March Madness Writing Contest Entry – Singerella: Soprano for the Met

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When I was five years old, I had to go into the hospital to have my tonsils removed. Back in the 1950s, that was the most popular operation for kids. My parents came to visit me and brought me a book…Cinderella…one of my favorite fairy tales.

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These days, there’s a new tale in town…the fractured fairy tale.

The incomparable Susanna Leonard Hill is having another of her infamous writing contests – a fractured fairy tale writing contest, that is…and here are the rules.

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The March Madness Writing Contest!

The Contest: Write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 400 words, that is a fractured fairy tale.  Feel free to add a theme of spring, or mix in one of the spring holidays if you like – St. Patrick’s Day, April Fools Day, Easter or Passover, Arbor Day, Earth Day…  Have fun with it !  The madder* the better! 🙂
*as in wild and wacky, not angry 🙂

You do not have to include spring – that is optional.

The story can be a picture book or a short story – whatever you like.

So, here is my entry...I’ll be linking up with Susanna’s blog and you’ll be able to read all the other amazing submissions if you click here. Be sure to check back because I’ll post the link for the voting which will take place March 27 to March 30. There are awesome prizes, so if you love to write children’s stories, give it a whirl. Otherwise, just have fun reading a bunch of super stories.

Pitch: Singerella works all day and warbles all night. But when Stepmother takes away her trilling time, Singerella flies the coop and wings her way to New York City for a chance to join the Metropolitan Opera.

Singerella – Word Count: 377

 

by Vivian Kirkfield

 

 

            More than anything, Singerella loved to sing. She warbled early in the morning. She trilled late at night. Her do-re-mies delighted everyone – except for Stepmother.

            Stepmother screeched, “Stop that racket and clean the house!”

            Singerella feather dusted the furniture.

            Stepmother shrieked, “Be quiet and feed me!”

            Singerella unearthed tasty tidbits.

            Stepmother screamed, “No more singing – EVER!

            Singerella piped up, “I must sing. Therefore, I must leave.” So off she flew as fast as her wings could carry her to seek fame and fortune in the big city.

            After a few hours, Singerella searched for a place to rest. The meadow looked peaceful enough. But, when she hopped over a mound of daisies, a snake in the grass tried to make a snack of her. So off she flew as fast as her wings could carry her to seek fame and fortune in the big city.

            At dusk, Singerella was hungry. The farm looked peaceful enough. But while she pecked for seeds in the yard, the farmer’s cat almost had her for a meal. So off she flew as fast as her wings could carry her to seek fame and fortune in the big city.

            Singerella flew through the night and into the dawn. Just when she was sure she could not flap her wings even one more time, she saw the lights of the city. I can do it! Singerella thought. Soaring over the towering skyscrapers and busy streets, Singerella caught sight of Central Park. With her last ounce of strength, she swooped down and landed on…

a baby stroller.

            “Watch out!” screeched the nanny, waving her umbrella.

            Singerella flapped off, straight into…

the hairdo of a skateboarder.

            “Yuck!” shrieked the girl. “Bird poop!”

            Singerella floundered and flailed and fluttered away. With no energy left, she hovered over the lake and toppled…

onto the roof of the gazebo…

where the Metropolitan Opera was performing.

            The music! The voices! I must be in heaven, she thought.

            The Maestro waved his baton.

            The violins played.

            Singerella quivered. She shook out her plumage. She lifted her head.

            “Trill-la-la-la! Trill-la-la-la! Tra-la-la-la-la!”

            “Bel canto!” exclaimed the conductor.

            “Brava!” applauded the musicians.

            “Encore!” cried the audience.

            “A new soprano for my aria!” said the composer.

            “A new home for me!” said Singerella.

What do you think? I hope you enjoyed my tale. We all need to pursue our dreams and we need to encourage young children to do so as well.

A NOTE TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS: I am partnering with Jill Vetstein for a teleseminar on April 1 at 7:30pm. Jill is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Developmental & Early Intervention Specialist and Certified Infant and Toddler Teacher as well as a writer, blogger and professional speaker. She has been empowering families and educators for over thirteen years, focusing on children from birth through age eight. We connected and decided to pool our talents for a powerful look at building self-esteem. Register for the teleseminar here: http://tinyurl.com/buildingselfesteembook

  • We will help parents change their children’s mindset of ‘I can’t do it!’ and ‘I’m not worthy!’ 
  • Parents and caregivers will walk away from this workshop with a clearer concept of how to use story time and other activities to build their children’s self-esteem. 
  • http://tinyurl.com/buildingselfesteembook

 

 

 

 

74 thoughts on “March Madness Writing Contest Entry – Singerella: Soprano for the Met”

    • Oh my goodness, Marylin…your loving praise is overwhelming…but much appreciated.:) I’m so happy you like the story.
      I’ve been so busy writing and revising, I haven’t been visiting and commenting on blogs…but I know you’ve done a couple of posts recently and will be by soon.:)

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  7. I love the thrilling-trilling of this story. My favorite line is “Singerella floundered and flailed and fluttered away. With no energy left, she hovered over the lake and toppled…” I love how you used the power of three mixed with alliteration. This is a great story. Thanks for sharing.

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    • Thanks so much, Jackie! I took Susanna’s Making Picture Book Magic class last month…and learned so much…hopefully, I’m making use of those lessons.:) 🙂 Just read yours and loved it…isn’t this fun? 🙂

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      • It is fun. I want to take Susanna’s class in May or June. I am taking the “Writing Nonfiction Picture Books” with Kristen Fulton. That is a good class. Your story will make Susanna proud. I wanted to read more and I did not want to stop. Thanks, again, for writing it. 😀

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        • Good for you, taking Kristen’s nf pb class…nf pb is an area I am interested in…so many goals pulling at me from different directions.:)
          I can’t say enough great things about Susanna’s class…the fellowship between the students was amazing…and her personal mentoring made all the difference…and the class material is brilliant! And I’m really happy you enjoyed my story.:)

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  13. Vivian — I had that exact copy of Cinderella when I was little. The cover you posted takes me back! This was a fun story. I’m glad Singerella made it to the big city and lived her dream!

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