Tag Archives: writing contest

The October WOOooOooo Wrap-up!

by

10626620_10204178615537318_786430566163493947_nOctober is a favorite month for me and not just because I happened to have been born on one of its spooktacular days. (But I’m not saying which because honestly, I pretty much celebrate the entire month. And Oldest Junior Hall is taking me to see Wicked this weekend as a birthday /Christmas gift–I suspect he’ll be using this adventure for the next couple years to cover everything–so the party’s not over until I sing so much that Oldest Junior Hall tells me to stop. And P.S. I won’t. Because yeah…it’s my birthday.)

The point is, lots going on in October and now it’s time to catch up:

Remember the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy over at Kaitlynn Leann Sanchez’ blog, Math is Everywhere? I wrote Worms Crawl In for this fun contest and boo-yah! I was a winner! I love when writers join together in community to support each other, and when there are prizes, too? Well, that’s just about the best in my book.

Of course, now that I’ve won a creep-tastic critique, I suppose I’ll have to write up something. I’ve got an idea for a sort of nonfiction, sort of funny picture book that I might work on in November during NaNoWriMo.

I’ve also got lots of opinions about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), so if you’re on the fence about whether to participate in this November writing challenge, you might want to give a read to “The Rights and Wrongs of NaNoWriMo” over at The Muffin.

And yes, I know that a picture book is not a novel, even if it’s a long non-fiction one. But I’ve been working on a revision of a middle grade paranormal all month and I’m this close to being stick-a-fork-in-it, I-really-mean-it-this-time done. So I’m kinda novel-ed out right now.

I’m not done with all my research, though. I’ve been binge-watching every ghost hunter show this October–who knew there were so many?–partly to pick up a pointer here and there, but also to get me in the paranormal mood. I even went to a presentation at my local library where a paranormal investigation crew played EVPs and answered questions and showed us ghostly, ghastly photos and videos.

It was all a bit oooOOOOooooo. Until I asked one of the investigators my burning question: Why do ghost hunters always hunt for spirits and such at night? I mean, time doesn’t mean anything to a ghost, right?

No photo description available.But it’s October, y’all, and hunting ghosts and telling spooky stories and getting ready for NaNoWriMo is what you do. Unless you got something different? Spill your guts, please, ’cause yeah…it’s still October for a day or two.

Friday’s Fun Find: Dance Off! And Write Off!

by

Not sure how I missed this when it first came out because a. I love a good dance off (and put one in my middle grade novel) and b. it’s a couple tap-dancing/Irish dancing priests (who are not in my novel, but still fun).

There’s nothing like a good battle to motivate you for the coming Baker’s Dozen Agent Auction over at Miss Snark’s. Adult fiction, New Adult fiction, Young Adult fiction, Middle Grade fiction…they all have a chance to win an agent in this Write Off. So get those fingers crackin’–and maybe you’ll be happy dancin’ in a couple weeks!

Friday’s Fun Find: A Fishy Tale (It’s the March Madness Writing Contest!)

by

Come on, now. You knew I was going to write a fractured fairy tale for Susanna Leonard Hill’s contest, right?

And as I sat, staring at my blog, a fish fairy tale came to me. (You probably saw that coming, too.) But as I wrote, another fairy tale came to me, and then another, and …well, you’ll just have to read for yourself:

Image

A Fishy Tale

 

One spring day, a fish was swimming in its stream. He heard footsteps on the bridge above.

 Knick-knack, knick-knack went the steps.

 “Hey!” the fish roared in a bubbly squeak. “Who’s that knick-knacking across my bridge?”

 A little girl peered over the bridge. “It is I, Little Red Riding Hood. I’m taking goodies to Granny’s house.”

 “Give me your goodies or I shall eat you up,” said the fish.

 “Hmph,” said the girl. “You are a fish. But since you are hungry, I will give you a few crumbs.”

 She tossed a few crumbs and then crossed the bridge, turning right at the fork in the road.

 Soon, the fish heard soft padding across the bridge.

 “Who’s that softly padding across my bridge?” squeaked-roared the fish.

 “It is I, the Big Bad Wolf,” said a very scary-looking wolf. “And I am going to eat you up!”

 “Wait,” cried the fish. “There is a much tastier morsel than I. If you take the left fork in the road, you shall find a sweet, little girl.”

The fish was pleased that he had directed the wolf in the wrong direction. Alas, he had sent the wolf down the shortcut to Granny’s. But that’s a story for another day.

Soon, three little pigs skipped over the bridge.

 “Who’s that skip-skipping over my bridge?” squeaked the fish. (It was a busy bridge, and his roar was quite given out.)

 The third little pig, known as the brains of the bunch, baited a hook. “It’s the Three Little Pigs,” said the third pig. He tugged at the line and up came the fish.  “And we will have a fine dinner today.”

 “Wait,” said the fish. “I will grant you a wish if you let me go.”

 “Whee!” said the first piggy.

 “We want roast beef for supper,” said the second piggy.

 “Done,” said the fish. “Turn left at the fork. You’ll find lots of nice, red meat.”

 The two piggies released the fish.

 “Oh, for crying out loud,” said the third pig, who much preferred fish to meat. He stormed off the bridge, tripping over a stack of bricks. “Hmmm,” he said. “These bricks will come in handy.”

 The pig worked all day, laying bricks at the fork in the road. When he was done, he had a swell seafood restaurant and two little piggy waiters.

Plus all the business he could possibly handle.

 Bet you didn’t see that coming, right?

 (I hope you have a chance to read more of the fractured fairy tales this fine weekend. And P.S. It’s not too late to write your own!)