Author: Monica Acker

Susanna Hill is at it again, hosting the 5th annual Valentiny Contest. In 214 words or less, participants are asked to create a story for children in which someone feels curious. For more info on the contest, or any of the other amazing things Susanna Hill has to offer, visit: https://susannahill.com/2020/02/12/whats-in-your-heart-the-5th-annual-valentiny-writing-contest/

Stolen Heart (165 words)

“Momma, why do you love Daddy?” I ask. 
“Daddy stole my heart,” Momma says. 

I run to the window but…
with a wink and a wave, Daddy drives away.

Oh no! Daddy took Momma’s heart!

Why did Daddy steal Momma’s heart? 
Does her ticker need tinkering? 
Does the beat skip and jump?

Maybe I can build her a new one with my bumpy blocks. 
CRASH! SMASH!
I can’t give her a broken heart. 

Maybe I can give her the heart on my sleeve. 
STRETCH! PULL!
But this shirt is too small. 

Maybe I can cut one from rough red paper like my teacher did at school. 
SNIP! CLIP!
Ugh! These paper hearts look halfhearted. 

My heart sinks. What will Momma do without her heart?

Then keys jiggle in the door. 
Daddy’s back!
With flowers for Momma, and a necklace with…
a heart of gold!

Daddy gives me a heart too... 
and it’s full of chocolates.

“For you kiddo,” Daddy says, “my little sweetheart.”

I am participating in Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas for Writers. On the third day of Christmas we were challenged to list our successes from 2019 and share them publicly. It was wild to sit down and list them out. I did not secure an agent in 2019 or launch a new book, but what I am proud of what I did accomplish. I challenge you to do the same. Celebrate all your successes, big and small. They helped get you to where you are today.

In 2019 I…

1. sold a story to a children’s magazine and got to see my words in print!

2. was chosen as a runner up in the #pbchat mentorship program.

3. completed the 12×12 PB challenge with 16 new manuscripts written in 2019.
4. Storystormed like a boss for the first time.
5. was a winner in the #FallWritingFrenzy contest.
6. received an Honorable Mention in Vivian Kirkfield’s #50preciouswords contest
7. and an honorable mention in a pitch contest presented by Lydia Lukidis with Blue Whale Press.
8. was lucky (not really a success because I was chosen at random) to win multiple critiques by published authors and agents.
9. networked on Twitter, at local events, and at the NESCBWI conference, meeting so many amazing writers, agents, and editors.
10. attended two conferences and a ton of webinars to improve my knowledge of craft and the business.
11. took the helm as the leader of my in person critique group.
12. and connected with Twitter friends through #pbchat in two critique groups that support and challenge me.

Plus I kept three kids alive and fed (and nurtured) and worked a part-time job teaching littles.

Bring it on 2020. I am ready.

Susanna Hill is running the 9th Annual Holiday Contest on her blog! https://susannahill.com/2019/12/09/ho-ho-ho-the-9th-annual-holiday-contest-is-here/

The challenge is to write a holiday story in 250 words or less about a holiday treat. My entry is a whopping 74 words and was a treat to write.

Tip-Toe Treat

 Oh no! We forgot!
  
 Tip-toe, go slow, watch out for the cat.
  
 Sprinkle, stir, mix.
 Scoop, dump, pour.
 Whisk, 
 Whoosh,
 Whoops!
  
 Ahhh!
  
 Tip-toe, go slow, do not make more mess.
  
 Crack, sift, scrape.
 Blend, fold, spoon.
 Glaze, 
 Glop, 
 Gloop!
  
 Shhhh! 
  
 Tip-toe, go slow, creep back into bed.
  
 Close your eyes.
 Go to sleep
 Before he gets -
  
 Crumble, mumble, crunch.
 Mmmm, nummm, nummm
 Ho! 
 Ho! 
 Yum!
  
 Yay!
 Tip-toe, cheeks glow, Santa likes our treat! 

Dandy, by Ame Dykeman and Charles Santoso, was released earlier in 2019 and quickly became a family favorite. When the sweet daughter, aptly named Sweety, befriends a dandelion in her dad’s pristine lawn, he is faced with the choice to destroy the imperfect weed or destroy his daughter’s joy. The many attempts to take out the weed will have your little one laughing and the end will have you tearing up. This book truly is dandy!

To make your own Dandy project you will need:

• blue watercolor
• green oil pastel (or crayon)
• yellow tempera paint
• watercolor paper
• paint brushes
• forks

To create a field of Dandy dandelions begin with some oil pastel green stems and grass. Now for the magic: have the children paint the whole page with blue water color, right over their oil pastel. The oil resists the water and allows the color to shine through – ta-da! (For over eager painters, sop up puddles with paper towel before the next step). Then dip the tines of the fork in the yellow paint and stamp the fork shape on the paper. Repeat turning the fork in all directions to create the texture of a dandelion.

Contests are so much fun. I love a good story writing challenge and Susanna Hill’s Halloweensie Contest is a great one.

The challenge: Create a Halloween story for kids in 100 words or less using the words potion, cobweb, and trick. To learn more about the contest or Susanna Hill visit her blog: https://susannahill.com/2019/10/28/the-9th-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest-aahhhrrrooooooooo/

Without further ado, my Halloweensie entry, complete at 100 words.

The Witch Who Spells Spells

Cobweb collected letters and sounds.

S curved like a slithery snake.

T tingled on the tip of her tongue.

Cobweb spelled her spells.

Lucinda said, “Witches don’t spell.”

Cobweb disagreed.

Into the potion went B and A and T…

the cauldron coughed out a pet BAT to keep her company.

Lucinda said, “Witches don’t spell!”

Cobweb disagreed.

Out came A and in went O…

the stew spat, spluttered, and spewed a BOT (to keep things neat around the shack).

Lucinda said, “Witches don’t spell! We play Halloween tricks!”

Cobweb agreed.

She changed T to O.

Bubbles brewed then bellowed…

BOO!

I love developing my understanding of the craft of writing picture books. One of the things that has propelled my writing forward is winning critiques. I have been very lucky to learn from published authors, literary agents, and picture book editors how to improve my manuscripts. I have also learned how to be a stronger critique partner for my CPs.

Now is your chance to win this amazing experience. Brian Gehrlien, at Picture Book Spotlight, has put together #PBCritiqueFest, connecting 35 writers and illustrators with critiques from published authors, illustrators, and literary agents. Get in on this opportunity at https://www.pbspotlight.com/pbcritiquefest?fbclid=IwAR0sZAqxvqRh3BHG4F-Ewuo1-ERiEvfxVsPokWv7oRsRhrbXEvTnaPDu9vQ

In this charming story by Dan Santant, Beekle lives in a land of imaginary friends. He waits to be picked and watches as others around him leave one after another. When a friend does not come to find Beekle, Beekle goes to find his friend. This story of adventure and friendship stirred up our imaginations. We set out to create our own unimaginary friends. When the only directive is to create, it is amazing what the mind delivers.

What you need:

• Crayola Model Magic
• glue
• water colors
• paint brushes
• anything you imagine (feathers, beads, pipe cleaners…)

The children were given lumps of white Model Magic and were free to take items from the craft bin. The children rolled, smushed, poked, and glued. We used watercolors to add color because our Model Magic was not dry yet, but once cry it can be colored in a variety of ways. These stunning creations air dried for a week. Then they went home with their new friends.

It is time for the Spring Fling Writing Contest. The challenge is to write a spring story for children based on a gif and limited to 150 words. For the full description visit:
https://sites.google.com/view/springflingwritingcontest/main?authuser=0

Spring in New England can have a bit of a sense of humor so this snowy gif spoke to me. Hope you enjoy.

Snow Garden

“I declare winter over,” said Mom as she packed away the mittens, hats, and scarves.

The birds were singing, trees were budding, and the Sox were playing baseball again. Spring had sprung!

The surest sign spring had arrived were the pops of color in the garden. Our tulips had woken after their winter slumber and opened to the warm sun.

“Breaking news,” said the radio. “On Friday, we will have an April snowstorm. Expect 6-8 inches of the white fluffy stuff.”

No!!!!!!

When Friday came we sullenly watched the snow coat everything, even our tulips, in a blanket of white.

I borrowed some food coloring from the kitchen and grabbed my paint brushes from the easel.

I dug the winter things out again, trudged outside, and got to work transforming a spring snowstorm into a spring snow garden.

Mom joined me. “Snow tulips are the best tulips of all.”