The 4th Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!
aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!!
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| courtesy google images |
Post your story on your blog between right now this very second and Friday October 31st by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list below. There will be no Would You Read It Wednesday or Perfect Picture Book Friday this week, so this post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. (I hope you will all visit each other! :)) If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section below. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I'll post it for you!)
The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee - okay, who are we kidding? :)) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 3rd. The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 6th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off. I may post as many as 10 finalists and I'll probably end up giving everyone a prize :) But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it :)
The Prizes: we've got some seriously amazing prizes! (words in color are links to more info)
- Julie Hedlund's fantastic new course How To Make Money As An Author, interesting, educational and suitable for writers at any stage of their career
- a 2015 membership to Children's Book Insider, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds, generously offered by Jon Bard and Laura Backes
- a picture book manuscript critique from the renowned Alayne Christian (prose only, 800 words or less)
Alayne Kay Christian is an award winning author of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA. She is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&Ink Literary Studio. To read more about Alayne, her critique service, and her books visit her websites and blog.
- a picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
- a picture book manuscript critique by Tracey M. Cox! Tracey offers a full critique on a fiction PB, 800 words or less, which will include overall impression and line-by-line on a prose only pb ms. She will also include thoughts and marketing ideas that she thinks about and if she can think of references, she'll add them also. Tracey M. Cox has been writing professionally since 2000 and is an author of 6 picture books. She is an active member in the children's literature community and explores how to self-market on little to no budget.
Website: www.traceymcox.comBlog: www.traceymcox.wordpress.com
- a personalized signed copy of I WANNA GO HOME by Karen Kaufman Orloff, the latest in the brilliant PB series that began with I WANNA IGUANA. (Reviewed HERE for PPBF)
- a personalized signed copy of I AM COW HEAR ME MOO by Jill Esbaum (reviewed for Perfect Picture Books HERE and HERE - yep, it's so popular it got reviewed for PPBF twice :))
- a personalized signed copy of NINJA RED RIDING HOOD by Corey Rosen Schwartz, the riveting follow-up to THE THREE NINJA PIGS. (Reviewed HERE for PPBF)
- a PDF copy of Ryan Sias's A Spooky-Doodle E-Book, "doodle pages, drawing lessons and writing prompts inspire kids to invent their own stories, characters and artwork."
Please join me again 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 holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up :)
Now then. Time for my sample entry which I provide because I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. Also, in case anyone is worried about the quality of their entry they have only to read my foolish attempts to be filled with confidence that their's is MUCH better! I have to confess, I was really down to the wire this year (my schedule is a little bit nuts!), so, ahem, yeah.. I'll be proofreading after I post since I'm out of time :) (And I usually do one rhyme and one prose, but I don't have a prose one this year... yet... if I have time maybe I'll write one and add it during the week :))
So without further ado:
Pirate Ploy (100 words)
Everyone feeling better about their stories now? I should certainly HOPE so! :)
I can't wait to read all of yours! I'm so looking forward to them! I hope there will be a lot - the more the merrier! And there are still 4 days to write, so you have time if you haven't written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! :)
There are already 57 entries in the comment section below that you won't want to miss! (names are links):
Barbara - The Trick Or Treat Troll
Eric - Witch Poem
Lata - Halloween Colors
Nomie - Mabel's Spooky Soiree
Tracie - The Misspelled Witch
Rachel K - A Home On Halloween
Suzy - Witch In My Hamper
Sarah C - The Moon Is Up!
Angela B - A Messy Halloween
Sue - Untitled
Kimberly C - First Flight Of Halloween
Ann - Off To See The Wizard
Susan - The Contest
Michelle V - The Halloween Sneer
Ashley - Pumpkin's Plight
Abigail - Maddie's First Broomstick
Jim - Jack
Melissa - Pumpkin's Patch
Pia - The Green Witch's Brew
Kathleen - The Littlest Pumpkin
Lori D - The Trick Or Treat Bag
Debbie - Halloween In A Box
Sharalyn - The Witch And The Pumpkin Contests
Jaymie - No Tricks, Just Treats
Jenifer - Broomstick Ball
Ellen - Emma's Evening Ride
Beth - Halloween Night
Anne - What's That?
Brandie - No Ordinary Witch
Marty - Winnie's Spell
Michelle B - This Year's Halloween Mascot
Jessica - Spooky Sharing
Alistair - The Raven And The Pumpkin
Kirsten - Family Re-BOO-nion
Jodi - Halloween Hide-And-Go-Seek
Anne B - The Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow
Carol - Halloween Night
Nicole - Black At Night
Hope - In The Wee Hours Of Halloween
Maggie - Arabella The Witch
Gina - Halloween Chase
Kelly - The Pumpkin King
Mandy - On This Night
Eric - The Scarecrow
Cat - Etty Bitty Belina
Julie A - Orinda Owl's First Halloween
Donna R - The Witches' Gathering
Kathy - Who Is It?
Robin - Kitchin-nastic Trick Or Treats
Sandy - Pete's Pumpkins
Judy - Halloween Parade
Merry - Witch School
Victoria - Creaks
Amelia - Full Moon Rising
Colleen - Tell It To The Ghosts
Sydney - Midnight Critters
Stefanie - Monsters Rock
Now then. Time for my sample entry which I provide because I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. Also, in case anyone is worried about the quality of their entry they have only to read my foolish attempts to be filled with confidence that their's is MUCH better! I have to confess, I was really down to the wire this year (my schedule is a little bit nuts!), so, ahem, yeah.. I'll be proofreading after I post since I'm out of time :) (And I usually do one rhyme and one prose, but I don't have a prose one this year... yet... if I have time maybe I'll write one and add it during the week :))
So without further ado:
A Halloween Dare (100 words)
Haggie Witch
just had to go
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| Haggie, as illustrated by the fabulously talented Julie Rowan-Zoch click for PORTFOLIO, DIGITAL, SKETCHBOOK |
To the
Broomstick Rodeo
And prove she
had the skill and pluck
To ride a
broomstick bronco's buck.
Her sister said
she’d fall headlong.
Haggie vowed to
prove her wrong!
Haggie’s heart
quailed in her chest
But she had to
face this test.
The gate sprang
open with a creak
Out shot Haggie
like a streak.
The broomstick
bronco pitched and rolled,
Lunged and
plunged quite uncontrolled!
But Haggie rode
that fireball
Just like a pro
and did not fall.
“I win, Sis, you
can’t deny
you owe me a pumpkin pie!”
Pirate Ploy (100 words)
Halloween
A pumpkin moon
A ghostly ship
A still lagoon
Tattered sails
Like swirling
mist
Ancient rigging
Creaks and
twists
Skull and
crossbones
Striking fear
Warning sailors
Far and near
Captain Jack
Comes thump-a-peg
Limping on
His broomstick
leg
“Steady mates,”
breathes Captain
Jack,
“Mustn’t blow
our sneak
attack!”
Silently
The ghost ship
glides
Closer . . .
Closer . . .
On the tides
Guided through
The murky blue
By the ghastly
Skeleton crew
Stealthily
it comes abreast
Lurking
uninvited guest
Nearing windows
warm with light
no idea
of their plight.
Captain Jack
deceit complete
shouts, “Mrs. Johnson!
Trick-or-treat!”
Everyone feeling better about their stories now? I should certainly HOPE so! :)
I can't wait to read all of yours! I'm so looking forward to them! I hope there will be a lot - the more the merrier! And there are still 4 days to write, so you have time if you haven't written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! :)
There are already 57 entries in the comment section below that you won't want to miss! (names are links):
Barbara - The Trick Or Treat Troll
Eric - Witch Poem
Lata - Halloween Colors
Nomie - Mabel's Spooky Soiree
Tracie - The Misspelled Witch
Rachel K - A Home On Halloween
Suzy - Witch In My Hamper
Sarah C - The Moon Is Up!
Angela B - A Messy Halloween
Sue - Untitled
Kimberly C - First Flight Of Halloween
Ann - Off To See The Wizard
Susan - The Contest
Michelle V - The Halloween Sneer
Ashley - Pumpkin's Plight
Abigail - Maddie's First Broomstick
Jim - Jack
Melissa - Pumpkin's Patch
Pia - The Green Witch's Brew
Kathleen - The Littlest Pumpkin
Lori D - The Trick Or Treat Bag
Debbie - Halloween In A Box
Sharalyn - The Witch And The Pumpkin Contests
Jaymie - No Tricks, Just Treats
Jenifer - Broomstick Ball
Ellen - Emma's Evening Ride
Beth - Halloween Night
Anne - What's That?
Brandie - No Ordinary Witch
Marty - Winnie's Spell
Michelle B - This Year's Halloween Mascot
Jessica - Spooky Sharing
Alistair - The Raven And The Pumpkin
Kirsten - Family Re-BOO-nion
Jodi - Halloween Hide-And-Go-Seek
Anne B - The Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow
Carol - Halloween Night
Nicole - Black At Night
Hope - In The Wee Hours Of Halloween
Maggie - Arabella The Witch
Gina - Halloween Chase
Kelly - The Pumpkin King
Mandy - On This Night
Eric - The Scarecrow
Cat - Etty Bitty Belina
Julie A - Orinda Owl's First Halloween
Donna R - The Witches' Gathering
Kathy - Who Is It?
Robin - Kitchin-nastic Trick Or Treats
Sandy - Pete's Pumpkins
Judy - Halloween Parade
Merry - Witch School
Victoria - Creaks
Amelia - Full Moon Rising
Colleen - Tell It To The Ghosts
Sydney - Midnight Critters
Stefanie - Monsters Rock
ENTRY POSTED FOR BARBARA D.
ReplyDeleteThe Trick or Treat Troll
The Troll sat under the creaky bridge waiting. Stepping out into the clearing, something grabbed his hand.
"C'mon silly," said a little voice, "you'll miss the fun!"
The shiny-pink frock, glittery crown, the miniature broomstick...all glowed in the moonlight.
"Sorcerer!" snarled Troll.
The little girl giggled and told Troll she liked his costume too.
What powers she had! Every door opened for her, and not just one treat was given, sometimes MORE.
The enchantress dropped Trolls hand and evenly divided treats from the plastic pumpkin head.
"Don't eat it all at once." teased the little charmer.
End
by Barbara DiMarco
ENTRY POSTED FOR LATA
ReplyDeleteHalloween Colors
Creak! Rattle! Boom!
Little Pumpkin shivered. “I’m scared, Mama”
“It must be just the wind,” Mother said without much drama.
Bump! Thud! Whoosh!
Five witches flew in through the window.
Clang! Ding! Clatter!
Five broomsticks hit the floor.
“Flying witches? Eeek!”
Little Pumpkin turned ash white.
“Talking pumpkins? Yikes!”
The witches shrieked in fright.
The first witch turned spinach green, the second eggplant purple.
The third banana yellow, and the fourth pumpkin orange.
The fifth witch yelled, “Let’s go!” as she turned tomato red.
When talking pumpkins meet flying witches,
It’s a crazy color spread!
ENTRY POSTED FOR NOMIE
ReplyDeleteMabel’s Spooky Soiree
By Nomie O’Bry
Mabel Maybelle was a witch who lived in a cottage in the dark woods. One Halloween night, she had a costume party at her house and invited all of her monster friends to come. Before her guests arrived, she carefully carved a spooky face into a huge pumpkin, swept the dust and grime into the house with her magic broomstick, hung spider webs on the walls, and put the creak-creak sound back into the floorboards of her house. All of the monsters at the party dressed like normal people for their costumes and everyone danced, laughed, and feasted until sunrise.
Those examples are awesome. Looking forward to reading the entries post-Disney... In a few days!
ReplyDeleteLove the re reversal Nomie
ReplyDeleteLive the sounds Lata!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! These are giving me a chuckle this morning. I like the way you worked creak in their Barbara!
ReplyDeleteLove your sample entries, Susanna! Good luck all!
ReplyDeleteLove the entries! Mine's posted! Good luck everyone.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read the entries. Love your, Sus. Off I go to read. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHahahaha. Fantastical ending!!
ReplyDeleteOooo, onomatopoeia. Beautiful. I love to use those too.
ReplyDeleteI love this entry. Love that you used a troll. Super creative.
ReplyDeleteAwesome examples! I'm still editing mine... so... Later this week! :D Can't wait to read them all!
ReplyDeleteYour samples are spooky and fun, Susannah. Thanks for hosting this Halloweensie Treat!
ReplyDeleteOFF TO SEE THE WIZARD
ReplyDeleteThe pumpkin moon hung low in the sky lighting the trick-or-treaters’ way through the neighborhood. The dilapidated mansion stood at the top of the hill. Wizard’s invitation said, “Arrive exactly at midnight”.
Lion trembled. He thought he heard the Wicked Witch cackling, but it was only Tin Man’s joints creaking.
Just as Dorothy knocked on the door her cell phone beeped. Scarecrow yelled, “Hit the dirt,” and ducked for cover,
which tripped Tin Man who tumbled down the steps,
which bumped a quivering Lion into . . .
Harry Potter?
“Pardon me, have you seen my broomstick?”
Can't help thinking how coldand moist troll's hand must have felt! Fun entry, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteGreat use of the senses!
ReplyDeleteFun twist, Nomie!
ReplyDeleteDang, Susanna, those examples are great! Would love to sketch up the first one especially! Thanks for doing this contest! With no trick or treaters left here it's a nice treat for me!
ReplyDeleteFirst Flight of Halloween
ReplyDeleteby Kimberly Cowger
The carved pumpkin’s flickering light is all I have guiding
my way as I tip toe past my snoring sister. I stifle a scream as a spider scurries across
my foot. The creaky floor board
causes
my sister to stir; I hold my breath until she’s snoring once more.
Reaching under her bed, my fingers grasp my prize. Without another
sound, I seat myself onto the broomstick
and glide past her. The grin on the pumpkin’s flickering face matches my
own as I woosh out the window, rising higher into the sky for my first
flight of Halloween!
Can't wait to have a bit of time to read these! Fun fun fun. Mine is ALMOST done - should have it up by Wednesday. TOO fun!
ReplyDeleteOK - here's my entry for the Halloweensie contest
ReplyDeleteSomeone is stealing pumpkins. But who?
Thomas set a broomstick trap, but caught nothing.
Sara clicked a picture of a very blurry polar bear.
Merry hid behind the scarecrow and waited.
Creak! She followed something to the river where it disappeared.
Then a ransom note appeared on the library door: I have your
pumpkins. Come to the old barn at midnight.
Batmen and dragons and fairies and ghosts gather. They march
to the barn, through the doors and … Trick-or-Treat!
Pies everywhere, enough for everyone! Hot cider, fiddlers,
clapping and dancing. Let’s do this again next year!
Glad to hear yours is almost done Joanne. I got a bit of time on the computer today so I made sure to post my entry before I could forget! :)
ReplyDeleteOH! I'm out. That Captain Jack poem had me mesmerized and little chills were playing all up and down my arms. That bad boy needs to be published ASAP. eek. still quivering.
ReplyDeleteI feel just terrible about my story! Maybe I'll try another for later in the week which I hope is allowed. I see you did two stories, Susanna so I might too. The one I put up is not scary or halloweenie. I want to make mine scary. whoo wooo booo! :)
ReplyDeleteLove these contests though, so fun! I like these stories. Ssoo much better than mine. And I can't help but compare.. Though I guess everyone is a winner who dared put a story up on their blog or here in comments. Yay! Folks! :)
Great story, Kimberly! I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Julie. I don't get trick or treaters here in the country so this is a fine way to celebrate. I just love this contest. Can't wait to see what you come up with! :)
ReplyDeleteOh Ann, this is so cute!! I placed mine at Hogwarts. So much fun! Thanks for joining in the fun. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining into the fun, Nomie. I Love your story. So halloweenie. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat use of images and senses,Lata. Thanks for joining in the fun! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara! This is a great story! Very imaginative. I love the use of monsters and dress up in making believe on Halloween, then the switch so subtle done. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, for goodness' sake, Susanna, you always act like you've not prepared at all and then writes a story that is of prize-winning quality! LOL! I loved both those poems (especially the second).
ReplyDeleteI can't do this contest this year (in fact, I really should not be online since I owe my sci-fi group a couple of stories in 3 days...for upcoming anthologies that also benefit Doctors Without Borders), but I look forward to reading the entries. :)
After reading yours...um...I'm not so sure about mine :-) It's A Messy Halloween. I'm not much in the way of a rhymer so it's sort of a flash fiction. It will be up on my blog Wednesday but I figured I'd share it here in the comments:
ReplyDeleteA Messy Halloween
“My word!” Mommy said, hands on hips.
Pumpkin seeds bounced along the kitchen floor to the up and down rhythm of mommy's wand in my fist. Grandma moved her walker doing a two-step. Mimi, our black cat, jumped on the window sill and meowed. The jack-o-lantern looked on with his crooked grin.
Mommy snapped her fingers. Her broomstick flew into her grasp. The floor creaked as she danced, bobbing her head to the pots and pans’ beat.
“A messy Halloween is the best Halloween when my little witch comes into her powers,” she sang.
And we danced the Halloween away.
Yay for Halloweensie! And yay for your two sample examples, Susanna...the first is so funny and the second is quite beautiful...very lyrical...Renee will love it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading everyone's entries...it's an added bonus when new people submit and we get to 'meet' them and visit their websites. ;) Thank you so much for putting this all together!
What fun, Sue! A Halloween surprise party for everyone...I'll take a cup of hot cider, please. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh goodie, Kimberly! I can remember the fights my sister and I had as kids because I always wanted to wear her clothes and use her things (she was 3 years older and had better stuff :) )...I wonder what's going to happen if her sister finds out she's been using her broomstick. ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha...Ann, I love your smash-up of The Wizard of Oz meets Harry Potter...very clever...great images of the domino effect as they all fall into each other. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nomie! I LOVE your mc's name...and I LOVE that she sweeps the dust and grime INTO the house...so funny. :)
ReplyDeleteLove all the color words, Lata...what a great Halloween story for little ones. :)
ReplyDeleteThe innocence of a young child...you portrayed that perfectly, Barbara...she accepts the troll as a companion and he is in awe of her 'powers'...great story. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Love these contests. They're so much fun. Your sample stories are wonderful as always, Susanna. :-) Thank you for hosting another great contest!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sweetie!
ReplyDeleteThanks! My intention was for the reader to decide if the mansion belonged to the "Wizard of Oz" or Hogwarts. :)
ReplyDeleteI especially love the pirate one, Susanna. I have an interview up on the blog today already pre-planned for Hazel so I will post my entry on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteSusanna, I'm not able to connect to Link #5. Just fyi. :)
ReplyDeleteThere may not be candy in the house but thanks to you there is lots of Halloween spirit, Susanna! You always post clever stories.
ReplyDeleteLinda Ford, I really enjoyed your story, The Halloween Surprise. Fun word play and very cute. Great job! :-)
ReplyDeleteSusanna...your examples are scary cute! That's a good thing in case you're wondering! As in...it's scary how creative you are in such a short amount of time! I'm looking forward to reading all the entries!! So much fun!
ReplyDeleteENTRY POSTED FOR TRACIE
ReplyDeleteThe Misspelled Witch
by Tracie Percival
I’m not scary. I can’t get this right!
I mix these potions, but no scare, no fright!
I don’t like things that cackle or creak!
I haven’t scared anyone in over a week!
Christmas is more cheery, not Halloween night.
But since I’m a witch, I’ll try this last potion with all my might!
A little of this, a whole lot of that,
Together this will make a spooky black cat!
My broomstick will mix left and then right,
Viola an animal, black like midnight!
What is this in my pumpkin caldron I see?
Oh no, a little black puppy!!!!
ENTRY POSTED FOR ERIC (who technically can't win because he's married to one of the judges :))
ReplyDeleteThere once was a Witch who hated Halloween Night.
Ghosts and Goblins gave her a Fright.
She jumped out of her skin when she heard a weird Creak.
Of Pumpkins and graveyards she would never speak.
Being a Witch just wasn't her thing.
She should have been a Dancer or learned how to sing.
So late in October just before the full Moon,
She flew on her broomstick for a week in Cancun.
ENTRY POSTED FOR RACHEL
ReplyDeleteA Home on Halloween
by Rachel Krackeler
When Joey the pumpkin seed was planted in the patch he hoped for a home on a creaky, creepy porch.
"I'll grow to be the biggest pumpkin and be picked for sure," he said.
So he drank up most of the water in the patch and soaked up most of the sun, scaring off the other pumpkins. By Halloween morning he was the biggest pumpkin, and the only one left, too big to budge.
Homeless and hopeless he cried. But the Halloween Fairy appeared. Waving her magic broomstick she sent Joey to a lonely porch in need of a pumpkin.
Nice job, Barbara! I love the contrast...a troll and all the pink and glitter :-)
ReplyDeleteENTRY POSTED FOR SUZY
ReplyDeleteWITCH IN MY HAMPER
By
Suzy Levinson
There's a witch in my hamper.
I'm not sure why she's there.
All I know is her broomstick's
popping out in midair.
There's a wolf in my closet.
Can you hear how he creaks?
I can't guess what he's up to.
He's been howling for weeks.
There's a ghoul who's quite creepy
with his big pumpkin head.
Please stay calm when I tell you
that he's under my bed.
I'll invite all three monsters
for a nice meet-and-greet.
Halloween is upon us
so we'll go trick-or-treat!
I love the way you incorporated all the colors. Very clever!
ReplyDeletePutting the creak-creak into the floorboards is especially fun! Nice entry.
ReplyDeleteThe title fits so perfectly! Love the wordplay and the ending :-)
ReplyDeleteCute! I'm glad Joey got what he hoped for. Those fairies come in handy when it comes to all things pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteTrick-or-treating is a good way to clear the house of creatures! Cute story.
ReplyDeleteThis is adorable. Great job, Suzy! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat story! I love happy endings. Well done, Rachel!
ReplyDeleteHaHa! Great story. I love the ending! :)
ReplyDeleteAw, so cute. What a fun story. Great job, Tracie! :)
ReplyDeleteENTRY POSTED FOR SARAH C
ReplyDeleteThe Moon is Up!
By Sarah Crist
The moon is up, it’s dark outside.
Black cat creeping, eyes big and wide.
Orange pumpkins, round and aglow,
Candy corn in our favorite bowl.
Porch light lit, broomstick in hand,
Fright tunes spilling from radios like sand.
Wooden steps creaking, under afoot,
Black painted on faces, like soot.
Excited for candy, fun and friends,
Prancing under the moon, don’t want it to end.
Noses chilled from autumn’s cold,
Piled leaves on lawns, like mountains of gold.
One day a year, none in between,
Hooray for this day, it’s Halloween!
There was a mistake in the link. I think I've fixed it, but you might have to refresh your browser :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Sarah! Love the Halloweenish mood. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt works for me now. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteThese are all so fun to read! Here's my entry:
ReplyDeleteThe Contest
By Susan Halko
Witch swooped.
Skeleton creaked.
Ghost moaned.
Zombie drooled.
Jack-O-Lantern smiled.
The judges made their decision.
“This was a treat!” they said.
“But it was tricky, too.”
“Witch is so nasty.”
“Ghost is so eerie.”
“Skeleton is so spine-tingly.”
“And Zombie is so in
right now.”
"But the prize for Scariest Halloween Character goes to...
Jack-O-Lantern!"
Witch fell off her broomstick.
“What?!” she cried.
“He’s just a pumpkin! He doesn’t even do anything!”
But when the lights went down,
Jack-O-Lantern's candle lit up.
Everyone's face glowed.
And Jack-O-Lantern whispered,
"BOO!"
Witch shrieked.
Ghost squeaked.
Zombie freaked.
Skeleton “Eeeek!”ed.
And Jack-O-Lantern smiled.
Yay! :)
ReplyDeleteWoof! Cute, Tracie
ReplyDeleteAww! Joey is welcome on my lonely porch!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the narrator has caught all that's needed for a fright-filled night!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Sweet surprise, Sue!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of myself, stealing my sisters shoes! She had quite the collection in high school!
ReplyDeleteI posted my link, I can't wait to read the others! This is putting me in the Halloween spirit. (Well, this and the 2 bags of Halloween candy I bought today…)
ReplyDeleteLove this! Well done, Susan! :)
ReplyDeleteHaHa, Carrie! :) Loved your story.
ReplyDeleteAh fun.
ReplyDeleteAll you poets are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun images this conjures up.
ReplyDeleteWe'll take him!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I could do Cancun...
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds like my day...:)
ReplyDeleteAh cute. Made me smile.
ReplyDeleteHow fun and so festive, Susanna! I'll have to remind myself to come back and check out the entries.
ReplyDeleteNice ending to a spooky mystery.
ReplyDeleteI was sure she'd be reaching for her trick-or-treat stash. That's what I'd have done, but a broom is much better.
ReplyDeleteHave you written one? hint, hint :)
ReplyDeleteTouche...fun twist there.
ReplyDeleteOnly 2 bags? You're so self-disciplined :)
ReplyDeleteThis is really fun. You might want to consider subbing this out some day. :)
ReplyDeleteENTRY POSTED FOR MICHELLE V
ReplyDeleteThe Halloween Sneer 100 words, by Michelle Valencia
Eating his pumpkin bread
He heard a creak down the hall
Slowly he moved
Nearly tripping on a ball
Peeking around the corner
A movement caught his sight
Disappearing too quickly
He got a little fright
The house had been empty
It was Halloween again
A broomstick in the corner
Would be his new best friend
Again the creak occurred
He listened for more clues
He would take one more look
What did he have to lose?
He saw an image of himself
With a sneer upon its face
The floor dropped out beneath
And the image took his place!
Well done, Susan! Great story, nice repetition, wonderful ending, and all in 100 words! Thanks so much for joining in the fun! :)
ReplyDeletePumpkin’s Plight
ReplyDeleteBy: Ashley Bohmer
I’m a pumpkin all alone.
No one will take me home.
A woman with a broomstick bought my brother.
A man with a pointed hat and a creaky cane took my mother.
My father is gone now too.
Oh no, now what am I going to do?
My sister was taken by a girl with a glitzy crown.
My cousin by a red-nosed circus clown; still no one wants me
so I start to cry.
Then a boy with a cape catches my eye.
“This one’s perfect!” He shrieks with delight.
Can we carve him when
we get home tonight?
What a beautiful job you've done of evoking Halloween, Sarah! I love the "noses chilled from autumn's cold" and the "piled leaves like mountains of gold" and all the lovely details of the creeping cat and glowing pumpkins! Nicely done :) Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
ReplyDeleteI love the hide-and-seek fun of where all the monsters are hiding, Suzy! What a cute, fun story! I can imagine you and the monsters will have a lovely time trick-or-treating :) Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDeleteLove this cute story, Rachel! Joey maybe learned a little lesson about being greedy :) And how nice that the Halloween Fairy showed up, took pity on him, and made sure he had a happy halloween! I'm glad it turned out happily :) Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx :)
ReplyDeleteSmart cookie :)
ReplyDeletePoor little witch, trying so hard! Maybe she and the puppy will find their own way to celebrate Halloween :) Thanks so much for a very cute story, Tracie, and for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDeleteAw shucks, Penny, you're just being nice - but thank you :) I hope you enjoy reading all the entries. I love it! So fun to see how creative and talented everyone is, and what a variety of stories we get based on the same three words! I hope you're posting one! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat? No candy in the house?! Wendy, have I taught you nothing??? :) I'm glad you're in the Halloween spirit, though, and can't wait to read your story :)
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Joanna :) I'll get over to your blog to read Hazel eventually... I'm a little backlogged today :)... and look forward to reading your entry!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you love the contests, Cheryl! I love them too! So much fun! So many talented, creative people, and so many fun stories! I can't wait to read yours! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vivian, you are exceptionally kind about my samples :) The first one was a lot better at 134 words! :) I can't wait to read yours! And I totally agree - I love reading all the stories, and I especially love getting to meet new writers! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is adorable, Angela! I'm thrilled that you finally joined a contest! And your story is so cute, and the dance rhythms so lovely in the writing! Great job! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDeleteMy stories are not prize-winning quality, but you're very nice to say so, T :) Hope you enjoy the entries! And hope you can't resist the temptation to join the fun and write your own 100 words! :)
ReplyDeleteClar! Do NOT feel terrible! Every story is worth writing! I haven't read yours yet, but I look forward to it! And yes, of course you can enter more than one. I probably should have put that in the rules... I know what you mean about comparing yourself - I do it all the time - but it's a bad habit. Just write your best and enjoy the rest :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! You're so funny, Lauri! I'm glad if you like it though :) Can't wait to read yours!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, how delightful, Sue!! I love the message - come to the old barn at midnight! - and what a lovely picture you paint of halloween festivities! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx and shenanigans! :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Susanna. I'm just glad that, for once, I get to be a part of the Halloweensie fun :-)
ReplyDeleteYou will love them, Joanne! So clever and fun and creative! Can't wait to read yours!!! :)
ReplyDeleteLove this, Kimberly! What wonderful details! And what perfect sibling sneakery :) Nicely done! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind, Julie! Really! But I would love you to sketch anything you like! I'll add your picture to the story and credit you and link to your blog. It would be so fun! :) I can't wait to read your story!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Nicely done, Ann! Love the mashup of The Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter - very clever! Love that Dorothy's cell phone caused Scarecrow to hit the dirt :) And I'm chuckling that you and I both had "pumpkin moons" :) Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie high jinx! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy! I'm assuming you've posted and entry... so I can't wait to come read it! :)
ReplyDeleteEdit shmedit :) I didn't even proofread mine! But then again, I'm not vying for any of those fabulous prizes, so yes, by all means, edit to your heart's content :) Looking very much forward to reading yours, Erik!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read them all either! So much talent and creativity! I hope I will be reading one from you, dearest Rob :)
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Can't wait to read it, Janet!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Iza :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stacy! Can't wait to read yours, which I know is already up, but administrative details over here have prevented me from reading all the stories yet! Enjoy Disney!!! (And then let me know which Halloweensie entry is Enzo's favorite - him being the audience for whom these tales are written :))
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun story, Lata! I love that Little Pumpkin is scared of the witches, but the witches were scared of talking pumpkins! And love your Halloween-y rainbow! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDeleteLove that the sparkly little princess mistook the troll for another trick-or-treater AND shared her candy equally with him! :) And I love how you've captured the magic of Halloween for children - that power to be someone/something else and open doors and get candy on that one night of the year! Thanks so much for joining in the fun! :)
ReplyDeleteAw! Poor little pumpkin! Everyone wants to feel wanted! I'm glad someone finally chose him! I wonder if he knew what he was in for with the carving, though... :) Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteYou know I was wondering the same exact thing! I think a feel a 100 word sequel coming on. ;) You're so welcome. Thanks again for having me. This is terrific!
ReplyDeleteYes, thanks, Susanna. I will do that. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDelete:-)
ReplyDeleteI posted mine now! Yay! :D
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Ashley. I didn't read the first line carefully, nor the title, obviously. (My hubby would say I need to clean my reading glasses) So as I read, I was like...hey, what's going on...this kid's family are all being kidnapped. Ha! Then I got to the end...and it was a total surprise. :) I loved it!
ReplyDeleteWow...Michelle...very chilling! Kind of Edgar Allan Poe-ish...great entry. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll be over to read yours this evening, Carrie...so you bought 2 bags of Halloween candy...did you open them yet? :) :)
ReplyDeleteOh, what a fun Halloween tale! Great job, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteAw, this is sweet. Very cute story. Nice job, Ashley! :)
ReplyDeleteLove it, Susan. So simple, yet so much going on...and GREAT language!!! And a story and a lesson and a beginning, middle and end...how did you do that in 100 words? :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome phrases, Sarah, like 'prancing under the moon', noses chilled from autumn's cold'...you made Halloween come alive. ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha...LOVE the 'meet-and-greet'...and loved the 'monsters' hidden in different places...great rhyme, Suzy!!!
ReplyDeleteVery creative, Rachel...people actually do that (pinching off the other pumpkins on a vine) so that one can grow REALLY big. I'm happy that Joey got a porch to sit on. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is...are you taking that talented, beautiful and wonderful wife of yours for a week in Cancun? She deserves it! You are such a good sport to play along with us, Eric...especially in rhyme. ;) ;) I love your story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, Tracie! I think your little witch will be very happy with the product of her spell...great job!
ReplyDeleteAwww…Thanks so much, Vivian. :) I'm with your hubby on this one, but I can see where that would freak you out. LoL!
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us be part of Little Witch's milestone. :) Lovely images all the way through, Angela...I loved it!
ReplyDeleteWe are our own worst critics, Clar. ;) First of all, we would love your entry even if it was terrible. HOWEVER...it will not be because you are a very good writer!!!! And you said such an important thing in your comment that bears repeating...'EVERYONE IS A WINNER WHO DARES PUT A STORY UP ON THEIR BLOG OR HERE IN THE COMMENTS'...that is so true. ;) ;) ;)
ReplyDeleteYup...can't wait to read yours, Nancy!
ReplyDeleteHa, Great job, Ashley! Made me laough out loaud. Happy Halloween! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Clarike.--Happy Halloween! :D
ReplyDeleteMaddie’s First Broomstick
ReplyDeleteMaddie wriggled on the creaky porch step. She straightened her crisp, pointy witch hat.
“The wizard will be here soon,” Mom reminded her.
“Does he know about Otto?” Maddie asked.
“Not to worry, he has thought about your cackling crow,” Mom laughed.
Knock, Knock!
“Come try your broomstick,” Hugo said.
It floated and had a tiny seat for her pet.
“Would Otto like some pumpkin seeds?” Hugo asked.
“Yes!” Maddie replied. Otto gobbled them up.
She and Otto flew near fruit trees. They picked an apple midair, circled and landed.
“Ready for your first Halloween flight!” Mom said.
Maddie smiled.
THE END
Thanks, Vivian!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susanna! I loooooooove Halloweensie!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Johnell!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Penny!
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying so, Vivian! I posted a whole comment to this effect and it's gone! Does not bode well for how this page is going to hold up this week!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm buried in an avalanche of emails and administrative details, but I will get there AS SOON AS I CAN! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susanna! This is so fun :D
ReplyDeleteENTRY POSTED FOR JIM
ReplyDeleteJack by Jim Jones
A lone set of headlights bounced up and down as the old truck ground through the rutted field. The bed creaked under the load of pumpkins. The driver smiled under his straw hat as the truck heaved up on the road. He was headed to town with his precious cargo.
At the stroke of midnight the little town stirred. Bleery eyed children ran to and fro. At the base of the clock lay a pile of free pumpkins. “Pumpkin Jack has come!”, they cried.
At the dark edge of town, leaning on his broomstick, a gentle spirit laughed.
Oh, how nice, Jim! I love the idea of Pumpkin Jack! Kind of like a Halloween santa :) Love your descriptive language in the first paragraph - so evocative! I felt like I was right there in the truck! Great job in only 100 words! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun! :)
ReplyDeleteAw! What a cute little witch! I love that she wriggles on the porch step - so perfectly childlike! And love that she has a companion - and that his name is Otto :) Fun to think about milestones for a witch - what a great idea! Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't going to! But, I just can't stand it! I feel so Halloweensie that I can't think of another thing!!! I pulled out an old poem and reworked it since it was almost 300 words! I've gotten it down to an acceptable number! I'll get it up tonight or in the morning.
ReplyDeleteHahaha :) 100 word sequel! That's a new one :) And a good one :) I'll read it if you write it!
ReplyDeleteIt's an Overwhelming Temptation, isn't it Penny? Like Oreos :) So excited you're going to post a story! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Christie! I'm so glad you're enjoying it!!! :)
ReplyDeleteLoL! Thanks. Oh, and by the way challenge accepted. ;)
ReplyDeleteCute story, Abigail. What a fun idea, a little witch with her pet crow. And what a thoughtful wizard. :-) Nice job!
ReplyDeleteHi Susanna, readers and writers! Happy Halloweensie. Here is my submission for the 4th Annual It's Soooo Much Fun Halloweensie Contest.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.teresamischaefer.com/#!The-Best-Pumpkin/c1hi3/750C8BA9-9694-414C-8322-6448877B9782
Last year I pasted my story into the box, so not certain if I will do this right, but here goes...
I really liked this story. Love the image set with the sights and sounds of the truck delivering its cargo. Wonderful ending, too. Pumpkin Jack is a great character, full of promising stories. Well done, Jim!
ReplyDeleteWow. I didn't see that ending coming. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteLove it -"WHAT?" I can hear her shrieking now and the visual of her falling off her broomstick -- great
ReplyDeleteAgree with Vivian and Susanna -- beautiful word choices= beautiful images
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind compliments. Otto was the first character in the story to come to me. I was reminded of a child getting a bike, the excitement and fun, doing this as a Halloween theme so yes, a "milestone." Happy Halloweensie to you as well! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so clever -- i love the witch in the hamper
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind compliments Cheryl. :) Yes, the wizard is thoughtful to bring the pumpkin seeds for Otto. He was the first character to come to mind for this story! Happy Halloweensie to you! :)
ReplyDeleteSusanna, I just discovered that my link goes to the wrong place on my blog. (My story is The Shadow.) Is there a way you can fix that, or should I list it again? The correct URL is http://storypatch.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/the-shadow-a-halloweensie-story/
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how it could have happened because I haven't looked at that page in ages. Weird.
Gotta love the boy with the cape! Nice job.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a little witch you can't not love.
ReplyDeleteI want Jack to come to my town. What a sweet tale.
ReplyDeleteHaha…Yes, indeed. Thanks, Teresa! :)
ReplyDeleteHa! Adorable sample stories. I've read a few of the others already. So much fun. Good luck, everybody!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teresa!
ReplyDeleteGosh, thanks, Vivian! That's so nice of you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susanna! This IS fun. And thanks for all of your work organizing it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Johnell!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Johnell. I love the visuals and great characters.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, now that's a spooky Halloween story!
ReplyDeleteYep, now I'm in a Halloween Mood. Nice story!
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely, Jim! What a generous soul...and a happy story. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite part is "Please stay calm when I tell you he's under my bed." Love the voice!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that Maddie's first Halloween flight will be on a brand new broom...sweet story, Abigail. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love how Joey drank up the water and soaked up the sun. Creative story!
ReplyDeleteHa! Nice.
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I can fix it. Hang on...
ReplyDeleteI love this idea--and you executed it well! Great story!
ReplyDeleteAll fixed :)
ReplyDeleteGreat rhythm and language. And I love how your pumpkin has his dignity, Teresa, with his tall stem. : )
ReplyDeletePumpkin’s Patch (94 words)
ReplyDeleteThe trees swayed and the house creaked
And a little pumpkin rolled into the street.
The sad witch came out of her house and cried,
“My poor little pumpkin! Oh me! Oh my!”
Using her broomstick, she swept up a pile
But didn't want to throw it away for a while.
Huddled together, some kids made a plan
To put the pumpkin together again.
They unwrapped their candy and started to chew,
Using the treats to heal the boo-boos.
Piece by piece, the pumpkin was healed.
“My pumpkin is patched!” the happy witch squealed.
Thank you, Susan! :)
ReplyDelete