#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. This entry removed at the request of the author – sending positive vibes that this awesome story finds a good home!

    Liked by 14 people

    • I think prey, but I definitely also see a cheetah. Nicely done. I could see this in a unique PB set-up where you use the same words, first with one and then the other. Good Luck! 🙂

      Like

      • Thank you, Maria. I’m envisioning the prey in the foreground and the predator hidden in the background until the chase. From that point on, I’d expect the animals to be represented equally in the illustrations. But hey, I’m open to all ideas! 🙂 Thanks for your input!

        Like

    • This is awesome, JD…the pacing is phenomenal. Tension. Drama. You’ve got it all. You put the reader right there in the wild with your main character. And for me, your mc was the prey…but I can see it would work perfectly as the predator. Well done!

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      • Thanks Vivian. For your kind words, of course. But more importantly, for hosting this contest. I was in a slump. Depressed, perhaps. Definitely down. I hadn’t written anything new in 2018. Was my well dry? Apparently not. Thank god and thank YOU. I now have 3 new stories to work on. Those facts alone make me feel a winner.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Very funny. You made me laugh. Would love to spend a day at the circus with these two clowns(!)—er, characters. Maybe you can make that book happen!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. If I Am Only for Myself… by Joyce Schriebman (50 words)

    “Wait, bus!” If only she hadn’t stopped to help.

    “Late again, Sara,” scolded Principal Shapiro. Should she have let apples roll into the street?

    Students laughed. Sara’s cheeks reddened.

    Inside her backpack, Sara discovered three shiny apples with a note: Shukran, my friend.

    Sara grinned. Yes, my new friend. Shukran.

    Liked by 8 people

  4. This one is lovely, Shae. I can see it as a board book for wee ones…kind of a bedtime story. Keep going with it. Your rhythm and rhyme are good.- just work on that moonbeam line. And I love the last line! Well done!

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    • And I had an alternate pair of lines for that bit too – should’ve switched them! All good! Thanks for the fun fun fun challenge!

      Like

  5. Oh, my goodness! There are so many creative, funny, and uplifting 50 Precious Words posts. Unbelievable! It’s hard to keep up with everyone posting. You all inspiring me!

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  6. A story from the POV of the puddle. WOW…I loved the imagery and how you showed the world from the eyes of a puddle. Well done! Thanks for joining in the fun, Amanda!

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    • Thanks for the feedback, Vivian. I have read so many clever entries. Several other puddle-themed ones too! All so very different though. That’s the beauty of this craft 😃

      Like

  7. EACH OUCH
    By Meg Mahoney
    48 Words

    Ouch!
    My elbow!
    Ouch!
    My knee!
    Ouch!
    This needs kisses
    This ouch you can’t see
    Ouch!
    A tough lesson
    Ouch!
    These sting
    Ouch!
    Need a Band-Aid,
    a cast or a sling
    My scars and my bruises
    Unique as can be
    Make me my very most
    colourful me

    Liked by 12 people

      • This captures childhood at its finest and who we may end up being as an adult depending on those scars. Nice!

        Like

    • Loved your rhythm and rhyme, Meg! And every kid will relate to this story. Plus I think your message of each person being unique is an important one, especially these days. 😉

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    • Without sounding morbid, I’d love to see how the accidents happened, ie what adventures the MC had that resulted in the bruises and scrapes. Tree climbing? Rock jumping? Biking? And I like how the MC embraces the ouchies at the end. Well done!

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      • Me too! I envision illustrations filling the ‘accidents’ in alongside the words….perhaps also some more invisible wounds from words or actions. Thanks for the comments!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. A Spider’s Song
    By Tasha Hilderman

    Spin, spin, spin,
    I will make my web.
    Spin, spin, spin,
    Out of silky thread.
    Spin, spin, spin
    Pull the threads in tight.
    Spin, spin, spin,
    Working through the night.
    Spin, spin, spin,
    At dawn my work is done.
    Spin, spin, spin,
    Glistening in the sun.

    Liked by 13 people

  9. SLOTH
    By Rich Shea

    Eat
    Sleep
    Poop
    Yawn
    Never wake till after dawn

    Climb
    Hang
    Swing
    Rest
    Do the things I do best

    Stretch
    Squeak
    Drool
    Sneeze
    Spend my day up in the trees

    Bathe
    Swim
    Float
    Crawl
    I am a sloth. That is all

    Liked by 11 people

  12. What a sweet bedtime story. I agree with Vivian, but I do like the image of “magical moon beams.” This would make a great Board Book. Good luck 🙂

    Like

  13. #50 PreciousWords STAY AWAY, RICKY ROOSTER
    by Deborah Amadei

    Don’t follow me, Ricky Rooster. I bet you won’t find me here. Let’s see if you find me curled around a rock. And you did.That’s no good.I will try again. Here’s an empty burrow.

    Where are you?

    Help there’s a huge bird swooping down.
    Ricky, please help me.

    Liked by 5 people

  14. Nowhere To Go
    (50 words)

    Billy’s pet mouse
    Was born with no sight.
    It escaped from the cage
    Giving mum a big fright.
    One wall
    Two wall
    Three wall
    Four.
    Why can’t the mouse
    Locate the door?
    Billy kneeled down
    And grabbed the mouse with care.
    He gently whispered
    “Mum, get down from the chair.”

    Liked by 7 people

  15. Walrus and Puffin Meet in the Middle

    by Ellen Berry (pen name E.B.Ellis


)

    “From you to me…
    
a sea.”



    “Meet halfway?”

    “Okay!”



    “Ready…Set…”

    “Not yet.”



    “Know…”
    “…how far to go?”



    “Fly?”
    “Too high.”

    
”Canoe
    you?”

    “Queasy.
    This isn’t easy!”

    
”Give up?”
    “Nope! Rope.”

    “Your end…
    Pull, friend!”

    “Middle,
    little by little.”

    Liked by 12 people

  16. The Jungle is a Busy Place (47)

    The monkeys search high and low,
    for fruits and nuts to find.
    The Jungle is a wild place,
    with animals of every kind.

    The ants sort every leaf,
    the bats take to the sky.
    They come out as the sun goes down,
    not like you and I.

    Liked by 9 people

  17. Thank you so much for this great challenge Vivian. I’ve had fun writing my #50PreciousWords.

    Night Time In The Library – 48 words.

    At night time the library is dark and deserted.

    Rustle!

    Rustle!

    Rustle!

    At night time the library is NOT quiet.

    Pages rustle as fairies fly out of books, dinosaurs dance and clowns do cartwheels.

    Wizards wave wands and picnic blankets appear. Bears bring porridge, queens bring tarts and pirates bring pizzas.

    Magicians perform tricks, dwarves sing and cowboys tell campfire stories.

    At night time the library is NOT quiet.

    At night time the library comes alive!

    Liked by 14 people

  19. How fun-thanks for the contest!

    Marmalade (50 words)

    Theo did not want to try marmalade.
    “It’ll have to do,” said his mom.
    Theo stared at it. He glared at it. He took a scoop.
    He squinted. He sniffed. He flung!
    Up.
    Down.
    Plop. On his lip.
    Theo froze. He pondered. Stuck out his tongue
    “It’ll do,” he said.

    Liked by 8 people

  20. Hi Vivian!!! 😀
    My very first #50PreciousWords entry, so much fun! Thanks for making me giggle and try my best haha
    Here it goes, I call it Earth’s Shape.

    I’m sure
    The Earth is a table
    Plain, Straight and Stiff
    My dad says it is not a table
    Earth is a ball, says
    No, I would sweep and fall
    When going to my friend’s house
    Upon a plane I can see
    Earth from above
    Wow
    Earth is a Ball

    – Carina Povarchik

    Liked by 8 people

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