#50PreciousWords Writing Challenge is OPEN

Posted on by

TA-DA!

THE 2nd ANNUAL #50PRECIOUSWORDS WRITING CHALLENGE IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!!!

dr-seuss-stamp

I am so very excited to read all of the #50PreciousWords entries. For those of you who are visiting here the first time, please let me give you a sentence or two or three about how this all came about.

green-eggs-and-ham

March 2nd is the birthday of the incredible Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Last year I put together a little contest based on Bennet Cerf’s challenge to Seuss to write a children’s book using only 50 words. And the classic Green Eggs and Ham was born. It’s true that the story has over 700 words…but only 50 unique words.

I thought it would be fun to try to write a story for kids with ONLY 50 words. With a beginning, a middle, and an end. I wondered if I could do it. And then I opened the challenge to everyone. Much to my surprise and amazement, there were 128 entries! Ayear has past…and it’s time to DO IT AGAIN.

Please put on your thinking caps and get busy writing. You have until March 6th at 11:59pm to post your story. Here are the guidelines:

#50 PRECIOUS WORDS WRITING CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

  1. Write a story appropriate for kids ages 12 or under, using only 50 words…they can all be different words, or you can use some of them over and over…just as long as the total word count of the story is 50 or less.
  2. It can be prose, rhyme, free verse, silly or serious…whatever works for you.
  3. Title is not included in the word count.
  4. No illustration notes please.
  5. Between March 2nd and March 6th, post your story on your blog if you have one and want to and put the link in the comments of this post. Or copy and paste the entire story in the comments of this post. I ask for the link so that people will visit each other and find new friends in the kid lit community. Please make sure you put your name in the post. If you have any trouble at all posting the link or the story, please email me and I will be happy to do it for you: viviankirkfield@gmail.com.
  6. Deadline for posting the story or the link in the comments is Monday, March 6, at 11:59pm.
  7. Winners will be announced in a special blog post on Thursday, March 9.
  8. Winners? Of course, there will be winners…and prizes, too!

21 winners…21 prizes…1st place takes whichever prize she/he wants, then 2nd place gets to pick, and so on. I will reach out to 

  1. . A critique from my beloved agent, Essie White (some of you may remember that the winner of last year’s contest chose Essie’s critique as her prize…and she subsequently signed with Storm Literary Agency!)

essie

  1. A seat in author and mentor Susanna Leonard Hill’s amazing Making Picture Book Magic online writing class (the first writing class I ever took and it set me on the path of writing wonderful picture book manuscripts).

mpbm

3. A seat in author and nonfiction writing guru Kristen Fulton’s incredible Nonfiction Archaeology online writing class (that was the class that opened the door for me to discover the joy of writing nonfiction picture books).

kristen

4. Coupon for 50% off author Alayne Kay Christian’s ART OF THE ARC online writing class (this is the next class I would love to take).

art_of_arc_v3

5. Or, if you have already taken Alayne’s wonderful class, you can choose a coupon for 50% off an in-depth critique from her (when Alayne says it is an in-depth critique, she isn’t kidding. I had one of those…it is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious).

6. A seat in one of the KidLitCollege webinars (I’ve attended a few and they are FABULOUS!) OR $19.99 off a critique, donated by Jodell Sadler, JCLA Editorial Agent and Founder of KidLitCollege. Winner choses one and will get a special code.

kidlitcollege

7. A manuscript or query letter critique from author Rebecca Colby.

rebecca-colby

8. A picture book manuscript critique from author Lori Degman.

headshot

9. A picture book critique from author Anna Forrester.

anna-forrester

10. A fiction picture book critique from author Ariel Bernstein

ariel-bernstein

11. A picture book critique from author Rosie Pova

this-headshot

12. A book on the craft of writing from Rosie Pova.

13. A copy of Bunny’s Book Club from Annie Silvestro.

headshot

14. A book on the craft of writing from author Maria Marshall.

maria-marshall

15. A copy of Hello, My Name is Tiger from author/illustrator Jennifer P. Goldfinger.

tiger

16. A copy of LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL plus an adorable SEAL NECKLACE from author/illustrator Patricia Keeler.

lizzie-and-lou-seal-cover

17. A copy of CLAMS ALL YEAR by author/illustrator Maryann Cocca-Leffler.

clams-all-year

18. A SUPER HAPPY book prize package from author Marcie Colleen with copies of Super Happy Party Bears Gnawing Around and Super Happy Party Bears Knock Knock on Wood.

marcie-and-books-1-and-2

 19. A copy of Mutt’s Promise,  a middle grade dog adventure written by Julie Salomen…donated by author/illustrator Jill Weber.

mutts-promise-cover

20. A signed copy of Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite from author Stacy McAnulty.

fuzzbuster-cover

21. A picture book critique from me and a signed copy of my parent-teacher book, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking.

stackofbooks

 

WOW! That is some list of prizes! What a generous Kid Lit community we have! I’m grateful to the prize donors…I hope you all visit their websites, buy their books, and review them on Amazon. Did you know that when a book gets 50 reviews, Amazon helps promote it?

And now, before I invite you to post your stories, I wanted to share my #50PreciousWords with you. Hopefully, my story is a good enough example…with a beginning, a middle, and an end (and what an end!)…that is kid-friendly (well, remember those Grimm’s Fairy Tales)…that is 50 words or less. I hope it makes you smile.

 

WHY PIGS LOVE THEIR LITTLE FEET (50 words)

Everyone made fun of Pig’s little feet.

An invitation arrived.

                   Please come to Coyote’s feast.

Rooster knew the invitation was for him.

Cow disagreed.

They hurried to Coyote’s den.

 Pig followed.

By the time his little feet got him there, the feast was finished.

And so were Rooster and Cow.

 

I always loved Aesop’s Fables and folktale type stories when I was a kid…I guess I was inspired by those.

Dear friends, please share this around your social media…the more the merrier… #50PreciousWords.

If you have any questions or need clarification, just email me: viviankirkfield@gmail.com

.Are you excited? I am!

Remember…THE MAGIC HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE EVERY WORD COUNT!

And I just can’t wait to read all of your precious words.

2,135 thoughts on “#50PreciousWords Writing Challenge is OPEN”

  1. Thanks for hosting this writing challenge, Vivian. Love reading all the unique 50 word story entries. So much talent! Here’s mine added to the mix…

    Colorful Cast
    By Kathy Raggio

    Hop. Skip. Jump.
    Hop. Skip. Thump!
    “Ouch! My arm…can you fix it, Daddy?”
    “No sweetie, hospital time.”
    Emergency room.
    “Don’t touch.”
    X-rays.
    Doctor, “Broken.”
    Nurse, “Teddybear?”
    Nod…hugging.
    “Don’t look.”
    Clunky cast.
    Sniffle…
    “Markers and paper?”
    Drawing.
    Oops…on the cast.
    Idea!
    Rainbow.
    “You too, Daddy.”
    Colorful cast!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

    • Double your pleasure, double your fun…remember those gum commericals. 😉 What fun, Blanche..I enjoyed both of your #50PreciousWords..and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the challenge.
      Musical Friends was full of heart…and great sound words and rhythm.
      Night Writing Trouble…oh my…hilarious…I can definitely identify with that one. )

      Like

      Reply ↓

      • Doublemint gum! Hehe! 😉
        Thanks Vivian! I’ve loved participating in this contest. It woke my brain up (evidently my brain needed it) and got me thinking outside the box.
        So thank you, thank you, thank you! And thanks for putting on this contest! I loved reading all the wonderful stories. So much talent! The depth and breadth of story ideas is extraordinary. Glad I get to play along! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply ↓

  3. Pingback: Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Contest! | Leslie Leibhardt Goodman

  4. UNDERCOVER CAPER

    By: Sherri Jones Rivers

    Look!

    There’s a bump,

    a lump,

    a hump,

    a moving mound

    like a mole,

    making his under-earth grooves.

    Like a chubby-cheeked chipmunk

    burrowing shallow resting sites

    beneath the earth.

    Like wood mouse,

    storing food for winter.

    Look again!

    It creeps,

    it crawls,

    it catapults to the floor.

    Undercover cat comes out.

    (Story based on true experience)

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  6. Sandwiches
    “Let’s make sandwiches,” said Mrs Edwards.
    “Maybe cheese. Maybe something more interesting.”
    “Cheese and honey,” said Connor.
    “With ham,” said Andrew.
    “And ketchup,” said Latara.
    “And chocolate chips,” said Dylan.
    The bell rang.
    The children went outside.
    Mrs Edwards said, “I think I’ll have
    a nice cheese sandwich.”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  7. Do the Right Thing, by Karen Schrock

    Two friends walking to the park, a busy day ahead.

    An envelope fluttered by the curb. “Let’s pick it up!” one said.

    Stamped and mailed from a home behind, they turned back to make it right.

    They found the sender of the mail, and he thanked them with utter delight.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  8. Pingback: #50PreciousWords Writing Challenge is OPEN – Jennifer Mary G

  9. Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Contest

    Count With Me!
    by Amanda S. Kirkham
    (word count: 41)

    1-2-3
    Sang teeny-tiny flea.

    4-5-6
    Barked puppy dog mix.

    7-8-9
    Oinked pink piggy swine.

    10!
    Crowed rooster to hen.

    10-9-8
    Chirped birdie on the gate.

    7-6-5
    Buzzed bee by the hive.

    4-3-2
    Cooed baby kangaroo.

    1!
    Growled cheetah on the run.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  10. HOME

    Old House feels lonely. Nobody comes to visit.
    He cries until his shutters hang loose.

    A lady arrives. “I need a house and you need a person.”
    She fixes the broken things. And hangs a welcome sign.

    She goes inside and shuts the door.
    House becomes a happy home.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  11. Pingback: Rosie | ErinWriter

  13. I absolutely love this contest and have had a wonderful time reading all of these fabulous entries. Here’s mine:

    I’m Possible
    by Tiffany Pace

    When the race seems too long
    Or the problem too hard
    When it seems I only hear,
    “You can’t.”
    I close my eyes,
    Take a deep breath,
    And put a smile on my face
    Because
    It’s not impossible –
    Rather I’m possible!
    I can do anything
    If I just try.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

    • What a wonderfully inspiring #50PreciousWords, Tiffany. I love the line, ‘Rather, I’m possible!” So glad you played along with this challenge and had so much fun. Yes, I agree, the quality of the stories is incredible. 😉

      Like

      Reply ↓

      • Thank you so much! As a fifth grade teacher, “I’m possible,” is what I hope to inspire in my students. Thank you for such a creative and fun contest!

        Like

        Reply ↓

  14. I have enjoyed reading the entries. Thank you for putting on this contest Vivian.
    Here is my entry:

    Cat Sleeps On
    By Angela Turner

    Box, cat,
    Time for nap
    Scruuuuunch! Taped up.
    Cat sleeps on

    New house “No Cat!”
    Head back.
    Old house. No . . . . cat.
    Cat sleeps on.

    New house. People sad.
    Scratch! Scratch! Riiiiiip!
    Head pops out.
    MEOWWWW! Where were you people?

    On their laps,
    Cat sleeps on.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  15. Everything has been very good so far. Here is my entry.

    Fluffy’s Favorite Pastime – By Paula Kay

    Always changing,
    Floating free,
    So many possibilities.

    Fluffy loved watching the sky,
    And finding pictures floating by.

    A bear,
    A frog,
    An angel,
    And a hog!

    A cloud can be anything,
    Even a frog.

    What do you see?

    Just look up high,
    And see the pictures
    As they float by.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  16. Wow! Lots and lots of great writing! Thank for hosting this, Vivian! I love the challenge of 50 words.

    WINTER FRIEND
    by Ann Kelley

    One cold night, Snow Bunny missed her friends who were hibernating.
    Snowflakes fell.
    Snow Bunny rolled and piled three snowballs. She added pebbles for eyes, two carrots for ears, and another snowball for a cottontail.
    “Hmm, something is missing.”
    She drew a smile.
    “Hello, my winter friend.”

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  17. This entry is by Heather Kelso

    Guide to Being a Monster

    Follow the instructions:
    1. Hide in closet or under the bed.
    2. Jump out.
    3. Show your teeth.
    4. Growl.
    5. Raise your arms.
    6. Stomp your feet.
    7. Run around.
    8. Wiggle your body.
    9. Chase your victim.
    10. Practice on baby sister

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  18. Hungry baby, wise baba.
    Two babushkas, one buggy off to the Pierogi Palace.
    Hot delicious potato filled dumplings drenched in buttery onions,
    dappled with sour cream
    Happy, not hungry, baby holds her pierogis high as her feet answer
    the squeezing and sighing of the accordions.
    Life is good.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  20. FELL-Monique Wakefield
    (50 Word Challenge)

    How did I get here?
    Did I fall from my tree?
    Did I fall through the branches,
    The limbs, and the leaves?

    Did I fall to the ground?
    Am I down here forever?
    Oh wait! I’m a bird;
    I can fly with my feathers!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

Leave a reply to viviankirkfield Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.