Posts

Thank you 2023! A gratitude post

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Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas is a magical renewal process that lets you give last year a hug and wave goodbye to ready your soul for the year ahead. Day 7 is about  gratitude   and I’d love to take a moment to send some thanks out in the world. * You need A LOT of support when you’re writing! Thank you to my tribe:  My local writers support group for always being there, making writing less solitary, and listening to assorted rants… Marlaina, Mitu, Donna, Rebecca, Suzanne, Andria, Ariel, Chana, Kathleen, Naomi, Linda, Marilyn , and others who pop in—Thank you! My critique group partners who encourage me to keep going and help me polish manuscripts. Daniella, Ryann, Alice, Stephanie, Karen, Jamie, Sarah, Aimee, Linda, Amy.   YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! Special thanks for the authors who critiqued my work this year: Carol Joy Munro, Malcolm Newsome, and Justin Colon for critiquing my work. 12 x 12 participants, host Julie Hedlund, leaders, and all the webinar guests! M

Santa's ROCKET Sleigh

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I FORGOT* to post my Holiday entry for Susanna Hill's Holiday Contest on my blog, but...maybe you still have a little room for more holiday fun next to all the cookies and pie. This year's contest was to write a 250-word or less story holiday story with a countdown. What a fun challenge!  (*I planned to post it but then I made 5 million cookies, shopped for 600 gifts, and took a few naps!) Santa’s Rocket Sleigh! By Lauri C. Meyers 228 words “I need to meet with the big guy.” Accountant Elf barged through the door. “With so many kids on the nice list, One night’s not enough anymore!” “Tonight is my moment to shine,” Elf Engineer said with glee. “Presenting my prototype rocket. I call it the Sleigh 2.3!” “Tonight?!” Santa spit out his cocoa. The accountant ignored Santa’s frown: “An elf’s favorite time is the present!” Engineer said, “Beginning countdown!” FIVE. “Hey, has this sleigh had some testing?” Asked Santa while strapping his belt. “The snowmen did fine in the trials (we

Friends with a Werewolf- A Halloweensie Story!

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Susanna Leonard Hill's 13th Annual Halloweensie contest is here! This contest challenges you to write a full story in flash form.  Rules: Write a story for kids in 100 words or less with a Halloween theme and including the words: fright, superstition, werewolf. Enter here .  Here's my spooky story about making new friends for 2023. Happy Halloween! Friends with a Werewolf    (100 words) By Lauri C. Meyers   Mom made me invite the new kid trick-or-treating. “Okay. But it’s weird Bobby has a beard.” Bobby’s breath smelled like meatballs, but he sniffed out the best houses. He howled at my jokes. (I’m hilarious.) After weird Mr. Jones handed out beef jerky, Bobby traded me Snickers. Bobby was alright…until the moon appeared. He ran off frightened! “Guess he’s superstitious ?” Suddenly, this dog trotted up wearing Bobby’s pirate hat. “Bobby?” Grrrrrrrr. Meatball breath. The dog pounced… … on Joey the Jerk trying to steal my candy bag! Joey ran scared! “Not

Fall Leaves & Nature's Noise

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The kids are back to the crazy days of school, and we are all missing the outdoors. But my pup reminds me that fall is the perfect time for a walk in the woods...  ...which brings me to another contest! 2023’s Fall Writing Frenzy To enter: Look through the images here and write a 200-word or less story/mood piece/poem prompted from the picture. When you're down, fill out the contest form here  by midnight October 3. Follow host Kaitlyn Sanchez at  @kaitlynleann17  for updates.  And check out the prize donors online too:  @Ms_Holliday93 ,  @readbystephanie ,  @ErDiPasquale ,  @IvanTaurisano ,  @ebonylynnmudd ,  @AndreaYWang ,  @AReynosoMorris ,  @amandarhill32 ,  @HovorkaSarah ,  @chanastiefel ,  @ShannonStocker_ ,  @AutumnLeaflet ,  @BrianGehrlein ,  @JStremer ,  @DianaMWrites    I love the opportunity to write a mood piece, and this image evoked a mood for me.  7. Photo by jonas mohamadi on  Pexels.com Nature’s Noise  (149 words) By Lauri C. Meyers I race down the hall, Backpac

Sweater Weather is Here!

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The fireplace has been crackling in the chilly mornings, because my husband is resistant to turning on the heat. Dressing requires a t-shirt plus flannel plus sweater to start the day which are removed when the sun glows bright and found again when the evening cools. My footsteps crack on acorns and shuffle in leaves.  Ahhhh.... FALL.  Plus there are always lovely writing prompt contests to keep my fingers warm. Here's one... Seven Spooky Sentences  hosted by Lynne Marie and Heather Macht runs 9/25-9/30.  "What is 7 Spooky Sentences? A just-for-fun writing contest with NO judging. This is simply to get your creative juices flowing. Your entry automatically makes you eligible for some pretty spook-tacular prizes." I really love their suggested 7-sentence plot, because it is a gateway to writing a picture book! It tricks you into thinking in just seven sentences, but voila you have the skeleton of a plot.  Sentence One: Introduce your setting Sentence Two: Introduce your c

Where I Write

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  I'm over on the Little Thoughts Press blog this month sharing for their series "Where I Write."  Here's the beginning... (p.s. I LOVE that the construction picture is what comes up first as if I am writing in an abandoned building with just a crayon to scrawl my whimsies on the wall.)  A few years ago, I became very annoyed with a storage cabinet thingy in my bedroom. Perhaps because I read The Littles when I was younger, I knew this little space under the eaves could be turned into a lovely space. I didn't want the space to feel like Harry Potter's room under the stairs, so I opened it up. I created a tornado amount of noise and dust. Continue Reading here ....

Publication news & other fun!

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I have had a happily busy first half of 2023. I’ve been doing so much picture book polishing that my elbows are out of grease!  I kicked off the year with a retreat at highlights. It was snowy and magical and productive. During poetry month, I participated in Robert Lee Brewer’s poem-a-day challenge, and I was selected for Poetry Madness . (I only made it one round but had a maddening amount of fun!) My PB Party entry received an Honorable Mention—it was soooo close! I love that story J I won a copy of Finley: A Moose on the Caboose by Candace Spirizzi and Chantelle & Burgen Thorne (It’s very cute!) and a copy of A Vaccine Is Like A Memory By Rajani La Rocca and Kathleen Marcotte. (Review coming) In March my poem “ Bloom ” was published in Little Thoughts Press . In June I happily received two acceptances:  My YA short story “He Loves Me Not” was accepted by Ember! My poem “Row, Row, Row Your Tub” was accepted by Highlights High Five !      I have had an important le