Strike up the band! Sharpen your pencils! It’s time to show the world that:
MAGIC HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE EVERY WORD COUNT
Today is the day, dear friends! Ready! Set! Go!
The #50PreciousWords 2019 Writing Contest is now OPEN!
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 three 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. To answer that challenge, Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham. 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! The next year, there were 253 entries. And last year, there were 298.
To backtrack a bit, 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
- 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.
- It can be prose, rhyme, free verse, silly or serious…whatever works for you.
- Title is not included in the word count.
- No illustration notes please.
- IMPORTANT: 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. But no matter how many other places you want to post your story, make sure at least one of those places is in the comment section of this blog post…and please make sure you put your name in the post because some of you have very creative emails/avatar names and I won’t know who you are. 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.
- Deadline for posting the story in the comments is Wednesday, March 6, at 11:59pm. And if you plan to ask me to post it for you, please send it at least the day before.
- As many of you know, I am in New Zealand right at this moment on a round the world trip of a life-time. I am hoping to announce the winners on March 16th, but I ask for your patience and understanding in case something comes up and it doesn’t happen that day. Also, although I will be posting the winners on March 16th, I won’t start awarding the prizes until after I return home, on April 8th. But believe me, these prizes will be worth the wait!
- When I do start contacting the winners, 1st place will choose whichever prize he/she wants. Then I will contact 2nd place with the remaining prizes to choose from. And so on down the line. And here, for your dining and dancing pleasure are the wonderful prizes.
- A critique from Storm Literary Agency partner Vicki Selvaggio who is one of the finest agents and loveliest people I know.
- A picture book or chapter book or MG critique with Clear Fork editor Callie Metler-Smith.
- A seat in Susanna Leonard Hill’s MAKING PICTURE BOOK MAGIC: This is the first picture book writing class I took in February 2014..it was a stellar foundation and it has served me well. Susanna is an amazing mentor and a seat in her class can be life-changing!
- A seat in Mira Reisberg’s Children’s Book Academy class on HUMOR – how to find it in your heart and how to write it into your picture books. I have not taken this class yet…but I know I should: https://childrensbookacademy.teachable.com/p/let-s-get-funny-writing-humor-for-kids1
- A complimentary viewing of Alayne Kaye Christan’s latest webinar: Top Ten Reason’s for Rejections.
If you want tips on some corrective action that you might take to improve your chances of submission success, and/or if you would like to deepen your understanding of plot and arc, this webinar is for you.
Alayne Kay Christian is the content and developmental editor for Blue Whale Press and an award-winning children’s book author. She is the creator and teacher of a picture book writing course, Art of Arc. She has been a professional picture book and chapter book critique writer since 2014. And worked as a critique ninja for Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12 for three years. Alayne is a graduate of the Institute for Children’s Literature and she has spent the last eleven years studying under some of the top names in children’s literature.
- Picture Book manuscript critique from author Lindsay Metcalf
Photo courtesy: Anna Jackson Photography
Lindsay H. Metcalf is a children’s author, poet, reporter, and former editor for The Kansas City Star. She will debut with two nonfiction picture books in 2020. In the fall of that year, Charlesbridge will release Taking the Mic: Fourteen Young Americans Making History, a poetic anthology co-edited by Lindsay, Jeanette Bradley, and Keila V. Dawson, and illustrated by Bradley. It features fourteen contemporary young activists, each spotlighted by a well-known poet. Subjects include literacy activist Marley Dias, water protector Jasilyn Charger, Scout for Equality founder Zach Wahls, and immigration reformer Viridiana Sanchez Santos. Contributors include Nikki Grimes, Joseph Bruchac, Lesléa Newman, and Guadalupe García McCall. Details about Lindsay’s second nonfiction picture book will be forthcoming. To learn more about her books and paid critique services, please reach out on lindsayhmetcalf.com or on Twitter @lindsayhmetcalf.
- Picture Book manuscript critique from author Melissa Stoller.
Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Book One: Return to Coney Island and Book Two: The Liberty Bell Train Ride (Clear Fork Publishing, 2017 and 2019); and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush and Ready, Set, GOrilla! (Clear Fork, 2018). Upcoming releases include Return of the Magic Paintbrush and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories (Clear Fork, 2019). She is also the co-author of The Parent-Child Book Club: Connecting With Your Kids Through Reading (HorizonLine Publishing, 2009). Melissa is an Assistant and Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a Moderator for The Debut Picture Book Study Group, and a volunteer with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators/MetroNY. Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer and editor, and early childhood educator. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Trustees at The Hewitt School and at Temple Shaaray Tefila. Melissa lives in New York City with her husband, three daughters, and one puppy.
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller
http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller
- Picture Book manuscript critique from author Amber Hendricks.
- Picture Book manuscript critique from author Sherry Howard.
Sherry Howard lives in Middletown, Kentucky, in a household busy with kids and pets. She worked as an educator, and now has the luxury of writing full time. Her debut picture, Rock and Roll Woods, released in October, 2018. And her middle grade NF, Deep Sea Divers, just released. She has quite a few books in the pipeline for publication soon.
Sherry Howard | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Meet Kuda and Rock and Roll Woods here.
- Picture Book manuscript critique from author Julie Abery.
Mother. Writer. Teacher of the very young. I live in Switzerland with my partner and Tilly, the Springer Spaniel.
I ❤️ my job (it’s not every day you get to be an honorary five year old!)
I ❤️ chocolate (I live in Switzerland after all!)
I ❤️ walking the dog (well, I did eat all the chocolate!)
I ❤️ picture books!
If you would like to learn more about me, please visit
http://www.stormliteraryagency.com/our-authors-and-artists/
- Picture book critique from author Tina Cho.
Tina Cho is the author of four picture books– Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans (Little Bee Books/Bonnier Publishing August 2018), Korean Celebrations (forthcoming Tuttle 2019), Breakfast with Jesus (forthcoming Harvest House 2020), and a new sale yet to be announced. Although she grew up and taught in the United States, she currently lives in South Korea with her husband and two children while teaching at an international school.
- Picture book critique from author Carrie Finison.
Carrie Finison began her literary career at the age of seven with an idea, a box of markers, and her father’s typewriter. She has been writing off and on ever since, though she has (somewhat regretfully) traded in the typewriter for a laptop. Her poems and stories for children have appeared in Babybug, Ladybug, High Five, and Highlights magazines, and her debut picture book,DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illustrated by Brianne Farley, will be published by Putnam in 2020. She lives outside Boston with her husband, son, daughter, and two cats who permit her to write in their cozy attic office. Find her online atwww.carriefinison.com or on Twitter @CarrieFinson.
- Picture book critique from Maria Marshall
Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet passionate about making nature fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the 2018 & 2017 Cybils Awards. And a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best Of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. She is the parent of two amazing adults and lives in the Pacific Northwest with two Pixie Bob cats. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. The Picture Book Buzz
Website Facebook Twitter Instagram
- Signed copy of book by Laura Sassi
Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. Her picture books include GOODNIGHT, MANGER (Zonderkidz, 2015), GOODNIGHT, ARK (Zonderkidz, 2014), DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE (Sterling, 2018) and LOVE IS KIND (Zonderkidz, 2018). She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and a black Cockapoo named Sophie. She is represented by Lara Perkins of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and you can learn more about her and her books at https://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/
- Signed copy of THE MASTERPIECE by Shelley Kinder
Shelley lives in Indiana with her family and loves writing for little people. Not So Scary Jerry (2017) was her first picture book. The Masterpiece (2018) is her second. Its original version got eleventh place in Vivian’s #50PreciousWords Contest in 2016
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, Julie Abery, and Diane Tulloch who will be helping me read and comment.
Last year there were almost 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 could definitely learn something from us.
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. I hang my head in shame because I am using the same story I wrote for last year’s post. I hope you will forgive me, preparations for my book launches and trip did not allow me time to write a new one, but I did want to put up an example for those who haven’t participated before. And maybe it will be new to them!
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.
##
Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me at: viviankirkfield@gmail
I ask for your patience and understanding if I don’t get back to you right away…but please don’t stress…if you write a story and have trouble posting it, just email me. As long as your email gets to me time stamped before the contest closes, I will make sure your story is entered. Right at this moment, I am in Auckland, New Zealand, participating in library and school story times, reading FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN: AN ANIMAL COUNTING BOOK, PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE, and SWEET DREAMS, SARAH! How lucky can aa girl get???
And I am so looking forward to reading all of your precious words!
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
MIAOW SAID COW (50 words)
“Miaow!” said cow to pussycat,
“How dare you!” pussy cried.
He woofed at dog as he walked past,
“That’s rude!” the dog replied.
“OInk oink!” he grunted at the pig,
The pig just stared in shock.
“Cock a doodle do!” he crowed instead,
“Cock a doodle don’t!” said cock.
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Hello!! I think you’ve done the same thing I’ve done and put your 2021 entry at the end of the 2019 post. I got myself so confused but you need the 2021 blog post to enter – don’t want you to miss out! Cx
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That sassy cow. Very nice images. And the cock sums it up so neatly. I like the sounds of your story.
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CLOUDY VISIONS
by Virginia Howard
“What do you see in the sky?”
“Butterflies!”
“Birds!”
“Fluffy bunnies!”
“A flock of sheep.”
“Galloping horses!”
“Polar bears!”
“Elephants!”
“There’s a dark blue dragon!”
“It’s spitting fire!”
“Hear it roar!”
“Aww, it’s sad. It’s crying.”
“UH OH! I see rain….”
“Now a rainbow.”
I see magic in the sky.
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Hello!! I think you’ve done the same thing I’ve done and put your 2021 entry at the end of the 2019 post. I got myself so confused but you need the 2021 blog post to enter – don’t want you to miss out! Cx
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“You didn’t do your bell-work, again!” shouted mom.
“To your room!” demanded dad.
Together, they cried.
After time-out, they asked, “What’s so hard about bell-work?”
“I don’t have enough time,” said Isaac.
“How can we help?”
“Can you take me to school on time?”
They looked at each other.
“YES!”
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Oh, boy. There it all is, in a nutshell. Great hinting at the larger story.
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Spring Blushes Green by Amy Hillman
Winter white holds tight.
Anxious seeds wait for their start.
Grey clouds burst free.
Lightening crashes, thunder clangs!
Brown earth soaked and warmed.
Brave sprouts find their way.
Redbuds blossom, willows sway.
Dogwood saplings stretch toward the sun.
Oak and elm unfurl their leaves.
All at once…
Spring blushes green.
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Puppy’s day
Mommy puts on her shoes.
She made me sit and stay.
Now she’s gone.
Wonder if I can see her from the gate.
Daddy can hold me.
But Mommy’s still gone.
Can I see her at the gate?
Daddy, where’s Mommy?
She’s at the gate.
Mommy’s home.
Yay.
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Let’s Hug Again
by Christine McCauley Fernandez
Hugs 1 and 2,
I love you.
Hugs 3 and 4,
I want more.
Hugs 5 and 6,
plus kisses we’ll mix
with 7 and 8,
and I cannot wait,
for hugs 9 and 10,
so let’s hug again.
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The Fence
By Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo
Small boy near a tall fence.
Can he jump over? No, it’s too tall.
Can he climb over? No, he’s too small.
Should he stand on the ball? No, he’ll fall.
If he climbs the tree ? No, no, he can’t reach over.
Oh wait! Silly boy, there’s a gate.
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THE BEACH WALK
by Emily Siwek (50 words)
Early one morning
a family searched for treasures on the beach
driftwood
stolen by a dog
seaglass
slipped through small fingers
stones that changed color in water
too heavy to carry
a fragile shell
crumbled in two
names written in sand
washed away
they left with nothing but full hearts
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No Baby Pictures
By Tumara Jordan
@tumara
The assignment was to bring in a baby picture.
I don’t have any.
I am sure I was a baby.
I didn’t jump from 0 to 6 without evidence.
I’ll take pictures doing baby stuff.
These pictures look silly.
My story is just different and that is ok.
I’m adopted.
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Katie Williams Word count 50
https://katiemundaywilliams.com
TIDES
Hello
goodbye
low
then High.
Moon calls to me,
but I can’t
quite
reach.
Below me, a rainbow world
Forests, caves, coral
Life blossoms and blooms.
Above me,
sky.
Gravity pulls…
I bulge
I slide.
Fish dart
crabs tumble
shells crumble
waves crash and spray.
Hello
goodbye
low
then high.
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A Grackle Thanksgiving
It was a warm day in May, the sun was smiling. A grackle landed feet away. He twisted his head as I ate my fries. I offered him one. He hopped forward, took my fry and stepped back. He looked at me, blinked twice, and flew out beyond the trees.
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A PREVENTION INVENTION
by Barbara Gallios
Tommy opened the maker box. “Tilly, where are the wheels?”
Tilly stopped tinkering. “I used them to make a rope pulley between the window and the tree to hang the birdfeeder up high so the birds can eat, safe from the cat.”
“Thanks,” chirped the birds.
The cat sauntered away.
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