Yee-haw! It’s voting day! Fun for you, but let me just say I haven’t slept in 5 days sweating over who to choose as a finalist!
SUMMERSEND-OFFCONTEST!!!
illustration copyright Heather Newman 2012 used by permission
I love contests.
I love writing for them – the challenge of trying to come up with a story that fits certain parameters!
I love hosting them – it’s so much fun to read everyone’s creative entries – there is just so much talent out there!
But of course when I host them, I have to judge the entries, and that is always the hard part! I don’t like having to cut anyone! This contest was no different – everyone’s stories were terrific! From undercover spies, to damsels not in distress, to People For The Ethical Treatment of Dragons, to the origin of ‘smores, to heroes who do hero work to pay the writing bills, to knights and fair maidens, witches and sorceresses, in rhyme and in prose, they all had something wonderful, creative and entertaining to share! It was cruel to have to choose!!
It would have been far, far easier to post all 15 and make you guys do the choosing! But I figured that would be a long blog post, even for me 🙂 So for better or worse, my assistant judge and I have winnowed the field down to the following 6 entries (I told you I’d never make it down to only 3 finalists :)). The three main judging criteria were creativity, child-friendliness (would a child really love to read it?), and whether you stayed within the 250 word limit.
Thanks to everyone who participated. I think I speak for us all when I say we loved getting a chance to read your incredible writing.
Please enjoy reading (or re-reading!) these fabulous entries and cast your vote for your favorite!
#1 – Avery’s Fairy Tale by Sidney – 247 words
“Once upon a time, a princess lived in a castle tower.” Avery stopped writing and pondered the sentence. She glanced at her dresser mirror and wrote “raven-haired” in front of princess. “Avery! Are you doing your homework or goofing off?” her mother called from the kitchen, where she was cooking dinner. The girl grimaced and wrote a new sentence: “Once upon a time, a raven-haired princess was trapped in a castle by a mean old witch.” Her dog, Trixie, sleepily raised her head and sniffed. “Do you smell that, girl?” The odor of burned toast wafted into the room. Avery picked up her pencil. “Once upon a time, a raven-haired princess lived in a castle surrounded by fire and guarded by a dragon named Trixonia.” Avery looked over the pictures taped to the dresser mirror. One pictured her little brother in his goofy outfit from Colonial Day at school. Another showed her grandmother in her favorite apron. Avery blushed when she looked at the third photo. “Once upon a time, an evil witch trapped a raven-haired princess in a castle tower by stealing the key to her heart. Only the bravest of men could battle the fierce dragon guarding the fire-ringed castle and free the princess with true love’s kiss.” “Avery! Time for dinner,” her mother announced. Sighing dreamily, Avery blew a kiss to the boy’s face on her mirror. “Goodbye!” she said. “And start thinking about how you are going to save me from that dragon!”
#2 – Untitled by Jess – 250 words
Nora was a lonely princess.
There were no princes professing love or fire-breathing dragons. She just sat alone, wishing that one day things would change.
Then, one morning, she awoke to find a rose at her window.
She picked up the flower, curiously.
“If only a handsome prince had brought me this rose!” she thought as a petal slipped from the flower, falling toward the ground.
Then, a puff of smoke! And there below her was a dashing prince.
“Did you see that?” the princess whispered to herself, “My flower must be magic!”
“Then…. he shall have a horse !“ she thought as another petal fell.. Puff! A valiant steed appeared.
“And of course, what is a prince without a dragon?” Puff! A roaring beast appeared.
“And a moat of fire!”
This was all becoming too much fun. The petals were dropping like raindrops as Nora dreamed bigger and bigger.
Suddenly, Nora looked down , realizing the chaos below her. The dragon licked his chops, ready to devour the horse. The prince, forlorn, was trying to jump the fiery mote. Soon, both he and the horse would be dragon barbeque!
In horror, Nora threw her flower to the ground, yelling “au revoir!”, and wishing it all would just disappear.
Then Puff! In a whisp of silvery smoke everything had vanished.
There were no more princes professing love or fire-breathing dragons.
Instead she sat alone. And, for the first time, she was satisfied that things were just as they should be.
#3 – The Dragon Prince by Romelle – 250 words
THE DRAGON PRINCE
Prince Nogard lived in Castle Alder for as long as he could remember. But today, unlike any other day, he smelled trouble.
Fifer, the mischievous fox, strutted in.
“It’s time you knew,” said Fifer. “You’re not a prince. You are just a dragon.”
Prince Nogard fumed. “How dare you say such a thing.”
Prince Nogard has been treated like royalty, sleeping on fluffy pillows, and dining on the finest steaks. His loyal servant, Crocker, groomed him daily.
Fifer snickered. “Crocker is not your servant. He is your master and Prince is your nickname.”
Prince huffed and puffed. “That’s not true,” he said in a faint voice. He wondered about his walks with Crocker. “Could he be walking me?” Prince dismissed the thought, but it kept burning in the back of his mind until he finally made a disturbing discovery.
“I’m not just a dragon…I’m a pet dragon!” Prince felt like a lizard. He decided to leave Castle Alder.
“Where are you going?” asked Fifer.
“To find my real family,” said Prince. “Farewell.”
“I’ll walk you out,” said Fifer with a smirk.
Prince hadn’t gone too far when he heard a cry. “Do you hear that?”
“Prince!”
“Crocker?”
Prince’s heart ached. He and Crocker were inseparable. He hurried back.
When Prince arrived at the castle, he found Crocker sobbing. “I thought you left.”
Prince rubbed his cheek against Crocker. “I will never leave you,” thought Prince.
Prince Nogard may not be a prince, but he was the happiest pet dragon around.
#4 – Another Princess To Save – by Lauri – 221 words
Moats were pretty common in the land, but this river of fire was overkill. The dragon’s red hot scales and sharp horns were frightening enough. His snake eyes followed me as I searched for a place to jump to the castle.
I could see the captured maiden over the tips of the flames. She was pretty, but not the fairest of them all. Princess Gwen’s gold hair dangled to her knees, and I only had to save her from a single ogre. I battled trolls with foul-smelling warts to rescue Princess Amelia, and you could see the ocean waves in her eyes.
This maiden focused on her knitting. When she finally noticed me, she sprang to the window and said “oh help me brave knight.” After a moment she returned to her work. I supposed I should save her from the dragon, but she seemed calm enough.
The dragon moved, and I noticed a boy peeking out behind him. The dragon’s lips curled up in a wicked smirk. My horse reared up to run, and she was never wrong. Sayonara, fair maiden.
“Did you see that?” the maiden yelled to her brother. “That knight just turned and ran the other way!”
“You could try brushing your hair every once in a while,” her brother yelled back rubbing the dragon’s empty belly.
#5 – Dragon! by Erik – 250 words
Once Upon A Time, in a land far away (depending on where you are), a princess named Violet was high in a tower. She wasn’t trapped there, mind you. You see, Violet wasn’t an ordinary princess.
One day, Violet heard a commotion outside her window.
“He lit the moat on fire again!” Shouted the stable-boy to Josi, the princesses’ faithful servant. “I already asked The Pale Sorceress to cast an extinguishing spell!”
Josi yelled up to Violet’s window. “Did you hear that? Your parents will banish us all! What kind of princess has a pet dragon anyway?”
“But Cuddles is just a baby!” was the reply.
“A BABY? He’s about 15… Oh-no, here comes Timothy!” Josi groaned. Violet rolled her eyes at the approaching figure.
As Timothy got closer he boasted, “I shall smite thee, foul beast and save yonder fair maiden, Violet! Oh dear Violet, I hath come hither to rescue thee!”
Violet felt her face get red with anger as she screamed back. “First of all, don’t talk funny. Smite and hither, who talks like that? It’s weird. Second, Cuddles is my PET! I DON’T NEED RESCUING!”
Just then, Sorceress cast the spell to blow out the fire. As the gust came, it lifted Timothy and blew him back to his kingdom!
“Farewell!” Timothy called as he faded in the distance.
“Will he be alright? Josi asked.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be back. He always comes back.” Violet sighed.
And they all lived happily ever after…well, until next time.
#6 Boot Camp At Old Dragons-Lair by Vivian – 240 words
The first day of boot camp at Old Dragons-Lair
The white witch decided to darken her hair.
So tired was she of her colorless locks
She lifted the red from the tail of the fox.
“Did you see that?” all the campers cried out.
“I’ll do as I please!” the witch said with a shout.
“I don’t like how I look…I’ll take what I wish
The tail of the dragon…the eyes of a fish.
“You can’t take from others”, the raven explained.
Your magical powers should be more restrained.
You’re leader of boot camp at Old Dragons-lair
You can’t create havoc and cause such a scare.
The black bird continued, “It’s what people do
That shows their real beauty…believe me, it’s true!”
And nodding her head, the witch waved her thin wand
Her hair began changing from red back to blonde.
The campers all gathered around the white witch
And loudly applauded the spell-binding switch.
She’d learned to treat others with love and with care
You don’t bully people at Old Dragons-lair!
The last day of boot camp at Old Dragons-lair
The campers took part in a Renaissance Fair
The white witch placed first in the costume parade
And raven won gold in the gaming arcade.
The campers were packed and excited to go
The sky was alight with a fiery glow
Each clambered to mount his own flying gazelle,
And said to the raven and witch,”Fond farewell!”
And I do want to give honorable mention to Joanna for Cedric’s Cold, which was fantastic, but at 438 words it would have been unfair to choose it as a finalist when others fought so hard to stay within the 250 word limit, and to Hilary for her real estate twist which was SO funny and well-written, but maybe a bit more suited to older audiences.
Now then, please cast your votes! You have from now until Wednesday September 12 at 11:59 PM EDT!
The winner will be revealed on Friday!
And thanks again to everyone for a great contest! It’s been a privilege to read your work! 🙂
(And if you love contests, save the date – October 31st – for the Halloweensie Contest!!!)
September 3rd update: 8 entries on the link list, 4 in the comments, and at least one other that is neither linked nor in the comments – all fantastic! What talent! Come read, enjoy, and add your own – there are still 2 days left to enter (today and tomorrow!)
It’s August 31st, and we’re sending summer out in style with a fun and fabulous contest!
Fingers on the keyboard?
Writing gears engaged?
Ideas sparking like mad?
Then let’s get cracking! 🙂
SUMMERSEND-OFFCONTEST!!!
illustration copyright Heather Newman 2012 used by permission
Contest Rules: The contest is for a children’s story of 250 words or less based on the picture above and in which somebody somewhere in your story says, in dialogue, “Did/do you see that?” (you may substitute any of the other senses – “Did/do you hear/feel/taste/smell that?”) and somebody somewhere in your story says, “Goodbye!” (you are allowed to substitute “Farewell!”, “Au revoir!”, “Sayonara!”, “Ciao!”, or “So long!”)
Entries must be posted on your blog (or, if you don’t have a blog but would still like to enter, in the comment section of this post which will stay up through Tuesday September 4) between today and Tuesday September 4 at 11:59 PM EDT. (I’m giving you an extra day to post, because I realize it’s Labor Day weekend!)
Once your post is up you must add your post-specific link to the linky list below so everyone can come visit you and read your amazing story (or, if you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your entry into the comment section as mentioned above – everyone please be sure to check the comments for entries so you don’t miss any! :)) Special note: I know some people have been having trouble commenting on my blog since disqus updated. If anyone has trouble, please email your entry or your link or whatever you need to me at susanna [at] susannahill [dot] com and I will make sure your link gets linked or your comment gets posted!!!
Finalists – we’ll say 3, but you know me… it may be more like 6 🙂 – will be chosen by me and my assistant judge and posted for you all to vote on on Monday September 10. I’m guessing we may not get tons of entries, what with it being Labor Day weekend and all (although I’m hoping I’ve given people enough time to plan ahead and pull it off! :)), so we’ll probably only have one winner. But if perchance we get lots of entries – more than 20 say 🙂 – we’ll expand to 1st , 2nd and 3rd places. Prize choices will be: 1. A PB manuscript critique by yours truly 🙂 2. Your choice of 2 picture books. 3. Your choice of 2 paperback middle grade books. 4. Your choice of 1 paperback YA book. 5. Your choice of 1 writing craft book. and whoever wins will get their first choice of those options, whoever’s second will get second choice, etc…. Hopefully there’s something in there that will appeal to every writer! 🙂
So here’s my demo: (And I admit, I had a TERRIBLE time getting down to 250 words. I have 5 other stories – all better! – that I couldn’t get below 286, 547, 272, 308, etc. I guess I should have tried this before I published the guidelines… :)) Anyway:
Bathtime For Balkazar
Donovan couldn’t find the dragon soap.
He had the scrub brush, the hot water, and the ladder.
But he couldn’t find the soap.
“Stay, Balkazar,” he told the dragon. And he gave him some bubblegum to keep him busy.
When he came back with the soap, he gasped.
“What’s wrong?” asked Balkazar (because as everyone knows, dragons can speak English.)
“Do you see that?” asked Donovan. The dragon looked at his reflection in one of the water buckets.
“I’m pink!” shrieked Balkazar. “Ack! Get it off!”
“It must have been the bubblegum!” said Donovan. “But King Hallvard is due within the hour. If he sees you like this it’ll be sayonara! kemosabi for us!”
“Try scrubbing!” begged Balkazar.
Donovan scrubbed.
Balkazar became a dazzling, sparkling, glowing pink.
“It’s even worse,” Donovan moaned. “Try rolling.”
The dragon rolled. He kicked up great clouds of dust that blotted out the sun and left everyone gasping and choking.
Now he was brownish pink.
“I look like an overgrown scaly earthworm,” he said sadly. “Not scary at all.”
“You turned pink from the inside,” said Donovan. “Maybe we can turn you back the same way.” He dashed into the castle and came back rolling a barrel of pickles. “Eat these! And hurry! The king’ll be here any minute!”
Balkazar scarfed down pickles. When King Hallvard rode across the drawbridge, Balkazar, mostly green again, greeted him with a colossal belch of pickle-scented fire.
“Stupendous!” shouted King Hallvard.
“Phew!” said Donovan. (Or was it “Pee-ew!”?!) (249 words)
I hope that gives you the courage to post your entry, should you happen to be feeling doubtful – surely your story is better than that! 🙂 And I would also like to remind you that we really have a lovely community of people here – kind, generous, and supportive – so your entry will be read with friendly eyes by people who want to find the good in what you’ve written and cheer you on! So go ahead – add your entry post-specific link to the list below, or copy and paste your entry into the comment section. Remember, if you have any trouble, email me and I’ll do it for you!
I can’t wait to read your stories!!! Let the contest begin! 🙂
You know that feeling, when you squeeeeeeeeeeeeze your way into your office, look around at the mountains of note-covered manuscripts, the cascading piles of scraps of multi-colored paper, ATM receipts and napkins densely covered with scribbled ideas you thought up while you were away from your computer, stacks of books – both for reading pleasure and for writing craft – that simply will not fit into your overflowing bookshelf, Phyllis and friends tumbling off their seat of honor onto the desktop, and you just think to yourself, “Crikey, Sus! You need a maid!”?
I just felt – and I may have been leaping to farfetched conclusions – that I wasn’t getting the maximum benefit out of my workspace since I couldn’t actually get into it… and even if I did, there wasn’t a clear surface on which to set my trusty computer.
“Susanna,” I said to myself, very sternly, “you will clean that office or I will have to administer harsh punishment!”
I was pretty scary!
So I cleaned for HOURS!
Result? I’m exhausted. And my office is clear…er…ish… but not done, so there is more cleaning in my future. Sigh.
So this morning I am recovering my unquenchable good humor by hanging out with you guys and sharing today’s Would You Read It pitch 🙂 Hmm… let me just rummage in my pantry and see what kind of Something Chocolate I have today… Oooh! Look! I still have a few of those special Kiwi milk chocolates left that the wonderful Diane sent me all the way from far off New Zealand! How is possible I didn’t eat these yet? Well, don’t question good fortune, just help yourselves if you care to 🙂
Now then, today’s pitch comes to us from the lovely Rachel. Rachel says, “I’m married with four kids, aged seven years down to ten months. I coach high school speech and theater. I show Arabian horses, which I’m now able to do with my oldest daughter. I mainly write picture books and middle grade books.” When you have a sec, please take a moment to visit her BLOG.
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Princess Azalea’s Two Left Feet Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-8) The Pitch: Princess Azalea has two problems. One: She can’t dance. And if she can’t dance, she can’t meet a prince at a royal ball, which, as everyone knows, is where princesses meet their prince charmings. Two: She really doesn’t care. But her mother, the Queen, is determined to get her dancing no matter what! Will Azalea learn to twirl and spin without falling on her royal bottom? Or will she find her happily ever after her own way?
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Rachel improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However, I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read Itor on the Would You Read It tab in the bar above. There are openings in Octoberber, which is not very far away!
Rachel is looking forward to your thoughts! And I am NOT looking forward to going back into my office! But, as they say, once more into the breech! Wish me luck. If I don’t show up on Friday, you’ll know I’m trapped 🙂
Oh, and P.S.! For anyone who didn’t see the contest announcement on Monday, go HERE and read all about it! The contest opens Friday and it will be tons of fun! 🙂
If you’ve arrived in the middle of the adventure, you may start at the beginning by goingHERE.
Erik and Josie head for home
Benton and the black horse trotted eagerly side by side toward home and supper.
“So I’m assuming you were responsible for my birthday gift going missing?” Erik asked Lady Josie. He still had not seen what she carried, but the clues had all led him to believe she had his gift.
“Yes,” admitted Josie. “It wasn’t perfect, and it has to be perfect.”
“What is it?” Erik asked.
“It’s a surprise,” said Josie primly.
Erik could see he wasn’t going to get any more information out of her. Lady Josie was maddening that way – if she decided she wasn’t telling something well then by golly she wasn’t telling!
His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he was starving. He bent over and took a small nibble of the cake he carried. It was apple-y and delicious, full of cinnamon and topped with a creamy brown sugar-caramel icing. YUM!
“I saw that,” said Josie.
Erik wiped frosting off his nose and chin and licked his fingers and didn’t care.
Just then, Benton’s steps quickened and when Erik squinted into the deepening twilight he could just see the lights of the castle. They were nearly home!
They slowed the horses to a walk so that they could catch their breath and not be too hot when they reached the stable. A few minutes later they crossed the drawbridge. The horses turned without prompting toward the barn, knowing the way. A groom took Lady Josie’s black horse, and Erik removed Benton’s saddle and bridle, gave him a quick rub-down, and fed him a measure of grain and a flake of summer-sweet hay. “Good boy,” he said, giving his pony a fond pat. Then he headed for the castle with what was left of his cake.
Lady Josie was waiting for him just inside the castle. “Come with me,” she said, leading him toward the Great Hall.
Erik followed her through the huge doors, thinking about some hearty stew and crusty bread to go with his cake when suddenly…
“SURPRISE!!!”
What?
The Great Hall was decked out with garlands of flowers and streamers and candles, and everyone from the castle was there! The lords and ladies, most of the guards, the jester, the cook, the knights, even the king! All dressed in their festive best and waiting for him, wishing him Happy Birthday!
Erik didn’t know what to say. He’d never had a birthday like this.
“Come forward, young Erik,” said the king, “and tell us of your adventures this day!”
So Erik stood before the king and all the assembled dwellers of the castle and told of the woodcutter, and following the black horse, of the Brownie at the bridge, the tinker at the ford, Berwyn, and Greta, the ogre, the Seer, and everything else, and how eventually he had faced Cuddles the dragon and returned safe and sound after all of it with the Lady Josie.
“Well done,” said the king at the end of Erik’s tale. “I believe it is time for your present.”
Lady Josie and Sir Lionel stepped forward, holding the box from the long-ago morning between them. “Happy Birthday, Erik,” said Josie.
Erik opened the box.
And this time, when he looked inside there lay a shining silver sword, its edges honed to perfection, a star-shapped ruby glinting richly from its exquisitely wrought handle.
“Oh…!” Erik breathed, scarcely daring to touch it.
It was the king who reached forward and lifted the sword from it’s resting place. “Kneel,” he said solemnly.
Unbelieving, Erik sank to his knees before the king and bowed his head. The king laid the gleaming sword first on Erik’s right shoulder then on his left. “I dub thee knight,” he said. “Rise, Sir Erik!”
And Erik stood. A knight. At last, a real knight!
The king handed him his sword and Erik took it, feeling the weight of it, and how the hilt fit his hand perfectly.
The Great Hall erupted with applause and cheering.
“And now,” said Erik, who was determined in this venture, “let’s have some CAKE!!!”
And so they did.
And forever after, Erik proclaimed that to be his Best Birthday Ever!
THE END HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIK! And for your actual present which is not a sword or a knighthood but is hopefully still fun, please Email Me!!! 🙂
To start the adventure again and choose different options, go back to the beginning! HERE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, my friends, somehow or other it’s the last week of August. When I think of everything I’ve done this summer – life in general, writing, blogging, getting a new washing machine (yes! it’s true! and so pretty :)), applying my black thumb to the butterfly bushes (apparently when they say full sun they mean, like, ALL THE TIME!) and a few Secret Projects (details coming possibly soon… or possibly later… depending how long it takes to get things finished up :)) all stuck in around the edges of 21 college visits in about 14 states and DC – it makes sense that it’s nearly September. But on the other hand, the start of the new school year always seems to catch me by surprise…. probably what some would chalk up to not being the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree 🙂
In case anyone is feeling a little down about summer drawing to a close, and because thanks to Short & Sweets our writing gears are still finely tuned :), and because we really SHOULD finish Summer Shorts up with a bang, and because we haven’t had a contest since MAY!, I thought this would be a good time for some fun – so let’s have a contest! (You all know how much I love contests! :))
SUMMERSEND-OFFCONTEST!!!
illustration copyright Heather Newman 2012 used by permission
Contest Rules: The contest will be for a children’s story of 250 words or less based on the picture above and in which somebody somewhere in your story says, in dialogue, “Did/do you see that?” (you may substitute any of the other senses – “Did/do you hear/feel/taste/smell that?”) and somebody somewhere in your story says, “Goodbye!” (you are allowed to substitute “Farewell!”, “Au revoir!”, “Sayonara!”, “Ciao!”, or “So long!”)
Entries must be posted on your blog (or, if you don’t have a blog but would still like to enter, in the comment section of the official contest post on my blog which will be up on Friday August 31 and stay up through Tuesday September 4) between Friday August 31 and Tuesday September 4 at 11:59 PM EDT. (I’m giving you an extra day to post, because I realize it’s Labor Day weekend!)
Once your post is up you must add your post-specific link to the linky list that will be up (or, if you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your entry into the comment section as mentioned above.) Special note: I know some people have been having trouble commenting on my blog since disqus updated. If anyone has trouble, please email your entry or your link or whatever you need to me at susanna [at] susannahill [dot] com and I will make sure your link gets linked or your comment gets posted!!!
Finalists – we’ll say 3, but you know me… it’s more likely to be around 6 🙂 – will be chosen by me and my assistant judge and posted for you all to vote on on Monday September 10. I’m guessing we may not get tons of entries, what with it being Labor Day weekend and all (although I’m hoping I’m giving people enough time to plan ahead that they might still be able to pull it off! :)), so we’ll probably only have one winner. But if perchance we get lots – more than 20 say 🙂 – we’ll expand out to 1st , 2nd and 3rd places. Prize choices will be: 1. A PB manuscript critique by yours truly 🙂 2. Your choice of 2 picture books. 3. Your choice of 2 paperback middle grade books. 4. Your choice of 1 paperback YA book. 5. Your choice of 1 writing craft book. and whoever wins will get their first choice of those options, whoever’s second will get second choice, etc…. Hopefully there’s something in there that will appeal to every writer! 🙂
Now, onto the other business at hand. I wanted to share a little Short & Sweet update, now that the Summer session is officially ending. Summer Short & Sweets was 8 weeks of fun and games, and to qualify for a prize, you had to provide at least one entry for every week. As of this writing, we had a total of 51 people enter at least one of the weeks. The week with the most entries was Week 1, with 36, and the week with the fewest entries was Week 7 with 17. (Actually, Week 8 is about even with Week 7, but I’m pretty sure a few more entries will be trickling in over the next couple days.) By my reckoning, 12 people are currently qualified for a prize (Delores, Vivian, Romelle, Heather, Robyn, Laura, Karen, Jennifer, Erik, Cathy, Penny, and Tracy), 2 people are only one entry away (Renee and Jarm), and 1 person is only 2 entries away (Pam). I realize that a few of you have been having trouble posting comments lately, so feel free to email anything to me that you couldn’t post and I’ll copy and paste it for you in the appropriate spot. Looks like I’m going to have to part ways with disqus…. but that’s another story 🙂 If you think you posted an entry a week for 8 weeks and should be qualified and don’t see your name here, please let me know!!! The last day you can post entries on any of the weeks is August 31.
All in all, I think it was a success, and I really hope everyone had fun and got some good ideas out of it!
Short & Sweets will be continuing on alternate Mondays starting September 17 (because I forgot last week when I said September 10 that we need a day to vote on finalists for the Summer Send-Off Contest!) and we’ll see how that goes 🙂
Now fire up those imaginations and get started on those contest stories! Good luck and have fun!!!
I can’t believe it. Didn’t we just start Summer Short & Sweets? And here we are, August 24th, purple loosestrife blooming, lots of kids already back in school – although not mine – and this is our last official day of SS&S!
Before you get too sad, though, let me tell you that, due to popular demand, we will be continuing Short & Sweets in some incarnation on alternate Mondays henceforth… or once school starts, anyway 🙂 I’m thinking around September 10…
Meanwhile, we have today. And today is SO exciting! I’ve been planning it for 2 whole months and trying to keep it a secret and let me tell you, it’s been excruciating!!!
For today’s Short & Sweet we have a picture prompt, and not just any picture prompt. This one was painted specially for the occasion by the incredibly talented Heather Newman, whom many of you know from 12×12 and/or her blog, Heather Newman Illustrations. Heather is an amazing artist, writer, homeschooler, cowherd, and Phyllis hostess. She also just opened her Etsy Shop and I encourage everyone to go have a look at all her wonderful offerings. Please also feel free to leave compliments on her painting in the comments once you’ve seen the prompt if you are not left completely speechless with awe 🙂
Are you ready???
🙂
Your challenge for today is to take a good look at the picture below.
Now, in the comments, you may write your choice of the following:
1. A pitch for a children’s story, any level (please specify PB (picture book), ER (early reader), CB (chapter book), MG (middle grade), or YA (young adult)) based on the picture, in the manner of Short & Sweet Week 6
2. The first 50-100 words (or more or less – whatever gets the creative juices flowing) of a children’s story, any level, (please specify PB, ER, CB, MG, YA) based on the picture.
3. The last 50-100 words (again, more or less is fine – whatever works for you :)) of a children’s story, any level (please specify PB, ER, CB, MG, YA) based on the picture.
4. Choose a character (there are at least 10 possibilities!) from the picture and introduce us to him or her – who he/she is, where he/she came from, how he/she got into this situation – a character sketch of sorts.
5. Choose a character and give us a one paragraph synopsis of the story told by the picture from his/her point of view.
6. The title of the story told by this picture – give us a good one! 🙂 (and again please specify level)
7. A poem following the rules from Short & Sweet Week 3 based in some way on this picture.
One added thing for you to think about: next Friday, August 31, will be our Summer Writing Contest!!! (I know! The mind reels at the excitement!!!) And guess what? It will be based on this picture! So any of you who would like to enter the contest can get a head start on your thinking this week by participating in the Short & Sweet. Just so you know, the contest will be for a children’s story of 250 words or less based on the picture and incorporating the some special key words, but I’m not telling those yet 🙂 Full details of the contest will be posted Monday.
Now then, back to the matter at hand – today’s Short & Sweet. Pick whichever of the 7 options above inspires you most. I’m hoping with 7 options and that amazing picture you will find something inspiring 🙂
Here is a small sample from moi (and when I say small, I mean what with all the traveling I totally ran out of time, so talk about off the top of your head! :)):
#1 (a pitch for MG)
Grenadier, who would carry his knight anywhere, must cross the moat to save Cythrigg, the last dragon of Cyfarr, but finds he is unable to penetrate the magical fire surrounding Castlewellyn.
#6 (a possible title for a PB)
Bathtime For Balkazar
#7 (a poem)
I am a raven
Black as moonless night
With powerful secrets
Watching, waiting
For the prophesied moment
Spying on the forbidden castle
Holding the truth close
Keeping safe the golden key until,
As from the mists of Avalon, a new prince rises.
I am a raven.
Happy Writing, everyone! I can’t wait to see what you all come up with! As usual I’m sure we’ll all have story ideas coming faster then we can write them down sparked by our own responses to the exercise as well as everyone else’s.
Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you Monday for Oh Susanna and the contest announcement!
I can’t believe it! We’re up to week 7 of Short & Sweets already! That means there’s only one more week to go (and boy is next week going to be awesome!!!) but it also means that summer is drawing to an end. It has flown by so fast! And I still haven’t updated the backlog of Perfect Picture Books that I was sure to get done with so much time…. Better get cracking! 🙂
But I’ve been hard at work on some other things…. which maybe I’ll tell you about one of these days… 🙂
For today’s Short & Sweet, we’re taking a field trip! It can be anywhere you want – and anything that fits into what you’re already doing – no special outings necessary. Going out with your kids to the beach, the zoo, a museum, the playground, the library? Going shopping at the grocery store? Washing the car? You don’t even need to leave the house – the kitchen or the back porch will be just fine!
Your challenge today is to describe a setting – any setting that tickles your fancy. In 50-100 words (more or less if you like, that’s just a ball park) make us feel like we’re there. Take a careful look at your surroundings – whatever they are. What does it look like? sound like? smell like? feel like? taste like?
BUT – here’s the trick 🙂 – you can’t use the actual word of the place! So if you’re describing the kitchen, you can’t use the word kitchen. We have to be able to guess!
For an extra challenge, describe it from a kid’s perspective – try to look at it through the eyes of the average 5 year old – the typical picture book age target. Places can look a lot different to a five year old than they do to an adult. Different features stand out, and kids’ react to things differently.
Although we don’t devote a lot of words to setting in picture books because that part of the job is done by the illustrator, it is helpful to you as a writer to envision your setting clearly. Certain select details will be necessary, depending on your story, and this is good practice in focusing on the details that really matter. If you write for older readers, setting description is very important to make your reader feel like they’re there – but you can’t ramble on indefinitely. MG and even YA readers are not going to have a lot of patience for long-winded descriptions. So this is a chance to practice picking out the part you really need to say!
Here’s my example (which, as per Short & Sweet instructions I am writing in 5 minutes off the top of my head because this day is WAY too packed for me to have any more time than that!)
Weathered wood. Dutch doors. It smells like summer, warm and sweet, but with a hint of molasses and clean leather. Dust motes hang in the haze of late afternoon sunshine slanting through the barred windows. The brass nameplates on the leather halters wink in the golden light – Jasmine, Pennywhistle, Thumbelina. Clip-clop-clip-clop. Snowflake’s unshod hooves thud lightly on the aisle as Ginny leads her in from the pasture. She lowers her muzzle to her bucket and takes long swallows, then lifts her head, dark eyes soft, drops of water bejeweling her whiskers. Whuufft! A few feet away, Blackjack sneezes into his hay. Ginny runs a hand over Snowflake’s satin shoulder. She reaches up and straightens the silver forelock between her ears, smoothing it down. Snowflake rubs her cheek against Ginny’s arm, almost knocking her down. “Silly girl!” Ginny laughs, then steps back into the aisle and rolls the heavy door shut. It is quiet but for the occasional rustle of a hoof drawn through straw, the rhythmic munching of horses nose deep in alfalfa and timothy. This is Ginny’s favorite place to be. (Okay. So mine is 181 words. I never claimed to be succinct 🙂 And I hope you didn’t have too much trouble figuring out where Ginny is :))
So, are you ready to give it a try? I can’t wait to read all your setting descriptions and see if I can guess where you are! And I have no doubt that many of these descriptions will serve as story sparkers for readers, who feel themselves transported to that time and place and are suddenly inspired by a character who pops into their head and onto the scene! 🙂
OH! And I almost forgot! The winner of the giveaway from Monday – a hardcover copy of Puffling Patrol by Ted and Betsy Lewin, courtesy of Lee & Low Books – is PAMELA!!!! Pamela, please email me and let me know your address so I can mail it out 🙂
Have a fantastic weekend everyone! There will be a birthday party going on at my house – YUM! MORE CAKE! 🙂
In celebration of the Olympics, which are drawing to a close, and of Would You Read It’s birthday this week, let me welcome you to Week 6 of Summer Short & Sweets for The Pitch Olympics!!!!!
[Character] who [a unique, special, or defining characteristic of said character] wants/needs [goal] more than anything but can’t get it because of [obstacle(s)].
Simple. Classic. Elegant 🙂
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write an awesome pitch (or 2 or 3) for a picture book. The fun part? It doesn’t have to be for a book you’ve written.. or even intend to write… 🙂
It can be a pitch for something you think up right here right now this very second! Or a pitch for a work-in-progress! Or a pitch for a bit of an idea you’ve been ruminating on since breakfast! Or a pitch for someone else’s published book – you take the story and boil it down into a pitch! Or take the idea from someone else’s published book, or a nursery rhyme, or a fairy tale, and change a detail of the plot, setting, character, POV etc. and make it into a new pitch idea! Anything goes!
Just make it as interesting as you can so we all want to read it! And if enough people put up pitches, I’m guessing we’ll all get loads of story inspiration ideas! The great thing? Even if 14 people wrote a story off the same pitch, it would probably come out 14 different ways!
In case you’re feeling overwhelmed and stymied, here are a few options for each category: ( you can do the old pick a number from 1-10 and don’t peek routine if you want to be random, or just pick whatever blows your hair back :))
Character:
1. Sophie
2. Max
3. Rover
4. Stinky Pete
5. Tiger
6. Isabella
7. Lasso Larry
8. Stegadora
9. Two-Toed Ted
10. Sugar Brown
Defining/Unique Characteristic:
1. is afraid of loud noises
2. hates to get wet
3. is a pirate
4. loves licorice
5. is a princess
6. comes from Venus
7. is a ballerina
8. always has her/his nose in the air
9. is a tightrope walker
10. is impatient
Goal:
wants a sister
wants to ride a two-wheeler
wants to lose a tooth
wants to live in the jungle
want a best friend
wants to be brave
wants to be first
wants to go to school
wants to be famous
wants to go camping
Obstacles:
hmmm…. you may be on your own for this one since it’s hard to think of obstacles that can apply in any situation – they kind of need to be specific… but:
(feel free to add anything else generic you can think up in the comments and I’ll edit and add here :))
Here are a couple examples from yours truly to set the mood 🙂
1. Goldilocks, who is tired of porridge and bears, heads for Paris to open a cafe, but she hasn’t the slightest idea how to cook!
2. Harold, who is a master of truth-bending, wants a job to earn money for a new baseball glove so he can make the local team, but nobody trusts him.
3. Stinky Pete, a pirate on the foul ship Treasure Stealer, longs for a kitten but is afraid he’ll be made to walk the plank if he gets one.
So, are you ready?
Pitch!
Just for a change of pace, I am on my way to Vermont as we speak, so I will have to check in on you from afar, and probably read your awesome posts very late tonight, but I can’t wait to see what you all come up with! Give it your best shot. Remember, this is for Pitch Olympic Gold! 🙂 (BTW, I had an awesome graphic I was going to use for this. I found an Olympic image on google images and Renee personalized it using her amazing photoshopping abilities, but after all the talk about fair use, I’m afraid to put it up! But, maybe just for a day or two so you can see it… :))
Have a great weekend, everyone, and tune in Monday for a special post and giveaway (assuming I manage to return from my travels and actually write it! :))
Did I tell you my GPS’s name is Jill? I’ve taken to calling her Jo-Jilly thanks to my niece 🙂 But let me tell you, after this week? 1500 plus miles later? she and I need a little time apart! She gets extremely snippy whenever I depart from the route to refuel (Susanna runs on Dunkin’ – the coffee, not the donuts… most of the time… :), Princess Blue Kitty runs on anything she can get except BP which I am morally opposed to!) I always promise Jo-Jilly that we’ll get right back on the road, but you know, I don’t think she believes me! It’s this lack of trust I find hard to live with. Lucky I get a break for a few days 🙂
ANYway, are you ready to be Short & Sweet?
Alrighty then.
Pick a letter – any letter! – the first letter of your name, a letter you like the shape of, a letter you like the sound of – any letter!
Got one?
Now, pick a name that starts with that letter. This will be your character.
Now, write us 50 – 100 words (more if you like, but 50 – 100 will do :)) of a story about this character. But here’s the challenge: you have to use as many words as possible that start with the letter you chose! Nouns, verbs, adjectives, people, places, descriptions, actions, and things – see how many words that start with your letter you can work into your story. It does not have to be a complete story (although it can be if you want), just get started and see where it goes. You might be surprised at the directions you go trying to use words that begin with your letter!
Here’s my example, using D (which is for dogs because I miss mine!)
Delilah dreamed of dogs. Dogs were devoted. Dogs were delightful. In fact, they were downright dynamite! “Daddy,” Delilah declared, “I’m desperate for a dog. Dalmatian or Dachshund, Doberman or Dingo, anything doggy will do.” “Darling Delilah,” Daddy said, “how about a donkey or a duck? A dragonfly or a dolphin?” “Don’t you like dogs, Daddy?” “Dearest, I do! But I’m dreadfully delicate. Dogs make me sneeze dangerously.” Delilah despaired. But dreams don’t die easily. Delilah was determined. She developed a dog dander destruction device. “Now a dog will be no danger, Daddy!” Daddy drove Delilah downtown. Delilah named her dog Daisy. Daisy is devoted. Daisy is delightful. In fact, Daisy is downright dynamite! Delilah is delirious. And Daddy dotes on them doubly! (122 words)
Get the idea? Mine’s a bit pathetic, I know. I’m drained from driving 🙂 But now no one should be afraid to give it a shot 🙂
I hope you’ll find this fun! Perhaps yours or someone else’s will spark a story idea that you can then write normally, without using all the same-letter words. Either way, it’s a good exercise to make you think very carefully about every word you write. I think you’ll be surprised at how much stronger nouns and verbs you’ll think up! And at how your ideas take off in bizarre directions in order to accommodate your letter – I personally would have been unlikely to think up a dog dander destruction device under other circumstances 🙂
Have fun with this! I can’t wait to see what you come up with – y’all amaze me every week!
First off, help yourself to some of these delicious cookies
and a glass of refreshing iced tea
because we can be more creative after a little snack 🙂
Now then, are you ready for today’s Short & Sweet?
I totally wrestled with this one and I hope it’s going to be fun and also work right… I guess we’ll see 🙂
So we have to go on the honor system again – no peeking! 🙂 – and I need you to get a piece of paper and a writing implement of your choice. Then write down the following things in a list bearing in mind that everything below is supposed to be related so it can hang together:
1. A noun (you know, a good old person place or thing) 2. A color that describes that noun or some part of that noun you’d like to highlight (e.g. red, or, lavender, or, cerulean) 3. A comparison to that color (in the manner of simile or metaphor e.g. summer sunset, or, shadowed snow on a January evening) 4. Something that belongs to your noun written as adjective, adjectivenoun (e.g. wide, feathered tail, or, slim, brown limbs, or brass ratcheted gears) 5. A verb ending in -ing that is something your noun could do (e.g. soaring, or, stretching, or, grappling) 6. Another verb ending in -ing that is something else your noun could do (e.g. sailing, or, reaching, or, frowning) 7. A place written as: preposition [a/an/the] adjectiveadjectivenoun (e.g. over [a] broad green valley, or, across [the] shimmering shining stream) 8. A description of something your noun could do in relation to something else, written as: verb ending in -ingprepositionadjectivenoun (e.g. scouting for silver salmon, or, basking on sun-baked sand, or, digging up acorn jewels) – (yes, I realize “for” is a conjunction, not a preposition, but you can use it if you want. The reason I didn’t put conjunction is because the others – and, or, nor, but, yet – won’t work. But use “for” if you want :)) 9. Repeat #8 with another description (e.g. plunging toward immovable earth) 10. Repeat #8 with a final description (e.g. hoping for sweet success, or, diving for delicious dinner) 11. A simile for the action in #10 (e.g. like a rocket ship, or, like a bow drawn across singing strings) 12. Your original noun from #1.
Okay! Got your list? What we are accomplishing here is part Madlib, part poetry, and will hopefully result in lots of descriptive poems (haha – like how I tricked you into writing a poem? :)) that will also serve as story sparkers by giving all the devoted readers specific, detailed, poetic descriptions of characters, settings, or objects that they could use in a story! For those of you who write picture books, there are a lot of similarities between picture books and poetry, so this is good practice 🙂
Wasn’t that totally awesome how I snuck that up on you?
So now, all you have to do is type your poem into the comments using this template and your list:
I am [a/an/the] noun from #1 Color from #2 as [a/an/the] comparison from #3 With [a/an/the] adjective adjective noun from #4 Verb from #5, verb from #6 Prepostition [a/an/the] adjective adjective noun from #7 Description from #8 Description from #9 Description from #10 Like [a/an/the] simile from #11 I am [a/an/the] noun from #1
Here’s my example:
I am a falcon Gray as a stormy sky With powerful, peregrine wings Soaring, sailing Across the shimmering, shining stream Scouting for silver salmon Plummeting toward wavering water Diving for delicious dinner Like an arrow sprung from a huntsman’s bow I am a falcon.
Here’s another one because I think this is fun 🙂
I am a birch Silver as starlight on snow With strong, slim limbs Reaching, stretching For the faraway, fickle moon Gazing at kaleidoscope constellations Soaking in the dewdrop dawn Standing among my slender sisters Like a dancer waiting for the music to begin I am a birch.
And one more:
I am Sarah Gold and brown like honey on toast With hidden, heartfelt hopes Uncurling, unfurling From their secret silent space Running with quiet concentration Leaving behind even the fastest few Flying on winged feet to finish first Like fleet Atalanta I am Sarah.
Ok, I’ll stop now because I’m really not very good at this even though I think it’s tons of fun 🙂
So do you get the idea? You may of course tweak a bit. If you need a different verb form or fewer adjectives or an extra word or one less line or two colors, etc. feel free to change it up. The word prompts and template were just to make the job easier and less intimidating 🙂
I hope you’ll all have fun with this! I can’t wait to see what you write! And after my humble examples, I hope everyone will feel very brave about putting theirs up – I know without a doubt you can all do better than I did! 🙂
Have a great weekend, and please join me Monday to welcome Tiffany Haber as she talks about her debut picture book, The Monster Who Lost His Mean (which I just had the pleasure of reading and it is REALLY TERRIFIC and you should all get a copy for the littles in your life, or for yourself as an example of a well-done picture book in verse!!!)
I’m happy to report that we celebrated with homemade blueberry pie and vanilla ice cream (that’s white and blue, anyway, even if we a little short in the red department) and watching the fireworks above the valley from my parents’ back deck 🙂
And now, at last, it’s finally Friday and time to kick off Summer Short & Sweets!!!
First things first…..
Please help yourself to a beach cookie (or 2 or 5)…
…and some fresh lemonade 🙂
Ah! Summery 🙂
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for (or at least the moment I’ve all been waiting for :)) duhn duhn duhn…. the big unveiling!!!
Just look at this creation of beauty which you may all help yourselves to if you so desire!!! I hope you’re able to read the part that says “Writing For Kittens” 🙂 (I also hope that if you need any art work done for any reason you will contact Loni – she does such great art and is a joy to work with 🙂 Same goes for Heather… but more about that in a few weeks… I am all about the surprises up my sleeve :))
Let’s start with a brief explanation of SS&S because I’m not actually sure I wrote this down yet anywhere 🙂
The object of Summer Short & Sweets is to keep our writing oars in even as we are caught up in the happy, busy, outdoor fun of summer. We do not want our writing brains to go on luxury vacation because they are SO hard to jump start when school starts. The Short & Sweets will be little fun exercises we can do together and share to keep those writing sparks flying and to make sure we write a little even while we’re playing whiffle ball, backyard volleyball, and frisbee golf, making sure our toddlers don’t fall in the pool or get swept away by ocean waves or buried by their older siblings in the sandbox, taking our pre-teens to Little League or Lego Tournaments or tap lessons, teaching our 16-year-olds to drive (I personally am sporting a whole new streak of gray hair, and the imaginary brake on the passenger side of the car is getting quite a workout :)), and tending campfires while we watch the summer sun swim down below the western hills and the fireflies come out (and if you’re at my house, watch the marshmallows catch on fire and become charcoal covered goo on a stick :))
Short & Sweets will last for 8 weeks, each Friday from today through Friday August 24. For every Short & Sweet entry you write into the comments you will receive 1 point. You may of course write 2 entries, (or even 3 or 5 or 7 if you are feeling inspired!) At the end of Short & Sweets there will be prizes (which I am still working on) that will be based on the total points for the summer. The minimum number to qualify for a prize will be 8 points – 1 each week of Short & Sweets. If you choose to do more, you can rack up points and I’ll make sure you get something good! but you must do at least one each week to qualify. The more points you have, the better the prizes. I’m going to try to get you some critiques as well as signed books and other goodies 🙂 Feel free to let me know if there’s something in particular your little hearts desire as a prize.
The other advantage of Short & Sweets? We will all inspire each other’s creativity. Once you’ve put your challenge response in the comments, scroll through everyone else’s and see what they came up with. Maybe your own entry won’t spark a story idea for you, but maybe someone else’s will! (And don’t worry – everything will be vague enough that there’s no way 2 people will ever write the same story off the same prompt. It just doesn’t work that way :))
Now then. Are you ready for some Short & Sweet fun???
Here’s today’s challenge. We’ll start nice and easy 🙂
In the comment section below, list the first five nouns, the first five adjectives, and the first five verbs that come to mind when you think about either the beach, the town pool, or the local ice cream shop. (And when I say the first five, I just mean don’t spend forever on it – you can tweak the words that come to mind into more descriptive ones if you like – run into chase for example – but this whole exercise shouldn’t take more than about 2 or 3 minutes.) Then pick one each of your nouns, adjectives and verbs and write a sentence that could start a story!
Here’s an example for the beach: Nouns: shells, waves, sun, seagulls, kite Adjectives: windy, salty, bright, wet, sandy Verbs: dig, chase, squeal, laugh, splash Howard was digging down through the wet sand when his shovel hit something hard that glinted in the sun.
See how easy? Now you try!
And as an example of where you might go with this, if anyone wants to take Howard and run with him while you’re lifeguarding at the edge of the pool later or chauffeuring the littles around town, the obvious thing for his shovel to hit would be a pirate’s treasure chest, but what if it was something else? An old English car that had somehow crossed the ocean and wound up on Howard’s beach… A genie’s lamp… A silver medallion with a huge emerald in the center and words in a mysterious language around the edge… A dinosaur scale… that was still attached to the dinosaur!… A giant’s gold-capped tooth…! 🙂
I hope you will think this is Short, Sweet, and fun! I’m really looking forward to seeing what people come up with! And if anyone ends up getting a story idea out of this, please tell us! Any 12x12ers, this might be a great place to start thinking for your July manuscript 🙂
Have fun, have a great weekend, and please tune in Monday for Q&A with the fabulous editor, Erin Molta!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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