Our September Story Challenge
is OPEN!
Challenge: Just Submit a Story, Poem, or Essay, Comic, or Video! Rough Drafts are fine. We just want to experience YOUR story.
Dear Parents, Students, and Friends,
Thank you for being part of our enthusiastic community. We're grateful for all that you bring to our world and wish you a year full of health, peace, laughter, and creative energy.
To celebrate our 15th Anniversary in 2024, we'll be hosting a Monthly Challenge for all writers who would like to participate. These fun activities are open to anyone ages 7+, including alumni and parents.
The general limit will be 1000 words or so.
Enjoy exploring your story with your characters, settings, and a big doozy of a problem!
- Make us Worry!
- Make us Care.
- Make us Laugh.
- Make us say, "Whoa."
- Make us Fall in Love with your characters.
- Make us Angry.
- Make us Think.
- Make us choke up with tears.
- Make us feel the strength and power.
- Make us feel...whole.
To submit your stories, please send them to: [email protected].
Include:
- Parent's Name
- Parent's Email Address
- Writer's Name
- Writer's Name to be displayed if chosen
- Writer's Age
- A Google Docs Link, Word Doc, Apple Pages, or photos of handwritten & illustrated pages of your story
- Permission to upload to our blog (Yes or No).
We look forward to reading your story!
Royd Hatta & Shu-Hsien Ho
Writing Coaches
Our Current Story Contest:
Story Prompt:
CONTINUE with a current story.
Or, write a story, poem, essay about
Courage
👯👨🦽👨🦽👨🦼👩🦯🏃♀️👭👬👨👩👧👦👨👨👧👧👩👦👨👧👦
🦊🐯🐷🐸🐵🐥🐙🐋🐈🐕🦺🦨
It's the beginning of a new way of life in school, in sports, in scouts, etc. Class subjects are more interesting and perhaps more challenging.
They all point to a new kind of experience and a potentially fantastic opportunity.
Show your character meeting new friends, new mentors, and perhaps facing a new challenge or goal.
It all takes courage, whether in small amounts or mustering up every ounce of your spirit to make it happen.
When we are courageous, we see a hero's spirit. They are taking a stand and making a difference!
Courage!
Emerse yourself in the winning August stories below!
Congratulations to our August 2024 Winners!
These stories are listed in no particular order!
Just A Pat With A Hat
by Mehda, 8
Just because of a pat,
With a hat,
Came out a very cool four winged bat,
A funny ten tailed rat,
All sitting on a mouth shaped mat,
And with another pat of a hat,
They all fell splat,
On a weird eight legged cat,
And with another pat of a hat,
They all sat,
Growing fat
Lead the Way • Part 1
by Yihua Yuan, 13
“Enter,” the man bellowed behind me, startling me half to death. The doorknob was dirty as I rested my palm on it, feeling mud and soil on my hands. It must have been to make sure no lights reflected off it so no one would find this place. Smart. The door screamed as I opened the door, eyes adjusting to the darkness. Inside the cottage was an old man sitting on a sofa chair, drinking a mug of hot chocolate. He looked undangerous, stubble covering his lower face as white hair clouded his vision.
“Gran, I have brought you the princess,” the hooded figure announced.
Experience the winning July stories below!
Congratulations to our July 2024 Winners!
These stories are listed in no particular order!
Grim Reaper - Chapter 5
by Megan W., 11
[Parental Guidance Suggested]
I sighed and headed over to the general. I don’t think he knew he was dead, until another man marched through him. I slowly walked up to him. He had auburn hair and a thick mustache.
“H-hello.” He was very intimidating.
“Who are YOU?” His voice was deep.
“Um, I’mthegrimreaperandyouhavetocomewithme.”
He raised his eyebrow. “I need to come with you?”
Gnome Powers
by Lauren, 8
They climbed up to the rooftop and to their surprise they saw a flying unicorn called an alicorn. It had a black mane, a dark brown body, and a sparkling, navy horn.
“Wow!” exclaimed Layla. “I wonder why it's here?”
“I am here because there is a really bad problem in the Kingdom of Fantasy...”
The Magical Hotel
by Kalpana Mudambi, 11
The door jingled open as I looked around the strangely cheerful place. As a person from a city, and we’re talking New York City, this was just disgusting. There wasn’t a single dog barking, arguments starting, or ambulances wailing. It was too perfect, and I loathed it.
Rabbit in the Wolf Pack
by Kimmy, 12 & Charlotte, 11
Every young goblin had the dream of attending battle camp and being invited to the military.
But, Amory was nothing like them. The others got into fights at the academy. Amory tried to be as kind and gentle as possible when he wasn’t being yelled at to toughen up. The others were giddy to start camp. Amory… wasn’t. Nevertheless, there he was, standing in the gravel battle training grounds under the beating sun, being yelled at to get up and fight like a man… goblin.
The 4 Elemental Items
by Bastian Taylor, 11
“With our map of the way to the 4 elemental items, we can gather them and create the staff of power! Then we can defeat those pesky rebels and have our leader rule the world!” The crowd of men erupted in cheers. “The staff of power!? I thought that was just a bedtime story!” thought Anna.
I Love Summer!
by Medha, 8
Selfies with the wonderful blooming flowers
Umbrellas that you hold on the beach
Mmm. Yummy stone fruits that you can taste
The Sound of Fashion - Music Video
by Nita, 7
Somebody called
To let me be free to
the SOUND OF FASHION!
Orion Javen & Mazz
by Josiah S., 13
[Parental Guidance Suggested]
as they were making their escape, an alarm was tripped, locking down the building. They were caught by the police force and were immediately, without a trial, exiled to the apocalyptic Earth with 17 other convicts in small pods.
Our June Story Contest has wrapped up!
Check out the winning stories below!
Congratulations, June 2024 Winners!
Congrats, June Winners!
Piper and the Strawberry Surprise
by Samhita Singh, 9
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared before her. A white circle, which was most likely a portal, opened. The circle was bright, but you could see the colors swirling inside. It was inviting the girl, it seemed. But she knew she should go back home. On the other hand, she was longing for adventure, something exciting. And this seemed like the perfect thing.
Silence in the Shadows
by Matilda Leather, 11
I pull out my pocket knife and flick up the saw attachment and grab a small bundle of neatly coiled rope. I unwind it slowly and tie the end of it to a metal loop on the end of my knife. Then, I throw it with all my might into the wall opposite me. To double check that it was secure, I tug at the rope, and to my pleasure, it doesn't come out. I walk slowly across the cable and use the rope as a support. When I get to the edge of the skyscraper, I whisper to myself “ I made it!” and I almost did.
Grim Reaper • Chapter 3: A Little Thing Called School
by Megan W., 11
Hey. If you look at me, you probably don’t think “Wow, she looks like she has a really cool boyfriend.” It’s true, I don’t. Mark is humble, nice, a good listener (except when he’s super stressed), and a total drama king (Not always cool, but awesome). But he’s just like me. He overreacts, panics, and is perfect for me. I overreact, panic, and am perfect for him.
Grim Reaper • Chapter 4 : I Think We’ll Be Friends
by Megan W., 11
Then I saw the spirit I was collecting.
She looked around fifteen, maybe slightly younger than me. She had big, green, frantic eyes. She looked panicked, as most souls do. Her hip-length auburn hair swayed, as she turned her head back and forth. But when her eyes set on me, she stopped panicking.
“Hi. You’re younger than I thought.” I would usually grumble at this comment, but when this girl said it, it rolled off me like rain.
“Well, the figure you’re thinking about is probably my dad.”
“I’m Lindsey. And you?”
“Nicola, but call me Nico.” I couldn’t believe my ears, eyes, and all my body parts. This soul was treating me like a normal person!
Our May Story Contest has wrapped up!
Check out the winning stories below!
Congratulations, May 2024 Winners!
Congrats, May Winners!
The Pig Magician by Sharanya, 10
Gus was curious. He followed the humans to the magician. He squeezed through the crowd to the front. In the center of the crowd, was the magician....
Rockstar Pirates by Bastian T.
They went into the dojo and Boomer said, “Hello! We are friends that want to practice...."
Boomer saw the girl from earlier and realized that the girl was powerful.
“Do you want a 1-v-1?” he said.
The little girl replied, “Okay, may the best fighter win.”
Then the girl took out her swords and charged, trying to cut Boomer in an X shaped slash. He blocked the attack luckily. Boomer dashed backward, trying to find an opportunity to attack. Boomer made cymbals and threw them at the girl. She dodged the cymbals. Boomer then tried to kick the air, which created bass drums. The girl did a stance.
“What is that?” Boomer thought.
Path to the House by Max Yang, 9
He leaned his hand against the smooth stone wall, steadying himself.
Scrape! Clunk! The stone beside him moved to reveal a brightly lit corridor shining warm orange light that blinded him. A moment later a blast of heat met his face, blowing his medium-brown hair into a knot. Alex fell in! He peered around. Iridescent light glowed all around, oak doors disappeared into the distance, gold plating lined the walls.
Gizmo and Lake Xochimilco by Alex Hsu
Although she wanted the shrimp back in possession of the axolotls, she was still worried about Gizmo and told him not to go. Of course, Gizmo did not listen to her and started planning. Their plan looked something like this:
Step one: locate something to carry the shrimp in
Step two: figure out how to get the shrimp out of the tank
Step three: transport the shrimp
Step four: get the shrimp into a hidden place so the humans can’t find them again.
The Last Water Bird by Ryan Hsu
“To defeat The Unstoppable Troll you must find the Misty Stone. The Misty Stone is a stone that heals and destroys dark magic. Unfortunately, we’ve figured out that The Unstoppable Troll has cursed animals and they are under his control.”
Robot 7 by Enzo
“Authorized personnel only.”
I spun around. Standing behind me was a five foot long, bright red floating cube, with a giant silver number one painted on each of its sides. On top of the cube was another smaller cube with two eyes on the front.
“I am authorized personnel,” I lied.
Cake Survival - Part III by Connor Seeker, 10
Connor continues the adventures of a team of tiny human-like aliens in their egg-shaped spaceships. They search for the evil Dark Wizard on Earth.
“Amy get up! The store is on fire!” I shouted over the crackling.
Amy jumped up and ran to the control room to look out of the windows. As Amy woke everyone in ship 1, 2, 3 and 4 over the intercom, I looked for a place to land.
”We need to fly over the ocean!” I shouted. “It’s the closest landing place.”
“Where?” Amy asked.
“Some place in California called Safeway!”
Gummy Bear & Fox by Maya Seeker, 8
Oh no, there is no food! I'm gonna go shopping!
Eeek, a fox. Hello!
Boo! You look yummy!
Protectors of the Bioverse by Camden Bac, 11
“Where are our parents?” I ask and then Hootius answers.
“Your parents are in a warehouse, deep in the Amazon rainforest. The important thing is that they are safe. They are staying with many wild animals, who were also caught by the EVIL person who trapped them. He is a POACHER."
The Clever Robot Parrot by Medha Raman, 8
Parents: You guys made a robot again?
Parents: This is the third time. I told you not to.
Boy: Sorry.
Mr. Magic Dude 1: Adventures in Mielkid by Colin K.
Mr. Magic Dude is a wizard who has insanely powerful skills. His main power is that he can do absolutely anything with his magic wand, so it is important he doesn’t lose it. Trill the pigeon also has magical powers. When he attacks bad guys, he shoots poisonous dragon’s breath out of his beak.
It’s Dark Outside by Ben V. Y., 12
What in the world was that thing? Lei eventually halted at a bench by the road, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, his stomach throbbing, and his mind in disarray.
Fovos by Marin, 14
While I was out, I imagined a voice. The female voice rang in my head, sharp and commanding. "The fates have great plans for you. Don't mess it up."
Our April Story Contest has wrapped up!
Check out the winning stories below!
Congratulations, April 2024 Winners!
All About Super Cat! by Nita
Circle of Friends by Max Chen
How a Mouse Became a Prince by Max Chen
A Rainbow Realization by Olivia Chen
All About Golf and Its Benefits by Justin
XWolf - An Excerpt by Vedaant
Grim Reaper - Chapter 2 by Megan W.
The WORLD Above by Sharanya
Opposites Attract by Kalpana Mudambi
Eclipse by Ivy
Chef Galileo Cubed by Beata Ang-Dutta (Declined to Share)
April's Story Prompt:
Friends, Allies, Teams
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🦊🐯🐷🐸🐵🐥🐙🐋🐈🐕🦺🦨
Or, CONTINUE with a current story.
April's Challenge:
"Make us Curious" and "Make us say, "Whoa!"
"Make us Worry" and "Make us Care!"
Regarding this month's "friends" prompt, ponder these questions:
Do best friends like each other the first time they meet?
How does a friend or ally complement each other? In other words, how do their differences help each other out?
Do they annoy each other sometimes?
Can they become a team to work towards the same goal?
Our March Story Contest has wrapped up!
Check out the winning stories below!
Congratulations,
March 2024 Winners!
The Adventures of Red and White on Catalina Island by Andrew Horng
Blood Moon: The Chinese New Year Celebration by "Jack" (Edith T.)
Father Seabird by Max Chen
The Lost Island by Myka MacGregor
The Mysteries of the Platypus by Yulia O'Neil
Migration Journey by Sharanya Sridhar
The Sharks' Treasure by Neha
Vignette—My Name by Ivy Yu
My Life As A Teenage Grim Reaper by Megan W.
Cake Survival - Part II (The Dark Wizard, Clues In A Cake) by Conner Seeker
Self-Love And Encounter by Yongqing Feng (Declined to Share)
Congratulations, Everyone!
***
March Story Prompt: Mystery!
Write a story about
a mysterious creature,
a strange or odd happening,
or someone who finds clues to find the missing...(fill in the blank)!
Intermediate Challenge:
1) In January & February we ask you to "Make us Worry" and "Make us Care!"
2) This time, "Make us Curious" and "Make us say, 'Whoa.'"
Tip: Feel free to have "high action" that take place quickly, BUT also try to slow it down.
Creep up to something daunting. Draw out the tension. Make us sit on the edge of our seats.
Here's an example:
Too fast:
Maddy ran into the woods, found the crystal apple on the tree, and grabbed it.
(Kind of fast, right?)
Slowed down:
Try sprinkling in BADTOD (Backstory, Action, Dialogue, Thoughts, Observations, and Description). Here's an example.
Maddy remembered the old Wizard's words (Mini Backstory). "Find the glimmering apple above. But know the roots below." She said it under her breath. She stepped on the yellowing leaves, crunching their brittle warped veins and canopies. (Mini Thought)What glimmers in an old apple orchard? Maddy scanned up and down, and the four directions, for a spark of light hidden in the rows and rows of trees. (Mini Description) The trees seem to be frozen in a tormented twist, tangled in its own branches. Some trees pawed at the sky as if they were caught in a snare. Maddy's hands trembled and heart cowered in her chest. She stopped and stepped back. A thin branch snapped under her boots. (Mini Thought) Maybe this crystal apple is just an old legend. A dream grandmother told me. This is ridiculous. What am I doing out here...alone? That's when she saw a glint, like a star. It sparkled again deep in a far away tree. She smiled and stepped towards it.
Now it's your turn!
To submit your stories for the next monthly challenge, please send them to: [email protected].
Our February Story Contest has wrapped up!
Check out the winning stories below!
Congratulations,
February 2024 Winners!
The Victory I Won by Alexie Koh
The Adventures of Soid by Bastian Taylor
Hummy the Hummingbird Being a Mother by Maya Seeker
Cake Survival by Connor Seeker
Love at First Sight & That Smile by Kalpana Mudambi
Forgotten Wolves by Myka MacGregor
The Princess Witch by Luise Seeker
The Frosty Gift by Sharanya Sridhar
Different Dimensions - Part I by Ryan H.
It Was A Normal Day For Flora by Claire W.
Again, Congratulations, Story Writers!
Royd & Shu-Hsien
Writing Coaches
Our January Story Contest has wrapped up!
Check out the winning stories below!
Congratulations,
January 2024 Winners!
Holiday Swan
by Emma
Handwritten on lined paper, Emma created a fun story between two friends, a baby Holiday Swan and a wolf. Holiday Swan has the power to control holidays. (Love it!) When Holiday Swan's sister goes missing, leaving only a feather, she and Wolf follow the trail of feathers and paw tracks. Uh-oh.
by Myka M. (Age 10)
Lando (a boy) and Lunar (a girl) are siblings admitted to a school where they have to avoid lava, learn to ride dragons, fall from a great height, and stop within inches of the ground! Lunar writes in her journal, studies for magic tests, and battles a sharp-toothed, hairy, green monster with the help of her brother. (We loved the fun, quirky academy setting and characters!)
Ming-Shan W. (Age 8 almost 9)
Oh my gosh. This short but HILARIOUS courtroom story is about a 25-year-old woman who stole a $500 limited edition Gum-ee Wormz packet. The popularity of the Gum-ee Wormz skyrocketed in value so the judge is making her pay its current worth of $47,000! But she only has $3,000 because she's an Amazon engineer! Oh no! (This makes me cry with laughter!)
by Kalpana M. (Age 11)
A girl and some passengers leave a malfunctioning spaceship and transfer to another. When they take a spacewalk, their new Star Cruiser malfunctions and they drift away. Luckily, they can reach the nearby Earth-like planet called Lost and discover its beauty. The problem is no one escapes because of its intense gravity. The only way to leave by ship is when the moon is in front of you for five minutes! (We loved the epic image of the old, but newly built spaceship rising from the ground in this piece!)
Sahas S. (Age 7)
"One day in The Mystery School for Spies, a student called Plats (a platypus) went missing." The spy school is investigating why people are missing in Atlanta. When they send more kid agents, they discover Plats and the other people are trapped in robots and are controlled by a microchip by a villain named the Smart Troll. (This cracked us up with its epic fight between robots spewing jellybeans as the spies attacked with their nunchucks. But we were amazed at how close this story summary was to James Patterson's story summary style. Whoa.)