Fun Friday Foto Fextravaganza, Straight From The Editor #3, and more!

There is just too much fun to be had to stick to a single category!  So get ready to start your day off with a bang :)  We will be whooping it up with Fun Friday Foto, Straight From The Editor #3, the Thanksgiving Contest!!!, and a secret!!!!! (I'm not going to manage Warm Fuzzies this week - I'm afraid of scaring you away with too much reading - but feel free to check out the other Warm Fuzzies :))

So let's get comfy.  This morning I am in the mood for something besides donuts so, in keeping with the season, we will be having pumpkin muffins hot out of the oven.  Please help yourselves :)

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Mmmm!!!!

Gfyih shuf fgioh mnbysr

Sorry.  I didn't mean to talk with my mouth full :)

Now then.  Let's start with Fun Friday Foto.  This week's theme is HIBERNATION, and you'll note that those of us who have posted so far are all having the same problem - choosing just one!  Here are mine:

This guy is getting ready!
(and yes, I know he looks like me with my muffin :))
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This guy's thinking of spending the winter here, but he's afraid you can see him :)
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These two are looking cozy and settling down for their long winter's nap :)
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I hope at least one of those gives you a story inspiration!  If it does, please share :)  Now hop on over to Catherine's and Stacy's and see their hibernation photos, and then if you'd like to post one (remember, kid-friendly) you can put your link in the comments and everyone will come visit you.

Next, it's time for Straight From The Editor!  As you will recall, our pitch winner for October was Kim.  Readers felt fairly unanimously that her pitch was strong, and it turns out our fabulous editor felt the same way.  Here, once again, is Kim's pitch:

Working Title:  Henry Hears You

Age/Genre:  YA

The Pitch:  13-year-old boy finds his voice as the new advice columnist for the school newspaper only to discover that some problems don't have easy solutions when he gets a letter from a kid threatening to kill himself if the gay bashing doesn't stop.

And here are Erin's comments:

I definitely want to read this! I am intrigued. The only advice I can offer is to break it up into two sentences like this: 13-year-old boy finds his voice as the new advice columnist for the school newspaper. But he discovers that some problems don¹t have easy solutions when he gets a letter from a kid who threatens to kill himself if the gay bashing doesn¹t stop. It makes it easier to read -- not such a run-on sentence -- and gives it slightly more punch.

I hope you all find this helpful in writing your own pitches!

And now, the moment all you eager writers have been waiting for....  The announcement of the

Thanksgiving Contest!

Write a children's Thanksgiving story beginning with the sentence:

They were supposed to go to Grandma's for Thanksgiving, but the blizzard came in fast....

Maximum word length: 250 (but anything less is fine)  Prose or poetry is fine (and if you choose rhyming poetry you have permission to twist that first sentence a bit so it fits your rhyme scheme, or use the first sentence outside the rhyme and then continue in rhyme.)  Remember everything you've learned about writing stories for children :)  My assistant judge and I are prepared to be dazzled :)

Post your story on your blog any time between Monday November 21 and Thursday November 24 and link to the link list.  Or, if you don't have a blog but would like to enter, just copy and paste your entry into the comments the week of the contest.

Three finalists will be chosen from among the entries and posted here on Friday November 25, and you wonderful readers will get to choose the winner! :)

The prize will be your choice of a Thanksgiving picture book (to be selected) or a $15 Amazon gift card - in time for the holidays :)

And now for the secret!  I love secrets, don't you?  They're so exciting.  I bet right now you're rubbing your hands together in anticipation and wondering, what could it be?

Well...

I'll tell you on Monday.

I know.  I'm just that mean :)

Have a great weekend, and see you Monday!!!