#50PreciousWords

The #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest takes place on my blog every year on March 2 and March 3. You can find out more by subscribing to my blog and receiving blog posts that will provide timely information. IMPORTANT: You must post your story in the comments section of the OFFICIAL CONTEST POST after 12:01am on March 2nd and before 11:59pm on March 3.


The #50PreciousWordsforKids Writing Challenge takes place during Children’s Book Week, usually the second week in May. Stories are emailed to me at viviankirkfield@gmail.com by parents and teachers – and all submissions are published on my Mother’s Day blog post.

Dates are announced every year in the “Contest-Is-Coming” post sometime in February. Please follow my blog to be notified.

  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. Your story 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 of the OFFICIAL CONTEST POST for the current year. 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. You can also post on social media. 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 the OFFICIAL CONTEST POST for the current year…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 (but please don’t email me at 11:58pm on the final day of the contest)
  6. We love the camaraderie in the comment section…and no matter how many thousands of comments we receive, they are all positive and supportive. Thank you for that!
  7. The #50PreciousWords Literacy Initiative has donated over 1000 brand-new children’s books to local schools in need. Participants are asked to purchase a children’s book (board book, picture book, middle grade or YA) from my local independent bookstore. This is not required…it is just a request and a way for us all to help put books in the hands of kids who need them.

When I start contacting the winners, 1st place will choose whichever prize he/she/they wants. Then I will contact 2nd place with the remaining prizes to choose from. And so on down the line. If you see your name in the top winners’ circle, please email me RIGHT AWAY (viviankirkfield@gmail.com) so that I’ll have your email close at hand when I need it…and please scroll through the prize list ahead of time so that you’ll know what you want when I contact you.