SLH

The Old Ways

By in General, Halloweensie, SCBWI, SLH, Work, Writing

I’m supposed to be planning tonight’s big neighborhood Halloween Hotdogs potluck, cooking 216 hotdogs and five pounds of chicken nuggets, but the weather report has gotten so dire for this evening that we had to punt the party to tomorrow in favor of hopefully buying the kids a few more rain/wind/thunder-free trick or treating minutes tonight. Because it WILL happen tonight!

I set a few contingency plans in place, including an opt-in do-over for trick or treating tomorrow night (mostly for littles). So crazy it just might work? I guess we’ll see. The trick may be on me! But really, it’s all about the kids so cross your fingers and wiggle your nose for dry spells this evening!

I’m posting this really close to the wire, but it’s been a while and I wanted to have a go at ‘Muse” Susanna Hill’s 9th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest! I started something on this subject for last year’s contest but didn’t finish in time.

I’ve been thinking about the origins of Halloween and the cycle of death and rebirth that many cultures, traditions, and religions celebrate, at or beginning at this time of year (in North America). Also, my own grandmother is 101 and a half (you get the halves back again after you turn a certain age). I have been very lucky to have had her in my life these 47 (and a half) years.

The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in the 100 words), using the words potion, cobweb, and trick.

The Old Ways

“Tonight ain’t fit for man or beast,” Granny would’ve grinned.

Rain pelts the window by the flickering gourd. 

I leave warm bread on the sill, in case They still come for tricks. 

“Tonight the veil grows cobweb thin,” Granny would’ve winked.

I set her favorite scones and tea on the mantle.

Ma feels my head, gives me a potion, and tucks me into my quilt.

“Go to sleep, child. Tomorrow’s a new day,” I heard Granny sigh.

Restless and sweating, I must be asleep. Finally, I dream. 

Then bleary and blinking in the morning light, I realize she is gone.

Christmas Shaped – The Eighth Annual Holiday Contest

By in General, Other Challenges, SCBWI, SLH, Work, Writing Tags: , ,

shapes

In between all the busyness, I got hit with an unusually random idea for Susanna Hill’s Annual Holiday Writing Contest yesterday morning. I’m really not sure where this idea came from. I promise I was trying to write something else. Something poignant and timely. But, um, no.

Anyway, this probably has something to do with me building math curriculum off and on for K12.com for a lot longer than I ever studied it in school. SOMEBODY “up there” has a sense of humor. Math was ever my worst subject but I have learned to love it.

The illustrative collage up top isn’t original art. I don’t have time to make something from scratch today, so a quick collage will have to do for now.

The rules: Write a children’s holiday story (children here defined as age 12 and under) about A Holiday Hero not to exceed 250 words

Here’s my entry:

Square is tired of being just the side of a gift box.

He’s meant for greater things.

Like big green Cone, the Christmas tree.

Or operatic pentagram, always shining at Cone’s apex.

Square is unsure. He’s always been part of a team.

Maybe he can lead the rectangles and circles in building a train?

The annulus around Cone’s base broadcasts big news!

Pentagram is missing! No geometric has seen her anywhere.

There can’t be a Christmas tree without a star!

This is square’s chance.

He will be the star atop the christmas tree!

Square begins to climb, weaving his careful way between colorful spheres and ellipses.

This is difficult.

Square slips and slides down the angle back to Cone’s base.

A rectangle calls to him, “Hey, we need a sixth over here for this prism! Lend us a corner?”

Tempted by the familiar task, square tells himself he can only form a diamond anyway, not a star.

“NO! I will do this!”

Square begins his climb once more.

Half-way up, he slips again but a vertex reaches from somewhere and catches his corner.

It’s another square.

“I wanted to be the star too,” she says, “But I don’t think we can do this solo. Can we go together?”

The squares near the apex but only one will fit.

Square has an idea. He rotates 45 degrees.

“Align your centerpoint with mine!”

With one last leap, they make it!

Together, they are an octagram.

And an octagram can be a star.

“Happy Thursday!” – The 3rd Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!

By in Children's, General, Other Challenges, SCBWI, SLH, Writing Tags: ,

Day_23_Toad_King_Welcomes_Spring2

Toad King Welcomes Spring (an old unfinished sketch)

Ok I totally wasn’t going to write anything for Susanna Hill’s 3rd Annual Valentiny Writing Contest. I really wasn’t. I’ve been way to busy to think of anything.

So of course while playing “Whack-a-Mole Sunday” –jumping around from cleaning, to kid projects to bedtime– I accidentally came up with an idea. It also helps that I’m currently enrolled in Susanna’s Making Picture Book Magic class, and it would appear that whenever she says “write something,” I can’t help but write… something.

The rules: Write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is hopeful!

Here’s my something:

\"Happy Thursday!\"

“Happy Valentines Day, Toad!” called Mouse, skipping past the gate.

“Bah!” glumphed Toad. “Happy Thursday.”

Mouse skidded to a stop. “Is something wrong, Toad?”

“Oh. No.” Toad sighed, “Happy Thursday!” He picked up the morning paper and slammed his door.

Mouse scratched her head. “But… it’s Wednesday,” she thought.

“Toad!  I have a Valentine for you!”

“Go away.”

Mouse frowned. She still had 223 more Valentines to deliver!

She slid Toad’s under his door. It slid back out again.

“I said go away.”

Mouse was steamed. She plucked up the Valentine and stomped away.

At suppertime, Toad leaned on the gate watching Mouse shuffle back up the path.

“Happy Thursday!” He glumphed, “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve ruined my day,” Mouse pouted. “You could have just accepted my Valentine!”

“I didn’t want it. I don’t like Valentine’s Day.”

“What’s wrong with taking a special day to appreciate your friends?”

Toad croaked, “Delivering 300 Valentines doesn’t make anyone feel special. I don’t want a card, I want you to be my friend.”

Mouse felt sad. Toad had a point, but she didn’t know what to do.

“Do you want to come in for pizza?” Toad asked.

Relieved, Mouse smiled. She was tired and had forgotten to eat all day.

“Yes, Toad. Thanks! You\’re a good friend indeed.”

Edit 2-26-2018:

oooooh! Congratulations to the all the winners, honorable mentions, and EVERYONE who made time to write (and read) some great ValenTINY stories! And THANK YOU to my pocket-muse, Susanna Leonard Hill, for hosting another great competition!

While I wasn\’t among the winners this time, My ValenTINY placed an honorable mention for \”For Conveying A Great Message\”

Binah’s Journey

By in Children's, General, SCBWI, SLH, Work, Writing

binah_lo

Can you believe it? It’s Susanna Leonard Hill’s 7th Annual Holiday Contest!

The rules: Write a children’s holiday story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) about A Holiday Surprise!  Any kind of surprise – anything at all! – the more unexpected the better!, but is not to exceed 250 words.

Here’s mine:

Binah’s Journey

It was the first night of Hanukkah and everyone had gone across to the Mazur’s for latkes, leaving Binah alone to think for the first time since she arrived.

She could still hear them through the walls. It was always noisy in the crowded tenement.

Binah missed the village where she’d lived with Zayde, Bubbe, and Papa. She could run through the nearby fields and breathe fresh air!

Last spring, the pogroms began. Every week bought destruction and fear. One day Papa disappeared.

In August, Binah was sent abord a ship to join family in New York.

Kneeling near the stove on the cold kitchen floor, Binah dragged her overcoat from under the narrow bed she shared with her cousin Sally. She fumbled in the pockets until she found the large wooden dreidel Zayde tucked inside that day she had to say goodbye. It was large and lopsided, just like Zayde. Binah wondered if she’d ever see him again?

She stood the dreidel on end and tried a spin but it toppled right over showing the lucky letter, gimmel. Looking closer, Binah noticed a tiny crack.  She put her thumbs on the gimmel and pushed. The side slid open.

Tickling her fingers into wool batting, Binah pulled out a coin, then six more, a gold watch, pearl earrings, and a little paper scroll.

Unrolling it, she read: “Binah—Use these treasures to help build your shining future in America. Always remember I love you, zeisele.  I know you will succeed.”

 

Notes:

I’ve missed participating in the last couple of Susannah’s contests so I really wanted to write something for this one. I’m still very attached to the characters I created for my very first holiday contest story, Sometimes, a Pigeon. This new story is about one of those characters. It’s also inspired, of course, by my own family history and a couple of visits to the Tenement Museum in New York (If you’re ever in New York, you MUST go!).

Thanks  Johnelle DeWitt, Tami Traylor, and my husband, Bill, for their feedback!

 

Bon Voyage, Silver Spider!

By in Children's, General, Halloweensie, Other Challenges, SCBWI, SLH, Writing

spider_halloweensiea2

spider_halloweensiea2

For some reason, this year has been busier than usual. I haven’t had a lot of time to work on personal projects, and so this blog as well as my Twitter and Instagram accounts have been dormant for a few months. So I’m not doing that well in the social media/follower departments.

Apart from managing our household and the lives and endless paperwork (overnight diapers still included) of the 3 and 5 year old Jaegerlings, I can’t complain that it was paying contract work from my main client, k12.com, that ate the remainder of my free time! Whatever higher power placed me with K12 14 years ago sure has a sense of humor since, once again, I’ve been working in my worst academic subject - math! Trust me, it’s a lot more fun for me to graphic design and code it than it ever was for me to study it. Ah well.

In addition to the craziness of this year, my husband got laid off from his proposal manager position this week. Well then! It’s certainly going to be an interesting next few months as he very well might be joining me in the consulting and contracting world.  For right now, if you need any freelance writing, editing, resume formatting, grant application or proposal work, he’s your guy. If you need graphics I’m your gal. Hmmmm maybe we could work together? That’s so crazy it just might work! What could possibly go wrong? Check back with me in a few months.

In spite of all this, I HAD to make time for my favorite muse, Susanna Hill’s 6th annual Halloweensie competition. This is the 5th piece I have written for Susanna’s competitions. The parameters, restrictions, and deadlines are great for exercising the puzzles of character, plot, and wordcraft for me. So for this, I will make time! And then… back to geometry for the remainder of November.

The Contest:  write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words, children here defined as 12 and under), using the words spider, ghost, and moon.

Read the other entries in the comments beneath Susanna’s contest post. Or on the Linky List Page!

Bon Voyage, Silver Spider!

“Silver Spider’s spinning her web sideways,” burbled Buff. “Why is she so weird?”

“She thinks she can catch the moon,” scoffed Umber.

“Can she do that?”

“Of course not, bonehead. She’s dreaming!”

Silver kept spinning. “I can do this,” she said. “I’ll finally leave this place. Nothing’s impossible on Halloween night!”

“Your magic moon is rising.” Umber sneered.

Silver spun faster.

Umber snored…

“Umber!” Buff shouted, “The moon is high. Where’s Silver?”

The spiders looked up.

Silver’s web had bridled the harvest moon! She ghosted across the sky in its wake.

At last she was off to see the world!

Come In For the Cold

By in General, Other Challenges, SLH, Writing

2016_11_02_girl_in_window_insta

2016_11_02_girl_in_window_insta

And now for my latest entry to Susanna Hill’s latest writing competition, the very first ValenTINY writing contest with additional entries here.

The rules: Write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is grumpy!

Susanna must be my writing muse because so far, the only writings I’ve completed have been for her competitions! Perhaps it’s because I write better with specific assignments and rules so I don’t ramble on and on, writing “like an illustrator”? I’m not sure. But I DO know that these competitions are wonderful learning experiences for me.

I feel like a rock tumbler, polishing and polishing until the final little piece emerges. And no matter how much I really liked my original draft, I see how much better the final piece really is. Working with the word count constraints makes me have to think long and hard about which words I absolutely must keep in order to convey the precise story, what bits were just entertaining chaff, and what I don’t have to write out because it is implied by the other text, and/or would be illustrated.

This story was a painful edit for me because my first draft was 455 words long! Just for fun, and because I like exploring the process, I’ve included two earlier drafts in the drop down’s beneath the final so that if you’re curious, you can see how the rough bits got polished. I will not include my instant messenger log wherein I texted my husband the descending word count as I chiseled away as a matter of score-keeping which he smartly ignored until I hit 214. He then offered a 5 word edit that, I feel, brilliantly completed the story.

A quick side-note on the illustration atop this post:  The topic for the kidlitart chat on February 4th was all about finding your voice as an illustrator, and a challenge ensued involving a quick illustration each day for the month of February (you can read more about that here). I included a quick illustration for this story as part of that challenge, though I have not been drawing every day as I did for the kidlitart28 challenge last year.  By doing up this little illustration, I also discovered that the front side of Strathmore’s “Colored Pencil” pads do not work well with Prismacolor colored pencils. What the what?

And now…

Come In For the Cold

“Hot chocolate is for kids who get to play outside in the snow!” Sheena yelled back down the stairs. “I’m not cold and I don’t need warming up!”

“Sounds like you do,” her mother replied cheerfully.

“Sorry. I’m missing ALL the fun.” A deep Valentine’s snow had fallen and everybody was sledding on the driveway beneath Sheena’s window. She puffed on the pane and drew a frowny face. “Stupid broken leg.”

Sheena heard the door open and the stomping off of snow in the hall. Her brother came up the stairs.

“Go away!” She snapped without turning around, then shrieked as Joey dumped handfuls of snow over her head.

“Lighten up!” he laughed as Sheena frantically dusted icy flakes from her neck, “I can’t let you miss ALL the fun!”

“What ARE you doing?” Sheena sputtered, reaching for her crutches.

“Since you can’t come out and play, we’ll make a snowman here,” Joey chirped as he emptied a bucket of fluffy snow into the bathtub.

Sheena grinned. “You’re nuts!”

“I love you, too!” he retorted, smiling broadly.

Sheena hobbled to the bathroom shaking icy drops from her hair. 

Joey returned with more snow.

The cold felt wonderful in Sheena’s bare hands.  “Mom,” She called, “I’m earning my chocolate! But first… I need a carrot!”

Drafty Drafts

Edit 2/26/2016:

Doin’ the happy dance AGAIN this morning! The winners are posted and I placed 4th! 

Another big THANK YOU to Susanna Leonard Hill for hosting this fantastic Valentine’s competition for the first time this year (I seriously don’t know how she does it!) and for once again encouraging me to write!

Sending out a big thank you to everyone who entered the competition. You all write so wonderfully well! I love reading as many stories as I can, even though I can’t always leave comments.

Now I need a few more hours in the day to get some drafts out of my head!

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