#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!!”

    • Thank you, Vivian! I have had this idea in my tickler file FOREVER! I am grateful for the opportunity to have revisited it. And I am grateful to you for not only creating this contest, but being such a generous champion of our community.

      Like

  2. Hi Vivian,
    Thank you for hosting this contest. My name is Mindy Baker and here is my entry. I call it FLAPJACK FRIDAY. (47 words)

    Flapjack Friday, 
    Hip, hip, hooray!
    Each Friday night,
    A holiday.
    Pour the batter in a pan,
    Heart, star, or circle?
    Dad’s the man!
    Dad flips them high,
    Then to my plate.
    Butter, syrup,
    Don’t make me wait!
    Come and get it!
    Don’t delay,
    You’re invited…
    Flapjack Friday!

    I would love to connect with other kid lit writers! http://www.mindybakerbooks.com

    http://www.mindybakerbooks.com/2018/03/flapjack-friday-50preciouswords.html

    Liked by 8 people

  4. The wormhole (37 words)

    Bunny looked down a wormhole
    And much to her surprise,
    An extra-terrestrial galaxy
    Appeared before her eyes.

    A friendly alien waved hello
    But Bunny felt too shy.
    She twitched her nose and ran away
    Without waving goodbye.

    Liked by 16 people

  5. this is my entry….not for the win but for the challenge of overcoming the fear of entering!
    Thanks, Vivian for the opportunity!

    Karma (50 words)
    by Gabrielle Copeland Schoeffield

    Thump! Thud!
    Hunkered down in bed, Katie heard rustling.
    Her heart pounded as the cabin door creaked. Bits of light stream in.
    Rustling grew closer, then, a flash of yellow-beige; a slimy tongue on her face, gross, wet dog smell
    “Silly Karma! You’ve been in the river again!” Katie giggled.

    Liked by 13 people

  6. Here’s a link to my entry: http://erikammon.blogspot.com/2018/03/50preciouswords-contest.html

    I’ll add it below as well. Thanks for hosting #50PreciousWords, again, Vivian! It’s a fun and challenging contest to join.

    Raiders of the Lost Cookie Jar

    Into the jungle I go.
    Climbing over fallen trees.
    Through a raging river.
    Snapping alligators!
    Knee deep mud.
    A Desert!
    Windstorm!
    Finally, home base was in sight.
    Knock, knock, knock.
    “Hi Erik,” Cathy said.
    “Can I have a cookie?”
    “Of course you can.”
    “Thank you!”
    Back to the jungle!

    Liked by 12 people

  7. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A MOOSE IN A NEST? (50 words)

    by Lynn Rogalsky

    What do you do with a moose in a nest?

    When it weighs down your tree

    Shedding antler dust?

    You can’t beg or bribe him to leave don’t you know.

    Why, you feed him chocolate to get him to go.

    Vamoose! No moose wants to become dessert via chocolate mousse.

    ****
    This entry is also posted on my Whimsical Word Blog: https://lynnrogalsky.wordpress.com
    And my Whimsical Word Facebook writer’s page: https://www.facebook.com/lynnrogalskywhimsicalwords/

    Thank you Vivian for this writing challenge opportunity!

    Liked by 8 people

  8. Pingback: “My Entry for the #50PreciousWords 2018 Writing Challenge” – Whimsical Words Blog

  9. Thank you, Vivian, for offering this fun challenge and building community! I used all 50:

    KICKING IT
    By Jennifer L. Blanck

    Kriszta wanted to be back in Hungary. She missed her friends and ketchup on pizza.

    She sat on the playground edge, holding in tears. Whack! A ball slammed into her side.

    “Sorry!” called Zach.

    Instinctively, Kriszta drop kicked the ball. It soared over Zach’s head.

    “Wow! Wanna play?”

    She did.

    Liked by 10 people

  11. #50PreciousWords 2018 Challenge Entry

    Melanie Conrad
    Word Count: 49

    An Idea

    A tiny seed planted deep in your mind.

    The mind nurtures it into a thought.

    A thought grows into your consciousness.

    Your brain gives life to the thought.

    This thought blooms into your present world.

    Your present world now has an idea.

    You now give life to the idea!

    The End

    Liked by 9 people

  12. I am so excited to be a part of this contest! Dr. Seuss is my idol. Thank you so much for giving up this opportunity Vivian!

    Here is my entry (49 words not including the title):

    How Shy Am I?

    I like this guy
    but can’t reply
    when he says hi.
    I want to cry.

    I won’t deny
    I long to try
    to catch his eye,
    but can’t comply.

    With day’s end nigh
    I fortify
    my grit and I
    approach the guy.

    I heave a sigh
    then say…

    “Goodbye.”

    My blog is http://murphymusing.blogspot.com/

    Liked by 9 people

  15. PUDDLE DAY
    by Cindy Williams Schrauben

    Raindrops plop.
    Out she scoots.
    No umbrella,
    coat, or boots.

    Squishing ick
    between her toes.
    Tasting trickles
    from her nose.

    Puddle sparkling
    in the sun
    taunts and teases,
    begs for fun.

    Mom approaches,
    meets her eye.
    Charge!
    Almighty battle cry.

    Hand in hand.
    It’s bombs away!
    Perfect puddle
    jumping day.

    Liked by 18 people

  16. OK, so many people are doing rhyme, so I found something I did in Renee’s class too. I tweaked it to fit the contest. It does have a beginning, middle, and end. They are just really close to each other! 🙂 Here goes.

    Firefly (48 words)

    Looping a figure eight in the dark,
    Flittering, glittering sprite
    Alights on the tree then flickers away
    Leaving its halo of light.
    Winking and blinking its way through the night,
    Firefly dances with flair.
    He twirls and he flips with such beautiful grace,
    Then disappears into the air

    Liked by 15 people

  17. #50 Precious Words – Tina M. Shepardson

    LOCKER (50 words)
    All night, Locker waits for school.
    At 7:25am, his door opens wide.
    His friends Backpack, Coat, Lunch, and Textbook visit.
    Some go to classes while others hang out.
    At 3pm, everyone goes home.
    “I miss my friends already,” cried Locker.
    All night, he waits for another day of school.
    The End

    Liked by 11 people

  18. #50PreciousWords

    I have posted my entry on my blog, as well: http://jenraudenbush.com/blog.html. Thank you for the fun contest!

    PUDDLE (43 words) by Jennifer Raudenbush

    “Rain again!” her mother muttered.
    “What a shame!” But Jane’s heart fluttered.

    Peanut-buttered lips curve wide;
    grab rain boots and head outside.

    Tiptoe, tiptoe, hurry, dash!
    Knees bent low, now jump—splash!

    Pitter patter back inside.
    Fly back out, Mom by her side!

    Liked by 12 people

  19. BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
    50 words

    By the light of the moon
    I kiss you goodnight
    My angel baby
    My heart’s delight

    I bundle you up
    For night’s twinkling smiles.
    Stars stretch
    miles and miles.

    I whisper a wish
    to the stars
    for you to be happy
    with who you are.

    Sleep well,
    angel
    baby.
    Goodnight!

    Liked by 12 people

  20. What a wonderful idea. I love Haiku and Cleave poems, but here is a reversed etheree (41 words)

    SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

    You landed your ginormous silver ship.
    Scorching patterns into the cornfield.
    You never said, “Hello Earthling,”
    But flew away into the night.
    I watched, and as you left
    Took many pictures.
    I danced with joy
    For this time
    I’d have
    Proof.

    Liked by 14 people

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