#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”

  3. Thank you Vivian for such an inspiring contest. It’s been fun reading some of the entries. Can’t wait to go back and read more. What fun! Here’s my submission:
    Theresa Wohlers
    http://www.TheresaAnackerWohlers.com

    GARDEN WALL

    Drifters plunder, trample, spoil.
    Plunging shovel severs soil.
    Red bricks, mortar stacked up tall.
    Private.
    Fortress barring all.

    Captive greens and vibrant bloom.
    Clouded, isolated gloom.
    Silent,
    Sterile,
    Fruitless wilt.
    Chilled in shaded stony guilt.

    Hammer swinging,
    Lay bricks low.
    Friends, feel free to come and go.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

  4. What a fun contest! I’m not sure why, but keeping to 50 words turned my writing very quirky! It was liberating … and a little strange. 🙂 Here they are!

    DOGGIE DAY PARADE
    Dogs in tutu dresses.
    Doges in fufu dresses.
    Dogs in jeweled collars.
    Dogs in sparkling tiaras.
    Dogs with pink nails.
    Dogs with poofed tails.
    Dogs that smell nice.
    Dogs who bark polite.
    Who wouldn’t want to see,
    so many fancy doggies?

    RUBBER DUCKY TOOT
    My rubber ducky farted.
    I think he was embarrassed, because then he floated to the other side of the tub.
    I laughed and laughed — I couldn’t help it! But he was mad and wouldn’t come back.
    What could I do?
    I know! I farted in the tub too!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  5. Pingback: Toodles McRoodles’ Head Full of Doodles – Living In the Corner of a Vortex

  7. Thanks for the challenge, Vivian!

    BUTTON MEMORIES
    By Ann Magee

    Annie dumped the buttons onto her bedspread. “Tell me another story.”
    Grandma’s gnarled hands spooned through the shiny discs, finding the tiny white one.
    “Once upon a time, a beautiful baby girl was born. This was on her christening gown.”
    “That’s how my favorite story begins, Grandma.”
    “Mine too, Annie.”

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply ↓

  8. My story is called Ducks in A Row:

    Mama said, “Ducks get in a row.
    Not play with dough
    Get in a row.
    Not watch a show
    Get in a row
    Not sit and sew
    Get in a row.”
    Whoa.
    “I forgot to say.
    Please today.
    Wow. Great.
    You’re all straight
    Forward. March.”

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply ↓

  9. OMG, Vivian. Fifty words is giving me some trouble this year. I keep trying to come up with something beautifully poetic but my muse is giving me crazy. Here is my feable attempt:

    A Pack of Lies or a Pack of Pigs?

    Kevin is sent to principal.
    Reason: no school supplies.

    He explains, “Flying pigs took my bag!”

    Principal laughs.

    “It’s not funny!”

    Principal says, “Even if flying pigs existed, they wouldn’t steal school bags.”

    “But…”

    THUD!

    Pigs hits window.
    Backpack falls.
    Principal faints.

    Kevin retrieves his bag and goes to class.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply ↓

  10. BEES, PLEASE!

    Bees are friends, not foes,
    If to plants, they go.

    Searching for sweet grains to eat,
    Happily, they aren’t so neat!

    Powdery pollen clings to legs,
    Dropping off on flowers’ eggs.

    Joined together, they make seeds
    To grow the plants that we all need.

    Bees, Please!

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply ↓

  11. Rainy day – by Eszter Molnar

    “I’ve made this for you!”
    “What a beautiful fish.”
    “It’s not a fish. And you’re holding it the wrong way round.”
    “Right.”
    “So?” he asks eagerly.
    “An alien? A flower? A bear?”
    Uncontrollable giggles.
    “It’s a PEA!” he shrieks.
    I just made his day. Possibly even his week.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  12. This is Kathy Mazurowski’s entry.

    Honey and Bun by Kathy Mazurowski

    Two kittens
    Nap in the sun.
    She’s named Honey.
    He’s named Bun.

    What is that?
    It’s on the run.
    Look out, Honey.
    Look out, Bun.

    Chase it away
    And make it run.
    Brave Honey,
    Brave Bun,

    You’re not scared,
    This is fun.
    Two kittens,
    Honey and Bun

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  13. This is Latasha Vernon’s entry. She says it was based on an actual family experience last month.

    Bug-a-thon
    by Latasha Vernon

    One little bug was all it took,
    Ugh! Yuck! Ick! and the whole house was shook.
    Mom, Dad, and the little baby too,
    Had all just experienced the stomach flu!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply ↓

  15. This is Kathy Shanahan’s entry.

    Wiggly Tooth by Kathy Shanahan

    It wibble wobbles in my mouth.

    I push, pull and give a tug.

    I chew bubble gum.

    I poke with my tongue.

    This wiggly tooth won’t come out of my mouth!

    I give up and take my loose tooth to bed.

    While I’m asleep it falls out of my head.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply ↓

  16. Vivian, thanks so much for this fun, creative challenge! With spring around the corner, thoughts to turn the endless, beautiful cycle of nature. So I tried to create an endless story in only 49 precious words, saving the last one for a wish. 🙂 Hope you enjoy…

    DANDELION DREAMS
    By Derick Wilder

    Dandelion
    Drifts past scampering
    Squirrel
    Drops nuts on friendly
    Frog
    Hops in pond, KER-SPLASHES
    Beaver
    Sinks teeth in weeping
    Willow
    CRASHES, startles snoozing
    Hawk
    Soars into puffy
    Cloud
    Saunters under springtime
    Sun
    Conjures color-filled
    Rainbow
    Splashes blue on
    Butterfly
    Softly lands on little
    Girl
    Makes a wish on
    Dandelion

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply ↓

  17. This is an entry from Corine Timmer.

    THE PUFFIN THAT COULDN´T FLY 49 words

    On a distant island
    from a sheer cliff,
    Peter the puffin
    tried to fly.

    But no matter how hard
    he flapped his wings,
    nothing happened.

    So, unlike his brothers,
    he bunny-hopped
    down to the shore.

    Upon arrival,
    to his joy,
    hundreds of birds
    with wings like his
    — penguins.

    By Corine Timmer

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply ↓

  19. Tooth Fairy Troubles by Carrie Harvey

    Tooth Fairy flutters toward Jacob’s pillow, reaching into her fairy purse to pull out his treasure. Rummage, reach, grab…Empty?! No cash to be found! Gulp. What to do? Tooth Fairy’s mind races. She dials her cell phone. “Umm, hello, Easter Bunny? I’m going to need to borrow some money.”

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply ↓

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