Well, it’s been a minute. But this return-of-the-blog post is brought to you by none other than Vivian Kirkfield’s amazing #50PreciousWords contest. The challenge is to write a story with a beginning, middle, and an end, in 50 words or less! It feels impossible at first but pop over to Vivian’s page to see howContinue reading “2022 50 Precious Words”
Tag Archives: contests
Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2021 Holiday Contest
I like to joke that Susanna Leonard Hill is my personal patron saint of inspiration. Her 2018 holiday contest is what got me back into writing for others. Her challenges have just enough structure to spark an idea but enough freedom to let my imagination roam. The sparse word count forces me to focus onContinue reading “Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2021 Holiday Contest”
Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2020 Holiday Contest
Pulling out my coziest socks, admiring the lights around the neighborhood, making little people-shaped ginger cookies to devour… ah yes, it must be time for Susanna Leonard Hill’s Holiday Contest! Are you tired of me raving about her contests yet? There’s something so freeing and FUN about having a limited amount of time and aContinue reading “Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2020 Holiday Contest”
#KidLitHoliYAY: Day 4
I am so excited to host the fourth day of #KidLitHoliyay with some of my Critique Sisters: Maryna Doughty, Dedra Davis, Sarah Meade, Sarah Heaton, and Ciara O’Neal! And I am very excited to feature HAPPY LLAMAKAH! by Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Lydia Nichols I love this book. It’s sweet, it rhymes, it’s punny, itContinue reading “#KidLitHoliYAY: Day 4”
#50PreciousWords
Another contest!!! This one is hosted by the wonderful Vivian Kirkfield and it’s a real challenge: write a story for children in less than 50 words! You read that correctly. 50 words! I actually came up with a couple. I focused on conveying snapshots of fun childhood experiences and it was a delightful and energizingContinue reading “#50PreciousWords”
Valentiny 2020
[UPDATE: I am so honored and thrilled to announce that this story won first place! Someone pinch me!] It’s time for ❤ Susanna Leonard Hill‘s<3 Valentiny contest! Her 5th one! She knows how to spread the love. The challenge: Write a kid’s Valentine’s story in 214 words or less in which someone is curious. I’mContinue reading “Valentiny 2020”
2019 Holiday Story Contest
Susanna Leonard Hill has another contest (I seriously don’t know how she does it). The challenge for this contest is to write an original story with kid-appeal, 250 words or less, that focuses on a holiday treat! My brain kept substituting “peppermint mocha latte” every time I read “treat” but maybe that’s just me. YouContinue reading “2019 Holiday Story Contest”
Happy Halloweensie!
Susanna Leonard Hill, a true kidlit treasure, hosts these amazing holiday contests that challenge writers to think creatively and efficiently. With a limit of 100 words, I wanted to try some free verse this year. But then I wanted to see it rhyme. Rhyming is SO HARD!! I won’t even tell you how many “practice”Continue reading “Happy Halloweensie!”
Nicole Loos Miller 