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Ho-Ho-Holiday Writing Contest Time!

12/11/2014

55 Comments

 
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Susanna Leonard Hill's contests are irresistible!  So of course, I had to enter her 4th Annual Holiday Contest.  I must admit, I almost didn't make it!  Self doubt can get the best of any writer.  But, it's the holidays!  We might as well have fun!

This is my first year in this contest, so please help me out by cheering loud and proud for all the participants.  You'll have until this Sunday, December 14 to get your fill of as many holiday stories as you can. The finalists will be posted next Monday or Tuesday (15 or 16th) and then it will be time to vote for your favorite. You'll have until Thursday, December 18th at 5pm EST to vote.  Have fun!

You'll have to visit Susanna's blog to get the official rules...she's the boss. But, here are a few general guidelines that I had to follow:

-No more than 350 words
-Based on a seasonal holiday
-Wild weather must impact the chosen holiday

It's a fun prompt, huh?! Maybe you'll join me?

Enjoy the story! May your holidays will be filled with fun, family, and lots of joy!  (And nice weather.)


Hail the Holidays

By Carrie Charley Brown
346 words

With all the children in all the world, Santa received lots of requests.  Some simple. Some sweet.  Some strange and some impossible. Christmas letters flooded the North Pole’s mailroom.

“What’s this?”  Santa stared at the Jack-o-lanterns, hearts, and Easter eggs flying off the envelope. 

“Hmmm.  I think I’ll start with this one.” 

Dear Santa,

I only want one gift this year. Please send ALL holidays this Christmas. That’s all. Thanks!

Your friend,

Jack

“Ho, ho, ho!  Now, I’ll have to think about that one!”  Santa tucked the letter into his coat before setting out to see his reindeer.

A giant gust of wind greeted Santa and plucked the letter out of his pocket. Up, up, up it swirled until it reached Mother Nature.

“What’s this?” Inspired by the flurry of Jack-o-lanterns, hearts, and Easter eggs, Mother Nature brewed up the perfect storm.

“Jack-o-lanterns, jack of hearts, Valentines and Hallowed parts,

Line up rabbits! Get Jack Frost! Turkey! Santa!  Lines are crossed!”

Mother Nature rolled her hands into a whirlwind sending holiday mementos into orbit. Then, with jazz hands held high, she threw the twirly mess into Jack’s front yard. 

Jack awoke to something pelting the window.

“Santa?”  He dashed to the window.  Firework lightning blazed through the sky as Valentine chocolates and Hanukkah Gelt pounded the house.

“Chocolate hail?”

By the time Jack reached the front yard, a Thanksgiving St. Patrick’s feast had stormed in. Pumpkin pie and stuffing showers splattered jigging Leprechauns. Jack took cover when the torrential downpour turned to Easter eggs and piñatas.  An upside down tornado of pine branches swirled into place, sweeping the yard clean and leaving a perfect mammoth Christmas tree. Holiday packages brimmed from the bottom. But what was that? A Santa Claus tree-topper?

 “Ho, ho, ho!  Merry Christmas, Jack!” A familiar looking envelope drifted down, down, down.  Jack plucked it out of the sky and tore it open.

Dear Jack,

I only have one request for you in the New Year.  Enjoy each holiday when it comes and save December 25 for Christmas. That’s all. Thanks!

Love,

Santa


55 Comments
Teresa Robeson link
12/11/2014 04:05:07 am

What an usual Christmas wish! I love you unsual and clever idea, Carrie. It made me chuckle!

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Carrie Charley Brown link
12/11/2014 02:42:15 pm

Thanks, Teresa!

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Kirsti Call link
12/11/2014 07:56:12 am

LOVE this creative story!!!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:46:58 pm

Oh, my Kirsti... You are so good to me. :) Thank you so much.

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Johnell link
12/11/2014 08:00:35 am

Oh fun. I wish the stores would get this letter. :)

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:43:52 pm

Ha! :) Thanks for reading!

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JEN Garrett link
12/11/2014 08:43:50 am

Very cute! :) A holiday storm. I love it.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:44:38 pm

Thanks, Jen!

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Alayne Kay Christian link
12/11/2014 11:45:32 am

Now that's what I call a holiday. Every child's dream. Very creative, Carrie.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:45:20 pm

Thank you, Alayne. It's so great to see you here!

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Kristi Dee Veitenheimer link
12/11/2014 12:50:53 pm

Love it, Carrie!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:45:47 pm

Thanks, Kristi!

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Rhythm link
12/11/2014 01:25:36 pm

That was GREAT!!!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:48:01 pm

Thank you, Rhythm! That's a super sweet compliment.

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Lynn A. Davidson link
12/11/2014 02:32:59 pm

Surprising mixed-up fun; this is a story children are sure to enjoy. :)

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/11/2014 02:49:20 pm

Thanks, Lynn! I REALLY would have liked 100 more words. :) It was hard to cut. :)

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Nancy Tandon link
12/11/2014 11:54:15 pm

"Jazz hands"! Love it.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/12/2014 04:05:21 pm

Thanks for dropping by, Nancy!

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Ariel link
12/12/2014 12:24:41 am

I love this story so much! What a creative idea to have a child wish for all the holidays!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/12/2014 04:04:41 pm

Thanks, Ariel! That is so sweet of you!

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Robyn Campbell link
12/12/2014 03:58:37 am

WOW, JUST WOWEE. Fantastically, creative writing. Your story gave me the giggles. LOVE!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/12/2014 04:06:14 pm

Thanks so much, Robyn! Such a nice compliment. :)

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Tina Cho link
12/12/2014 04:05:03 am

I can imagine the vivid illustrations for this. Great job!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/12/2014 04:20:26 pm

Me, too, Tina! I wish I could illustrate them...I see them in my head. :) But, I'll leave that to the professionals.

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Mike Karg link
12/12/2014 02:34:03 pm

Your creativity inspires me, Carrie! This story reminds me of the Holiday forest scene in The Nightmare Before Christmas. Fun, wacky stuff.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/12/2014 03:45:38 pm

Thanks, Mike! I'll have to check that one out! :)

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Margaret Greanias link
12/12/2014 04:01:04 pm

Loved the holiday storm idea. So creative and a real pleasure to read!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/12/2014 04:48:38 pm

Thanks, Margaret!

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Linda Schueler link
12/12/2014 10:57:03 pm

Mmmmm, chocolate hail...Great imagery!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/13/2014 06:36:45 am

Thanks, Linda! I couldn't have a story without chocolate! :)

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Sylvia Liu link
12/13/2014 03:12:12 am

Carrie, this is such a fun and well-written story. Love the book end letters and the holiday storm.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/13/2014 06:37:43 am

Thank you so much, Sylvia! It's great to see you here!

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Linda Boyden link
12/13/2014 10:50:09 am

How clever, Carrie! Delightful idea!

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Elaine Kiely Kearns
12/13/2014 10:55:42 am

Carrie, this is a GREAT story! I loved it! Very clever and really well executed- lot of luck, even though you don't need it!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/13/2014 03:16:40 pm

You are so sweet, Elaine. It's so nice to hear your kind words. I'll take some luck in this subjective profession. :)

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Kathy Halsey
12/13/2014 11:04:44 am

Carrie, you mixed it up w/flair. I think this is my favorite story of all I've read so far. BRAVO. I bet you get in the top 10. Merry Valentine, Hanukkah, Groundhog 4th of July.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/13/2014 03:18:23 pm

Awww, thank you, Kathy! Merry Easter, St. Patrick's, and Independence Day to you!

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Susanna Leonard Hill link
12/13/2014 02:33:29 pm

Wow, Carrie, what a holiday hullabaloo! One of those be-careful-what-you-wish-for things :) I love the idea of chocolate and gelt hitting th windows :) And very funny how Santa sent Jack's own words back to him :) Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun! :)

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/13/2014 03:19:34 pm

Thanks for creating this contest, Susanna! It was a real challenge and fun, too!

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Rachel Stones link
12/13/2014 03:08:13 pm

This is so unique. I love it! :)

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/13/2014 03:19:59 pm

Thanks, Rachel!

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Cecilia Clark link
12/14/2014 12:42:45 am

wow what a crazy mixed up holiday ...well done

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:29:20 am

Thanks, Cecilia! It was challenging, but fun!

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Catherine Johnson link
12/14/2014 04:43:41 am

Fantastic story, Carrie! Your imagination ran wild with this one. It's definitely my favorite.

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:29:59 am

Really, Catherine? WOW! Thanks!

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Patricia Tilton link
12/14/2014 04:58:06 am

What a very original idea. The request was unique, but to write it into a story -- wow! Love the ending. Good luck!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:30:32 am

Thank you so much, Patricia!

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Andy Mulberry link
12/14/2014 05:52:41 am

Haha! Sometime you get just what you wished for !
“Jack-o-lanterns, jack of hearts, Valentines and Hallowed parts, Line up rabbits! Get Jack Frost! Turkey! Santa! Lines are crossed!”
Nice!

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:33:08 am

Thanks, Andy! And to think I contemplated taking that part out when I was cutting words! Mother Nature almost got the axe altogether! :)

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Penny Parker Klostermann link
12/14/2014 01:13:37 pm

Very original and clever, Carrie!
Love this:
"Jack-o-lanterns, jack of hearts, Valentines and Hallowed parts,
Line up rabbits! Get Jack Frost! Turkey! Santa! Lines are crossed!”

Nice job :-)

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:34:11 am

I feel super pumped to get a rhyming compliment from you, Penny! you are the rhyming/meter master! :)

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Suzy Leopold
12/15/2014 03:17:56 am

Jack's unique wish came through with a twist. Such a creative story, Carrie! ~Suzy

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:34:45 am

Thank you so much, Suzy! You are always so sweet!

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Lauri Meyers link
12/15/2014 05:42:21 am

I think I found my new explanation for hurricanes - "It's just Mother Nature doing jazz hands!" This was fun Carrie. I can see the weather theme was inspiring:)

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Carrie Charley Brown
12/15/2014 07:38:01 am

Ha! A new mother nature proverb! :) Thunder is God bowling and hurricanes are Mother Nature's jazz hands! :) Oddly enough, I have a few stories with wacky weather in them. But this one was a challenge!

Reply



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    Carrie Charley Brown

    As a children’s writer, and a teacher, my goal is to help you carry on.  Sometimes learning is challenging, so why go it alone?  Your journey will be more meaningful and comfortable with friends to share it with. Together, we'll get up close and personal with authors, illustrators, and the best of picture books.  If we work together, great things will follow! 

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