Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

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

“Desertion of Frost” by Mel Shield

Submitted to Contest #65

Hoarfrost coated coastal grasses crunched heavily under weary feet. Neither of the men took any delight or satisfaction from the sound, with rhythmic blasts of breath pluming through the air announcing their laboured march. Countless hours they had trekked, plodding along beaten tracks, through wilderness and, most recently, atop the broken cliffs of the North East coast. Fatigued, yet determined, they had continued with no set destination or pit-stop in mind. Until, within the last hour, or so they surmised, moonlight cast a beacon for them...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Do it for the views” by Vameerah Darren

Submitted to Contest #65

“What’s up guys! Welcome back to ‘dareswithLandon’ today we are doing something crazy!” I clicked the stop button on the camera and walked over to where my guest for this video was waiting. I set the camera up and started recording again, “For this dare I’m bringing along…” I swung my arms to the right and she jumped into frame, “What’s up everyone!” I smiled, “My sister Miriam!” I pulled out my phone and made a show of scrolling through comments, even though I already knew what we were going to be doing. “Oh! Today’s dare is...

2 comments 2
Read story

“It's Going To Work…” by San T.

Submitted to Contest #65

"Are you sure it’s going to work?""It’s going to work.""Are you sure he will come?""He will come.""How can you be so sure?""I saw it in his eyes."Siri was feeling breathless in excitement. It had been ten years since she had seen the walking, breathing Rueben. Her Rueben. Her only forever. Her hands were trembling, and she found it difficult to push through the crowd. The festive season had started. The whole city was decked up in lights and decorations. For the first time in ten years, Siri was feeling happiness and excitement again. The fe...

7 comments 7
Read story

“Hollows Eve” by Temnit Meshesha

Submitted to Contest #65

The carved pumpkins, hardly frightening costumes. The vibrant fall leaves, kids giggling nearby after taking more than one candy out of a bowl. It’s finally here. Halloween.I'm still fond of my trick or treating days. Dressing up as superheroes with my friends, a simple vampire alone. I can’t believe this time I will be going with my first child.We walk for a few minutes trying to find a good house, the ones with loads of decorations on the lawn. We settle on one with fake spiders on its fake webs. “Go on,” I say, nudging him forward. H...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Not What I Wanted” by Wesley Teel

Submitted to Contest #65

I watched her hair fall out of the shoddy bun I did my best to create. Cinderella skipped on the sidewalk in front of me, no cares in the world as she swung her jack-o-lantern filled to the brim with treasures, candy spilling out here and there. What was one or two pieces compared to the bounty she would find when we got home?  Another piece of hair fell from the back of her up-do; the bobby pin gripping to the piece, trying its best to hold the piece of hair in place. Internally, I grimaced. Brushing her hair was hard enough. Trying ...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The First Halloween” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #65

Mona was almost as excited as Spencer was. Scratch that. Mona was more excited than Spencer, because Mona knew what was going to happen tonight and Spencer did not.          Mona reached into a bag and removed a little pink bucket with dancing unicorns all around it. Next, she removed a pink body suit and tights. Reaching in again, she pulled out a tri-colored rainbow tail, a headband with little pink ears and a gold horn, and some make-up.      &nb...

0 comments 0
Read story

“I don't want you to stop haunting me” by Miles Spades

Submitted to Contest #65

It took me a while to realize I was dead, not dreaming. Have you ever had a dream where you dragged yourself out of bed, brushed your teeth, got dressed for work, and then woke up and realized you were actually still in your bed? It was kind of like that, except that I realized my body was still in my bed, but I wasn't. I was scared, but also relieved. I've always feared death like nothing else. I've dreaded it since I found out about it. I was terrified to stop existing. But it wasn’t as bad as I feared. I’m not alive, but I still exist! I...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Cauldron” by Rachel Macmorran

Submitted to Contest #65

In Spring, Mother Earth begins her exhalation, breathing warmth and energy into all living things. Sap rises, leaves unfurl, flowers waft their sweet essence to tempt passing pollinators, mated pairs begin to rebuild their nests, jackets are left at home and shoulders are bared. In Summer, all is replete. Vines are heavy with fruit, grasses bend under the weight of their grains, spindly fawns prance and run, fledglings proudly soar, browned skin glistens with sweat. But at Samhain, Mother Earth begins to inhale, drawing all back to herself. ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Run ” by You'd Think A Writer Would Have A More Creative Name .

Submitted to Contest #65

1120 wordsRated PG: fearThat knock. Why are they hitting their knuckles against my door so aggressively? My body reacts before I know what's happening. I spin, and feel my hands being turned into wings-- they flap quickly. I'm almost at the basement stairs before I stop. Muscle memory, that's all. I moved to this time frame specifically so I wouldn't have to deal with riots and burnings. Exhausted from my brief flight, I spin again. My feet grow bigger. By ears move and reform. My teeth poke out of my mouth. My sweatpants still have that pi...

0 comments 0
Read story

“ghostly perspectives” by Anna Godfrey

Submitted to Contest #65

when she woke up, it was almost sundown. the first Halloween she spent as a ghost would mean she could go out of the house and finally see her kids and sun. unlike many ghosts, she was friendly. the ghosts could also relocate to abandoned mansions or were their friends and family were. little did anyone know, but most families had a ghost in their house, making sure that no one broke in. the families that got killed didn't have ghosts. when she had pushed out of the window, as it was midnight and Halloween had just started, she could final...

2 comments 2
Read story

“All hallows eve” by Tara Ramdhan

Submitted to Contest #65

It's finally All-hallows Eve October 31st or Halloween as most people would say.Every year my fellow witch sisters choose a meeting place so that we could come together and solve whatever issues we may have. Our witch circle is fairly small because you don't know who you can trust anymore. Our circle has been the same for years. we have beautiful Luna a very powerful witch with the powers of psychokinesis Luna says she loves her powers but when she's angry everything moves and it's very scary. we call bree mother nature because she has the p...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Ethereal Halloween” by C Britt

Submitted to Contest #65

A week ago, I got out of bed and turned around to see that my body didn't come with me. I thought at first that I was dreaming. It was only when I watched my husband trying to wake my lifeless body that I realized I had died. When I was still alive, I used to imagine what someone would feel when they became a ghost. I used to think that watching your loved ones mourn would be sad; that no longer being part of the physical world would be frightening. But it turns out, that isn't the case. Maybe I'm still in shock, or maybe a physical body ...

4 comments 4
Read story

“The Angel in the Orchard” by Kate Bibb

Submitted to Contest #65

Everyone knows about trick-or-treating. Everyone has an embarrassing photo of themselves as a child wearing some preposterous outfit. Except me, that is. I grew up without Halloween. I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, and my name is Amber Roux. Where I used to live, it was far too cold by October to go outside. By then, snowdrifts had shut our door. But, due to unforeseeable circumstances, I am taking my little cousin, Emmy, trick-or-treating in humid Florida. Mosquitoes stick to my skin, managing to bite me through the thin fabric of the cheap a...

0 comments 0
Read story

“First Timer” by Joe Poole

Submitted to Contest #65

The last thing I remember was that I was walking home on New Year's eve. I always took a walk to have alone time and reflect on the previous year. As I rounded a bend in the road, I was blinded by headlights........... Then thud...... Nothingness surrounded me. Not the bright light to go to that you hear so much about. Just nothingness.... Now, here I am almost a year after being laid to rest so to speak, I am awake. Did I wake from a coma and who are all this grotesque figures surrounding me? Suddenly, one of the figures smiles and then sp...

0 comments 0
Read story

“My Little Ghostbuster” by AJ Thomas

Submitted to Contest #65

The first time I took a child trick or treating was magical. It was still early, early enough that all the kids could be back home in time for bedtime, so the streets weren't crowded. Decorated homes lined the side of the road, some completely decked out with flashing lights and jump scares, others with a few orange pumpkins resting on their front porches. Jack-o-lanterns watched with grinning faces, the candles inside their mouths burning bright. You could tell which ones were carved by kids and which ones weren't.Occasionally, I would see ...

0 comments 0
Read story

$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.

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

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.