#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. I am excited! What a fun challenge. Thanks, Vivian.

    Riding Tulip

    By Jim Chaize

    “Ride me,” Louis heard.

    His eyes drawn to a horse.

    A carousel horse.

    “Tulip,” he read.

    The calliope played.

    A bright full moon.

    Louis’ eyes closed.

    The magic began.

    Tulip’s trot became a gallop.

    Racing over hills,

    through grassy fields.

    Light rain fell.

    The music faded.

    Louis glowed.

    “Thanks, Tulip.”

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  2. Here’s my entry for 50 Precious Words. Thank you, Vivian, for hosting this. You are an inspiration to us all!

    Hang on Little Tomato!
    By Midge Ballou Smith

    Hang on little tomato!
    And soak up the sunlight,
    drink in the rain,
    rest in the moonlight.

    Hang on little tomato!
    In wild, windy weather,
    cling to your stem,
    and hold it together.

    Let go, little tomato…
    I know you understand.
    Time to drop? Yes! Plop
    right into my hand.

    Liked by 9 people

    Reply ↓

  3. I LOVED this 50 Precious Word Challenge! Many thanks to you Vivian for hosting this contest.

    I CAN

    I can do this.

    This is easy.

    And I’m good at this.

    If I practice,
    Maybe I can be the best.

    This is hard.

    But I can try.

    Even if it’s hard for me,
    I can still do it.

    As long as I try
    And do my best,
    I can.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  4. Greetings Ms. Vivian Kirkfield,

    Thank You for such a fun and challenging contest.
    I am Johnny Ray Moore of Raleigh, NC.
    And, my contest entry of 50 words follows:

    WONDERS OF SPRING
    by Johnny Ray Moore

    Sunrays dancing; ponies prancing,

    Kittens on their mother’s back.

    Tadpoles hoppy; puddles sloppy,

    Ducks, continuously, QUACK!!!

    Thunder crashing; lightning flashing,

    Raindrops purifying Earth.

    People cheering; dusk appearing,

    Runners racing to be first.

    Daisies blooming; cats assuming,

    Dogs are sleeping on the lawn.

    Daylight fading; cows parading,

    Silently, into the barn.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  5. Thanks for hosting this again! What a fun contest. I would have never written this without it. 🙂

    NANA & PETER

    Nana sees
    tolls and fees.
    Peter sees
    trucks and trees.

    Nana sees
    groceries.
    Peter sees
    ladies knees.

    Nana sees
    Dairy Freeze.
    Peter sees—
    “PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.”

    Nana sees
    prune sundaes.
    Peter sees
    cold toffees.

    They both see
    Aunt Louise.
    She says—click!
    They say
    CHEESE!

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply ↓

  6. Thank you so much for this competition!

    I love reading all of the entries so far, and excited to add mine as well. This story is based on true events, my toddler tossed my phone into the toilet last night. It’s now resting in a bag of brown rice, and will hopefully rise to take more pictures of said toddler! Thanks again!

    PHONE PLOP! by Jenna Waldman

    Mom is always
    on her Phone.
    When with me,
    or all alone.

    Takes my picture
    in the bath.
    Sends to Grandma,
    makes her laugh.

    When we eat,
    she’s busy shopping.
    Not sure that I
    see this stopping.

    Then when I was
    feeling naughty…
    I threw Phone right
    in the potty!

    (I don’t have a blog post, but my website is: http://www.sarafinadesign.com)

    Liked by 10 people

    Reply ↓

  7. Thank you for hosting such a fun contest, Vivian! Here are my 50 words:

    CHEWY’S REVOLT

    Chewy is a toothbrush with a big problem. He has odontophobia, fear of teeth.

    During one especially harsh brushing session, Chewy revolted. Instead of returning to the toothbrush holder, Chewy jumped, twisted in air, and landed straight in the toilet bowl.

    Now Chewy has a different job … scrubbing toilets.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  8. A Walk With My Son
    By Kathy Elstad

    A special place
    I shared with my Son.
    A walk along a quiet path.
    The fish were jumping!
    We were laughing 🙂
    The water babbling
    So gentle, so peaceful.
    I love my son
    Big, strong, loving, laughing.
    A special place
    To remember the love of my Son!

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  10. Pingback: #50PreciousWords | Julie LaCombe

  12. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! And thank you, Vivian, for creating this contest. What a turnout! And I’m so impressed by the other entries. I’ve said to myself, “I wish I wrote that!”

    Here’s my very first writing contest entry…EVER! I may have caught the bug!

    QUIET HOUSE

    Quiet house.
    Baby teeters.
    Treasure box!
    Blue streaks.
    Pink swirls.
    Brown smudges.
    Baby creates!
    Black lines.
    Polka dots.
    A real Van Gogh.
    Quiet house.
    Too quiet?
    Mom investigates.
    Gasp!
    “Daaaaaviiiiiid!”
    “Mama!”
    Final touch–
    sparkles.
    Showstopper!
    Chuckle.
    “Let’s wash your face. But, first . . . ”
    CLICK
    #NoteToSelf #HideTheMakeupKit

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  13. White Kingdom

    Down the runway engines roared.
    Higher and higher we soared.
    We ventured into the white kingdom to see,
    a lion, perched, looking at me.
    A Castle on a hill.
    A fish in an eagle’s bill.
    The wings steered us down and away,
    from the kingdom, the lion guarded that day.

    ~Susan Powers

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  14. Pingback: 50 Precious Words: Cyclone Winnie – pinwheels and stories

  15. by Linda Sakai

    WHERE DID IT GO?

    Where did it go?
    Under here?
    Over there?
    Is it up? Or
    Is it down?

    OH! LOOK!

    It’s right where it needs to be.
    Right here.
    Next to me.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  16. So much fun, such a great challenge, thank you for this contest!

    The Unicorn
    Amelia is my best friend. We have the same dress. When Amelia swallowed a unicorn, I had to help. I hung her upside down. I pounded her. I tickled her. No unicorn. I put gumdrops in Amelia’s nostrils and a lollipop in her mouth. When Amelia sneezed, out it flew!

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  17. Hi Vivian, I have written my story Lucky Duck and included in a blog post called Time for rhyme here: http://www.readilearn.com.au/time-for-rhyme/

    Since there is a bit of text around the story, I am also pasting it here (exactly 50 words, excluding title):

    Lucky Duck

    Duck.

    Old Duck.

    Couldn’t see –

    Lost his glasses by the tree.

    Muck.

    Sticky muck.

    Didn’t see –

    Dropped book in muck up to the knee.

    Truck.

    Big truck.

    Zooming fast –

    Splashed poor Duck as he went past.

    Duck.

    Mucky Duck.

    Missed by truck,

    But stuck in muck –

    A Lucky Mucky Duck!

    Thank you for this fun challenge, Vivian. I really enjoyed it! Best wishes, Norah. 🙂

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply ↓

  18. Hi Vivian,

    Thanks for doing this fun contest! I’m including my link and posting my entry here. Thanks again! http://authorpenelopeaaron.blogspot.com/2017/03/slugs-and-bugs-and-glugs.html

    Slugs and Bugs and Glugs by Penelope Aaron

    Chop the rocks and the crocs and the lox
    Toss ’em in with
    The slugs and the bugs and the glugs
    Grab the worms and the germs and the kerns
    Mix ’em with
    The snakes and the jakes and the flakes
    Then boil all ’til rumbly, crumbly, and yummy
    SOUP!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  19. So much fun! Excited to read everyone’s stories. Here is mine!

    Lunch for Breakfast
    by Susan Lubner

    “Breakfast?” Bitsy asked.

    “Eggs?” asked Mo.

    “Pancakes!” said Bitsy.

    “Eggs!” said Mo.

    “Pancakes!” Bitsy stomped her foot.

    Mo stomped his.

    “Hmmffffff!” said Bitsy.

    “Hmmffffff!” said Mo.

    They said nothing for a long while.

    Finally, Bitsy announced, “No breakfast today!”

    Mo nodded. “It’s lunchtime.”

    “PB&J?” Bitsy asked.

    “My favorite,” said Mo.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

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