#50PreciousWords Writing Challenge is OPEN

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TA-DA!

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

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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.

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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!)

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  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).

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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).

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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).

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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.

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

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

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9. A picture book critique from author Anna Forrester.

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10. A fiction picture book critique from author Ariel Bernstein

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11. A picture book critique from author Rosie Pova

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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, Vivian. What a fun contest!

    POW, BOOM, WHOOSH
    By: Beth Schneider

    Cooper pulled his blanket over his eyes.
    POW!
    Water beat against the car window.
    “You’re fine,” Jake said.
    BOOM!
    Wind shook the car.
    WHOOSH!
    Cooper’s toes curled up.

    Then silence.

    Sunlight.

    “Open your eyes,” Jake said.
    Cooper smiled. “That wasn’t bad.”
    “Told you.”
    “Car washes are fun.”

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  2. This is an entry for Carmen Gilbert.

    I’M UNIQUE. I’LL BE LOVED. by Carmen Castillo Gilbert, PhD
    (48 words)

    Mommy is happy.
    Daddy is nervous.
    Pépère is delighted
    Abuela is excited.
    My nursery is decorated.
    My crib’s a-waiting.
    Plenty of visitors
    Gifts to be opened
    Onesies, bottles, diapers, and books
    What about my looks?
    Dark or fair?
    Not important!
    No one cares.
    I’M UNIQUE. I’LL BE LOVED.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  3. Thank you Vivian for putting this on! I had a lot of fun with 50 Precious Words!

    TOASTED TUNAWICH
    by: Cortney Benvenuto

    Taylor doesn’t eat much…

    especially fish,

    but everyday for lunch

    her dad makes her

    a

    Toasted Tunawich.

    With a munch and a crunch and a squish…

    Taylor doesn’t realize

    she’s

    actually

    eating

    fish.

    Until she saw the little can…

    a tail?

    a fin?

    Taylor

    never ate

    a

    Toasted Tunawich

    again.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  4. What fun! This is my entry for the 50 word challenge… —Carole Stedronsky

    Hazel the Service Dog

    She’s my
    wake-upper
    sock fetcher
    laughter maker
    getter of dropped things
    leash retriever
    door opener, closer
    school helper
    quiet listener
    soft-eared friend
    cheese lover
    van loader
    refrigerator door opener
    meal helper
    tummy scratch lover
    walk wanter
    sniffer
    ball chaser
    always by me
    homework helper
    snuggler
    scary night cuddler
    faithful friend

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  7. Pingback: 50 words | David McMullin

  9. Pingback: Journey to Rutabaga Rock – a Journey in 48 Precious Words | Wander, Ponder, Write

  10. The link to my entry, plus for those who’d like to read it here, I’m pasting below: https://patricianozell.com/2017/03/06/journey-to-rutabaga-rock-a-journey-in-48-precious-words/

    Journey to Rutabaga Rock

    Picnics packed; dingy leaves dock –
    Kids depart for Rutabaga Rock.
    Winds whip waves, lashing at sail;
    Kids’ knees knock as rains transform to gale.

    Seas subside; sun shines at last.
    Kids debarking – thankful journey’s past.
    Picnics soaked! Salty, slimy feasts!
    Kids contented – GOATS aren’t picky beasts.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  12. Thanks so much for the opportunity to share! I used every last one of my 50 words. 🙂

    GIRAFFEE
    By Melanie Sheppard

    “There’s nobody like you, Giraffee.”

    Or so he thought.

    “I must have them. All of them.”

    He traveled.

    He traded.

    He tired.

    Finally.

    He rested.

    “You’re not Giraffee.”

    “You’re not Giraffee either!”

    “Giiiirrrraaaaaffffeeeeeee!!!!”

    He searched the toys for his friend.

    “There you are. You really are one of a kind.”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

    • Isn’t it true, Melanie..kids always seem to want more, but in the end, they gravatate towards the tried and true…glad your mc found his favorite again. Nice alliteration and action with traveled, traded, tired. Thanks so much for joining in the fun with your #50PreciousWords. 😉

      Like

      Reply ↓

    • Therese…I love the almond butter substitution…I’m an almond butter fanatic. 😉 Thanks for joining in the fun with your #50PreciousWords…my kids never got up at night to go to the kitchen, but I know many kids who did.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  14. Having fun with this. Thanks, Vivian.

    Slash, Delete, Chop

    By Jim Chaize

    “50 word limit!” I complained.

    My third-grade teacher nodded.

    “But I have a lot to say.”

    “I know.”

    Words flowed.

    I counted.

    Two hundred nineteen. “Ahhh!”

    I slashed.

    One hundred forty. “Grrr!”

    I deleted.

    Seventy-four. “Waaa!”

    I chopped.

    Fifty!

    The teacher smiled.

    “That was fun. Can I write another?”

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

    • Great pacing, Jim…and so so so true. You had me engaged from the first word to the last. Well done. I’m so glad you are having fun with the challenge…I’m having fun reading all of your #50PreciousWords. 🙂

      Like

      Reply ↓

  15. This came to me in the middle of the night! GEEZ! Now I’m thinking in 50 word stories!! Had to share just one more…
    SILLY STUPENDOUS SATURDAYS! By Deborah Weed #50 Word Stories

    “Why are you flushing

    rainbows down the toilet?”

    “To get a ‘pot’ of gold!”

    “Why are you feeding your dragons

    marshmallows and chocolate?”

    “I like my S’mores toasted!”

    “Why are you keeping bees

    in your ears?”

    “How else do you make beeswax?…

    Golly gosh Mommy! Don’t you know anything?!”

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  16. MY PAPA

    My papa watches me everyday.

    He watches me ride my trike.

    He watches me play cars.

    He watches me build towers.

    He watches me sleep.

    I dream of papa up in heaven.

    My papa watches me play.

    Someday we’ll play together again.

    Okay papa?

    Dianne Glupker

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  17. Thank you for this contest, Vivian! Here’s my entry:

    Pup’s Day by M. Kiang

    Sun is up
    So is pup

    Ball and stick
    Fetch them quick!

    Time to eat
    Have a treat

    Back outside
    Seek and hide

    Dig a hole
    Eek! A mole!

    In the tub
    Soap and scrub

    Day is done
    We had fun

    Sun is set
    Sleep my pet

    Zzzzz

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  18. This is an entry for Erin Forrester.

    The Secret Morning Mission by Erin Forrester

    He woke up hungry. What would he eat? A sleeping Mom, a snoring Dad, a helpful dog waits. Moves like a Ninja he managed the stairs. Cabinet cracked open, what luck! Cereal, sprinkles and honey. Not ready to share. Ready to share. There’s no evidence of the accomplished secret mission.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

  19. Paisley
    by Kirsten Manville

    Paisley is a dog who loves to jump.
    She jumps on chairs,
    up into the car,
    and sometimes she jumps up and down in place – just because she is happy.
    But today she jumped the fence and ran!
    She smelled the sea and wanted to go for a swim!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

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