tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69536223130601631872024-03-06T22:35:58.048-05:00Lauri Meyers .Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-50411564736087283442024-01-21T10:00:00.001-05:002024-01-21T10:00:00.129-05:00Thank you 2023! A gratitude post<p>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 </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Pacifico;">gratitude</span></b> </span></p><p>and I’d love to take a
moment to send some thanks out in the world. *</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>You need A LOT of support when you’re
writing! Thank you to my tribe: <o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My <b>local writers support group</b> for always being there,
making writing less solitary, and listening to assorted rants…<b>Marlaina, Mitu,
Donna, Rebecca, Suzanne, Andria, Ariel, Chana, Kathleen, Naomi, Linda, Marilyn</b>,
and others who pop in—Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My <b>critique group</b> partners who encourage me to keep
going and help me polish manuscripts. <b>Daniella, Ryann, Alice, Stephanie, Karen,
Jamie, Sarah, Aimee, Linda, Amy.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOU
GUYS ARE THE BEST! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Special thanks for the authors who critiqued my work this
year: <b>Carol Joy Munro, Malcolm Newsome, and Justin Colon</b> for critiquing
my work. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>12 x 12</b> participants, host Julie Hedlund, leaders, and all the webinar guests!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Manju Howard, Alayne Kay Christian, and Gabrielle
Schoeffield</b> – Thank you for hosting the final year of KidLit Creatives which encouraged all of us to shout our accomplishments each month. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Thank you to the hosts, judges, and donors of all these contests that make you write and revise!<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://madnesspoetry.com/about" target="_blank">Madness Poetry</a> host <b>Ed DeCaria</b> for putting me in the
bracket. So glad I put my big girl pants on and took a shot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://susannahill.com/for-writers/contests/"><b>Susanna Hill</b> </a>– Thank you for your contests which
spark new material every year. (When the mood strikes, maybe I can polish my
honorable mention holiday poem into a picture book?) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to <b>Cindy Schrauben</b> for offering
the zoom chat! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to 50 Precious Words Writing Contest host<a href="https://viviankirkfield.com/"> <b>Vivian
Kirkfield</b></a> which inspires new ideas. (Still hoping my Honorable mention poem
gets picked up by a magazine!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/kidlit-zombie-week/events">Kidlit Zombie Week</a><b> </b>hosts “Six Ladies and a MANuscript
Group” (<b>Kaitlyn Sanchez, Jolene Gutierrez, Sarah Heaton, Sarah Meade, Mike
Irvine, Kristin Wauson</b>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Kaitlyn Sanchez and Ciara Oneal and Lydia Lukidis</b> –
thank you for hosting the Spring Fling and <a href="https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/fall-writing-frenzy-2023/ ">Fall Frenzy</a> contests. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.seasonsofkidlit.com/post/7-spooky-sentences-begins-at-seasonsofkidlit">7 Spooky Sentences</a> hosted by <b>Lynne Marie and Heather
Macht</b>, which offers a quick plot framework and the Seasons of Kidlit posts. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fun, themed nonfiction challenge <a href=" https://www.karengreenwald.com/sunwritefun23-rules">SunWritefun</a> hosted by <b>Karen
Greenwald </b>and thank you to <b>Keila Dawson</b> for her prize and great zoom
conversation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>So grateful for all these Opportunities & Resources & Fun!<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to <b><a href="https://taralazar.com/storystorm/" target="_blank">Storystorm</a> host Tara Lazar</b> and all the
authors who write posts and donate prizes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://mindyalyseweiss.com/2023-pbparty-annual-contest/">PB PARTY</a> hosted by <b>Mindy Weiss</b> and all the guest
judges <b>Matt Tesoriero, Gabriele Davis, Sylvia Chen, Jenna Waldman, Aixa
Perez-Prado, and Marietta Apollonio</b> for the Honorable Mention overall that
gave my hope a boost!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://laurenkerstein.net/%23revisionweek" target="_blank">Revision Week</a> hosts Lauren Kerstein, Joana Pastro, Michal
Bibay, Katie Frawley, Lynne Marie, and Shannon Stocker </b>who even helped me
to a breakthrough on a tough manuscript. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href=" https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/">Kathy Temean</a> of Writing and Illustrating</b> blog for
offering so much information and opportunities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href=" https://cbiclubhouse.com/">Children’s Book Insider</a> publishers Laura Backes & Jon
Bard</b> – Thank you for the monthly newsletters and above the slushpile
submission opportunities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The “Nonfiction Ninjas” <b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Susie Kralovansky</span>,
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Peggy Thomas</span>,
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Linda Skeers</span>, <span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Stephanie Bearce</span>,
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lisa Amstutz</span>, <span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nancy Churnin</span>, </span></b><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christine Liu-Perkin</span>s</b></span>
for hosting<b> </b>Nonfiction Fest and the NF Ninja PB Contest.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><a href="https://savvyauthors.com/community/">Savvy Writer</a>s</b><span style="background-color: transparent;"> – a great resource I just found this
year - and their pitch contest which provided a request (fingers still crossed!)</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ebony Lynn Mudd</b> & her amazing <a href="https://www.ebonylynnmudd.com/" target="_blank">PB Retreat </a>classes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to <b>David Steffen and Diabolical Plots for running<a href="https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/" target="_blank"> TheGrinder</a> </b>which is an amazing resource for magazines and anthologies! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Natalie Aguirre</b>- Thank you for the agent spotlights
on <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank">Literary Rambles</a>. It is an amazing resource for agent research. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to <b>Highlights Foundation</b> for welcoming me
into my own cabin, filling my belly with delicious food, and letting me write
and write and write...twice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to agents and editors for reading my work and a
huge thank you to <b>Highlights High Five, Little Thoughts Press, Ember,</b>
and <b>Paperbound</b> for publishing my work this year. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And thank you to whoever my January brain may have
forgotten. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*I said a “moment” but wow I had a lot of gratitude to
express and no one was playing the “your speech is too long fanfare…” <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio6mSua-XrH7RlN1E11-x_ZeyjW_FbzBK5PE0IXtdGHmvz575Aqh8Qe2ftyg3D8OjrbJUc-POGh5FuGiIgAlhY6kcev1tYSJ9NGQFQkO0nXT52x594kXnxtYz2190EWPgYVQTCttSxt1g8phUEN6kDJePsaKwKyBtDr6zxnwd3qRfBAGB0Qx3VHBB438/s1080/thank%20you%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1080" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio6mSua-XrH7RlN1E11-x_ZeyjW_FbzBK5PE0IXtdGHmvz575Aqh8Qe2ftyg3D8OjrbJUc-POGh5FuGiIgAlhY6kcev1tYSJ9NGQFQkO0nXT52x594kXnxtYz2190EWPgYVQTCttSxt1g8phUEN6kDJePsaKwKyBtDr6zxnwd3qRfBAGB0Qx3VHBB438/w400-h278/thank%20you%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-71706545957870480172023-12-26T22:23:00.000-05:002023-12-26T22:23:37.925-05:00Santa's ROCKET Sleigh<p>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! </p><p>(*I planned to post it but then I made 5 million cookies, shopped for 600 gifts, and took a few naps!)</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Santa’s Rocket Sleigh!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />By Lauri C. Meyers<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />228 words</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I need to meet with the big guy.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Accountant Elf barged through the door.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“With so many kids on the nice list,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />One night’s not enough anymore!”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Tonight is my moment to shine,”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Elf Engineer said with glee.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Presenting my prototype rocket.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I call it the Sleigh 2.3!”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Tonight?!” Santa spit out his cocoa.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The accountant ignored Santa’s frown:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“An elf’s favorite time is the present!”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Engineer said, “Beginning countdown!”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FIVE.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey, has this sleigh had some testing?”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Asked Santa while strapping his belt.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“The snowmen did fine in the trials<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(we only had one fellow melt…)”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FOUR.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Will liftoff be painful?” asked Santa.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Nausea’s the worst that we’ve seen.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As long as you didn’t eat cookies…”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Santa’s cheeks paled from rosy to green.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">THREE!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Do I need any special equipment!?”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Santa yelled over engine vibration.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Your hat has new pads like a helmet,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And your coat can be used for flotation.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TWO!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The reindeer look nervous to use<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the quantum propulsion to fly.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Like you always are saying, Santa:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Children deserve our best try.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ONE!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“By jolly, that’s true! I’ll be brave<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As we launch on this joyous endeavor.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Merry Christmas to—“ Whooooosh!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Whoops…<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He pulled the turbo boost lever!”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(Two minutes later…) Whooooosh!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“This sleigh is so swift,” Santa sighed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Christmas is already through.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“We could deliver more presents?”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Hop in for Christmas Round TWO!”</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklhpTyVPy9XS0juqmlXIOC7alueZoAR_zTlCASfIbrrkfNpRmvERySfnhpnjYq4kJW7xAQQzsbpav_K6iqtlAJXm7dtYa2aAVO6RZqdLAr2BN5P9GMM5OAF_SRkVv2TzpO6Zn4-gENFcM8-rVvhf6vZ1Cb-tZrpXkVwVt1oH2Ye4jFGbEo9Tdgho0QHg/s1080/All%20Around%20HM%20-%20Lauri%20Meyers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklhpTyVPy9XS0juqmlXIOC7alueZoAR_zTlCASfIbrrkfNpRmvERySfnhpnjYq4kJW7xAQQzsbpav_K6iqtlAJXm7dtYa2aAVO6RZqdLAr2BN5P9GMM5OAF_SRkVv2TzpO6Zn4-gENFcM8-rVvhf6vZ1Cb-tZrpXkVwVt1oH2Ye4jFGbEo9Tdgho0QHg/w200-h200/All%20Around%20HM%20-%20Lauri%20Meyers.png" width="200" /></a></div>I'm excited to announce Santa's Rocket won an Honorable Mention:) <p></p><p><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><mark class="has-inline-color" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #347437;">"1. For Honorable Mention In The Competition As A Whole: (entries we truly wrestled with not including in the finalists!): </mark></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lauri C. Meyers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> for </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Santa’s Rocket Sleigh</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> (SO clever and funny – you put us in stitches!)" </span></p><p>Congratulations to all the winners and participants which you can see <a href="https://susannahill.com/2023/12/18/the-2023-holiday-contest-winners/#more-36743" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><br /><p><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-60853700282387773012023-10-30T15:34:00.001-04:002023-10-30T15:34:06.153-04:00Friends with a Werewolf- A Halloweensie Story!<p>Susanna Leonard Hill's 13th Annual Halloweensie contest is here! This contest challenges you to write a full story in flash form. </p><p>Rules: Write a story for kids in 100 words or less with a Halloween theme and including the words: fright, superstition, werewolf. Enter <a href="https://susannahill.com/2023/10/29/the-13th-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest-aahhhrrrooooooo/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here's my spooky story about making new friends for 2023. Happy Halloween!</p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Friends with a Werewolf (100 words)</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mom made me invite the new kid trick-or-treating.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Okay. But it’s weird Bobby has a beard.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bobby was alright…until the moon appeared. He ran off <b>frightened!</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Guess he’s <b>superstitious</b>?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3j0OUOzobQVE7OH_i0Ihc_yN86_vn71CnDrqpBTqA0cfZxOe2GPKSUXqjjsZDqtErKGuQy7qJmJByUltUjWmAeAI5iCKYepiSEBLaGCxzG677WdkdGzCa3eJq7H3AzVcexNokXIdsQPq7sxf2nwB4nFhvFz_JrUtqMaPSx_YJAqQr-lv8qnFf6-dVfc/s1080/wolf%20pic%20via%20canva.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3j0OUOzobQVE7OH_i0Ihc_yN86_vn71CnDrqpBTqA0cfZxOe2GPKSUXqjjsZDqtErKGuQy7qJmJByUltUjWmAeAI5iCKYepiSEBLaGCxzG677WdkdGzCa3eJq7H3AzVcexNokXIdsQPq7sxf2nwB4nFhvFz_JrUtqMaPSx_YJAqQr-lv8qnFf6-dVfc/w197-h320/wolf%20pic%20via%20canva.png" width="197" /></a></div><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly, this dog trotted up wearing Bobby’s pirate hat. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Bobby?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grrrrrrrr.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meatball breath.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The dog pounced…</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… on Joey the Jerk trying to steal my candy bag! Joey ran
scared!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Not this year! I’m friends with a <b>werewolf!”<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Woof!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><br /><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-49114409404797291922023-10-02T12:36:00.004-04:002023-10-02T12:45:08.208-04:00Fall Leaves & Nature's Noise<p>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... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLesMoYPz5wBlMDXTmBc4OiCFStxxFPKXl4TbM4QOYoiBuoum1T98kyWWHUWalfriva2ZCpa5fsq-TZ82OgRfhEHB0tHavUwD2RVKw3h6NKNf7C1Q3vYl3ETH3uhP5LYtzvC8Vmej-y8Q7rjw5iIsFhIoyPdZhKiBG6ZQIHkGwKFLlwL2c_ULWHBBpX8/s2952/chiper%20walk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="2952" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLesMoYPz5wBlMDXTmBc4OiCFStxxFPKXl4TbM4QOYoiBuoum1T98kyWWHUWalfriva2ZCpa5fsq-TZ82OgRfhEHB0tHavUwD2RVKw3h6NKNf7C1Q3vYl3ETH3uhP5LYtzvC8Vmej-y8Q7rjw5iIsFhIoyPdZhKiBG6ZQIHkGwKFLlwL2c_ULWHBBpX8/w200-h179/chiper%20walk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>...which brings me to another contest!</p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">2023’s Fall Writing Frenzy</span></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">To enter: Look through the images <a href="https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/fall-writing-frenzy-2023/" target="_blank">here</a> and write a 200-word or less story/mood piece/poem prompted from the picture. When you're down, fill out the contest form <a href="https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/2023/10/01/fall-writing-frenzy-official-entry-form-2023-open-oct-1-3rd/" target="_blank">here</a> by midnight October 3. Follow host Kaitlyn Sanchez at <a href="https://twitter.com/KaitlynLeann17" style="color: #0087be; text-decoration-line: none;">@kaitlynleann17</a><span style="color: #383838;"> for updates. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #383838;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #383838;">And check out the prize donors online too: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #383838;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Ms_Holliday93" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@Ms_Holliday93</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/readbystephanie" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; outline: 0px;">@readbystephanie</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">, </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/ErDiPasquale" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@ErDiPasquale</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/IvanTaurisano" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@IvanTaurisano</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ebonylynnmudd" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@ebonylynnmudd</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreaYWang" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@AndreaYWang</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AReynosoMorris" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@AReynosoMorris</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/amandarhill32" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@amandarhill32</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/HovorkaSarah" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@HovorkaSarah</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/chanastiefel" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@chanastiefel</a>, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonStocker_" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@ShannonStocker_</a><span style="color: #e06666;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AutumnLeaflet" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@AutumnLeaflet</a><span style="color: #e06666;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/BrianGehrlein" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@BrianGehrlein</a><span style="color: #e06666;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/JStremer" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@JStremer</a><span style="color: #e06666;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DianaMWrites" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">@DianaMWrites</a><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love the opportunity to write a mood piece, and this image evoked a mood for me. </div><div><br /></div><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; color: #333332; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.4375em; margin-top: 0.875em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 32px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtLM8Le8Yj1IniWtwnduwtq2Lw7FyfnXVCHpAf-zSY4SCJkqEHunGAATbc2702r2I5y32TPeq-pKf9jczKpj9BQ165HLw750aVa1RHsqjEP_oNL6n3XZ6VLnkgB63nKv643eUk9zFHCQr_mHcP2Ymzp_5Nxm4RkaSDmB02UL4pMFAU3j5xtdzQApZK8ZI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1880" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtLM8Le8Yj1IniWtwnduwtq2Lw7FyfnXVCHpAf-zSY4SCJkqEHunGAATbc2702r2I5y32TPeq-pKf9jczKpj9BQ165HLw750aVa1RHsqjEP_oNL6n3XZ6VLnkgB63nKv643eUk9zFHCQr_mHcP2Ymzp_5Nxm4RkaSDmB02UL4pMFAU3j5xtdzQApZK8ZI" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #383838; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14.25px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">7. Photo by jonas mohamadi on <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-boy-listening-in-headphones-1490844/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0087be; text-decoration-line: none;">Pexels.com</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nature’s
Noise (149 words)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By Lauri
C. Meyers</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I race down the hall,</span></span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Backpack heavy<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">With homework to
remember, books to ignore, lunch half-eaten…<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">My brain more full
than my belly<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">From all the
questions and answers<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(Are you listening?</i> Yes, Ms. Fomanti,)<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The giggling girls
swapping lip balm,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rowdy boys bouncing
basketballs.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The pressing,
pressing, pressing of the hallway.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Chaos echoes from
cement walls to laminate floor<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Until I push open
the door.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">I race to the woods,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thoughts heavy:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The cafeteria’s so loud, I used to like math, I miss Jack…<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">My worries pounding
like my steps<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">In the leaves, crunch,
crunch, crunch<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Until I reach the trees,
fluttering yellow hands.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">A sparrow whistles a
soft hello.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The crisp breeze
rustles my hair, lifts the weight.<br />My stride softens,
swish, swish, swish. <br />A goose calls,
reminding me to look up <br /><span><span style="color: black;">The sky
is clear, and I fly<br /></span></span> <br /><span><span style="color: black;">Racing
home,<br /></span></span><span style="color: black;">Heart
soaring <br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span>Peace,
calm, nature’s noise. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /><br /></h2>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-34402204231857105632023-09-28T10:16:00.005-04:002023-09-28T10:16:51.805-04:00Sweater Weather is Here!<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b> Ahhhh.... FALL. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plus there are always lovely writing prompt contests to keep my fingers warm. Here's one...</span></p><p><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.seasonsofkidlit.com/post/7-spooky-sentences-begins-at-seasonsofkidlit" target="_blank">Seven Spooky Sentences</a> hosted by Lynne Marie and Heather Macht runs 9/25-9/30. </span></p><p><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"What is 7 Spooky Sentences?</span></span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> A </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">just-for-fun </span></span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">writing contest with </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NO </span></span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">judging. This is simply to get your creative juices flowing. Your entry automatically makes you eligible for some pretty spook-tacular prizes."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">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. </span></span></p><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-6gieo" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence One: Introduce your setting</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block61" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-64c83" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence Two: Introduce your character</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block62" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-cub59" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence Three: A story problem / goal</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block63" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-8hol8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence Four: An obstacle</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block64" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-c95el" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence Five: An active attempt to solve the story problem or achieve the story goal</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block65" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dsk4j" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence Six: Introduce a failure </span></span></span></span><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;">Sentence Seven: Solve the story problem or achieve the story goal!</span></span></span><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #301d10; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #301d10; direction: ltr; display: block; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my little story, because I love a scarecrow. *And* special thanks to my 13-year-old who has become a very helpful editor. </span></span></span><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #301d10; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #301d10; font-family: avenir-lt-w01_35-light1475496, avenir-lt-w05_35-light, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR6HeBf-TqqqGbgjOcHx8LnYsLUtQjMterXy9rsfSqm9r1FKYSjbNnhvojX91DJRKO2JPtC_G1_MZTnEg3_etarCIgl_a2_lHt6cRX7jZR4-rr0tvIstDRauingLlxbQW-0EI_XlMqUuyx0I2gI3C2wwtoPkxwimga8Qyf4a4UAjku7JLqN3_KJZ6yKw/s592/canva%20skinny.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="508" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR6HeBf-TqqqGbgjOcHx8LnYsLUtQjMterXy9rsfSqm9r1FKYSjbNnhvojX91DJRKO2JPtC_G1_MZTnEg3_etarCIgl_a2_lHt6cRX7jZR4-rr0tvIstDRauingLlxbQW-0EI_XlMqUuyx0I2gI3C2wwtoPkxwimga8Qyf4a4UAjku7JLqN3_KJZ6yKw/w550-h640/canva%20skinny.png" width="550" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #301d10; direction: ltr; font-family: avenir-lt-w01_35-light1475496, avenir-lt-w05_35-light, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</span><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-45552609902785547222023-09-05T06:47:00.005-04:002023-09-05T06:47:44.366-04:00Where I Write<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">I'm over on the Little Thoughts Press blog this month sharing for their series "Where I Write." </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">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.) </span></p><p class="xVISr Y9Dpf bCMSCT OZy-3 lnyWN yMZv8w bCMSCT public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 fixed-tab-size public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-csg8q" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; direction: ltr; font-family: georgia, palatino, "book antiqua", "palatino linotype", serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 2; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="B2EFF public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A few years ago, I became very annoyed with a storage cabinet thingy in my bedroom. Perhaps because I read <em style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Littles</em> when I was younger, I knew this little space under the eaves could be turned into a lovely space.</span></span></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: georgia, palatino, "book antiqua", "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="QHjDE rzoRKE" id="viewer-31ni2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: georgia, palatino, "book antiqua", "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 15px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="gO6aa y8JqQg y8JqQg UAgbc OXFdk4 OXFdk4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; min-width: 360px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 350px !important;"><div class="Q6a5A" data-hook="imageViewer" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ricos-custom-p-color,unset); font-family: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-family,unset); font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-style: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-style,unset); font-weight: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-weight,unset); line-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-line-height,unset); margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: var(--ricos-custom-p-text-decoration,unset); vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0"><div class="vBPBf L9OMM XHhj0" id="new-image906" style="--dim-height: 3024; --dim-width: 4032; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); aspect-ratio: var(--dim-width)/var(--dim-height); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 360px;"><wow-image class="gXpdtc " data-animate-blur="" data-bg-effect-name="" data-has-ssr-src="" data-image-info="{"containerId":"new-image906","displayMode":"fill","isLQIP":true,"isSEOBot":false,"lqipTransition":"blur","imageData":{"width":4032,"height":3024,"uri":"ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg","name":"","displayMode":"fill"}}" data-src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_450,h_338,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg" data-transitioned="" id="ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 270px; width: 360px;"><img alt="" data-load-done="" data-pin-media="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_4032,h_3024,al_c,q_90/ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg" data-pin-url="https://littlethoughtspress.wixsite.com/ltpmag/post/where-i-write-lauri-meyers" fetchpriority="high" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_450,h_338,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/ca27ea_1f939fae655b4ab08e89d1a14e29ed97~mv2.jpg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; filter: none; height: 270px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: 50% 50%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: filter 0.8s ease-in 0s; vertical-align: baseline; width: 360px;" /></wow-image></div></div></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: georgia, palatino, "book antiqua", "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">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. </span><a href="https://littlethoughtspress.wixsite.com/ltpmag/post/where-i-write-lauri-meyers" target="_blank">Continue Reading here</a>....</p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-51966176106579843912023-07-10T13:18:00.000-04:002023-07-10T13:18:10.643-04:00Publication news & other fun!<p>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! </p><p>I kicked
off the year with a retreat at highlights. It was snowy and magical and
productive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDE2N9vXXVS_eval9y5yKyV9I3lmMrpCpOs4Y_VyrcWbWmZN1qNxcmdlU08Bu89vx10ofuqaEYYrcxcZ1ho6H0EFfDhXTuUC9JbHvRhiXQC5MwME0esOkijKo6uYA6S9Hh16U54OTnx2I_e7Szx-p3iUUfDUIUswcLIoS9LFz93Gnmt_RMqqFieKtsI4/s3929/Highlights%20Cabin.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2947" data-original-width="3929" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDE2N9vXXVS_eval9y5yKyV9I3lmMrpCpOs4Y_VyrcWbWmZN1qNxcmdlU08Bu89vx10ofuqaEYYrcxcZ1ho6H0EFfDhXTuUC9JbHvRhiXQC5MwME0esOkijKo6uYA6S9Hh16U54OTnx2I_e7Szx-p3iUUfDUIUswcLIoS9LFz93Gnmt_RMqqFieKtsI4/s320/Highlights%20Cabin.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During poetry month, I participated in Robert Lee Brewer’s
poem-a-day challenge, and I was selected for <a href="https://madnesspoetry.com/poem/1682291816073x847211649941350700?authlete=1681803856876x799884752257029000&st=" target="_blank">Poetry Madness</a>. (I only made it
one round but had a maddening amount of fun!)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My PB Party entry received an Honorable Mention—it was soooo
close! I love that story<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I won a copy of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63265610-finley" target="_blank">Finley: A Moose on the Caboose</a> 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)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In March my poem “<a href=" https://www.laurimeyers.com/p/publications.html" target="_blank">Bloom</a>” was published in <a href="https://littlethoughtspress.wixsite.com/ltpmag">Little Thoughts Press</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In June I happily received two acceptances: </p><p class="MsoNormal">My YA short
story “He Loves Me Not” was accepted by <a href="https://emberjournal.org/" target="_blank">Ember!</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My poem “Row, Row, Row Your Tub” was accepted by <a href="https://shop.highlights.com/highfive-magazine-subscription" target="_blank">Highlights High Five</a>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have had an important learning this year…</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2e75b6; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">I am more likely to
get accepted when I submit things.</span></b><span style="color: #2e75b6; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s true! Turns out, editors are unlikely to zap
themselves through the internet into your work in progress file and ask for
your stories. If only someone had told me sooner. Shucks! The road to those acceptances was paved with rejections, BUT
it’s just litter. You won’t die.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Summer is offering with two amazing contests for nonfiction
writing.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "inherit",serif;">(1) <a href="https://www.karengreenwald.com/sunwritefun23-rules" target="_blank">SunWriteFun</a>--Write
a non fic or info fic story under 200 on the theme Dreams by July 28<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "inherit", serif;">(2) Write a nonfiction
picture book with <a href="https://www.nffest.com/2023/07/its-contest-time.html" target="_blank">Nonfiction Fest</a> by 8/1.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gotta get back to writing and revising! Happy Summer to all!<o:p></o:p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-28023465192965395532023-04-01T15:10:00.001-04:002023-04-01T15:21:51.787-04:00Are We There Yet #Springflingkidlit<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Spring has sprung! (At least so says my tulips and the kids' Spring Break schedule.) To celebrate the season, Ciara O'Neal and Kaitlyn Sanchez are hosting the Spring Fling Kidlit challenge. <a href="https://ciaraoneal.weebly.com/spring-fling-kidlit-contest" target="_blank">Enter here.</a> <br /><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;">The basics: Choose a kid-appropriate gif to inspire a 150-word of less story for kids 12 and under. </span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;">The Spring Fling contest officially begins on Saturday </span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;">April 1st</span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;"> and closes April 3rd. <br /></span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.36px; text-align: justify;">I was inspired by this gif of a whale mom and baby migrating, a journey that starts in April. Aww! So cute!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://tenor.com/view/child-and-mother-humpback-whale-migration-shark-vs-whale-family-ocean-gif-18890351" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvbR6xBA-2GNtcfOuZPyrCpVMcUsBaltdKe-5opdd-D_jiTOtNkSo5S5dmpGe-8j78mLSX-u6Sd_3yahvxOKFkUh7ZaQuYgTpkBFourA1M7QhYYZyN9zzi7pAH9DIZ-nZgQzKeQzCsNBh2WA79mSGMKd4uo4-RF2do2fHvWeOMfmwTeuKUqj1_BToe=w320-h180" title="(Gif Link)" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://tenor.com/view/child-and-mother-humpback-whale-migration-shark-vs-whale-family-ocean-gif-18890351" target="_blank">(Gif Link)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="WordSection2"><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: auto; mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
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<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium; mso-themecolor: text1;">Are We There Yet? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium; mso-themecolor: text1;">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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</span><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The ocean warms with spring.<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Gulls have taken wing.<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The current’s pull is
strong<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">And hums migration’s song.<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mama whale conveys <br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The change of coming days,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“Northern waters call!”<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">But baby tries to
stall. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I like this seaweed
reef </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">That tickles me beneath.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“There’s a world to see!<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Come explore with me.”<br /></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></i><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> <span> </span></span><span> </span>I’ll miss my dolphin
friends<br /></span></i><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>And how the sunlight bends.<br /></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“No matter where you roam,<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The ocean is your home.” <br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>How far will we go? <br /></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“A thousand miles or so.”<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>That’s too far I
fear. <br /></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“You’ll always have me near.”<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>Tell me what we’ll see</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“Ice that’s floating free.”<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>What’s it like at night?<br /></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“A dancing sky of light.”<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>Will there be any
fun? <br /></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“Plankton by the ton.” <br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>I’ll learn to fish I bet!<br /></span></i><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span><span> </span>Mom, are we there yet?<br /></span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> </span>“Do you feel the <i>chill</i>?<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>An end of journey thrill?”<br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Jump in celebration—<br /></span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>I swam my first migration!</span></i></span></div>
<br /><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-62080089170811172312023-03-20T16:23:00.004-04:002023-03-20T16:23:40.596-04:00Fancy Meeting You here! #50PreciousWords<p>In life things aren't always exactly the way you want them. Like possibly one day your kids want to do "something fun" and you want to do "the four hundred things on your to-do list." When those situations arise, I try to find some sort of compromise. Perhaps this means the kids help move piles of rocks in the backyard and I give them wheelbarrow rides. Or we clean a closet and then play with the toys we found. </p><p>Maybe your husband wants to "hike up the side of a mountain so we can look down at the ground below" and you want to remind him you can see the ground right here without your thighs burning. So it begrudgingly agrees to a 2 mile walk with a waterfall (because I'm a sucker for a waterfall.)</p><p>Friendship often means meeting halfway, too. This is the theme I chose for my 50 Precious Words Contest entry this year which won an HONORABLE MENTION FOR FRIENDSHIP! Yay! [Note: It's completely appropriate for you to tear up some paper and throw it in an exuberant confetti display at this point.] And congratulations to all the contest winners!</p><p>I hope you enjoy my poem (under 50 words) ... </p><p><i>*** So I fashioned this picture from clipart in Canva and I had to kind of copy and paste Ostrich's head, so I hope you don't look too closely! #notanillustrator</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SvpgJ43xX-Y-Zl3vWM3RRSeRix9PG2FWI4oa0QDFyIkkhMpKQFaek4vzi7ufcOo5cqM-HI3u-Hz8kGoaTvxExvCtz7bomvzCXrT54eVVr0dkiTwnCCcH-1RWC-eF7j9q6rDGpq8iTBlbneupJSAdKVizroflOHc0CU7SNCUQiAZd27fFH-WJN25-/s1080/Where%20you%20are%20image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SvpgJ43xX-Y-Zl3vWM3RRSeRix9PG2FWI4oa0QDFyIkkhMpKQFaek4vzi7ufcOo5cqM-HI3u-Hz8kGoaTvxExvCtz7bomvzCXrT54eVVr0dkiTwnCCcH-1RWC-eF7j9q6rDGpq8iTBlbneupJSAdKVizroflOHc0CU7SNCUQiAZd27fFH-WJN25-/s320/Where%20you%20are%20image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-22179223654060268712023-02-12T16:20:00.000-05:002023-02-12T16:20:03.545-05:00Is it REALLY Valentine's Day? <p> February means being misled by a groundhog, tricked by the crocuses, and bamboozled by the weather. And that's before you add in general Valentine's uncertainty of whether He loves me or He loves me not. Of course, that would leave anyone feeling SKEPTICAL... which brings us to this year's Valentiny contest!</p><p>The contest is hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill (who is author friends with a very nice groundhog who wouldn't mislead anyone) and the rules are: <span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">write a </span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Valentines story appropriate for children</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> (children here defined as ages 12 and under) </span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">maximum 214 words</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> in which </span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">someone feels</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">skeptical</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 16px;">! </span> </p><p>Now I initially thought "skeptical" was a big feeling for little kids, but then I remembered my kids don't believe a single thing I say. </p><p><span> </span><span> </span>"Carrots are healthy" </p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>False. </p><p><span> </span><span> </span>"Don't wait to study until the night before a test." </p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Ridiculous!</p><p><span> </span><span> "I'm brushing my teeth!" </span><br /></p><p><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Mom, we all know you are just sitting in there playing games on your phone. </span><br /></span></p><p><span><span>It's true. Kids SHOULD be skeptical of their parents... Read all the fun entries over at <a href="https://susannahill.com/2023/02/12/what-sayeth-my-heart-the-8th-annual-valentiny-writing-contest-for-childrens-writers/" target="_blank">Susanna's blog. </a></span></span></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Love is an Adventure</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By Lauri C. Meyers</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dad unwrapped a balloon. Mom opened a scarf.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You guys give boring Valentine’s gifts,” I said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Boring?” Dad gawked. “These remind us of falling in love.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Literally falling! I skydived past your Dad’s hot air balloon,”
Mom explained. “He was cute, so I yelled ‘Call me!’”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I raised my
eyebrows. Mom doesn’t skydive!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“But I didn’t
know her number!” Dad said. “Luckily, the next day while bull riding, I saw
your mother in a barrel. I yelled, ‘Number?’ Then I got bucked off.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I miss rodeo
clowning,” Mom sighed</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I rolled my
eyes. Dad hate clowns!<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The next
week, I was snowshoeing a glacier. Your Dad raced by on a dog sled. I yelled, ‘534-’”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“But a polar
bear chased me away! I couldn’t hear the rest.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My mouth hung
open. My parents hate snow!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Later that
month, I flipped my kayak in a dangerous swamp,” Dad whispered.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I was training alligators nearby. I heard the splash,” Mom
said. “Snappy Al married us right then and there.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“An <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alligator</i> married you?!” I squinted at
them. “How did you really fall in love?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They winked. “Open your gift!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“A week at Pirate Adventure Camp?” I read the pamphlet. “Plank
diving! Shark riding! Sword fighting!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Create your own story about falling in love … with adventure.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20rR86nHGyxFP7-jZbspdIKNZELtik6OyRvM-IVd81W8Ix-pW7OvCICzKthrCHfn9i2C5v-KyYFHlGYSSXsxps4DcXLenP9UEr0IIiqEIFYsiUkgrx2DkL4-sg8Ahw388HInVNneFnE1bFw3_kVAzYa3NRaLKA4JaU_Y-_A3sYkasowTilvq4dT38/s1080/Love%20is%20an%20Adventure.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20rR86nHGyxFP7-jZbspdIKNZELtik6OyRvM-IVd81W8Ix-pW7OvCICzKthrCHfn9i2C5v-KyYFHlGYSSXsxps4DcXLenP9UEr0IIiqEIFYsiUkgrx2DkL4-sg8Ahw388HInVNneFnE1bFw3_kVAzYa3NRaLKA4JaU_Y-_A3sYkasowTilvq4dT38/w200-h200/Love%20is%20an%20Adventure.png" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-17745932520434746112022-10-29T09:53:00.001-04:002022-10-29T09:53:35.224-04:00Halloweensie! The House Creatures' Halloween<p>Forget the trick-or-treating and candy and costumes and watching your jack-o-lantern slowly collapse into a gooey mess... Halloween means it's Halloweensie time! </p><p>This is my 11th year writing for this contest, and thanks to Susanna Leonard Hill it just gets more fun every year. If you want to play along, the rules are to write a story or poem for kids in 100 words or under about Halloween with this year's contest words (treat, slither, scare.) Entries must be posted in the comments of the <a href="https://susannahill.com/2022/10/29/the-12th-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest-aahhhrrrooooooooo/" target="_blank">contest blog post</a>. </p><p>After we decorated the house for Halloween this year, I noticed the dog looking at the decorations (and us) like we were very weird. That inspired this story about the surprise the creatures of the house might feel when they creep out at night. </p><p>Here is my entry: </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">The House Creatures’
Halloween (100 words)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">When night falls, the house creatures wake. But things
look spookier. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">Mouse snuffles for crumbs, but… “Squeak! A glowing
ghost!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">She scampers into a hole.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">Bat hovers over apples, but… “Eek! A fangy vampire!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">He dives into a hole.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">Centipede hunts for a bite, but… “Yikes! A monstrous
spider!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><w:sdt id="1884667800" sdttag="goog_rdk_8"></w:sdt><w:sdt id="2132053778" sdttag="goog_rdk_9"></w:sdt>It<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> slithers</b> into a hole.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfvQrgLRhWzXWcRuz1VYzE7FxS3CXtBVZQC3LEytCSq8wplDRV-b_o_4LZh_XZsoGps48HhLHXd6Ny0vbMXUMba5_EerFvMJ2wQEkGJMYSZiJH_P4dU8P3DphTn45wiDodVD3RRw5ktj9t99OyNH3nCgqxtE1fbJnxLw2sIXAAutY3NvtaHT3XIFF/s2127/skull%20animals%202022.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="2127" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfvQrgLRhWzXWcRuz1VYzE7FxS3CXtBVZQC3LEytCSq8wplDRV-b_o_4LZh_XZsoGps48HhLHXd6Ny0vbMXUMba5_EerFvMJ2wQEkGJMYSZiJH_P4dU8P3DphTn45wiDodVD3RRw5ktj9t99OyNH3nCgqxtE1fbJnxLw2sIXAAutY3NvtaHT3XIFF/s320/skull%20animals%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this work is titled: "I'm not an illustrator but <br />still had fun doodling"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">Cat prowls for a late-night snack. Suddenly, he sniffs
a whiff of sneaking, flying, creeping beasties near a skeleton.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">The animals shake and jump!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">“Yowl! The skeleton is alive!” The cat runs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">scared.</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;">The house creatures crawl out and celebrate on a feast of Halloween <b>treats. </b></p><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-85720986912745130112022-10-25T11:16:00.000-04:002022-10-25T11:16:15.112-04:00Why Critique is Worth Celebrating<p> One of the most beautiful parts of writing Kidlit is critiquing. </p><p><span> "Um, hearing why your story sucks doesn't sound beautiful," you say. </span><br /></p><p><span>But that feedback, no matter how devastatingly true, even if it causes you to painfully rewrite a rhyming stanza or throw a character off a plane without a parachute, is critical to getting your story read. </span>And that's what we all want...our lovely story babies in the hands of others as smiles spread on their faces at the fun in our words. </p><p><span><span> "Remember that time they suggested your story about a tree was actually about the process of grieving and then you cried for like two days?" you say like a wickedly popular 17-year-old.<br /></span><br /></span></p><p><span>That was amazing. A critique partner able to identify an emotion I didn't even realize I had infused into that story. Understanding my story's layers made writing a query letter easier too. The flipside is also true, a critiquer (just like any reader) may see a meaning behind a character's action that you didn't intend but is true to her read. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcl5IkAhBPHY3up9v1A7B7WyhRwJnRxRNLaNgoZ1qvQKw855cQ0aCf9KGWqxWCCrN1il0zbTofudNVWBVzWZwbaWeFikiGPgtMaX8BEmyxxbeF_VMs0P6-7JXVallVX-Y8Zcwg7ujW28iPtsBLSi3q1b-LIEYribkXgp0u9vdr3S8sR_rgm1uXA8u/s3095/Red%20pen%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3095" data-original-width="3022" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcl5IkAhBPHY3up9v1A7B7WyhRwJnRxRNLaNgoZ1qvQKw855cQ0aCf9KGWqxWCCrN1il0zbTofudNVWBVzWZwbaWeFikiGPgtMaX8BEmyxxbeF_VMs0P6-7JXVallVX-Y8Zcwg7ujW28iPtsBLSi3q1b-LIEYribkXgp0u9vdr3S8sR_rgm1uXA8u/w195-h200/Red%20pen%202022.HEIC" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual pen used to recently<br />kill a character.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p><span><span> "Well, what's the best kind of critique group?" you say. </span><br /></span></p><p>Critique groups can come in all shapes and sizes. I have a group of four writers from <a href="https://www.12x12challenge.com/" target="_blank">12x12</a> which exchanges pieces in email. Another group of four was set up this summer via the selfless offer of <a href="https://hannahholt.com/about" target="_blank">Hannah Holt</a> to connect similar writers looking for partners. This group which I lovingly call the NeRDLes (because of our initials) works on google docs and is even brave enough to critique rhyme. Another critique group chats in a Facebook group and posts in Tapatalk. I also have some lovely critique partners always willing for an impromptu exchange. </p><p><span> "</span>Why are you in so many groups?" you question with an unnecessary eyeroll. </p><p>Groups often have a life cycle. Life happens...new babies...back to school... job changes... sickness... and your critique friends (and you!) may need to step back at times. A once busy group can turn to crickets. Members can change focus between picture books and longer works. Other times new opportunities may mean you need more support. As a <a href="https://pbchat.org/2022-mentorship/" target="_blank">PB Chat Mentor</a> in 2021 I had a lot of manuscripts to polish. Since joining 12x12, I am successfully writing more drafts, and new manuscripts mean more critiques. I also try to not hit the same group with multiple revisions of a story, because it's no longer a fresh read. </p><p><span> "You are so right and have been incredibly convincing about the power of critique groups!" I type right after you have taken a bite of cruller, but I'm pretty sure that's what you were going to say. </span><br /></p><p>Want to celebrate the wonder of critiquing?! Join in <a href="https://www.pbspotlight.com/single-post/pbcritiquefest-2022" target="_blank">PB Critique Fes</a>t. Sponsored by Brian Gehrlein and his PB Spotlight page, this is a chance to win a critique from an author, illustrator or agent and show your support for the kidlit community. Follow the #PBCritiqueFest hashtags on twitter to join in the fun. </p><p>And THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all my critique partners out there who help me move my manuscripts forward. And THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for letting me be a part of your work, too. </p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-87141958890254813562022-10-01T08:00:00.003-04:002022-10-01T08:55:17.540-04:00Say Howdy to Cowboy Bob!<p>Well, my Spring was wild with school activities, my Summer frolicked with fun, and I've rolled right into back to school! Fall is always a productive season with lots of revisions to chew on and many contests to inspire new pieces. </p><p>One of those contests is <a href="https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/fallwritingfrenzy-2022-rules/" target="_blank">Fall Frenzy</a> hosted by Lydia Lukidis and Kaitlyn Sanchez. To join in, just pick one of the images from Lydia's site for inspiration and write a story in 200 words or less. </p><p>This picture gave me all the feels and inspired a little 200 word ditty about Cowboy Bob. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJFl3Ino5X0-jmYHjSnBmMD0V0cdTL6SD_Rp7wjMwiLg9dLgU1nrJZ0TE4hdygn_s00V5tXywXp34t8jmxNdgVf2uJv5283kl_kjwk-3xB6WqsXqSQZR75mjXUXgHUTZGUgj7ol9vSDvj4mp5As3GAiFwtJ3miEh-HhL7Xzvo7zvKTlDlI6Y4H4uj/s5184/brian-wangenheim-for-unsplash%20skeleton%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJFl3Ino5X0-jmYHjSnBmMD0V0cdTL6SD_Rp7wjMwiLg9dLgU1nrJZ0TE4hdygn_s00V5tXywXp34t8jmxNdgVf2uJv5283kl_kjwk-3xB6WqsXqSQZR75mjXUXgHUTZGUgj7ol9vSDvj4mp5As3GAiFwtJ3miEh-HhL7Xzvo7zvKTlDlI6Y4H4uj/s320/brian-wangenheim-for-unsplash%20skeleton%2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Halloween- Credit: Brian Wangenheim for Unsplash<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">Cowboy Bob's Candy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">By Lauri C. Meyers</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Cowboy Bob hugged his candy. “I’m not sharing my sweet vittles with those rascally trick-or-treaters this year!” </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’ll hand out
beans!” Cowboy Bob laughed. But he loved his beans.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’ll fill their
bags with oats!” Cowboy Bob hop-skipped. But Horsiepoo needed her feed.<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Cowboy Bob slapped
his knee. “I’ve got a gravy idea!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He got busy
lickety-split spookifying the ranch. Gravestones lined the trail, ghosts hung from
branches, and spiderwebs stretched from post to post. Horsiepoo wore vampire
fangs. Cowboy Bob got gussied up with a roll in the dirt and some guts on his
shirt.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"> “Those
lil’ uns will be too scared to trot up my path.” Zombie Cowboy Bob rested his
boots on the porch and grabbed his bowl of sweets. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Suddenly, lights
flickered on the path. Giggles bounced off the fence. It was a stampede! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I think these
critters plumb like being scared,” Cowboy Bob cried. Candy flew faster than a
hooty owl in a storm. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Cowboy Bob checked
his bowl. “Two pieces left for us, Horsiepoo!”<span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Trick-or-treat!” a
little witch called. “I love your spooky ranch, Cowboy Bob!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Aww, shucks,” Cowboy
Bob said dropping both pieces in her bag. “My candy sure makes those trick-or-treaters
sweet.”<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-39799056582073388042022-04-02T10:39:00.003-04:002022-04-02T10:47:36.790-04:00Why Owls - a Spring Fling Poem<p>It's snowing one day and hot the next, so it must be Spring!</p><p>The Spring Fling Kidlit contest is open for entries through 4/3/22. This contest hosted by Ciara O'neal and Kaitlyn Sanchez is for stories under 150 words for kids under 12 inspired by a gif. You can enter <a href="https://ciaraoneal.weebly.com/spring-fling-kidlit-contest" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN0527mbCqgyXO4XctwqfMtGDfc30yiGyCT7bob4kKdfzEWgkUSaI1RKZ-ZvPv3SbMyTPnXxsAfeIGEq49sl-iWpkcUV7G5f-Td2GOO_cyTHSJDL1rARNoJNYI5Aa0vu1oxLwse36AenQqShDTKcLhM9RzfB_La6ymkLKhyC87c2JDpjibW6PhirYa" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1125" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN0527mbCqgyXO4XctwqfMtGDfc30yiGyCT7bob4kKdfzEWgkUSaI1RKZ-ZvPv3SbMyTPnXxsAfeIGEq49sl-iWpkcUV7G5f-Td2GOO_cyTHSJDL1rARNoJNYI5Aa0vu1oxLwse36AenQqShDTKcLhM9RzfB_La6ymkLKhyC87c2JDpjibW6PhirYa=w200-h157" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I don't know the original source for this meme...<br />but thank you for breaking my brain mystery photographer)</span></td></tr></tbody></table>My entry is based on a gif that has been bothering me since I saw it last year...it exposes the truth of owls long legs. It's makes me laugh thinking about it!</p><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/honda-owl-superbowl-superb-owls-YLt0dcVELcUTeWv8As" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="270" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/YLt0dcVELcUTeWv8As/giphy.gif" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Excuse Me" on Giphy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Why Owls</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I know why owls have giant eyes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">For super sight at night,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Tapered tips on powered wings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">For stealthy gliding flight,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Heads that swivel all around<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Extending what they hear<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">With feathered ears to funnel sounds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Of rodents creeping near,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Offset ears triangulate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The spot to grab the prey,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Talons spread to stun a mouse <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And carry it away. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sharpened beak for tearing food<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Because they cannot chew,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">But why they hide flamingo legs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I haven’t any clue!</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAanv06Tvz37Z0vY6nVvD9tLbRTm-2SiU2UbaGwD7mk9marb_TZaocBVs-z3_xVzc54AYHJ4W0luRWTsW0i1P11A5vn1zzUUNH5hjaIWg4EJpfQ6AZWD2QHBBRRkHMiso5iu1hc6VCvslPcybyckudxPxWCTx08G2Lwa28Bqr0WBTQghVMWkDI1l-o/s700/owl%20from%20imgur.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAanv06Tvz37Z0vY6nVvD9tLbRTm-2SiU2UbaGwD7mk9marb_TZaocBVs-z3_xVzc54AYHJ4W0luRWTsW0i1P11A5vn1zzUUNH5hjaIWg4EJpfQ6AZWD2QHBBRRkHMiso5iu1hc6VCvslPcybyckudxPxWCTx08G2Lwa28Bqr0WBTQghVMWkDI1l-o/s320/owl%20from%20imgur.gif" width="146" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(from Zenoshogun on Imgur)</td></tr></tbody></table>Whooooo spent too much time looking at owl gifs? That was
me, but it can be you too! If you need more owls, I recommend: </div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/birds-10Lxb7ma45WGR2" target="_blank">Owl showing off his long legs</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/sandiegozoo-pop-boom-here-jm6UmAAgC8QDTISJap" target="_blank">Happy jumping Owl</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/justviralnet-funny-bird-hilarious-5Swdet4ZTk5xnOlev6" target="_blank">Owl on the Scene</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/bbcearth-bbc-earth-natural-world-l396O8kn1qbPcb4ha" target="_blank">Turning head</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/owl-W9oxbDu3wZ29i" target="_blank">Mouse eye view</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/owl-playing-pcdOR27Nteasg" target="_blank">Owl jumping on pre</a>y<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/food-running-f0zEwAMhhmaeQ" target="_blank">Owl grabbing prey</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/owl-myself-excuse-12pgyP4QTwjflC" target="_blank">Cute owl running</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /></div>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-71032605148707760602022-03-09T10:25:00.004-05:002022-03-09T10:25:30.849-05:00Bloom! A poem for Spring<p>Vivian Kirkfield hosts an annual <a href="https://viviankirkfield.com/2022/03/04/50preciouswords-2022-official-contest-post/" target="_blank">#50PreciousWords</a> contest in March which challenges writers to pen a story under 50 words. Please read a few of the wonderful entries in the comments of her post. </p><p>I had one of those waking dreams where the muse floats in and prods you with a piece of poetry. She left me with the feeling that morning is so full of hope and possibilities for the day and also fraught with doubt and the weight of expectations. Each day we have to push through the challenges to bloom. Thought it is snowing outside my window, it's hard not to feel the power of Spring approaching. <br /></p><p>Here is my entry in 45 words. </p><p> </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXpNqLh-WcMwHNyqnB7-rvTn8XVDl_NBX1ZK-ZKcVAhsCyCPwquNJWvtKE0SDvlL3OCqpV61wCJhGhl9wNXgoDEszj153yZv02xRMX-FUEmRpyBdZMkfCxnhN6o1UH7xXsk5IVOWMaSWa6ULx1nTFOGD8hIjQRU3dIu11_shXxHrR9qCxO1q_05hOk=s874" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="874" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXpNqLh-WcMwHNyqnB7-rvTn8XVDl_NBX1ZK-ZKcVAhsCyCPwquNJWvtKE0SDvlL3OCqpV61wCJhGhl9wNXgoDEszj153yZv02xRMX-FUEmRpyBdZMkfCxnhN6o1UH7xXsk5IVOWMaSWa6ULx1nTFOGD8hIjQRU3dIu11_shXxHrR9qCxO1q_05hOk=w286-h227" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>crocus in snow taken by Lauri 2017</i></td></tr></tbody></table>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Bloom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></p>
Sunshine warms my bed. <br />Breaks my hibernation. <br />Hope awakens. <br /><br />Rise. <br /><br />Peel away the covers. <br />Stretch toward the sky. <br />Dare to grow. <br /><br />Sprout. <br /><br />Shake in chilly breezes. <br />Drip with springtime rain. <br />Miss my bed. <br /><br />Pause. <br /><br />Sunshine smiles brightly. <br />Robin calls, “It’s time!” <br />Believe I can. <br /><br />Bloom. <br /><br /> <br /><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-12626866854691880172022-03-03T21:30:00.000-05:002022-03-03T21:30:26.937-05:00Ten Years!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Ten</span> years ago today I wrote my first blogpost. That day I claimed to be <a href="https://www.laurimeyers.com/2012/03/committing-to-be-writer.html" target="_blank">Committing to be a Writer.</a> Posting that on the interwebs for the whole wide world (or really a few writing friends and some spammers) to see must have done the trick, because here I am a decade later still grinding away at this keyboard. (Well, actually it's a new mechanical keyboard that makes a clicky sound like a typewriter, and I love it.)</p><p>The question <span style="font-size: medium;">"Am I a writer?"</span> still skips by on the sidewalk of my brain on occasion. But now I am wise enough to know the only proof I need is that my pencils have become dull again, so I must be a writer.</p><p>So what does the next decade hold? Win a contest? Publish a poem in a magazine? Get an agent? Sell a picture book?<span style="color: #800180;"> I sure as sugar hope so</span>, but that's for the stars to decide. All I can control is how many pencils I go through. </p><p>I hope it's a lot. </p><p>Happy Ten Years!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZM7kZZzn7xmkEW31Mb6eb-ZUVGXOcqtB1SNaFKuEODmHEK88l711Jp1JeRAfwXTunFE7b0A66jHXtrHyvMQFXzGVsAFibxndyTOlALvSoA6E1TMl3aAjRyU4Mx6DF9RgTQoFVpL3q0v1JpVZpSkd_7uUTlKBD91uIrdSylCB_-bALbeOoSOHBB4kM=s657" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZM7kZZzn7xmkEW31Mb6eb-ZUVGXOcqtB1SNaFKuEODmHEK88l711Jp1JeRAfwXTunFE7b0A66jHXtrHyvMQFXzGVsAFibxndyTOlALvSoA6E1TMl3aAjRyU4Mx6DF9RgTQoFVpL3q0v1JpVZpSkd_7uUTlKBD91uIrdSylCB_-bALbeOoSOHBB4kM=s320" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Probably my Mom<br />Giving knife to 3 year old credit: Probably my Dad</td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-65962198801536920132022-02-12T18:30:00.001-05:002022-03-23T14:11:49.098-04:00My Gummy Love<p>Monday is Valentine's Day, and the best way to celebrate is writing a story for kids! Enter Susanna Hill's Valentiny contest. Stories must be 214 words or less, about Valentines Day, and about someone feeling <i>proud</i>. Read all the great entries <a href="https://susannahill.com/2022/02/11/with-prideful-heart-the-7th-annual-valentiny-contest-is-here/" target="_blank">here.</a> </p><p>**UPDATE! My Gummy Love won an Honorable Mention for the contest as a hole!**</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My Gummy Love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By Lauri C Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">214 Words<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Joey crafted a Valentine for Grammy and wrote, “I love
you THIS much!” He added a gummy heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But the gummy was little, and he loved Grammy a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Joey grabbed a pot and a box of cherry gelatin. He mixed
it and poured out a big gummy heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But he loved Grammy more than that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Joey grabbed a bigger pot and three boxes of cherry
gelatin. He mixed it and poured out a bigger gummy heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But he loved Grammy more than that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Joey grabbed the biggest pot and twenty boxes of
cherry gelatin. He mixed it and poured out a gummy heart as big as the table. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I did it! Joey said. “That’s how much I love Grammy!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ding,
dong!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Grammy was here!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He poked the gummy heart. It jiggled with love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“It’s probably ready,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He held his card and wrestled the gummy heart into his
arms. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The huge, wiggly heart flopped across his face. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His fingers squished deep into the gummy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Drops of cherry goo trickled down his ear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, Grammy opened the door… just as the giant gummy
heart melted over Joey’s head. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“You love me that much?” Grammy said. “Well, I love
you this much!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She wrapped up her red, sticky, cherry-scented
grandson in a Grammy-loves-you hug.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For extra fun check out the recipe to make gummy hearts (which clearly need to chill longer than a few minutes, Joey!) <a href="https://www.parents.com/recipe/desserts/berry-gummy-hearts/">Parents.com</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9s0um8aKJ-ODCxkdaSEeDNC0z3CVQJL0kuJE_1oNBJxAiQIQX9XOmgnlQ7VyuGgp92fwPOCN-c_jcsuSi9Qm4hLDNZVypgLYSOgnxaTdMe5FENA7v7gArTOFY9nghPJMnUzcG61x70SIssRUyzPAB-7V6idpO18NcT6zcw0XS4w1AvdO65z2fsjyx=s342" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="342" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9s0um8aKJ-ODCxkdaSEeDNC0z3CVQJL0kuJE_1oNBJxAiQIQX9XOmgnlQ7VyuGgp92fwPOCN-c_jcsuSi9Qm4hLDNZVypgLYSOgnxaTdMe5FENA7v7gArTOFY9nghPJMnUzcG61x70SIssRUyzPAB-7V6idpO18NcT6zcw0XS4w1AvdO65z2fsjyx=w178-h166" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And Joey if you want to be clear about your love, go anatomically correct gummy heart! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.candywarehouse.com/giant-1-pound-gummy-heart" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="510" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisQPDi1h5YWdtqIG9cJKNvXzu_z9CM-H9VdXSE5BDpj6GYGEuOcU247_ptxJHqCJADZTzQ9fe_UXm9YQ2U4UWleVOWu30_xiysGBaMHTTSnoT3W6NqkMYb5CeJb8EeDfO-ORJWm3Tu98yboH9pKH7EPHHpJuXIG-yA1nrmgPRVwmzlqecS-87zwadT=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-67877944122417731362022-02-03T13:45:00.001-05:002022-03-01T11:24:08.935-05:00Kids Choice! <p>Update: Quiet as a Butterfly Fart won an Honorable Mention! Thank you Kailei for the fun contest. See the other winners <a href="https://www.kaileipewbooks.com/post/kids-choice-kidlit-writing-contest-finalists?utm_campaign=28210b44-a0c4-4c8a-a95c-60a30c350add&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail_lp&cid=55eae8a7-aa9f-40ad-9ad3-1cebdf349fb7" target="_blank">here. </a></p><p><br /></p><p>How fun is this? <a href="https://www.kaileipewbooks.com/post/kids-choice-kidlit-writing-contest-rules-and-prize-donors" target="_blank">Kailei Pew</a> is hosting a kids choice contest with 100 kid judges. Stories can be all kidlit ages, must be under 200 words and posted on her site by the day of twos... 2/2/22. </p><p>So I looked through some unfinished pieces to see if anything spoke to me for this contest. I needed a laugh, and kids need laughs so I give you <u>Quiet as a Butterfly Fart</u>. It's honestly nearly memoir, because me trying to tell quiet bedtime stories almost always devolved to an unfortunate word choice which failed to create sleepiness. Did I throw Dad under the bus? Maybe. Does Mommy sometimes make body noises? No. Absolutely not. MOMMY IS A PERFECT LADY! </p><p>I hope you get a laugh and visit Kailei's site for more stories. </p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Quiet
as a Butterfly Fart<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoF2me3gNUxg_Kgn78KscRb3B9a2QSHN9kBYQcDftbHDDsqONrXq60hG5Wl0nvwVdH6lLINtQf4_WOv928-qsD7Zn5EFYHiW6ytAsd-_k82TYOi-WOV7ShhQrpQac86HMYV5ok88GwlOlxLr4JeIqBB8vUJUkbM9lCawFoHLI9sjpgRFmUDKKVgsg2=s1600" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoF2me3gNUxg_Kgn78KscRb3B9a2QSHN9kBYQcDftbHDDsqONrXq60hG5Wl0nvwVdH6lLINtQf4_WOv928-qsD7Zn5EFYHiW6ytAsd-_k82TYOi-WOV7ShhQrpQac86HMYV5ok88GwlOlxLr4JeIqBB8vUJUkbM9lCawFoHLI9sjpgRFmUDKKVgsg2=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By
Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Genre:
PB<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rest
your sleepy head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let
your sweet dreams start.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
night is quiet as …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
butterfly fart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
sun has gone to bed,<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nighttime’s
dark has come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
night is dimming like…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A firefly’s
blinking bum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Slow
your breathing with <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
cricket’s steady chirping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
night is calming like …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
ladybug burping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Close
your eyes my love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let
sleep come at last.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
air is sweet until…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Daddy
passes gas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-9550075690447861052022-01-07T08:03:00.001-05:002022-01-07T08:07:08.598-05:00A Year of Gratitude<p> A Year of Gratitude</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas renewal process has
been a great way to start the year. Even though I’ve done it several years,
there are always new learnings. This year when I got to day 7, Practicing
Gratitude, I realized the list of authors who had supported me this year was
very lengthy. Very. Lengthy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks are
in order!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Susanna Hill – Thank you for your contests which get me
writing fresh material and provide so many fabulous awards. Thank you for your Making
Picture Book Magic class which I won and LOVED. I also won a PB critique from Rebecca
Rector, who gives amazing critiques – thank you Rebecca!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;">Marcie Colleen – Thank you for your Study Hall program and
instilling in me the habit of Daily Intention. That month and your critiques pushed
me to a new level. Thank you to my study hall colleagues Judy Sobanski, Lisa
Perron, and Anne Reilly for the helpful critiques.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div> <o:p></o:p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqVUzlt4a6plR_Ssf6ODCqYPbGtpOHnq2kzxe7ljBGX7JTs1u0cWHeDV9sNu2302q1T1V1ljGtks20mD_xtS1O65Uide05LKsInXA83nBLtfPtXcNaRal6sNq8gUPp3BuwH5xjXEaskDjwFX9wT6IrFcEcn9j9B0NffA1sV08qoQ9PiZc1VpU0CefI=s2040" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1612" data-original-width="2040" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqVUzlt4a6plR_Ssf6ODCqYPbGtpOHnq2kzxe7ljBGX7JTs1u0cWHeDV9sNu2302q1T1V1ljGtks20mD_xtS1O65Uide05LKsInXA83nBLtfPtXcNaRal6sNq8gUPp3BuwH5xjXEaskDjwFX9wT6IrFcEcn9j9B0NffA1sV08qoQ9PiZc1VpU0CefI=w200-h158" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(via free images, by kikashi)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My “Fine Grind” support group for finding ways to get
together virtually and in person this year and being a supportive place where you
can share what it means to be a writer. Marlaina Cockroft, Mitu Malhotra, Donna
Cangelosi, Donna Marie, Rebecca Gardyn Levington, Suzanne Morris, Andria Rosenbaum,
Ariel Bernstein, Chana Stiefel, and others who pop in. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My “Book Nook” critique group for helping me continually
improve and giving me so many delightful pieces to read, Connie Colon, Kelly
Calabrese, Linda Bozzo, Jen Kaplan, Genevieve Petrillo, Viji Chary<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Justin Colon for running PB Chat weekly and the PB Chat Mentorship
where he invests HOURS of time to help the mentees grow their craft. Thank you
to all the agents and editors who stopped by the showcase. Thank you to my
fellow 20 mentees who supported, celebrated, and critiqued. Thank you to the
authors who hosted zoom sessions with us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rebecca Gomez, my PB Chat mentor - Thank you for reading,
critiquing, and wordsmithing in my rhyming and prose stories. Thank you for all the time, support, and learning I received during the process. Your love of rhyme is infectious!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tara Lazar – Thank you for hosting Storystorm. Brainstorming
ideas is the perfect way to start the year. Thank you to all the authors who
write posts and donate prizes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Manju Howard, Alayne Kay Christian, and Gabrielle Schoeffield
– Thank you for hosting KidLit Creatives (which I still call SubSix!) which is
a wonderful space to support PB authors, celebrate new releases, and give us a
place to celebrate our actions in our writing journey. I won the book Laila and
the Sands of Time by Shirin Shamsi (Thank you!) and a cover letter critique by
Alexandria LaFaye (Thank you!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gayle Krause- I won a rhyming critique in 2020 and invested
in another critique in 2021, which I attribute to helping me earn the PB Chat
Mentorship. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vivian Kirkfield – Thank you for hosting your 50 Precious
Words Writing Contest which inspires new ideas. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Nonfiction Chicks (Pat Miller, Nancy Churnin, Peggy
Thomas, Linda Skeers, Susan Kralovansky)-Thank you for hosting NonFiction Fest<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shannon Anderson –Thank you for your videos on Ikigai and
Growth Mindset<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six Ladies and a MANuscript Critique Group (Kaitlyn Sanchez,
Jolene Gutierrez, Sarah Heaton, Sarah Meade, Mike Irvine, Kristin Wauson)-
Thank you for hosting Kidlit Zombie Week. I won a critique from Charlotte
Offsay which was incredibly helpful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kaitlyn Sanchez and Ciara Oneal and Lydia Lukidis – thank
you for hosting the Spring Fling and Fall Frenzy contests which encourage me to
try other genres. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you Lydia for
your blog giveaways too- I won Kim Zachman’s There’s No Ham in Hamburgers which
is an amazing nonfiction book. (Thank you Kim!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kirsti Call, Carrie Charley Brown, Janie Reinart – Thank you
for hosting ReFoReMo, though we are sad to say good bye to this event. Thank
you to all the authors who contributed posts & prizes and shared their mentor
texts. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kathy Temean of Writing and Illustrating blog for offering so
much information and opportunities. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Laura Backes & Jon Bard of Children’s Book Insider –
Thank you for the monthly newsletters and especially the videos/live events
with authors during the pandemic. I have learned tons. Thank you to all the
authors who took the time to participate! I particularly enjoyed the session with
Katy Tanis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Melissa Stewart – thank you for blogging and making videos
about Nonfiction<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Renee Latulippe- Thank you for the new Peek & Critique videos
on Rhyme<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jess Keating – your Instagram keeps it real and offers
tremendous encouragement<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Halli Gomez – Thank you for your Tic Tac Toe event which
encouraged me to try new things and for the middle grade critique.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Natalie Aguirre- Thank you for the agent spotlights on
Literary Rambles. It is an amazing resource for agent research. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lisa Wheeler – I won a wonderful critique in 2020, but in
2021 you sent a postcard that said “Keep Writing.” This postcard hangs by my
desk for much needed daily encouragement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Julie Hedlund – Thank you for 12 Days of Christmas and all
you do within the kidlit community throughout the year. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to my family - Rob for saying a new manuscript was hilarious, Kelsey for her tough critiques, and Delaney for liking everything. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to whoever I may have forgotten this early snowy
morning gratitude moment. * I reserve the right to keep adding to this list!*<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In short – no in quite long – I have been unbelievably
blessed in my writing life. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-39561100753089853962021-12-09T22:35:00.001-05:002021-12-28T12:14:28.383-05:00The Witch's Gingerbread House<p>UPDATE: Witch's Gingerbread House won an Honorable Mention for the contest as a whole. yay!!</p><p>December is flying and so were the words tonight as I wrote my very last minute entry to Susanna Hill's annual holiday story contest. Children's stories must be 250 words or less and be about a HOLIDAY CONTEST. The holiday can be any winter holiday, and I enjoyed playing with what might be celebrated on winter solstice. I suppose my table having a strange stickiness remaining from making gingerbread houses a few days ago was also inspiring (and a bit gross!)</p><p>Read all the fun entries in the comments on <a href="https://susannahill.com/2021/12/07/ho-ho-ho-the-11th-annual-holiday-contest-is-here/comment-page-3/#comment-79488" target="_blank">Susanna's blog</a>. </p><p>Happy holidays!</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Witch’s Gingerbread House <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Lauri Meyers (250 words) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aggie never won the Gingerbread House Contest. That witch Thelby
always attracted the plumpest, cutest children for her Winter Solstice feast while
Aggie sipped cold carrot stew. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She needed this year’s prize. With the Electric Cauldron
3000, she’d have HOT carrot stew!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She baked her gingerbread walls over a bonfire, like mum
taught her, then built a cozy cottage. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She peeked at Thelby’s two-story mansion. “Aww, frog legs!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aggie planted cactus outside to welcome the children. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thelby poured a chocolate pudding pond with a cake diving
board. “Aww, drat rats!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aggie shivered in the cold, thinking about that new cauldron.
She spied on Thelby for inspiration. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Red licorice covered the house. Thelby hung taffy windows
with gummy shutters. A candy cane chimney puffed cotton candy smoke. Marshmallow
icicles melted from the chocolate bar roof. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, spicy spells! I could win.” Aggie giggled. “Candy is
icky. Kids love… VEGETABLES!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She covered the walls with carrot logs, added sliced
zucchini windows, and hung green bean shutters. She stacked pickles into a chimney.
Ranch dressing icicles dripped from the tomato slice roof. She added a celery
slide for after feast fun! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The kids looked at her house in confusion, then headed toward
Thelby’s. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Enjoy your carrot stew, Aggie!” Thelby sneered.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aggie stood up for herself. “What’s your winter solstice
feast?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Plump children!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Wizard whiskers! You EAT the CHILDREN?!” Aggie yelled. “I’m
a vegetarian.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The kids came running to Aggie’s gingerbread cottage. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And she enjoyed eating hot carrot stew with the cutest,
plumpest children. <o:p></o:p></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-61709905609707218992021-10-29T16:56:00.000-04:002021-10-29T16:56:35.473-04:00Glowing Ghost...A Halloweensie StoryWHOOOOOOOOO .... There are witches in the air and ghosts in the trees! It's time for the annual <a href="https://susannahill.com/2021/10/29/the-11the-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest-aahhhrrrooooooooo/" target="_blank">Halloweensie contest from Susanna Hill.</a> This year's contest needs to be 100 words or less, about Halloween, and include: GOODIES, GOOSEBUMPS and GLOW-IN-THE-DARK. Join in the Halloween fun! You have until Halloween night to enter. <div><br /></div><div>My entry:<br /> </div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Glowing Ghost<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(99 words) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jayden grabbed his ghostly sheet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And texted:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjiUz2CxQ_kqGdVZBvK5lbW-r-35xivDEBL-blllEzm2v1A755KI9cE3AxeQ3NDKiFDqE3uJBLWttsLb-YFXVTMuxBd-tr2kHM_9Q0EpmA-kKIZCR0YtzbqASr02fO3WBa_ZjuHfLHzI/s642/Screenshot+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="642" height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjiUz2CxQ_kqGdVZBvK5lbW-r-35xivDEBL-blllEzm2v1A755KI9cE3AxeQ3NDKiFDqE3uJBLWttsLb-YFXVTMuxBd-tr2kHM_9Q0EpmA-kKIZCR0YtzbqASr02fO3WBa_ZjuHfLHzI/w200-h48/Screenshot+1.png" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Friends said:</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span> </span><span> </span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHKVQlcw1qHT2gdvqu9IuROpByZD4-ea_c4X9maQaMAtmeJPbfV6sUvOvOi-JO14qBTtGuusU0V964OA1z8uuqjib9-_h-1T2RspTWw2rCO2zDmUOiwY_eyD-s6u_v9HuVb9Ho6sUnGE/s423/screenshot+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="423" height="67" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHKVQlcw1qHT2gdvqu9IuROpByZD4-ea_c4X9maQaMAtmeJPbfV6sUvOvOi-JO14qBTtGuusU0V964OA1z8uuqjib9-_h-1T2RspTWw2rCO2zDmUOiwY_eyD-s6u_v9HuVb9Ho6sUnGE/w139-h67/screenshot+2.png" width="139" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His GOOSEBUMPS pricked. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s dark that late.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An idea struck, bring glowsticks to share! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He wrapped the bracelets everywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He stepped outside; still too dim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A bright solution came
to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Headlamp on, ten flashlights to haul,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blinking lights, and a disco ball!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“But my friends might know I’m full of fright…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wait! This costume hides my lights!” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“GOODIE time!” he called. “Let’s go!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“You
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK!” <o:p></o:p></span></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xzGAIbGMSZQftV_GBnPxbqp6T7b-xJw0JIE52_5M4vVQe0d1CUXh8usLCmshITmnookYrUK46crHfZSVlKzGLeFP4yrYSU15SeeE9n83OXHPHYfi9fm_-JUkvLvem0GRSVls7CRIpfI/s450/glowghost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="390" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xzGAIbGMSZQftV_GBnPxbqp6T7b-xJw0JIE52_5M4vVQe0d1CUXh8usLCmshITmnookYrUK46crHfZSVlKzGLeFP4yrYSU15SeeE9n83OXHPHYfi9fm_-JUkvLvem0GRSVls7CRIpfI/w173-h200/glowghost.png" width="173" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Wayhomestudio via freepik)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh no. They know.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> “I
forgot my light.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“Me
too.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“Me
three!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Don’t
be scared...You’ve got me!”<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy Halloween everyone! So what if I'm a little chicken...I've watched far too many scary movies to be out on Halloween without a nice bright flashlight and extra batteries. </span></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-53811038286374929652021-10-01T09:20:00.003-04:002021-10-01T09:20:57.459-04:00Sorry, Pumpkin. Fall Frenzy Contest<p><a href="https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/" target="_blank">Kaitlyn Sanchez</a> ("Math is Everywhere" Blog) and <a href="https://twitter.com/LydiaLukidis" target="_blank">Lydia Lukidis</a> (NO BEARS ALLOWED) are hosting the annual <a href="https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/fall-writing-frenzy-entry-form-2021/" target="_blank">Fall Writing Frenzy</a>. </p><p>Fall Frenzy stories are inspired by a selection of <a href="https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/fallwritingfrenzy-2021-rules/" target="_blank">fall images</a> that range from from funny to spooky and must be 200 words or under, written for children (BB to YA,) posted by October 3 before midnight, and by non-agented writers only. </p><p>I hope you enjoy my cringe-worthy entry inspired by a pumpkin and my awkward adulthood. I mean adolescence. (Who am I kidding? STILL AWKWARD!) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePzKmD1E8XrifwNew829nDxJvOo70sHc963jaSDUhEOtU-_zyMZweoTFnLx_X975Wng3rEN7zdQTEFyJVHHq9H_7iSfchk-7jR0lcUVrlwvM0QfNT0u1NDXJOpMA2fdbHMv24Gr5k-YI/s2048/fall+frenzy+2021+halloween-samantha-hurley-burst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1692" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePzKmD1E8XrifwNew829nDxJvOo70sHc963jaSDUhEOtU-_zyMZweoTFnLx_X975Wng3rEN7zdQTEFyJVHHq9H_7iSfchk-7jR0lcUVrlwvM0QfNT0u1NDXJOpMA2fdbHMv24Gr5k-YI/s320/fall+frenzy+2021+halloween-samantha-hurley-burst.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Halloween- Credit: Samantha Hurley / Burst</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sorry, Pumpkin <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Lauri C. Meyers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">200 words<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I tugged the pumpkin top, but orange fleshy strings clung
to the sides, desperately trying to keep itself together. I felt like the
pumpkin, as I struggled to fit in with the cool girls at Hannah Hamilton’s party.
Gemma and Ari were already scooping out globs of seeds. I had to keep up. Sorry, pumpkin. I yanked the lid free, then heard a squeal. Three wet seeds stuck
to Hannah’s cheeks and forehead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mental minutes passed as I watched one seed slide off
her face and imagined the repercussions of this blunder. Obviously, I could
never eat in the cafeteria again. My daily uniform would be hoodie up, strings
pulled. Moving to Peru needed to be seriously considered. I opened my mouth to
say goodbye, but then a splash hit my nose and bitter pumpkin slime dripped onto
my tongue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Yum, pumpkin spice,” I said. Laughter erupted around
me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“What face are you going to carve?” Hannah asked, as
if I was welcome to stay. She pressed a paper towel into my hand. “I hope it’s
hilarious, like you!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Like a huge grin with braces?” I said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“LOL!” she said. “Instagram us!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sorry, pumpkin. Time to put on a smile. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-32779426347574400532021-06-02T10:04:00.005-04:002021-06-02T10:04:59.913-04:00What is Your Intention for Today?<p>I need to brag for a sec that I have been writing my
fingertips off this last two months. My last post was about saying goodbye to
my old writing space and embracing my new area. Grief is a strange thing. I can
see now, I was grieving the changes to my writing norms. Sharing my grief
helped me let go, and I have felt so <span style="color: #00b050;">FREE</span>!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To take advantage of the momentum, I joined “Study Hall”
with <a href="http://www.thisismarciecolleen.com/critique-services.html" target="_blank">Marcie Colleen</a> in May. I can’t say enough about this program. I spend a
lot of time studying rhythm, but this session helped me work on my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #2e75b6; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">writing rhythm</span></i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this program you share four manuscripts with a small
group of writers and critique work. You get a critique from Marcie each week,
too. My group shared high-quality critiques, and I am grateful for them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every day Marcie asked us what our intention was for the
day. Not a list of top 50 things on your to do list. Not your goals for
publishing. Just, what is something you want to be your focus <u><span style="color: red;">today</span></u>?<span style="color: red;"> </span>Then, we could
cheerlead each other as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLZR06aFllbjYp6ZqWNchTqy-QIKwcCR_COTO_kVWH69XRNW0rdWDoimufu-TRDbzsn-WxpmSgA4uhO0LJ8cy8qtj_-vGlY9_pHzRpLwE8-52wm_9DZsJVbhlwVSNahFFlwXkuWmPAEQ/s820/intention.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLZR06aFllbjYp6ZqWNchTqy-QIKwcCR_COTO_kVWH69XRNW0rdWDoimufu-TRDbzsn-WxpmSgA4uhO0LJ8cy8qtj_-vGlY9_pHzRpLwE8-52wm_9DZsJVbhlwVSNahFFlwXkuWmPAEQ/s320/intention.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She also arranged a <span style="color: #7030a0;">one-hour writing
sprint </span>each week day, where you wrote and knew you were in it with
others as well. The times changed each day, which works for me, because I like
structure but not constraining schedules. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Fridays we would have a <span style="color: #fe7f00;">Q&A</span>
of whatever you wanted to ask. I gained a lot of insight and direction in those
sessions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m on my own in June, but have continued to ask: What is
your intention for today? I made a pdf to write down my intention each morning. Here is <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FeobuHafO4ypPut_a5bNMd5JGjdSvvkR/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">a link</a> if you would like a copy too!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-45351356284600628152021-04-16T13:02:00.002-04:002021-04-16T13:02:56.409-04:00Goodbye, Office<p>I’ve been meaning to write this post for about a year. But…
Well, I suppose writing it meant accepting a reality I wasn’t ready to embrace. Until now. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I used to write in the guest bedroom. I had a huge table to
spread out all sorts of piles. I had a hutch with a rollout keyboard tray that
stored mountains of binders. But more than all that, I often had a few blessed
hours of peaceful quiet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When Covid hit, my husband got the guest room (you would have to call it
office now as it no longer services guests) to set up shop when he started working
from home. I’m not jealous or anything; he is the one supporting the family. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I became a transient writer who floated from space to space
trying to find comfort. I avoided the bedroom for some time, even going so far
as to start a construction project to delay the inevitable. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDA1yWwTDVp0KA8BJzd6F7hqL2gPk3XsFaH2NhY04VfsLqdXFBJJ3rg_epnnVHbMiGaT4eFxPYS7Q9I47OTj1MjGUepslcRZAQFbTc5qELhoiaFzFL1YP4Odkn052Rg7wVPHvPBRY_Sg/s2048/book+nook+starting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="2048" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDA1yWwTDVp0KA8BJzd6F7hqL2gPk3XsFaH2NhY04VfsLqdXFBJJ3rg_epnnVHbMiGaT4eFxPYS7Q9I47OTj1MjGUepslcRZAQFbTc5qELhoiaFzFL1YP4Odkn052Rg7wVPHvPBRY_Sg/w200-h161/book+nook+starting.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demolition Day! </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqp1dXAcmKYWX96NCsMcXCDUXimuT1E_o0TKl1oMbuCPiCGLy9yYYnwGhdEPXTRuL8fuZ9VIk71M1tUnsJrfn5NnTwOzt5pCzv2PaPngkJFHomInrvDSfo9xZchejNuLIM4XIKHw6oIs/s2048/book+nook+doen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqp1dXAcmKYWX96NCsMcXCDUXimuT1E_o0TKl1oMbuCPiCGLy9yYYnwGhdEPXTRuL8fuZ9VIk71M1tUnsJrfn5NnTwOzt5pCzv2PaPngkJFHomInrvDSfo9xZchejNuLIM4XIKHw6oIs/w320-h240/book+nook+doen.JPG" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">My “Book Nook” reclaimed that hidden space in the attic of the first floor</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Eventually
I settled in the bedroom.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In October I decided I needed paper space and found this
cute vintage campaign style drawer cabinet. It’s a military style with handles
on the side so you could carry it to a new front. It unfortunately does not fit
copy paper, but the drawers perfectly hold journals. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcBXNbRL14OfwZ0cFHmwns1IKCqXaOtxkyzFJVIeWMvQFUDKw7WPOtGnmR5fAZdkRdtzsQYtNCDBoFDELEqZmEGnXq8X2kyekiLF0FgHqahg2Qbb0e3e-cQMJIRh7mLMxVvlSQ-zJUeI/s2048/my+office+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcBXNbRL14OfwZ0cFHmwns1IKCqXaOtxkyzFJVIeWMvQFUDKw7WPOtGnmR5fAZdkRdtzsQYtNCDBoFDELEqZmEGnXq8X2kyekiLF0FgHqahg2Qbb0e3e-cQMJIRh7mLMxVvlSQ-zJUeI/s320/my+office+7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Collapsing under my piles of WIPs in November, I found a
hand me down file cabinet which I painted and upholstered. I love that it opens
from the top like a box of chocolates, and I savor picking out the MS that is
getting focus each day. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTs_pCzjml_AXGaXAfR9nbS_ZDidZ1xKdpePnZzZTSfizIvOoMfzhWdp3PlO2UaUFQDS4EcHn4hfZrGmJxIoYkqhiNl7JmnYsAEy6B1JUCJcUh2_BbPB4wbdppyvk_hyphenhyphenlPclyPz3LjaU/s2048/my+office+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTs_pCzjml_AXGaXAfR9nbS_ZDidZ1xKdpePnZzZTSfizIvOoMfzhWdp3PlO2UaUFQDS4EcHn4hfZrGmJxIoYkqhiNl7JmnYsAEy6B1JUCJcUh2_BbPB4wbdppyvk_hyphenhyphenlPclyPz3LjaU/s320/my+office+6.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My birthday in December brought a <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823W5KG6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">mechanical keyboard</a>. Okay,
it brought a few of them, before I settled on “brown switches” to give that
perfect typewriter tactile experience. Love this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In January I had a toddler-level meltdown that the desk I
was working at was too tiny. (IT WAS!) I got myself a <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GS156WC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">desk</a> from Amazon for
$100. [Um, stinking skunk butt, it’s only $75 now. Well, I wish I hadn’t seen that…] It has
a little storage space and a nice big surface for working and for keeping
pretty little things on, like my mousepad from <a href="https://writersideup.com/" target="_blank">Donna Marie</a>, my first year of
NaPiBoWriWee mug (or whatever is holding my tea that day), and the glass trivet
I made during a NJSCBWI event. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThPqCsPNyTZOjo8ETeTEdaTeKnP6UtckjrhtVdT6K8x917kXtfmKOcRpxquaUkBy-efgr-WgTTRFj7sJntrh-QgBmUDw-Vy-IiTW9F0GpbJrabevrX29CyOjfmEOEckRvPUWhXthzs1o/s2048/my+office+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThPqCsPNyTZOjo8ETeTEdaTeKnP6UtckjrhtVdT6K8x917kXtfmKOcRpxquaUkBy-efgr-WgTTRFj7sJntrh-QgBmUDw-Vy-IiTW9F0GpbJrabevrX29CyOjfmEOEckRvPUWhXthzs1o/s320/my+office+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And it’s all mine. And it is enough. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And I can finally say, “Goodbye for now, old office, dear friend,
and faithful companion. Perhaps we shall meet again…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“…But like don’t wait for me, because hubby is going to work
from home a few days a week forever. So like you’re kind of in his hands now.
Sorry about all the stressful conference calls you have to endure. At least you don’t
have to listen to me babbling about whether a wave shushes or swishes for hours
on end. But yeah, miss you too.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Oh. And of course, Hello New Office. Nice to meet you.</p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6953622313060163187.post-19793995486833333862021-04-03T23:53:00.004-04:002021-04-04T19:33:22.242-04:00Muddy Monster - A Spring Fling short<p>Ciara Oneal and Kaitlyn Sanchez are hosting a <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/springflingwritingcontest/main?authuser=0" target="_blank">Spring Fling</a> gif challenge: 150 words of less story for kids inspired by a gif (y'know one of those little picture video doo dads)</p><p>I've been working like a dog on a home improvement project (a more physical creativity perhaps) and could use a writing exercise to keep me in shape, so here goes!</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's my gif and 150 word story. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/2rWmaoY6iReta/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="360" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/2rWmaoY6iReta/giphy.gif" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Muddy Monster</p><p class="MsoNormal">By Lauri Meyers </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">A muddy monster trekked inside,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">With dirty pies to host a feast.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Showed the gift, but Mommy cried,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Get out! Get out! You vicious beast!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mother shooed it down the hall.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Confused, the creature ran away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Stopped to hear the mother call,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Where’d my darling daughter stray?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The monster looked at slimy feet,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Considered grimy dripping shirt<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Normal self was clean and neat-<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">But… a bit more dirt can’t hurt.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">She dug a mine for worms and gold,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cooked a pot of mud and stewed, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ignored her name while hours rolled<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Until her belly growled for food.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">She squelched up to the door, but caught:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“The monster’s back! Where are you?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">She had to get by Mom, she thought, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">What could a muddy monster do?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hello hose, and goodbye mud.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Open the door, ready to lie:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I fled a creature made of crud!<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I missed you so... May I have pie?”<o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>Lauri Meyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.com12