The 2014 Halloweensie Contest Finalists - VOTE For Your Favorite!!!

Holy Jack-O-Lanterns, Batman!

Look at me!  A mere shadow of my former self!

A pumpkin who has fallen off her creaky broomstick!

Wrung out and harrowed after an entire weekend of trying to decide how to rank the incredible entries y'all submitted for Halloweensie 2014.  What a job!!!

It's a miracle I'm even here to tell the tale!

Thank goodness for the sustaining chocolate provided (via Face Book) by Joanna and Kathy :)  Thank you both, from the bottom of my chocolate-loving heart!  (And no, they did not receive "special consideration" for their entries as a result - they are both just lovely people who didn't want me or my assistant judges to keel over :))

And speaking of the assistant judges, I had to call in a fourth!  I'm not kidding!

Because here's the deal: we had the biggest turn out we've ever had in terms of number of entries - 132! - and the overall quality of the entries was fantastic.  Really, it is readily apparent that the quality of entries in these contests is improving every time.  This means there are fewer standouts, almost none that are easy to cut, and there a LOT of pretty good ones that we have to get very nit-picky over!  It is agony, I tell you!

Before we get to the actual list of finalists, I have a couple things to say.  (I know you're shocked :))

First of all, I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time and care to write an entry for this contest.   You all did a fabulous job and provided great enjoyment for many!

Second, I'd also like to thank EVERYONE - writer, reader, or both - who took the time to go around and read as many entries as you could and leave supportive comments.  This means so much to the writers who worked hard on their stories.  It helps them see what they did well, as well as giving them the joy of knowing that their stories were read and enjoyed.  I hope you all got as much delight  and entertainment out of the reading as I did!  Plus, we got to meet quite a few new people which was a wonderful added bonus! :)

Third, before I list the finalists, I want to say again how difficult it was too choose!  There were so many amazing entries.  Really.  I could find at least something terrific about every single one.  The sheer volume of entries meant that many good ones had to be cut.  So if yours didn't make the final cut please don't feel bad.  There was a huge amount of competition.  Judging, no matter how hard we try to be objective, is always subjective at a certain point - we all have our own preferences for what makes a great story.  And the fact that you didn't make the final cut DOES NOT mean you didn't write a great story.  Everyone who plonked their butt in a chair and worked hard to write a story for this contest is a winner!  You showed up.  You did your best work.  You practiced your craft.  You wrote to specifications and a deadline.  You bravely shared your writing with the world.  And you have a brand new story that is now yours to expand beyond 100 words if you like and maybe submit at some point to a magazine or as a PB manuscript.  So bravo to everyone who entered!

Now.  Onto the judging criteria which were as follows:
1. Kid-appeal! - These stories are intended for a young audience, so entries that were well-written but lacked child-friendliness did not make the cut.
2.  Halloweeniness - the rules stated a Halloween story, so entries that failed to mention anything Halloween-y did not make the cut even if they were well-written.
3. Quality of story - the rules stated that entries were to tell a story, so if they appeared to be more of a description or mood piece, they didn't make the cut.  We looked for a true story arc.
4. Quality of Writing: we took note of spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.  In addition, for the rhymers, we looked at rhyme and meter (for which we are sticklers!)  We also looked at overall writing quality and use of language.
5. Originality and creativity - because that is often what sets one story above another.

This time around, 5 entries sadly had to be cut because of rule problems: one was 3 words over the word limit (I counted 6 times, by hand and with Microsoft Word's word count tool, because it was otherwise a strong entry! but 131 other people managed to stay at 100 or under so I had to be strict!); two used "broom" but not "broomstick"; and 2 did not use "creak" in any form.  (And yes, I checked the word count on all 132 entries and made sure the required words were present.)

After that, the going really got tough.  Some of the stronger stories were written in rhyme where the meter didn't work as well as it needed to.  Some of the most beautiful rhyming entries with great use of language were more mood pieces than stories.  So we had to make some very hard calls.

Without further ado, I present to you the 2014 Halloweensie Contest Finalists.  A baker's dozen - 13 for Halloween! :)  A mix of poetry and prose, stories for younger readers and slightly older (but still kid) readers, funny, spooky, and cute.  Please read through them carefully, take your time, think it over, and vote for your favorite.  To help with objectivity, finalists are listed by title only, not by author.

And I'd like to be very clear about the voting process.  You are MOST welcome to share a link to this post on FB, twitter, or wherever you like to hang out, and encourage people to come read ALL the finalists and vote for the one they think is best.  Please do that.  The more people who read and enjoy these stories the better, and the more objective votes we get the better.  HOWEVER (and I want to be very clear on this) please do not ask people to vote for a specific number or title, or for the story about the pumpkin ballerina or whatever.  Trolling for votes or trying to influence the outcome is counter to the spirit of this competition which is supposed to be based on merit.  I thank you in advance for respecting this.

#1 Halloween SMS (Short Messaging Scariness)



#2 Creaky Cackle

Ever since Winnie Witch crashed into a creek, her cackle was creaky. 
Ah ha ha…hack…cough, cough…
Hallowe’en hijinks were hindered.
Broomstick in hand, she wobbled into the witch doctor’s office.
“Whoa,” said the doctor as she peered into Winnie’s mouth. “It looks like you’ve got a frog in your throat.”
“Chew this pumpkin lozenge,” the doctor decreed.
“Yuck,” Winnie gagged. Splutter, cough, cough…
Out bounded a bullfrog.
“Ba–ruump,” protested the frog and hopped off.
Ahhh ha ha ha ha…Winnie Witch whooped.
“Stay out of creeks,” the doctor yelled as Winnie Witch bounded off on her broomstick.

#3 Full Moon Rising

Full moon rising in the sky,
Owls are hooting, bats fly by.

Mummies moaning in the night,
Goblins groaning give you fright.

Milo walking down the path,
Up the steps, he hurries fast.

Floorboards creaking,
Milo’s sneaking,
Across the moonlit porch.

Past the pumpkin,
Past the cat,
Past the broomstick,
Past the rat.

To the door where spiders lay,
Waiting for their cowering prey.

Milo hears a frightening sound.
He doesn’t even turn around.

Glowing eyes behind him stare.
Ring the doorbell, if you dare!

Door creaks open.
Better not run.

Trick or Treat!
Now, let’s have some fun!

#4 Home Alone Halloween
I came home from school very excited. Halloween, my favorite day of the year.

I almost trip over the sixteen pumpkins on the porch.

With a creak, I swing the door open while calling out, “Mom?”  No answer.

The aroma of bat stew fills the house.

She’s not in the dungeon, or napping in her coffin. She must be here somewhere.

I look throughout the house, running from room to room.

Suddenly it hits me.

I fling open the broom closet. Empty. Even her broomstick is gone.

“Of course,” I said, hitting my forehead and smiling. “She is working tonight!”

#5 Sulky Spider's Spooky Webs

Sulky Spider planned a scheme 

For making trick or treaters scream.

Spider silk began to spin

A Jack 'o Web with wicked grin.

"Pretty pumpkin," cowgirls said. 

"Pretty?" Sulky hung her head.

"A webby ghost will do the trick!"

She spun a spooky ghoul up quick.

Pirates shouted, "Ghosts are neat!" 

She gobbled up her web. "Defeat."

   

Spinnerets began to twitch.

"A warty-broomstick-riding-witch!"

A princess cooed, "That witch is sweet."

She stomped all eight offended feet.

"I need a buggy snack," she frowned.  

Sticky thread went round and round.

She didn't hear the stairway creak.

"A spiderweb!" they hollered, "Eek!"

#6 This Year's Halloween Mascot

“Me!”

“No, me!”

Witch School should have been brimming with excitement. But everyone was sick of hearing Broomstick and Pumpkin argue over who should be Halloween mascot.

“No one flies higher,” said Broomstick.

“No Jack-O-Lantern shines brighter,” said Pumpkin.

Black cats cowered, paws over ears. Cauldrons bubbled their disapproval.

C-r-e-e-e-e-a-k-- the courtyard door opened to an assembly of witches.

“The time has come,” Head Mistress said. “The night awaits my decision.”

“This year’s mascot shines the brightest…” (Pumpkin’s head swelled.)

“…and flies the highest.” (Broomstick’s spirits soared.)

“Our Halloween mascot is…”

“… the Moon,” who silently took a bow.

#7 Halloween Chase

The pumpkins were glowing, but I still couldn't see

There was someone or something coming for me

I glanced over my shoulder when I heard the stair creak

My heart leapt from my chest and my legs became weak

I gasped when I saw her, all ghoulish and green

She was staring right at me, eyes angry and mean

Her broomstick was poised to crash down on my head

I wished I could fly, but my feet felt like lead

My fists began swinging, I was ready to fight

My sister took off her mask and just laughed with delight!

#8 Halloween Hide-and-Go-Seek
It’s Halloween! It’s dark, it’s spooky, it’s perfect for a game of Halloween Hide-and-Go-Seek!
Blurp! Bloop! Blub!
Are you in the cauldron?
No, just some toadstool stew.
Rustle! Swish! Swoosh!
Are you in the closet?
No, just an old broomstick.
Creak! Crack! Bang!
Are you behind the curtains?
No, it’s just the wind blowing the windows open and closed.
Scritch! Scratch! Raow!
Are you behind the chair?
No, just the cat settling down.
Giggle, Giggle
Are you upstairs?
Sssshhhhhhh!
Are you in the bedroom?
Hmmmmm.
Boo!
There are my little pumpkins!
You’ve had your trick, now how about your treat?

#9 The Shadow

Once upon a pumpkin moon
a rocker creaked,
the wind sighed, Soon….A Shadow stole across the lawn
and stopped upon the stair.

Ghosts and goblins roamed the streets.
They rang each bell
for tricks or treats.
As they approached they didn’t see
the Shadow waiting there.

Through the dark the children stepped,
not knowing where
the Shadow crept.
They stumbled over Shadow and
their screeches pierced the air.

Broomstick tail puffed wide with fright,
poor Shadow fled
into the night.
On Halloween a small black cat
should NOT sit on the stair!

#10 Halloween In A Box

“Skeleton!! It’s here!” Witch cackled. “Halloween in a Box! I ordered it on the Making Potions and Brew Magic website. ‘Fun Guaranteed!’”

Witch looked inside. “Pumpkin centerpiece? Broomstick garland?? Party plates??? That’s it????” She flopped onto the floor and wailed, “My party is ruined!”

Skeleton picked up the box. “I’ll be back.”

Skeleton returned with the box. “Open it.”

Witch lifted the flaps. Out jumped Black Cat, Ghost, Monster from Under-the-Bed, Zombie, his mother Mummy, and Hairy Spider.

“Now THAT’S a Halloween in a Box!” Witch screeched.

“Fun Guaranteed!” Skeleton said, dancing a creaky jig.

#11 Devious Dads And Halloween

Devious Dads and Halloween

Pumpkin creations

Under the stars,

Mama carves goblins,

Papa carves cars.

Kids from our condo,

Itching for treats,

Navigate hallways

            Bound for the streets.

            Roger plays Batdude.

            Orville’s a ghost.

            Omar rocks Elvis,

            Milly is toast.

            Sam’s owl is skittish,

            Tim acts the clown.

            Ike rides a broomstick,

            Cruising our town.

            Kids in cool costumes

Creep through the night,

Rack up the candy,

Eat just a bite.

After, in jammies,

Kids hide the rest,

Eager to keep

Dads far from the best!

#12 Snack-O'-Lantern

“Nibbles,” sighed Chester Cat. “You’re supposed to carve a pumpkin.”

“They’re too big,” the guinea pig replied. “So I am carving a Halloween-o Jalapeño. Scary, huh? Does it make you want to run away?”

“No,” Chester sniffed. “That wouldn’t make anyone run away.”

They heard the creak of floorboards and the clatter of the broomstick Buster used for fetch.

“I bet it’ll make Buster run.”

“No way.”

“Let’s see,” Nibbles challenged. Then he shouted. “BUSTER! SNAAACK!”

Buster galloped in. He gobbled the jalapeño.

His eyes sprang open.

Yelping, he dashed to his water dish.

“Told you he’d run,” Nibbles giggled.

#13 Snip, Snap, Crack

In a deep dark corner, an old lady sits.

She cackles, and snarls, and frantically knits.

Click clack go her needles.

Snip snap go her bones,

As she rocks and she creaks

and her kitty cat moans.

She conjures up spiders, and pumpkins, and ghosts

All spun from her yarn -

“I’m so wicked!” she boasts.

Don’t dare approach her,

She’s all trick and no treat.

What are you doing??

Come hither, my sweet.

Get away from that broomstick! Skedaddle! Shoo!

You’re tiptoeing closer??

Snip

Snap

Crack

BOO!

Now that you've had a chance to read through the finalists, please vote for the entry you feel deserves to win in the poll below by 5PM EST Wednesday November 5.

Tune in Thursday November 6 to see THE WINNERS!!!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to write (if you did), read, and vote!  These contests simply wouldn't be what they are without all of you!

I can't wait to see who the winners will be!

Tune in Thursday... same bat time, same bat station :)

(And we will have a regularly scheduled Would You Read It on Wednesday too!)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap.

Okay.

Not really.

I'm SO not a napper.

But I might eat some leftover Halloween candy :)

Have a marvelous Monday! :)