Susanna Leonard Hill, author, blogger, friend to the groundhog, and lover of chocolate, hosts a writing contest a few times a year at her blog. I've entered a couple of them and find her challenges very...challenging. Because there's a word limit. A teensy-tiny limit.
250 words. She thinks that is better than her Halloween challenge that was 100 words or less.
Yes. 250 words is better than 100. But still. Fitting a complete-ish story arc with a main character-ish into 250 words is a wee bit of a challenge.
I wrote and cut and felt cruel and my poor little story was screaming but I showed no mercy and did the necessary and ended up with a 250 word story. Whew.
Don't you feel inspired and full of Christmas cheer after that?
Happy Christmas.
Travelin' Blues
We’re travelers.
Mom
writes books about different cultures. We’re
home for a bit while we catch up with friends and school work. Then -- off again!
The only time this is a problem is Christmas. Every year, a new place. I just want to be home.
This is how it goes before Christmas:
“Mama, can we go home for Christmas?”
“Not this year, Kels.
This year we’re going to [insert name of faraway country].”
And then we’re off.
I’ve gotta admit we’ve been part of amazing Christmas
celebrations.
When I was seven, fireworks and ice cream in Brazil: spectacular!
Thirteen desserts in France.
YESSS!
A sauna on Christmas Eve in Estonia: interesting?!
Last year, two Christmases.
Iceland in December:
books and pretty fried bread. Perfection.
Ethiopia in January: 4:00
a.m. candlelight procession. Intense.
This year, I’ve had it.
I wanna go home.
We’re in Australia. I
say, with grump:
“Mom. Let’s go home
for Christmas.”
She just gave a tired smile and kept typing.
Grrr.
Today we’re off to wherever we’re going. Don’t care where.
We’re late, rushing to get settled with our flight standbys: earbuds, neck pillows, books. Mom pulls out a gift bag.
“Open it.”
I know it must be her buttering me up for another traveling
Christmas.
As the flight attendant says “...and then straight to the
States,” I read the words “DTW” at the end of the printed itinerary that was in
the bag. Detroit. Michigan.
Home. Heaven on earth.
“Surprise,” Mom says quietly.
Best. Christmas. Ever.
©2017 Rebekah Hoeft
Edited:
I was a finalist!! Out of the 10 finalists, I came in...10th.
😁
I was very happy to recieve a set of "What's the Story" cards from Susanna--thank you!!
There's a desription and pictures of them on her site here. You can order them by emailing her. They would be great for classrooms or for writers who sometimes need a little push to get started. My package also arrived with chocolate, because Susanna.
