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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#65: Spooky Season

What is it about Halloween that we find so deeply appealing? Is it the excuse to dress up and pretend to be something other than ourselves for a few hours? The exploration of all things creepy and macabre, of subjects normally too taboo to engage with? Perhaps it’s just the abundance of all our favorite candies at the same time.

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying the allure of this thrilling and chilling holiday. And while many people’s Halloween celebrations will need to be very different this year, there’s no reason why we can’t still enjoy a bit of spooky fun!

Whether you like horror, the creepy aesthetic, or just overloading on candy, this week’s prompts have plenty of inspiration to get you into the Halloween mood.

This week's prompts

Start your story with two characters deciding to spend the night in a graveyard.

Novel – 320 stories

Write about someone’s first Halloween as a ghost.

Halloween – 206 stories

Write about a group of witches meeting up on Halloween night.

Halloween – 135 stories

Write about a vampire or werewolf who moves into a quiet suburban neighborhood.

Vampire – 160 stories

Write about someone taking a child trick-or-treating for the very first time.

Kids – 87 stories

Stories

“A Place of Honour” by Tracey Carvill

Submitted to Contest #65

Sally looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She had spent a long time on this costume, and it had – in her humble opinion – all paid off. She turned to and fro to admire the movement of her dress. Multiple layers of delicate white fabric almost floated in the air, ragged yet still elegant. Her blond hair fell in loose curls over her shoulders, and her pale skin was powdered to be even paler. The only bit of colour to her was in her blue eyes, which were sparkling with excitement. This was her favourite time of year. She loved th...

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“Until They Say 'Boo!'” by Jessica Inman

Submitted to Contest #65

Amanda is a Ghost. She tip-toes behind the Witch, the Devil and the Monster, careful not to make a sound.Ghosts are very quiet until they say 'boo!'Amanda has never said 'boo!'Silent-step-by-silent-step, she creeps behind the Bigger Children.The Witch gazes into the empty cauldron.“At the end of the night we'll be able to build a candy castle!” She cackles.“If they don't give us candy, I'll stab them with my fork!” Says the Devil, thrusting his pink plastic pitchfork high into the sky.Amanda doesn't think they will be getting very much candy...

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“Jack and Daniels or Graveyard?” by SIMON Prathap

Submitted to Contest #65

Joe said ‘Can we go to the graveyard?’ Dave asked in surprise ‘Are you sure you said graveyard and not back yard?’ Joe looked at his watch ‘I said graveyard, Dave, I think we should go now before 12 am, let us have some thrilling experience and understand what really happens in a graveyard’ Dave watched the wall clock ‘what happens? Nothing! Here is your answer happy?’ Joe shook his head ‘Come on Dave, this is going to be exciting, spending a whole night inside a graveyard, Dave, we are going to make history’ Dave bit his lips as his friend ...

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“Heavenly Interview” by Inkstained Introvert

Submitted to Contest #65

Interviewer: Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Naswhit, for doing this interview with me. I really appreciate it. Harry: No problem. Bertha: It’s fine. Interviewer: ...All right then, let’s just get into it. Now Harry--do you mind if I call you Harry? Harry: Are you implying something by that? Interviewer: Not at all, Mr. Naswhit. Harry: But I thought you wanted to call me Harry! Interviewer: I, uh, it doesn’t really matter-- Harry: You can call me Harry. Interviewer: Okay then, so Harry-- Bertha: I call him Har. Interviewer: He.. you... okay, um, as ...

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“A Night Out at the Cemetery ” by Roxie Piatigorski

Submitted to Contest #65

Trigger warning: abuse It was a fine Friday afternoon in San Francisco State University and all of us students had our own weekend plans and that included me. After all, I wanted to take my girlfriend named Julia Mõttus to Davis for two days, so all we had to do was to pack our bags; however, we had to pack lightly for the 2-day trip. Julia and I had been dating for a while since the day we met each other at SF State’s very own GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Club “Roxie, are you sure you want to take me to Davis?” Julia ask...

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“Nothing Else Matters” by Chaitanya Cheke

Submitted to Contest #65

"Don't you think we should go back?" she said as we entered. "I don't feel good about this.""It's gonna be fine," I tell her. "Besides you're with me so what's there to be afraid of?" She nods and I could sense her discomfort but she says nothing as we walk in silence. "Do you think they exist?" she says after a moment."What?" I kind of already knew what it was going to be. I had told her a thousand times before but I could see now that those conversations didn't help."You know... Ghosts. Spirits. Stuff."I didn't say anything because I ...

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“No Man's Land” by Sulagna Poddar

Submitted to Contest #65

His headlight was focusing on the twigs placed abruptly on the track. They did not seem to have fallen off naturally from the trees canopying the graveyard. It was as if someone had left those twigs to indicate a direction.Iqbal muttered, “I think these guys left a track. We have to spend our night here until we see and record this transaction. Ambrose please click photos for evidence.”“But Iqbal, this is unofficial. We can’t possibly produce this evidence to the Commissioner. Until we find something concrete. Let’s not fall into confirmatio...

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“Halloween at Midnight.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #65

Bobby and Jimmy were destined to be bosom friends. They were born on the same day from families living on the same street. Bobby arrived seven hours earlier than Jimmy by stint of a delivery in which he popped out as easily as an orange pip being squeezed between thumb and forefinger. Whereas, Jimmy led to first contraction but made heavy weather of it in the final straight to the exit or finish line. Both had healthy lungs as demonstrated after receiving a hefty smack on the arse from an old-fashioned doctor. The doctor in question thought ...

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“Our Halloween Adventure ” by Roxie Piatigorski

Submitted to Contest #65

It’s been years since Julia Mõttus and I got married and had even had a simple yet lovely Pagan wedding (complete with our handfasting ceremony, maypole dancing and all), complete with our honeymoon to Karlovy Vary in Czechia and now I quit my job as a teacher in Marina Middle School in favor of starting my bakery business with my wonderful wife together, but that’s a different story. We decided to adopt a little girl, whom we decided to name Nephthys Karinna Mitchell, during which we settled down as a Rainbow family in the Sunset District...

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“On The Gray” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #65

Though there were tall iron fences, the gateway was empty, hinges rusted up with nothing on them. In the dark of the October evening, it struck Zara as wrong, and the things she’d agreed to on the bus took a darker and damper turn. “Are you sure they won’t lock up?” she asked. “How? There’s nothing to lock. And besides, we could just climb over the fence if they did, or stay till morning.” Rose slipped up behind her and put her arms round Zara’s waist. “Come on, you said you would. Don’t you think that’s romantic? Watching the sunrise to...

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“Odds of Life” by Mylene Recones

Submitted to Contest #65

Seating in a lanai drinking a hot chocolate with a plate of cinnamon roll and oatmeal cookies, Sheena was so amazed with the beauty the sunset displays after a morning rain. The late afternoon breeze seems to suit her emotions. She was so preoccupied enthralling and imagining for the upcoming event. She and her cousin had been invited to attend a Halloween festivity. She was worried and at the same time thrilled for it will be her first time to attend a Halloween party. It is almost twelve midnight but Sheena wasn’t able to steady and get s...

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“My Experience - Coween” by Ashley Smith

Submitted to Contest #65

Mommy, Mommy can I go out tonight? "Sweetie, where do you want to go"? Mommy, Mommy I want to get a ghost costume for Halloween tonight. "Why don't you go with your father when he comes home from work"? That is how it started. Hi! My name is Kenya and I am from Jamaica. I act like a toddler but I'm really only 10 years old. I live with my mama and my papa and they are always so nice to me, even though... sometimes they just treat me like I am younger. Mama homeschools me so she can save money and she also is a teacher. I like how Mama and Pa...

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“A bold choice” by Angela Sokolova

Submitted to Contest #65

Little Annie was preparing for her first Halloween night, in which she would go around and ask people, “Trick or Treat?”. Her costume for this year’s celebration was Princess Leia’s cosplay. Her mother braided her hair, and she also wore a cloak because she would accompany Annie and her little friends for the night. After some time of preparation, it was time to go out. “Mom, I’m very excited! Do you think that I will be able to fill my basket with candies?” - Annie asked as they walked. “Of course, darling, we just have to go around a l...

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“Janet Bernice” by A. Nelson

Submitted to Contest #65

this is my first story so bare with me😊 Sweet Halloween , where the dead comes to life They groan and moan, your blood they strive The witches on their brooms, as they hackle and fly The night when bloody Mary mourns and sighs Trick or Treating, with costumes alike For amusement, for pleasure, for a scare and for fright Let me ask you this dear reader, are you in for a scare? Walk through the cemetery at night, do you dare? With vampires and Werewolves, ready for a bite My dear reader, can you survive this Halloween night? F...

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“The Old Gravedigger” by Cheryl Fulks

Submitted to Contest #65

The Old Gravedigger Daphne and Charles entered the Valley Memorial Cemetery in London, England at 8:30 pm as previously allotted by the (Future Archeologists of America Club). The initiation was to take place at the location. They were to spend the night in the graveyard and would be accepted as full members the next morning. Daphne wore jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, she brought a blanket to cover up with when the night temperature dropped. Charles had not been as conscientious and because they weren’t even frie...

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$50

Prize money

908

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 30, 2020 EST

Won by Joshua G. J. Insole 🏆

Title: Bridgemoss Guardians

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.

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