1 | Cathy C. Hall Writes

Don’t you just LOVE serendipity? Here’s what happened:

I had said to myself last night, whilst pondering my Things To Do list for tomorrow, “Self, quit fooling around and post on Finders & Keepers!” But here is what I wrote on my Things to Do Note for Monday: “F & K: ? ” And I had no idea what to write about when I woke up this morning.

Time passed, and the working day was nearly done. And STILL no post for F & K. But wait! I decided to zip through Facebook one last time before calling the workday quits. And there I found a post from my buddy Margo Dill who blogs over at “Read These Books and Use Them.” (A very fine blog with lots of wonderful reviews of children’s books for all ages.) She commented about a contest for 4th to 8th grade writers!

Oh, frabjous joy! So then I zipped over to Clara Gillow Clark’s blog to find out about her wonderful contest. In a nutshell, she’s giving away a copy of Spilling Ink, a Young Writer’s Handbook. But young authors can also win cash prizes and other autographed books by a slew of wonderful writers! The contest ends on May 1st, and you must write something based on the prompts provided.

Now, dash over to Clara’s wonderful blog post here to get ALL the details, and may the best 4th to 8th grade writer win!

(P.S. You do know that you don’t have to be a young writer to appreciate this writing handbook, right? Or to enjoy the website, for that matter. And you’ll want to drop in on Clara often, too. Oh, how I LOVE serendipity!)

“Spring is beginning to awaken and what better time to get your body moving and grooving then through the April 2011 issue of Guardian Angel Kids Ezine. Healthy living and eating is always important to one’s well being for both mind and body so come along and spring on over to Guardian Angel Kids and find out what is in store for you this month http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com.”

Thanks to the editor at Guardian Angel Kids for that swell introduction! Because, honestly, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Health may have been the theme for the April issue, but it was Spring that inspired my story “Finding Ideas.”

There’s just something about new blooms and warming weather that makes a body want to shed overcoats and scarves and head outdoors. That’s what the little boy in my story does when he can’t figure out what to write about for a Health project. Once outside, he finds plenty of ideas.

Check out the list of upcoming themes and maybe you’ll find an idea for a story while you’re taking a walk, riding a bike, or even mowing the lawn. Or maybe like me, you’ll sit at your desk, look out the window, and think something up.

(Hey, I was still inspired by Spring!)

P.S. Can you tell this dogwood tree has both pink and white blooms? I know Spring has sprung when I ride down the road near my house and see my favorite tree in bloom!