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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

“Sisters” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

Amethyst almost jingled as she walked down the street. She was adorned in mounds of gemstone jewelry that clanged with every step: necklaces of quartz as clear as the night sky, aventurine bracelets carrying hundreds of charms, huge rings of tiger eye wrapped around every finger. It was a wonder she managed not to fall over with all the extra weight. She hurried past giggling children and their parents, ignoring their curious glances, and stepped into the forest at the end of the neighborhood. The trees stood so close together she could...

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“My Name is Melissa” by Miguel Balinado

Submitted to Contest #65

It was a stormy evening in the huge memorial park of Noirewood and the dark, night sky is filled with roaring thunder.My 40-year old, self-made millionaire husband, Vernon, and I decided to spend the night in the refuge of our black-colored Sedan."Melissa, get the umbrella on the back of the trunk," said my abusive and authoritarian husband. I hurriedly opened the front door of the car as I rushed to the trunk of our Sedan. The rain pouring heavily on me and all I think about is to avoid being beaten up again by Vernon.As soon I got back to ...

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“Sapphires” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #65

Just so we are clear, I hate being the new kid. But my parents don’t really enjoy living in one area for too long. This time was a little different. We have returned to the family manor, located in a small, rather quiet town called Rosewood Valley. It's a place I have never seen before. FYI, my family, and I are also vampires.You may ask how could creatures like us possibly be real? I think it’s safe to tell you. Stories such as the one you’re about to hear, have never been proven as fact, only fiction. Besides, any proof you might try to di...

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“iWitch” by Jessy Glazewski

Submitted to Contest #65

It was my first time hosting the annual Halloween seance and I really wanted to impress my coven. I gathered all the supplies I needed. My book of spells, hexes, and Incantations, passed down through at least the last few generations of Easton women, the bullfrog, and my ceremonial sacrificial knife. We were proud of our traditional inheritance and were active in the activities of our community of like-minded witches. The practice nowadays was little more than entertainment. A reason to gather. Much like watching a scary ...

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“Love; the biggest spell ever” by Radhika Diksha

Submitted to Contest #65

This is my first same-sex romance story. And I have dedicated this story to my friend Yolanda Wu, when I was new in reedsy she used to give me a lot of feedback and encouraged me to write more. And she's the queen of same-sex stories. After reading her stories I got inspired, to write one.And a few days ago, it was her birthday. So it's a tiny gift for her, from my side. Hope you all love it, and please don't forget to give your feedback. And please check Yolanda's stories as well, she's an awesome writer.Loving someone is not a crime. Love ...

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“S-T-I-C-K” by Aafia Hanya

Submitted to Contest #65

Look, I really didn’t really want to be a walking stick, but it wasn’t much of my choice. It all happened so quickly, before I could even say STICK. My first mistake after shifting here was going trick or treat out on Halloween for the very first and last time. We had shifted to Cane village near fall. No idea why, we were happy in our previous town, more like I was. I was very different from other kids, or the other kids were very weird, kind of spooky. My first Halloween had been awkward…. there were just a few kids roaming on the s...

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“A Witch’s Guide to Being Brave” by Itxy Lopez

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #65

My hands are clenched inside my robe’s pockets. Better, I think, bunched up and out of sight than to see them shaking. I’m breathing one, two, three, in, and one, two, three, out, but my heart’s still beating in my chest like an annoying neighbor who can’t take a hint. I want to call them—Paola, Saanvi, and Emma—and tell them I’m out. That I’ll join them next Halloween, but Emma’s words won’t stop playing in my head. They were the last words she said to me the first day I met her: “Witches don’t have a choice but to be brave. Fear be da...

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“Au Naturel” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #65

I raced down the street, yelling apologies over my shoulder as I bumped into human trick-or-treaters. I was late as all hell and knew that Miria would lose it. Regrettably, this wasn't even a simple coven meeting I was late for, this was the big one. The-once-a-millenia all witches of North America meeting that had life or death consequences. I finally reached the park, hideously out of breath and gasping. The security guard at the perimeter stared at me suspiciously, taking in my red and black lace and spider adorned dress. He took...

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“Guardian Angel ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #65

Halloween. Another opportunity for the humans to get into all sorts of mischief, as they often did on all the holidays. It was the first Halloween I had experienced on Earth and to be honest, I was not expecting it to be overly exciting. However, my young charge seemed to have a different viewpoint on the matter. “Come on, mum! Pleeeeaaasseee take me Trick or Treating!” she pleaded with her mother. Her mother brushed her off, as she always did, although this time with indifference instead of anger. I was not sure which one hurt more. “No, ...

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“The Dead in Denver” by Molly Leasure

Submitted to Contest #65

“Star’s look nice, huh?” Denver’s eyes wander to Lea’s in a silent plea. Her head perks to the noise, but she barely acknowledges him. Gripping the fabric of his jeans on both knees, he lowers his gaze. That was the last attempt he had in him. Now there’s just silence clinging to the stale tension separating them.Run.He furrows his brow. For a long time, the voices were only whispers. Why now?Run.She’ll kill you.Biting down on his bottom lip, Denver glares across the yard—the graveyard. This was Lea’s idea. She wanted to see their siste...

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“Spellsy!® ” by Leviathan Four

Submitted to Contest #65

On Halloween night, far into the forest primeval, past crumbling limestone tombs and gurgling black pools, greasy goblins and ghastly ghouls prepared excitedly for Spellsy!®—the largest (probably) annual spellcasting contest for nocturnal creatures who like to flex their creative enchanting muscles. As was their wont, three hideous witches gathered, muttering and murmuring their various and sundry complaints.“Fair is foul and foul is fair, but these Spellsy!® prompts are far too narrow for either,” griped Hurly Burly. “How do the ...

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“I Need Sheep” by Molly Leasure

Submitted to Contest #65

Tap.Refresh.Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’ve been waiting for a reply since April and it’s damn near Halloween. I draw both hands down my face, contemplating social murder—of myself. Right, that’s suicide. Maybe that’s the reason they haven’t accepted my piece. I’ve tarred myself, waiting for them to add the feathers. And why would they want to be complicit in my murd—suicide.I need sheep.Sleep.Easing around towards the window, I stare into Harry’s (my once rancid rat of a neighbor’s) yard unabashed. Harry’s long since departed, rest his gr...

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“How to Disappear in 3 Easy Steps” by Jessy Glazewski

Submitted to Contest #65

[Transcript Start]Hello audio listeners, and thank you for tuning into this week's ‘How to Be Your Best Vampire’ Podcast episode #334 titled, ‘How to Disappear in 3 Easy Steps’. As always, I'm your host, Drakka Bababooginski.Before we begin, I bring to you a word from our sponsors:***************************“So, you’re a bloodthirsty vampire with the insatiable thirst for the nectar of the body, huh? Prone to hasty, irrational thinking when presented with the smell of blood? Need a way to ween off of the red juice? Then look no further ...

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“Hallowed Ground” by Andrew Krey

Submitted to Contest #65

*Author’s Note: “Hallowed Ground” is a standalone story, set in the same universe as my other Reedsy short-stories, with overlapping characters/events.*The storm cloud was closing in ahead, chasing away the sun as it set behind me. The dark had begun rolling in earlier as the days quickly became night. Ahead I could see lit campfires. We didn’t have that luxury, our mission was too important to risk unwanted attention. I came to a halt now I knew the buildings weren’t as abandoned as they appeared. As soon as my footsteps stopped, Cyril...

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“The Mysterious Costume” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

“Are you sure you want to go?” I ask for the millionth time.Oliver nods as he adjusts the satchel hanging over his shoulder. I smile, tucking my worry away into a small corner of my heart. It’ll grow there, but at least it’ll be quiet. Jack would roll his eyes at my nonsense.Something catches in my throat and I swallow hard, pushing the memories down.Oliver grabs my hand and pulls me through the door. I laugh, a sound so rare in the household I stop halfway through. I shake my head and take a deep breath. This night needs to be perfect. It’s...

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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.

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

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