So, I was planning to post the Holiday Contest Guidelines today.
But. . . I’m in a bit of a pickle, because sometimes plans change overnight.
And now, the way December is shaping up I can’t believe it, but I don’t think I’m actually going to be able to run the Holiday Contest this year.
For a good reason – I don’t want anyone to worry. But I’m feeling bad. about having to back out at the literal 11th hour.
It’s the 15th year, and lovely, generous people already donated prizes, and I really hate to skip it. But it’s a very time-consuming undertaking and depending how things turn out I just don’t think I’m going to be able to manage it between everything else going on.
So, we have some choices:
- I can post a prompt and you can write a story for yourself for fun.
- We can postpone it and run the Holiday Contest some other time – Christmas in July or something (I’d say I could post the guidelines now and you could write your entries while you’re feeling holiday-y and then we could run the contest in January, but that’s Storystorm month and the Valentiny Contest is in February so that won’t work.)
- I can think up a different contest to run in the spring.
- Or we can just skip it and focus on all the other things that keep us hopping in December – kids’ holiday concerts and plays, baking cookies and other goodies, shopping for presents and wrapping them, going to parties and visiting relatives. . . maybe you’ll be relieved not to be trying to squeeze in one more thing!
So… does anyone have any thoughts? Please share, and I will do my best to accommodate whatever people want most.
I’m so sorry to have to miss the Holiday Contest this year, I really am!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Hi Susanna!
I definitely understand the time commitment piece during the holidays and appreciate how you are caring for yourself this season! If it would be helpful, I would be happy to discuss the possibility of helping run the contest this year (and might even be able to recruit a few kidlit friends to be a part of that!). Myself and a few kidlit friends that I know have been a part of running kidlit contests (Kidlit Zombie Week and Chuckle Challenge) and I’m happy to talk about what is needed/we might be able to help keep it going! Feel free to reach out to me at danielleturmaud@gmail.com and we can talk about this possibility.
My vote would be for you to just take a break and take care of whatever you need to. The contest can wait until next year. 🤗
Would Danielle’s idea work, since you already have the prizes lined up? If not, I vote for Christmas in July. That puts a nice amount of space between the Halloweensy and the Valentiny ones.
I thought Christmas in July sounded very fun 🙂
I agree with Margaret that you deserve a break, so if Danielle’s offer allows you to do that, great! But if that’s too time-consuming, then skip it entirely and spend December drinking hot toddies by the fire!
We are so appreciative of all that you do all year long. I look forward to Tuesdays and Fridays, each week to read a new author’s inspirational interview, hope that I get lucky to win the giveaway and find out your favorite picture books. I say skip it, enjoy the holidays and focus on one contest during the busiest holiday season. ♥️
Cancel the 2025 Holiday contest and take care of whatever came up. If you’re feeling the energy & inspiration to do “Christmas in July,” you can make that decision later. No need to commit now.
May all you do for others return to you many times over in blessings.
IMO, take care of yourself. Life happens in the most unexpexted ways. I’m also super busy this month. I’ll look forward to the Valentiny contest. 🙂
You already do so much and we all really appreciate it.
I say, take this year’s contest off of your to do list, guilt free, so you can address everything else less stressfully. No replacements necessary – just let go. I hope you are able to have a lovely holiday season.
Oh, I’m so sorry! I hope everything is okay. Please don’t feel bad. You need a break after all you have done 🙂
I personally think love the idea of Christmas in July, LOL. Like you said, you could post the guidelines now while we are in the holiday spirit, and have it done for then 🙂
All the best,
Anita
Dear Susanna,
I think it’s essential to be kind to yourself and simply take a break this year. Your lovely generous donors and poets can celebrate the 15th annual next holiday season.
Thanks for all you do for the kid’s lit community.
Sometimes having a break from a great writing contest is a good thing. It gives all of us a time to relax during this season. I like the idea of a fun writing prompt.
Take a deep breath. Know beyond a shadow of a doubt we all appreciate what you do . Taking time for yourself is so very important. I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. Your attention to your followers is greatly appreciated. Stephanie
Kudos to you for realizing when something just won’t work! I like all of your suggestions. Pick what works best for you!
Gosh, you are one of the kindest human beings!!
I vote for you taking a guilt-free break!
You are such a champion in and of this community – and we could not be more grateful.
We will miss it, of course, but you must take care of yourself – as you would suggest to any of us who came to you with feelings of overwhelm.
We appreciate all that you and have done for SOOOO many years.
We will look forward to February!
I totally agree with Elizabeth! I vote for a a guilt-free break and seeing everyone in February! So grateful to you!
Absolutely. Guilt free break! And Merry Christmas
I agree with others who said that a guilt-free break is in order, Susanna. Your commitment and generosity to the kid-lit community is so appreciated. February will be here before we know it, and we’ll be ready for Valentiny! Thank you for all you do.
I’ll echo many of the sentiments here — please do what’s best for you and your family and don’t worry about running the contest if it’s not in the cards this year. We all completely understand and support you!!
Whatever is best for you, Susanna, we will all completely support! You give SO much to our community, enjoy a guilt-free holiday!
Family first. What is best for you.
Thank you for knowing your limitations and being willing to do what’s best for yourself. We all understand and wish you the best for whatever the circumstance is.
I don’t think any of the options are bad. If you need to take a year, that’s ok! If you want to postpone it that’s fine too. Personally I like the Christmas in July option. I was actually thinking last night that I was surprised that there wasn’t this and then your email came out today. Keep the words a secret. Challenge us and make us want to put up our tree and listen to Christmas music in the dead of summer. 😆 My brother works at a golf course and does this every year and swears listening to Christmas music makes the weather drop a degree. 😆 But if that’s too much, then take a year. Do what’s best for you!
Susanna, you do so much! Please don’t feel bad about needing to skip the contest this year. Take all the time you need, everyone will still be here with lots of new story ideas when you’re ready for the next contest.
I enjoyed reading the Halloweensie contest entries so much!
Hope you get some time for yourself this holiday season and a chance to relax and recharge!
As others have said, take the break guilt free! Honestly, I’m amazed you’ve been running the Halloweensie and holiday contests back-to-back for so long—it seems like an incredible amount of work to do these both in such rapid succession every year!!
If you’ve already got the prompt ready and it’s not too much extra effort, my vote would be for the first option—post the prompt and we can write a story just for fun. I’ve found these contest prompts to be incredibly helpful to me for generating new writing ideas, so I’d love to see the prompt, even without the contest.
Thank you for all that you do, and ultimately do what works best for you!!!
Dear Susanna,
I wholeheartedly agree with the others about taking a guilt-free break! We truly appreciate your kindness and all you do for the kidlit community.
Rest and recharge!
Susanna, I echo what others have said about taking a break, guilt-free. I’ve long wondered how you’re able to run these contests back-to-back-to-back! You’re amazing! But even amazing people need to know went to hit pause. We appreciate all you do for the KidLit world. Enjoy the holidays and your family, knowing your kidlit fam supports you! And if there is anything we can do, let us know! Happy Holidays
Please don’t feel bad at all – I’m so grateful for all the competitions you do, and I think you deserve a break anyway!
Susanna, You do SO much for the writing community! Times are busy, stressful and uncertain right now. I think we all should look for ways to simplify and ease what’s on our plates. My vote would be to skip it this year completely guilt-free! 🙂
Do whatever works best for you, Susanna. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family.
Skip it! Enjoy the moments now and refresh for the new year ahead.
You do so much for the community already – take the holidays off 🙂 Enjoy the break!
A Christmas contest in the summer for June 25th or in July sounds fun!
I am new to you, Susanna, and this wonderful community you have garnered. I have fallen in love with your writing, your humor, your dedication, your essence! Thank you for all you do, and don’t do as you prioritize yourself–the best holiday gift to us all!
Christmas in July would be great fun! I’ll donate a Christmas book if you choose to do it then.
However you decide that fits your life right now is fine with me. The Christmas in July idea could be a good time. Thank you for keeping us motivated.
No apologies needed! You just pulled of yet another successful Halloweensie, and a well-deserved break is in order. I say skip it.
For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed the mix n match mini challenge from 2023 and was able to place two of the stories I started during that event with The Little Press. Perhaps a no-judging-needed event in the future could be just as productive for participating writers.
Thanks for all you do, and happy holidays!
I second this, Kelly. I loved that challenge as well. Great thought!
*Edit–Little Thoughts Press.
I am in awe of your writing talent and all you do for the contests and for the writing community…I think Christmas in July is a good option…it could still count as the 15th contest! Skipping it entirely works too…I wish you all the best this holiday season and beyond, Susanna.
Susanna, I appreciate all you do already! You’re inspiring, and bring so much joy to the kidlit community.
Please don’t stress about the contest! I’ll add my support for whatever choice helps make this time as peaceful and manageable as possible. Sending warm thanks, and wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
I don’t know how you juggle so much as it is, Susanna! Enjoy the holidays and pick it up again in February 🙂 That’s my buck fifty (2 cents + cost of living and inflation) ❤
Dearest Susanna, Sometimes we all have had to drop a treasured activity for health or reasons of travel or family or…. Never fear You are love and appreciated Stay well Many hugs Joan
Susannah, You do so, so much to support kidlit writers, I think a year off is more than well deserved. With best wishes, Jim
That is completely understandable. It’s a crazy busy time of year for so many. I say we skip it this year and take a creative brain break. Thank you for doing all you do for this writing community.
Susanna, if anyone deserves a break, it’s you. I’ve often marveled at how you manage to do all you do. My vote is to take a well-deserved hiatus. Just let it go, enjoy the rest of the year, and then do what feels right for you in 2026. The idea of Christmas in July is fun to contemplate but don’t lock yourself into anything so far in advance. If it feels like the thing to do as time gets closer, I know we’d all be on board. But if not, that’s okay, too.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season. And know we all love you and appreciate all you do for us!!!!!
With love and thanks, Marty
Susannah,
I absolutely love reading the entries to your contests – they are so much fun! Whatever you decide to do – posting a prompt, Christmas in July, or just taking this year off, would be perfect! The most important thing is that you are taking care of you!
Wishing you and your family the very best!
Hi Susanna…you have always been my heroine …your ability to make this decision adds to it! I know it was not an easy decision. In my humble opinion, I think you should not worry about a summer contest at this time either!
Focus on you and your family..your kidlit family and fans will always be here!
Sending hugs ❣️
Take care of yourself, Susanna. Wishing you a restorative and very happy holiday season!
Take care of yourself, don’t worry, and take a break! We all love everything you do, and that includes skipping this contest! Sending big hugs!
Please take the time off and don’t think about it for another second, Susanna! You do so much for the kidlit community and we want you to be able to enjoy your holiday season with your loved ones! I personally think that you shouldn’t lock yourself into a Christmas in July contest either, but if you get to summer and feel like you want to spring it on us, we won’t be mad. 🙂 But for now, kick back with absolutely no plans and have yourself a very merry holiday!
You’re an incredible human and deserve the world!! Totally good with whatever works for you!!
Hi Susanna, Please take care of yourself and your family first. Don’t worry about anything. I pray everything gets better for you. Happy Holidays! God Bless!