VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children

Picture Books Help Kids Soar

VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children

The 2019 #50PreciousWords Writing Contest

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Strike up the band! Sharpen your pencils! It’s time to show the world that:

MAGIC HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE EVERY WORD COUNT

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Today is the day, dear friends! Ready! Set! Go!

The #50PreciousWords 2019 Writing Contest 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 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

  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. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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! 
  8.  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.

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  • 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!

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  • 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.

    http://www.alaynekaychristian.com/

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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

lindsay h. metcalf (credit anna jackson)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.

 

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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.

www.MelissaStoller.com

www.MelissaStoller.com/blog

http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller

http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller

http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller

http://www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller

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Born and raised in the Midwest, Amber Hendricks grew up reading everything she could get her hands on- including the morning cereal boxes. That passion melded into writing, and by the age of 11 she was writing and binding her own “books”.  Amber is the author of Sophie and Little Star (Clearfork/Spork 2018) and two yet to be announced picture books.  Amber has worn many hats in her career : Army wife, Mother, Visual Merchandiser, Certified Pharmacy Technician, and most recently, Childcare Professional.  But she has always circled back to her first love of telling stories.  Amber currently resides in Missouri with her husband and two children.

https://twitter.com/ashayhen

  • Picture Book manuscript critique from author Sherry Howard.

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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.

Deep Sea Divers

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.

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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.

The Girls Guide to Manners

www.tinamcho.com

 

  • Picture book critique from author Carrie Finison.

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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 Marshall photos

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

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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

The Masterpiece - cover image

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

www.ShelleyKinder.com

 

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.

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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!

 

3,153 thoughts on “The 2019 #50PreciousWords Writing Contest”

  1. BOARDWALK MAGIC
    By: Kristen Donohue (50 words)

    The sun hides.
    Rumble.
    Waves crash.
    Plip, drip, plip…
    Oh no, rain!
    Shake sandy blankets!
    Whoosh!
    Runaway umbrella!
    Now, sprint!
    We huddle under soggy towels.
    Our beach day, ruined.
    But then, BEEP. GA-LING. DING.
    Arcade music!
    “Please, Mom?”
    Flip-flops smack wooden planks as we race toward the lights.
    Boardwalk magic.

    Liked by 8 people

  2. Pingback: #50PreciousWords Writing Contest – Flutter By Literature

  3. Furry Crisis by Vanessa Calouro

    Teeter, totter
    Wiggle, waggle
    Sniff, sniff
    Geronimooo!
    It seems someone has left the cage door open…
    And now we’ve got a little escape artist on our hands.
    All through the pet store she goes.
    Until…
    Pluck!
    A little girl catches the hamster and finds a new best friend.
    Crisis averted.

    Link to blog: flutterbyliterature.wordpress.com/2019/03/05/50preciouswords-writing-contest/

    Liked by 6 people

  4. Boom! Flash! Orly hissed at the stormy window with a curled back and poofed tail. Jenny smoothed Orly’s fur and made bird shadow puppets on the wall. Orly’s eyes sparkled as she pounced and pawed at the shadow birds, the storm forgotten.

    Liked by 6 people

  5. Scuba Drivers (50 words)

    Scuba drivers one, two, three,
    Get in line beneath the sea.

    Revving engines, ready – GO!
    Fish’re waiting for the show.

    Ocean currents challenge going.
    Coral reefs keep tension flowing.

    Drivers spot a welcome sign –
    This way to the finish line.

    Scuba drivers one, two, three.
    They all finish – VICTORY!

    Liked by 8 people

  6. Instructions for Saying Goodbye — by Rhett Trull (50 words)

    Linger in the doorway.

    Notice flowers that yesterday were seeds.

    Know that shadows hold a brightness, being nothing without light.

    It’s okay to cry. Or sing.

    Breezes untie leaves like ribbons. Catch one.

    Paths can begin anywhere: wood’s edge, wood’s heart.

    Return when you need to remember you are loved.

    Liked by 9 people

  7. I DID IT!
    by Carol Beth Bullman (50 words)

    Kara watches the water lap and ripple,
    Mirroring her insides.
    Will she ever earn her swim class certificate?
    How long has she been hunching,
    Hands above her head,
    Poised to dive?
    Long enough for her bathing suit to dry,
    Long enough for Daddy to decide . . .
    To give a loving PUSH!

    Liked by 6 people

  8. Backyard Mystery – by Rachel Lehman Stohler (50 words)

    Pale pink fingers slathered in slime poke from woodchips in Alex’s backyard. They stink like rotten hamburger with a side of barf.

    What are they?

    Alex observes.

    Measures.

    Magnifies.

    Swabs the slime.

    Examines the cells.

    Slices the specimen.

    Researches.

    The hypothesis: Dog Stinkhorn, the grossest mushroom ever.

    Backyard mystery solved.

    Liked by 7 people

  9. Achoo! by Meryl Sachs Cullom (50 words)

    “Achoo!” the cat said
    When she let out a sneeze.
    “Cough, cough,” the bird said
    “Excuse me please.”
    “Brr,” said the dog
    “I feel chilly in here.”
    “I’m burning with fever,”
    Exclaimed the bear
    The animals yelled,
    “WHAT’S A BEAR DOING HERE?!”
    The bear said,
    “Catching a cold, I fear.”

    Liked by 6 people

  10. CAT AND MOUSE

    “This is it”, thought Rodella mouse.
    She couldn’t look.
    She shivered
    and shuddered…

    …until cat uttered, “Finally. I’ve captured you.”

    Rodella opened her eyes.
    She squealed.
    “Yes, you’ve captured me beautifully.”

    Cat signed Picatso on the painting.
    Rodella paid and took her pawtrait home.
    Both cat and mouse felt happy.

    Liked by 10 people

  11. Valerie McPherson
    HOMEWORK: WHAT I DID AFTER SCHOOL

    Notebook
    empty
    Ticking clock

    Take a
    walk to
    spark ideas

    Snare a
    Dragon
    for my leash

    Find a
    Smart-phone
    In the trash

    Spot my
    Gran in
    UFO

    Saving
    child from
    Fire escape

    Hey! I
    won the
    lottery.

    Teacher
    won’t believe
    it’s true

    Better
    write We
    just baked bread.

    Liked by 8 people

  12. The Midnight Ride of Paw Revere

    The cats planned a trick against dogs in town. But puppy Paw heard their plans and vowed to take them down.

    He rode the streets at midnight, barking a warning: “Beware, canines. Cat attack tomorrow morning.”

    Cats came.
    No dogs found. Thanks to Paw Revere, they hid at the pound.

    Liked by 6 people

  13. Sussu Leclerc
    Once In a Blue Moon

    She was made of fairytales.
    Weaving carpets from sweet kisses and dewdrops.
    A blind minstrel discovered her true stories.
    And sung the threads into being.
    Stealing her hardy work.
    Bathed in moonlight, he never saw her coming.
    But she weaved his dreams.
    In revenge for what his heart had seen.

    Liked by 7 people

  14. Clarella

    They called us Clarella.
    Clare and Ella.
    Best friends.
    Peas in a pod.
    Romping, boogying, giggling.
    Until Clare moved away.
    Now I’m just Ella.
    Somewhere, she’s just Clare.
    No longer a pair.
    And I’ve got time to spare.
    “Hey, over there!
    What’s your name?”
    “It’s Blair.”
    Blairella? Could be worse.

    By Tiffany Dickinson
    http://www.tiffanydickinson.com

    Liked by 11 people

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  16. Trouble on the Piggy Campgrounds

    Pigs sing songs.
    Play mud games.
    Brown marshmallows over campfire flames.

    Pigs watch sun set.
    Count stars.
    Enter tents beside their cars.

    Swish-a-swash.
    What’s that sound on campgrounds?

    WOLF!

    Pigs rush.
    Start automobiles.
    SCREEEEECH the wheels.

    Wolf shouts, “Wait!
    “I don’t like meat!”
    S’more are what I want to eat.

    Liked by 11 people

  17. I’m going to catch a scary monster
    I’ve seen him in the woods
    He has sharp teeth and purple fur
    I’m not scared, no sir

    I’ll be brave. I’ll be strong.
    I’ll protect you from his bite.
    I’m a big kid now, you know
    You’ll still hold my hand, right?

    Liked by 8 people

  18. Water Cycle (34 words)
    by Rachel Funez

    Drip drop, pitter patter,
    sprinkle, shower, soak.
    Seep, sop, burble babble,
    Trickle, tumble, Splash!
    Rush gush, swell surge,
    spread … settle … steam.
    Float, fluff, saggy sodden,
    ripple, rumble, Flash!

    Drip drop, pitter patter, plop.

    Liked by 8 people

  19. Mary Warth
    CLOUD WATCHING (50 words)

    Cloud watching’s unpredictable.
    “See Charles… the fire-breathing doughnut’s mine!”
    “Mine’s a rock”
    “Good, for a beginner.”
    “Look Evie!”
    “Wait. More clouds are coming!”
    “My rock changed…”
    “Not now!”
    “Hip-po Evie!”
    “What? Headed right…
    towards…
    Hippo attack! It ate my cloud!”
    “Good rock!”
    Know what else is unpredictable?
    “Rain! Run, Charles!”

    Liked by 6 people

  20. Pingback: Rachel Funez Writes

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