A kindergarten boy sits at the square table in the counselor’s comfortable office. He is quiet and unsure of himself and his unfamiliar surroundings. His mother and father, concerned about his altered behavior at home, called earlier in the day to ask the woman for help. They are divorcing, and their once verbose, inquisitive son has now withdrawn from his friends and family. The counselor approaches him at the table, smiling warmly, wanting to put him at ease. She kneels down by his chair and hands him a pencil.
“Draw me a house” she requests in a gentle voice.
The boy takes the pencil and smiles back. “Drawing is easy,” he thinks to himself.
Then he begins…
I have a little contest that I hope you will enter. I would like you to draw me a house, home, or special place where you, someone, anyone lives.
The house drawing is a simple assessment used with children. It gives insight to where a child is emotionally and provides, almost, a self portrait.
So, please, draw me a house so I can get to know you and your stories better.
Guidelines:
Anything goes. Poetry, prose, diary entry, vignette, rap, blog, ramblings, whatever…just please stick to the house (or home or place). If your house is erotic, horrific, gay, romantic, or shaped like a vampire, it is fine.
No plot is necessary. In fact, I prefer that you avoided it all together. This is about description, tone, and mood. I don’t care about what is going on inside the house; I care what it looks like.
It must be less than 400 words. The shorter, the better. Word choice is extremely important. And I also have a short attention span.
Try your best at spelling, grammar, and punctuation. I will not police, but it would be nice if it were easy for me to read.
Please be tasteful with your obscenities.
Prewrites are allowed but only use the portion that describes the house (or home or place). I would find it helpful if you place the title of full story in notes, and I will likely read it later.
I am hoping that 20 will enter.
The winners will be chosen by how effective they are at drawing this way…development, detail, description matter to me.
Disclaimer: This is my first contest, so I reserve the right to change things as I deem appropriate.
“Draw me a house” she requests in a gentle voice.
The boy takes the pencil and smiles back. “Drawing is easy,” he thinks to himself.
Then he begins…
I have a little contest that I hope you will enter. I would like you to draw me a house, home, or special place where you, someone, anyone lives.
The house drawing is a simple assessment used with children. It gives insight to where a child is emotionally and provides, almost, a self portrait.
So, please, draw me a house so I can get to know you and your stories better.
Guidelines:
Anything goes. Poetry, prose, diary entry, vignette, rap, blog, ramblings, whatever…just please stick to the house (or home or place). If your house is erotic, horrific, gay, romantic, or shaped like a vampire, it is fine.
No plot is necessary. In fact, I prefer that you avoided it all together. This is about description, tone, and mood. I don’t care about what is going on inside the house; I care what it looks like.
It must be less than 400 words. The shorter, the better. Word choice is extremely important. And I also have a short attention span.
Try your best at spelling, grammar, and punctuation. I will not police, but it would be nice if it were easy for me to read.
Please be tasteful with your obscenities.
Prewrites are allowed but only use the portion that describes the house (or home or place). I would find it helpful if you place the title of full story in notes, and I will likely read it later.
I am hoping that 20 will enter.
The winners will be chosen by how effective they are at drawing this way…development, detail, description matter to me.
Disclaimer: This is my first contest, so I reserve the right to change things as I deem appropriate.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on January 15
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 200, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 4 people
- Final notes: Thank you for entering this contest and letting me get to know you better. I am so impressed with the talent and intellect of you all.
It was difficult for me to pick a winner as they were all good...different...reflective.
Some of the winners had mispellings and such, but I decided to base my decision on what I originally asked for...content, mood, and tone drawn with words.
Again, thank you.
Contest Winners
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 243790, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Home. It’s a word that’s routed into the soul of every living creature on the planet, and one that everything longs for. It doesn’t have to be a place, or even a person. Home can be anything, even just a feeling. For me, home• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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by tonialoise 100 words, 8 comments, on Dec 29 12:36 PM 2008. In Contest, Drabble, Life
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 239982, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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It was a tenement house in Glasgow Scotland 1• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11
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by SaccharineMini 200 words, 6 comments, on Dec 28 7:30 PM 2008. In Contest entry• Commented on by judge.
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Where is my home? Well, I suppose it varies. I don't think of home as a place, but as people. Sometimes it's my family; they like to think they're always my home, but they're not. I don't mind what they think, though. Most ofby Nedned <100 words, 1 comment, on Dec 29 7:07 AM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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As I sat in my easy chair one winters eve, my thoughts wonder to a time when I was just a child.
A time spent with family and friends one• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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Fantastic idea for a contest. Very original. I will definately enter.
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Great idea I think I will enter..
So all we have to do is descibe a place that is special to us? -
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I am glad you will enter.
A place that is special to you would be fine. Even better would be a place that you identify as "home."
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Oh okay..
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