From Susanna's blog (https://susannahill.com):

The 8th Annual Halloweensie Contest!!!!! ~ for children’s writers ~

The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in the 100 words), using the words shiver, cauldron, and howl.  Your story can be scary, funny, or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!)  Get it?  Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people   (And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge!  We got 235 fantastic entries last year, so I know you can do it!)  Also, you may use the words in any form – e.g. shivery, cauldrons, howling, whathaveyou   NO ILLUSTRATION NOTES PLEASE! (And yes, you may submit more than one entry if you’re so inclined )

Here is my entry of 89 spooky words:

          Little Miss Halloween
          By Jennifer Raudenbush
 
Ghoulinda Ghoul so loved to preen--
she longed to be Miss Halloween.
 
At night, she honed her bony wave.
By day, she gave toe hairs a shave.
 
She bathed in cauldrons smelling foul
and sang her talent:  shrieking howl.
 
On Halloween, she met the girls,
while inch worms danced between her curls.
 
Her odor captured judges’ hearts--
so nurses hauled them off in carts!
 
Nine shivering girls paled ghostly white,  
afraid Ghoulinda Ghoul might bite.
 
With howling shriek she seized the crown.
Her dream came true in mildewed gown!
 
 

 
            I’ve taken several online courses, webinars, Highlights Foundation workshops, and Picture Book Summit online conferences, but I hadn’t yet gone to an in-person conference. In June, I finally attended my first. Two of my critique partners and I experienced New Jersey’s medium-to-large sized SCBWI conference at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. I’d say there were approximately 300 people in attendance.
           Although registration was rather confusing and highly stressful, the actual conference was well-organized, informative, and fun. I had signed up for a free pitch session and a paid one-on-one critique. My enthusiastic agent gave a thorough critique with lots of great suggestions. Even the agent in the short five-minute pitch session gave me useful information that would strengthen my manuscript. Both agents requested that I send a manuscript.
            Over the two days, there were a total of seven workshops, the majority fabulous. I chose a smattering of both picture book and middle grade classes because that’s what I’m currently writing. A few stand-out workshops included:  Rachel Orr’s “Crafting a Picture Book,” Anna Roberto’s “Finding Your Voice,” and Laura Sassi’s “Creating Rhyming Picture Books That Pass the Sniff Test.”
            Pros of the conference strongly outweighed cons. The staff were exceeding welcoming and friendly. At first I balked at wearing a “newbie” badge, but staff and conference-goers seemed extra attentive to make my first experience there special. Another pro was that all participants signed up for two meals with agents and editors. (Next time, I will be more prepared with specific questions to ask them!) NJSCBWI provided two keynotes, book signings, and an illustrator showcase, all in a comfortable venue.
            I didn’t find many weaknesses to the conference. The registration website was confusing and stressful; as I raced to sign up for the agents and classes I wanted. In addition, it was disappointing to have to miss valuable class time to attend my pitch and critique sessions—they overlapped workshops. Really, that was about it!
            In the months since the conference, I’ve reread my notes and attempted to apply what I learned. I revised and polished those two manuscripts. I’ve also submitted to several of the agents and editors, another great perk of an SCBWI conference.
            My first SCBWI conference was a smashing success! My critique group and I are already planning our next conference. We’re hoping to attend “the big one,” NESCBWI in May, 2019.

Below is my entry for Vivian Kirkfield's annual (but new to me!) #50PreciousWords 2018 contest. The challenge is to write a complete children's story containing a beginning, middle, and end in 50 words or less.

 PUDDLE (43 words)
 
“Rain again!” her mother muttered.
“What a shame!” But Jane’s heart fluttered.
 
Peanut-buttered lips curve wide;
grab rain boots and head outside.
 
Tiptoe, tiptoe, hurry, dash!
Knees bent low, now jump—splash!
 
Pitter patter back inside.
Fly back out, Mom by her side!

                                                                 Bunnies’ Heart-Shaped Hopes
 
          As fluffy, white flakes fell to the forest floor, two bunnies peered from their burrow.
         “It’s deeper than Papa’s ears!” squeaked Calliope.
         “But it’s gotta stop,” said older sister Marisol. “Vole’s Valentine’s Day party is tonight!”
         Mama cuddled the girls close. “By tonight, the snow may be too deep for your wandering bunny feet.”
         Calliope blinked back tears. “No candy hearts and valentines.”
         Marisol’s whiskers twitched. “No music and dancing.”
         Snow covered the ground like Mama’s quilt. But deep in her belly, Calliope nurtured a glow of promise.
         She carried that pinprick of light into naptime, where its embers grew and gleamed and danced in her dreams.
         Marisol pressed her pink nose against the outside door and shook her head. They’d never make it to Vole’s house!
         As her back leg thumped, an idea sprang up. She hoped she could hop to it in time.
         Calliope sighed and stretched. When she peeked outside, her eyes widened to the size of chocolate-covered strawberries.
         Red ribbons swirled like icing atop their family’s pine tree. Velvet hearts swayed from icicle-glazed tree branches. Animals' songs floated through the night sky, speckled with stars.
         Calliope’s heart swelled to bursting as she grasped Marisol’s outstretched paws. 
         And the two swung in powdered-sugar circles … at their very own Valentine’s party.
           

1. Wrote at least 14 new picture book manuscripts.
2. Took several writing classes, including Karla Valenti's Picture Book Master Course (http://www.karlavalenti.com/master-course/), Renee LaTulippe's Lyrical Language Lab (http://www.reneelatulippe.com/writing-courses/), and Alayne Kay Christian's Art of Arc (http://www.alaynekaychristian.com/page05.html).
3. Enrolled in and participated in my first year of Julie Hedlund's 12x12Challenge http://12x12challenge.com/.
4. Took a second workshop at the Highlights Foundation Barn.
5. Hosted a writing retreat with my critique group; Tara Lazar was guest speaker/critiquer.
6. Watched SEVERAL webinars through Kidlit College, SCBWI chapters, etc.
7. Took a three-day "Un-Workshop" at the Highlights Foundation with my critique group, including an author critique.
8. Two manuscripts earned a #1 rating and several others #2 and #3 ratings in Rate Your Story.
9. Entered my first writing contest and won an honorable mention (Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie Contest; http://susannahill.blogspot.com/).
10. An agent contacted me after submitting to her slush pile. She requested to see more of my work.
11. Participated and finished Tara Lazar's Storystorm (https://taralazar.com/2017/12/28/storystorm-2018-registration-is-open/) and ReFoReMo (http://www.reforemo.com/).
12. Created a writer website and blog.
13. Joined Twitter and began tweeting weekly picture book posts. Through Twitter, I met many new writers!
14. Told friends and family about my writing and goals.
15. Grew closer to my online critique group--we are like family now!
16. My critique group, the Highlighters, was interviewed for an upcoming article in a regional SCBWI magazine.
17. Learned the importance of amazing concepts and dramatically improved my own.
18. Realized I love to write poetry...and I'm good at it, too!
19. Began a structured practice of reading picture books on a weekly basis.
20. Read books on crafts:  Stephen King's On Writing, Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, Ann Whitford Paul's Writing Picture Books, and others. 
21. Applied for mentorships through Tara Luebbe's Writing with the Stars http://beckytarabooks.com/wwts-contest/).
22. Developed more of a writing routine and began scheduling non-negotiable writing time.
23. Attended my second year of Picture Book Summit (http://picturebooksummit.com/).

I'm over-the-Halloween-moon thrilled to report that I won an honorable mention (and a cool free book on writing craft) in Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie contest! You can find her excellent website/blogs at https://susannahill.com.

Susanna lured me into my first writing contest with her fabulous prizes! The process of writing an entire story using three key words all within 100 words was challenging...but also loads of fun. I also learned NOT to wait until the eleventh hour (the day of the contest deadline) to decide to enter! My writing is definitely better with revisions.

It was a whirlwind afternoon, but I'm so glad I tried. I will definitely enter more writing contests in the future--but not at the last minute :-).

                           Montgomery Monster


Montgomery’s stinky monster feet
skit-skeetered down the darkened street.

He knocked and shouted, “Trick or Treat!”
One thing would make his night complete…

Was it fresh meat or maybe bones?
The crust of cemetery stones?

Montgomery’s ghoulish drool drip-dropped.
That thing was here! His heart flip-flopped.

Clair opened up the door and froze;
a monster stench of toes arose!

She shook as shadowed claws stretched out
with nails that smelled of sauerkraut.

But monster reached inside the dish
that overflowed with his one wish.

He’s had a taste since he was born
For sweet and chewy candy corn!