Valentiny Writing Contest

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!

Grumpy's New Name
by Amanda Sincavage
212 words

​Snow White settled down with her adoring prince,
and hadn’t been to visit the dwarfs' cottage since.
The dwarfs knew she lived happily ever after.
And heard the castle was filled with baby laughter.
The dwarfs went back to whistling while they worked,
But in the darkness, a lonely feeling lurked.
At the end of the day as they approached their door,
They secretly wished to find their princess once more.
One dwarf especially couldn’t shake his funk.
Grumpy just got grumpier every month.
He missed their fair princess, it had been quite a while.
She was the only one who could make this grump smile.
And as the special day of hearts and love grew near,
Grumpy got grumpier from loneliness and fear.
Would hearts and flowers decorate a valentine?
Would anyone ask him, “Grumpy, will you be mine?”
Did anyone have love for this grumpy rascal?
…wait, a royal delivery from the castle!
The dwarfs ran inside and found six cards with their names.
Poor Grumpy’s was missing; he fled to bed in shame.
But something wasn’t right; his bed was too lumpy.
Then the covers flew off and a girl yelled “Grampy!”
From under the bed, Snow White and the Prince appeared,
“Be Our Valentine Grampy!” and everyone cheered!