2021 Fall Writing Frenzy Contest

As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, I LOVE entering writing contests! The prizes, the writing community’s support, and the chance to write about a topic that might not work for a full book; all reasons they are so much fun. I just finished reading through my current middle grade manuscript so going back into the drafting stage for a fun contest was a welcome break.

Most writing contests I find through Twitter, and that stays true of Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis‘ “Fall Writing Frenzy Contest” that is open between October 1-3. I was a critique winner in their 2019 KidLit Fall Frenzy Writing Contest and I’m really excited to enter again. For more information about the contest, you can visit the contest page here, but the short and sweet version is that you have to write a story no more than 200 words that is inspired from one of the 13 provided pictures. The picture I chose and my story are below. Enjoy, and I can’t wait to read everyone’s entries!

The Moon’s Initials
by Abbi Lee

Even though Tracy can’t see them, they’re there.
Resting along the edge of the Sea of Serenity,
Between the eyes of the man on the moon,
And etched into the surface forever.
They were left by Gene Cernan when he last walked the moon’s powdered surface in 1972, and they were meant just for her.

But that’s not all he did.
He served as a light jet attack aviator for the U.S. Navy.
Three different times he traveled to space to test techniques that would become crucial for the future of the moon program.
Even after he retired from the Navy and resigned from NASA, everything he did was for the betterment of space exploration which resulted in his induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

But Tracy’s favorite thing her dad did?
Before he left the moon to return home, he bent over the surface and wrote three letters into the moon dust.
TDC
Her initials
To be there for always.
Just for her.