Category: Challenges

Here we are in October. Everyone’s sipping their pumpkin drinks and planning for Halloween. Do you know what else it’s time for? The Fall Writing Frenzy, a contest for kidlit writers. It’s not too late to join the challenge, either! Find the rules here.

And here’s my entry for this year.

The Runner

Footfalls echo around me as I run, trying to pretend that things are fine, that I’m just a normal kid jogging in the woods. Trying to pretend that I’m bold and brave. Trying to pretend that the red cloaks are not roaming the woods, axes in hand, just looking for a wolf to chop.

Every breath I draw hurts now. If I tried to speak, I would find my throat raw. At least the woods are on my side: I can hear the trees shifting around me to cover my tracks; hear the paths hissing as they shift position behind me. I mouth a silent thank you and keep running, heading for the pack grounds deep in the heart of the woods. Any red cloaks that follow me there will get more wolves than they can handle.

Behind me, hoofbeats pound. Someone is catching up to me. I bite my lip and run faster. I don’t know how long I can keep this up, but I’m almost to pack land. Once I get there, I can shift form and run on four legs.

Uh-oh. Someone’s throwing axes now. First one misses . . . CRACK! Second one? Better aim.

It’s time for the shortest –and in some ways, most challenging– of the annual writing contests for children’s literature. Every year, Seuss week brings Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words writing contest. And this year, once again, I’m throwing my hat in the ring with a new story that plays with the form of haiku. Enjoy!

“Rainy Day”

Dark clouds hide the sun.

Gloomy day; nothing to do

Till Mom brings out new

* * *

rain boots and raincoat.

Mud puddles plus yellow boots

Make rainy day fun.

* * *

Boots off, cocoa time!

Blow heat away. Sip slowly.

Sweet treat. A fun day.

One of the great things about autumn is the arrival of autumn writing contests, followed by winter holiday contests. I love these blog contests, because they’re fun to write and they’re fun to read. If you’ve never followed one, start with the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy right now, then wait for Susanna Leonard Hill’s Halloweensie at the end of October!

Here’s my entry. It’s, um, a little more disturbing than my previous holiday stories. Let’s say this one is for older kids, okay?

This story is based on Image 11.

“Reminiscence”

Two crows perched on a single branch, sharing memories.

“I remember when there were cows in this field,”

Said Edgar. “Not cows,” said Allen. “Horses.”

“Maybe both.”

“I remember when there was a scarecrow in that field,” Allen said.

They both looked across the road, and shivered.

“I never liked that scarecrow.”

“Me neither.”

Edgar shuffled his feet. Allen ruffled his feathers.

“I remember one night . . .” began Edgar.

“Stop!” replied Allen. “I don’t like that story.”

“But it happened!”

“Maybe it did and maybe it didn’t. But let’s not talk about it.”

They looked away from the field. They cawed at a passing dog.

“Whoever heard of a scarecrow walking, anyway?” Allen asked at last.

“If all it did was walk,” replied Edgar, “That wouldn’t have scared me.”

“That night,” Allen said, “The stormy night. . . ” He couldn’t finish.

So Edgar told the story: “Its head blew away in the gale.

And the scarecrow walked.”

Allen covered his head with his wings.

“When it came back,” Edgar finished, “it had a new head.

I always wondered how it got it.”

“I NEVER wanted to know.” They looked back at the empty field, and flew away.

Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner (can you believe it?). For many parents, finding writing time in summer is challenging. For me, summer is a bit easier: I’m no longer teaching classes, but my youngest children are still in daycare. Summer is a chance to work on research, revise my syllabi, and generally recover from the academic year.

Since I’ve gotten more serious about my creative writing, summer has also become a special time to focus on creative writing. Last year I participated in the Camp NaNoWriMo challenge in July. I recommend this to anyone looking for accountability: it’s more flexible than the classic November NaNoWriMo. You don’t have to work on a novel: you can also work on short fiction or multiple projects.

This year, I’m hoping to get some more time working on my picture book manuscripts. I’ve managed to keep up with the 12 x 12 Community’s “one picture book a month” challenge so far . . . but only just barely! I’m hoping to do better over the summer.

I also have a novel project that I’m hoping to finish. I’m not going to say much about that because my track record for finishing novels has been poor, at least since college. If I manage to finish it, you’ll hear more about it!

What are you hoping to do with your writing this summer, fellow writers? Whether summer is a tough time for you or a great time for writing, I’d love to hear your plans!