It’s that time of year again! I love the Spring Fling Writing Contest! Be sure to check it out. Thanks so much to Kaitlyn and Ciara for putting this together and all of the amazing prize donors. The gist is that you write a story geared for kids in 150 words or less!
Here is my entry:
Free Bea
By Melissa Johnston Miles
147 words
Bea worked night and day helping her hive.
One spring day, Bea buzzed her farewell–heading to a field of sunflowers. She lapped sweet nectar until her honey stomach was STUFFED.
It was time to contribute to her hive’s honey production. But Bea hesitated.
She could really use a nap. Zzzzzzzzzzz
Later, she listened for the familiar BUZZZZZZZ of home. But it never came!
“What happened?” Bea asked Maple, the gracious tree that housed her colony.
Maple waved her branches frantically. “That man with the ladder took your hive.”
Bea’s wings drooped.
She couldn’t be a helper bee without a hive to help.
She soared above the retreating truck until it stopped. Bea landed nearby.
A man in overalls removed a wooden crate. The buzz of her colony was music to her ears.
I can’t believe it’s that time of year again! When February rolls around, it’s time to write a story for the annual Valentiny Contest. If you don’t know about Susanna Leonard Hill’s wonderful writing contests for kidlit creators, you can find all the details here.
This year, we had 214 words (excluding the title) to write a full Valentine’s Day themed story with a main character who is worried about something. These are always too fun to miss! Here’s my entry:
Wally Isn’t Worried! by Melissa Johnston Miles 213 Words
Wally is the fiercest, most ferocious ferret in the forest. Everyone knows it.
Well, maybe not everyone…
Okay, okay, maybe no one.
Still, Wally repeats these words each morning while staring at his reflection in the pond near his home— hoping to make them true.
Maybe by repeating them enough, he’ll become braver. Less worried.
Fatigued of fearing other forest creatures, Wally sets out to deliver the custom Valentine’s he’s spent weeks crafting.
First stop is Snake’s house. “Who’ssssssssssssss there?” Wally gulps, drops the Valentine, and scurries away.
Next stop is Owl’s place. “WHOO WHOO WHOO’s there?” Wally gulps, drops the Valentine, and scurries away.
He tiptoes towards Bear’s cave. Wally’s heart hammers. His paws tremble. “GRRRRRROOOOOOWWWWWLLLLLL!!!!!” Wally gulps, drops the Valentine, and scurries away.
Back at the pond, Wally sits with sagging shoulders. I’ll never be fierce or ferocious. I’ll always be worried and scared.
Behind him, a twig snaps. Wally scrambles to his feet and spins around— prepared to run for it!
In the clearing, a flurry of forest friends gather. “Thanks for our Valentine’s!”
“You knew where to find me?” Wally always worried no one knew he existed!
“SSSSSSS-sure we did,” says Snake.
Wally grins. All that worry for nothing! Maybe friendly is better than ferocious anyway.
I’m participating in the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest again this year. If you’re new to Spring Fling, it’s a fabulous writing contest where you find (or create) a springtime GIF and then write a 150 (max) word story for kids inspired by the image.
For all the rules/details, click here. The community engagement for this contest is great. If you write a story, be sure to read other entries and comment on those as well. Meet new writing friends and make new social media connections. That’s the best part of the contest. Thanks to Kaitlyn Sanchez and Ciara O’Neil for putting this together!
Thanks for stopping by to read my entry this year!
Dandy’s Big A-Choo!!
147 words
One bright spring morning during allergy season,
Dandy stifled a sneeze before school.
On the sidewalk
Lilac, Iris, and Hyacinth stood together,
forming a circle of pink, white and purple.
Dandy hopped over to say hello.
They tightened their ring, whispering,
Weed.
Dandy sniffed.
Tulip and Azalea dazzled in a display of pink.
They linked leaves, muttering,
Weed.
Dandy snuffled.
At recess, Dandy jumped on a swing near Daffodil,
who stopped swinging and hissed, Weed.
Dandy’s stem straightened.
AH—AH—A—CHOOOOOO!!!
Kids ran to her, cheering…
allowing her fluffy white seeds
to carry their wishes away on the wind.
Dandy’s heart soared along with them.
A beautiful white Clover with four perfect leaves whispered,
This story was inspired by my sister, who had development delays related to extreme prematurity, back before there were neonatal ICUs and specialized care for preemies. My mom would let her stay home from school on Valentine’s Day because it was so heartbreaking for her to go to school and watch the other kids get valentine’s cards and she didn’t get them. 🙁
A VALENTINE FOR VINCENT
210 Words
Vincent usually kept to himself during school.
And the other kids kept themselves from Vincent.
Valentine’s Day was the worst!
His heart drowned in dread.
Vincent buried his nose in a book,
pretending not to care as his classmates filed in
with decorated shoeboxes—
for ALL the Valentines they’d receive.
He wasn’t expecting a single one.
Until something amazing happened…
Caroline held out a red heart
with VINCENT written in marker.
A Valentine! For him?
Heart racing, Vincent began excitedly cutting paper into squares.
Hands flying, he folded one into a crane.
“Wow!” said Caroline. “Can you make a cat?”
A tsunami of enthusiasm washed the dread from his heart.
He folded. Then turned and folded again.
He repeated the process, until…
The paper square magically became a pointy cat.
Caroline beamed. “It’s beautiful!”
Soon, a crowd gathered with requests:
“A swan?”
“An owl?”
“How about a heart?”
“Can you make a star?”
“Where did you learn this?” Ms. Waltz asked.
Vincent explained that his neighbor, Mr. Nakamura,
taught him origami after school on days his mom had to work.
“It’s so cool!” Caroline said. “Thanks for my Valentine.”
Vincent’s heart burst into an excitement explosion.
This is my second year entering this contest. Last year, I was a finalist in the YA category, and this year I’m entering in MG. Thanks for stopping by to read my entry.
Carina of the Southern Sky (500 words)
I’m the one who called 911. Mama is gone because of me.
Something that awful should become etched in my brain forever. Every single detail. But it’s not. Big chunks of that night are missing.
I see bits and pieces: Flashing blue lights, the beam of bright yellow shining across the wet grass, Mama staring at me from the back of a police car.
What I remember most is showing up in the middle of the night at my foster parents’ house. Andy and Jodie waited on their porch for me. Before I’d gotten half-way up the steps, Jodie wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and said, “You’re safe here with us, Carina.”
It was still summer break the night I showed up here. But now, with tomorrow being the first day of school, Jodie starts talking about it before we even finish dinner.
We’re still sitting at the crowded kitchen table, but my mind drifts. The truth is, I don’t care about my schedule, the teachers, or the stupid team mascot. It isn’t my school, with my friends. Most important, Mama won’t be here for my first day of middle school like she always promised.
“Excuse me,” I blurt.
My chair scrapes the floor as I leap up.
“Carina,” Jodie calls.
As the screen door slams behind me, I hear Andy say, “Give her a minute.”
Without looking back, I sprint beyond the shrubs and concrete path. Dropping onto the lawn, I search the darkening sky. Millions of stars twinkle through drifting clouds. “Hey up there,” I say. “I’m drifting too.”
Tears spill down my cheeks remembering the nights Mama and I gazed up, trying to be the first to holler, “There she is! Carina of the Southern sky!”
The door creaks open on the porch behind me. “Carina, it’s getting late. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
I don’t move. I need something familiar to calm me—something from home.
“Did you hear me?”
I roll onto my belly to see Jodie squinting at me in the semi-darkness of the porch light, biting her lower lip.
“I’m looking for my star. The one I was named for.”
Jodie tilts her head to the side. “I guess it’s alright. But just for a few more minutes. There’s no need in you being all tuckered out for your first day tomorrow.”
Spanish Moss flutters like ghosts in the darkness. But I look beyond it, refusing to be afraid.
“My Carina” finally appears from behind a cloud. You can’t see the real Carina from North America, it’s only the North Star.
But none of that matters anymore. What matters is the little balloon of hope that inflates at the thought of us both looking at the same star like we used to.
I make a promise into the flickering night sky. “I’m going to find a way to bring you back home, Mama. I swear it.”
And I will. It’s my fault she’s gone, and it’s up to me to fix it.
I decided to enter the #KidLitVibes Twitter contest this year. Thanks to the great folks who organize this contest.
The rules state you have to spin the wheel and write a story about the feeling you land on using just 125 words. My arrow stopped on Powerful. Sigh. I almost spun again. Sadly, I couldn’t really think of a time in my childhood I felt powerful.
But this idea of a little girl helping her scared puppy instead of letting fear overwhelm her popped into my head. So, here goes…
This is at least my third year entering this great writing contest. Some years I’ve won a prize, some not. But it’s always fun to participate! If you’re new to Spring Fling, it’s a fabulous writing contest where you find (or create) a springtime GIF and then write a 150 (max) word story inspired by the image.
For all the rules/details, click here. The community engagement for this contest is great. If you write a story, be sure to read other entries and comment on those as well. Meet new writing friends and make new social media connections. That’s the best part of the contest. Thanks to Kaitlyn Sanchez and Ciara O’Neil for putting this together!
Thanks for stopping by to read my entry this year!
The Magic of Shared Memories
(147 words)
“Why so blue on this beautiful spring day?” Grandma asks.
“Keisha is moving today.”
Grandma squeezes my hand. “Let’s go find some perfect crafting paper.”
Grandma and I love origami. Magic happens in folding paper to create something new.
Deep in the clearance bin something rustles.
Sweeping away the top layer reveals beautiful blue paper with springtime flowers. “Grandma, look. It’s perfect.”
Back home, my sadness seeps into each fold—sealing special memories into every crease. I only wish I’d made the butterfly in time to give it to Keisha.
Later when I walk Grandma out, something flutters against my hand. I open it, and my butterfly takes flight!
We gasp, watching until it disappears in the direction of Keisha’s house.
Grandma winks. Like she’s known all along.
I picture my butterfly settling into Keisha’s outstretched palm—all the words I hadn’t said soaring into her heart.
I decided to throw my hat into the ring this year for the second annual Kids’ Choice Kidlit Writing Contest. I’d heard about it last year and it sounded like a ton of fun to have your 200 words judged by actual kids. Thanks to author Kailei Pew for putting this together, and special thanks to all the kids taking their time to read and judge the entries!
My entry is a scene from one of my YA manuscripts. I hope you enjoy it!
UPDATE** My entry made it to the finals, and ended up in second place overall for YA this year!
TRAPPED
200 Words
Nothing in life prepared me to attend my own funeral. Walking around knowing I’m dead is freakish enough. Walking through crowds of people talking about me in past tense is insane.
Over half the school is here—definitely most of the senior class. The drama queens are giving performances worthy of reality television. It’s equal parts irritating and hilarious watching them bawling like we’d been best friends.
If Raven dabs her eyes with that tissue one more time, I’ll—
Do what, exactly? Exactly nothing, that’s what.
Since nobody can see or hear me, I’m left just watching. It sucks.
I see Mom. Her face is so blotchy and swollen, I barely recognize her. She doesn’t even resemble the mom I hugged before school three days ago.
That night at the hospital, Mom begged me not to die. Begged me to stay here. For her.
Her screaming felt more agonizing than the broken ribs.
Somehow, I’d stayed.
Now I’m trapped—but desperate to escape.
Then I see Luca watching me from across the room.
His lips form my name.
Our eyes lock. Hope balloons in my chest.
If Luca can see me, maybe he’ll know how to help me cross over.
