Friday, August 8th, 2008
Contest: Write a Very Short Parenting Story
Note: This contest has ended, HOWEVER you can now enter our Create a New Story Title Contest. It has the same prize as our previous contest, but will have FIVE winners.
There is an oft-repeated tale of Ernest Hemingway wagering with his colleagues that he could write a complete story in only six words. He won the bet. His story: "For sale: Baby shoes, Never worn."
In that spirit, your challenge is to write a six-word story about parenting. It’s up to you as to how narrowly or widely you interpret the subject matter.
To get in the groove, read other online samples where average people wrote six-word memoirs and sci-fi and horror writers wrote original stories.
Here are a few rough examples my wife and I pulled together in a few minutes.
- Two years later. My boobs sag.
- Dancing. Fairy wings. I’m a dad.
- No more diapers! Please wash hands.
- The cat will never forgive her.
- So that’s what my mother meant.
- My boy was just like me. (okay, that one isn’t original)
The Prize:
One lucky winner takes home Scholastic’s Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics Thinpak: "One hundred award-winning and classic children’s stories are faithfully adapted and brought to life in this comprehensive 16-DVD collection. From the Maurice Sendak classic Where the Wild Things Are to the beloved adventures of Curious George and Corduroy parents and children alike are sure to enjoy these classic treasures featuring celebrity narration from Sarah Jessica Parker, James Earl Jones and many more! Runtime: 14 hours, 41 minutes."
The Rules:
Submit your six-word parenting story via the comment form below. To be eligible, you must include a six-word-only (no more, no less) story, your name or nickname and a valid e-mail address in your blog comment.
Your e-mail address won’t be published, but will be used to contact you if you win (check your spam filter just in case!). The winner must provide his or her shipping address to Thingamababy within 1 week of the winner notification e-mail being sent. Thingamababy will then share the address with Scholastic’s publicist for the purpose of shipping the prize.
The contest ends 11:59 p.m., Friday, September 5, 2008, Pacific time.
The contest is open only to residents of the United States or Canada (your shipping address must be in the US or Canada). The DVDs are in Region 1 formatting (you guessed it, viewable only for US and Canadian DVD players).
People from other countries are welcome to participate purely on a for-the-fun level, but please add the prefix "Outlander" to your name to help distinguish your unofficial entries. Again, if you do not have a shipping address in the US or Canada, you will not be awarded the prize. Think of it as one of Thingamababy’s many just-for-fun game posts.
When the contest deadline has passed, my wife and I will narrow the submissions down to our 10 favorite funny, punny, creative or thoughtful stories and then pick 1 winner for the 16-DVD collection and that winner will be announced on Thingamababy.
Now jog your brain! How hard can six words be? Enter as often as you like.
This contest has ended. See who won.
Comments
50 Responses to “Contest: Write a Very Short Parenting Story”
Vomit. Blends well on patterned shirts.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:37 am
The puddle, it wasn’t the cat.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Potty Training: When will it end?
August 8th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Golden fountains of baby boy youth.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:21 am
We’re all a work in progress.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Anger makes me a mothering failure.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Sleep, a distant memory, I miss
August 8th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Again? It was time to move.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Potty training complete. Diapers gone forever.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:27 am
She ran to me screaming, “Daddy!”
August 8th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Don’t hit him. Don’t bite her.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Let’s go for an adventure walk.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:32 am
“What is THAT?”
“Poop.”
“Oh dear.”
August 8th, 2008 at 8:33 am
First day of school — come soon!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Peanut, don’t french kiss the dog.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Bath
Pajamas
Teeth
Story
Kiss
Goodnight!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Kids in bed — mommy needs wine.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I could have named you Dabrickashawna
August 8th, 2008 at 9:19 am
My heart. On my sleeve. Forever.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Boys are monkeys. Keep them safe.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Once so little, now so big.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Five weeks NICU… hardest thing EVER!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Brothers love each other… I smile.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Seeing myself in everything he does.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Calm down. Not everything is dangerous.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Now no bodily functions are sacred.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Will I ever pee in peace?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Mom says, “I told you so!”
August 8th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Time to go wash up. Again.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Hurray! Naptime. For all of us.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Why mommy? But why mommy? Why?
August 8th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Rough around edges. Love all between.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
We all learn from my mistakes.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Tiny hand in mine, I cried.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I could never do this alone.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
No longer disgusted by poop, vomit.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Raising them not to need me.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Peep, poop, puke. Worn them all.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
There was a heartbeat, after all.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Because I said so. That’s why.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Did you already ask your mother?
August 8th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Feed. Burp. Change diaper. Nap. Repeat.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Eat. Sleep. Poop. Repeat as necessary.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Heartbreak every time I leave you.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Dark, quiet, nursing as one; heaven.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
here is mine….
“Runtime: 14 hours, 41 minutes. Peace”
is this plagarism???…HAHA I am such a nerd
August 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
no, No, NO! What? OK, Yes.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
He just peed on my nose!
August 9th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Some assembly required. Three hours later…
August 9th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Babies don’t come with instruction manuels?!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:06 am