***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 
Sable Spins Halloween by Darcee A. Freier
Halloween morning, Mama Spider asked Sable to make costumes for the spiderlings. Mama needed to go hunting.
“Make me an octopus!”
“Me too!”
Sable spun oodles of octopus tentacles. The sun climbed the sky.
“Make me a butterfly.”
“Me too!”
Sable wove a kaleidoscope of butterfly wings, a slew of cowboy boots, a pack of pointy ears.
At noon, Sable ran out of silk. Mama brewed a special potion. Sable slurped.
She spun hats, tails, and sunglasses. As the sun set, 107 spiderlings wore their costumes. Sable put on a cobweb hat and together the spiderlings crawled out to trick-or-treat.
That is a LOT of spiders, Darcee…I love the ‘me too’…what a hard-working mama spider she was. Well done!
I love this story! Sweet and original. I can picture the illustrations. Good luck!
Yes, so much work so all the spiderlings could have Halloween. Great job, Sable! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR SHERRY
GHOST’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
By: Sherry Fellores
It was Ghost’s birthday
On Halloween night.
All ready for his party,
But no friends were in sight.
The cobwebs were hung,
The potion was brewed,
Ghost even cooked up the spookiest food.
“BOO HOO! I’ve been ghosted, I see.
There are skeletons in my closet–
They must see right through me.”
No party, no friends,
No trick-or-treat.
Ghost hung his head,
And turned as white as a sheet.
But just as the midnight moon was to rise,
Ghost’s friends all showed up and shouted…SURPRISE!
What a sweet ending!
Thanks Michelle!
Love your story, Sherry…and I’m so happy Ghost is going to have a party with his friends. Love your puns…Ghost turned as white as a sheet…hilarious! Well done!
Thanks Vivian….This was fun! So many great stories. I don’t know how Susanna will choose!
Ah, wonderful friends! Fun that Ghost’s birthday is Halloween. Good luck!
Thank you Nancy!
Very clever!
Thank you!
What a sweet ghost story. Love the use of “ghosted.” @AnneLipton
Omg, Susanna, you story is so great, I was in the edge of my seat the whole time! also, please tell magical Amy, she must share her linking to comments secret!!
Thanks again to you, your assistants, and the prize donors, for this amazing opportunity and for encouraging the writing community so much!
Hahaha Kaitlyn! Well I’m glad SOMEONE liked it! 🙂 I will tell you Magical Amy’s secret! If you click on the date/time stamp of the comment it gives you a link! For example, when I click on the date/time stamp of this comment (it’s pink – next to your name) I get this link:
https://susannahill.com/2019/10/28/the-9th-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest-aahhhrrrooooooooo/comment-page-4/#comment-56499
and I can link it onto any word I want – like story title!
Ohhh myyyy gooodness! Game changer! Thanks again and have tons of fun reading; everyone’s giving you a hard time with l their brilliant stories, and I’ve only read a few.
I know, right? You don’t want to know how much time I’ve wasted trying to figure out how to do that! 🙂 And it makes such a difference! And yes – very hard – totally brilliant – truckloads of sustaining chocolate will be required…! 🙂
A HAIRY TRICK
By Joel Chalmers
We all stood there glued to the cobwebbed glass. We watched as the boy who had been there the longest took his turn in the chair.
Hair covered where a face should be.
A green potion sprayed on the hair.
Then …
Everything went BLACK.
The BUZZING.
The SCREAMING!
Was this a trick?!?!
When the lights came back on, the boy was gone!
The crazed man cackled, “Who’s next?”
We tried to run. But none of us got far. Our parents held us waiting for our sacrifice to come.
The man yelled, “NEXT!”
The sign outside read “Free Halloween Haircut.”
Ohhh, creepy! Bahaha! Good luck!
I’m loving all of the stories that I’ve read so far and the turnout is AMAZING.
If David McMullin is listening…I loved your story, but I didn’t see a place to write a comment or to share it on Twitter.
Susanna…Halloweensie is definitely a hit…I hope it continues forever!
Thank, Vivian! I hope so too! 🙂
ALWAYS PACK THE POTION
93 words
Sharon Dalgleish
We were packing up the car
on our camping holiday
when I saw the giant cobweb
and I quickly backed away.
I could see the lurking shadow.
I could smell the spidery breath.
Then the tremble of the web told me
there’d been a sudden death.
I ran to warn the others
this wasn’t just a trick.
There’s a monster on the loose!
And the chomping makes me sick!
I hollered for the potion …
Then I felt a little sad.
The potion was too late, you see
the chomping sound was dad.
Poor Dad! Good luck!
Oh my gosh I totally get this! Love it!
Ha ha love this trick or treat twist!
Witchy Wobbles
By Stacey Miller @stacey25miller
“I have the Witchy Wobbles,” sniffed Wanda.
“When somethings tricky,” said the dragon. “I take a deep fiery breath and
…practice dragon yoga,”
“This is the fire-breathing pose… the swooping pose… and the capturing a princess pose”
Wanda thought of her favourite things…
“This is stirring a potion pose… zooming on a broom pose… and turning a prince into a frog pose!”
The yoga dragon clapped her wings.
“Whenever you feel like you have a belly full of spiders…cobwebs in your mouth, or legs like wiggerly worms, do your yoga moves.”
“You have my Witchy word!” cried Wanda.
Love this Stacey-Spooky Yoga should be a thing!
Ha ha, thank you!
Fun!
Love your names for the yoga poses! Good luck!
Thank you Nancy
This is so cute. Good Luck!
Thank you, so much.
Thanks for running a fun contest, offering salivation-inducing prizes and being so fun!
I was unable to verify that my link went into your list, so I’m trick-or-treating in the comments as well.
https://friendlyfairytales.com/2019/10/31/a-halloween-story/
So glad you’re enjoying the contest, Brenda! And no worries – your link in the list works! You might have just had to refresh your browser but I had not trouble! Happy Halloween! 🙂
Happy Halloween to you as well!
The Purrr-fect Halloween Party
(99 words)
By Amanda Baker
“Curse on a cobweb, Pete! How could you?”
Winnie’s little brother just smiled.
“You wanted an unforgettable Halloween party,” Pete said.
“Not like this!”
Something crashed in the living room.
Instead of a party of her coolest classmates, Winnie had a room full of black cats.
“I’m never going to live this down,” Winnie moaned. She mixed her potion into the giant bowl of milk.
The room filled with the pop-popping of cats turning back into classmates – some under couches, some licking themselves. Winnie tried to explain. But before she could, Elodie Carmichle squealed, “Whoa! Best Halloween trick, ever!!”
What a fun idea! I bet Elodie Carmichle (love that name) isn’t the only kid who would love that trick : )
I never expected the ending – Very clever, Amanda:-)
You had me at “Curse on a cobweb.” Great story!
What a purr-fect Halloween story! Good luck!
You had me with “curse on a cobweb” love it.
The Frozen Witch
By Amber Hendricks
100 words
Imelda was wicked.
Imelda was warty.
Imelda was…..
Freezing!
Everyone in Winterhaven loved the frosty Halloween weather.
Everyone but Imelda.
Her teeth chattered.
Her bones clattered.
And her potions were frozen solid.
She dreamed of a tropical vacation. Of warm breezes and dipping her toes in the sparkling sand.
But Imelda was stuck.
Unless…
Snapping her fingers, she brushed the cobwebs from her spell book.
Imelda knew just the trick!
Gathering her supplies, she conjured her spell.
A pinch of poison.
A serving of scales.
A scattering of sand.
POOF!
It wasn’t the tropics, but not bad for a staycation!
Love this Amber!
Thank you!!
I can totally relate to Imelda today! Cute story!
Me, too! Brr! Thank you for reading. 🙂
Love that Imelda went on a staycation, Amber! Nicely done!
Thank you, Julie!
Imelda (great name) made the best out of her situation. Good job and good luck!
I’m with Imelda!
This is my entry for “weenie” kids. Such a fun contest! Happy Halloween!
Margaret Aitken Twiter @mgtaitken
My Granny is A Witch
By Margaret Aitken
My Granny is a witch.
She wears black from hat to boot.
Her purse is full of cobwebs,
her hair as dark as soot.
My Granny is a witch.
She stirs potions in a pan.
She corresponds with gargoyles,
which frightens the mailman!
My Granny is a witch.
She can’t wait for Halloween.
No decorating her house-
it’s always black and green!
My Granny is a witch.
Is it tricky or a treat?
Despite all her ghoulish ways,
she’s really very sweet!
I love your witty witchy poem, Margaret!
Cute! Love corresponds with gargoyles! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KETAN
Jack O’Lantern’s Potion for Motion
by Ketan Ram
98 words
Jack O’Lantern sulked on the porch.
For he really wanted to trick-or-treat.
With Halloween night underway,
how could he with no hands or feet?
“Who can help me?”
Jack howled with force.
Then Spider Witch Spinny dangled down from her cobweb offering,
“I will grant your wish, of course!”
“Oh Spinny! Please whip up a spell or a potion!”
“One that will put me in Halloween motion!”
“I want…hands and feet, a mouth to eat treats and a sac for my candy sure would be handy!”
“Granted!” Spinny smiled and winked.
Cute story! Glad Jack got his wish. Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR RAFIQUE
Halloween Story by Rafique Keshavjee
They stare at his his body in horror. A Halloween trick that led to death. What happened? The children knocked, the door opened, revealing a smiling clown. The smile became a leer, and from the leer came a gruesome growl. They screamed, and ran from the door, dropping sweets and scattering into the cobwebs in the darkness. Leaving little Steven, face-down. Silence. In horror, they creep back. The clown has turned the body over, and having frantically tried potions, looks up, aghast and defeated. Steven lies limp and still. His sister starts crying, “You did this! He has a hole in the heart!”
“Haha!” Shouts Steven, as he jumps up and runs off, leaving them twice-tricked.
Scary! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR JOAN
Jamie’s Halloween Day Challenge by Joan Leotta
Cobwebs covered the deserted house doorway.
Jamie’s older brother, Todd, had challenged her: “Go into the empty house, bring back proof, or I won’t take you trick or treating tonight.”
Snakes, spiders, ghosts, witches inside?
Jamie covered her head with her hands and ran in, stopping in the kitchen where she saw a potion recipe on the table!
She took a photo with her phone, grabbed the potion paper, then ran home where she mixed up a batch of the potion.
Todd looked at the picture and potion. “You win. And this hot chocolate is frightfully good.”
Ha, fun story. Just the right amount of scary!. Good luck!
Witch’s Trick
by Susan Halko
On Halloween night,
Witch’s doorbell rang.
“Trick or treat!”
the children sang.
“Welcome!” Witch cackled.
“Who do we have here?”
“A werewolf, a zombie,
and skeleton—oh dear—
I’ve run out of candy.”
“Aww man! Are you kidding?”
These kids were complainers.
So Witch fetched some cobweb-
covered containers.
“A trick then?” she smiled.
“Try this old Charming potion.”
And three greedy gulps
set some strange things in motion:
Fangs and fur, haunting groans,
clanking bones from real tombs—
The rude trick-or-treaters
became their costumes!
The Halloween creatures
ran into the night.
And from that night forward,
they were always polite.
Hee hee! I love it.
Thank you!
Super fun!
Love it! Good luck!
Thanks!
Love it! Well done.
Thank you!
This charming little poem delivers a strong but sweet dose of Halloween poetic justice. @AnneLipton
Thank you! And ooooh —Halloween poetic justice—I like that!
A BATTY HALLOWEEN
Katie Schwartz
99 words
”Tonight, little batlings, it’s going to get frightful!
Terribly scary! Quite undelightful!”
”Cobwebs, with tricksters, and bright buggy eyes!
They’ll snare you with potions, and spiderly lies!”
”Inky black shadows! Worse are the MUMMIES!!
Fly by too close, yum yum yum in their tummies!”
”You’d eat US???!!! That’s extreme, Mummy, not necessary!
Hideous! Horrible! So scary! Very!”
”No, no, Mummy don’t! We’ll be perfect, divine!”
”It’s MOMMY, you mixed-up li’l batlings of mine!”
”Should I clean out your ears?! Bops on the head?!”
”Ha-ha, funny Mummy, it’s not time for bed!”
”BATZOOKS! You’re so kooky!” is all Mommy said!
Very cute Katie! Glad Mommy didn’t want to eat her children! LOL
Thank you!
Nicely done 🙂
I love the Mummy/Mommy part and Batzooks at the end! You have such vivid visuals going on throughout. Frightfully good, Katie!
Thank you!
Such a fun story with mummy and her batlings. Great job on your rhyme – it’s so playful and entertaining.
Thank you!
Love the Batzooks! Good luck!
Thank you!
Black Cat’s Dream
On Halloween Eve
Black cat wrote:
Night time’s swift.
Cobwebs drift.
Pumpkins chant,
Werewolfs rant.
Treater’s tricks
Potions mix.
Vampires bite
Spiders fight.
Witches scream
in my
Halloween dream.
By Kathy Mazurowski
Great perspective! Good luck!
I was encouraged to post this one. ☺️
THE WITCHES’ BAKERY AND
THE FORBIDDEN POTION
By Ashley Congdon
WC: 99
“What are you doing?”
“This shelf is covered in cobwebs.”
“Don’t touch that potion!”
“Why?”
“It’s a concoction I created long ago to add a little flavor to our drinks. We needed customers.”
“Did it work?”
“Yes, but people wanted more. In cookies, cakes, cupcakes, candies, and spam. We don’t even sell spam!”
“What’s the name of this forbidden potion?”
“PUMPKIN SPICE.”
“Sounds horrible. How did you make it stop?”
“Trickery. Said it was seasonal. Ended it in November. And the next year, said I lost the recipe.”
“Good idea. You don’t know what they would’ve asked for next.”
Clever idea & fun story!
Thank you!
Made me giggle 🙂
Very funny and . . . seasonal! Good luck!
Thank you for reading Nancy.
Ha, ha, made me laugh out loud! So true, pumpkin spice is everywhere! Good luck!
Yes! It even made it’s way to my stories. Thanks!
Bahaha! This cracked me up. Nicely done.
Thank you. 😄
Halloweensie Contest 2019 Word Count: 100
Katie Munday Williams
Ktwills79@gmail.com
MASTER OF POTIONS
Jamie was a potions master.
On Halloween, he measured, poured, and stirred.
Today’s potion had to be extra special!
He sprinkled bits of frog toenails.
He tossed in wisps of cobweb.
And he threw in a tuft of grass, just for good measure.
Perfect. Now to test it.
Jamie squirmed with excitement. He looked left…then right.
The coast was clear.
He grabbed his sister’s smoothie…
In went the potion.
He waited.
And waited.
Until…
Glug, glug, glug.
His sister finished every drop.
Her face turned green. Her eyes bulged. Jamie ran.
“You trickster!” she croaked.
But Jamie was long gone.
Love the way that sister “croaked.” Great ending.
Oh no, poor sister! Sounds like she has a “frog” in her throat! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR SUSAN
A New Addition to the Family! by Susan Valli
100 words
Nell’s Halloween broomstick
Always got homesick,
Heading for home,
Making heartrending sobs.
When it reached the front door,
It would examine the floor,
Looking worried and scurried,
To finish its jobs.
It began brushing and sweeping,
Cleaning while keeping,
Cobwebs away,
And the floor gleaming bright.
So Nell sat and thought,
How Broom could be taught,
The trick of soaring away,
Through Halloween nights.
A potion? A lotion?
To encourage fast motion?
But that night in its cupboard,
Broom had an idea.
The cupboard had room,
For a stay-at-home broom……..
But it also had room,
For a broom without fear……
So glad you swept in at the last moment, Susan! 🎃
I like the broom’s perspective. Good luck!
Halloweenie Dog (100 words)
By Kristina Castillo
(Twitter @kristina_stillo)
When leaves fell down, a chill kissed the air
They dressed me as a soft, cuddly bear.
They hung cobwebs from the rail
Which stuck to my wagging tail.
They stirred up potions and carved an orange vegetable
And ordered me to keep away from the spectacle.
The doorbell rang time after time
Which made me jump at every chime.
I hid from swords, lasers, and guns
And creepy giggles from tiny ones.
Worst of all, and quite the trick
No chocolate, not one lick!
When I had enough, I ran away
To avoid the rest of this awful day.
I can relate to this adorable story. It feels real, and it is especially sweet told from the doggie’s point of view!
Aww…indeed! Paw-fect 🐶
You captured the dog’s thoughts perfectly! Poor pup! Good luck!
Such a cute idea. Love and totally feel that doggy POV.
MARVIN’S MEAN POTION MIX-UP
By Chambrae Griffith
Marvin woke up feeling nice.
He brewed a get-mean potion.
Cobwebs, snake skin, dragon scales,
One slip set things in motion.
He gulped it down, then grabbed his wand,
“Time for tricks and fright!”
He found his victims, aimed and flicked…
But something wasn’t right.
Cotton candy grew like clouds,
The slide turned roller-coaster,
Though Marvin meant to make to make them scream,
They drew a “Thank You” poster.
His get-mean potion hadn’t worked.
“More!” He heard their cries.
But being nice felt kind of good,
He aimed and flicked…. “SURPRISE!”
Sounds like Marvin had a great Halloween anyhow! Nice job, Chambrae! 🎃
Love it. Fun to read and well written! 🙂
Nice rhyme and a very fun story. Good luck!
Halloweensie Entry 2019
JenniferBroedel.com & Twitter: @JBroedelAuthor
(97 words…or 100, discounting the hyphens!)
CAST-OFF CANDIES
By Jennifer Broedel
At the bottom of a sack,
on a shelf, tucked in the back,
three small candies sat, uneaten.
Cast off. Passed up. Limp and beaten.
Left from last year’s trick-or-treat,
things no child would ever eat…
Candied lace worms, chocobats,
one full pack of mummy cats.
Then a warty hand reached in,
followed by a pointy chin…
“Where’s that potion recipe?
One large cobweb, now let’s see…
What could give it extra zing?
Ah, some candy—just the thing!
Tumble in the chocobats,
candied lace worms, mummy cats!
Cast-off candies simmer, stew…
Perfect for a witch’s brew!”
This is great, Jennifer! Love that the leftover candies found the perfect home! 🎃
Thanks so much! I had fun writing this one, as always, with the Halloweensie contest!
Wonderful poem! 🙂
Fun story, rhyme and love the ending! Good luck!
Nice original story, very cute, great meter and rhymes!
MIGHTY MONTY
By Kelly Swemba
Frightville howled with pure delight.
The moon rose up, it’s Halloween night!
The ghouls and ghosts practiced their boo,
As witches mixed potions two by two.
All were busy, except little Monty,
Who crouched in a corner, away from the party.
Told he was too small, how could HE help?
Tears rolled down, then he heard a yelp.
“I’m out of web!” a tarantula said.
Mighty Monty rose up and spun his thread
He draped his cobweb up and down
Monty’s the best decorator in town!
The village all cheered at his wonderful trick,
Happy Halloween from this lil chick!
Forgot my Twitter handle! @KSwemba
Very cute. Go Monty! Good luck!
Halloweensie Entry (100 words)
Twitter @CindyArgentine
Thanks for this fun contest, Susanna!
SPIDER’S FIRST HALLOWEEN
by Cynthia Argentine
With the magical potion in his belly, Spider spun marvelous webs.
People started copying him.
They blanketed bushes with cobwebs. Decorated porches with giant orbs.
I’ve inspired them! Spider thought.
Or maybe … they know something.
Maybe a monster THAT BIG is coming!
Spider trembled.
Dusk fell.
Eerie eyes glowed.
Was the monster coming … tonight?
Spider hid.
He heard doorbells, footsteps, squeals.
He peeked.
Costumed creatures filled the street!
They raced to each house and yelled, “Trick or treat!”
They held out buckets. Plunk! Plunk! Pieces fell.
One dropped.
Spider tiptoed.
Nibbled.
YUMMM!
Spider could get used to this.
Cute story, Cindy! Glad spider found a tasty treat! 🕷
Very fun. Good luck!
There is such a roller-coaster of emotion contained in this compact story. Love your pacing and word choices, including onomatopoeia like “Plunk! Plunk!” Spider makes for a very loveable and relatable character. Glad he finds his way to a sweet, happy ending. @AnneLipton
Halloweenie Hide and Seek Ye
The witch stirred her potion of bubbling goo.
“Tee-hee-hee! This should do!”
The witch’s pet spider sat beside her,
giggling too.
“Where is he?” she asked.
The spider danced on his web,
Pointing to the black puppy, Zeb.
“Too cute,” said the witch.
The spider kept pointing,
the witch kept denying.
Feeling the brush of air from a crow,
the witch simpered, “Tee-hee-ho.”
She coaxed the crow to take a sip…
POOF! A cloud of soot covered his lip.
A boy in black talks back.
“Good trick, Mother.
The was the best Halloween ever!”
Michele Ziemke
Nice twist at the end, Michele. I loved the imagery of ‘feeling a brush of air from a crow’. Good luck in the contest.
Love the ending! Good luck!
WITCHY’S BUNGLED BREW
By Beth Stewart
(99 words)
“What’s the date?
Is it too late?
Where’s my broom, my hat, my pot?”
Witchy knew that she forgot.
Goblins crowded outside her door,
Eagerly waiting for a pour.
Her ghastly, hideous, Halloween potion
Always stirred a grand commotion!
Staring at her cobwebby crock,
Now she’d be a laughingstock!
Witchy needed to fix this mistake.
What icky slop could she quickly make?
Conjuring tootsies, lollies, and goo
She melted up a bubbly stew.
First a long slurp…then a BITE,
Goblins whined, “This sweet’s a fright!
We want something good to eat!”
“Too late,” cackled Witchy, “this trick’s your treat!”
You had me at laughingstock! Good luck!
Thank you 🙂
I can relate to this. How old is the witch? My age probably. Very well done. Unexpected twist at the end.
Ha! I can relate to her as well! Thank you 🙂
Lovesick: Haunting the Stacks
by Kerry McQuaide (100 words)
“I love her,“ Bai sighed, “but she acts like I don’t even exist!“
“You are a ghost.“ Agnes shrugged.
“It doesn’t make my feelings any less real.”
“Here’s something that might do the trick.“ Agnes heaved a book off the top shelf. It fell open to a chapter titled, Love Potions. “Aha! See?”
“Shush!” Lilly, the lovely librarian hushed them.
Bai flushed a fantastic pink.
“Thanks Agnes, but I have to do this on my own.”
Dissolving and reappearing in front of the circulation desk, Bai presented a bouquet of black roses and cobwebs.
“Lilly, I’d like to wooooo you.”
Sweet ending. I hope the love is returned. Good luck!
Dark Dark Magic
by Pat Finnegan
100 words
On a dark, dark night in her dark, dark house,
Witch opened an old, old spell book.
And in that old, old spell book there was an old, old chant
For a spooky scary potion.
And in that spooky scary potion she put spooky scary things
Like lizards and cobwebs and screams.
And those lizards and cobwebs and screams made more lizards and cobwebs and screams
Until Witch chanted, “Trick-or-treat, trick-or-treat.”
And the trick-or-treat spell caused trick-or-treat magic
Making music and pumpkins and candy.
Then the dark, dark house came alive—So alive—
With Witch’s friends at her Halloween party!
Fun! I like the repetition! Good luck!
Glad it was fun for you – Thank you for reading my entry, Nancy!
The repetition makes for a spooky story, and the idea of putting screams in a potion is inspired, but the change of tone at the end is sweet and satisfying. @AnneLipton
Glad the ending worked for you – Thank you, Anne!
This is a great read aloud.Spooky! Good luck!
Nothing like a spooky read aloud – Thank you for reading!
SAVE-THIS-NIGHT
by Pat Finnegan
96 words
Witch was known as Queen of Mean
Cause she hated Halloween.
With her potion RAINS-A-LOT,
She began a wicked plot.
Cloudy monsters filled the sky,
Thunderclaps made children cry.
Rainy rivers hit the ground,
Windy winds blew Witch around.
Swept up by the storm she made,
Witch was now the one afraid.
Trick-or-treaters yelled, “Don’t fret,
We’ll use cobwebs as a net.”
Landing with a graceful wiggle,
Witch let out a happy giggle.
“I was wrong and you were right—
Here’s my potion SAVE-THIS-NIGHT!”
No longer known as Queen of Mean,
Witch made friends that Halloween.
Cute story idea! 🙂
Thanks for reading my story, Katrina – It was fun to write:-)
Nice ending. Glad Witch had a change of heart and made friends. Good luck!
Yes, there was bit of the Grinch in the witch relative to Halloween – Thank you for reading and commenting:-)
This is such an original premise and poem with great rhyme, rhythm, and wordplay. I especially like “cloudy monsters” and the names of the potions. You’ve created some magic yourself by managing to squeeze out a complete character arc in so few words. Well done! @Anne Lipton
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my story – Glad you enjoyed it!
Casper, Jasper, and Fang
Casper has a trick or two but doesn’t have a sleeve.
How will he scare the children then, on this All Hallows Eve?
Jasper works with potions to scare the kids tonight,
but a quick look in the mirror has given him a fright.
Fang hangs upside down to spin a web of gold; it twinkles in the moonlight, a beautiful sight to behold!
Submitted by Gabrielle Copeland Schoeffield
Very cute! Good luck!
JIMMY THE MEANIE
by Jen Bagan
Jimmy Fitz was a meanie. He teased, taunted and tricked – especially on Halloween.
With his ghoulish mask in place, he snuck up on his mother.
“BOO!”
“AAGGHHH!” she screamed.
Jimmy howled with laughter.
He called to his baby sister.
“Drink this potion. You’ll turn into a real unicorn!”
She slurped greedily then spluttered.
“YUCK! That’s cough syrup!”
Jimmy cackled with delight.
He gathered spiders from cobwebs and found his dad hunched over his desk.
Giggling, Jimmy opened his jar to launch the spiders … but dad turned around.
“GAAAAAHHHHHH!” shrieked Jimmy.
Dad smiled as he removed his zombie mask.
“Gotcha!”
I like it! Love to see a trickster get tricked. 🙂
Thanks so much!
Since Dad seems to like scaring people, too, I guess this apple, Jimmy, doesn’t fall far from the tree. Nice surprise ending, Jen:-)
I appreciate you stopping by, Patricia! 🙂
Hahaha! Love those tricksy dads! Good luck!
Thank you Nancy!
ITCHY WITCHY UNDERWEAR
By Katrina Swenson
Every year on Halloween,
there’s pumpkins, costumes, and a scene
that thrills the region’s flight fanatics:
Myrtle’s Fright-Night Aerobatics!
But Myrtle’s stumbled on a hitch:
her witchy britches make her itch!
Charms and chants and incantations–
none relieves her aggravations.
Myrtle checks a cobwebbed cranny
for a brew to soothe her fanny.
“Use this potion if you dare.”
She pours it on her underwear.
“It’s done the trick! Oh, lucky witch!
Britches gone, but so’s the itch!”
Feeling breezy on her broom,
Myrtle zips to practice. Zoom!
On Halloween she wows the town–
but…
DON’T watch Myrtle upside down!
Oh heavens, I forgot the word count. I’m going to blame some Halloween spirits flitting about. The word count is 99.
This is my favourite entry!!! This would be quite the show. Myrtle cover up!! Hahaha.
Oh my goodness, I did not expect a peep show here. I’m torn – I can’t decide if the twist ending, which is also is a little twisted, is my favorite part, or if it’s “witchy britches make her itch,” which is ridiculously fun to say. Well done, madam!
Hee! Thanks! 🙂
Couldn’t help but smile when I read your story, Katrina – Very cute:-)
Thank you, Patricia! 🙂
OMG this is brilliant! And hilarious! Well done!
Butts get the job done every time! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
hahaha! Delightfully funny! Good luck!
Thanks! 🙂
Very funny. Love your rhymes. Good luck!
Thanks, Nancy!
Hysterical! Is there a children’s picture book in your future?
What a kind comment! Where’s my “fingers-crossed” emoji? 🙂
So clever! You’ve mastered SHOW don’t TELL with this ending.
Thank you!
Omg, Hilarious. “Feeling breezy on her broom” —love it!
Hee, thanks! That line and its rhyme get stuck in my head!
Very original, would make kids laugh for sure. Good luck!
Thank you! 🙂
HALLOWEEN NIGHT by Susan Burd (90 words)
Things are up there
Hidden from sight
Riding ‘round on
Halloween Night.
High on their brooms,
Dancing in flight
Waiting for us
‘Neath the moonlight.
Goblins and ghosts,
Neon and white,
Playing some tricks
Giving a fright.
Bags full of loot,
Mouthfuls to bite,
Makes lil’ fiends
Fly like a kite.
BOO!
Black magic cast,
Witches invite,
Caught in cobwebs,
Captured for flight.
Dark Potion poured,
Rise to moonlight,
Spellbound by brew-
Root beer delight!
Floats us to bed,
Tucks us in tight,
Witches sweet dreams
Charms us till light.
Nice and sweet! Good luck!
Thank you!
I like the “witches sweet dreams.” So many sweet images!
GHOST TRAIL
by Cynthia Stone-Medina
100 words
“It’s getting harder to scare people on Halloween night,” Boo said to the other ghosts
assembled.
Murmurs of agreement arose.
“The trick is timing.”
Using cobwebs, he drew a map.
“This is the trail we usually follow. It’s time for a change,” he said, “the people already know
where to avoid us.”
A ghost shrilled, “it can’t be done!”
Change can be scary.
Thunder struck as Boo sprinkled potion across the map.
“This will reveal the new ghost trail we will follow.”
That night terrified screams of unsuspecting trick-or-treaters filled the air.
It was the best Halloween of Boo’s afterlife!
I am LOVING that last line! And a gathering of concerned ghost-citizens totally makes my day. Nice! 🙂
I love that change can be scary! ha! the best Halloween of Boo’s afterlife! Good luck!
That cobweb map is just brilliant! Great job.
FATTY BATTY
by Vanessa Marcus
95 words
Fatty Batty couldn’t fly,
Chunky like a pizza pie.
Then a potion made him thin,
A trick that nicked his double chin.
Fatty batty felt so free,
Flitted through the sky with glee,
But then a cobweb thin and fine
Snagged him like a fishing line.
Fatty batty hung there stuck,
Skinny, scrawny, out of luck.
He wished that he was fat again.
He missed his old round latter end.
Fatty batty grew and grew.
His wish for squishness had come true.
He smiled as the web sagged long,
On the ground where bats belong.
Silly Batty! Cute! Good luck!
Gwendolyn Dee The Halloween Queen
Gwendolyn Dee the Halloween Queen,
started her reign as a wee little pea.
She won best costume eight years in a row.
Just last year, she was a wart covered troll.
This year however, cobwebs crept in.
No potion or trick could help her win.
She arrived on her broom with no costume in flight.
“What in toad’s spells will they think of this sight?”
“We love your fun magic, and witchy-roo laughter!”
“No costume compares to the Gwendolyn IT factor!”
From that day on she was called Gwendolyn Dee.
Her friends liked her, and she liked not being queen.
Rachael Schweigert
100 Word Count
Fun! Love, What in toad’s spells! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR TRACY
My Mummy’s a Witch (93 words)
by @WriterCornish -Tracy Curran
“My Mummy’s a WITCH!” announced Anna, wide-eyed.
“It’s a secret she keeps but I know cause I’ve spied…”
Our home’s PACKED with cobwebs, the corners are full.
She knits them at night with her sparkly wool.
There’s jarfuls of coloured, bright, magical potions,
under the bed hidden next to her lotions.
And tonight’s Halloween- I said ‘trick please, no treat.’
Mum twitched her nose and black bats filled the street.”
But Anna’s been fooled, you should never assume.
In the Halloween skies flies her dad on his broom.
Aw, cute! 🙂 What a neat twist.
Love the ending!
Very fun twist and great rhyme. Good luck!
Love this one!
Love the play on gender roles, Very clever!
ENTRY POSTED FOR DAVE
Goldiwitch
by Dave Goodale
No scary tale,
but a fairy tale,
on Halloween night.
Goldiwitch flew to BEAR CROSSING,
trickily transformed it to SCARE CROSSING,
draped the sign with cobwebs light.
To stay awake, she drank a potion,
rubbed in bat lotion,
awaited cars beaming bright.
Goldiwitch counted one, two,
those wouldn’t do,
but the third car was just right.
She wove magic to scare,
then heard a bear,
and it gave her a terrible fright.
The bears numbered three,
Papa, Mama, and B,
and their crossing made quite a sight!
Goldiwitch flew away,
and needless to say,
her goldilocks turned white.
A very fun twist on a classic! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KATE
The Scaredy-Ghost
By Kate Thompson (@writes_kate)
Ghosty Jack was terrified,
He hated Halloween.
Every year he hid away,
Sad, lonely and unseen.
“I’m such a scaredy-ghost!” he cried,
“I need to make a change!
A courage potion’s what I need –
I’ll visit Witch McStrange!”
The potion gurgled, fizzed and hissed,
It stank of cobweb plop.
But Jack rushed home, determined,
‘til his friends all shouted…“STOP!”
“You don’t need stinky potions,
spells, or wishes on a star.
We’ll bring the trick-free fun to you –
Just don’t change who you are!”
Cute!!!
Nice! And wonderful friends for Jack. Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR DEDRA
(her link in the link list is not working for many people – including me – so this is a back-up 🙂 )
HalloWeenteam
By Dedra Davis
(Word count-100)
The Weenteam discussed costumes for Halloween while chewing bones.
“Bacon and eggs!” yelped Martha.
“Nope, last year.” Charli spouted.
“King and queen?”
“You buried the scepter! Think!”
They did their best thinking while chewing.
Chomp. Crunch. Chomp Chomp.
“Nut and squirrel?”
“Maybe… Or, a spider and cobweb. But how?” Charli pondered.
“Hotdogs!?”
“Nope, too obvious. Think outside the box!”
“Did you say box of treats?”
“Seriously, Martha! I want a lot of tricks with our treats, this year!”
“Lotions and potions?”
This only got a glare.
“Martha, what is long and low like us?”
“Dill Pickles!!!”, they yapped together!
THE END
Love this dynamic duo of doggies! Great job!
Meanwhile at Witchmart
JC Kelly (100 words)
Glenda flew into Witchmart with a shopping list as long as her broomstick. The store was packed with last minute Halloween shoppers. She buckled her daughter Wanda into a broomcart and flew down the aisles, checking her list…
…POTION INGREDIENTS
…COBWEBS
…NEWT EYES
…And….?
She squinted to read the last item. It looked like someone had scrawled “HALLOWEEN CANDY.”
“Ha,” she cackled, ”Nobody’s brave enough to trick-or-treat at our haunted house.”
“But my friends want to come tonight,” said Wanda. “Could we please buy candy?”
“Hmmmmm… I suppose… but none of that sweet chocolate nonsense… how about real gummy worms?”
Fun story. Good luck!
Clever! Witchmart sounds like an interesting place to shop.
Fun story! I just love the witch language… “shopping list as long as her broomstick” and “broomcorn.” Fantastic:)
Very fun! Loved how you worked in bric-a-brac! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR SHARIFFA
Is It Really Halloween by Shariffa Keshavjee
Hush! come this way, follow my torch.”
Ayla crept up the haunted house porch
Cobwebs brushed,front door squeaked
A hunched figure ghastly mocked
“Come, drink from my cauldron quick.”
Warlock raised his ghastly stick
“Drink !” he waved his arms aflare
It’ll Make you invisible, my potion is rare!”
The children trembled, made a plea
Keval made his decree
“Where is the fear is it in the dark?
Look! see it’s all in your heart!
Let not darkness deceive you
Its in the mind within you
Not in the cauldron dark and vast
Nor in the rare it’s potion last
ENTRY POSTED FOR ELIZABETH
Incantations by Elizabeth Steiner
Come Goblins! Come Ghoulies!
Come Ghosties and Witches!
The time has come to make our brew.
A potion so powerful to seal our rule!
Eyes plucked from penguins,
Ears of a baboon,
Dew from a cobweb lit by the moon.
A dragon’s puff to light the wick,
Boiling and bubbling will do the trick.
A dram for each soul that dares to dream
Of midnight flights and creepy schemes.
Howls and Cackles,
Screeches and Twitches!
Come Goblins! Come Ghoulies!
Come Ghosties and Witches!
A fun, creepy Halloween story! Good luck!
Laney’s Creepy Night Out
By Sheila Alford
Laney looked in the mirror and adjusted her hat.
DING DONG!
“That must be Sarah.”
Laney grabbed her bucket.
“Let’s go trick-or-treating.”
“We’re not going to Mrs. Garfield’s are we? Her house is creepy. There’s cobwebs all over her porch and they’re not decorations—they’re real.”
“I dare you to ring the doorbell,” said Laney. “I’ll give you half my candy.”
“Alriigght.”
DING DONG!
“Hey, you’re not Mrs. Garfield!”
“I’m her granddaughter. I just moved here and I start school on Monday.
Why don’t you come in? I made a new drink. I call it my special potion.”
A fun surprise, a new friend! Good luck!
A new friend, but given the house reputation, can her potion be trusted? How fun! Good luck.
Cute! This is a great story for kids – making friends, being brave. Love it!
The Disappearing Potion
By Jim Chaize
Trevor and I rummaged through boxes for our costumes.
“Look at this,” I said.
Trevor swiped away cobwebs.
“Grandma’s Potion Book,” he read.
We flipped through the book as we dressed to trick-or-treat.
“A disappearing potion.”
“Let’s try it.”
In the kitchen, we mixed the ingredients.
The potion gurgled.
“Happy Halloween!” said Trevor, downing his cup.
Before I could drink mine, Trevor’s body shook. His irises turned red. His empty costume sagged to the floor.
“Mom, Trevor disappeared!” I called.
“Look for him!”
“Okay!” I drank my potion.
Later, Mom picked up the costumes.
“Where’d they disappear to … Kids!”
Haha! Hope the potion wears off before Mom realizes her kids are invisible! Good luck!
Great job!!!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTY
Zippity Zora by Kristy Roser Nuttall
The Halloween broom flying contest was about to start, but Zora couldn’t find her broom. Maybe she could cast a spell to conjure a broom! Ala Ka Broom!
No luck. All she could conjure were jumpy frogs and tricky toads.
Then she tried to trade frog and toad potions for a broom, but all of the other witches cackled at the thought.
In her mopey malaise, Zora stumbled right into a cobweb. She tripped and sprawled right into the perfect stick to make her own broom! With weeds and a bit of tree sap, Zora zoomed off, zippity fast!
Very resourceful Zora! Good luck!
Halloween Party
by Chandra Mayer
(100 words)
“A Halloween party!” Worm said. “I bet they have zombie cupcakes, candy corn fudge, and magic potion punch.”
“What about a costume?” Squirrel asked.
I could be…
The mustache of a musketeer.
A wand for a wizard.
The tail of a tiger.
“Where’s your invitation?” Squirrel asked.
“I didn’t get one,” Worm admitted.
Worm wiggled closer, admiring cobwebs and cauldrons, ghosts and ghouls, and other spooky decorations. He stared wistfully at the house.
“Come inside, Worm!” Mouse called.
“I wasn’t invited.” Worm said.
“Everyone is welcome.” Mouse said. “The mailbug hid the party invitations as a trick. They’re all missing!”
Cute story and nice ending twist! Good luck!
Halloween Howl
by Chandra Mayer
(100 words)
Little Werewolf opened the closet, cobwebs hanging from his old Halloween costume. “I can’t go out like this,” he complained, arms and legs longer than last year.
What about…
A mummy?
Not enough toilet paper.
A ghost?
No extra sheets.
A witch?
No spare potions.
“Come out, even if you don’t wear a costume,” Vampire said. “Humans have awesome candy and always fall for our tricks.”
“Great costume!” the neighbors said to Werewolf, as he jumped from the sidewalk with a growl. “It looks so real.”
“Who knew my best Halloween costume was… me?!” Werewolf smiled, bag filled with candy.
Ha ha! I love it.
Just be your scary self. Nice message. Good luck!
Cute with an important but sneaky message!
Yay! Very cute! Just being yourself is the best!