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After a long cold winter, spring is in full bloom! And what would a new season be without a seasonal writing contest? A super fun one is the annual Spring Fling Kidlit Writing Contest, hosted by author Ciara O'Neal and agent Kaitlyn Sanchez and open to entries April 1-3. The challenge: "Find a gif and write a spring-inspired story. Blossoming flowers? Sure! Easter eggs? You bet! Mothers day? Of course! Anything related to Spring is yours for the telling." (You can find more details about the rules and samples here.) Telling a complete story (beginning, middle, end) within the 150-word limit works all the writing muscles! I enjoyed "borrowing" well-known rabbit characters to use in my piece. Can you spot them all? Writing tip: Borrowing (or "intertextuality") is a recognizable echo from another work of literature. It's a great way to pack a lot into a few words, as the reader brings the backstory with them. As someone who writes poetry and humorous picture books, intertextuality one of my favorite devices. While contestants aren't required to create the GIF paired with the entry, a lot of them do. I took that on this year as well. It was nice to play with visual storytelling in addition to words. Even though they look a little bit like potatoes, aren't the bunnies sweet? I hope you enjoy my 150-word story and homegrown GIF. Are you entering this year? If so, please leave a link in the comments so I can also read yours. Good luck to everyone who entering! p.s. As anyone who reads my work will notice, I love archaic words. Here are some from the story, along with their definitions:
p.s.s. My blog won't support playing my GIF for some reason, so I had to load it as a MP4. But I do have it as a GIF as well. The Fluffle Kerfuffle ~ A Rabbit's TaleAs was their custom since time out of mind, a fluffle of rabbits gathered to choose the Easter Bunny. They sipped rosehip tea and nibbled carrot cakes while debating this year’s hopefuls. “What about Peter?” “Bugs is our bunny!” “In my day, a pocket watch meant something.” Lanky, half-grown kits rolled their eyes. The perpetually late white rabbit never let anyone forget his ancient brush with fame. Jessica’s cloak flared as she hopped up. “What about me?” A kerfuffle ensued. “But...but...you’re...” “A girl?” Jessica’s whiskers twitched. “It’s never been done!” one old cony gasped. All around, long gray ears sagely nodded. Who could argue with that? This doe could. “When better for new beginnings than spring?” Jessica filled the egg basket and flung open the burrow’s door. “Count on me, gentlemen.” With a flick of her cottony tail, she was gone. Easter mornings would never be the same.
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Congratulations to all the winners and honorable mentions in this year's 50 Precious Words contest! This was an amazing outpouring of creative talent--756 entries!--as well as support and celebration by the kidlit community. (Check out the list here. ) A heartfelt thank you to Vivian Kirkfield and the rest of the judges for all the time and care they put into reading and making decisions, as well as the generous prize donors. I'm pleased to say my entry MY BEST FRIEND IS GONE AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS CHEW THE FURNITURE is among the honorable mentions. My muse Bodhi is stoked at being a little bit famous.
MY BEST FRIEND IS GONE AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS CHEW THE FURNITURE by Carrie Karnes-Fannin
I don't know how well I did with the story arc aspect. But even so, I had fun with this little piece, which is a love letter to newer parents everywhere. What do you think? Drop a note and let me know in the comments if you relate to this one. Thanks for reading! Baby's First Valentine by Carrie Karnes-Fannin  Description: Toddler in yellow dress is being chased by toddler in dinosaur onesie, against a pink background. Heart confetti floats down all around them. (Illus. composed by me with Canva.) You
might not believe this right now... You might not feel it, with my small, sticky hand flung across your face, with just one hour left to sleep. You might be pressed to imagine this as you discover the two bites I took from the very last piece of double-chocolate pie. You might not see it, while you scrub those knee-high crayon marks from the bathroom wall. You might not believe this right now, but... ...I love you.
A quick note about my entry: this story idea was inspired by a quote I came across recently: “Then may I tell you that the very next words I read were these – ‘Chloe liked Olivia…’ Do not start. Do not blush. Let us admit in the privacy of our own society that these things sometimes happen. Sometimes women do like women.” - Virginia Woolf, A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN) The Trouble with Chloe and Olivia by Carrie Karnes-Fannin Word Count: 195 Age Group: YA My secondhand sneakers are scuffed. A splotch over the left toe resembles that old mystery director, Alfred Hitchcock. Or maybe my grandfather. Grandpa loves Hitchcock movies. While I’d never tell him this, I think it’s because he looks like Hitchcock. I’ve had time to study the Grandpa/Hitchcock stain since I’ve spent all morning avoiding this school...avoiding these new kids. Only that isn’t right. They aren’t new—I am. Two sparkly white tennis shoes and a pair of cowboy boots are ahead of me in line. I notice mud clinging to worn boot heels. Then they’re both turning...turning...turning toward me. “Hey, what’s your name?” It’s Tennis Shoes. Unicorn socks show above her double-knotted shoelaces. Her voice is low and musical. A leading lady’s voice. I try to look up...to reply, “Chloe.” My fingers twitch, longing for my camera. Why was everything easier behind a lens? My red canvas-covered right foot covers Hitchcock as my stomach flips. The smell of burnt fries and spoiled milk wafting through the cafeteria isn’t helping. Even Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t solve the mystery of making friends here. “Come on, Olivia,” Cowboy Boots says. “She’s weird.” They go away. |
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