Lauri Meyers .

I’m self-advocating-challenged at times (read as: I would rather sleep with a boa constrictor than brag) but, I have had a magical writing year so far. I love writing contests. They can trick me into writing new pieces which would otherwise not come to life. Plus, there's the sense of community which is a wonderful bonus in a very solo job.  Some good news to share:    My poem “Affectionately, the Pig” won fourth place in the Institute for Children’s Literature Rhyming Animal Poetry Contest. Here’s the certificate to prove it! If you get the ICL newsletter you can read my poem this week. *PLUS* my good friend Rebecca Gardyn Levington won 2 nd  place for her frantic-checking-under-the-sheets-inducing poem “Centipedes Make Peculiar Pets.” (Isn’t that fun? Honestly, it’s igniting my teenage joy of getting certificates. Totally displaying it next to my 8 th  grader’s haul of certificates, trophies, and cords from the end of middle school.) I had a very short run in Madness Poetry l

**UPDATE: My poem made the finalists! Yay!** Spring is here with it's unpredictable weather...      Raining? Probably.            Sunny? Could be.                 Snowing? Definitely if you just put away your snow boots.                        Windy? You betcha.                                Forecast that you dressed wrong? 95% chance.  ...and the Spring Fling Kidlit contest. Enter your 150-word or less story based on a spring gif here .  https://media1.tenor.com/m/YfLN9ZnTj74AAAAd/spring-time-waking-up.gif Here is my silly reflection on wild spring weather...  The Weather is Funny (140 words)  Winter and spring are having a fight.  It’s warm through the day, then freezing at night.   Yesterday’s snowman melted to runny. It’s sleeting a rainbow. This weather is funny!   A robin regrets returning so soon. The black bear decides to sleep until June.   I try to go fishing, the water looks nice. But I cast so slowly— my hook's stuck in ice.  

Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas is a magical renewal process that lets you give last year a hug and wave goodbye to ready your soul for the year ahead. Day 7 is about  gratitude   and I’d love to take a moment to send some thanks out in the world. * You need A LOT of support when you’re writing! Thank you to my tribe:  My local writers support group for always being there, making writing less solitary, and listening to assorted rants… Marlaina, Mitu, Donna, Rebecca, Suzanne, Andria, Ariel, Chana, Kathleen, Naomi, Linda, Marilyn , and others who pop in—Thank you! My critique group partners who encourage me to keep going and help me polish manuscripts. Daniella, Ryann, Alice, Stephanie, Karen, Jamie, Sarah, Aimee, Linda, Amy.   YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! Special thanks for the authors who critiqued my work this year: Carol Joy Munro, Malcolm Newsome, and Justin Colon for critiquing my work. 12 x 12 participants, host Julie Hedlund, leaders, and all the webinar guests! M

I FORGOT* to post my Holiday entry for Susanna Hill's Holiday Contest on my blog, but...maybe you still have a little room for more holiday fun next to all the cookies and pie. This year's contest was to write a 250-word or less story holiday story with a countdown. What a fun challenge!  (*I planned to post it but then I made 5 million cookies, shopped for 600 gifts, and took a few naps!) Santa’s Rocket Sleigh! By Lauri C. Meyers 228 words “I need to meet with the big guy.” Accountant Elf barged through the door. “With so many kids on the nice list, One night’s not enough anymore!” “Tonight is my moment to shine,” Elf Engineer said with glee. “Presenting my prototype rocket. I call it the Sleigh 2.3!” “Tonight?!” Santa spit out his cocoa. The accountant ignored Santa’s frown: “An elf’s favorite time is the present!” Engineer said, “Beginning countdown!” FIVE. “Hey, has this sleigh had some testing?” Asked Santa while strapping his belt. “The snowmen did fine in the trials (we

Susanna Leonard Hill's 13th Annual Halloweensie contest is here! This contest challenges you to write a full story in flash form.  Rules: Write a story for kids in 100 words or less with a Halloween theme and including the words: fright, superstition, werewolf. Enter here .  Here's my spooky story about making new friends for 2023. Happy Halloween! Friends with a Werewolf    (100 words) By Lauri C. Meyers   Mom made me invite the new kid trick-or-treating. “Okay. But it’s weird Bobby has a beard.” Bobby’s breath smelled like meatballs, but he sniffed out the best houses. He howled at my jokes. (I’m hilarious.) After weird Mr. Jones handed out beef jerky, Bobby traded me Snickers. Bobby was alright…until the moon appeared. He ran off frightened! “Guess he’s superstitious ?” Suddenly, this dog trotted up wearing Bobby’s pirate hat. “Bobby?” Grrrrrrrr. Meatball breath. The dog pounced… … on Joey the Jerk trying to steal my candy bag! Joey ran scared! “Not

The kids are back to the crazy days of school, and we are all missing the outdoors. But my pup reminds me that fall is the perfect time for a walk in the woods...  ...which brings me to another contest! 2023’s Fall Writing Frenzy To enter: Look through the images here and write a 200-word or less story/mood piece/poem prompted from the picture. When you're down, fill out the contest form here  by midnight October 3. Follow host Kaitlyn Sanchez at  @kaitlynleann17  for updates.  And check out the prize donors online too:  @Ms_Holliday93 ,  @readbystephanie ,  @ErDiPasquale ,  @IvanTaurisano ,  @ebonylynnmudd ,  @AndreaYWang ,  @AReynosoMorris ,  @amandarhill32 ,  @HovorkaSarah ,  @chanastiefel ,  @ShannonStocker_ ,  @AutumnLeaflet ,  @BrianGehrlein ,  @JStremer ,  @DianaMWrites    I love the opportunity to write a mood piece, and this image evoked a mood for me.  7. Photo by jonas mohamadi on  Pexels.com Nature’s Noise  (149 words) By Lauri C. Meyers I race down the hall, Backpac