Our hands begin to twitch –
our thoughts, to pitch
and suddenly ideas fly
without a hitch.
A ghost? A witch?
A mummy with an itch?
Our Halloweensie stories
flow without a glitch.
And oh, what happens then is rich!
Creative entertainment
for every kidlit niche!

So let your imagination run wild!

It’s time to announce. . .

the guidelines for. . .

The 15th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest!!!

~ for children’s writers ~

Can you believe this is our 15th year???!!!

THE CONTEST: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in word count) using the words wings, spell, and fog.

• Your story can be poetry or prose, scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words. Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 😊
• You can go under the word count but not over!
• Title is not included in the word count.
• You may use the words in any grammatical variation i.e. wing, winged, winging, spells, spelling, spelled, foggy, foggiest, fogginess etc. 😊
• You are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊
• No illustration notes please!

And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge!

POST: your story in the comment section of the Official Contest Post (which is not this one! this is the Guidelines Post!) between 12:01 AM Eastern Wednesday October 29th (the day the official contest post will go up here) and 11:59PM Eastern Friday October 31st (So you have 3 full days to post – Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.) These dates are posted so you’ll know your deadlines.

THE JUDGING: over the days following Halloween, my devoted assistants and I will read and re-read and narrow down the entries to a finalist field of about 12 which will be posted here for you to vote on as soon as I can get them up! The winners will be announced a couple days after the voting to give everyone time to vote.

Judging criteria will be as follows:

• 1. Kid-appeal! – These stories are intended for a young audience (ages 12 and under), so we’re looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.
• 2.  Halloweeniness – the rules state a Halloween story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about Halloween, not just some random spooky night.
• 3. Use of all 3 required words and whether you came it at 100 words or less.
• 4. Quality of story – entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny 😊  Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
• 5. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.  If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊  Use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
• 6. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
• 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. If you don’t follow agent and editor submission guidelines, they won’t even read your submission.

THE PRIZES: So amazing! What wonderful, generous people we have in our kidlit community! Just wait til you see what you can win! WATCH THIS SPACE for details, website and book links, and graphics to round out the prize list. They’ll be up as soon as I can get them up, but I didn’t want to keep you waiting for the contest guidelines! (Also, this list may be subject to a little juggling due to making sure there is a good mix of prizes for each of the three upcoming contests, but I’m pretty sure this will be the list for Halloweensie.)

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ FABULOUS PRIZES FROM GENEROUS PEOPLE⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Please enjoy exploring all their amazing work!

⭐️ Mentorship with the one and only Vivian Kirkfield!

Vivian will take a quick look at 3 of your manuscripts and then you and she will work on 1 to polish to submission-ready, plus a query letter edit for that manuscript as well as a Zoom session to discuss the manuscript or anything related to the path to publication!

Vivian encourages new writers through her critique and editing services, shares her love for reading and writing with children through school visits, and offers advice and resources for aspiring authors through her blog, Picture Books Help Kids Soar. She is the author of One Girl’s Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World, From Here To There: Inventions That Changed The Way The World Moves, Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marily Monroe, Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book, Pippa’s Passover Plate, and Sweet Dreams, Sarah.

Vivian Kirkfield

Webinars/Classes/Workshops!

⭐️ A Spot in Teresa Robeson’s inaugural 2-hour Webinar/Class: Write A Graphic Novel for the First Time! (to be held sometime in January 2026) Write A Graphic Novel for the First Time is a 2-hour step-by-step webinar that takes you from idea to pitch packet, learning everything you need in between. If you’re interested in knowing when the course is ready and when you can sign up, you can go here: https://teresarobeson.myflodesk.com/poatu0ji2z .

Teresa is the APALA Picture Book Award winning author of fiction and nonfiction on her own culture and science. Her titles include: Clouds In Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us, Who Is Tibet’s Exiled Leader? The 14th Dalai Lama, Clear And Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story, Disgust-ology: The Science of Gross, and Who Smashed Hollywood Barriers With Gung Fu? Bruce Lee.

Teresa Robeson

⭐️ A Free Admission Ticket to Rosie Pova’s November or December Workshop + A Breakthrough Consultation With Rosie for unagented and unpublished PB writers! November and December Workshop Guests will be announced after October 28th. The Breakthrough Consultation with Rosie is a one-on-one session with her, designed to help the writer identify and overcome any challenges they’re facing—whether it’s related to story craft, manuscript submissions, finding an agent, building an authentic author brand, or strengthening their online presence. During your session, Rosie will help them pinpoint what’s holding them back and create an actionable plan to help them move forward!

Rosie J. Pova is an award-winning, multi-published children’s author, poet, and writing coach. Her books include Sunday Rain, featured in The New York Times, The School of Failure, a Readers’ Favorite silver medalist, and her latest title, Sally’s Musical Tale. She is also the founder of Picture Book Author Academy, where she mentors aspiring authors toward publishing success. In addition, Rosie hosts monthly workshops with agents and editors, offering exclusive learning and submission opportunities for the kidlit community.

Rosie J. Pova

⭐️ A Virtual All-Season Pass to Every SCBWI Eastern NY Webinar in 2026 donated by SCBWI Eastern NY (my local chapter)! Fabulous webinars to help you hone your craft and business of writing no matter where you live!

A Bundle of Three Books by Talented Authors Pamela Courtney, Robin Newman and Alayne Kay Christian!

⭐️ 1. From Pamela Courtney, a signed copy of A SEASON FOR FISHIN’: A Fish Fry Tradition

Pam’s Louisiana upbringing inspired her 2025 debut A Season for Fishin’, A Fish Fry Tradition and  nurtured her life’s passion for writing, teaching, music. Combining these loves, Pam brings the eyes of a classroom teacher to each narrative she crafts and created MyLMNOP, a literacy and music program for early learners  “My duty is great,” says Pam. “I am a writer who teaches. I am a teacher who writes.”

together with

⭐️ 2. a copy of TRIAL AND ERROR, the newest chapter book from Robin Newman!

Raised in New York and Paris, Robin Newman is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but now prefers to write about witches, mice, ants, and peacocks. Author of the award-winning Wilcox & Griswold Mystery Series and several picture books, she lives in New York with two spoiled spaniels. To learn more, please visit www.robinnewmanbooks.com.

Robin Newman

together with

⭐️ 3. a signed copy of THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS from Alayne Kay Christian!

Alayne Kay Christian is the former acquisitions editor and art director for Blue Whale Press and an award-winning children’s book author. She is the creator and teacher of a picture book writing course, Art of Arc. She shares more of her knowledge and tips for writers through Writing for Children Webinars and Courses. Her books include The Weed That Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Take of the Toledo Christmas Weed, An Old Man and His Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin, Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa, and two Sienna the Cowgirl Fairy books: Trying To Make It Rain and Cowboy Trouble.

Alayne Kay Christian

AMAs PLUS!

⭐️ A 30-Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything for an Individual or for the Individual and their Critique Group from Heather Pierce Stigall , PLUS a signed copy of the winner’s choice of one of her picture books: PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY or GILBERT AND THE GHOST!

Heather Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in Child Development, Psychology-based Human Relations, and Social Work to create stories that speak to kids. She is the author of the picture books Gilbert and the Ghost and Paisley’s Big Birthday. You can connect with Heather at www.HeatherPierceStigall.com.

Heather Pierce Stigall

⭐️ A 30-Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything from Tina Shepardson PLUS a signed copy of her picture book THE SORRY SEEDS!

Tina, an award-winning teacher of 33 years and an award-winning author, now inspires, educates, and engages kids writing children’s books. Author of Walkout, The Sorry Seeds—a Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorite, 2025, and Canines Unleashed: Hank’s New Pack, she created and hosts @thelilleaderspodcast.com, celebrating young leaders and literacy by interviewing kids about their life experiences in the hopes of impacting others.

Tina Shepardson

Pitch Critiques!

⭐️ A Package of 3 Pitch Critiques from Heather Preusser! Pick out three pitches you’d like help with, and Heather will help you polish them to perfection!

Heather has a BA in English and art history from Williams College, an MA in education from the University of Colorado, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. A National Writing Project fellow, Heather has seventeen years of experience teaching both middle and high school English. She is represented by Janine Le at JLLA. Her books include A Symphony of Cowbells, Hedgehog Whodunit, Hedgehog Whodunit: The Carousel Caper, and forthcoming in 2026, Hedgehog Whodunit: The Protective Order of Peanuts.

Heather Preusser

Picture Book Manuscript Critiques!

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, non-rhyming) from author/illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch!

Julie is a reformed graphic designer, concocting and sculpting story ideas and illustrations – every day.  She is the author and illustrator of I’m A Hare, So There!, and the illustrator of Stopping By Jungle on a Snowy Evening, Not All Sheep Are Boring, and Louis.

Julie Rowan-Zoch

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Fiction or Nonfiction, Rhyme or Prose) from Nancy Derey Riley

Smart Stories for Curious Kids – Where Science, Imagination, and Kindness Meet. Nancy Derey Riley is an author, illustrator, and competitive adult figure skater. After completing a B.S. and M.S. in wildlife biology, she had a 32-year career as a wildlife biologist. She worked in New England, the Midwest, the desert Southwest, and at the national level in Arlington, Virginia. She loves bringing science and nature to life in her stories. Her website is: Nancy Riley Novelist – My writing website. Nancy is the author and illustrator of 3 self-published titles: Curiosity’s Discovery (Nov. 10, 2020), Butterfly Inn (May 25, 2022), Yeti In The Serengeti (May 30, 2023), and Who Ate My Cactus? (Shadelandhouse Modern Press, May 13, 2025)

Nancy Derey Riley

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming) from Deborah Holt Williams

Deborah is the author of five early readers for the educational publisher Continental Press. Susanna’s contests got her back to her first love—writing in rhyme. Her poems have appeared in Highlights mags and on poetry sites for children, and her rhyming picture book Nighty Night Dinos comes out in June of 2026 from Familius. (The image below is an art sample from Nighty Night Dinos, illustrated by Anna Doherty, ©Anna Doherty 2026.)

Deborah Holt Williams

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Fiction) from Melissa Stoller PLUS a signed copy of her newest picture book, HAZEL AND MABEL: Two Hearts Apart!

Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, released from Gnome Road Publishing in September, 2025. Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, will release from Kar-Ben Publishing in Fall 2026. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, and a Rate Your Story Judge.

Melissa Stoller

⭐️ A Manuscript Critique from Donna Martin– winner’s choice of a Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, rhyme or prose), OR a First Chapter of a Chapter Book Critique, OR the First 10 Pages of a YA Novel Critique. Donna is especially good with PB fiction and rhyme, CB historical fiction and action, and YA fantasy!

Kidlit author, Donna L Martin, writes award winning stories for children, including picture books, chapter books, and young adult fantasy. Her books include A Barnyard Christmas, The Warriors Three, Lunadar: Homeward Bound, the History’s Mysteries series, and Hildie and the Beastie. She can be found on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn under DONASDAYS or readers can learn more about all her books at www.Amazon.com/author/donnalmartin.

Donna L. Martin

⭐️ A Rhyming Picture Book Manuscript Critique – fiction and nonfiction from Jill Richards Proctor. Her critiques include line-by-line review of rhythm and rhyme, suggestions for cutting or changing words, review of grammar, and feedback on the strengths/weaknesses of the manuscript itself.

Jill Proctor

Jill has been a writer and rhymer nearly all her life. She and her cat live on the top of a mountain, where she spends most days chasing my muse. Her poetry has been published in High Five Highlights Magazine, The School Magazine, and Children’s Writer.  She has won a long list of awards and mentions in many kidlit contests, including First Place in the Institute of Children’s Literature (ICL) Rhyming Animal Poetry Contest, and First Place in ICL’s Fall Poetry Contest. Examples of her list of publications can be found on her website, as well as a list of her awards and mentions – all in rhyme.

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!  Lay in a good chocolate supply (no better time than right before Halloween for THAT!)! Bones In Chair! Pencils, pens, or keyboards ready! Put on your pointy black thinking cap (you know, to get in that Halloween mood 🧙🏿‍♀️ 😊!)  And write those prize-winning stories!!!

I can’t wait to read them!!! 😊