[For those trying to post, you must click on the Blog Post Title to get on the blog post page and access the comments]

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Valentinies rock

And so do YOU!

Like galloping hooves, our brave hearts are pounding with excitement and anticipation (or maybe trepidation!) because it’s time for. . .

The 6th 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 Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone feels brave!

• They can be brave about asking someone to be their Valentine, of course, but they can also do something brave to get a Valentine (the person or the gift), or do something brave to help a friend. They could be brave about giving something up, or brave about asking someone they’re not sure they like to be their Valentine just to be nice. . . sky’s the limit!  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 brave (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 😊

• You can go under the word count but not over!
• Title is not included in the word count.
• 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 (preferred) or on your own blog between right now this very second and Sunday February 14th by 11:59 PM EDT. If you only post on your own blog, add your post-specific link to the form list at the bottom of the post.  This post with all the entries in the comment section and the list of links for those who prefer to post on their own blogs will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. If you have difficulty posting your entry to the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you! [susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com

We discussed changing the entry posting. The majority voted to have all the entries in one place here in the comment section, so we’re going to give that a try. But there were some who wanted to continue blog-hopping, so I’m going to include a link list for them at the bottom of the post. For those who are willing to post in the comment section but also plan to post on their own blogs, you are most welcome to post the link to your blog in your posted entry here (see example below.) That way people can come visit you if they want to but can also read most of the entries in one place on my blog if they prefer. It is certainly easier for the judges to have as many entries as possible in one place. We’ll try it this way one time and see how it works. We can always go back to the old system 😊

(So a sample entry might look like this:
ENTRY TITLE – word count
Author Name
(link to your own contest entry blog post if you have one and would like to share it)
Amazing wonderful Valentiny Contest story.😊

Dudley’s Brave Valentine – 212 words
by Violet Hill
http://bit.ly/3aOxhZm

It was almost Valentines Day and Dudley’s heart had sunk to somewhere near his big toenail.
(etc etc amazing story continues)

I know how hard you all work on your entries and how anxious you are to be sure your entry is posted, but please try to be a little bit patient if you’re waiting for your entry to show up in the comments or on the list of entries. I try never to get up from my desk during contests but sometimes it’s unavoidable. 😊

The Judging: over the next several days, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 12 top choices which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Thursday February 18th (or possibly a day or two later if the judges need extra time.)   The winner will be announced Monday February 22nd depending on judging and voting time needed.  The dates of the judging/voting/winner announcements are subject to finagling depending on how much time the judges actually end up needing!

Judging criteria will include:

1. Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
2. Creativity in using bravery and success in making us feel the bravery!
3. Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story!
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. If you don’t follow agent and editor submission guidelines they won’t even read your submission.

The Prizes:  Talk about a pounding heart! Just look at these fabulous prizes!

Hannah VanVels – Agent, Belcastro Agency – PB MS Critique

Hannah will offer one lucky winner a PB MS critique. The winner may submit fiction or nonfiction, rhyme or prose – Hannah is open to anything!

Winner’s choice of Renee LaTulippe‘s Lyrical Language Lab Intensive Rhyme & Meter Self Study Course OR a one-hour ZOOM consultation with Renee to get feedback on a manuscript of your choice, ask questions about writing in rhyme/lyrical prose, or spend however you like!

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyme or Prose, Fiction) from Dawn Young, author of THE NIGHT BAAFORE CHRISTMAS (WorthyKids 2019), COUNTING ELEPHANTS (Running Press Kids, March 2020), and THE NIGHT BAAFORE EASTER (WorthyKids January 26, 2021)

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction) from Kirsti Call author of The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall (Mazo Publishing, January 2019),  Mootilda’s Bad Mood (Little Bee, September 2020), as well as COW SAYS MEOW (HMH) and COLD TURKEY (Little Brown) which will release in 2021.

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Melissa Stoller, author of SCARLET’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH (Spork 2018), READY, SET, GORILLA! (Spork 2018), THE ENCHANTED SNOW GLOBE COLLECTION (chapter books) (Spork 2017), and SADIE’S SHABBAT STORIES (Spork, October 2020)

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming, fiction) from Becky Scharnhorst, author of the forthcoming MY SCHOOL STINKS! (Philomel Books, July 6, 2021)

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Ellen Leventhal, author of A Flood Of Kindness (WorthyKids April 2021), DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS (Spork 2017), LOLA CAN’T LEAP (Spork 2018), and HAYFEST A HOLIDAY QUEST (ABCs Press 2010)

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming, fiction, fewer than 800 words) from Rebecca Kraft Rector, author of SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED (Nancy Paulsen Books, February 16, 2021) (which means it’s coming out in the middle of our contest!😊) and the forthcoming LITTLE RED (Aladdin, Simon & Schuster, Spring 2022) and TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE (Delacorte/Random House)

– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (nonfiction PB or rhyming PB) from Julie Abery, author of LITTLE TIGER and LITTLE PANDA (Amicus Ink 2019), YUSRA SWIMS (Creative Editions February 2020), LITTLE MONKEY and LITTLE HIPPO (Amicus Ink February 2020), THE OLD MAN AND THE PENGUIN (Kids Can Press, December 2020), and the forthcoming LITTLE PENGUIN and LITTLE ZEBRA (Amicus Ink, March 2, 2021) and SAKIMOTO’S SWIM CLUB (Kids Can Press, May 4, 2021)

A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by gifted author and former Holiday Contest prize winner, Jenna Waldman, author of the forthcoming Larry’s Latkes (October 2021) (originally written for the Holiday Contest!) and Shark-bot Shalom (August 2021) She is on twitter at @SarafinaDesign

– Either a signed copy of WHEN A TREE GROWS OR a Picture Book Manuscript Critique – winner’s choice! – from Cathy Ballou Mealey, author of WHEN A TREE GROWS (Sterling April 2019) and the forthcoming SLOTH AND SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE (Kids Can Press, May 4, 2021)

– a personalized signed copy of SUNDAY RAIN from author Rosie Pova PLUS a personalized signed copy of DEAR GRANDMA from Yours Truly.

– a personalized signed copy of DON’T HUG DOUG: (He Doesn’t Like It) from author Carrie Finison PLUS a personalized signed copy of CURIOSITY’S DISCOVERY from author/illustrator Nancy Derey Riley!

– a personalized signed copy of The Night Baafore Easter from author Dawn Young PLUS a personalized signed copy of Hop To It: Poems To Get You Moving from poet Sarah Meade!

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, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊

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

I can’t wait to read your stories!!!

Eager Readers: Check out the comment section for all the fabulous entries, and the link list at the end to visit the blogs of the authors who wanted to post on their own home turf 😊

ENTRIES IN THE COMMENT SECTION: (all entries are linked)

1. Not “IT” – Danielle Sharkan
2. A Goosely Valentine – Danielle Sharkan
3. Charlie and Sienna – A Friendship Story – Laura Roettiger
4. Most Valuable Valentine – Anne Lipton
5. A Valentine’s Day Quest in the Land of Moore – Gregory Bray
6. Red-Green Valentine’s Day – Stephanie Amargi
7. A One-of-a-Kind, Just-in-Case, Not-at-All-Pink Valentine’s Day – Amy Leskowski
8. Love Is Stronger – Teresa Traver
9. Valentine’s Gotcha Day – Jessica Hinrichs
10. Carmela’s Valentines – Lu Pierro
11. Bee Brave – Gennie Gorback
12. Crushed – Corine Timmer
13. Too Chicken – Sue Lancaster
14. Shelly and the Path of Peril – Sue Lancaster
15. Brave Hearts – Jamie Donahoe
16. Step-Brother Battle – Brenda Whitehead
17. I Woof You – Debra Daugherty
18. My Valenchicken – Glenda Roberson
19. A Neighborly Valentine – Meg King-Sloan
20. U R Brave – Lindsey Hobson
21. If I Were Brave – Rose Cappelli
22. Elonso’s Best Valentine’s Day Ever – Susan Drew
23. Dibble and Wiscowski: “A Cookie Valentine” – Bru Benson
24. One Brave Balloon – Susan Schade
25. The Wibbler – Tracy Curran
26. Brave Bonnie – Shannon VanStraten-Sundlass
27. Cupid, Junior – Linda Staszak
28. A Valentine Visit – Julie Maria
29. Cupid: The Love Fairy – Rachel Shupin
30. Be Brave On Valentine’s Day – Sara Kruger
31. Operation Moonbeam – Simon Yeend
32. A Valentine Rose – Daryl Gottier
33. The Ballad of Bad Bart – Carrie Boone
34. The Brave Little Seed – Michelle S. Kennedy
35. Something I Want To Say – Jeny Morales
36. Stella & Sparky And The Last Valentine – Patricia Nozell
37. Stella & Hank – Nicole Loos Miller
38. Untangled Valentines – Janie Reinart
39. The Wildflower – Ashlee Hashman
40. The Color of Love – Allison Strick
41. Puppy Love – Deb Buschman
42. Super Brothers – Shannon Howarth Nelsen
43. Brave For Gigi – Kelly Swemba
44. Wannabe my Valentine – Cynthia Stacey
45. Cupix – Bridget Magee
46. U To The Rescue – Amy Heath
47. Blob’s Valentine’s Wish – Deb Sullivan
48. Violet & The Valentine’s Vampire – Sarah Meade
49. Jana’s Valentine’s Visit – Sarah Meade
50. Mole & Miss Vole on Valentine’s Day – Sarah Meade
51. A Valentine’s Mouse In Our House – Elizabeth Meyer Zu Heringdorf (2 entries in one comment)
52. Will you be my ninja – Elizabeth Meyer Zu Heringdorf (2 entries in one comment)
53. Grouchy Grover – Rebekah Hoeft
54. Brave In A Cave – Cedar Pruitt
55. Cardy’s Valentine Story In All Its Glory – Sally Yorke-Viney
56. My Kind of Valentine! – Megan France
57. Lavender Buzz – Vicky Langdon
58. Love Sick – Abi Island
59. Be Brave! – Lisa M. Clewner-Newman
60. I’m Not Afraid – Patricia J. Franz
61. The Girl With The Candyfloss Hair – Simon Yeend
62. Valentine’s Day on Halloween Hill – Abby Wooldridge
63. W-R-I-T-E For Each Other – Elizabeth Muster
64. Olive You Forever – Ann Ferrello
65. The Pink Pro – Kelsey Gross
66. Brave Brave Brave – David McMullin
67. The Witch of Valentine Lane – Marietta Apollonio
68. Gordon’s One-Footed Hop – Kelsey Gross
69. Charmadillo – Lauri C. Meyers
70. “Soon” – M.R. Haqq
71. More Than Cookies – Halley M. Cormack, LCSW
73. Fishing For Love: A DIARY – Amy Olsen
74. The Lost Valentine – Jeannette Suhr
75. Brave New Friends – Dawn Young
76. Scaredy-Cat – Danielle S. Hammelef
77. Hard To Love – Robin Currie
78. Brave Hearts – Susan Klaren
79. Across The Road – Rachel Dutton
80. Knight of Hearts – Ellen Crosby
81. Tootsee Tulip Bulb’s Love-Treat – Judy Caldwell Hughes
82. Brave in the Basement – Jessica Whipple
83. Caleb’s Heart – Anne Bromley
84. Corn Dogs on the Corner – Colleen Dougherty
85. Brave Heart – Rebecca Gardyn Levington
86. Knock, Knock, Knock – Marty Findley
87. Villain-tine’s Day – Laura Bower
88. Take A Deep Breath – Elyse Trevers
89. Only Three Words – B. A. Schlosser Hill
90. A Stolen Valentine – Martha Holguin
91. Class List – Elizabeth Volkmann
92. Cards and Cookies – Jennifer Reichow
93. Chalk Tears – Judy Brewer
94. Nurse A Broken Heart – E. Elle Bea
95. Bravely Soldier On – E. Elle Bea
96. New Kid Blues – Darcee A. Freier
97. Valentine’s Recitation – Keely Leim
98. Mama Love. Dada Love. – Nancy M. Tichenor
99. A Valentine’s Treasure – Ingrid Boydston
100. An Itsy Bitsy Valentine – Maria Antonia
101. Dino & Gigi – Carolina Bottino (Nina K. Brown)
102. Hearts Trail – Carolina Bottino (Nina K. Brown)
103. The Giant’s Valentine – Sheila M. Hausbeck
104. The Loneliness Street – Nina K. Brown
105. Brave Little Valentine – Charlotte Dixon
106. Playdate – Margaret Aitken
107. Octopus Hugs – Chambrae Griffith
108. Conversation Heart Courage – Becky Kimbrough
109. My Friend Nate – Karima Davis
111. Jojo’s Valentine – Sarah Hawklyn
112. “I Like You A Lot” – Julie Schnieders
113. Unconventional Friendship – Sarah Hawklyn
114. The Flavors of the Heart – Armineh Manookian
115. The Candybot – Ellen Seal
116. An Otter Love Story – Kristy Roser Nuttall
117. Floret And The Fondue – Ashley Sierra
118. Be Brave, Be Kind, My Valentine – Susan E. Schipper
119. Cupid’s Booty Camp For BabyBoo – Ally Enz
121. Playing To Win – Norah Colvin
122. Super Special Valentine – Aundra Tomlins
123. A Brave Change of Heart – Amy Nicolai
124. Sarla Asks A Question – Sandhya Acharya
125. A Trail of Ketchup and Mustard – MeiLin Chan
126. Juliet and Romeo: Verona’s Valentine’s Celebration – Cristina Raymer
127. A Little Atom – Isabel Cruz Rodriguez
128. Oscar Octopus Plants A Garden – Isabel Cruz Rodriquez
129. My Bestest Friend – Roberta Abussi
130. My Every-Day-Valentine – Roberta Abussi
131. Sarah’s Valentines – Rachel Zimmerman Brachman
132. Lemur In Love – Sarah McDermott
133. A Cocoon of Love – Jyoti Rajan Gopal
134. Eggbert – Charlie Bown
135. A Valentine For Mom – Patricia Martin
136. Becca’s Brave Hearts – Marty Bellis
137. Little Truck’s Daring Delivery – Kristin Kolp
138. The Valentine On My Shoe – Catherine J. Lee
139. No More Pink – Robin Currie
140. Shiny Sharp Scissors – Katie Fischer
141. Valentine Love Languages – Jaymie Dean
142. Val & Jack – Karen Keesling
143. Brave Heart – Tonnye Fletcher
144. Valentine Delivery – Katie Brandyberry
145. Apple Pie: Valentine’s Day Treat – Sarah Skolfield
146. Brave Little Friends – Judy Sobanski
147. Lone’s Very First Day – Jennifer Reinharz
148. The Monster’s Valentine Buffet – Kelly Conroy
149. Freddie Frog’s Valentine – Lindsey Hobson
150. A Simple Valentine – P. J. Purtee
151. The Wonky Heart – Stacy Burch
152. Roses From Valentina – Carmen Castillo Gilbert
153. A Natural Valentine’s Day – Sharon McCarthy
154. Miss Hedgehog’s Valentine Mission – Amy LaMae Brewer
155. Blown Away – Diana Webb
156. Zooming Valentine’s Day – Susan VandeWeghe
157. Snack Attack – Melisa Wrex
158. Heart Hands – Sarah Heaton
159. Bigfoot’s Valentine – Kirsten Leestma
160. Geronimo! – Lydia Loeber
161. The Most Terrible, Awful, Icky Valentine Ever – Melissa Trempe
162. Babies Share Bedrooms – Kristi Newsome
163. 214 St. Valentine Way – Tracy Anderson Martin
164. Six Secret Valentines – Una Belle Townsend
165. The Bees and the Birdss – Paul Kurtz
166. Someone Special! – Paul Kurtz
167. Zombie My Valentine – Donna Kurtz
168. The Owl and the Kitty-Kat – Donna Kurtz
169. No Pictures! – Diane S. Scotti
170. Blue Flower – Mary Warth
171. New Line Valentine – Marcia Parks
172. Leo Lionhearted – Jill Lambert
173. Bravery Is From The Heart – Sophia Zafra
174. A Heavenly Visit – Deborah Dolan Hunt
175. The Bird And The Cat – Beth Winslow
176. THE Valentine Question – Kate Rehill
177. How To Be Valentines (With A Boa Constrictor) – Mary Noon
178. Desi’s Daring Delivery – Darci Nielson
179. New Best Friend – Sherri T. Mercer
180. The Gift Tree – Ciara N M Greenwalt
181. One Shot – Dazzle Ng
182. Fuzzy Bum – Stacey Miller
183. Arrrrr Is For Valentine – Sara Ackerman
184. Valentine’s Day Rocks – Samantha Haas
185. Cyrus The Bold – Patricia Corcoran
186. Saying What I Really Mean – Nina Nolan
187. Mr. Grumpy’s Valentine – Anne Sawan
188. Heart Shaped Everything – Rathi Munukur
189. You Can Do This Jonathan! – Martina Palkovicova
190. Caveman Valentine – Jennifer Lowe
191. Percy’s Valentine – Nancy Derey Riley
192. Brave Hearts – Mary Rudzinski
193. Legendary Valentine – Audrey Day-Williams
194. In Front Behind – Diana Webb
195. A Punny Valentine – Linda Staszak
196. Love is an Ocean Away – Kimiko Wadriski Lumsden
197. Valentine’s Day Rescue – Brigid Finucane
198. Mission: Cancel Cupid Call – Kalee Gwarjanski
199. The Valentine’s Quest – Karyn Curtis
200. Seeking Courage – Bonnie Kelso
201. Valentina and Valentino – Claire Lewis
202. Will You Bee My Valentine – Ranessa Doucet
203. A Valentine Ski – Clara MacClarald
204. Dance Like An Eagle – Jyothi Nookula
205. A Gift For Abuelo – JC Kelly
206. My Tummy Valentine – Janice Kay Alexander
207. Elijah and the Valentine – Susan Twiggs
208. Assortment Phobia – JC Kelly
209. A Beastly Valentine – Steve Jankousky
210. A Valentiny for ME! – Karima Davis
212. Friendship Cake – Dea Lenihan
213. Be My Valentine – Liz Kehrli
214. Love Story – Liz Kehrli
215. Love Birds – Lisa Lee Furness
216. Mr. Grumpy – Mary A. Zychowicz
217. Feep and Meep – Echo Roben
218. The Cave of Utter Darkness – Bill Canterbury
219. Yellow Like A Mango – Imelda Taylor
220. Melanie’s Back! – Shari Della Penna
221. All About Heart – Anna Lunt
222. Tilly’s Great Big Heart – Amy Flynn
223. Insiya’s Valentine – Aditya Simha
224. Corazon Does Not Cliff Jump – Kate Rehill
225. We’re Still Brave! – Kelly Coutsoubos
226. The Cupcake Who Dared To Be Different – Susanne Whitehouse
227. Lucy’s Brave Lifelines – Karen A. Kelly

This form ONLY for people who prefer to post on their own blogs and are ONLY posting their entries on their own blogs!