Fall Writing Frenzy 2020 - Image #12 LITTLE WITCH

FALL WRITING FRENZY 2020

A “Little” Witchy Magic!

 

 

My sisters said I can’t attend the Midnight Magic Ball. 

“A snip of a witch! Untried! Unskilled! Besides…she’s much too small.” 

 

My biggest sister says she turned a boy into a ghost. 

And changing puppies into cats? My middle sister’s boast!

 

But I will prove them wrong if I practice every day. 

My spells will be original. Not any “old witch” way! 

 

I’ll make my magic perfect. All I need to do is focus. 

A sparkling wand, some spooky smoke…a “little” hocus-pocus! 

 

I’ll call the forest fairies to dance upon a pin. 

And set green vines a twirling ‘round all pumpkins with a grin. 

 

I’ll send a vampire bat to swoop across an eerie moon. 

And change one sister’s cat into a goodie-stealing goon. 

 

My other sister’s cat will bring me all her candy treats. 

And I will give the sweets to costumed kids that walk the streets. 

 

Do not misjudge my magic! Be it potion, chant or spell… 

My “little” witch enchantments are for “Show” and not for “Tell!”

170 words

 

 

Fall Frenzy Writing Contest 2020

 I entered this last year and it was a great writing experience. This year’s rules:

1. Choose a fall image from Lydia Lukidis’s blog 

www.lydialukidis.wordpress.com

2. Write a 200 word (or less) poem, story, mood piece, whatever strikes your fancy from the chosen image as long as it’s child friendly.

3. Entries MUST be submitted from October 1-3 by midnight.

4. Enter by posting on your blog and then leaving the link for your submission on Lydia’s blog post.

5. One entry per person.

6. Winners announced on 10/31/20

7. Prizes feature critiques from editors, agents, and published authors.

WALKOUT - A PICTURE BOOK BY TINA SHEPARDSON

 My last post, in July, was to celebrate and review one of my Wheatie sisters for her picture book, SHE LEADS. 

Today, I am celebrating and reviewing another. 

Tina Shepardson's new picture book just released this week. WALKOUT demonstrates for young children that they have the right to let their voices be heard for a topic that concerns their safety.

Shepardson’s WALKOUT is a simple explanation  

to the very young that standing up for what you 

believe in is important. And Sirrell’s illustrations 

artfully being Shepardson’s story to life. Maddie 

organizes her class for the schoolwide walkout

against school violence. And Stella, her best 

friend is afraid to participate. Through gentle 

persistence and delicate persuasion, Maddie 

repeatedly tries to get Stella to participate. Stella 

understands the importance of the schoolwide 

movement but takes the principal’s words to 

heart (only older grades may participate). So,

when her whole class (including her teacher) 

line up to join in the walkout, Stella sees and 

understands that there is a balance between 

interpreting the words of adults and doing the

right thing to support the safety of all students, 

whether they be young or old.

Book Review of SHE LEADS by June Smalls

So, I won a copy of this book in Zombie Week. June Smalls is my Wheatie sister and I am pleased to post my review here. I thoroughly recommend this book for classroom, bedtime, family readings, and for all adult lovers of elephants.

One of the first things that attracted my eye as I opened June Small’s SHE LEADS was the double text (one for preschoolers – simple) and one for older children – (more fact-filled sidebars on individual pages). How cool is that? The second was Yumi Shimokawara's naturalistic illustrations. (Beautiful!) A powerful book of feminine leadership in the animal kingdom. The Elephant Queen nurtures strength in her family and looks after her herd. The stunning story starts with the birth of an elephant princess and ends in the same manner. SHE LEADS demonstrates “girl power,” and will inspire human girls to “take the lead” in discussions, achievements, and life. 

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE FOR CHILDREN....CHECK THIS WRITING RETREAT OUT!!!

INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, AND CREATION  IN TWO DAYS JUNE 25 - 26, 2020

THE WRITING MAGIC WRITING RETREAT sponsored by CALLIE-METLER SMITH IS ABOUT Strengthening writing skills, clarity7 on writing goals, and inspiration for your writing passion. Please join me on June 25, 2020 at 2:00 EST. for my presentation of "BEYOND THE FAIRYTALE."      FROM CALLE: I've assembled some of my favorite and informative people (Melissa Stoller, Lynne Marie, Gayle C. Krause, Alayne Christian, Vivian Kirkfield, Stephanie Hansen, Doris Imahiyerobo, and Mira Reisberg) in the Kid Lit community to do just that! 8 experts over 2 days will teach you about bringing diversity to your books, how to find ideas in your own world, and how to write marketable ideas, among many other things.   Everything you need to know about the Writing Magic Virtual Retreat! WHEN The Writing Magic Virtual Retreat will run from June 25th-26th with a variety of presentations to choose from each day. WHERE I don't know about you, but I prefer to leave my house as little as possible. With that being said, you can tune into the retreat from anywhere with Internet access. PRESENTATIONS Presentations will be 45 minutes in length. The presentations and all other elements of the retreat will be available through August 31st to encourage you to stop waiting for the right time and take action along with hundreds of other writers. PARTY IT UP You’ll also have access to a private Facebook group for the retreat where we’ll be partying it up before the retreat starts and working together to write great books once it kicks off.

It is Time to Join Us Buy Your Ticket to Enjoy two packed full days of Fun, Kid Literature, and Writing Magic!

https://www.writingwithcalliemetlersmith.com/pl/187021

BRAID YOUR STORIES FOR MORE INTEREST and BOOK GIVEAWAY

BRAIDED STORYLINES

You’ve all heard of braided breads and French braided hair, but did you know stories need to be braided, too?

Braided stories should have three storylines, as each section of tresses in a plait. Writers who plod along on one story throughout the entire manuscript run the risk of writing a boring story. Readers need some unexpected happenings and this can be done a little at a time by incorporating three minor storylines into one larger manuscript.

You fold in layer by layer as the story progresses telling three smaller stories to keep the reader from losing interest. The reader likes to figure out plotlines before they actually get to the words that reveal them.  What makes that practice interesting is the twist that overlaps storylines to surprise the reader.

How to braid your stories:

·  Divide your story into threes

·  Write each one separately 

·  Incorporate in story.

Some writers do this instinctively. Braiding makes your stories come alive. It connects the reader to your characters. Let’s look at some examples of braiding.

#1 Harry Potter

Braid A – orphan boy neglected by his aunt and uncle. (family relationships)

Braid B – attends a secret wizard school (school relationships)

Braid C - discovers he is the nemesis if a most evil wizard (good vs. evil)

#2 Twilight

Braid A – teen-age girl is the mediator between divorced parents and moves in with her father on the other side of the country (family relationships)

Braid B – attends a new school, where she becomes mesmerized by a strange boy (school relationships)

Braid C – makes friends with the son of her father’s friend, complicating her relationship in Braid B

#3 Daddy, Can You See The Moon?

Braid A –  boy and his soldier dad concoct a way for them to share a special moment each night while his father is deployed.  (love between father and son)

Braid B – boy discovers his mother crying and finds out his dad was wounded in battle and helps him with his therapy. (family dynamics)

Braid C – boy grows up to be a soldier too. (role reversal)

So get your story threads separated, start at the top and overlap until you come to the end. Secure with a climax and satisfying end.

Comment below with braids of your favorite stories, be they picture book or novels and at the end of next week one lucky commenter will be selected to receive a copy of Daddy, Can You See The Moon?