Thursday, October 27, 2016

Halloweensie Entry!


I love Susanna Hill's contests. Thank you, Susanna! This year, I tried something new. I do not write in rhyme. I can't tell if the lines are anapest, dactyl or Dr. Seussian, but if I follow a mentor text (Langston Hughes happens to be one of my favorites), I can pull it off (shameless plug for mentor texts).

This year, I used as a mentor text the "Water, water, everywhere," stanza from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. So here you have it folks, my 98-word Halloweensie entry using the words spider, moon and ghost

Spiders, Spiders, Everywhere
by Johnell DeWitt 

Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
On spindly legs they creep.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
A festival to keep.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
The Hallowball begins.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
With leaps and twirls and spins.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
They hang the moon with lace.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
And weave a ghostly face.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
They catch a tasty treat.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
And wrap it up to eat.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
They party through the night.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
And scatter at first light.
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
You feel that on your cheek?
Spiders, spiders, everywhere,
Don’t look or you might … 
SHRIEK!

If you want to see more about using mentor texts and learn about an upcoming mentor contest, please visit my site: https://johnelldewitt.com/2016/10/27/mentor-texts-and-a-contest/

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Halloweensie 2016




It's that time again. Susanna Hill is hosting her Halloweensie contest. 

Rules: Write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words spiderghost, and moon. The story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but must include those 3 words stay at or under 100 words.

I've been working on my entry to be posted here soon. Get started and join me. See here for the rest of the details: https://susannahill.com/2016/10/10/and-now-the-moment-youve-all-been-waiting-for/