#13: Spooktacular

This Thursday is Halloween! And you know we couldn't let October 31st go by without giving you all a batch of spooktacular writing prompts.

But don't worry if your tolerance for the scare factor is low: whether you're a fan of spine-chilling fiction or prefer stories about friendly ghosts, there's something in these prompts for everyone!

If you want to do some Halloween reading after you submit your short story, here are some great resources to help you find the perfect, spooky read.

100 Best Horror Books of All Time

All of the Best Stephen King Books, Ranked

And Then There Were None: The 10 Best Agatha Christie Books

33 Best Vampire Books to Sink Your Teeth Into

The 50 Best Suspense Books of All Time

Guide to Southern Gothic: 10 Dark Must-Reads

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone spending the night in an old Victorian home-turned-hotel on Halloween.

Halloween – 46 stories

You go to visit your neighbor. When you ring the doorbell, a stranger appears and tells you that your neighbor has been dead for ten years.

Thriller and Suspense – 49 stories

Write a story about someone who sees a black cat cross their path... for the tenth time that day.

Mystery – 40 stories

You go for a walk and accidentally bump into someone. They feel the bump, but the person can't seem to hear or see you.

Thriller and Suspense – 52 stories

Write a story about an eventful evening of trick-or-treating.

Kids – 37 stories

Stories

“Sarah's Victorian” by Amanda Smith

Submitted to Contest #13

“Monika, I told you. I entered the contest last week and I just heard back.” I wrapped the hair band around my ponytail extra tight so we could finish our run through Old Mead’s Park. The wind suddenly seemed more volatile as it produced a low humming moan that whispered through the dying fall leaves. “Yes, but it seems odd, don’t you think? No one has ever heard of Sarah’s Victorian before. This town is small. You think someone would have heard of an old mansion just minutes from town. And being one hundred years old?” “And that is precisel...

2 comments 2

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“The return of the old lover” by Ophelia S

Submitted to Contest #13

The hallways, labyrinthine, wide and ghoulish, attracted her in a weird manner, as if her feet were eager to feel the touch of the cold hardwood floor and explore that fascinating place. For some reason, Pauline could not stop thinking about it; she sighed, tossed and turned in the imponent matress that she laid on, faced the ceiling and counted sheep, however she could not sleep. Every now and then her eyes met the eyes of the big oil portrait that hanged in her room; it was a woman, fair and pale, with unsettling big brown eyes and some so...

3 comments 3

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“First Steps” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #13

Today is the day. Today is the day when I’m finally going to do it. Today is the day I go visit my best friend. After so many years of having her visit me.It all began ten years ago. Sarah and I had been walking home from a club, we’d been celebrating her eighteenth birthday. We were walking home in the wee small hours when no self-respecting girl should be out. But we were together, so it would be fine. Right?Wrong.We weren’t sensible, we felt the invincibility of youth. We didn’t keep to the main roa...

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“The Cat Came Back” by Debra Caples

Submitted to Contest #13

Bittie had always loved animals. She’d grown up on a farm in Kansas with cows, goats, a mule, rabbits. There’d been lots of dogs and lots of barn cats during her growing up. Years back, in her second hometown of Pawkuntsy, Ohio, she’d taken a puppy to the vet after it was hit by a car. Not able to afford to have it fixed up, she’d had it put down. Days later she’d gotten a thank you note from her office and an invitation to make her the first stop for veterinarian needs. Enclosed had been a sweet poem about The Rainbow Bridge, where you meet...

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“Old Man Murray” by Glen Evans

Submitted to Contest #13

"Raisins! What kind of people give out raisins on Halloween?" protested Mark."People with no taste, that's who! Next year we're definitely skipping that house" replied Donny."Without a doubt!" agreed Travis.The three boys had been friends since first grade, but this was the first year they were old enough in the parents eyes to go trick or teating by themselves and they wanted to make the most of it."Remember, we gotta be back by eight o'clock, my parents will ground me if we're late, I don't wanna get grounded" said Travis. He was the young...

7 comments 7

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“Anomaly, Utah” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #13

ANOMALY, UTAHBy Andrew Paul GrellBy this point in her marriage to Jacob, Cordelia Rigdon knew enough not to wish her husband good luck as he got ready for work on this busiest of days for him. There were the lectures on why actors tell each other to ‘break a leg,’ why the French say, ‘step in shit,’ and why the Jews warn against Ayin Ha Rah, the evil eye:“Darling, love of my life, I make my living because people believe in bad luck ten times stronger than they believe in good luck,” was a typical conclusion to a lecture, which may have ...

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“The Dream Catcher” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #13

“What did I say about slowing down?” Todd panted as he caught up with his sister. Her little 8-year-old legs concealed a turbo speed that belied their length. He was momentarily troubled by how his choice of words was taken straight out of his mother’s phrasebook, but he quickly pushed her memory aside. He didn’t like to think of the article he’d read earlier that day online had said Halloween sees a blurring of the boundaries between the living and the dead.“I’m sorry Todd,” she turned a chocolate smeared smile towards him. “This is excitin...

3 comments 3

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“Black Cat and Hattie” by Michelle Cook

Submitted to Contest #13

Hattie Jacques, they’d called her at school. After a fat, olden days actress. “Can you touch your toes, Hattie?” The skinny, mean girls would say.“Can you see your toes?” Jenna was the skinniest and meanest of the gang. Her sharp fingers were made for slapping faces.Hattie wasn’t that fat. Still, her thighs wobbled too much as she ambled towards the campus bus stop through the autumn drizzle.She’d planned to leave it all behind when she moved to Fulchester College. Granted, it was a twenty-mile commute on two stinky buses, but it was a ...

1 comment 1

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“The House on Hooper Street” by Richard Sirianni

Submitted to Contest #13

A long, hot, muggy summer has finally given way to the brisk temperatures of a long-awaited Autumn. The New York tri-state region is now breathing a sigh of relief with the recent arrest of David Berkowitz, the infamous postal worker responsible for a year's worth of murders. Local sports fans are still basking in the reversed fortunes of their New York Yankees with newly acquired Reggie Jackson guiding the team to their first World Series title in over a decade.It is Halloween of 1977, overcast, with temperatures hovering near the fifty-deg...

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“untimely Death ” by Huxley Giffard

Submitted to Contest #13

This morning I woke to the sound of my alarm and the sweet aroma of coffee I got out of bed and did my natural thing of having a morning shower then I would make my way into the sitting room to have my breakfast this morning it would be two medium rear fry eggs, toast and a three fry sausage`s and a cup of coco tea. All Prepared by Doreen oh did I forget to tell that Doreen is my wife and a fantastic cook as I take my place at the table, and go through the morning papers, and it was then that I came across a small column about a long time fr...

1 comment 1

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“Scare Tactics” by Debra Goings

Submitted to Contest #13

Jody got a text from Diane asking her what she had planned for Halloween night. She text back that it was still open. Diane told her that the,spooky old house on the hill was going to open the house to guests for that night. Diane always believed in ghosts and other silly things like that. Jody is practical and she tolerated her friends opinions but thought it was all nonsense. She loves her friend and decides to text her that they should get a room. Diane text back that she can't believe she would go but she agrees and will make a reservati...

0 comments 0

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“If you go into the woods tonight” by Laura Moverin

Submitted to Contest #13

My name is Teresa, I’m sixteen and Halloween is by far my favorite time of the year but it also has some anxiety for me. You see my specialty is creating the costume, no sexy kitty for me it has to have references and it has to show skill. I’ve done the werewolf, I’ve done the vampire, I’ve done so many things it’s getting hard to think of what to do next.After much deliberation I’ve settled on the ghost this year. I keep quiet about this choice, not even telling best friend Jess. She and I go to the same high school and much as I love her, ...

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“The Black Cat” by Sarah Cork

Submitted to Contest #13

Ever get the feeling you are being stalked? Ever get the feeling you are being stalked…by a cat? There is a black cat that I have seen for like, the 10th time today. The thing is following me and he is starting to really creep me out. It has these green eyes that narrow when it looks at me. Like it wants me dead. It hates me, and I haven’t even done anything to it. Hell, I like cats. They have never really liked me, but still. It shouldn’t hate me this much. It all started when I was going for an evening stroll. It was a nice evening. As soo...

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“Huh?” by Christine Hungerford

Submitted to Contest #13

That’s strange. I stopped and stared at the black cat. It had crossed my path several times today. I couldn’t count, though—I was striving to get to work to do some paperwork, although it was a Saturday. Yes, but I wanted to work extra hard to show Mr. Pigs that I cared about being one of his employees. If I didn’t work hard enough for his approval, I’d quit. I was getting tired of his complaining. EZ Ways Corporation was a...

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“Count to Ten” by Dale Lehman

Submitted to Contest #13

The black cat shot from the Kowalczyk’s hedge across my bow like a cannonball. At the same instant, the crack of a bat sounded, and ten-year-old Brian Kowalczyk nearly beaned me with a line drive hit off his younger brother Steve’s pitching. As Steve scrambled after the ball, Brian grinned sheepishly and waved. “Sorry, Mr. Stevens!” After my years in Nam, I don’t startle easily, and anyway, no harm had been done. I waved back and said, “Nice hitting! Who’s cat was that?” Brian shrugged and took a practice swing as Steve scampered back to the...

2 comments 2

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$50

Prize money

224

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 01, 2019 EST

Won by Zilla Babbitt 🏆

Title: Queen Cymbeline

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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#13: Spooktacular

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone spending the night in an old Victorian home-turned-hotel on Halloween.

You go to visit your neighbor. When you ring the doorbell, a stranger appears and tells you that your neighbor has been dead for ten years.

Write a story about someone who sees a black cat cross their path... for the tenth time that day.

You go for a walk and accidentally bump into someone. They feel the bump, but the person can't seem to hear or see you.

Write a story about an eventful evening of trick-or-treating.