Every Writer in Wordville liked stories a lot.
But the Grinch who lived North of Wordville did not!
The Grinch hated writing—the whole creative way.
Now, please don’t ask why. No one knows what to say.
It could be, perhaps, he didn’t own paper or pen.
It could be he disliked trying again, and again.
But, I think the most likely reason was this, dear,
His heart was hijacked by nasty ol’ fear.
Fear is the #1 enemy of every writer, near and far.
But the Grinch held onto terror, like jam in a jar.
Staring down from his cave, he watched the townsmen below,
And vowed to destroy the stories they loved so.
He thought, in this room, she reads. In the other, he writes.
Then, they gather together to share laughter and delight.
“I hate all their happiness! I despise all their joy!”
“I’ll crush the imagination of every girl and boy!”
He drummed his grinchy fingers and growled, oh so mad.
He vowed not to stop ‘til they were nothing but sad.
The Grinch laughed, then sneered. “I know just what to do!”
The he slinked through his cave to plot his evil, awful coup.
He crept down each chimney, of each house, one by one.
He stole everything they used for their writerly fun.
Journals, computers, papers, pens and books.
He robbed from each cranny, he thieved from each nook.
The writers had no more of their literary stuff.
Now, they couldn’t create their ridiculous fluff.
Up the side of Mount Crumpet, ten thousand feet in the air,
He rode to the tippy-top, then dumped the load without a care.
“I’ve ruined those writers!” he was grinchily humming.
“They are so stupid! They never saw it coming.”
“They’re waking up now to their lives ruined for good.”
“They’ll cry boo-hoo tears, just like they should.”
“That’s a noise,” smiled the Grinch, “that will be oh, so grand.”
He laughed deep from his belly, then put his ear to his hand.
“Listen.” He heard a sound rising over the dawn and the snow.
It started out soft, then it started to grow.
Oh no! What’s this? That sound wasn’t sad.
It sounded quite happy. It sounded quite glad.
Every writer down in Wordville, the small and the tall,
Still gathered for stories—they were having a ball!
He hadn’t stopped writing. He hadn’t stopped their words.
Stories flew from their mouths like air with the birds.
“How could this be?” he said, aghast and aloud,
As the townsmen grew into a huge, happy crowd.
Maybe writing is not about computers, or even things.
Maybe writing is about giving your imagination its wings.
What happened next to the Grinch? Well, in Wordville they say,
His icy, cold terror? It melted completely away.
The true meaning of writing shined right on through.
He gathered the stolen treasures. He knew what to do.
The Grinch whizzed with his load through the bright morning sun.
He experienced something brand new. The Grinch had some fun.
He rode straight into Wordville. He brought everything back.
The Grinch returned all the items. He had such a knack.
Writing goes with us, wherever we may go.
Stories live in our hearts. WE make them so.
Writing will always and forever will be.
I share words with you. You give yours to me.
PRACTICE
Write your own version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Have fun with this—do something like The Grinch Who Stole Pizza. Post in the comments section below. Be sure to praise all the Dr. Seuss inspiration out there.
I appreciate you all!
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This was absolutely awesome. Thank you.
Many thanks, Sandra! It was a joy to do for Joe and everyone at TWP!
I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I’m not a writer of stories similar to this – I may have to attempt it at some point. I love that you had the rhymes and all. Very nice story. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Elysabeth and hope you will try your hand at Dr. Seuss. Trying at hand at different types of writing strengthens our craft overall. Good luck!
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG – Marcy, you are a class apart, sweetheart #HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOVE you to death and beyond 😉
<3 Happy Christmas <3
Kitto
Thanks, Kitto. This was a BLAST to write!
Happy Christmas to you, as well!
Wonderful Marcy, thank you. I have always loved the Grinch and Dr. Seuss. My other favorite book is “Oh, the Places you’ll Go”. It’s wonderful for motivation.
I’ve always loved Dr. Seuss, too, Barb. Someone gave me Oh, the Places You’ll Go when I graduated from high school. What a great gift.
In a word – Fabulous.
On world book day they implement DEAR at my daughter’s junior school – Drop everything and Read. They do this for 20 minutes – can you imagine the impact on the children to see the headteacher joining everyone to quietly sit and read with his to-do list on the floor next to him? I just implemented DEAR and loved the rhyme xx
In a word: THANKS!
My kids did DEAR day when they were in elementary school. It’s wonderful. Thanks for stopping by.
Wonderful I love this Marcy! You keep up the good work! I’m going to have to try something like this.
Definitely give Dr. Seuss a try, Miriam. It was so fun because I just followed his framework of the story as to “what happened next”, but made it my own! 🙂
What a wonderful and nice poem! I read it with delight! That you, Marcy! That was some piece of creativeness. Marry Christmas to you and to all the readers!
Many thanks, Natalia. Merry Christmas back to you and happy writing in 2015!
Thank you!)
*That you – I meant – Thank you! ))
Merry Christmas Marcy.
Hello, sweet Madani. Merry Christmas to you as well. I hope yours was joyful.
“Writing goes with us, wherever we may go.
Stories live in our hearts. WE make them so.
Writing will always and forever will be.
I share words with you. You give yours to me.”
This goes in my favorite quotes. Thank you, this is amazing <3
The end is my favorite part, too, Dimana. Fit the story + our journeys as writers as well. Good luck in sharing your words with others.
Delightful! Thanks for giving me a chuckle.
Your delight is my delight, Sandra. Thanks for taking time to say so.
Marcy! That was just awesome!
“I share words with you. You give yours to me.” I think that pretty much sums up how I envision 2015: an exchange of words for the enjoyment and fulfillment of all.
Hope you’re having a beautiful holiday at the beach and wishing you and your family a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
Hi T.O.! I LOVE your vision for 2015 and wish you all the best. The key is small steps — writing one word at a time toward your dreams.
Good luck!
Love this exercise and your rendition!! Nicely done! Thank you for the challenge and the model. Good reminder that we can practice creativity within clear boundaries and benefit from emulating others.
The Grinch brings back fond childhood memories. Thanks for that.
I’m grading papers now so I won’t be trying this yet, but will keep it in mind as an exercise to do.
Of course this is an approach (“redoing” another work with a new focus) with endless possibilities. This brings to mind an exercise I do in my ESL reading and writing classes. We read and analyze “A Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes, then students write their own version, with beautiful results. Present perfect and simple past verb forms are repeated throughout.
Thanks for the holiday story with an inspiring twist.
Wow, Susan. Thanks so much for your terrific insights. It really was great fun for me once I relaxed and let me self get into a “Seussy” flow. Good luck to you and your writing in 2015!
So great! Loved it 🙂
Thanks, Luana. I appreciate your kind words.
This was just so delightful to read! This made my night! I am defenitly going to subscribe now! I adore this! 🙂