Stone Soup is a magazine written by kids.  So if you are an aspiring writer, why not take the time to write something wonderful and try and get it published here!!!  In order to have a story considered by the magazine, you must be 13 years of age or younger.  There is a 2500 word maximum but no minimum word count for your story.  And if they decide to publish you, they will pay you $40.  But even better is seeing your work in print.              

You can find all the rules for submitting your work here:  http://www.stonesoup.com/stone-soup-contributor-guideline/

If you are an illustrator, they accept art work for consideration too.  Or if you are just interested
in being a reviewer, they are anxious to find kids willing to do book reviews.

There are lots of ways to get published thanks to Stone Soup.  So why not give it a try?

 GREAT FIRST LINES:

Who can forget that first great line of Charlotte's Web? 

'"Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.'

Immediately, we are intrigued.  Where is Fern's father going?  Why would a father walk around with an ax?  Before breakfast?

Great first lines pull a reader in, make them want to continue reading your work. 

Consider this first line from Belle Prater's Boy by Ruth White:  "Around 5:00a.m. on a warm Sunday morning in October 1953, my Aunt Belle left her bed and vanished from the face of the earth."

Wow, how can you not keep reading this after this opening sentence? 

Or from Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman:  "12th Day of September.  I am commanded to write an account of my days:  I am bit by fleas and plagued by family.  That is all there is to say."

Already, we, as readers, appreciate that our main character, Birdy, is irreverent and has a great sense of humor. 

First sentences are your way as a writer to capture your audience's attention quickly.  So take time when you begin your story.  A great first line may mean the difference between readers who can't wait to read on and ones who quickly put down your work.