#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

“The Evil Doll” by Jay McClinton

Submitted to Contest #13

“Come to me Jane, and all will be well. (evil laughter) Come and be apart of my collection!” I awake from a bad dream I have been having for a month. I walk over to the window and sigh. It is the month of October. Where the rainfalls are heavy and clouds are dark. The vibe of the city is misty and the people walk around with fear and gloom on their hearts. I close the curtains and glance at my calendar. “The 31st of October...so, it is finally time.” I whispered. It was about a month ago when I applied to stay in this old Victorian home-turn...

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“NIGHT OF HORROR” by DayeAbasi Etim

Submitted to Contest #13

NIGHT OF HORRORCassandra rolled her luggage into the hotel's reception area, a warm smile plastered across her oblong face, eyes glinting with infectious happiness. It was the eve of Halloween and she couldn't wait to spend time with her family and little cousins. She had brought her favourite costume and looked forward to wearing it for the occasion. With face beaming uncontrollably, she approached the receptionist and got a key to a room she had reserved earlier on, glad that she was lucky to have found a hotel that wasn't filled up with g...

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“Mystic Shores” by Elizabeth Johnson-Murphree

Submitted to Contest #13

Elyse Tapley sat as passengers spilled out of the buses accordion door, all in a rush, to be where? The quaint drugstore was the bus stop in Niantic, Connecticut and where everyone bought their bus tickets in the small town on Long Island Sound. She waited until the last person was off, and then walked down the aisle to the door pausing before stepping down to the brick sidewalk. Elyse froze for a moment feeling as if she were instantly transported back to the 1950’s. She walked toward the bay where she had rented a room...

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“The Halloween House ” by Aimee DuFresne

Submitted to Contest #13

The Halloween Hotel: Join us, if you dare….“This sounds lame.” Casey groaned. “The Halloween Hotel? Couldn’t they at least think of a better name for this gimmick? Ugh.” “Maybe you should have pitched them your marketing services.” Erica grinned. “I know you would have come up with a great name. But names aside, read the history. Some serial killer holed himself up in this house in the 1920s. Women were going missing and the maid there at the time worked out he was behind it. Doesn’t actually say how she worked that out.” “Perhaps because it...

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“The Invitation” by April Hale

Submitted to Contest #13

Silver grey drops of water crashed against my window. It had been raining for four days and nights. The skies were streaked with dark endless clouds and the streets were running with dark streams. The coursing cars drove headlong into undaunting pools. Only one poor fool with a black umbrella dared to walk the streets. He had to be crazy to go out in this kind of weather. I sat at the kitchen table, deciding what to cook for dinner. My options were thin. I needed to go to the grocery store, but I was not excited about venturing into th...

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“One's love of Halloween” by Taylah Carmichael

Submitted to Contest #13

The screaming. The loud echoes for help. The bloody hand print on the door. My heart pounded as the fear ran its icy grip along my spine. I adored Halloween: the preparation leading up to the holiday, the fear inducing costumes and decorations, the constant reminder horror and evil exists. It was different to all the other holidays with their fluffy, chocolate giving bunnies and jolly, fat men in red. Halloween was fear and a reminder that not everything is all good and nice in the world. The most realistic holiday in my opinion. It was a sp...

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“The Estate” by Brandon Swezey

Submitted to Contest #13

I dropped my bag and sat down on the large bed in the center of the room. It was made up with an expensive floral comforter and plenty of lace-covered throw pillows. The ancient wooden walls were hung with impressive paintings that depicted beautiful landscapes and people wearing puffy, outdated clothing. The room had clearly belonged to someone of great wealth and high importance at some point in time. What a fucking dump.I laid back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Natalie should be here.There was a knock at the door.“It’s open.” I...

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“Staring Back at Me” by Juliette Lipari

Submitted to Contest #13

Gravel gray clouds filled the once crisp clear blue sky. Rain cascades from the confident sky, striking the Earth with such a powerful force that I stand paralyzed for a few seconds. As I stare out the window, I focus on two raindrops racing against each other. If the left one wins, I’m not a loser, I thought. “April, I’ll pay you 100 dollars if you stay the night,” Daniel joked, snapping me out of my trance. “Where?” I asked curiously. “The old hotel on the corner of Woods and Pine Street. Legend has it that no kid h...

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“The Shattered Door” by Rudy Uribe

Submitted to Contest #13

I need to take a good hard look and revisit my definition of fun. My girlfriend, Allison sobbed almost to the point of incoherence as she spoke to the police. Kevin grimaced with pain as his arm dangled from his elbow. His girlfriend, Missy was catatonic, unable to answer any questions. And me – I stood in the foyer with my arms handcuffed, and a police officer reading me my rights. They were charging me with manslaughter.***It had started innocently enough. I sat at my breakfast nook and sipped my cup of coffee. I looked up at Allison. “Why...

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““The Last Paradise Hotel”” by Simone Stark

Submitted to Contest #13

I wish I could just go home and play video games but instead, I’m stuck here in an old creepy hotel. It all started when our grandpa won a ticket to Manta Reef from an internet ad. At first, the thought of relaxing at the best beach in the world brightens up everything.I’m Dom Rodriguez by the way. I’m fourteen and this is my story. So anyway my mind was set on going towards Manta Reef in Halloween but there’s a catch. Not everyone has to go on an epic vacation at Manta Reef and grandpa can only bring one of us but lucky me for being th...

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“Halloween Honeymoon” by Jamie McAllister

Submitted to Contest #13

The wind whistled shrilly as the deep blue sedan wound up the dark two-lane highway. Lofty trees towered over the road on both sides, the last vestiges of their crimson, yellow, and orange leaves swirling to the ground in the wind. Dark clouds rolled and spun in the twilight sky, thunder cracking in the distance. The young couple inside the sedan seemed oblivious to the impending storm around them, holding hands and throwing sappy glances at each other on a dangerously frequent basis. Thomas suddenly snatched his hand away ...

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“Mystery on Treetop Lane” by Beverly Hudson

Submitted to Contest #13

Mystery on Treetop Lane Penny and I loved to take off shopping, especially during the holidays. The Halloween season was fast approaching, and there was a lot to work out. Every year we host an old school Halloween event, with all the traditional favorites. Apple bobbing, tasty apple cider, a Halloween costume contest, Mrs. Witard’s sugary cookies formed into ghosts and goblins, Mrs. Grunlee’s pumpkin pie and Halloween themed games, are all a part of the festivities. We went from one end of...

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“The Resident” by Octavious S.Manor

Submitted to Contest #13

Ike flew out of the backdoor as fast as he could. Would he come after me? What would he do when he caught me? Would he kill me? Ike thought as he desperately prayed to God. The man had a gun, while Ike was defenceless. Ike reached his hiding spot, the one that had kept him hidden for so many years.Ike could see a window from here. He didn’t want to look inside, but he mustered up some courage and looked. Inside, there was the bodies of his parents. They were still hugging each other, the way they were when they died. Tears found the way to h...

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“Who Zeked Roger Johnson?” by Robert Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #13

Roger Johnson is very tired; it’s Friday afternoon and it’s been a long week. He’s looking forward to the weekend; there’s a baseball game he’s taking in with his son, his co-worker and his daughter. But first they must wrap up work; there’s a rumor that both men are duty-bound to check out. It’s almost Halloween of 1953; the weather has turned cool quickly and fall is definitely in the air. Maryland in the autumn is a fine place to be and Roger’s wife Betty has been baking pie...

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“Mrs.Bloomer” by Zita Bowzski

Submitted to Contest #13

I was five when I first met Mrs. Bloomers. She was sitting in that wooden rocking chair. I never liked that rocking chair, there was Just something...off about it. Little did I know seven years later, on that very same day, would be the last I saw of her, and her rocking chair. It was late October, and everyone was getting ready for Halloween. I walked down my block to Mrs. Bloomers' house, and was suprised to see a light grey minivan parked in her always-empty driveway. I was confused at first, wondering who's car that was, but I assumed it...

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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.