I’m very excited to enter Susanna Leonard Hill’s Halloweensie contest this year. I’ve been loving writing challenges lately. Thank you Susanna Hill for organizing this competition. Read more about Halloweensie here: https://susannahill.com/blog/
Prizes include PB MS Critiques from the talented Vivian Kirkfield, Parker Klostermann, Carrie Finison, Teresa Robeson, Lydia Lukidis, Kirsti Call, Ellen Leventhal, and Heather Gale.
The challenge:
- Written for kids
- No more than 100 words
- Contains the words skeleton, creep, and mask
- Tells a complete story
I really like how my story turned out. Limiting to 100 words was a challenge, but that’s good practice. A lot of great recent picture books are low on word count. I watched a wonderful 12X12 workshop called Mine the Gaps with Hannah Barnaby recently where she discusses the importance of allowing room for the illustrator. Let me know how you think I did.
TRICK OR TROLL
One Halloween, after eating all their candy and the wrappers too, three billy goats decided to cross a troll bridge for more.
“Our skeleton costumes will scare that troll,” said the two eldest.
“Boo!” The troll ran under the bridge.
But the youngest didn’t like being scary. “I’ll just creep across quietly.”
He tried to slink. He tried to crawl. He tried trotting on tiptoe. But the troll heard him every time.
“Wait!” he thought. “Everyone likes candy.”
“Want to come too?” he asked. “You don’t even need a mask.”
“Yes!” the troll replied. And they crossed the bridge together.
Dana Marie Miroballi 
What a sweet retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales!
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❤️🍭
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Very Cute!
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Thank you!
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Really clever and sweet! Love that little goat!
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❤️🍭
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Everyone does like candy! I love that the goat found his own way of crossing.
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Thanks Brittany. I really like how the story turned out. I had an idea of doing a retelling of three Billy goats gruff for a while and the writing prompt really helped me get it together.
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Awww…I like the littlest goat’s thinking. 🙂 Very cute.
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Thanks 😊
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This is so sweet – I love it! Lovely inclusive message as well. Best of luck in the contest!
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Thank you!
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A great take on a classic that ends so happily!
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Thank you!
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I love the way you merged elements of The Three Billy Goats Gruff into your Halloween story, Dana! And so sweet that Littlest Billy Goat and Troll were friends at the end. Great job!
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Thank you!
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You did a great job rhyming with yours!
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Very clever and great problem solving by the little goat and he made a friend! Great job!
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