***CONTEST UPDATE***
I apologize for the fact that I am behind schedule posting the finalists. I know you are all waiting. I did not anticipate 324 entries or I would have given myself and the other judges more time. We will do our best to have the finalists posted by tomorrow or Saturday.
Lizard toes and dragon scales! It’s time for . . .
The 9TH Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!
~ for children’s writers ~
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in the 100 words), using the words potion, cobweb, and trick. Your story can be scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 🙂 (And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge! We got over 235 fantastic entries last year, so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form – e.g. potions, cobwebbed, trickery, whathaveyou 🙂 NO ILLUSTRATION NOTES PLEASE! (And yes, you may submit more than one entry if you’re so inclined 🙂 )
Post: your story on your blog between right now this very second and Thursday October 31st by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list below (not your blog’s main url because if you post again after your entry during the dates of the contest, the judges will find the wrong post!) There will be no Tuesday Debut, Perfect Picture Book or Would You Read It posts for the duration of the contest so the links will stay up for everyone to visit and enjoy. If you don’t have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section below (please include your byline! If your posting handle is something like MamaWritesByNightlight I can’t identify you.) If you have difficulty posting in the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com and I’ll post it for you. Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title and byline at the top – NO ATTACHMENTS! And please do not submit entries before the start of the contest! Please submit your entry only ONCE! If you add it to the blog link list, and the comments, and email me to post it, things get very confusing! I try to stay as glued to my desk as possible, but sometimes I have to get up so if I don’t respond to your email or approve your post immediately, don’t panic! I’ll get to it as soon as I can!
The Judging: in a grueling marathon over the coming days, my devoted assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 6 9 12? top choices (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with winnowing, so we’ll see!) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 4th (if the judging takes longer than we expect if could be later…but we will do our best!) The winner will be announced on Thursday November 7th (good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise 🙂 )
Judging criteria will be as follows:
- 1. Kid-appeal! – These stories are intended for a young audience (ages 12 and under), so we’re looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.
- 2. Halloweeniness – the rules state a Halloween story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about Halloween, not just some random spooky night.
- 3. Quality of story – entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny 🙂 Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
- 4. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 🙂 Overall writing quality and use of language are also important.
- 5. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
- 6. PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS! Large numbers of entries make it easy to cut entries that haven’t been entered as we asked.
The Prizes: SO AMAZING! What a generous community we have to donate so much awesomeness!!! 🙂
Go Directly To Go! Skip The Slushpile at Blue Whale Press and Get Your PB Manuscript Directly On The Editor’s Desk!!!
Submit your picture book manuscript directly to editor Alayne Christian for her consideration and critique. Helpful feedback is a certainty, publication could be a possibility!
Blue Whale Press is an SCBWI PAL publisher of children’s books that focuses on stories involving themes of friendship and/or personal challenge. Most often, stories are selected for publishing due to their inherent educational or moral value. But as a general rule, a good dose of humor or a tug at the heart doesn’t hurt their chances of being published either. While a few chapter books and a middle grade are on their list, their focus is picture books. As a boutique publisher who doesn’t mind taking risks, Blue Whale Press considers itself to be a launch pad for authors and illustrators hoping to establish themselves.
For more info: https://www.bluewhalepress.com/
Hone Your Skills with the Lyrical Language Lab Rhyme & Meter Self Study Crash Course (11 Lessons) from accomplished writer and poet Renee LaTulippe
INTENSIVE RHYME AND METER CRASH COURSE
This option contains all the same lessons as Module 1 of Renee’s fully guided course, including all supplemental materials, downloads, and audio/video components. This is the option to choose if you need to build a strong foundation in the mechanics of rhyming picture books and poetry. The major focus is on the four main types of meter and how to use mixed and varied meter. Other topics include rhythm, cadence, breath, scansion, rhyme, sound devices, figurative language, imagery, and diction.
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You also have the opportunity to submit two of your assignments to Renee for feedback, and have email access to ask questions about the lessons as you complete them. Although lessons will arrive every other day, you are free to complete them at your own pace.
See the course description above for more information.
For more info: https://www.reneelatulippe.com/writing-courses/ (scroll down)
Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming, Non-Rhyming, Fiction, or Nonfiction – Vivian is open to any type of picture book critique) from Vivian Kirkfield author of SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books, 2019), PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House, 2019), FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN (Pomegranate 2019), MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD (Little Bee, January 14, 2020), and more…
Nonfiction Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Christine Evans, author of EVELYN THE ADVENTUROUS ENTOMOLOGIST (Innovation Press, September 2019)
Rhyming Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS and DON’T HUG DOUG, forthcoming from Putnam in August 2020 and Spring 2021.
Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming please) from Janet Johnson author of HELP WANTED, MUST LOVE BOOKS (Capstone, March 2020) as well as the MG novel THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB & J SOCIETY (Capstone 2016)
Fiction OR Nonfiction Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming please) from Darshana Khiani, author of HOW TO WEAR A SARI forthcoming from HMH/Versify, Spring 2021
Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming please) from Gabi Snyder, author of TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE, forthcoming from Abrams Appleseed, May 2020 and LISTEN, forthcoming from S&S/Wiseman, Spring 2021
Query Letter Critique from Dee Romito, author of PIES FROM NOWHERE: HOW GEORGIA GILMORE SUSTAINED THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT (Little Bee Books, 2018) as well as several middle grade books.
Book Bundle #1 – Nonfiction
Signed Copies of WAITING FOR PUMPSIE (Charlesbridge, 2017) and THE BOO-BOOS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (Charlesbridge, 2018) by Barry Wittenstein
and JURASSIC RAT (Spork, June 2019) by Eleanor Ann Peterson.
Book Bundle #2 – Board Books
Personalized Signed Copies of LITTLE TIGER and LITTLE PANDA (both Amicus Ink, 2019) by Julie Abery
Book Bundle #3 – Holiday Books
Personalized signed copy of NOT SO SCARY, JERRY (Spork, 2017) by Shelley Kinder
Personalized signed copy of THE QUEEN AND THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE (Albert Whitman, 2018) by Nancy Churnin
The Night Baafore Christmas (WorthyKids 2019) by Dawn Young
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school visits, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up 🙂
Now then, my pretties! It’s past the witching hour in the dead of night – very appropriate for a Halloween story, don’t you think? – and the time has come for my sample entry (which I seriously almost did not get done!) I seem to have developed a bad habit of having editorial deadlines that land in the middle of these contests, so I freely own up to the fact that I way exceeded the word count because I simply didn’t have time to make it shorter. My apologies for totally cheating! It’s not even like it’s any good as a result… but it does come to a sort of an ending😊 If nothing else, it should fill you with confidence in your own MUCH MUCH better efforts!!!
Runaway Imagination
(so many words I’m not even writing it down!😊)
Costumes, make-up, pounding feet
Rushing out to trick-or-treat.
Almost at the farmyard gate
Witch Lucinda hollers, “Wait!
In this Halloween commotion
I forgot my poison potion!”
Sets her plastic pumpkin down.
“Go ahead! We’ll meet in town!”
Grabs her potion. Comes back quick.
But someone’s played an awful trick!
Her pumpkin pail, left on the ground,
Has disappeared and can’t be found!
Nevermind. A bag will do.
The witch zooms off to join her crew.
But halfway down the old farm road
She sees a sight that stops her cold.
In the shadows of the night
Glides a shape of ghostly white
Issuing an eerie moan
That makes Lucinda RUN for home!
Ghost flies past her fleeing faster
Surely this will be disaster!
Stops short at the barnyard fence.
Suddenly it all makes sense.
Head stuck in her pumpkin pail
Covered in a cobweb veil,
This is not a scary ghost!
Just a foolish baby goat!
Never say I’m not willing to embarrass myself for you! 😊😊😊 That is true love!😊
I can’t wait to read all of your entries! I’m so looking forward to them! I hope there will be a lot – the more the merrier! And there are still nearly 4 days to write, so you have time if you haven’t written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well. And your reading friends – parents, teachers, etc. The more people who read and enjoy your stories, the better!!!
Contest Entrants, remember to add your post-specific link to the google form below so we can all come read your awesome stories! (Post-specific means not your main blog url, but the actual url of the post that has your story in it – otherwise if you post again before the contest ends, your link will take readers… and judges!… to the wrong place!)
Eager Readers – just go along the list of links, click on them, and enjoy the stories!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! 🙂 🎃
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Sorry, Twitter handle is @WritesSue with an extra S!
The Web
By Anne Lipton (@AnneLipton)
(99 words)
Three witches stirred a potion,
a mesmerizing brew,
They tricked it out with smartphones
to glow electric blue.
Because they lacked a cobweb
to decorate the top,
they hoisted up their broomsticks,
and pulled out all the—”STOP!”
A spider in the corner
defied his brush with doom,
He dangled as death’s shadow
flew at him like a broom.
He spun a thread, a story,
He wove a silken tale,
of webs composed of ether,
of mail that wasn’t snail.
The spider lured the witches,
chills rose up Facebook’s spine,
For once they followed spider,
they never got offline.
Love this! So clever and well written!
Thank you!
Oh, Anne, this is amazing! The rhythm, the rhyme, the gorgeous language, and the puns–oh, the puns!! I love it–good luck!
Thank you, Jolene!
So funny! Parents would enjoy reading this to their kids too:)
Thank you, Vashti!
Anne, this turned out amazing. Love the line…of webs composed of ether! What a perfect edit
Thank you, Glenda, and thank you for your incredible help with this!
Very clever. And here I am on line reading all these Halloweensies! Good luck!
Haha! Yes, aren’t we all? Thank you, Nancy!
Creative mash-up of Halloween and the “Interweb.” Love the “webs composed of ether”! Best of Luck.
Thank you, Maria!
Very creative! Good luck!
Thank you, Michelle!
I enjoyed this very modern tale. So clever!
Thank you, Heather!
Anne, this is wonderfully funny! “Mail that wasn’t snail”, cracked me up. Great rhymes too : D
Thank you, Jenna! I really enjoyed your stories, too!
The most modern Halloween tale ever – So clever!
Wow. Thank you, Patricia!
Ooooh, what a clever web you weave! Great job! Loved the ahhh moment when I read the title again afterward.
Ha! I see what you did there. Thank you, Susan!
WHAT WITCH WHIPS UP
by Linda Hofke
WHAT WITCH WHIPS UP
This year for Halloween, old witch has a notion
to make good treats for children by whipping up a potion.
Ten tiny blood red oranges, nine leafy lettuce heads,
eight table legs all woven white with sticky cobweb threads,
seven footstools, six turtlenecks, five potato eyes,
four zipper teeth, three ears of corn varying in size,
two clock hands, one coat of arms—that’ll do the trick.
With elbow grease she stirs the brew until it’s nice and thick.
She bottles it and hands it out. The children are perplexed.
Who hands out body lotion? This Halloween is hexed.
(99 words)
Cute counting story with a fun ending!
thanks so much, Colleen.
Love the rhyme and the counting element. Good job, Linda.
So clever! Love the play on words and creativity! Two ‘thumbs’ up😉!
thanks so much, HeavenlyHashForMoms. 🙂
I appreciate your kind words.
Love the fresh take on a counting rhyme!
thank you, Preschool Brain.
I love this, Linda! So original and with a clever twist to boot!
thanks, Sandy.
You are so sweet.
What an adorable poem with lots of fun layers!
thanks so much, Nicole.
I’ve been noticing, more and more, the layers in some of my favorite picture books and that was inspiring.
Very clever! Good luck!
thank you, Nancy 🙂
Linda, this is cute. I know as a kid, I hated going to the house that handed out kleenex or lotion, or other “useful” TRICKS. Love the addition of counting in your story. Best of Luck.
thanks so much, Maria. I really challenged myself this year. Counting, rhyme, body references that weren’t actual body parts, and an ending to tie in to that. In 100 words. And now that I did it, I am motivated. I got more writing done the past week than I did the whole rest of the month.
as a kid, I never got any “tricks” on Halloween. Just tricks. But the people who didn’t like Halloween just didn’t answer the door. 😉
hahah! Lotion! Reminds me of when I was a kid and people handed out pennies!
pennies? Wow, never had that when I was young. At least not in my neighborhood.
I loved the suspense of wondering what the witch could possibly be making and then the twist of it being an everyday item! So fun. As a preschool teacher, I also appreciate the counting story. The count down added to the suspense. Nice touch.
thanks so much, Heather. As a former teacher, your comments means a lot to me.
So original! When getting to body lotion, I had to go back and find all the body ’parts’ in the ingredients. Everything is great – rhyming, language, along with counting, and cute ending, it is special!
Glad you caught on and went back to find the “body” parts after reading. I am hoping kids would do the same.
and all your kind words make me blush. Thanks, Katie.
❤
Hi Linda, so glad you entered! Love the counting element of the story and the twist and the end! Great job!
thanks so much, Julie
I really like your entry,too. The toad patrol is great.
Good luck to you.
Love the “body” parts of this clever story. And I love the reaction in the last line. Good luck!
thanks so much, Jilanne 🙂
No good deed goes unpunished. Love the witch for trying, though. Kudos to you on your inventive wordplay, especially the anatomical thread coursing through your countdown. And “elbow grease” foreshadows the ending perfectly. Keep whipping up the great writing! @AnneLipton
thank you, Anne
The Magician
by Susan Drew
Clayton put the finishing touches on his spooky costume for his class Halloween party. This year he was going as a magician. He had figured out a way to get cobwebs to shoot out of his magic wand. It was his best trick yet! He just hoped Meghan’s witchy costume wouldn’t show him up. He heard she was bringing a cauldron full of a magic potion. Hmmm…. Maybe he could figure a way to make her disappear. He wanted the big chocolate bar prize all to himself! Clayton waved his magic wand. He said Abracadabra! Poof. Clayton disappeared.
(98 words), @_susandrew, susan.drew@comcast.net
Uh-oh! Poor Clayton. It looks like Meghan will likely be taking home the giant chocolate bar!
Good job with your story!
So clever! Love the play on words and creativity! Two ‘thumbs’ up😉!
It’s never good when your trick backfires! I hope he reappears in time for class and a chance for chocolate!
Never good to cheat, even to get chocolate. Good Luck
poor Clayton. Maybe Meghan’s magic potion can make him reappear.
Or maybe that disappearing act will actually earn him the price.
Oops! Always use magic responsibly! Cute and fun story.
This is such fun! great twist! Well done and good luck!
Hubble, Bubble, Toil and… Muddle?
Wendy Witch shrieked, “Hehehe!
It’s time for spells and trickery!”
She brushed the cobwebs from her book,
Turned the page to have a look,
To find a WITCHYLICIOUS spell.
She read the words and muttered, “Well,
No eyes, or wings, or tentacles?
Instead a bunch of vegetables!”
She threw them in and gave a scream,
“This is the greatest Hallowe’en!”
She moved her hands with rapid motion,
But said, “This is an awful potion!
There’s no bubbles, slime or magic,
This is rubbish! This is tragic!
There must be something that I missed.
Wait! This is my shopping list.”
Ha ha ha! I love your ending!
Funny!!!🤣
hahahaha! Now that’s cute!
Great ending!
Clever and fun. The title is great, too!
Loved the ending! Well done.
Brill, I didn’t see that ending coming.
Oh, oh no, no, not a bunch of vegetables! Fun!
Hah! This definitely made me laugh!
This made me giggle!
Nice twist! Good luck!
Love the ending! Good luck!
Love the surprise ending!
Great twist ending. Made by chuckle, too. Good Luck.
LOL: Nice ending.
I love this story! The title is clever and the ending is perfect.
Super cute! Nice job with the rhymes!
It might be an awful potion, but it’s a great story! And I bet it’s a delicious veg stew, too. Wonderful rhyme and hilarious twist ending. @AnneLipton
Love this Kael, especially the twist at the end.
WANDA WITCH AND WILMA
by lu pierro 100wds.
Wanda Witch and Wilma,
Simmer a witches’ brew,
They stir to make it special,
with a certain kind of Boo.
Not any putrid potion,
but one with a certain kick,
with spider webs and innards
It had to be MA-GIC.
For little ghouls and ghosties
want treats not yucky tricks.
They want something scary
with a certain ICK.
The witches stir their potion
mash it through a web.
The cauldron stays in motion
till the sparkly fizzies ebbed.
And when the brew was cooked
with a ghastly taste of fright,
The witches yelled with glee
Just right for Hallows Night!
@lupierro
There’s a special kick to this story with a tiny touch of Boo. Fun! I enjoyed it.
Fun story. Love, They want something scary with a certain ICK. Good luck!
Thank you Nancy.. What is Halloween without ICK?
I like your word choices – “sparkly fizzies” and “a certain kind of boo” in this cute story. Good luck
This is fun to read aloud. It’s sassy and fizzy!
I love that they mash the potion through a web, Lu! Too cute…🎃
WITCHY’S PARTY – 96 WORDS
Judy Sobanski
The potion was poured, the brew all stirred, her wicked spell recited,
Her final trick—make the cobwebs thick, this witch was so excited!
While Witchy went to find her hat, a bat flew round the ceiling.
Bat dropped in bugs and slimy slugs to make the brew appealing.
Next Frankenstein poured turpentine into the boiling pot.
Werewolf howled. “This reeks!” he growled and tossed in wolfie snot!
Witchy returned to find her urn was filled with something new.
But her snaggle-toothed grin showed her friends, “it’s a WIN!
Let’s all have some hot HO-BOO stew!”
A fun party! Everyone is joining in. I enjoyed your story, Judy.
A new twist on Stone Soup! Good luck!
Cute – guess on Halloween, too many cooks can’t spoil the brew. Love “HO-BOO stew.” Good luck.
fun story and great language in it. Alliteration, internal rhyme, and nice rhythm.
Good luck!
I love that everyone added their own touch to the potion in her absence. So sneaky. Kids will love it. Fun ending.
Love the teamwork here, Judy! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KAYLYNN
THIS LITTLE PIGGY by Kaylynn Johnsen word count 85
This little piggy went to get the very best Halloween candy for the Trick-or-Treaters.
This little piggy stayed home to put out the jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and a big spider on a giant cobweb.
This little piggy had roast beef on a platter with crackers and cheese for the guests.
And this little piggy had none; he was too busy making a special potion for the party.
And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way to the door each time the bell rang.
So creative! I love the Halloweensie take on the “Three Little Pigs” story!
Party pigs! I like it! Good luck!
Fun mash-up of “This Little Piggy” and Halloween. Good luck
nice take on this little piggy
Great idea for a mash-up!
C.u.t.e! Nice job, Kaylynn! 😊
ENTRY POSTED FOR KAYLYNN
A HANDSOME PRINCE by Kaylynn Johnsen word count 87
I am a handsome prince. No, really, I am.
Monday: I mix the potion. I let is stew overnight.
Tuesday: I drink the potion.
Wednesday: I realize I forgot to put the black widow cobweb into the potion.
Thursday: I mix a new potion; with all the ingredients. I let it stew overnight.
Friday: It is Halloween. It’s time. I drink the potion.
It was a mean-old witch trick. Nothing happened. I am still a handsome prince.
I really, really, really want to be a warty toad.
Poor prince! He must have been hopping mad when he was tricked! Good luck!
Nice twist. I expected to see “how” he became handsome. Good luck
I have always liked days of the week stories. I also like how this story plays on expectations. Good luck!
Ha ha! He is a handsome, forgetful and easily tricked prince! 😊
ENTRY POSTED FOR KAYLYNN
TAKE YOUR MEDICINE LIKE A BIG WITCH by Kaylynn Johnsen word count 98
I won’t take my medicine, it’s yucky. Gross, disgusting, blech.
I won’t; and you can’t make me.
I won’t.
But I don’t want to.
I try to trick you.
I spit it out.
You catch me.
You tell me to be a big girl and take my medicine;
Or I can’t go trick-or-treating.
I tell you I’m a witch.
You tell me to be big witch and take my potion.
I can do that.
Even if it has an eye of newt, a cobweb, and a bat’s wing in it.
Gross, disgusting, blech.
I am a big witch.
Fun story! I can see her with arms crossed and a scowl on her little witch face.Good luck!
Sometimes it sure tastes like they made it with “eye of newt, a cobweb, and a bat’s wing in it.” Great personality in your “big witch.” Good luck.
Good luck, Kaylynn!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KAYLYNN
MY OWN MAN by Kaylynn Johnsen word count 100
I have three older brothers. I wear cobweb-covered, hand-me-down Halloween costumes. I am sick of it.
I am six. I want to be my own man.
I don’t want to wear Robby’s Frankenstein.
I don’t want to wear Billy’s cowboy.
I don’t want to wear Teddy’s robot.
I stomp my feet.
I make a mad face.
I try the pretty-please-potion.
I hang my head, slump my shoulders, and kick the pile of costumes.
Billy’s cowboy hat rolls onto Robby’s Frankenstein mask.
I have a brilliant idea. I am six, I am my own man.
I am Franken-Cow-Bot.
Trick or Treat.
Fabulous! What a fun read!
So cute! What a fun twist.
Creative, original, and fun. I love the ending.
What a fun solution! Good luck!
I love the emotion expressed & the solution to the problem of hand-me-down costumes. So kid-relatable!
Brilliant solution! I like this kid. It is tantalizing to think of expanding this into a picture book. Best of luck.
Love it!!
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this costume. Great story!
The short punchy sentences create great character and really add to this clever story!
ENTRY POSTED FOR SHERYL
A heart (and feet) warming Halloween!
by Sheryl Webster
Skeleton had such cold feet.
“It’s driving me berserk!”
One Halloween a witchy said,
“This potion might just work?”
It didn’t do the trick and Witchy said
“I think you’ll find.
That maybe you need magic of
a very different kind.”
Skeleton was puzzled.
He set off walking home.
A titchy, itchy werewolf passing by yelped out…
… “A BONE!”
Skelly ran, but BOING!
A cobweb fired him in the air,
A soft warm landing thawed his feet,
And Skelly… scratched its fur.
“This Halloween and always
We will never be apart!”
For little werewolf’s magic.
Had melted Skelly’s heart!
(100 words)
Awww cute! So happy that skelly found a friend to keep his feet warm 😊
The title perfectly encapsulates this charming story. I love the wonderfully symbiotic relationship that bonds the two creatures together. @AnneLipton
ENTRY POSTED FOR JENNIFER
Halloween – what’s Halloween? (99 words)
By Jenny Fee – Children’s book writer in Collex, Switzerland
Halloween – what’s Halloween?
Magic jack 0’ lantern grins,
Halloween – yes Halloween,
Monsters hiding in the bins.
Bats and cats and spiders too,
Witches stirring up their brew,
Cobwebs decorating spaces,
Spiders, goblins, scary faces.
On Halloween we eat ghost toast.
We drink the potion we love most:
Slug eggs mixed with thorny sticks,
It’s one of our delicious tricks.
Halloween – what’s Halloween?
Trick or treating with our friends
Halloween – yes Halloween,
Never want this night to end.
Even if it might feel spooky
Seeing everything look kooky,
It’s never long enough, instead,
Too quickly it is time for bed.
It always ends too soon. I enjoyed your story, Jenny.
Nice images of Halloween and great rhyme. Good luck!
Jenny, what a fun collection of images; “slug eggs” was my favorite. And everything ends too soon, doesn’t it. Good luck.
Love it, Jenny! So glad you entered! 🎃
ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTY
Potion Prank by Kristy Roser Nuttall
Hazel’s potions were top notch.
She always had a kitchen full of spooky sparkly potions.
But on Halloween, someone played a terrible prank—spilling her potions, breaking her bottles, and tangling everything in cobwebs.
She checked for clues of the trickster in the kitchen, but only found hair from Zombie, her cat.
She checked for footprints outside her house, but only found her cat’s paw prints.
Wait a minute! I think I’ve solved the mystery.
Zombie hid under the table drinking a milk potion. . .
Hazel laughed, and poof! The potion turned Zombie into a. . .
Halloween Hippo.
The cat got her comeuppance! Fun tale or tail. Good luck!
Nice job getting a mystery solved in under 100 words. I love the Halloween Hippo! Best of Luck
Cute! I love the Halloween Hippo too, 🦛
ENTRY POSTED FOR MARYNA
The Easy-Clean-Up Haunted House
By: Maryna Doughty
Gretchie yawned and crashed onto the couch.
She’d stayed up way too late riding her broom and mixing potions.
Today was Halloween, and she still hadn’t decorated the house.
She tore open the packages and got to work:
She frosted slabs of graham cracker to her house,
painted chocolate fondue on the walls,
hung marshmallow ghosts from the porch ceiling,
stretched cotton candy cobwebs across the door,
and scattered gummy worms on the lawn.
Gretchie smiled at her work and hopped into bed.
“Trick or treat!” the children yelled.
“Just eat the house!” Gretchie hollered. “Saves me from cleaning up.”
THE END
Too funny! Love it!
So cute! Love “stretched cotton candy cobwebs across the door.”
This is so much fun! Love it!
Gretchie is a GENIUS!!! Love it, Maryna!
Love it! The perfect twist on Hansel and Gretel! Good luck!
Fun twist on the “Hansel & Gretel”; a witch purposefully putting candy on the house for trick or treaters. Best of Luck
love it
Fabulous! What fun! Now I have a sweet craving!
Such a delicious and relatable premise: Decorating is easy. Cleaning up is hard. I love all of your ingenious and carefully crafted DIY details. @Anne Lipton
ENTRY POSTED FOR MARYNA
Ghost’s Pest Problem
By: Maryna Doughty
Ghost peeked out the window.
GHOST: Ahhhh!!!
He picked up the phone and dialed the number.
WITCH: You’ve reached Lotions, Potions, and Other Solutions, how may I help you?
GHOST: I’ve got a pest problem!
WITCH: Okay, I’ll send the exterminator.
Later…
Knock, knock.
Ghost opened the door.
GHOST: Finally, you’re here! They’re all over the front porch!
SPIDER: It’s that time of year. Halloween always brings them out, especially to haunted houses.
GHOST: You’re sure the traps will work?
SPIDER: Oh yeah, they always get caught in them.
Ding-dong.
GHOST: They’re here! Quick! Spin the cobwebs!
“Trick-or-treat!”
THE END
I love this creative premise and fun story! A spider exterminator is clever.
Really Cute!
Wonderfull and imaginative!
I like that the spider in the exterminator! Good luck!
what a fun story!
Well done, Maryna, another great story idea! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR MICHELLE
A Spider’s Cobweb Tale (WC- 98)
By Michelle S. Kennedy
In a dank and dusty corner,
a little cobweb barely seen
was crying so profusely,
he was heard by Witch Maxine.
She looked around and found him-
a tired spider on his net.
Clearly old, he looked like mold,
all dripping in his sweat!
“You poor thing!” Witch Maxine said.
“I’ll make a weaving potion,
so you can build much faster dear,
instead of in slow-motion!”
She mixed a small concoction.
“Now, this should do the trick!”
With that, he started spinning fast.
His web grew large and thick.
“Happy Halloween!” she trilled.
Then vanished on her stick.
The first part was so visual…perfect ending couplet! Beautiful!
Thanks so much Jill! This contest is such a great challenge to get the creative juices flowing! — M.
A sweet story. Maxine is a nice witch. My favorite sentence:
“I’ll make a weaving potion
so you can build much faster, dear
instead of in slow-motion!”
Nice story and great rhyme. So glad Maxine helped the spider. Good luck!
Thanks, Nancy!!!
nice work
Thank you, Linda!
Another cute one, I love the old, and mold description! And nice wrap up, last two lines are perfect!
Well done, Michelle! I love that Witch helped Spider – cute story line and great rhymes!
Poor Witch Maxine, a victim of her own success! A very likeable character, indeed. @AnneLipton
ENTRY POSTED FOR MICHELLE
The Little Cobweb With Big Dreams (WC- 88)
By Michelle S. Kennedy
I am a little cobweb,
so small I can’t be seen.
I have a dream for Halloween,
but fate must intervene!
I need a special potion
or a fancy magic trick!
Then I can grow like rising dough
and be Great Witch’s pick!
On Halloween she takes
the biggest cobweb she can find,
then uses it to decorate
and scare the humankind!
For now I’m small, and least of all,
but maybe dreams come true.
I hope, I pray, that on that day
I’ll get to frighten YOU!
Love the simile “rising dough” and internal rhymes throughout. Nicely done, Michelle!
Thanks Jill! ❤
Another great story! Hope springs eternal! Good luck!
I am always impressed when others can write a story under the word limit. And you 88 have perfect rhythm and rhyme.
Good luck!
Aw! Thank you, Linda! I love this contest so much! It really helps get the creative juices flowing! 😀
Awww, sweet, and like the positivity! Great meter, and rhyme! And great internal rhymes, I counted 4 (wow!), very tight story, and flowing!
Thanks, Katie!
This was so sweet – you really gave this cobweb a voice. I hope cobweb becomes Great Witch’s pick!
Really nice! Lovely rhythm! Great job!
Perfect title to encapsulate this story with humor, big heart, and sure voice. I really like the phrase, “scare the humankind.” @AnneLipton
FIVE SILLY WITCHES
by Mary Vander Plas (90 words)
Five silly witches spilled potion on the floor.
One slid right out the door, and then there were four.
Four silly witches racing broomsticks, laughed with glee.
One nose-dived in a tree, and then there were three.
Three silly witches chased a trick-or-treating crew.
One joined in for candy, and then there were two.
Two silly witches catching spiders, having fun.
One stuck in a cobweb, and then there was one.
One silly witch all alone on Halloween.
She cast quadruple spells
to get four back
and conjured up sixteen!
Haha! What a creative take on the monkey’s on the bed rhyme! This is great!
Very creative! Fun ending, too.
Fun! I like the ending.
Very fun! wonderful to read out loud! Good luck!
When the retelling is better than the orginal. @AnneLipton
*original.
THE HALLOWEEN SHORTCUT
by Marty Bellis
(96 words)
My eyes are playing TRICKS on me.
They’re seeing pumpkins in that tree —
smirking, grinning, ghoulish faces
perched in all the darkened spaces.
Bats and goblins fill the air
and cackling witches screech and glare.
Sticky COBWEBS hanging down
wrap me round without a sound.
i need a full strength magic POTION
to stop this eery strange commotion
and safely pass that gnarly tree,
whose branches keep on grabbing me.
My shortcut’s turning out to be
a bad idea. It’s history!
I’m just out for the treats and fun.
It’s time to turn around and ……….run!
So cute! I love the “gnarly tree whose branches keep on grabbing me!” Very clever. 😀
Appreciate your comment, Michelle!
Love your rhyme and the creepy atmosphere! Good luck!
Thanks so much, Nancy. What an amazing response this year. It will be a tough bunch of choices for Susanna and her helpers 🙂
nice work
Thanks for reading and commenting, Linda!! Such a fantastic contest. Look forward to it every year.
Smashing! You perfectly capture the fear and build the suspense of being alone in the dark, especially on Halloween. After all, it’s not paranoia if they’re really after you! @AnneLipton
ENTRY POSTED FOR MICHELLE
A Potion Gone Wrong (WC- 87)
By Michelle S. Kennedy
The persnickety old witch patiently waited
for her magic trick-potion to work.
On Halloween night, she howled in delight
as her smugness gave way to a smirk.
She tried not to coo when she sipped on her brew
and patted her cat, Arafat.
Suddenly she fainted. Her stew had been tainted
by cobwebs mixed into her vat!
When she awoke, it was sadly no joke-
Her nose was inside of her cheek!
But lucky for her, her eyes were a blur
so she couldn’t critique her physique!
Great word choices–persnickety, physique, and a cat named Arafat! Another winner!
I love the ending. Good luck!
Thank you Corine!
Hahaha! Love the rhyme, but I hope she can fix herself! Good luck!
LOL! I’m all for silly instead of scary!
I agree with Jill. Great word choices.
Thank you for your kind words, Linda!
Very funny, love the last verse! Gotta watch out for that witch’s brew, LOL! Good work!
HaHa – this one made me laugh! I love so many things about this – the cat named Arafat – her nose inside her cheek – great story, great rhymes, great punchline (ending). Had me “howling” with laughter.
Ha! Loved her cat, Arafat/into her vat. And the fun ending!
Witch 101
By: Lauren Neil
100 Words
Halloween is a special night,
For witches and others who give us a fright.
And when it’s a witch’s seventh year,
She’s given one assignment: fear.
Scare someone. Terrify them. Anyone will do.
But it’s got to be big. Not a cobweb or two.
Little Melinda planned out her night.
Oh how she wanted to get this right.
First up her potion, sure to torment.
But it turned out sweet with a wonderful scent.
Her tricks all turned into treats.
Her ghosts all wore heart-patterned sheets.
Just when she thought all was lost:
“You terrified US,” said the big witch-boss.
I enjoyed this story. Sweet smelling witches in heart-patterned sheets. That’s scary enough to frighten any seasoned witch. Good luck!
Thank you so much Corine! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment! 🙂
Very cute, spells backfiring with sweetness. Good luck!
Thank you Nancy – it was a fun one to write! 🙂
Little Melinda is simply endearing! Heartmelt. @AnneLipton
Aw, thank you so much for reading and commenting! 🙂
Aww, this made me chuckle. Super cute!
Thank you so much Susan! 🙂
A HALLOWEEN TREAT wc 100
By Stacy Burch (@pen_and_crayon)
The Halloween treats shook with joy to be chosen by children…
all except Coconut and his gluten-, sugar-, dairy-, nut-free label.
Other goodies fussed:
“Poor weird-dough!”
“He kneads a love potion!”
“Give him a bake-over!”
So…
Chocolates changed his wrapper.
Candies added flare.
Cookies squashed him flat.
No matter the trick, Coconut remained, and then…
a werewolf, wearing an allergy bracelet, loomed above.
“HE needs ME!” Coconut dusted off his cobwebs and crawled to the bucket’s top.
Other goodies panicked:
“STOP!”
“We can’t jump out ourselves!”
“He’s half-baked!”
Coconut LEAPED –
landing in the basket for his chance to finally be eaten.
Haha! Your puns are so clever!
Very punny! So glad that Coconut got to be eaten! Good luck!
Love it! And I am sure a lot of kids can relate to the food allergies. Good luck!
The Pretty Little Witch
by Lucretia Schafroth
Wira desperately wanted a spooking role at her school’s Halloween Fright-fest.
But she looked nothing like her classmates.
“Ewww…you’re SO pretty!”
“ANYBODY’S scarier than you!”
“Blondie! Princess! WANNABE-witch!”
Wira hated her face. She wished she looked different—creepy, freakish…ideally, ugly.
She conjured several potions…but none worked.
“NEXT!…” shrieked the audition director. ”SCARE US!”
“That’s it!” thought Wira.
When her classmates entered the staged haunted house, Wira burst through a huge cobweb. Sticky strands streaked her hair grey. A giant spider clung to her face.
Little monster-students screamed, scattering everywhere.
“Terrifying trick!” screeched the director. “You’re the lead!”
Word count: 100
Way to go Wira! Good luck!
nice story
love that cobweb trick
Terrifying! Wira is a brave and determined girl. She solved her problem in a creative and effective way. I enjoyed reading your story. Good luck!
Thanks for your comments! Sorry for the delayed response–I’ve been juggling a lot of jack-o’lanterns lately! Best of luck to everyone.
Sally the Witch by Natalie Cohn (85) words
A witch at night, a girl by day who loves Halloween night when she can come out to play.
Sweeping cobwebs, a brewing cauldron, ready for trick-or-treaters visitors.
The potions ready!
Now, what’s next?
Ding Dong!
Look out fellow students Sally’s here to impress.
With her spells and flying broom, she entertains them all high up near the moon.
This one-night Sally can genuinely be herself while other kids can be someone else.
Sally’s one day or night to shine! Good luck!
Greta Ghosts’s Great Escape (93 Words)
By Laura Bower
Greta Ghost was feeling blue –
No potion, spell or trick would do.
Her boo had turned to boo-hoo hoo!
She craved a change for something new.
Instead of haunting (quite a few!),
she threw a party at the zoo
with animals of every hue.
They danced, they hopped, they rolled, they flew.
They limboed, congaed two-by-two.
She made friends fast that stuck like glue.
Each Halloween she calls her crew.
They dive through cobwebs, make some brew.
Now, no more scares. A big breakthrough.
For Greta, kindness feels more true.
Sweet Greta found her friends! Love it! Good luck!
So glad Greta had her breakthrough and found her crew! @AnneLipton
THE TRICK-OR-TREAT CRUSADER
By Laurie Carmody (@laurieecarmody)
99 words
Spider wanted to earn the new Potion Scouts badge:
Trick-or-Treat Crusader.
“Hmm…who to trick?” she muttered.
Skeleton was perfect. He never left his tomb on Halloween.
Spider scrambled onto Skeleton’s skull.
“Go away,” he said.
“Your bones are dusty and dark. Perfect for a cobweb,” said Spider.
Skeleton shook off the dust and lurched into the moonlight. “LEAVE.”
“It’s still quiet enough for a cobweb.”
“Then I’ll join the Trick-or-Treaters,” said Skeleton.
“I suppose I must go,” said Spider, shrinking into the shadows.
Spotting a beetle, she whispered, “Now for a treat to go with that trick.
GOTCHA!”
Cute ending and spooky word choices. I like “lurched into the moonlight” very much.
Thank you for the feedback! 🙂
Love the whole idea of a Potions Scout badge! Good luck!
Thank you, Nancy! I kind of want to expand it into a story about the potion scouts!
Trick-urkey
by Kelly Pope Adamson (100 words)
You’ve heard of a regular turkey. You may have even heard of a tofurkey. But have you ever heard of a Trick-urkey?
That’s me, Thaddeus T. Turkey. Titan of Tricks. Purveyor of Potions. Captain of Cobwebs. I put the Gobble in Gobbledygook.
What’s that? You say you haven’t heard of me? What utter widdle waddle. Every year I lay the best trick in town.
What’s my trick? Why, convincing humans to skip from Halloween straight to Christmas of course. Trees up before the candy’s all gone? Fake snow before the real leaves have fallen?
You’re welcome, turkeys of the world.
Fun story! Love your word choices and clever last line.
I love the turkey’s voice in this piece!
Love this! And so true!
I love put the gobble in gobbledygook! And now I know why the Christmas decorations are already for sale in the stores! Fun read, good luck!
Very cute! I love the name of the turkey! Good luck!
Fantastic! So unique… and I just love the line, “What utter widdle waddle.” So many great turkey’isms:)
ENTRY POSTED FOR VALERIE
Wendela the Witch by Valerie Bolling
Wendela the witch was terribly sick.
She thought to herself, “This must be a trick!”
Not on Halloween.
My night to be seen.
I surely, I must, get well quick!
She mixed up a potion in her brew-pot.
Thinking, “I’ll add whatever I’ve got!”
Cat fur and cobwebs.
Pig snot and frog legs.
Then slurped it all down boiling hot!
In a flash, the magic spell worked.
Wendela’s body twisted and jerked.
The cure happened fast.
Her sickness soon passed.
The thrilled witch cackled and twerked!
She hopped on her broom, ready to fly.
Into the howling Halloween sky!
I’m glad Wendela’s hot brew worked. Halloween wouldn’t be the same without her.
This was fun to read aloud. I love “The thrilled witch cackled and twerked!”
I don’t think I could stomach her cure, especially the cat fur and pig snot! But it got the job done, hurrah! Good luck!
Trick or Treat?
I’m scared!
Everywhere I look there are witches and wizards,
Zombies walking strangely, dripping blood,
Vampires and ghosts.
A cobweb stretches across my front porch, the spider’s eyes glinting in the moonlight.
A witch approaches my house;
What does she want? Why is she here? What potion bubbles in her cauldron?
She knocks on my door,
“Don’t answer mum, she’ll cast a spell on you!”
Mum answers the door, I peep around her.
The witch cackles “Trick or Treat?”
I recognise that voice, that’s not a real witch, that’s my neighbour Jen!
I’m not scared anymore!
By Marcia Batton
96 words
Nice ending to a fun story! Good luck!
Can this contest be more fun? Thank you Susannah for hosting this!
Brewed for You
We stood at the door of a house with our sacks,
The cobwebs blew onto our faces and backs.
I said “Trick or Treat” when she opened the door,
but jerked a step back when I noticed the floor.
A potion was flowing right out of a pot.
‘Twas slimy and gooey and vile as snot.
“Would you like a cup of my brew? Maybe two?”
You do know I mixed it especially for you!”
I said, “I’m allergic to this kind of drink.
But you could sell buckets at Starbucks I think.”
Fun title and great ending line! “Twas slimy and gooey and vile as snot” made me smile.
Makes me rethink my trips to Starbucks! Fun rhyme! Good luck!
Fun to read!
Funny ending!
I had to send in another story, just because it’s FUN!
No Thank You
Now here is my story. It’s scary but true.
I hope beyond words it won’t happen to you.
I went Trick or Treating with some of my friends.
We’d fashioned our costumes from old odds and ends.
We came to a house that we’d not ever seen.
A witch stirred her potion that spit something green.
She said “Come here closer,” and beckoned us near.
“Would you like a tidbit to nibble my dear?”
She held out a cobweb and cackled with glee.
We turned to race home as she crowed,
“Hee
Hee
Hee!”
Cobweb tidbits 🙂 Wicked witch! Fun story.
Yes, I don’t want it to happen to me. Clever rhyme. good luck!
TRICK AND TREAT: THE HALLOWEEN TWINS
by Kiley Orchard
99 words
Trick hated Halloween—the day costumed children came to her door and yelled, “Trick or treat!” but really only wanted Treat.
Treat was sweet, but Trick had a lot to offer, too! She was feisty. She brewed puckish potions. She played the best pranks.
This year, she’d decided to play one on Treat.
Halloween morning, Trick trapped Treat in a cobweb of her own spun sugar.
“All Trick!” she shouted. “No Treat!”
But when the children knocked, Trick couldn’t keep up with demand. She needed… Treat.
Trick unspun her twin.
Halloween, she discovered, was best served sassy AND sweet.
How cute! Love the premise and sweet ending.
Love your word choices and the idea of twins. And that Halloween is sassy and sweet! Good luck!
Very original and creative characters!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTY
Halloween Hornswoggled by Kristy Roser Nuttall
Pirate Pete invited all of his pirate mates to a Halloween party, but on Halloween night, he stood alone on the ship. He pouted.
“Arrr!! Tis no fun guzzlin’ party potion by myself!” he cried.
He paced.
“Shiver me timbers! Blasted Pirate Party Poopers! They’d better show up or I’ll roll them in cobwebs and make them walk the plank,” yelled Pirate Pete.
Then the air exploded with a giant “Trick or Treat!”
His pirate buddies popped out of their hiding place laughing and yo ho ho-ing.
“Surprise!” They announced.
“Why I’ve been Halloween hornswoggled!” laughed Pirate Pete. “Party time!”
Haha. Love hornswoggled. Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR DEE
HALLOWEEN SWITCHEROO
by Dee Knabb
Spider spun a cobweb, silky and strong.
“No more spinning. I’ve done it too long.”
Below him, a witch concocted a brew,
A magical potion from his point of view.
“Mixing is tedious,” moaned the witch.
“Weaving bores me. How about we switch?”
Architect Spider, a genius for sure.
Witch a chemist, her secrets quite secure.
But mixers and weavers guard each trick
That Witch and Spider didn’t learn quick.
“I quit,” said Witch, wrapped like a mummy.
“Ick,” said Spider. “This brew’s not yummy.
She added sweets. He whipped up a sheen.
“Ghoulish,” they sighed. “Happy Halloween.”
Love the ending & the rhyme! Great job, Dee!
I love the idea of them switching jobs and then working together. Good luck!
I love a goat trick or treating!!! Your rhythm had my mouth dancing- loved it! Happy Halloween!
Skellarella: A Halloween Fairytale
By: Susan Schade
100 words
Skellarella was ecstatic to receive the Prince’s Halloween Costume Party invitation. Her stepsisters cackled when she was told that she could go only after every corner was cleaned. Skellarella slaved while her stepsisters dressed in their clever costumes.
Finally finished, Skellarella found only cobwebs to wear. She silently sobbed. Suddenly, the Great Pumpkin appeared. When he poured a potion, it became the perfect costume, but only until midnight.
The party was superb until the clock struck twelve and Skellarella’s costume faded back into cobwebs. Horrified, Skellarella froze before the Prince. He grinned and said, “Your disappearing costume trick was terrific!”
Fun twist on Cinderella. Glad the prince had a sense of humor! Good luck!
Clever! I love the twist and the disappearing costume trick!
Three Cauldrons Full! (Play-On Baa Baa Black Sheep Nursery Rhyme)
By: Erin Kerger Duffett – 100 Words – Just For Fun!
Cackle, cackle, night witch,
Have you any tricks?
Yes ghost, yes ghost,
Three pots thick!
One crammed with potions,
And one crammed with fear.
One crammed with magic spells
That make the ogres sneer.
Boo, boo, grave ghost,
Have you any shrills?
Yes goblin, yes goblin,
Three tombs filled!
One stuffed with cobwebs,
And one stuffed with bones.
One stuffed with mummies
That make the spirits moan.
Gurgle, gurgle, goblin,
Have you any gruel?
Yes witch, yes witch,
Three cauldrons full!
One brimmed with spiders,
And one brimmed with bats.
One brimmed with troll boogies
That frighten all the rats.
Love this play on Baa-baa Black Sheep!
Great play on Baa Baa Black Sheep. Great word choices. Good luck!
Clevery funny!
Such a fun spin, love it!
IT’S PARTY TIME
by Marty Bellis
(100 words)
Little ghost donned her silky best,
her filmy cobwebbed party dress.
But the cemetery lay still.
“I need a potion to get this gang moving,
shaking and grooving.”
Being no cook, her brew looked quite icky.
But skeleton tried it. “I’m thirsty, not picky.”
He swallowed, then rattled his brittle old bones.
“Let’s be-bop and jive among the tombstones.
We’ll show them how it’s done,” he said.
“Look alive. We’ll raise the dead!”
One by one, the ghosts arose,
twitched their arms and twinkled their toes.
Little ghost cheered. ”What a magical scene.
We’re rocking tonight. I love Halloween.”
Love twitched their arms and twinkled their toes! The cemetery is a hopping place on Halloween! Good luck!
Thanks, Nancy!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KATHY
Cobweb Soup by Kathy Shanahan
“My sweet cobweb soup,” grinned spider to fly.
“Tis Halloween night, please give it a try.”
As the fly edged closer to taste the slick potion,
That spider crept up-his scheme was in motion.
“Not bad,” said the fly. “This soup is okay.”
“Sooo glad you like it. That’s how I lure prey.”
As spider attacked, fly threw the hot soup.
It soaked spider’s head-Arachnid’s been duped!
“You can’t trick a fly. I’m smarter than you.”
“Go back to your web.” And off the fly flew.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Smart fly! Fun story. Good luck!
GOBLIN HATES HALLOWEEN
By: Ashley Fagan
(97 Words)
It’s that time again. There’s a chill in the air, jack-o’-lanterns get lit, and trick-or-treaters run and scream about. Ew, did I mention, I HATE HALLOWEEN!?
You see I’m just your average ordinary goblin. I enjoy long walks in the cemetery, eating cobweb cake while sipping tarantula tea, and some gosh dark peace and quiet! I simply can’t stand the screaming!
So this year I’ve decided to cancel Halloween. I’ve conjured up this little potion that’ll do the trick. Here goes nothing.
GULP!
POOF!
Did it work?
Oh ghouly toots I turned myself into a trick-or-treater!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Ha another backfired potion. Maybe he’ll learn to love it after a Halloween in the trick-or-treater’s costume. Good luck!
Halloween Forever
By Mary Rudzinski
If every day was Halloween,
I’d strut around in style.
With pointy hat and long black robe,
I ‘d flash my witchy smile!
At Christmas time I’d mix a brew
of eggnog, orange and black.
I’d wrap my secret potions
as gifts for Santa’s pack.
The Easter grass would be cobwebs.
I’d pass out snakes and bugs.
My basket filled with spooky tricks-
All spiders, bats, and slugs.
But, Halloween comes once a year
And witches know that’s tragic.
So, I’ll cast a spell upon that day
Creating endless magic.
Very cute! Love what she’ll do on the different holidays. Good luck!
Great rhyming! Reminds me of Nightmare Before Christmas 🙂
Love, love, love how you creatively celebrate three holidays in one short poem. @AnneLipton
ENTRY POSTED FOR DEBBIE
TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE WITCH
by Debbie Vidovich
Twinkle, twinkle little witch
I make Momma’s dead heart twitch.
Waiting in my cobweb bed,
Rat-skin cap upon my head.
My hair’s matted, not one curl.
I’m a warty, wicked girl.
Dinner potion, red and foul.
Super yucky, helps me howl.
Burp! A noxious yellow green,
grossest belch I’ve ever seen.
I’m a freaky, fearsome sight,
off to Trick or Treat all night.
Swooping, screeching, rolling-growl!
Run kids run, I’m on the prowl.
Twinkle, twinkle little witch,
I make Momma’s dead heart twitch.
I love the play on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, all your sensory words, and your use of the repeated couplet at the beginning and the end. Terrific, Debbie!
Goodness, I’m trembling after reading this! Because it paints the picture so well, love the language, and can see kids loving this!
This one scared my inner child, but you did a great job taking Twinkle Twinkle and putting your own spin on it. Awesome rhyme, even if it was a little creepy – it’s perfect for Halloween!
Great rhyme and super creepy!
ENTRY POSTED FOR CHERYL
A Pot of Potion
by Cheryl Abels-Pease/Children’s Author
With her green glowing eyes and fiery-red hair,
she poured her newly formed potion into its pot.
Pushing through the cobwebs glow, she searched out the victim’s room.
Up each step carefully she climbed, hoping not to stir the house.
He slept, tucked in tight, not knowing his own fate.
Outside of his door, she considered her next step.
Slipping through she slid inside… hunched over… staring at his sweating brow.
“I’ve come with my pot of tricks and treats,” carefully prying his lips apart.
Wide-eyed and trembling he took hold of her hand, “Thanks Mom
Scary! I’m glad it turned out to be his mother.
ENTRY POSTED FOR JILL
A Famous Witch
by Jill Burns
In Warlock Woods, near Haunted Hill,
lives a famous witch, called Jill the Pill.
Her yellow eyes glow against scaly-green-skin.
Trick-or-treat at her door, she’ll invite you in.
Cobwebs adorn every inch of her house,
with rats, colored bats, and a vampire mouse.
Her cauldron bubbles with Halloween potion,
reeking of poop and stinky-feet lotion.
After chatting she’ll send you away with a treat,
a huge pumpkin cookie too awesome to eat.
With a swoosh of her broomstick, Jill soars through the air.
“Safe travels,” she cackles. “Thanks for coming–take care!”
“Happy Halloween!”
It smells BAD in Jill the Pill’s house. Those pumpkin cookies must be the best or nobody would enter this witch’s house. Happy Halloween!
ENTRY POSTED FOR PAUL
A Halloween Visit
by Paul Kurtz
The pumpkin-moon rises on Halloween night,
A tiny black coffin with eight bats takes flight.
An eight-legged driver with dagger-fanged jaws?
That’s not old Saint Nick, it’s his pal Spider-Claws!
His cobweb-wrapped presents of potions and spells
Will flip-flop your tummy with nose-burning smells.
He creeps down the chimney with barely a noise
To leave scary gifts for all ghouls, girls, and boys.
He might bring you nightmares or haunt all your dreams
With hair-curling howling and spine-tingling screams.
Then Spider-Claws shrieks from his cold, coffin seat—
“Happy Halloween all, and to all Trick-Or-Treat!”
Very cute play on Twas the Night Before Christmas. Love Spider-Claws. Good luck!
Love this twist!
ENTRY POSTED FOR PAUL
Cobwebs
by Paul Kurtz
Wynotta Witch went into her bedroom. “Cobwebs—YECHH!” She tore sticky threads off her face.
High on the doorframe, a spider scowled.
“Beat it, bug-breath—catch your gross flies someplace else!”
Wynotta drank her sleeping potion and slid into bed. The night’s witchy Halloween tricks filled her dreams.
Moonlight woke Wynotta—cobwebs covered her walls floor-to-ceiling.
“EEE-YEWW!”
Grabbing her broom, Wynotta scrubbed.
The cobwebs didn’t budge.
Wynotta’s fingers stroked a wall. “Nothing? Are they inside my head?”
Something tickled behind her cheekbone.
“What’s that?”
A bristly face with tiny red eyes and a spider-fanged smirk rose into Wynotta’s view.
“N-N-N-N-O-O-O-O-O!”
Oh, creepy! No-o-o-o! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR PAUL
Happy Halloween, Neighbor!
by Paul Kurtz
Sinistro the Sorcerer drank his magic potion. “Every Halloween that foul gnome next-door toilet-papers my cottage. This year—revenge!”
Feeling his body change, Sinistro crept away.
Next door, Gnasty Gnome giggled. “Can’t wait to go drive that silly wizard crazy. Hey—my front door’s stuck!”
None of Gnasty’s doors or windows opened.
“A trick? Hah—I’m smarter!”
He struggled up his sooty chimney onto the roof.
“I’m unstoppable—Aa-chooey!”
Gnasty tried lifting his foot.
“I can’t move!”
The moon rose—sticky cobwebs wrapped Gnasty’s whole cottage.
“Get me down—H-E-L-P!”
From the lawn, wizard-sized spider Sinistro waved—
“Happy Halloween, neighbor!”
Ha, revenge! Good luck!
A Halloween Surprise
Lisa Zaccaria (@Lisa_Fighter78)
Word count: 100
David and his best friend, Billy, always celebrated Halloween together. This year was different. David learned Billy was in the hospital sick from chemo. He closed his eyes to stave off tears. Billy didn’t have a costume to wear. He couldn’t go trick-or-treating. David devised a plan.
On Halloween night, David and his friends dressed in costumes. They stormed the hospital to Billy’s room and yelled, “Surprise!” They brought Billy a costume, candy, and decorated his room with cobwebs and pumpkins. David even created a magic potion to make Billy feel better. They celebrated Halloween together after all!
What a sweet story. True friends. Good luck!
Thank you.
ENTRY POSTED FOR DEBBIE
Grandma’s Halloween Tricks
By Debbie Wanninkhof
Word Count = 96
On Halloween, my Grandma goes to her cobweb cupboard and pulls out her poof-poof potion. Grandma doesn’t like Halloween treats but she loves poofing tricks.
The first goblins arrive. She opens the door. Poof – the superhero becomes a horse and gallops on the grass. Poof – the karate kid becomes a kangaroo and hops over a hedge. Everyone screams and scatters.
“My poof-poof potion is working well,” Grandma says.
The doorbell rings. Grandma runs to answer it. She trips. The potion pours over her.
As she opens the door, – POOF – Grandma turns into a colossal candy corn!
Bet Grandma think twice about making poofing-potion again! LOL 😀
I would be that clumsy grandma! Good luck!