#50PreciousWords 2018 Writing Challenge is OPEN!!

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Today is the day, dear friends! Ready! Set! Go! The #50PreciousWords 2018 Writing Challenge is now OPEN!

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For those of you who have not participated before, let me give you a bit of back story. March 2nd is the birthday of the incredible Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For the last two years, I’ve hosted 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.

In 2016, 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! And last year, there were 253 entries. And I hope we have a great turnout again this year because I am passionate about helping others follow their dream of writing for children.

In 2012 I had a dream. I wanted to write picture books. And I wanted to be traditionally published. And one of the most important things I did was to participate in writing challenges like Susanna Hill’s contests. Why was that important? Because it got me writing. It got me revising. It got me submitting. Hmmm….writing/revising/submitting. I believe that if we do those three things enough times, our writing improves and agents and editors get a chance to see our work. And as much as I am thrilled with my own success, nothing makes me happier than to hear about the success of others in our kidlit community.

So, please sharpen your pencils. Fire up your computers. And share your #50PreciousWords with us.

#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. Please post your story in the comment section below. If you have your own blog and want to post your story there also, please do. And let us know your post link.  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 story, please email me and I will be happy to do it for you: viviankirkfield@gmail.com.
  6. Deadline for posting the story in the comments is Tuesday, March 6, at 11:59pm.
  7. Winners will be announced in a special blog post on Sunday, March 11.
  8. Winners? Of course, there will be winners…and prizes, too!
  • A critique from my beloved agent, Essie White (some of you may remember that the winner of the first year’s contest chose Essie’s critique as her prize…and she subsequently signed with Storm Literary Agency and THAT story, plus a sequel to it, will be published next year!

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  • Your choice of ONE of the following from author, mentor, and founder of Sub Six FB group, Alayne Kay Christian: Picture Book critique or Chapter book critique (first three chapters), or Complimentary Art of Arc course.

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  • Picture Book manuscript critique from author Lori Degman.

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  • Your choice of either a picture book manuscript critique from author Karen Valenti or a seat in her Master Course on Picture Book Writing.

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  • Picture Book manuscript critique from author Katey Howes.

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Julie Abery

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  • A piece of original signed art and a copy of LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL plus a silver seal necklace from author/illustrator Patricia Keeler.

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  • Rest & Relaxation package with two picture books and a surprise from author Maria Marshall.

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  • A signed copy of CAT IN THE CITY from author/illustrator Jill Weber.

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  • $15 credit in her TeachersPayTeachers store from Barbara Leyne(GradeOnederful)

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A big thank you to all of our amazing prize donors! Much appreciation to illustrator Vicky Fang whose awesome logo graces our challenge! And a grateful thank you to my dear friends and critique buddies, Maria Marshall and Julie Abery who will be helping me read and comment.

Last year there were over 2000 comments – ALL OF THEM POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING!  I am so proud to be a part of this amazing kidlit community. Our news stations and politicians should definitely take a lesson from this kidlit community.

And before I leave you to post your stories and comment on those you have a chance to read, I thought it would only be fair if I posted my sample of a 50-word story which hopefully has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

WHY THE STARS TWINKLE (49 words)

It was Sun’s birthday.

Moon gathered paper, paint,

glitter and glue to make a card.

But Wind blew.

Glitter and glue covered the stars.

“Now I have no gift for Sun,” cried Moon.

“Twinkling stars are the best present of all,” said Sun.

And Moon glowed all night long.

The End

Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me: viviankirkfield@gmail.com.

I am so looking forward to reading all of your precious words!

 

1,892 thoughts on “#50PreciousWords 2018 Writing Challenge is OPEN!!”

  1. I am posting this entry for Amber Lavoie-Bouchard.

    Sloth Finds a Slushy by Amber Lavoie-Bouchard

    Sloth spent his days hanging in his tree.
    He began to get tired of being tired and tired of eating leaves.
    That was when he spied the slushy.
    He gulped his slurpy and…
    …ZAP!
    He ran and ran, he danced and danced.
    Until he needed an extra long nap.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I am posting this entry for Mona Pease.

    After The Rain
    by Mona Pease

    Mama’s gone shopping
    so Gramp came to play.
    He said, “Grab your boots.
    It’s sunny today.”

    We’re racing for puddles,
    I flip in a rud.
    Gramp’s laughing so hard,
    he slips in the mud!

    We wallow like piglets,
    so we didn’t see,
    that Mama came home-

    “Don’t play without me!”

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Angie, I just found your story on your blog…I copied and pasted it here so it can be part of the challenge. Unless you already posted it here and I just missed seeing it. I love the feeling of action I get and there is lots of suspense. Well done!

    Like

    • Thank you for letting me know you had posted on your blog, Tiffany. I love your descriptive language…the imagery is wonderful…and our strong verbs give us the sense of mink’s action throughout the story. Well done!

      Like

  5. Kisses Mean I Love You

    Mommy gives me kisses in the morning and at night.
    She gives me lots of kisses, and hugs me oh so tight.
    She says kisses mean I love you…I do believe it’s true.
    So now when Mommy kisses me, I say I love you too!

    Like

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  9. Thank you Vivian for another fun challenge, enjoy New Zealand!

    SALTY AND SWEET
    By Kari Gonzalez

    Toast admired cupcake.
    Cupcake was fancy and sweet.
    Toast was plain,
    Smeared with peanut butter.
    And he felt salty.
    Until… Toast had a sweet idea.
    He cartwheeled to the pantry.
    Squish! Flip! Drizzle!
    Toast beamed sweetly under
    peanut butter, banana, and honey.
    Cupcake admired Toast.
    Toast was so sharp.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Wow! I am blown away by all of the talented writers here! What a showing! I loved this challenge and found that I enjoyed conjuring up all kinds of tiny stories throughout my day. I even found some inspiration while changing a diaper! I guess I’ll keep that one to my self. Thanks for the inspiration and loads of fun, Vivian!

    Porcupine Snuggles
    By Tara Hannon
    50 Words

    Porcupine stretches.
    Porcupine yawns.
    He snuggles close to Rabbit.
    Poke.
    Jab.
    Eek!
    Ouch!
    No snuggles today.

    But Porcupine twiddles.
    And Porcupine fiddles.
    He has a brilliant plan.
    Pluck.
    Twist.
    Wrap.
    Voilà!
    A poke free snuggle plan.

    Porcupine returns.
    Quill covers intact!
    He snuggles close to Rabbit.
    Plop.
    Snug.
    Yawn.
    Zzzzzzzzzzz

    Like

  11. Sheepish

    ‘Mum!
    There’s a sheep in my bed,
    Right next to my head!’

    ‘Jess!
    Go to sleep! It can’t be a sheep!’

    ‘Mum!
    I’ll move over a bit,
    So the sheep can fit.’

    ‘Jess!
    Turn off the light! Goodnight!’

    Morning.

    ‘Mum!
    There’s no sheep on my bed!
    Just my sweater instead…….’

    50 words

    Like

    • I had a longer version but I wasn’t sure if repeated words counted in the final word count so I decided to err on the side of caution and enter the short version. 🙂

      Like

  12. A SLED FOR KALA

    “Baby Kala, it’s your first big snow!”
    But Cousin Mishi’s sled is WAY too big. Uh oh.
    “Try this pot?”
    Maybe not.
    “The puppy’s dish?”
    I wish…
    “My old orange frisbee!”
    Oops. Whoopsie!
    “Maybe just on your bum.”
    Hmmm. Umm…
    “Never mind,” Mishi sighs,
    Hugs Baby Kala close. They SLIDE!

    Like

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