August 31, 2012

The Summer Send-Off 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! :)


SUMMER SEND-OFF CONTEST!!!
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! :)

82 comments:

  1. I wish I could enter. I do love that picture. My brain is fried from revisions and edits and still I must persevere so I can make sure my story isn't a complete shamble lol!! I adored reading your example thought :-)

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  2. Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you enjoyed it, humble offering though it was! Good luck with your revisions, and if you have a minute, hop ver to Joanna's - her story is up and tons of fun!

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  3. I will post mine on Monday! I love your story! :)

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  4. I love your story....totally funny!!! Perfect picklely solution! I'm posting mine :-)

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  5. I absolutely love your story, Susanna! I am not sure if I can turn in something, but I'll try.

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  6. You are being VERY kind! :) I can't wait to read your story!!!

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  7. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueAugust 31, 2012 at 10:54 AM

    I don't have a blog, so here is my entry (247 words):
    Title: Avery's Fairy Tale

    “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
    his 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!”

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  8. This is terrific, Sidney! So imaginative, and so different from the direction my thoughts went... obviously :) I can just imagine Avery sitting up in her room creating her story... I did that every day when I was a kid... and, well, look what I do for a living - I still do it :) Thanks so much for participating!

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  9. Oh, I DO hope you will, Romelle! I will look forward to it!

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  10. You guys are all being so nice :) That's what I love about this community. I thought this story was GACK-awful! :) But I cannot WAIT to read yours! I coming right over!!!

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  11. I LOVE the pickle solution and your very cunning goodbye, Susanna!

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  12. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueAugust 31, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    Thank you, Susanna. This was a fun writing exercise. I love your story! I just got the phone to my mother describing it to her, and we were laughing at that bubble-gum chewing dragon belching pickle-smelling fire!

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  13. Sidney, this is a clever take on the story, and so authentic! I love it.

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  14. I'm so glad you enjoyed it - I loved yours! Thanks so much for joining the fun! :)





























    Sidney Schuhmann Levesque wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:

    Thank you, Susanna. This was a fun writing exercise. I love your story! I just got the phone to my mother describing it to her, and we were laughing at that bubble-gum chewing dragon belching pickle-smelling fire!

    Link to comment
    IP address: 150.252.11.20

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  15. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueAugust 31, 2012 at 3:11 PM

    Thank you, Joanna! One of my favorite parts of your story was the cook calling out "Witchy-Poo!" So funny :)

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  16. This is great!!! Very creative. I love it!

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  17. Love your story Susanna. Very clever and funny. Have read all the entries. Heather's drawing is amazing. Each story has been quite unique. Have had trouble finding time to enter. I know I have until Sunday.

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  18. Sydney, I love your entry. I didn't know where you were going with it, but I was surprised at the end. Unique.

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  19. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueAugust 31, 2012 at 9:47 PM

    Thank you! I had trouble getting inspired to write a more traditional story. This one reflects on how we draw on our lives to create a fantasy world in our writing.

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  20. Blog is having growing pains at the moment-- so I'll post here! (250 exactly-- praise!)

    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.

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  21. Posted from a family member who is not allowed to compete but wanted to do a story for fun!

















    Are We There Yet?



    “Dad, can you please turn on the radio? My ipod just died.
    If I have to listen to another book on tape I’m going to jump out of the
    window…how much longer?”



    “Sweetheart, we’re almost there, maybe 10 more minutes to
    go, I’m turning on the radio…wait a minute…Oh my god! Did you see that?”



    “See what!?”



    “The raven with the golden key in its mouth! It just flew up
    into that tree right over there, I swear!”



    “Are you serious? Come on, you’re making it up to keep me
    from being bored right?”



    “No, totally honest, it just flew up into that tree and
    landed on the branch. Right above the kettle that’s brewing on the fire, I mean
    the kettle that the witch is standing next to, you know, right there with the
    fox.”



    “What!? Witch!? Where!?”



    “Right by that huge flaming fissure in the earth by the
    dragon…right there! By that castle-fortress thing, I swear!”



    “We didn’t pass a castle, we’re in Westchester for goodness
    sake! Dragon? What?!”



    “Well maybe it’s a tower then, there was a girl with long
    hair up in a window I think, and somebody else was hanging out of another
    window waving there arms…it all went by so quickly…it was insane!”



    “Dad, you’re insane…there was no castle or tower or dragon
    or raven with a golden or a witch or a fox or whatever…wait, we’re home! Thank
    goodness, stop the car, I’m out of here!”

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  22. So fun and creative, Jen! And so well done in 250 exactly! That was hard, wasn't it?! I'm glad the prince and the horse didn't become dragon BBQ! :) Thanks so much for joining the fun! P.S. What's up with your blog?

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  23. Even better, Pat! You have until TUESDAY! I know you can do it! :)

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  24. Hi Susanna! Thanks and I love YOUR story up above! Right now I'm designing my illustration site and I'm working on getting my blog synced up to it... It may be a little bit before its all ready to go :)

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  25. Why did I not know you were an illustrator? Can I see samples? I might have a project... :)





























    JKB Young wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:


    Hi Susanna! Thanks and I love YOUR story up above! Right now I'm designing my illustration site and I'm working on getting my blog synced up to it... It may be a little bit before its all ready to go :)

    User's website
    Link to comment
    IP address: 74.66.130.135

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  26. “With
    five bedrooms, three and a half baths, and a dungeon, you’re not going
    to find another castle on the market like this. At least not in your
    price range” said Mrs. Beatrix White, spiritual guide and realtor
    extraordinaire. “It meets all your ‘must haves’ plus the dragon is
    included, of course. I’ll just wait out here and make some tea. That’ll
    give you two a chance to look around.”

    “Oh
    Lancelot, did you hear that? No extra cost for the dragon. It has
    everything we want. I can see the rose garden from the master bedroom.
    And I smell lilacs. Plus the kids are going to flip when they see all
    the secret doors and passageways.”

    “I
    don’t know Gwen, a lot of the stones look crumbly. It needs updating.
    And see that massive, cavernous hole in the front yard? That’s a red
    flag if I ever saw one. What kind of drainage does this place get? Talk
    about erosion. What if the kids fall in?” said Lance.

    “Oh
    Lance, it’s an old castle. What did you expect? When we said ‘good-bye’
    to Camelot you promised we’d find a place just as nice. WITH a dragon.”


    “Do we really need a dragon?”

    “Every good castle needs a dragon. I love it. It’s perfect.” She looked at him with hopeful eyes.

    “Mrs. White? Mrs. White! We’ll take it!” they said together. And they lived happily ever after.

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  27. This is fantastic, Hilary! You totally made me laugh! It's entirely possible I've seen a few too many episodes of house hunters :) What a fun twist! Thanks so much for joining in the contest!

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  28. I went ahead and emailed you a response-- too much to say for a comment box!

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  29. What fun, Susanna! You've helped to make my summer such a creative writing adventure...I do so appreciate that. I've added my link for "Boot Camp at Old Dragons-Lair"...240 words.
    It's REALLY late now...but I'm looking forward to coming back tomorrow and reading all of the other entries...both in the linky and in your comment section.
    Have an awesome Labor Day weekend everyone!!!!
    I'll add the link for the blog here, just in case the linky doesn't cooperate: http://viviankirkfield.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/sunday-post-reflections-do-you-love-yours/
    Vivian Kirkfield

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  30. Brilliant twist. I love this, Hilary.

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  31. Love the line 'the petals were dropping like raindrops'. This story was a lot of fun.

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  32. Thanks for a wonderful entry, Vivian! I thoroughly enjoyed it :) And I'm so glad if you've found Summer Shorts and the contest fun! :)

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  33. Here's my contest entry. It's 250 words exactly! Whew...

    Title: Broadway or Bust

    Maria was done playing the damsel in distress in her high school production of How To Train Your Dragon. Her heart just wasn’t in it anymore.

    “Cut!” yelled the director. “Maria, did you see the dragon’s breath? The fire? That’s your cue!”

    Even during rehearsals, Maria’s mind wandered as she dreamed of the bright lights of Broadway. Ever since her mom took her to New York to see The Lion King at the Marquis Theater she knew Broadway was where she wanted to be. Not this pathetic stage in go-nowhere-ville.

    She took a deep breath and said, “Sorry Mr. Johnson. Let’s take it from the top.”

    Maria wasn’t sure if she could stomach today’s matinee. She hated watching parents drag their kids, kicking and screaming, down the aisle just to see cousin Sheila or the neighbor boy on stage. They almost always arrived after curtain time and never turned off their cell phones.

    Maria flubbed more lines as she absentmindedly prepared her Tony acceptance speech or pretended to sign autographs for adoring fans.

    “Cut!” yelled the director. “Maria, pay attention! Football practice starts in a half hour.”

    Maria threw her apron on the ground. “That’s it. I quit,” she said.

    Football might be Mr. Johnson’s priority but Maria had bigger ambitions. What was she waiting for? As she told the performers of her Broadway dreams they watched, wide-eyed, as she blew kisses in the air and ran out the door with her suitcase.

    “Farewell! I’ll remember you when I’m famous!”

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  34. This is great, Kim! I love how everyone's ideas are so different, and all the stories go such original ways all from the same prompt! I can imagine your budding star perfectly! Thanks so much for joining in the fun! :)

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  35. Kim...what an unbelievably original way to view the illustration and contest...a modern twist is what we were missing. :) Great story!

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  36. You know...the talent in this group is unmatchable! Hilary, this is super cool...you are very very clever! The story was totally believable. :)

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  37. What fun...love this story...so true actually because when I used to drive my kids someplace, I'd often see something interesting or odd flash by...and they had missed it and didn't believe me. Someone is VERY creative here, Susanna...must be in the genes. :)

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  38. 250 on the dot...special prize for that, I think. :) Great story, Jennifer...love that she enjoyed the excitement of the moment, but was happy with her own life. :)

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  39. This is wonderful, Sydney! I love that the story built on the familiar...they say we should write about what we know, right? It was so believable...I'm sure many of us parents with teenagers are seen as the "evil witch" at one time or another. ;)

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  40. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueSeptember 2, 2012 at 8:51 PM

    Love the real estate angle!

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  41. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueSeptember 2, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    Original! Like the modern take.

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  42. Sidney Schuhmann LevesqueSeptember 2, 2012 at 8:55 PM

    Thanks, Vivian!

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  43. "A colossal belch of pickle- scented fire." I'm so glad that this wasn't in smellavision! This was fun, and everyone seems to be cranking out the creativity!

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  44. Glad you enjoyed it Julie! I would have loved to read one from you - I know I would have been rolling on the floor :) And I think I'm pretty relieved that smellavision doesn't exist! :)

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  45. Oh. My. Word. Susanna, please promise me you will turn this into a PB ms and start sending it out. Because I want to buy it and own it and read it over and over. You are FUNNY! I love Balkazar, and how he talks (Ack! Get it off!), I love the concept and the innocence behind the idea of being turned pink from the inside, I love that colossal belch of pickle-scented fire. And -- call me a sourpuss -- but I rarely laugh at loud, and this one made my shoulders shake. Brava!!!!

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  46. Aw, you are so nice, Renee! And you've made my day with your enthusiastic comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this little story, and maybe, since you're so keen on it, I will try turning it into something :) Thanks for your lovely comment. And I'm still hoping for a story from you - you've still got 2 days...! :)
    Susanna Leonard HillChildren's AuthorWebsiteBlogFace Book PageTwitter

    Subject: [susannaleonardhillblog] Re: Susanna Leonard Hill: The Summer Send-Off Contest!!!

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  47. Aw, you are so nice, Renee! And you've made my day with your enthusiastic comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this little story, and maybe, since you're so keen on it, I will try turning it into something :) Thanks for your lovely comment. And I'm still hoping for a story from you - you've still got 2 days...! :)



    Message body

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  48. Alas, I'm crazy with work, and you know I freeze up with contests - they send me cowering into corners. I can't compete with Balkazar, or Joanna's crazy Cedric story, haha! And did you see ThisKid's entry - amazing!


    BTW, I got my books from storage. I'll email you!

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  49. But seriously...
    You must write this book, and I mean it! (Anybody want a...oh, never mind.)

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  50. You wrote a cute story with an original idea!!! Very fun!

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  51. Ha! How fun! I love your story.... especially the line "Every good castle needs a dragon."

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  52. Thinking (and looking) outside the box. Of course the illustration is a stage set! I love the twist you took. A fun read!

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  53. I love stories that show a different side of familiar characters. I could just picture this extension of the Camelot story. Bravo!

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  54. A dreamscape. I love the different angles everyone is viewing the illustration from.

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  55. Another dreamscape! I love the way the plot rises up and then shrinks back, like a wave.

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  56. A story within a story. Very clever!

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  57. I know, isn't it amazing and fun?!





























    Laura Renauld (unregistered) wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:

    A dreamscape. I love the different angles everyone is viewing the illustration from.

    Link to comment
    IP address: 173.71.218.239

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  58. Oozing creativity for sure! Fun story :•)

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  59. What a fun version. Very clever AND they live happily ever after. Terrific!

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  60. Gee, I hope the family member is checking out the comments :)






























    Penny Klostermann (unregistered) wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:

    Oozing creativity for sure! Fun story :•)


    Link to comment
    IP address: 74.196.64.155

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  61. This is really funny! Who needs an ipod on a car ride with a great storyteller?

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  62. Ahhhh...I love a story where the message is to be thankful for what you have, not worry about what you don't have. Well done!

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  63. Very creative, indeed. I am hoping she is saved by her prince. Please write more!

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  64. Hahahahaha - you made me laugh :)






























    Renee LaTulippe wrote, in response to Renee LaTulippe:


    But seriously...
    You must write this book, and I mean it! (Anybody want a...oh, never mind.)

    User's website
    Link to comment
    IP address: 84.223.34.198

    ReplyDelete
  65. You with the contests, me with the videos :) We'll both have to step out of our comfort zones one of these days :) But I know how well you write and you could compete! Excited to hear about the books!





























    Renee LaTulippe wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:


    Alas, I'm crazy with work, and you know I freeze up with contests - they send me cowering into corners. I can't compete with Balkazar, or Joanna's crazy Cedric story, haha! And did you see ThisKid's entry - amazing!

    BTW, I got my books from storage. I'll email you!


    User's website
    Link to comment
    IP address: 84.223.34.198

    ReplyDelete
  66. I'm going to post my submission here. This was a challenge, no doubt! It gave me practice on word cutting. A story with a beginning, middle, and end, a hook, a problem/conflict, a character change...all in 250 words? Here is my attempt. It's exactly 250 words!


    Age:
    6-9

    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.

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  67. Sorry, I copied and pasted my story and the format, as you can see, is all wrong. Oh well. The story is there.

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  68. This is terrific, Romelle! You met the challenge well! :) I love that the fox taunts the dragon, in much the way siblings say things to each other like, "Didn't you know? You're adopted!", how the dragon doubts himself, and the ambiguity that remains - is he a prince or a dragon, and does it matter? Because ultimately he loves his boy. Great job!

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  69. Susanna, what a wonderful contest to send summer out in style & ease us back into the routine of fall. Heather, your "prompt" is so rich with possibilities (as i can see from the varied and wonderfully-imaginative stories I've read thus far). Coming in at exactly 250 words, I present,


    THE RAVEN
    Raven clutched the golden key in her strong yellow beak. “Bring me the key, my pretty,” cooed Gwynda, the White Witch, “and I’ll share some stew with you.”
    “Heed not her pleas, noble Raven,” hissed Mistress Spratt. “Her heart is blacker than coal though she appears white as new snow. Better to drop the key into the fiery depths of yonder ravine than to deliver it to that Sorceress.”
    “Did you hear that, Raven? She called me a Sorceress. She is nothing but a pot calling the kettle black! Look, she plants Rosalita like a flower in that tower, and will roast her with that powder-puff of a dragon.”
    “I’ll take that key, Raven. It is I, Sir Reginald, upon my trusty steed; I’ll save her and love her and heed her every need.” Raven peered at Gwynda. The witch was white as parchment, skin dry as ink. Her stew reeked of lizard tails and eye of newt - what stink!
    Raven looked down on Mistress Spratt. Her knobby fingers stretched like talons towards the claws of her bloated puff of a dragon. Raven stared at Sir Reginald. The handsome knight trembled with fright; his steed was poised, ready for flight.
    “Caw! Caw!” crowed Rosalita. Raven rose like a phoenix from her perch. Rosalita sprang towards her glistening back, and landed with a lurch. “Farewell!” she cried. “I crave not pot, nor oven, nor to be a bride meek. It is adventure and treasure and my destiny I seek!”

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  70. Oh, you are the queen of writing contests, Susanna. I wish I could get my brain cells to engage long enough to participate. Guess I'm stuck in blog visiting mode right now.

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  71. I love the opportunity to write about dragons. Thanks for this great introduction to a few blogs I haven't read before too!

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  72. Fun story! Great line-
    Her stew reeked of lizard tails and eye of newt - what stink!

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  73. Yes...it is so much fun that the fox is so conniving. Really nice twist!

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  74. I was glad to be introduced to your blog, Lauri, and I loved your story - really fun! Thanks so much for joining in! :)

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  75. That's OK, Ruth :) I'll give you a heads up - there will be another one at the end of October for Halloween. That gives you almost 2 months to get a head start :) But don't feel like you have to enter - I'm happy just to have you visit :)

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  76. Wonderful story, Patricia! I'm so glad you got one in! And I'm with Penny - I love the line Her stew reeked of lizard tails and eye of newt - what stink!

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  77. Thanks, Susanna. I loved writing this one - such a terrific writing prompt!

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  78. Heather is a very talented artist!






























    Patricia Nozell wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:


    Thanks, Susanna. I loved writing this one - such a terrific writing prompt!

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