From the mailbag today:
Dear Ms. Reid,
Thank you for taking the time to offer the 100 word story contests on your blog. Not only have I learned a great deal by writing the stories, the contests inspired me to conduct one of my own. Okay, I blatantly stole your idea and used a variation of it at my son's school.
To build enthusiasm for the book fair at my oldest son's school, we ran a 200 word story contest. And yes, students were required to include six specific words in their story (heroes, wolf, wimpy, fever, fowl, thirty-nine). We received a hundred entries! I certainly enjoyed reading the stories, but the best part was giving feedback and prizes to the winners. Due to the success of the contest, we plan to offer more in the future.
I'm sure you know this, but - your efforts are appreciated and far-reaching. Thank you.
I think this is a terrific idea for promoting book fairs! I hope everyone steals it immediately.
Also, I'm glad you liked the contests. I think it's time for another one don't you?
19 comments:
What a nice compliment for you.
And I love those contests!! I suck at them, but still love them.
Yup.
Yes! Yes! Yesssssssss!
Please, ma'am. May we have some more?
I'm co-chairing the book fair at my kids' school this spring, and I'm stealing this idea for sure. Thanks so much for sharing.
What a fabulous way to get kids motivated! Filing this one away for future use when mine are old enough...
That IS a fabulous idea! I'm totally going to steal it!
I might even modify it for my clients (I'm a speech pathologist) to help them with narrative construction!
:D You have far-reaching influence Ms. Shark!
I love that idea! I especially loved the specific words they chose for the kids to include, alluding to popular mg series. Very creative!
Ooh...I'm going to suggest this to my husband - a 5th grade teacher. He'd be all over it! Thanks for the suggestion, Janet.
Love it! Great idea for a bookfair!
It's always difficult to find a contest that's fun for my book fair. I will TOTALLY steal...um...I mean, borrow this too!
Downright cockle warming, that is! And definitely theft-worthy. I'll totally pretend I thought of it when I mention it to the Home and School Association.
Aaaaaand...the contests are funnerer than even a YouTube kitten video.
Yes, please! I love them. They're fun.
What a great idea to get kids excited about writing! Thanks for sharing this.
That is a great idea. I think I can use this for my school's library. Sweet!
Wonderful letter.
Yes, it's time for another. What say we make The Pericles Commission the prize?
Oooooh, yes! How about stealing part of that back and going for a 200 word contest? :::throws a little chum in the water:::
Rebecca
http://rebeccatlittle.blogspot.com
Awe, come on, I'm waiting !
::channeling my inner John Belushi::
CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!
And please keep'em at 100 words. That is the definition and essence of micro-fiction. I can see giving kids the extra slack to start teaching them creativity with disciplined parameters, but not adult writers.
Way to go to all the teachers out there who want to use this idea.
(Can I promote a publication that is always accepting submissions?)
http://www.gwthomas.org/guidelines.htm
"Flashshots" is a 100-word flasher ezine that delivers tidbits of fiction via email every day. Non-paying, but a lot of exposure and even more fun.
Terri
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