Fall Frenzy Writing Contest

I have to start by saying I love these writing contests. They help me stay creative, help me focus on best word choices to make a complete story in a limited number of words, and I get to read loads of stories written by many writers.

Having said that, this time, I had a hard time getting started. I have been participating in Inktober and my creative brain was drawing focused. I almost gave up. I figured I would promote the contest and read other people's stories and be satisfied. But that didn't feeling right. It felt like giving up on a tiny bit of my writing dream.

I sat down looked at the images again (I had limited my choices to two photos)

Image 11

I really thought the story would come from the crows. We have three crows who hang out in our Cottonwood tree from fall to spring and I have been waiting for their story to emerge. I must continue wait. Sitting on my table by the window was a little acorn that I had picked up one day while walking the dogs. The story didn't come from here, though a couple lines appeared:

"I told him not to eat the acorn. Who eats anything that glows?"

"You know if you hadn't said anything, he probably wouldn't have eaten it."

"So it's my fault he turned into a . . .?"


Then, I drew this:

Still not a story.

Image 6

But Acorn Man came to mind and then the Spider Man song from the sixties started playing in my head and this is what came out: Dun, dun, dunnnnnnnn!

Superhero Halloween

By Sarah Tobias, 159 words

“Aidan, Halloween is coming. Do you want to make a costume?”

“Oh, Yeah!”

“What would you like to be this year?”

“Acorn Man!”

“Tell me about this Acorn Man.”

Aidan began to sing:

“Acorn Man, Acorn Man! Enchanted by Squirrel Man.

Wears an Acorn hat and leaf.

Gathering acorns, he’s no thief.

Oh Yeah! He’s the Acorn Man.

Acorn Man, Acorn Man, Plants the seeds as fast as he can.

He’s strong as a tree

and floats like a leaf.

Make Way! For flying Acorn Man.

Acorn Man, Acorn Man! Nurtures seeds with a plan.

He cleans the air that we breathe

with his forest of Oak trees.

Oh Yeah! He’s the Acorn Man.”

“Well, all right then. Let’s get started making your costume.”

They planned and they drew.

They cut and they sewed.

By Halloween, the costume was ready.

Aidan wore his pouch filled with acorns and, 

for every treat he received . . .

he planted an Oak tree seed.

Be sure to check out more stories on the official entry page.
There are poems and stories; humorous and scary, sweet and dreary. They all show how creative people can be when they spend time and allow themselves to play, be inspired, and put pen to paper.

If you want to try your hand at writing a story, check out Susanna Hill's Halloweensie Contest. Get your butt in a chair and start writing. Your creative brain will thank you.

Spring Fling Writing Contest -- April Snow! Oh, No!

I love writing stories for these writing contests. They are a great way to practice writing to make every word important. They help focus the mind and the story and allow a person to play with ideas and strengthen imagination.

Spring Snow

https://media.giphy.com/media/Xik4r2GSVoVva/giphy.gif

April Snow. Oh, No!

(150 words)

The weatherman said, “Snow.” Sophie moaned, “It can’t be so.

Today has been warm and sunny. To tease about snow, is not funny!

Tomorrow, I’ll take a stand.” Sophie would wear shorts and T as planned.

The day dawned bright just as Sophie hoped. Her mother begged, “Please take your coat!”

School went as usual, language arts, math, then gym.

Outside the winds blew and snow clouds moved in.

Snow fluttered and fell, then the recess bell.

With gusto, Sophie went to play. She’ll never admit to shivering that day.

After recess and lunch, lessons to learn. Science and reading, everyone taking a turn.

Students packed up, their boots strewn on the floor.

Ding!

Sophie stood tall as she marched out the door.

She smiled in awe. The snow had all thawed.

“I never believed what that weatherman said.”

Once home, 

she slipped on warm jammies and crawled into bed.

Thank you to Kaitlyn and Ciara for creating this one. To read more spring giphy stories, click here.

So proud to be winner in this contest.  Thank you Melissa Stoller for copies of your wonderful books. A lovely reward! 

Happy Pi Day -- Story, Drawings, Books, and a Recipe

Hooray for Pi Day! 3.14159 . . .I admit it took me a long time to understand the very basics of Pi. But I can now use it to figure out the circumference of a circle and the radius or diameter of a circle of any size.

If you want to know the diameter of a Maple tree to figure out if it's large enough for tapping for Maple Syrup, Pi will help. Just measure the circumference of the tree and divide by pi. (3.14159 . . .)

Not sure of  the circumference of your hoola-hoop? Measure the diameter and multiply by pi.

What I like the most about Pi Day is that it uses math and strives to make it fun. . . and tasty.

This year, I am wearing my Einstein shirt not because he invented Pi, he didn't, but today would have been his birthday and he did some pretty cool stuff and had some wonderfully creative thoughts and ideas.

He said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." He believed that we need to go beyond our collection of knowledge and come up with new ideas, thoughts, and possibilities.

So I took these two ideas and used my imagination to write a 50 word short story for a writing contest called 50 Precious Words, put on by Vivian Kirkfield.

Here's my story:

The Pi(e) Problem: an ala mODE to Pi Day

By Sarah Tobias, 50 precious words

My mathematician parents fill their office with equations. They mutter, “Could pi be the solution?” Aha! I've got it! I measure, mix, roll and stuff then wait by the oven. Ding! It’s done. I cut. I plate. I carry it to their office. “I hope this pie solves your problem.”

And I created three little Pi Cartoons.

If you would like to read and learn more about Pi check out this blog post of Science Books for Kids for a list of books.

If you are in the mood to do a little Pie baking, I can recommend this yummy Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. It's almost pie, just no crust. I have swapped out the fruit and used apples too. Delicious!

Well, there you have it. Happy Pi(e) Day!