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November 3, 2011

Once Upon A Halloweensie Contest

Due to our freak snowstorm, this post is interrupting Would You Read It Wednesday, so if you haven't seen today's Would You Read It, please scroll down or click here so Christie gets her pitch feedback!  Thank you!


Once upon a Halloweensie, 2 feet of snow fell out of the sky and caused all manner of trouble!

So, the good news?  Those of you who would like to enter the Halloweensie Contest and didn't get around to writing your stories yet still have a chance to join in the fun!  I'll give you until the end of tomorrow - Friday November 4.  For those of you who might not remember, the contest is for a 100 word story (in poetry or prose) suitable for children, using the words boo, candied apple, and jack-o-lantern.  The story can be a little under 100 words but must not go over!  If you don't have a blog and want to enter, just copy and paste your story in the comments.

Here's my sample, just for fun (because obviously I can't enter my own contest :))

Mom was out, so Caitlyn was babysitting for Dex and Jax.
“Is it time yet?” asked Dex.
“Not yet,” said Caitlyn.
They put two dozen candied apples on a tray.
“Is it time yet?” asked Jax.
“No,” said Caitlyn.
They poured three jumbo bags of mini chocolate bars into the cauldron.
“Now?” asked Dex.
“Nope,” said Caitlyn.
They hung fake cobwebs around the door.
They turned off all the lights.  Caitlyn lit the jack-o-lantern.
It was dark and spooky.
“Is it time yet?” whispered Dex.
“Yes!” Caitlyn whispered back.  “One.  Two.  Three…”
“BOO!” they all yelled.
Boy was Mom surprised!


I think about 6 or 7 people that I know of wrote their entries and posted them on time.  I'm hoping they'll all see this (or I'll try to contact them) and get the addresses of their Halloweensie posts into this linky list so they're easy for everyone to find in one place.  And I hope you'll all go read the stories they worked so hard on!  And, while I'm hoping, I also hope a few more of you will be inspired to join - especially all you fellow PiBoIdMo folks whose creative thoughts are flowing right now!  Remember, the prize is a signed copy of Haunted Party by the one and only Iza Trapani :)

And just so you know?  I've decided to make this an annual contest!  Of course we'll use different words and have a different prize each year, but you might as well go ahead and mark your calendars now for Halloween 2012 :)  It will give you something fun to work toward.  While I'm at it, I'll probably do this for most of the major holidays because it's fun, good practice in writing, educational for all us writers honing our craft, and a chance for me to give away signed books by authors I know and love :)  Better start thinking about Thanksgiving :)

17 comments:

  1. The jack o’ lanterns at the Barnes’ home were carved with cheerful expressions and a small flashlight inserted in each. No flamed candles were used. Mrs. Barnes was careful with fire—not wishing any young trick-or-treater to be burned. She had candied apples, just the right mix of sweet and tart, to offer each visitor. She wouldn’t even utter a “Boo!” determined that no guest would be frightened away.
    Trick-or-treaters flocked to the welcoming Barnes’ house—but never left.
    Teri Miller

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  2. Welcome back, Susanna!
    I hope you're not too hard on yourself trying to catch up with everyone. Just be kind to yourself and enjoy the electricity. It's nice to have, isn't it?
    Thanks for having this contest after all. Thanks for putting it together.
    I think your story is great! Love the take on the words. :)

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  3. Teri - I love your story. The last line is either lovely or chilling!

    Clar - thanks for the welcome back and for adding your link to the list. Your story was great, and I can see I'm going to have a very hard time deciding who should win!!!

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  4. Bummer about the snow, but glad things are looking up! I want to do this. I wonder if I will find the time between scouting tonight and severe house cleaning. I love halloween stories. If I get something done I will come and add myself to the linky. Otherwise, I'll just visit and read everyone elses. Such a fun idea!

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  5. 2 feet of snow?! Yikes! Well I'm glad you got your power back, and good luck to everyone entering!

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  6. Abby - the house does not need to be cleaned tonight :)

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  7. Janet - thanks! And there's still time for you to enter :)

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  8. I wanted to, Sus. But I am up to my neck trying to revise a picture book MS to get it to my CP. :( Feeling sad that I couldn't enter. *boohoo*

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  9. Robyn - you could always chop 97 words out of your PB ms and add in boo, candied apple and jack-o-lantern... :) Good luck getting it done. Hope to see you PB on the shelves of Barnes & Noble in 2 years time :)

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  10. Wow. That was a great story. Then again, you are a pro. :)

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  11. Randy - no more pro than you! You wrote a great story!

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  12. Susanna, I loved your story and loved the contest. It was fun going to people's blogs to read theirs and I'm loving the link list. Terri, I like the mystery at the end of your story.
    Will you have a Thanksgiving contest? I'm sure I'm pushing the envelope here (we still haven't celebrated Halloween yet in my town)but this was a great creative exercise.
    How fun would it be to put together a Halloweensie Anthology???? I know, I know, now I'm creating more work for you. :)Glad you have power (and coffee) back.

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  13. Very cute story, Susanna. One thing about losing power - it makes you appreciate it when it returns, at least for a little while. :-)

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  14. Loved it.
    Wow 2ft of snow, and I am sitting down here with a lovely sunny spring day. Looking forward to summer in a few weeks...lol.

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  15. I have a blog, but this type of poem doesn't fit my usual audience so I would prefer to post it here, if you don't mind. I realize that this poem's structure isn't terribly original... your blog title inspired it, of course. :) But I hope it's fun!


    It is the night of Halloween,
    faces hidden, costumes seen.
    Grownups gather in the street
    to laugh and talk and drink and eat.

    Candied apple covered tables,
    Scary stories, tales and fables.
    Black and orange and purple hue,
    Little children shouting "BOO!"

    Jack-o-lanterns flicker bright
    from neighbor porches in the night.
    In the dark at autumn's end
    all scary things become our friend.

    Cider, pumpkins, candy, fun,
    I get to laugh, I get to run.
    witches, spiders, bats and ghosts
    It is the night I like the most!

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  16. This was a great story! Sorry I missed all of the fun. It is way too soon to be having blizzards and power failures, but you are a real trooper. Julie

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  17. Tracy - I WILL have a Thanksgiving contest just for you! No pressure to enter of course :) A Halloween Anthology would be fun - the entries have all been so good!

    Cally - thank you! And yes, I am enjoying my return to hot running water :)

    Diane - just rubbing it in, eh? :)

    Kelly - I LOVE this - so clever! Thanks so much for joining the fun!

    Julie - did you lose power too?

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