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. WAY TO GROW by Beth Stewart

    Root said, I’ll dig in.
    Stem said, I’ll hold us up.
    Leaf said, I’ll face the Sun.
    I’ll catch light till day is done.
    Flower stretched, pink and wide.
    Bee took Pollen for a ride.
    Fruit hugged Seed, then let her go.
    Wind carried her away so she could grow.

    Liked by 13 people

    • This is PERFECT! I’m an early childhood educator and I would certainly read this to my students. Great job, Beth! I really love that fruit hugged the seed, then let her go, and wind carried her away so she could grow. We teach about the different ways seeds travel and this has beautiful imagery.

      Liked by 1 person

    • I’m with everyone else on this one. It’s so beautiful, and I can see it being a lovely board book as is or further developed into a picture book. Excellent work!

      Like

    • What an ingenious way to show the growth cycle of plants through the POV of the respective parts. The last three lines are amazing. Very lyrical. I agree that this could make a beautiful board book.

      Like

    • Beth…this is so rhythmical and the rhyme is spot on…and the voice is totally authentic…I can see this as a board book or picture book. Lovely images you’ve created with your #50PreciousWords.

      Like

      • Thank you so much for your kind words! I LOVE #50PreciousWords and am so grateful a friend gave me a push (several, actually) to try this. I’m inspired!

        Like

  2. BIRTHDAY (46 words)
    by Jill Lambert

    A secret is growing
    without a sound,
    A mother is watching
    above the ground.

    The shell begins cracking
    bit by bit,
    The baby can’t stay in,
    it just won’t fit.

    The silence is broken,
    the voice is clear,
    “Today is my birthday,
    I’m here! I’m here!”

    Liked by 10 people

  3. PENGUIN’S PLAN (49 words)
    by Leslie Leibhardt Goodman

    Penguin shivers.
    Too much ocean.
    Too much ice.
    Too much cold to migrate.
    “Time to swim,” his parents call.
    Penguin has a plan.
    “I will stay,” he says.
    “We’ll miss you,” friends call.
    Penguin stands on shore.
    Alone.
    He has a better plan.
    Penguin builds a raft and
    sails.

    Liked by 6 people

  4. Painting a Rainbow

    It was Cloudy’s first rainbow. She picked colors and started to paint. But orange disappeared! It wasn’t on her poofy table. Not behind her floofy Mama. Oh no, the sun started to shine! She peeked under her fluff. There it was. She splashed a dash and the rainbow was glorious.

    Liked by 6 people

  5. I posted my contest entry a couple days ago. This is just silly nonsense for anybody who happens to be reading.

    WHAT WORDS? 50 words
    By Linda Staszak

    50 words? You can’t expect me to tell a riveting story in only 50 words.
    You’ve already used up 15. Better get busy.
    Ok, how about ‘she didn’t get a Valentine card and went home crying’?
    Not Valentiny words. Precious words.
    Ok. And then she hugged her dog.
    That’ll do.

    Liked by 8 people

  6. Thanks for the opportunity Vivian! I’m not sure if the down-under time zones got muddled, because March 6 is a Wednesday. (Did you get to my home-town, Christchurch?)

    Here is my offering, compiled of 48 words: and, be, bears, bees, birds, brothers, charge, dads, dare, day, do, earthquakes, everyone, everything, fish, flavours, for, forests, I, ice-cream, if, in, it, little, making, mums, nicer, of, one, or, pesky, rain, schools, skyscrapers, stores, sunshine, the, tornadoes, truth, volcanoes, were, what, whole, wind, world, would, yes, you.

    In Charge, by Stuart Fleming

    Truth or dare?
    Truth.
    If you were in charge of the whole world for one day, what would you do?
    In charge?
    Yes.
    Of the whole, wide world?
    Yes.
    Of everyone?
    Yes.
    And everything?
    Yes.
    In charge of making it rain?
    Yes.
    In charge of sunshine, and wind?
    Yes.
    In charge of forests, and fish?
    Yes.
    In charge of birds, and bears, and bees?
    Yes.
    In charge of volcanoes, tornadoes, and earthquakes?
    Yes.
    In charge of stores, and schools, and skyscrapers?
    Yes.
    In charge of ice-cream flavours?
    Yes.
    In charge of mums and dads?
    Yes.
    In charge of pesky little brothers?
    Yes.
    I would be nicer.

    Liked by 5 people

    • A perfect view of life from the eyes of a young child…well done, Stuart. And yes, I did get to visit Christchurch…the day before the horrible shootings. I hope you are okay. I was so impressed with how beautifully the city is rebuilding after the earthquake…it seems to be a city of people who come together when there is crisis.
      I know that I confused many who entered the contest, my friend…the stories were supposed to be no more than 50 words total…but because I shared that Dr. Seuss did the challenge with 50 unique words, I think I threw everyone off. So no worries. All the entries are valid. And next year I will do better and be clearer. 🙂

      Like

    • Hi Stuart, Didn’t realise you were from Christchurch we could have hooked up when I took Vivian down there. Next time! Love this it is very engaging. Nice job. Good luck in the competition.

      Like

  7. Bunnies Beat Bongos
    by Kim Erickson
    (50 words)

    Hungry bunnies want to fill their tummies.
    So bunnies play bongos at midnight,
    while Farmer snores.
    Bum, Bum, Ba, Bum.
    Farmer wakes.
    “QUIET!”
    Bunnies beat louder.
    Farmer tosses a pillow.
    Bunnies bounce faster.
    Farmer throws a boot.
    Bunnies bang bongos.
    Farmer hurls old fruit.
    Quiet.
    Nibbling bunnies aren’t hungry anymore.

    Liked by 7 people

  8. Hi Vivian 🙂 Funny thing. I just went to post my entry, so I went to your page and re-read the guidelines and noticed it said deadline is “Tuesday, March 6” so I was like…oops! Missed the deadline! Today is Wednesday! But then I realized it’s the 6th. So, I guess I can still post? Welp, here goes 🙂

    Something Special About Summer (50 words)
    By Shelley Kinder

    Sifting sand
    Skipping stones
    Sizzling summer
    Twisty cones

    Sunflower shade
    Picnics, books
    Wriggly fish
    Silver hooks

    Star-spangled songs
    Stadium seating
    Cotton candy
    Teams competing

    Sunshine, clouds
    A rainbow sky
    Puppies, leashes
    Passersby

    Smoky sparklers
    Sky ablaze
    Impressive night
    Blanket, gaze

    Summertime
    Speeding past
    Goodbye, My Love
    I had a blast!

    Liked by 7 people

  9. THE SALMON RUN by Pamela Courtney

    Brrrrrr
    Breezes beat against the battered bark.
    Trees lean low
    Icy waters surge.
    Salmon stop their journey.
    Bears search.
    Eagles circle . . . waiting.
    Hunger pangs.

    WHOOSH!
    Warmer waters wash in gifts,
    dimpling streams.
    pLiP PLIPITY pLOP,
    SALMON!

    Trees stretch.
    Bears gorge.
    Eagles circle . . . DIVE!
    Forest Feast.

    Liked by 8 people

  10. Playground Legends

    Players race up and down the court
    Like gazelles in an open field
    Flat out runnin’ and gunnin’
    Long passes,
    No look passes
    Fade away
    Jump shot
    Count it!
    Beyond the arc – SWISH!
    Take it to the hole
    (And one)
    Alley oop pass above the rim
    Ferocious dunk
    Game over…

    Liked by 6 people

  11. Hi – My name is Kimberly Marcus and this was so much fun!! Here is my entry:

    June Bell Baby couldn’t find her bear.
    Sad tears fell from her eyes.
    “I don’t know where I lost my bear.”
    June Bell Baby cried.

    June Bell Baby looked high and low
    and much to her surprise
    She found Bear in the bathtub
    Bear was dry just like her eyes.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. MY SECRET NOOK
    By Astghik Kamalyan

    I’m losing my sleep –
    My dragon’s leap
    Shutters the attic.
    “No more magic!”
    “Sorry, mommy!”
    A tsunami –
    My dancing broom
    Illuminates the room!
    My cat-o-pillows purr,
    Shine with neon fur!
    I’ll hide my secrets in a nook –
    Will keep them all in my own book.

    Liked by 5 people

  13. LULU BUNNY’S MAGIC TRICK by Ann Kelley
    Lonely Lulu Bunny waved her magic wand at the dirt.
    Pop!
    A tulip.
    Nope.
    She waved again.
    Pop!
    A worm.
    Still not right.
    Pop!
    A roly-poly.
    Try again.
    Pop!
    A toad.
    Nope.
    One more time.
    Crackle! Crackle!
    Oh, no!
    Pop!
    Oh, yes!
    Finally!
    “Benny Bunny! I’ve been waiting for you!”

    Liked by 5 people

  14. Wow what great stories! Thanks, Vivian, for another really wonderful chance to see so many talented writers’ work.

    Here’s my entry, based on a real incident with my new daughter’s first experience with a cherished pink frosted Dunkin Donut! 😀

    Red Squirrel’s Delight
    By Beth Gallagher

    Tiny hands clutch their treasure,
    Tongue licks lips; future pleasure.

    Save to eat after the beach.
    On the counter, out of reach.

    Squirrel sees the screen is bent.
    Through a hole, he follows scent.

    Grabs and gobbles;
    Belly wobbles.

    Where donuts were,
    Only crumbs and fur.

    Liked by 7 people

  15. Saltwater Kisses

    by JC Kelly
    (50 Words)

    Tickling my toes
    Swirling my knees
    Splashing my nose

    Saltwater kisses cover my eyes
    Upon foam bubbles
    Up, I rise

    Till it pushes me down
    Tumbling, choking
    Will I drown?

    I feel Dad’s hand
    Grab mine and
    Pull me upon the sand

    We share a grin
    And…
    Race back in

    Liked by 5 people

  16. BOSCO
    by Jose Cruz

    The box holds memories of magic:

    Rusted bullhorn.

    Sawdust smell.

    Greasy rainbow paints.

    Laughter bubbling from a peppermint tent.

    Me: front row. Your biggest fan.

    The show is over, but I’m still here.

    And I’m learning to smile again.

    Bosco: greatest clown that ever lived.

    Greatest grandpa who ever was.

    Liked by 6 people

  17. I, FUEL
    by Kelly Rice Schmitt

    Out I gush,
    seeking purpose.
    Filling pipes, lots of pipes.
    Into boats, trucks, trains, traversing.
    Boil me up, refine me.
    Now I’m feeling helpful.
    People keep warm.
    Planes fly.
    Cars zoom.
    Boats glide.
    And though it will end me,
    I fuel,
    hoping to empower you
    to find a better way.

    Liked by 4 people

  18. The BOT BUILDER
    by Janie Reinart

    I build bots
    From bodkins, braces, and bits.
    Bitty-bots for bitsy chores,
    Biggest-bots for BIG.
    Busy bots bustle about.
    But bots start bothering
    each other.
    When
    Bots start breaking belongings
    I banish bad bots
    with a bop on their bottom
    to the basement.
    Back to the drawing board.

    Liked by 6 people

  19. WEATHER REPORT
    By Stephanie Shaw

    Sprinkle
    splatter
    A rat-a-tat patter

    Drip
    drop
    An echoing plop

    Splisher
    splasher
    A taxi-cab dasher

    Cloudburst
    Chaser
    A picnic-eraser

    Soaker
    Slosher
    A fine-feather washer

    Drizzle
    Downpour
    Put-pots-on-the-floor-for

    Douser
    Chiller
    A puddle-refiller

    On plains, peaks or coastly
    Partly to…

    moistly.

    Liked by 7 people

  20. In Dreams (50)

    “He’s waking up.”

    The boy looked around, confused. Had he not been awake all this time they spent together?

    “Don’t you forget us,” someone told him.

    “I won’t.” He felt himself getting tired. He closed his eyes.

    He woke up in bed trying to remember what he had been dreaming.

    *It’s still March 6th where I am and I don’t understand time zones so I thought I’d give this a try. What a fun exercise!*

    Liked by 4 people

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