"Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book." - Stéphane Mallarmé
I have participated in Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie contest twice and her first-ever Valentiny contest, and this will be my first Holiday Writing Contest. The prompt: write a children's (ages 12 and under) holiday story of 300 words or less using the basic format/concept of The Twelve Days of Christmas! Check out my entry below. THE GIFT OF READING A Picture Book Riddle by Amanda Sincavage (297 words) Twelve days before Christmas I hadn’t bought any gifts yet. My sister Margarita banged the drums in her room and I couldn’t think through the clatter. I thought about sending her to a deserted island for Christmas. Eleven days before Christmas my little brother Tommy needed help building his train track. I told him, “I think you can do it.” Mom said to help him anyway. Can you wrap confidence? Ten days before Christmas my brother Matt’s tadpole grew legs! Maybe they need froggy shoes for leaping. Nine days before Christmas we went to the zoo. My sister Molly mimicked the flamingos. She already has pink tights and a tutu. Eight days before Christmas my Aunt Pat sent me to the store for milk and…I forgot!?!? She needs a delivery service. Seven days before Christmas my friend Joe and I explored the depths of a magical pond. We didn’t discover any gifts. Six days before Christmas I took my grumpy Grandpa for a walk, and we saw four waddling goslings. A pet for Grandpa? Five days before Christmas Grandma knocked on the door with a fresh batch of cookies. Mmmm…but she told me I had to share. Four days before Christmas my cousins teased me when I said a silly phrase. Maybe they won’t get anything. Three days before Christmas the whole family pitched in to help mom make cookies. Shhhh…they weren’t as good as Grandma’s. Two days before Christmas my friend Joni and I dressed up in too-big hats and couldn't see. No hats for her! One day before Christmas Daddy hung a swing from the old apple tree, which reminded me of a story…and that’s when it came to me. I would share my love of reading! What books did I gift from my library? Reread the story (and original song) to identify which books the main character gifted to each friend and family member! Post your guesses in the comments, and I will share the answers later this week. UPDATE 12/19/16: The contest is over and results are in! I am happy to have received an honorable mention for "Thinking-Outside-The-Box Creativity." Yippee! For those of you interested, I added the riddle answers in the comments below.
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Susanna Leonard Hill hosts an annual Halloweensie writing contest. This is my second year participating. Spoiler - I didn't win! But I love the constraints she provides for these exercises. Check out my entries from the last two years.
2016 Prompt: Write a 100-word Halloween story appropriate for children 12 and under using the words spider, ghost, and moon. FRANKIE’S FABRICATION by Amanda Sincavage Little Frankie N. Stein was excited for Halloween night. She went door-to-door collecting treats that would complete her masterpiece – a leg here, an ear there, nose, mouth, tongue, hair. Back at home alone in the garage, moonlight shone in as she assembled her montage. The last step – spider cider potion, a ghostly chant, and a magic motion… POOF! Smoke settled; the table was bare. Her creation’s alive! But where? Frankie N. Stein heard sounds from behind. She turned slowly around and happily found her greatest creation – a girl’s best friend. She extended her arms and her dog jumped in. Yeah, yeah, my meter is off, and I have (gasp) approximate rhymes and assonance. But, I got a little attached to the subject matter, not to mention the word count, and didn't want to change it. My dog Tucker passed away the month prior and the majority of my writing in October connected back to him. This was me wishing to see him again. 2015 Prompt: Write a 100-word Halloween story appropriate for children 12 and under using the words costume, haunt, and dark. THE HAUNTED DASH by Amanda Sincavage Dark night Eerie light Echoing “Boo!” Ghostly tune Up ahead A severed head Black cats Blood-sucking bats Ugly goblins Vampire coffins Skeleton bones Zombie zone A grim escort Hairy warts Wicked witch Eek! Hide in a ditch. Limbs sprawling What’s that crawling Up my back – Spider attack! Scurry away. Am I being chased? Bloody feet… No more tricks and treats. Haunted house? No - just a mouse! Forget the doom & gloom, They are only costumes. It simply must be All Hallows’ Eve So this one was a lot of fun to create. However, the plot wasn't clear and didn't really develop until halfway through when the main character hides in a ditch (and maybe not even then). That's why I love picture books, the images tell half the story. Regardless, it was a fun exercise. Announcing Susanna Hill's first Valentiny Writing Contest! The Rules: since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story in which someone is grumpy. It should be appropriate for children ages 12 and under in a maximum 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day)! Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone grumpy (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words max. You can go under the word count but not over! Title is not included in the word count. No illustration notes please!
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