exact dates!)

Judging criteria will include:

1. Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
2. Creativity in using enthusiasm, and success in making us feel the enthusiasm! Enthusiasm must be central to the story line, not just mentioned briefly in passing in a story about something else entirely.
3. Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story and Valentine’s Day must be central to it!
4. Quality of story – we will look for basic story elements and a true story arc
5. Quality of writing – use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
6. Originality – surprise us with something new and different! 😊
7. How well you followed the Submission Guidelines – agents and editors expect professionalism. This is a chance to practice making sure you read and follow specified guidelines.

The Prizes: aren’t we lucky to have such amazing prizes donated by such wonderful, generous people!

⭐️ Ask Me Anything Zoom Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Sandra Foreman Sutter, owner and “top gnome” at Gnome Road Publishing, and author of STAN’S FRIGHTFUL HALLOWEEN (Spork, September 2020) and THE REAL FARMER IN THE DELL (Spork, March 2019)!!! Not only will Sandra read and critique your manuscript, you will get to talk and discuss it with her!

⭐️ Access to author/editor Alayne Kay Christian‘s webinars! Alayne is the author of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA (Blue Whale Press, 2008), SIENNA THE COWGIRL FAIRY: COWBOY TROUBLE (Blue Whale Press 2021), THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS (Blue Whale Press, 2020), and AN OLD MAN AND HIS PENGUIN (Blue Whale Press, 2020)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming or Non-rhyming, Fiction or Nonfiction) with written feedback AND a 30-minute Zoom Chat with children’s author Vivian Kirkfield, author of the brand new, about-to-be-released PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, The First Woman To Cycle Around The World (Calkins Creek, February 20, 2024), PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House, 2019), SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books, 2019), FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN (Pomegranate, 2019), MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: THE INSPIRING FRIENDSHIP OF ELLA FITZGERALD AND MARILYN MONROE (Little Bee Books, 2020), FROM HERE TO THERE: INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD MOVES (Clarion Books, 2021), and SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING (MoneyPenny Press Ltd, 2010)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Hanh Bui, author of The Yellow Áo Dài (Feiwel & Friends, April 25, 2023) and the forthcoming Ánh’s New Word: A Story About Learning a New Language (Feiwel & Friends, May 14, 2024) PLUS a signed copy of The Yellow Áo Dài!

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming) PLUS Zoom Chat from developmental editor Lou Piccolo! Lou studied English Literature, creative writing and teaching at university in South Africa. After working as an EFL teacher in France for twenty years, she studied proofreading and editing before becoming a developmental editor of children’s and young adult’s literature for independent authors. She is a graduate of Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab – Punching Up Prose With Poetry course and Making Picture Book Magic, the in-house writer for Editions Entrefilet’s language-learning magazine ‘Go English Kids’ for children of 8-12 in France, and a traditionally published author of MG and YA fiction with Burlington Books.

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique with Rebecca Gomez, author of FEDERICO AND THE WOLF (Clarion Books, May 19, 2020), TWO TOUGH TRUCKS (Orchard Books, September 17, 2019), TWO TOUGH TRUCKS GET LOST! (Scholastic, Inc, September 1, 2020), HENSEL AND GRETEL: NINJA CHICKS (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, May 24, 2016), WHAT ABOUT MOOSE? (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, June 9, 2015) and the forthcoming middle grade novel in verse, MARI IN THE MARGINS (Bandersnatch Books, May 2024)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique with Laura Sassi, author of GOODNIGHT, ARK (Zonderkidz, August 4, 2015), GOODNIGHT, MANGER (Zonderkidz, October 6, 2015), DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE (Union Square Kids, March 6, 2018), LOVE IS KIND (Zonderkidz, August 7, 2018), LITTLE EWE: The Story of One Lost Sheep (Beaming Books, February 23, 2021), BUNNY FINDS EASTER (Zonderkidz, February 1, 2022), HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS CHILD! (Paraclete Press, October 4, 2022), and the MY TENDER HEART BIBLE series (Paraclete Press)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique with Aixa Pérez-Prado, author/illustrator of CITY FEET (Reycraft Books, January 12, 2023), and OUR WORLD: ARGENTINA (Barefoot Books, October 3, 2023)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique with Beth Stillborn, writer of middle-grade fiction, occasional picture books, fiction for grownups, and poetry, and qualified editor of anything you put in front of her!

⭐️ 30 Minute Ask Me Anything with Rebecca Gardyn Levington, author of BRAINSTORM! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022), WHATEVER COMES TOMORROW (Barefoot Books, Mar 7, 2023), I WILL ALWAYS BE…(HarperCollins, Spring 2024), and AFIKOMAN, WHERE’D YOU GO? (Penguin/Rocky Pond, Spring 2024)

⭐️ 20 Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything on Indie Publishing with author Kizzie Hutcheson Roberts, indie author of THE ELVES GO MARCHING (Elemental Ink, December 1, 2022), THE EGGS GO ROLLING (Learning Spark, February 16, 2023), and HARPER AND THE RAPTOR RESCUE (chapter book) (Learning Spark Educational Publishing, June 27, 2023)

⭐️ Ask Me Anything Zoom Chat and signed book from Cindy Schrauben, author of THIS COULD BE YOU (Cardinal Rule Press, April 2022) and the just announced HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART (scheduled for February 2025 from The Little Press)

⭐️ Signed copy of KING CAKE BABY (Pelican Publishing, January 23, 2015) from author Keila Dawson

Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for birthday, holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school and library visits, recommending their books for school and library purchases, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊

Now! Put your heart into it and enthusiastically post your entries!

I am filled with enthusiasm to read your stories!!!

Eager Readers: Check out the comment section for all the fabulous entries! 😊

ENTRIES (all entries are linked to take you directly to the comment)

1. The Valentine Nature Show – Sharon O. Blumberg

2. Alexis’s Valentine’s Day Box – Rhonda T. Spear

3. Strawberry Valentine – Brenda Covert

4. Go For The Gold – Mikki McFeve

5. Val N. Tine’s Almost Card Catastrophe – S. Burdorf

6. Love Is In The Air – Corine Timmer

7. This Time It’s For Real – Ian Rodrigues

8. Just One Thing’s Missing – Sarah Parker

9. Waiting For It – Sarah Parker

10. Look Out, Here Comes Honey Bear – Susan Elizabeth Schipper

11. Chocolate – Peanut Butter – Wu, Yu-Cheng

12. Heart Candies From Hank – Mike Flowers

13. Valentine Magic – Kelly Kates

14. Daisy And Macy’s Best Valentine’s Day Ever! – Sarah Meade

15. ValenTOYS! – Sarah Meade

16. Glitter And Glue – Kim Collazo

17. Hurry Home! – Charmaine Langlois

18. Where Ladybugs Sleep – Jessica Russo

19. Tara And The Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off! – Ashley Sierra

20. Puppy Love – Jany Campana

21. A Valentine For Vincent – Melissa J. Miles

22. The Spruce Hollow Valentine Spectacular – Kelly Clasen

23. The Valentine Scavenger Hunt – Eleanor A. Peterson

24. Roses For Mom – Laura Wippell

25. Best Friends Forever? – Barbara Kimmel

26. Piper’s Perfect Valentine’s Surprise – Rebecca Tronrud

27. A Sunny Valentine’s Day – Paul Kurtz

28. Something Marvelous – Julie Lerczak

29. They Are Having A Ball! – Paul Kurtz

30. Beautiful, Gorgeous – And Yummy! – Donna Kurtz

31. Thump! Thump! – Donna Kurtz

32. A Perfect Match – Kathy Nimmer

33. Love, Charlie – Kathleen MacEachern

34. A Valentine’s Day Gift – Kenneth Major

35. Something’s Missing – Judy Caldwell Hughes

36. Mike’s Big Valentine – MaryLou Silva

37. Stan’s Valentine Plan – Carla Gullett

38. The Heart Remembers – Julie Lerczak

39. Blake Shakes! – Angela Jelf

40. It’s Valentine’s Day! – Lynn Katz

41. Sister Strong! – Lori Himmel

42. Not So Empty – Amanda Revell

43. Zamboni Valentine – Elizabeth Thoms Charles

44. 365 Hearts – Leslie Degnan

45. Valentines For Everyone – Sharon Korzelius

46. A Stinkin’ Good Party – Glenda Roberson

47. Happy Heart, Open Heart – Pamela Swanson

48. Something Red – Charlie Griffin

49. A Special Valentine’s Card – Isabel Cruz Rodriguez

50. R-EEL Love – Ryann Jones

51. A Big Brother, On Valentine’s Day – Kris DeCaro

52. Will You Be My Friend? – Mary Ann Featherston

53. Valentine’s Day At The North Pole – Vashti Verbowski

54. Holding Out Hope – Shuba Mohan

55. Planting Heart Seeds – Becki J. Kidd

56. Everyday Is Valentine’s Day With You – Shuba Mohan

57. A Pawsome Valentine – Priyanka Betrabet

58. Theodore T. Rex Loves Words – Kelly Adamson

59. Tapping Romeo – Sue Ko

60. Bailey’s Perfect Valentine – Katie Lee Reinert

61. Thesaurus Stegosaurus – Lauren N. Simmons

62. Seamus And The Shushing Librarian – CE King

63. A Shadow For Valentine’s Day – Page Pfister

64. The Shape Of Hearts – Melissa Rafson Friedman

65. The Guessing Game – Sharon Goldstein Jackson

66. I Need To Know What Love Is – Emma Sales

67. Val’s Thousand Hearts – Katia Jesson

68. Snow Hearts – Lynn Sandacz

69. What Not To Do To Valentines – Nina Haines

70. A Day For Heart – Ariel Eishen

71. The Dullies – Tom Wright

72. Cactus And Wren – Jessica Iwanski

73. The Best Valentine’s Day Card – Tiffany Hanson

74. For Someone Special – T. Laree Krushensky

75. Game On – Anne Lipton

76. The Biggest Heart Ever – Carly Downey

77. #1 Best Pest – Kelly Adamson

78. Creating Love On Valentine’s Day – Patricia Nozell

79. Bernard Can Do It! – Linda Staszak

80. The Best-est Valentine Ever – Andy Narwhal

81. Cupid’s Redemption – Sharon McCarthy

82. Jellyfish & Butterscotch – Michelle Lee

83. Blue Mouth Valentine – Kelly Pellico

84. Dragon’s First Love – Jessie Raspbury

85. A Little Flower Bloomed – Hanno Zhang

86. Miss Hedgehog’s Valentine Surprise! – Amy LaMae Brewer

87. Rabbit’s Valentine’s Surprise – Marta Cutler

88. A Valentine For Grumpus – Marta Cutler

89. A Date To The Valentine’s Ball – Jennifer Gautam

90. Jelly Belly Finds Love – Ellen Akemi Crosby

91. What Is Love? – Janel Caverly

92. Happy Cheese Day! – Cassy Clarcq

93. Inky’s Valentine – Poupette Smith

94. In The Shape Of A Heart – Lisa Rowe Fraustino

95. Sloth & Moth – Katherine Rea

96. For! The! Love! – Katrina Swenson

97. Elbow To Elbow – Bridget Magee

98. Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates – Jodie Houghton

99. Love Letters – Jana Locke

100. Happy V-ALIEN-tine’s Day! – Vanessa Konoval

101. Rockin’ Around Valentine’s Day – Stephanie Mena

102. A Surprise For Kiki The Koala – Brooklyn Weaver

103. A Monstrous Valentine’s Day – Russell Wolff

104. Pretty Puppy – Stefanie S.

105. Maxi’s First Valentine – Aly Kenna

106. Untitled – Shariffa Keshavjee

107. A Valentine’s Day Gift For Mi Mami – Carmen Castillo Gilbert, Ph.D.

108. Valentine Cake – Penelope McNally

109. Sweetest Day – Darla Christie

110. I Love, Love, LOVE. . . Valentine’s Day! – Anny Chen

111. Twinkie McTwinkle Toes – Katie Dubay

112. Mahjong Matchmakers – Denise Seidman

113. Beverly Bunny’s Valentine Surprise – Lori Bonati

114. A Valentine For Two – Colleen Fogarty

115. Friendship Sings – Amanda Littlefield

116. Baby With A Bow – Katie McNickle

117. Duck And Moose – Julie Hauswirth

118. Flying High On Valentine’s Day – S. J. Barratt

119. Love And Happy Valentine’s Day – Jean Martin

120. Chocolate Stinks!!! – Patricia Valencia Rivera

121. From Andrew D. – Nichole Stratton

122. Infinite Love (And Burgundy) – Sarah Hetu

123. The Lost Valentine – Susan R. Waide

124. Sweet Hearts – Barb Edwards

125. My Cat-Tastic Valentine – Bru Benson

126. The Valentine’s Card – Maritere R. Bellas

127. Lessons – Alice Bianchi-Clark

128. Groundhog Loves His Shadow – Jill Lambert

129. The Perfect Pair! – Lauri C. Meyers

130. Joshua’s Valentine – Marty Findley

131. Sharing Hearts – Marty Findley

132. Harriet Sasquatch Gets Invited – Helen Lysicatos

133. Love Letters – Alison Marcotte

134. The Valentine Pine – Laur Seely-Pollack

135. Finn And Bug – So In Love! – Katie Schwartz

136. Valentina – Adriana Gutierrez

137. Spreading The Valentine Love – Cindy Droker

138. Red’s Blue Valentine’s Day – P. J. Purtee

139. Countdown To Valentine’s Day – Maria M. Sutanto

140. Valentines Castles In The Sand – Nadia Ali

141. The Diaries Of Romeo And Juliet: A Dogdeball Debacle – Deborah Kim

142. Johnny Survived – Nina Haines

143. The Rejection Infection – Cheryl Simon

144. Fox May Eat His Card – Karen Fox

145. Sissy’s Valentine Surprise – Cathy Bendix

146. Quokka Joe’s Quandary – Sally Yorke-Viney

147. The Best Cards – Cindy Greene

148. Something Special – Darcee A. Freier

149. Amira’s First Valentine’s Day – Danna Zeiger

150. Talia’s Valentine’s Day Magic – Danna Zeiger

151. A Valentine Snow Day – Lori Dubbin

152. Love Day Wish – Daniella Kaufman

153. Snip, Snip, Snip – Emmie Werner

154. Valentine Trap – Amy Martinez

155. When Peanut Butter Met Jelly – Angela Martinelli

156. In The Cards – Jan Schwaid

157. Talentines Day! – Jen Keenan

158. A Home For Valentine’s Day – Linda Staszak

159. The Heart Collector – Lucie Nouraud

160. The Rescued Valentine – Jennifer Rathe

161. The Heart Of The Party – Debbie Moeller

162. Cherished Gifts – Erin Bylund

163. I Met Him At Mardi Gras – Kate Chabarek

164. Horse To Heart Talk – Gina Marina Gustafson Faena

165. The Mouse In The (Elephant) Room – J. Buchet

166. Maddie’s Valentine – Lyn Jekowsky

167. A Valentine For Malamute – Jessica D. Phillips

168. An “Ernest” Effort – EJD Thomasville

169. Impossible Love – Katie Mahood

170. Pink’s Shiny Valentine – Christina Shawn

171. Capybara And Bird – Eric Herrington

172. Lovesick – Maria Piñero Pope

173. CII PTD (Cupid) – Claudine Pullen

174. I Lava You – Elizabeth Muster

175. Every Day Should Be Valentine’s Day – Tracy T. Agnelli

176. Birthdays Are Better – Tracy T. Agnelli

177. Bertie Saves Valentine’s Day – Liz Frank Godfrey

178. Short Stack – Jess Freeman

179. A Valentiny Fluffle – Luara Martinez

180. Mel And Nell Didn’t Gel Well – Suhasini Gupta

181. Quokka And Koala – Nicole Garnett

182. Cupid’s Arrow – Angela Steffen

183. Zoey’s Beehive Valentines Show – Hannah Roy LaGrone

184. I HATE Valentine’s Day! – Janet Scratchley

185. Jack And Jill – Pat Finnegan

186. Valentine’s Eve – Nicole Terry

187. No One Is Butter Than You – R. C. Chizhov

188. I Bought You A Roach – Mary Miller

189. The Worst Valentine’s Cookies For The Best Friends – Lmariekey

190. The Biggest Valentine – Judy Sobanski

191. My Transylvanian Valentine’s – Griffin Schultz

192. The Perfect Match – Sarah Elynn

193. Wings Of Love – Nancy D. Riley

194. Cheesed To Meet You – Lynsey Folkman

195. February 14, 2065 – Gina Marina Gustafson Faena

196. Creating A Valentine’s Card Out Of Love And Compassion – Kimberly Zhuo