***FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE***
Sorry for the delay in posting finalists, everyone! So many great entries – it’s really hard to narrow the field and it’s taking us longer than expected. I will do my best to post them no later than Monday afternoon, sooner if I can. Thank you all so much for your patience, and have a great weekend!
Witch’s wart and wing of bat! It’s time for. . .
The 11th Annual Halloweensie Writing 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 word count) using the words glow-in-the-dark, goosebumps, and goodies.
- Your story can be poetry or prose, scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words. Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 😊
- You can go under the word count but not over!
- Title is not included in the word count.
- Also, being super clear for this year, glow-in-the-dark counts as 1 word (even though it looks like 4 😊)
- You may use the words in any form i.e. glowed-in-the-dark, goosebumpley, goody (“Oh, goody!”, goody-two-shoes etc.), whathaveyou 😊
- You are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊
- No illustration notes please!
And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge! We got just shy of 300 fantastic entries last year, so I know you can do it!
POST: your story in the comment section below between right now this very second and Sunday October 31st at Midnight – the witching hour! Please include your title, word count, and byline with your entry so that if your posting handle is MomNeedsAVacation I’ll still be able to tell who wrote your entry 😊
- For those of you who would also like to post on your blogs, please feel free to do so! You are welcome to include the link to your blog with your entry in the comment section below so that people can come visit your blog, but all entries must be posted in the comment section of This Post between now and Sunday October 31st at Midnight.
- If you have difficulty posting your entry to the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you! Contact button above or [susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title and byline at the top – NO ATTACHMENTS! They will not be opened.
- I know how hard you all work on your entries, and how anxious you are to get them posted, but please try to be a little patient if your entry doesn’t show up immediately. Many comments have to be manually approved, and it sometimes takes me a little while to post entries that come in by email. I promise I will get to everything as soon as I can. I try never to leave my desk during contests, but sometimes it’s unavoidable 😊
- Side Note: WordPress will not properly format entries written in the shape of a pumpkin (or anything else!) or with fancy or colored fonts or unusual spacing. No matter how great it looks in whatever program you compose it in, be forewarned that when you post it in the comment section it is going to be basic and I am not able to change that for you, I’m afraid.
THE JUDGING: in a grueling marathon over the days following the contest close, my devoted assistants and I will read and re-read and narrow down the entries to a finalist field of about 12 which will be posted here for you to vote on I hope by Friday November 5th (though if the judging takes longer than expected it might be a little later – we will do our best!) The winner will be announced Monday November 8th (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. Use of all 3 required words and whether you came it at 100 words or less.
- 4. 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.
- 5. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
- 6. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
- 7. How well you followed the Submission Guidelines – agents and editors expect professionalism. This is a chance to practice making sure you read and follow specified guidelines. If you don’t follow agent and editor submission guidelines, they won’t even read your submission.
THE PRIZES: So amazing! What wonderful, generous people we have in our kidlit community! Just wait til you see what you can win!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Dawn Young, author of THE NIGHT BAAFORE CHRISTMAS (WorthyKids, 2019), COUNTING ELEPHANTS (Running Press Kids, 2020), THE NIGHT BAAFORE EASTER (WorthyKids, 2021), THE NIGHT BAAFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (WorthyKids, 2021), and the brand new ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS (WorthyKids, October 19, 2021)!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (nonrhyming) by Janie Reinart, author of WHEN WATER MAKES MUD: A STORY OF REFUGEE CHILDREN (Blue Whale Press, 2021)
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (biography) by Lindsey McDivitt, author of NATURE’S FRIEND: THE GWEN FROSTIC STORY (Sleeping Bear Press, 2018), TRUTH AND HONOR: THE PRESIDENT FORD STORY (Sleeping Bear Press, 2020), and A PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE: NELSON MANDELA’S HOPE FOR HIS NATION (Eerdman’s Books For Young Readers, 2021)
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or any) or First 10 Pages of a longer MS (winner’s choice) by Kenda Henthorn, author of the forthcoming BAA, BAA TAP SHEEP (Sleeping Bear Press, April 15, 2022)
Kenda works in the aviation industry now so it’s no surprise that her writing inspirations and aspirations are sky-high, too. She resides in Oklahoma and when the winds aren’t sweepin’ down the plains, Kenda enjoys acting, flying, kayaking and riding horses or her motorcycle. (Vroom-vroom!)She has served as a Regional Coordinator for the Oklahoma SCBWI and a Best in Rhyme Award committee member and judge.
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or lyrical) by Randi Sonenshine, author of THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT (Candlewick March 2020) and the forthcoming THE LODGE THAT BEAVER BUILT (Candlewick Fall 2022)
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Danielle Dufayet, author of YOU ARE YOUR STRONG (Magination Press, March 2019) and FANTASTIC YOU (Magination Press, September 2019)
⭐️ Storyboard Notebook – a great way to draft your picture books! PLUS a deck of What’s The Story Cards to inspire the drafts! PLUS the Making Picture Book Magic Self Study Course to help you craft your draft!
⭐️ Personalized signed copy of ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS by Dawn Young PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!
⭐️ Personalized signed copy of BRANCHES OF HOPE: The 9/11 Survivor Tree by Ann Magee PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!
⭐️ Personalized signed copy of MIMIC MAKERS: Biomimicry Inventors Inspired by Nature by Kristen Nordstrom PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!
⭐️ Personalized signed copy of A PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE: Nelson Mandela’s Hope for His Nation by Lindsey McDivitt PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!
⭐️ Personalized signed copy of THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT by Randi Sonenshine PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!
⭐️ Personalized signed copy of 13 WAYS TO EAT A FLY by Sue Heavenrich PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!
⭐️ Winners of the 6 signed picture books above may also receive their choice of any one of the following writing craft books to go along with their picture book:
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 birthday, 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 and library visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
Happy Writing! Happy Reading! And Happy Halloween!
Now, let the Halloweensie begin!
The 294 entries listed below are linked to where they appear in the comments so you can click on the titles and get right to them! (Assuming WordPress cooperates . . . fingers crossed!) Anyone who feels kind can start at the bottom of the list so those entries get some comments too! 🎃 😊
- Isolated For Halloween – S. J. Little
- A Halloween Time Machine – Sara Kruger
- Weather’s Trick, Witch’s Treat – Abby N. Wooldridge
- Halloween Is LIT! – Anne Lipton
- Kit’s Costume – Kari Ann Gonzalez
- Mean Halloween – Heather Ferranti Kinser
- A Witchy Switch – Katie Schwartz
- The Porchlight – Chris Garcia-Halenar
- Bruce Goose – Jessica Hinrichs
- Undersea Halloween – Vashti Verbowski
- Sweet Swap – Daniella Kaufman-Schloss
- The Halloween Witch – Trista Herring Baughman
- The Lonely Pumpkin Head – Elle Jaufret
- Hallows’ Eve – E. A. Peterson
- Whose Cat Is THAT? – Beth Stillborn
- This Pumpkin’s Not For Picking – Laura Howard
- The Jimjam – Carrie Karnes-Fannin
- Trick Likes Treats, But So Does Swoop – Melissa Valente
- The Haunted House High Up On The Hill – Sue Lancaster
- Tricked The Treats – Katie Fischer
- A Helpful Ghost – Emily Durant
- The Wraith On My Wrist or Ghostie Lost In City Mist – Sally Yorke-Viney
- Three Little Geese Do Halloween – Linda Williams Swanson
- A Glowing Solution – Nicole Loos Miller
- Warning: May Contain Sugar – Amy Leskowski
- How Hannah Saved Halloween – Colleen Murphy
- Double Meaning Halloween Knight – Debbie Meneses
- Untitled – Shariffa
- The Scavenger’s
FeastBall – Sarah Hetu-Radny - ‘Tis The Season, Candy Eaters – Hannah Roy LaGrone
- Greta’s Glow-In-The-Dark Goosebumps – Susan E. Schipper
- Bobbing For Apples – Lyn Jekowsky
- The Perfect Pumpkin – Barbara Kimmel
- No More Sugar! – Sarah K. Rose
- Fairy-Fire – Vanessa Konoval
- Creepy Cook-Off – Sarah Meade
- Macy & Lucy’s Halloween – Sarah Meade
- Ghostly Linens – Stephanie Maksymiw
- Happy HOWL-oween – Lindsey Hobson
- Three Glowing Bats – Sherry Roberts
- Halloween Family Secret – Jennifer Mary Grolemund
- A Sick Day – Jany Campana
- The Pied Pumpkin Of Halloween – Marta Cutler
- Creatures From The Couch – Julie Hansen
- Alligator The Ghost – Marta Cutler
- Goose-Zilla – Linda Staszak
- Welcome To The Skeleton Dance – Sue Heavenrich
- Teal Halloween – Kathleen Lowry
- The Gloves – Stephanie Rondeau
- Ghoulie Rulies – Brenda Whitehead
- Tricky Treaters – P. J. Purtee
- Garth’s Game Changer – Darcee A. Freier
- Nabbed! – Abby Voss
- The Wart-Covered Tree – Danielle Arndt
- The Last Fall Firefly – Meagan T. Gentry
- Who Cares If It’s Cold? – Allison Strick
- Glenda’s Goosebumps – Susan Burd
- The Candy Thief – Meagan T. Gentry
- Halloween Hero – Rose Cappelli
- The Halloween Ball – Marta Cutler
- Scary-Go-Round – Catherine Catcho
- The Scariest Monster – Marty McCormick Bellis
- Fright Night – Marty Findley
- Halloween Eve – Barbara Renner
- Wilbur Werewolf – Deb Buschman
- Teeny Owl’s Spooky Halloween – Janet Parkinson Bryce
- No Room For Monsters – Jill Stuck
- Ghost House – HC Morris
- Boogie Man’s Bright Idea – Jenn Shetsen Wierda
- Swamp Beast Falls For Sweets – Jilanne Hoffman
- Have You Seen My Monster – Alan Elliott
- Halloween Hang-Ups – Russell Wolff
- Mark Lights The Way – Karyn Curtis
- Halloween Pie – Jill Stuck
- The Costume – C. E. King
- I’m Coming To Get You – Pat Holloway
- The Frightmare – Linda Staszak
- Frankie & Gigi: Trick Or Feet – Kira Barrett
- Home For Halloween – Melissa Miles
- Not The Costume I Wanted – Michelle S. Kennedy
- Goosey Glender’s Fall Feast – Bartybear
- Halloween Scavenger Hunt – Denise Seidman
- Stink Fairy’s Hallo-smelly-ween – Stacey Miller
- Hallowmas – Danielle S. Hammelef
- Goosebumps For Mother Goose – Lynne Marie
- How Do You Tickle A Ghost? – Kizzi Hutcheson
- Dragon Magic – Melissa Rotert
- Gretyl Hobbled Into Halloween History – Royal Baysinger
- Shiver And Sugar! – Abby Voss
- Monster Feast – Abby Voss
- Are You Ready To Trick-Or-Treat? – Corine Timmer
- Christmas In October – Vanessa Konoval
- Spooky ABCs – Alan Elliott
- Dragon And Pirate’s Halloween – Alan Elliott
- Tiny’s Halloween Flight – Carolyn C. Snelling
- Rainbow Bridge – Corine Timmer
- Great-Aunt Broomhilda – Josh Cohen
- Cirque Fantome – Kizzi Hutcheson
- A Knock On The Door – Pamela Swanson
- Trick-Or-Treat Nightmare – Cindy Sommer
- Worth The Climb – Armineh Manookian
- Thank You, Trick-Or-Treaters! For Protecting Your Mother – Sharon McCarthy
- Beware, Out There – Julie Lerczak
- The Haunted Bathroom – Jill Lambert
- Plan Bee – Jenny Morales
- “BOO!”K Spooky Halloween – Laura N. Clement
- The Witch’s Mistake – Jennifer Kaap
- Itsy B. Spider – Molly Ippolito
- Too Many Goodies – Rachel Krackeler
- Ghostmetics – Rozana Rajkumari
- Santa’s Halloween – Jen MacGregor
- My Scariest Halloween Night – Les Degnan
- Winnie Trick-Or-Treats – Dorothy Kohrherr
- Camping Surprise – Meredith Flory
- Halloween Hunt – Mary Ann Featherston
- The Glow-In-The-Dark Bowl – Kathy Scott
- The Haunted House – Carmen Castillo Gilbert
- Once Upon A Halloween – Colourbeam
- A Witchy Potion – Susan Summers
- A Giant Surprise – Susan Summers
- Hollow-Eeek! – Karen Keesling
- Once Upon A Halloween – Nadia Ali
- Halloween Battle: (Vampire) Squid vs. (Goblin) Shark – Laura Bower
- Happy, Happy Halloween – Claire Freeland
- Mr. O’Leary’s House – Nina Nolan
- Phantom Festival – Lynn Moore
- The Surprise Halloween Friend – Cindy Greene
- Goosebumps – Amy Flynn
- Ninja Goose And The Halloween Hi-Yah! – Deborah Foster
- Tricky Treat – Patricia Nozell
- A Halloween Snack – Debra Daugherty
- Escaping Planet Taradiddle – Colleen Daugherty
- First Halloween Treat – Natalie Cohn
- My Last Trick-Or-Treat – Reed Hilton-Eddy
- Glowing Ghost – Lauri C. Meyers
- hALLYween SPELL – Paul Roncone
- Halloween Love – Marla Yablon
- Cockroach’s Glowing Problem – Lori Himmel
- Scaredy-Cat Pat And The Haunted House – Sara Dean
- Let The Real Halloween Begin! – Lori Evans
- Ixchel’s Belizean Halloween – Blanca Manzanilla
- Emy Is Always Right – Katharyn R. Benessa
- Tricky Treat – Ann Grilli
- Jack’s Pumpkin Plan – Diana Murrell
- Lights In The Dark – Ivanka Dimitrova
- Fraidy Cat No More – Jennifer Cherry
- Galactic Trick-Or-Treat – Tiffany Hanson
- My Ghost Bubble Friend – Sheila R. Schmotzer
- R-R-R-Rattled – Gennie Gorback
- Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies – Leslie Collins
- Moonlit Love – Liz Kehrli
- Un-Spooky Halloween – Krista Legge
- Stella Shines – Laura Barens
- Tabby The Trouble Maker – Dawn Renee Young
- The Nameless Ghoul – Imelda Taylor
- How The Jack-O-Lantern Found His Real Smile – Sheri Palmer
- Halloween Chase – Connie Newbauer
- Spidey Sparkles – Angelique Lamour
- Never Trick A Witch – Tiffany Hanson
- Halloween Monster – Tiffany Hanson
- The Halloween Sleepover – Kelsey E. Gross
- Goose Bumped – Jen Subra
- The Rock – Trista Herring Baughman
- Halloween Pumpkin – Shariffa
- A Tricky Tattoo – Gregory E. Bray
- Brave, Adalaide – Katie Walsh
- March Of The Skeletons – Jill Richards Proctor
- Little Night Terrors – Obbverse
- The Mansion On Maple – Glenda Roberson
- The Graveyard Picnic – Gabrielle Cardwell
- Halloween Heebie-Jeebies – Karen Pickrell
- A Few Of The Scariest Things: A Parody To The Tune Of My Favorite Things – Ingrid Boydston
- The Witch Of Jekyll Island – Shampa Enayet
- FEELINGUNSEENONHALLOWEEN – Nicola Beach
- Hank’s Halloween Costume? (A Riddle In A Story) – Ken Major
- All Hallow’s Eve – Stacey Miller
- Molly’s Ghost – Hobbo
- The Witch’s House – Emma Wood
- My Word – It’s Halloween! – Jamie Donahoe
- Switched On And Off – Diana Webb
- A Night With Gran – Diana Webb
- Boys Will Be Boys – Matt Snyder
- Flicker Of A Cat’s Tail – Jacqui Boulter
- Pumpkin Train – Kathy Raggio
- The Alien – M. Waknitz
- Jellyfish George’s Halloween – Scott Kinder
- Skeleton’s Halloween – M. Waknitz
- Twyla Z. Witch – Lori Dubbin
- Witch’s Brew – K. Sibilia
- It’s Halloween – Elizabeth Muster
- Capture The Goodies On Halloween – Ames Jegen (age 11)
- (Not) A Very Scary Story – Linda Staszak
- Halloween Helpers – Ellen Seal
- Halloween Warning – Stephanie Henson
- Leaping Lizards! – Sharon Match
- Graveyard Bully – Jean James
- The Greatest Night Of The Year – Krista Harrington
- Halloween Hide And Seek – Melissa Wrex
- Trick Or Treat Night – Emily Keifer
- Oscar’s Irresistible Brew – Lucretia Schafroth
- All Hallow’s Eve At The Roller Rink – Bonnie Kelso
- My Halloween Crew – Alana DeVito
- Post Halloween Goals – Amy Reitz
- The Card Game – Cathy Lee
- Quiet Night – Thelia Hutchinson
- Trick-Or-Treat, Night Animals!: A Halloween Story – Mary Catherine Amadu
- A Halloween Tail – Janice Kay
- An Inch – Susan Leigh Needham
- Underwater Halloween – Judy Sobanski
- The Lonely Scarecrow – Sarah Atherton
- The Little Witch – Deborah Hunt
- Waking The Dead – Nancy Derey Riley
- A Not-So-Sweet Halloween – Erika Romero
- It’s Halloween In Toothytown – Kristen Littlefield
- Until It’s Safe – Brittany Saulnier
- First Halloween – Karen deWilde
- You Are What You Eat – Alexa Tuttle
- Once Upon A Halloween – Carrie O’Leary
- Goodie Ghost’s Halloween Screams – KJ Albright
- A Bunny Can Dream – Becky Walker
- Ogre’s Halloween – Barbara DiMarco
- Monster Lipstick – Kathi Morrison-Taylor
- Ghoulies Grand Soiree – MaryAnn Cortez
- Haunting Gnomes – Lindsay Moretti
- Goosebumped Ghoul And Scattered Skeleton – Sarah Kohls Roberts
- Not This Time – Sandhya Acharya
- How To Sneak A Halloween Treat – Alicia Meyers
- I Wish. . . – Amy Duchene
- Bram’s Hunt – Michaela Almeida
- Terrific Toothpaste! – Heather Gallagher
- The After Party – Samantha Sinclair
- The Final Hour – Ashlee MacCallum
- Halloween Gala – Tonnye Williams Fletcher
- Halloween Bites – Melissa-Jane Nguyen
- Double, Double Toilet Trouble – Stephanie Amargi
- Henley’s Haunted House – Jeannette Suhr
- Disguise Surprise – Nancy Derey Riley
- Enough – David McMullin
- Witches Aren’t Supposed To Be Afraid Of The Dark – Ally Piper
- Frankenpixie – Paul Kurtz
- Scaredy-Monster – Paul Kurtz
- Halloween’s The Worst! – Donna Kurtz
- Bunny’s Bored! – Donna Kurtz
- The Goblin Market – Aly Kenna
- Wilfred The Wizard – Nicola Thackrey
- Halloweenie – Jana Mattern
- The Last House On Halloween – Bru Benson
- Ghostly, Ghastly, Goosebumps – Janet F. Smart
- Astronaut Aidan – Kaye Wright
- The Halloween Dare – Erin Cleary
- Dracula’s First Halloween – Eleanor Cullen
- Pumpkin Dawn – TSW Sharman
- A Southern Halloween – Trista Herring Baughman
- The Candy Monster – Judy Cooper
- The Halloween Potty – Andrew Hacket
- It Absolutely Will Be A Fine Night – Susan Krevat
- Halloween Goodies – Una Belle Townsend
- It’s Dark In Here – Sue Ko
- Eyelashes – Sue Ko
- Fall – Sue Ko
- Too Dark – Rae Harkness
- Boo – Mary Ann Napolitano
- Much Too Goody – Sarah Hawklyn
- Candy Surprise – Julianna Kurtz
- Halloween Surprise – Judy Egan
- Trick-Or-Treat At 20 Below – Matthew Lasley
- Gotcha! – Pat Finnegan
- The House Next Door – Aundra Tomlins
- No Grownups! – Penny McNally
- The Halloween Party – Claire Schlinkert
- Can We Please Skip The Costumes? – JC Kelly
- How Would She Know? – Meredith Adams
- The Day After Halloween – Haven Blough
- Brujita’s Treat – Desi Vee
- Spooky Investigates – Jessica Murray
- The Best Medicine – Becky Falkum
- You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hot Dog – Joyce Schriebman
- Witches Holiday – Nadia Nakib
- Halloween Hocus Potion – Shelley Kinder
- Goats And Goblins – Briana Joy McCormick
- Next Halloween – JC Kelly
- Pirate’s Halloween – Marjorie David
- Silly Goose – Sarah Marhevsky
- All’s Fair In Spook And Scare – Patricia J. Weaver
- Smartie Treat – Steena Hernandez
- Haunted Hunt – Dea Brayden and Linsday Brayden Ellis
- The Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies – Christopher Singleton, Sr
- Witches Woods – Bevin Rolfs Spencer
- Invite A Witch To Your Halloween Party?! – Holly Vagley
- Pumpkin’s Halloween – Holly Vagley
- Halloween Moon – Martha Holguin
TRICKY TREATERS
by P. J. (Jill) Purtee
93 words
Instead of a scare, I gave treaters a dare.
My glow-in-the-dark pumpkin smiled.
A ghost and a cow and a cat came to bat.
For their goodies the treaters went wild.
On Halloween night, I saw quite a sight.
Actually I’ll share what I heard.
“To work for your treat, perform something sweet.
Give me goosebumps. Do something absurd.”
A black and white cow at my door said, “Meow.”
And a cat next to him shouted, “Moo!”
Instead of the ghost, what tickled me most,
was when Rooster crowed, “Cock-a-doodle-BOO!”
haha! Love the Cock-A-Doodle-BOO! I can see that as a title for a PB!
I have wanted to use that line for years! And have considered doing something with it for a PB. Maybe someday I will!
How fun! Love the last line especially 🙂
This is adorable! Love the bouncy rhythm and cute ending.
Such fun! Love the ending and so much fun to dare treaters to do something absurd. Good luck!
Loved your clever ending, Jill! “Cock-a-doodle-BOO!” is terrific.
Fun wordplay It would be cool if kids did perform tricks for their treats! 🎃
Very cute story and has an unexpected ending. I loved it. Good luck.
What fun to have the animals saying the wrong sounds – I was smiling to myself well before the rooster sang out the surprising “Cock-a-doodle-BOO!”
Fun ending! Good job.
Garth’s Game Changer by Darcee A. Freier
Garth groaned. That great day—with goodie grabbing and grotesque getups—grew near. But he’d graduated grade school. Had he aged out? Garth googled, “out-growing Halloween.”
“Gripes!” he gasped. No gummi worms or gory guises.
It galled him, but Garth would get through this game-changer.
He glued gadgets, gutted gourds, and grappled with gears.
Soon ghost garlands graced the gate. A gargoyle growled. Gravestones grew in the garden amongst gourds with glow-in-the-dark grins. Gazing at the grounds gave him goosebumps.
“Let the gruesomeness begin!”
Garth gobbled goodies and gave gumballs to goblins gliding by.
“Guess growing up isn’t too ghastly.”
So much fun! Love Garth’s solution and all the perfectly creepy G words throughout.
Love that he googles “out-growing Halloween!” 😄 Such a fun story.
Love all the alliteration of G words. Glad Garth gave out all the goodies. Nice job!
Goodness gracious–great job getting those Gs into your ghoulish tale!
This is the first year our daughter has chosen to stay home to pass out candy so this hits home..super sweet! Happily we are all in costume, so like Garth we are growing up too completely! 🎃🧡
Good ‘ol Garth — Good of him to graciously grace his house with gruesome decor and to give out goodies. Grateful for all the Gs in your story:-)
Great use of alliteration!
Nabbed!
By Abby Voss (92 words) @VossyWrites
Kids have gone out trick-or-treating,
Mum is in an online meeting.
Leaves out candy in the yard,
Sets the pumpkin standing guard
Glowing in the darkened night
Goodness! He’s a ghoulish sight!
Then the doorbell rings, DING-DONG!
Mum gets goosebumps. Now what’s wrong?
“Trick or treat!” The small ones howl
Mum looks down and gives a growl.
Candy’s gone! Who’s nabbed the goodies?
Shakes her fist at youths in hoodies.
Turns on Pumpkin, ‘Why so hard?
Guarding candy in the yard?’
Pumpkin smiles a wicked grin,
Licks the chocolate from his chin.
Love this! Great job!
Thank you so much. 🙂
haha! How fun! Love the twist at the end.
Thank you so much. 🙂
Great twist ending!
Thank you so much. 🙂
Great job Abby! Loved it!
Thank you so much. 🙂
Loved the ending! So unexpected!!!
Thank you so much. 🙂
Abby, what fun rhymes with a great ending!
thanks Colleen 🙂
Love the surprise ending!
Thank you so much. 🙂
This is so much fun! Love it! Great pace and rhyme. Nice job and good luck!
Thanks Nancy. They’re a lot of fun to write, right? 🙂
Right! Good luck!
Lesson learned: Never trust the guy “guarding” the candy bowl! Great twist to the ending, Abby.
Never never never 😀
Thank you.
You packed a lot into this little story! Fun! 🧡🎃
Thank you Ingrid. It was certainly a challenge! 🙂
Hahaha – Caught with the evidence right on his chin – what a fun ending!
Thanks Patricia. Think there’s a fair few chocolate-nabbers who have been caught this way! 😀
Ah, the pumpkin did it! Great ending!
Thanks Melissa. Much appreciated. 🙂
THE WART-COVERED TREE (100 words)
By Daniele Arndt
In a deep, dark forest lived a glow-in-the-dark, wart-covered tree.
It was one-of-a-kind.
“I’m different.”
After time, the forest got less deep and dark.
Until…
The warty tree was alone.
“I wish I had a friend.”
Until…
A wart-covered witch swooped down.
One look at that tree and…
GOOSEBUMPS!
“We can be different together,” the witch cackled.
She built a rickety house beside the tree.
Every Halloween, the witch passed out goodies next to her beautiful, glow-in-the-dark, wart-covered tree.
And the tree was happy.
“I finally have a friend who makes me feel special.”
This is so sweet, Daniele! I can just picture the glow-in-the-dark, wart-covered tree, and the witch and her rickety house.
Thank you so much, Sarah! You’re so kind!
Such a sweet story and so full of heart!
Thank you so much, Armineh!
So sweet! Love, “We can be different together” Good luck!
Thank you so much, Nancy!
I love that two that were “different” found friendship in each other. You have a lovely theme for a PB here, Daniele. Nice job.
Thank you so much, Lucretia!
Ah, a happy ending! Very sweet! 🎃
Thank you so much!
Goosebumps at first sight! Seems that Warty Witch and Warty Tree were meant to be together:-)
Thanks so much, Patricia!
Love how you incorporated the words and created memorable images!
Thank you so much! 🙂
THE LAST FALL FIREFLY
By: Meagan T. Gentry
Word Count: 100
Her glow-in-the-dark body was flickering out. She’d yet to find a nest where her eggs could hatch and burrow for winter undisturbed. Goosebumps prickled all six legs while her wings struggled over lit pumpkins and manicured lawns. She was running out of time…
A breeze twirled her just as headlights flashed on a dark structure below. Shattered windows. Rotted wood. A prickly yard. Humans passing quickly whispering “haunted.”
Even on this night, she saw no costumed child trample through the withered leaves to beg for goodies on the crumbling porch.
She landed gratefully. These abandoned shadows would shelter new light.
Beautiful! I love that last line.
Thank you Sarah! I wanted to do something a little outside the box…but still on Halloween night haha.
Great story and such a touching ending. So nice! Good luck!
Lovely, unconventional POV with a sweet, upbeat ending. Good luck, Meagan!
Very unique! A sweet story…🎃
Loved the firefly science (six legs, fireflies can lay eggs before winter that don’t hatch until spring-or even later, etc)
Wow, beautiful! You use language so skillfully and created a lovely ending.
WHO CARES IF IT’S COLD?
By Allison Strick
99 words
Blog (with illustrations!) https://www.allisonstrick.com/blog/halloweensie-2021
————
I was supposed to be a glow-in-the-dark jellyfish.
Floaty. Beachy.
Then it snowed.
Look, I’m twelve. This is my last year of trick-or-treating,
and I refuse to wear a musty old coat over my costume!
When Dad drops me off, I’ll give a cozy wave and then
kick the coat to the curb.
I’m going down in goose-bumpy glory!
“T-t-trick-or-treat!”
Maybe I’ll drape it over my shoulders.
“Thh-th-thank you!”
One arm in?
“H-h-happy Halloween!”
Zzzzip!
It’s so annoying when Dad’s right.
But these pockets do hold extra goodies.
And at least I’m the only
glow-in-the-parka
smellyfish
on the street!
Haha! Hard to admit when Dad is right. Great job!
I really enjoyed this cute story, Allison! Well done!
I remember those too cold to trick or treat properly days! Glad she persevered and even donned the coat in the end. Nicely done!🎃
Loved how this child made lemonade out of lemons with “But these pockets do hold extra goodies.”
Love the MG voice! Such a kid relatable story! Great job!
I can so relate to this story! Very cute!
Glenda’s Goosebumps
By Susan Burd
WORD COUNT: 100 words
Glenda was a gorgeous witch
With pointed nose and chin
And all her friends were envious
Of her goosebumpy skin.
At nighttime it glowed-in-the-dark,
She brightened up a room,
And you could spot her miles away
When she flew on her broom.
There was a secret formula
That kept her skin lime green,
She guzzled down a double dose
The night of Halloween.
That extra dose had gone afoul-
It made her fine goosebumps
Grow into lumps from head to toe-
Now, how’d she wear her pumps?
Sweet goodies baked for Trick or Treat
Were served in fuzzy slipper feet!
A fun story! I like this witch’s positive attitude.
Cute and fun! I’d picked fuzzy slippers over pumps any day. 🙂
Very cute. What a fun image of a lumpy, bumpy witch in fuzzy slippers. Good luck!
A nightmare come true just when she was looking forward to wearing her pumps! Lol! 🎃
Loved your very vivid descriptions of gorgeous Glenda with her goosebump skin that glowed in the dark. That mental image got even better when the goosebumps grew into head-to-toe lumps – LOL!
Such a fun story to read!
THE CANDY THIEF
By: Meagan T. Gentry
Word Count: 100 (2nd Contest Entry)
Two glow-in-the-dark eyes appeared from nowhere, pinning me. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t scream. My only movement came from the goosebumps rising uncontrollably down my skin.
“That isn’t real,” I thought. “It’s just a Halloween Costume. Werewolves aren’t real…”
I became less convinced as the eyes advanced, an undeniable hunger lurking in their depths. Fangs large as fists stopped inches from my face. This was no costume.
CRACK! My plastic pumpkin shattered as I dropped it to the sidewalk. The beast leapt. But strangely, not at me.
He snatched every last candy goody, then vanished as quickly as he appeared.
Oooh, creepy! Great tension throughout.
Creepy and great suspense. Great job!
Ah, the tragedy- nothing more frightening than losing your candy to a too realistic costume! Well done! 🎃
What a brilliant and unexpected twist that the beast was actually after the goodies!
With apologies to Santa and Rudolph.
Halloween Hero (97 words)
by Rose Cappelli
Gracie brimmed with goosebumpy excitement. She was finally old enough for Gilda’s Good Witch Give-Away. Every Halloween, Gilda gathered a crew to deliver goodies to woodland friends everywhere.
“What’s wrong with your broom?” shrieked Wendy. “It shimmers. It glimmers. It glows-in-the-dark!”
“Not a proper broom at all!” hooted Heidi.
“Don’t embarrass us!” yapped Zelda.
Gracie grimaced. She turned to leave when…
“Wait, Gracie!” called Gilda. “The moon is hiding. We’ll have trouble finding our way. Since your broom is so bright, won’t you guide our crew tonight?”
Later, everyone cheered for Good Witch Gracie, their Halloween hero.
Oh I love this 🙂 Such a fun play on Rudolph’s story.
Love the Rudolph twist. Very clever
This made me smile, especially after reading your funny author’s note, Rose! I love the witch names and the first line, which pulled me right into the story.
Very fun twist on the Rudolph story. So cute!
I guess a bunch of us just can’t wait for Christmas! Great mash-up! 😂🎃🎄🧡
I don’t think apologies to Rudolph and Santa are at all necessary for this Halloween twist on that Christmas classic – What a fun story:-)
The Halloween Ball
By Marta Cutler
(100 words)
The candles are lit
The music’s begun
The guests arrive one by one
Welcome all
To the annual Halloween Ball
The Goblins appear
A dashing pair
Their heads aglow in neon hair
Delighting all
At the annual Halloween Ball
Those ravishing eyes
All glow-in-the-dark
It’s Ghost of course – always a lark!
Dazzling all
At the annual Halloween Ball
Over there in the back
Is that Count Drac?
Escorting Witch in midnight black?
Charming all
At the annual Halloween Ball
What’s this–a child?
Goody bag in hand?
Great Goosebumps – run! So unplanned!
Frightening all
From the annual Halloween Ball
This is delightful and fun! Love the perspective, voice and unexpected ending. Well done.
Thanks so much Corine! Really appreciate your comment!
Great ending. So fun!
Thank you Deb!!!
This is so much fun to read aloud with a perfect twist ending. I could see this as a delightful Halloween PB or BB.
Oh that means a lot Sarah! Thank you so much! 🙂
This should already be a published picture book! Excellent!! Well done!
Wow, Meagan – thank you!
So cute and I think kids will love the changing refrain. Nice job!
Thank you – again! Can’t tell you how much I value the support.
I love this twist on Halloween! 🎃🧡
Delightful build to a surprise ending. Nice job, Marta!
What fabulous descriptions of the guests at the annual Halloween Ball, and what a surprise at the end!
Delightful Marta, I enjoyed this a lot, especially the change in the last refrain.
SCARY-GO-ROUND
By Catherine Catcho
(100 Words)
Tonight this is not a merry-go-round.
On Halloween, it’s renamed the scary-go-round.
The difference? Look around. We have to scare away some frights.
Hop on.
The metal is cold, and the hinges creak.
Hold on tight;
with your gourds full of goodies and glow-in-the-dark gear.
How fast shall we spin?
Ha! Don’t worry.
Blame your goosebumps on the wind.
Howl loudly enough to keep the wolves at bay.
Fling your candy to the hungry trolls.
Swirl your lights to spook the vampires.
What? Who am I?
A ghost!
Ooo! And now we’re screaming!
We’re oh so merry on this scary-go-round.
http://cathecatcho.com/scary-go-round/
This is so much fun! I love the image of a scary-go-round, as well as flinging candy to the hungry trolls. Nicely done.
Many thanks, Sarah! 🙂
Great fun on the scary-go-round! Love the imagery. Good luck!
Thank you, Nancy, for taking the time to read! 🙂
That’s a fun play on words! Do kids get to go on Merry Go Rounds anymore? I hope so… 🎃
A GOOD question. I see updated versions at the newer parks that hold 1-3 bodies (usually, it’s taller where you have to stand). Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
There’s a lot of amusement park rides that produce screams, and this idea of a scary-go-round can now be added to the mix – So clever!
I’m holding on tight just reading this! Great job.
THE SCARIEST MONSTER CONTEST
by Marty McCormick Bellis
100 wc
Goosebumps sneered his sneeriest sneer. “Whaddaya think?”
“Creepy!”
We didn’t call him Goosebumps for nothing.
Each Halloween, Goose won the Scariest Monster contest hands down.
Even though we were best friends, he still gave me the heebie-jeebies.
Swaggering into the hall, we stared in horror at this year’s judge.
“Goody!” she squealed. “Let’s start! Walk past, one by one, and SCARE ME.”
Grizzly, gruesome monsters grimaced, growled.
She didn’t flinch.
Goose gave her his sneer.
Nothing.
It was up to me.
I opened my mouth, fangs glowing-in-the-dark.
“AHWOOOOOOOOOOO!”
The judge fainted.
“Nice work, Wolfie!”
I grinned and grabbed my trophy.
This gave me goosebumps! Nicely done, Marty.
Thanks, Barb. Such a fun holiday. Happy Halloween!
Who doesn’t love a monster contest. Very fun! I love that Wolfie won.
Thanks for your comments, Deb! Susanna’s contests are always such fun.
Fun! I love the competition element of the story and the happy ending for the MC.
Thanks, Sarah! Competition + a happy ending = Halloweensie 2021 🙂
Ooow, glow-in-the-dark fangs would scare me too! Nice job!
Yep, Wolfie finally got it right. Or got the right judge maybe? 🙂
Thanks for reading, Nancy!
Scaring contests are such a fun idea! Makes is spooky but less scary. 🎃
Loved the language, especially “sneered his sneeriest sneer” and “heebie-jeebies” (What a fun word).
Fright Night
By Marty Findley
96 words
It’s Halloween night, eve of fright. The glow-in-the-dark moon glistens the park. It’s time to howl, haunt, tease and taunt. It’s a goosebumply night as shadows shift in the moonlight. This is a shivery, quivery don’t-be-alone night – a scary, hairy something’s-not-quite-right night.
We slooooowly approach the old house on the hill. We feel a hair-raising chill as we climb creaky steps. We knock on the door and hear scuffling footsteps approach. The door creeeeeeaks open; creatures beckon us in.
One hands me a crackly package. I cautiously open it.
“Goody, goody, gumdrops! My favorite!” I shout!
Love the use of first person. Gave me some chill bumps. 🙂
Thank you!
Creepy and fun! I love “shivery-quivery don’t-be-alone night”.
Thanks!
Love it! Love the rhythm, rhyming quality to your story. I’m all in and along for the ride. Nice job.
Thank you!
Spooky with a sweet ending! Nice! 🎃
Thanks!
Your story went from creepy crawly creepy in the blink of an eye with the phrase “Goody, goody, gumdrops!” What a surprise:-)
Thanks!
HALLOWEEN EVE
By Barbara Renner
Word Count: 99
Hannah and Sarah sit in the basement plotting their trick or treat route.
“The Clines give out full-size chocolate goodies.” Hannah cackles.
Sarah shakes her head, “We sure don’t want to go to the Simpson’s house. They always blast that creepy music.”
A flash of lightning sparks in the window near the ceiling.
Thunder cracks. The lights flicker. Pitch black.
Goosebumps slither down the girls’ arms as they witness two orbs glowing-in-the-dark at the top of the stairs.
The glow floats down. Closer. Then a screech.
A mass of fur rubs Hannah’s arm.
“Midnight, naughty cat. You scared us.”
Nice surprise ending! Gave me chills 🙂
Creepy-cute ending!
Great story, Barb! I like the twist at the end. I figured it was a little brother out to scare them. Nicely done and good luck!
Fun imagery and a clever ending! 🎃
I can just picture these two girls plotting and planning their Halloween route to get the most, as well as the best, goodies:-)
Word Count 96
Wilbur Werewolf
By Deb Buschman
“Awww-ooo,” howled Wilbur Werewolf. He vowed this Halloween would be different.
Dreadful decorations. Check.
Gobs of goodies. Check.
Now all Wilbur needed were trick-or-treaters to eat…
the goodies.
Wilbur’s eyes glowed-in-the-dark as he prowled the yard waiting to spring…
open the gate.
A witch appeared, “TRICK OR TREAT!”
Wilbur dove into the bushes.
“Did I scare you?” whispered the witch.
“Yip,” squeaked Wilbur as he shivered with goosebumps.
“I’m sorry,” said the witch.
“Every Halloween I try to be brave,” said Wilbur.
“It’s okay,” said the witch. “We can greet the trick-or-treaters together.”
“Awww-ooo,” howled Wilbur.
Awww, what a cute werewolf!
Thanks Marty!
This is so creepy-cute! Love the . . . twists. Wilbur is a delightful Halloweensie main character!
Thanks Sarah!
Awww, glad Wilbur made a friend to help him be brave. So cute!
That’s sweet! 🎃
What a sweetheart Wilbur was – What a surprise that he would be the one to be frightened. You set up the surprise so beautifully with lines like:
“Now all Wilbur needed were trick-or-treaters to eat…
the goodies.”
I love this! It’s a surprisingly gentle take on a werewolf story. The surprises are fun, too: “needed were trick-or-treaters to eat…the goodies” and “waiting to spring…open the gate.” This would be fun as a picture book!
Teeny Owl’s Spooky Halloween
By Janet Parkinson Bryce
Word Count 98
Teeny owl didn’t like the forest on Halloween. She could hear creepy sounds as she flew to her tree. Teeny landed on her branch and sighed.
“I don’t like creepy sounds on Halloween.” Said Teeny. “I do like goodies: chocolate-covered bugs, gummy tails, and…”
“Eeeeeek, shriek,” floated through the air.
“Who’s there,” Teeny yelled.
Teeny owl shivered, she had goosebumps and her feathers stood on end.
“Eeeeeek, shriek” the sounds came closer.
Two eyes, glowing- in the dark, flew towards her.
Teeny covered her eyes. her branch bounced.
BOO! said her sister, Tunney.
Teeny screeched
Tunney laughed. “Time for goodies.”
I LOVE owls! Cute story.
Thank you, HeatherCMorris.
So cute! I love the “Eeeeeek, shriek” refrain.
Thank you, Sarah Meade
Very cute! I hope Tunney brought she some chocolate-covered bugs! Good luck!
Nancy Riley, Thank you.
Owl eyes can definitely give you a scare! Happy Halloween!
Ingrid Boydston, thank you.
Scariing a sibling – Such a typical sibling thing to do! Setting the story in the forest made for a fantastically spooky scene.
Patricia Finnegan, Thank you
No Room For Monsters
By Jill Stuck
Word Count 100
Milo does not like Halloween. Or monsters.
This year, he will not be scared.
This year, he will not stay awake with goosebumps.
This year, no monsters will hide under his bed.
“If I live under my bed, then monsters canNOT!”
So, Milo moved in under his bed.
Everything safe and sound. His glow-in-the-dark stars. His stuffed narwhal. His chicken nuggets dinner.
“Stay away monsters. There’s no room.”
There was one thing Milo couldn’t fit under his bed…HIS BED!
“I get to stay up all night LIKE AN ADULT and eat goodies!”
And he did. The monsters did not.
Love this, as a mom who had a little one who loved to nap UNDER his bed. Great story.
This is delightful! Love the cute details like his stuffed narwhal and chicken nuggets dinner.
I love the logic of monsters can’t get under the bed if Milo was already there. Thinking like a child is the base of a fun picture book. Good luck!
This is so cute! I think kids will relate to the stuffed narwhal and glow-in-the-dark stars. I really think would make a great picture book!
I love this! So relatable and charming!
This is adorable. I can just picture it! 🎃
Loved the threesome repetition of “This year…” It felt like it set the stage for the rest of the story.
GHOST HOUSE
By HC Morris
87 words
Little Ghost heard fall leaves crackling and sniffed crisp smells drifting through a broken window…
Stuck in a house he couldn’t leave.
“Another Halloween alone? Unbearable.”
Little Ghost fretted and floated.
Ding! An idea…
His wails and howls only succeeded in giving passersby goosebumps.
Hmmm…not quite right.
Dong! Another idea…
On All Hallows’ Eve, light poured from cracked windows. Little Ghost heaped pumpkin spice goodies on plates.
Ding, dong!
“Visitors!”
Soon his house was haunted with trick-or-treaters. Stuffed with strangers. Full of possible friends.
Little Ghost glowed-in-the-dark.
Such fun pacing and what a clever plot. I love the Ding then the Dong! Great job.
This is delightful! I love Little Ghost’s sweet happy ending.
What a resourceful little ghost. Best line, “Soon his house was haunted with trick-or-treaters.” Great job.
This reminds me of Casper the Friendly ghost. A sweet story! 🎃
You did such a great job showing how sad Little Ghost was to be lonely that I can just picture him glowing in the dark with happiness at the end of the story.
What a sweet little character, and story.
Boogie Man’s Bright Idea
By Jenn Shetsen Wierda
Word Count: 93 Words
Blog: https://www.thejennismightier.com/post/halloweensie-entry-boogie-man-s-bright-idea
On Halloween eve, the monsters come out:
Werewolves, vampires, and witches about.
How can the Boogie Man hope to compete,
With so many terrible beasts on the street?
He needed a change to make him stand out,
To give children goosebumps without any doubt.
He purchased new fangs to sharpen his bite,
But clumsily swallowed them during the night.
“A hex, a potion, a goody, I’ll buy…
And drink them all up… let’s give that a try.”
But he woke to a change that was drastic and stark,
For now, he brilliantly glowed-in-the-dark!
This is ghoulishly fun!
I enjoyed this! Competing can be hard work. Boogie Man probably frightened himself more than anyone else. Sometimes mistakes can lead to unexpected treasures, though.
I enjoyed this! Competing can be hard work. Boogie Man probably frightened himself more than anyone else. Sometimes mistakes can lead to unexpected treasures, though.
This made me laugh! Such a fun story 🙂
Super fun! Who knew the Boogie Man was insecure?
Brilliant!
Ha-ha! I love this rollicking and funny story. Swallowing his fangs is hysterical. Then he glows. Fun, fun, fun.
Fun! I like the unusual main character and glowing ending.
Great story. Loved the ending. Good luck!
How fun to have an insecure Boogie Man! 🎃
Hahaha – I love the way Boogie Man’s plan backfired.
Fun story! Loved the ending.
Swamp Beast Falls for Sweets
Ding-dong!
Every year I ring your bell,
knowing that your witch’s spell
will take a toll.
Tasty goodies fill your bowl.
Bloodshot chocolate eyeballs roll.
Candy corn like yellowed teeth!
Cherry roll-ups underneath
curl tight as tongues.
Yum!
What’s that? There’s more?
Take a peek behind the door?
Ghastly goosebumps spread like fire
down my spine. I trip a wire.
Tingling sparks! A blazing arc!
Now I’m glowing in the dark!
Good-bye beast from black lagoon.
I’m a spell-shocked Mentos moon!
Every trick you play each time
is worth the treats—
Just don’t turn me into slime.
Great job! I love the rhyme pattern you used. My favorite line- “I’m a spell-shocked Mentos moon!” So fun!
Thanks! It’s always interesting and fun to see what everyone comes up with each year in response to Susanna’s selected words and guidelines.
LOVE the rhythm and pace.
Scary can certainly be addictive. A fun story!
Yes, I think addiction to candy and thrills are closely linked, LOL.
Creepy fun! Love the unusual main character and funny ending.
Thanks! Who knew that swamp things went trick or treating? Leads me to wonder what it was the previous year, before the witch turned it into a swamp creature….
Hahaha! Love it! All the candy descriptions are fantastic. Good luck!
Thanks, Nancy! It’s always fun to participate in Susanna’s contest. Thanks for stopping by!
This is so clever! Very original! 🎃
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
Lots of vivid images in your fun story. I especially liked “Ghastly goosebumps spread like fire.”
Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by!
Have You Seen My Monster?
Alan Elliott
Word Count: 93
It’s Halloween … and I lost my monster.
Have you seen her?
There’s a glow-in-the-dark goblin.
There’s a wand-waving witch.
There’s a grab-bag full of goodies.
But where is my monster?
This graveyard gives me goosebumps.
This tombstone makes me tremble.
This skeleton shivers my spine.
But where is my monster?
I see a big bad zombie.
I see a teeny-tiny spider.
I see a far-away alien.
But I miss my monster. Is she lost forever and ever?
Look…
There she is, climbing out of her crypt.
Come on! It’s time to trick-or-treat!
Creepy-cute! The refrain works well, and I like the ending.
Very fun! Love the unexpected ending. Good luck!
I thought the monster would turn out to be her “mummy “. This was fun. 🎃
I loved the mix of the childlike problem of looking for a lost treasure combined with the scariness of the setting and characters.
Halloween Hang-Ups
By Russell Wolff
98 words
The spider scowled.
A giant, hairy imposter hung on a cotton (cotton!) web over the porch.
“We are dignified creatures!” the spider scolded. “For shame!”
But really she was green-eyed, glow-in-the-dark jealous.
Who would be scared of her—tiny her—with that there?
Not goosebumpy,
not shivery,
but drop-your-goodies-and-run-home-crying terrified.
She slid down a strand to stew on the railing.
And then
flew?
Launched from the vampire’s hand on which she had absentmindedly sat.
Superheroes shrieked.
Princesses abandoned their crowns.
The spider landed on a mountain of cast-off candy.
The spider smiled.
Never underestimate the scare power of a tiny spider.
I’m sure I never do 🙂
Love this unusual POV, and I can picture the chaos at the end. Nicely done.
Thank you!
Haha! Fun story. She was small but mighty. Good luck!
Thanks!
What a fun premise! 🎃
Thank you! Much appreciated!
“But really she was green-eyed, glow-in-the-dark jealous.” . . . What a great line!
Thanks, Patricia!
Mark Lights the Way
(94 words)
One dark and stormy Halloween
A witch went trick-or-treating
“The goodies and the candy bars!
A joyous night of eating!”
But she and all her spooky friends
Got goosebumps when they saw
How black it was! They could not see!
Not fang nor wing nor claw!
Then through the murk a figure loomed:
A skeleton named Mark
Whose silly fall in radium
Made him glow-in-the-dark
“Perhaps my light can be of use?”
He asked them with a gleam
“Of course!” they cried. “You’ll be our guide!
You’re brighter than you seem!”
lol this is excellent. Love the use of radium here. Great job!
Thanks!
Fun! I enjoyed reading this aloud, and the ending line made me smile.
Thanks, Sarah! It was really fun to write!
Great work, Karyn! You gave me a laugh this morning, thanks a bunch! –Melisa Wrex @mowrex (Twitter)
Thanks, Melissa!
Very fun! Love the ending, “You’re brighter than you seem!” Nice job!
Thank you!
A skeleton named Mark! That made me chuckle out loud. This is lots of fun! 🎃
Thanks, Ingrid!
I’m so accustomed to scary skeletons that I never expected the thoughtful and helpful Mark – What a great rhyming story:-)
Thank you!
Halloween Pie
By Jill Stuck
Word Count 100
“Tomorrow we worry about winter.”
Squirrel dug through her Halloween candy. “Good candy this year.”
Pumpkin sat. The same ole smile on his face.
“You know, I want to eat it now. So many goodies.”
Pumpkin smiled.
“I know, they have to last the winter.”
Pumpkin just smiled.
“Just one and I’ll squirrel away the rest?”
Still, Pumpkin smiled.
“Look! glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth. Now we’re twins.”
Pumpkin and Squirrel smile.
“A Goosebumps book! Can’t eat it but will help pass the winter by!”
Pumpkin and Squirrel watch the sun set.
“I’m hungry. Tomorrow, can we make pumpkin pie?”
Pumpkin smiled.
This is so cute!
Hahaha! Very funny. So squirrel-like. Love the funny, but creepy, Tomorrow we can make pumpkin pie. Love it!
I love the teeth, but I’m worried about pumpkins future…🤣🎃!
My favorite line is “Pumpkin sat. The same ole smile on his face.” – What a great setup line for the story ending.
I love this! I like that you use an allusion for goosebumps instead of the usual, and I like Pumpkin’s inanimate nature in contrast to squirrel. And “squirrel the rest away” – ha!
http://www.scribblebuddy.com/ceking
THE COSTUME
100 words
C.E. King
Patsy and Lea met to talk about their costume. The prize this year–a ginormous bag of Halloween goodies!
“We always go as partners. Glow-in-the-dark peanut butter and jelly is still my fave,” said
Patsy. “The judges had goosebumps!”
“Ok, but maybe not this year,” Lea said.
“I thought you liked horse costumes.”
“I do, it just…”
“Just what? It’ll be so funny,” said Patsy.
They argued non-stop. The girls never disagreed…EVER—
until now.
“What’s the big deal?” asked Patsy.
“Nothing.”
“Lea, tell me! It won’t hurt my feelings, I promise.”
“I just…I
I DON’T WANT TO BE A BUTT!”
I don’t blame Lea! LOL
LOL! She has a point. This is cute and relatable!
Funny! I wouldn’t want to be the butt either! LOL!
Who would? 🤣🎃
So glad that Lea spoke up –
Funny! Who wants to be a butt? Good for Lea!
I’m Coming to Get You
By Pat Holloway
100 Words
Screech, screech.
Windows shrieked with a glow-in-the-dark silhouette.
“Who’s there?”, asked Mina.
A voice whispered, “I’m coming to get you!”
“Mom, is that you?” asked Mina.
Knock, knock!
The door rattled.
“Who’s there?”, asked Mina.
A voice yelled, “I’m coming to get you!”
“Dad, is that you?” asked Mina shaking with goosebumps.
Blink, blink!
Lights flickered.
“Who’s there?”, asked Mina.
A voice screamed, “I’m coming to get you!”
“Granny, is that you?”, asked Mina.
Stomp, Stomp!
Boards creaked.
“Who’s There?”, asked Mina.
A voice boomed, “I’m here and I’ve goodies for you!”
“Awe, Gramps, you really scared me!”, answered Mina.
https://wordpress.com/post/patriciajhollowaystudio.wordpress.com/690
I like the repetition and onomatopoeia. I also like the suspect list and the ending. My daddy liked scaring his little buddies (my kids).
Awe, I love that! Thank you for sharing.
I hit ‘post comment’ before I meant to. I like your story. Good luck! 😀 Also, it may be just my computer, but the blog post link isn’t working.
Thank you so! And I’ll check out the link.
I like the repetition, sound words, mystery, and pacing. I’m glad Mina got goodies at the end!
Thanks, your comments are so uplifting to me!
Leave it to Gramps to get the best scare. Very fun! Good luck!
Yep, those grandpas are fun characters! Thank you.
What a suspenseful build up! 🎃
Thank you so much!
PHEW – What a relief it was Gramps! Doors rattling, lights flickering . . . and the repetition of “I’m coming to get you!” really amped up the tension in your story.
Thank you!
Pat,
I really like this Gramps gave Mina a trick along with a treat, good job! I could visualize the whole thing while I was reading.
THE FRIGHTMARE
By Linda Staszak
97 words
Cosmo clanked his chains.
“C’mon. Let’s trick-or-treat.”
Buzzy jerked awake and rubbed his eyes.
“I just had a horrible nightmare.”
“Technically it’s an afternoon-mare,” said Cosmo.
“Whatever,” snorted Buzzy. “You were covered with goosebumps that dripped green slime.”
“Sweet.”
“And you had glow-in-the-dark fangs that shot out lightning bolts.”
“That’s a great dream,” said Cosmo.
“I haven’t told you the worst part,” Buzzy said.
“What?” Cosmo asked.
Buzzy glanced around and continued, “The worst thing was…”
“Yeah…”
“The goodies…”
“Yeah, what about the goodies?”
“All the goodies were vegetables!”
“Eeeeew! That’s not a nightmare—it’s a FRIGHTmare!”
Oh, no! Vegetable goodies? Yikes! What a FRIGHTmare! I enjoyed your story. Strong characterization.
Thank you!
This is so cute!
Thanks!
That is a frightmare, not veggies! So cute!
Thanks. Maybe dipped in chocolate??? No, that’s a bigger frightmare!
Hahaha! Yes it is!
That’s a brilliant title! And a funny story! 🎃
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
Even with my mostly plant-based diet, vegetables for Halloween goodies really would be a FRIGHTmare – what a clever surprise ending!
Oh no, not veggies! Lol.
Frankie & Gigi: Trick or Feet
By Kira Barrett
100 words
A door creaked. Someone shrieked!
“Frankie, are you okay?” Gigi gasped, eyes wide.
“I can’t find my feet,” Frankie Frankenstein moaned. “No trick-or-treating! No goodies! No scaring kids!”
“What if I carry you on my back?” Gigi asked.
“Your gargoyle wings get in the way,” Frankie sighed.
“What if you borrow your dad’s feet?”
They were thirteen sizes too big.
“Maybe if I had a clown costume,” Frankie groaned.
Gigi thought hard. Something poked her! Goosebumps tickled her spine.
Using her glow-in-the-dark wand, she peeked under the bed.
Ten green toes wiggled hello!
“Guys!” Frankie laughed. “No more Halloween tricks!”
This is so cute! I love Gigi’s helpfulness and Frankie’s funny problem.
Very cute! Gigi is quite the problem solver! So fun. Good luck!
It was fun trying to figure out who Frankie and Gigi were!🎃
What a fun ending, and I also loved the line about the shoes of Frankie’s dad: “They were thirteen sizes too big.”
Oh no! Glad he found his feet!
Title: Home for Halloween
Author: Melissa Miles
Word Count: 99
Sis and I decide to decorate our home for Halloween.
We cover the door with some Spanish Moss littering the curb. Spooky.
Someone’s discarded glow-in-the-dark stickers beautify our windows. Creepy.
Our woven plastic bag welcome mat is colorful. Cozy.
“There,” we say. “Not bad.”
We know the costumes we’ve created from clothes in our shared suitcase won’t give anyone goosebumps, but hopefully they’ll score us some goodies.
“I’m proud of you girls,” Mom says. “I promise it’s not forever.”
We set off hand-in-hand, leaving behind the parking lot’s glaring lights.
Hoping next year, our home won’t be the car.
Wow! So many layers packed into just 99 words. I can see you expanding this into a full PB. Nice job!
Thanks for reading, Michelle!
So sweet and sad. I love they are making the best of their situation. Great lesson. Good luck.
Thank you. I’ve grown so attached to my sisters, I might write a novel about them.
I enjoyed this story, Melissa. It’s a sad situation, but I love how you give it a hopeful tone.
Thank you, Sarah.
Wow, this tugs at my heartstrings! So touching and I hope home won’t be their car for long. Very nice!
Thanks, Nancy! In my mind, they won’t be living in the car by next Halloween. I’m rooting for them.
So sweet and sad. 🧡
Thanks for reading, Ingrid.
Makes me stop and think about all of my own blessings . . .
Me too, Patricia!
Poor Glenda! But she fixed her problem, and I bet her witch friends were envious of her big lumpy goosebumps! Good luck!
NOT THE COSTUME I WANTED (WC 91)
By Michelle S. Kennedy
Goodies and goosebumps— it’s Halloween night!
My costume will give you a scare!
I might be a witch or a zombified man.
Or the evil IT Clown with red hair.
How ‘bout a ghost who can glow-in-the-dark?
Or something where blood trickles down—
A guy with an axe that is stuck in his head
and stitches that make up a frown.
In walks my mom with a mask in her hand.
My scheme has been suddenly banned.
“You’ll look very cute being a Groot!”
But CUTE isn’t what I had planned…
Great job! And nice ending, after all, who wouldn’t want to be a Groot😄! Lovely rhymes, AND meter! Good luck!
Hopefully, everyone knows who Groot is! LOL
You totally nailed every kid’s Halloween dilemma–what should I be? And did it with perfect rhyme and meter throughout, leading to a perfect Mom-approved ending! Bravo, Michelle!
Thank you, Jill
Fun read! Love the ending 🙂
Thank you, Kizzi! So glad you liked it!
Very CUTE! 🙂
Aw! Thanks, Marta!
This is lots of fun Michelle! Well done!
Thanks, Gabrielle!! Glad you enjoyed it!
Cute! This made me chuckle. Nicely done, Michelle!
Thanks, Sarah!
HA! Nice pacing – loved the tension building with the costume descriptions!
Thanks so much for checking out my poem!
Great job Michelle with your rhymes and your story!
Thanks so much. Colleen!
Very fun! Great rhyme and meter. Good luck!
Thank you, Nancy!!!
Such a great idea for a story! Good luck, Michelle!
Thanks Jen!
Well done! Loved the rhyme, the imagery and especially the twist! 🧡🎃🧡!
Thank you for checking out my poem! Glad you liked it!
Hahaha – “Cute” was certainly a far cry from what I expected for this little trickster, myself!
I know, right?! Maybe next year… LOL
Nice job! I feel so much for the little enthusiastic child and hope Mom gets on the same page.
Thanks, Ann! There might have to be a sequel to see how it all worked out. LOL
Goosey Glender’s Fall Feast 🍁
Glender was a graceful goose with an elegant neck. She roamed the farmyard on her webbed tip toes. Bag in wing. The epitome of glamour.
But, Glender had one weakness, Candy Corn. Every Halloween, she gorged on those goodies.
Until glow-in-the-dark, goosebumps developed all over her beautiful neck! Oh the horror!
The other animals felt sorry for Glender. Over the year they discovered that gelastic gel may be the solution. After Glender’s annual feast, Hen-rietta handed her a gelly wingful and as if by magic the bumps went down, the glow faded and Glender was her elegant self again.
99 words
Fun! I love “the epitome of glamour” and Glender’s one weakness.
Funny! I’m glad Hen-rietta had the cure for Glender. Good luck!
The name Glender fits perfectly! 🎃
Great that the rest of the animals were so willing to help a friend in need – Very cute:-)
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
By Denise Seidman
WC= 99 words
Hailey hurried over to a Halloween scavenger hunt held over by the cemetery. Everyone would be partnered to find glow-in-the-dark goodies.
One by one all the guests had partners except Hailey. Her heartbeat quickened.
Finally, a partygoer approached, dressed as a walking cadaver. He even had worms crawling all around and grunted, “Partners.”
Hailey shook her head no as she struggled to breathe and goosebumps rose. She wanted to run when…
Two gravediggers came over and took him, “Sorry kid, we hope you weren’t frightened!”
Walking away, the other man muttered, “Told you to nail it shut!”
Super cute! ‘Nailed it’😁 with your ending! Fun to read, kids would love this! Good luck!
Thanks Katie, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I had a lot of fun writing it!
LOL great ending! Creepy and fun. I read it aloud, and my son just asked me to reread it. 🙂
Thanks Sarah, I’m glad that you and your son enjoyed it! Wow, can’t believe he wanted you to reread it!
Love this Denise- super creepy! You nailed the ending!
Liz
Thanks Liz, it was my first twist! I glad you enjoyed it!
Denise
Funny and kind of creepy. I like it! Good job!
Thanks Nancy, for reading and reviewing! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Super creepy! Well done! 🎃
Thanks Ingrid, for reading and reviewing!
Whoa – Now that was scary!!!
Patricia, hope it was scary in a good way?
Title : Stink Fairy’s Hallo-smelly-ween
Author : Stacey Miller
Word count: 99
It was Hallo-smelly-ween in the Rotten Realm and amongst the grotty grime, Stink Fairy was brewing gunky goodies when…
Something faster than a snotty sneeze accidently swooshed Stink Fairy into her crusty cauldron.
“Bursting boils,” cried Stink Fairy. “Who’s there?”
“It’s meeeeeeee…, Goosebumps,” he wailed.
“I neeeeed your help…everyone looks through me.”
“Well… you are a ghost,” said Stink Fairy squinting.
“I’m over heeeere,” sighed Goosebumps.
“Silly me,” said Stink Fairy.” This glow-in-the-dark goody will brighten your Hallo-smelly-ween.”
Goosebumps scoffed the lot.
“Ta daaaa!” cried Stink Fairy.
“I love my ghostie glow up,” cried Goosebumps. “Let’s have a Hallo-Smelly-bration.”
Haha – “Something faster than a snotty sneeze” is a brilliant line, and I love the concept of Stink Fairy..Good luck with this super fun entry.
This is so charming! So many amazing (and gross but perfect) word choices. I could see Stink Fairy having her own PB. I enjoyed the dialogue between SF and Goosebumps.
Thank you, Sarah I have wrote a few Pb’s about Stink Fairy. 😘
Love, “grotty grime” and “faster than a snotty sneeze.” Very fun, yes and kinda gross, story. Nice job!
I found myself holding breath reading this, well done! 🎃
Thank you for your lovely words. ❤️
“Goosebumps” – what a perfect name for a ghost:-)
HALLOWMAS
By Danielle S. Hammelef
99 words
Ghosts love Halloween, right? Not me. I haunt on my favorite holiday—Christmas Eve—with sleigh bells.
I moan “Santa Claus is Coming to Towwwwn” Christmas Eve night, keeping all awake. I hide inside Christmas trees, waiting. I shout “BOUGH!” as Santa unpacks his sack of goodies.
But the house’s new family didn’t appreciate my Christmas spirit. “You’re fired!”
Months of job searching and finally—”Wanted: Ghost for Halloween haunting!”
Hired helter-skelter, I got right to fright.
Under glow-in-the-dark Christmas trees, I wrapped Goosebumps books for trick-or-treaters.
I was a scream. Santa even took notes.
I’m booked for Christmas.
FUN! I love how the narrator wrapped Goosebumps books for trick-or-treaters and the creative word play.
I love the word play and the combination of Halloween and Christmas. 🎄🎃
Very fun. Glad that the ghost stuck to his preferences and even Santa took notes. LOL! Good luck!
Lots of fun wordplay in this holiday mashup! 🎃
LOL – I especially liked the line when the ghost said, “But the house’s new family didn’t appreciate my Christmas spirit.”
Love the voice! This is hilarious! Thanks for a fun read!
Goosebumps for Mother Goose
100 Words
By Lynne Marie
On Halloween, Mother Goose frantically searched the library for bedtime stories for the goslings.
She found classic tales like The Ugly Gosling, Moby Duck, and Goodnight, Goose, but no spooky stories.
She refused to leave empty-winged! She scoured shelves, and finally found frightfully perfect picks: Monster Goose, Duckula, and Drakenstein! She gleefully grabbed the ghostly GOODIES and rushed home.
But when she arrived there, she got GOOSEBUMPS. Her nest GLOWed-IN-THE-DARK, and the goslings were nowhere to be found!
Suddenly, seven ghoulish ghosts appeared. “Trick or Treat!” They honked.
Mother Goose giggled. “Treat! Just look what I’ve found at the library!” [100 Words]
Very creative! Love all the book titles you came up with! So fun! Those could make some great PB’s!
This is so cute! Love the creativity 🙂
So clever! (I’m wondering… why didn’t she read Moldilocks to them?!)
This was a treat to read. I love reading spooky books to my little goslings. I LOVE the book names!
Love all the fun titles Mother Goose finds 🙂 Cute story
This is so charming and fun! Love all the creative titles and aww ending.
Love the spooky book titles! I would totally read these!
This is such a lovely story, I love the spooky books and fun ending. ❤️
So cute! Love the nod to Mother Goose and libraries. Well done!
Nice, Lynne Marie! 🙂
Your duck tale titles are fabulous fun! 🎃
Loved every single one of the goosey book titles and the fact that Mother Goose had such a great treat for her seven ghoulish ghostly goslings:-)
Title: How Do You Tickle a Ghost?
By: Kizzi Hutcheson
Word Count: 100
Zombies are easy,
They tickle the same.
Just reach in his ear,
And tickle his brain.
But…
How do you tickle a ghost?
Vampires have bite,
But do like to giggle.
Just tickle her teeth,
Give them a wiggle!
But…
How do you tickle a ghost?
A skeleton’s fun,
And not very fickle.
Each one of his bones,
Is perfect to tickle.
But…
How do you tickle a ghost?
On Halloween night,
When goodies are close.
Something glows-in-the-dark,
You’ll know it’s a ghost.
When you feel goosebumps,
You’ll know it’s true.
You’ve tickled a ghost,
And a ghost tickled you!
So fun! I love the ending line!
Thank you 🙂
I love this story ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Clever! Loved the ‘reach in his ear and tickle his brain’
Thank you!
Love this! So creative and that last line! Awesome job.
Thank you so much 🙂
LOVE it! So fun to read aloud with a great ending.
Thank you Sarah!
This certainly tickled me! I love it!
Thank you 🙂
Very cute. I can see this as an engaging holiday picture book. Well done and good luck!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Such a delightful idea! This would make a great book!
Thank you for the encouraging comment 🙂 Glad you liked it!
So clever! You keep the tension going with the repeated question all the way through. Lots of great Halloween characters too!
Thank you so much! 🙂
This is awesome, Kizzi! Love it!
Thank you Jenny! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Love this! Repeating the question kept the fun building and the ending is terrific! 🧡🎃🧡🎃🧡
Great ending to a charming story…kept me wondering right to the end.
What an original spin on what causes goosebumps – How nice to think of them as being cause by a tickle or two from a ghost:-)
So fun!
I love this! It would make a fun Halloween book to read with kids!
DRAGON MAGIC
Melissa Rotert 100 words
Maddy tugged on her costume and climbed onto the high stool for her mother to do her makeup. Containers of colorful creams were arranged across the counter like goodies in a candy store. They were the magic to complete her transformation. Soon she would be the beautiful dragon she’d been dreaming about all year long. Goosebumps prickled her skin from excitement. Her mother painted and brushed, powdered and glittered. A dab of glow-in-the-dark paint at the center of every shimmering scale. Just like her drawings. After adding her crown, there was no longer Maddy the girl. Now she was Naga.
There’s nothing like a table full of magic makeup. Many a little person’s dream. How exciting! A sweet interaction between mother and daughter on Halloween.
Love Maddy’s anticipation as her mother does her makeup.
Wow, magic make-up! I need some of that! Very fun story.
This is such a little girl’s dream come true! 🧡
Sweet story. I can really feel Maddy’s excitement at her transformation.
Fond memories are born in costuming with Mom . . . I love this line “Containers of colorful creams were arranged across the counter like goodies in a candy store.”
GRETYL HOBBLED INTO HALLOWEEN HISTORY
By Royal Baysinger
100 words
Gretyl’s cast-encased foot kerthumped through Farshadow Forest. Injuries to witches were commonplace after crashes on moonless nights.
Goosebumps prickled her arms as she harvested handfuls of leaves, tucking her crimson and golden goodies into her wickerwork basket. She hobbled home and steeped them in water from Sparkling Spring, before fanning the flame of her cooking cauldron and bringing it to a boil. Then she ladled in lucent lichens, and fiery phosphorous, helping her concoction coalesce, with seven spoonfuls of stardust.
Inordinate amounts of “shooting stars” were witnessed that Halloween, as Gretyl’s Glow-in-the-dark Polish brightened broomsticks, now safe, in dark skies.
A glow-in-the-dark broomstick. Now that’s a bright idea! A visual story full of BIG words and alliteration adding to the magic. I enjoyed reading it.
This is charming. Love the strong word choices and creative ending solution!
Glad that Gretyl solved her collision problem. Very fun!
What fun vocabulary! This was engaging to read! 🎃
Lots of beautiful, creative language packed into this story. I especially liked the imagery created by the words “seven spoonfuls of stardust.”
Great use of language and humor!
ENTRY POSTED FOR ABBY
Shiver and sugar!
By Abby Voss (56 words) @Vossywrites
Eyes glow
In the dark
Something scary’s
In the park.
Shortened breath
Sweaty palms
Goosebumps pimple
Up my arms.
Witches cackle
Werewolves yowl
Zombies groan
Ghosties howl
Mummies guide me
Up the street
Urge me on to,
“TRICK OR TREAT!”
Goodies pass
From tot to teen
SHAKE AND SHIVER!
SWEETS AND SUGAR!
All combine
On Halloween.
This is delightful and fun to read aloud.
Thanks Sarah. Fun to write too… 🙂
Love this, so bouncy and fun!
Thank you! 🙂
Lots of fun to read aloud and imagine! 🎃
Thanks Ingrid. These short comps are such fun to write too! 🙂
Such a fun read aloud! Great pacing
Thank you Penelope. Good to hear you enjoyed it. 🙂
The ending wraps up Halloween fun so perfectly:
SHAKE AND SHIVER!
SWEETS AND SUGAR!
All combine
On Halloween.
That’s my kind of Halloween! 🙂 Thanks Patricia.
Nice job on the rhyme! It’s fun to read!
Thank you Melissa! Fun to write too. 🙂
ENTRY POSTED FOR ABBY
Monster Feast
By Abby Voss (100 words) @Vossywrites
Gloomy Hill!
Wind is shrill!
Creeping like a mouse.
Freezing toes,
Dripping nose,
Goosebumps! Haunted house!
Studded door,
Dusty floor,
Spiders big and hairy.
Rusty handles,
Flaming candles
Glow-in-the-dark. Scary!
Webby walls,
Darkened halls,
All seems rather bleak.
Broken stair,
Is someone there?
Floorboards give a creak.
Then…
Monstrous things,
Flapping wings,
Figure dressed in black
Clashes! Bangs!
Flash of fangs!
Hooded cloak swept back.
“Follow me!
Try scream-tea,
Bug-custard or flea-pie,”
Tables laid
With sweet ghoul-ade,
Goodies piled up high.
We meet the rest.
Each monster guest
Enjoys All Hallows Feast.
Dancing, yelling,
Bad-joke telling,
Live guests, and deceased.
Ghoulishly fun! Great job and love your rhymes!
Thanks Michelle. These short ones are so much fun to write! 🙂
What a party! Monster mayhem. Fun! Love the scream-tea.
Thanks Corinne. Would be interesting to try, right? 🙂
Another one that is so much fun to read aloud. The last stanza is my favorite!
Aw thanks, that’s s kind 🙂
Another very fun entry, Abby! I could see both of these as holiday picture books.
Oooo wouldn’t that be fun? Thanks Nancy. 🙂
Now that’s a Halloween part! 🎃
Think we all need to attend at least ONE of these parties. 🙂 Thanks Ingrid
Such fun rhymes! And what a fun party!
WHOOP WHOOP! Thanks Penelope 🙂
Lots of creepy, scary fun packed into this terse verse AND what a combination of party goers: “Live guests, and deceased.”
😀 Thanks Patricia!
Are You Ready to Trick-Or-Treat?
Corine Timmer
100 words
Deep down
in the ocean zone
devoid of light,
Goodie Goosebumps
the glowing-sucker octopus
and Gory Rory
the vampire squid
were getting ready
to trick-or-treat.
“My trick is scarier than yours,” Goodie said.
Her glow-in-the-dark suckers
ghosting the murky water.
“Rubbish,” said Rory
while inverting his cape
up over his body
into the pineapple posture.
“What a treat!” said the black dragon,
boasting a razor-toothed smile.
Goodie shrunk with fear.
“Uh-oh,” muttered Rory
as he fired jell-glow sticky bombs
from the tips of
each of his arms.
The frightful dragon
dashed off.
“A Wicked trick!” cried Goodie.
“We’re ready! Hee-hee!”
Fun characters and nice word choices!
Thanks, Sarah. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I love the names of the characters in your gun story!
Thanks, Glenda. They suddenly popped to mind. The characters are based on fact. I try and merge fact with fiction in my stories.
I love you included creatures I have never heard of. I did a search and saw how amazing the vampire squid and glowing sucker octopus are. Super job. I’d love to see these creatures in a PB.
I’m glad you love it. I like creative non-fiction. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Amazing that you did a search! That’s the spirit!
So much fun to see really creepy characters that are real! This would be so fun to see illustrated! 🎃🧡👻
Thanks, Ingrid.
Love this under the sea Halloween story, Corine. Very fun. Well done!
Thanks for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
What a fun undersea Halloween adventure! I especially liked when Rory came to the rescue “as he fired jell-glow sticky bombs from the tips of each of his arms.”
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Fun setting for a Halloween story!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my story.
ENTRY POSTED FOR VANESSA
Christmas in October
By Vanessa Konoval
I like my goodies in stockings, NOT plastic pumpkins.
I want to get goosebumps from snow flurries, NOT scary stories.
And the only thing I want to see glowing in the dark are twinkly, sparkly holiday lights!
I’ve tried!
I’ve sung spooky songs.
I’ve worn creepy costumes.
I’ve even gone to haunted houses!
But this year, I decided:
NO MORE.
This year, I’m doing Halloween MY way.
I’m bringing sugar cookies to the class Halloween party.
I’m carving a reindeer into my pumpkin.
And trick-or-treating, well, I can’t get out of THAT.
I’ll go.
But I’m going…
…as Santa Claus!
This is a lot of fun! I love the image of a reindeer pumpkin and Santa trick-or-treating. I’m always a fan of holiday mashups. 🙂
Love this kid’s determination to do Halloween their way! Good job and good luck!
That’s sooo funny! We are very much on the same wave length! 🎃🧡
I love his determination to keep Christmas in Halloween! And no one can resist trick-or-treating 🙂
Loved the voice of this story as the character identified what not to like about Halloween and how he/she was going to remedy the problem. Love that costume idea:-)
I’m in full on Christmas mode once September gets here, so I feel your character! 🙂 Nice job!
ENTRY POSTED FOR ALAN
Spooky ABCs
Alan Elliott
Word Count: 95
You knock, knock, knock upon my door?
And come for treats? I’ve so much more…
Goosebumps, ghouls, an Apparition,
Bats and Cats for added tension.
Dragons flying, Eyeballs burning,
Werewolf Fangs, ever yearning.
Glow-in-the-dark grisly Ghosts,
Graveyard Headstones, Impish hosts.
Jack o’lantern, headless Knight,
Sorcerer’s Lair, Monster fright.
Nightmare’s never-ending screams,
Ogres, Phantoms in your dreams.
Queen of Rats, Spider’s wake
Tombstones tremble, shiver, and shake.
Undead Vampires, Werewolf bite,
X-eyed scarecrows – what a fright.
Yowling Yahoos evil eye,
Zowling Zombies petrify.
Just give me goodies if you please,
And keep your spooky ABCs.
Great job! I think you could make this a concept PB!
This is so creative and fun! I love the ending, as well as “Zowling Zombies petrify.”
Well done! So many fun Halloween details and a great rhythm.
Great Ghouls, what a spooky ABC’s! Love it!
Wow! You executed this extremely well! 🧡🧡🧡🎃!
Pretty jaw dropping that you identified a spooky thing for all 26 letters of the alphabet, created a rhyme, AND did it all in under 100 words – Great job!
Yowling Yahoos, this is so great! 😀 Kids can go on a Spooky ABC scavenger hunt in your story. I love the rhyme and all of the things you came up with for each letter.
Fun to read!
ENTRY POSTED FOR ALAN
Dragon and Pirate’s Halloween
Alan Elliott
Word Count: 100
“My costume shivers your spine,” said Pirate.
“Mine makes goosebumps on goosebumps,” said Dragon.
I have the best.
No! I have the best.
Let’s see … close your eyes…
Open your eyes!
We’re both glow-in-the-dark goblins!
Try again.
We’re both space-alien ballerinas!
Try again.
We’re both octopus firefighters!
Try again.
We’re both zombie princesses!
What can we do?
“I’ll pick a costume you’d never wear,” said Dragon.
“And I’ll pick a costume you’d never wear,” said Pirate.
Close your eyes…
Open your eyes!
“I’m a dragon!” said Pirate.
“I’m a pirate!” said Dragon.
Frighttastic! Now let’s go grab some goodies!
This is a lot of fun! I love the creative costumes, particularly octopus firefighters.
Very cute! Love that they pick each other for their costumes in the end. Nice job!
Some fantastic illustration opportunities here! 🎃
I bet kids would think this was absolutely hysterical, especially when they end up costumed as each other:-)
ENTRY POSTED FOR CAROLYN
Tiny’s Halloween Flight
By
Carolyn C. Snelling
Let’s go Treat Bag, let’s fly from house to house.
Climb on my glow-in-the-dark broom, sit next to Tiny, my mouse.
You might get goosebumps from the cold, fast flight.
Please Treat Bag and Tiny hang on extra tight.
Goodies fill you Treat Bag, sweet, chocolatey, and sour.
We’ve not much more time we must be home in an hour.
Fog creeps across the moon as we soon say goodnight.
With our last “trick or treat” we slow broom’s flight.
Hopping off broom, we walk to our house.
Oh no! Treat Bag seems tiny but not so my mouse!
Cute! That ending made me smile.
Very fun broom ride and I love the ending. Good luck!
A fun story with a great ending! 🎃
I didn’t see that ending coming – What a surprise!
Rainbow Bridge
Corine Timmer
100 words
Goosebump shuffled out of trick-or-treating with the other toads. She had a lump in her throat and that brick-in-the-belly feeling. She and Patch, the homeless hound, had been bosom buddies for one year, eight months, two days and five and a half hours, when Patch began her journey to the great meadow in the sky. Goosebump squatted on a pebble and closed her eyes. She pictured her friend whole and strong again. Running in a field full of sunshine and wild flowers. All at once, she knew what she wanted to do.
pet cemetery—
in her goody bag
a-glow-in-the-dark pupcake
Oh, this tugged at my heartstrings, Corine! Not your usual Halloween tale, but so well done!
Jill, thanks for stopping by and reading my little story. Halloween, in ancient times, was about the change of season (autumn harvest) and remembering those who have passed on. For the Celts, New Year started on November 1st. Strict boundaries between the worlds of the dead and the living became more transparent at that time. Rituals included giving food to the dead. In Portugal, where I live, they don’t really celebrate Halloween but they celebrate All Saints day followed by the Day of the Dead on November 2nd. Many families go to the graves of dead ones, decorate the tombstones and light candles. Children knock on doors asking for Pão por Deus (God’s bread).
Oh, Corine! You totally made me cry! So sad and sweet. And since my beloved dog died last week I’m especially touched by your story! ❤️
Susanna, sorry to hear your dog died last week. It’s heartbreaking. For me it gets harder to say goodbye the older I get. I have had to say goodbye so many times over the years. I’m glad my story touched you and I hope it makes you feel better in some way.
So sad and sweet. I love the specificity of the time Goosebump and Patch had been bosom buddies.
Thanks! That’s what it’s like with bosom buddies.
Oh Corine, such a moving story! Makes me remember my dogs that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Sad, but sweet too. Hugs!
Thanks. Halloween, after all, is a time of year associated with death, among other things. I really enjoyed your story, “waking the dead”.
Thanks, Corine!
I was gone just from the title…🧡
Or I should say from the title on… 🧡
Thanks for stopping by.
It’s hard to be 100% into the Halloween spirit when you have that “brick-in-the-belly feeling.” I was glad I could feel the tide turning for Goosebump when you wrote, “She pictured her friend whole and strong again.” You packed a lot of emotion into just 100 words.
Thanks 🙏
Sweet story!
Aw, so sweet. I’m so glad Patch was remembered, honored, and treated by her friend, Goosebump.
GREAT-AUNT BROOMHILDA
By: Josh Cohen
Word Count: 100
My great-aunt Broomhilda’s a sight to behold.
She’s turning one-hundred next year.
Her scratchety voice and her clackety teeth
leave me shrieking and shaking with fear.
This Halloween, I had ghoulish ideas
to goosebumpify Mulberry Street.
Cute costumed children who knocked on my door
were presented a devilish treat.
Broomhilda appeared in a flowing black cape
and a glow-in-the-dark pointy hat.
She snarled and cackled, waggled her claws
and hiss-hissed like a rabid stray cat.
Frazzled and frightened, screaming in shock,
the revelers scrambled to flee.
Thank you, Broomhilda, for making my night.
These goodies can all be for me!
This is delightful to read aloud! And that ending is a lot of fun.
Very fun! I can visualize all kinds of fun illustrations! Good luck!
I love “clackety” and “goosebumpify”! This was a very fun read. It would make a great picture book. Good luck!
I like great-aunt Broomhilda! I like your word choice and alliteration, too. Some of the words are BIG, but that makes it a challenge.
Terrific fun to read aloud! 🎃
Very clever twist to change Broomhilda from a very frightening aunt to an accomplice in the fright night plan.
Oh wow, she is a fright! Fun story!
Title: Cirque Fantôme
By: Kizzi Hutcheson (2nd Entry)
Word Count: 100
“It’s here!”
Cirque Fantôme appeared every Halloween, but Jolene had never gone.
Megan had, and told of beautiful witches and warlocks, of goodies that made you glow-in-the-dark or grow feathers. She also whispered of hungry ghosts.
It gave her goosebumps, but Jolene wanted to go.
Some paid for tickets with gold, others secrets, but most were like Jolene.
Megan went first, then the ticket taker’s scissors snip-snapped through Jolene’s hair too.
The girls blended in with the crowd of fresh-shorn heads.
Overhead, serpentine women undulated.
Witches crooned.
Incense burned.
And somewhere, translucent hands wove together a thousand locks of hair.
Whoa, so cool!
This is so creepy and well-done. The ending image is eerie!
Whoa, very creepy cool. This could be a start to a great middle grade spooky novel! Good job!
I like this and agree with Nancy. I definitely want to find out more.
Amazingly eerie and atmospheric! 🎃
Oh boy – That’s a whole of mystery and eeriness in just 100 words. This really caught my attention, and I would have kept reading if there was more to the story.
Great imagery!
A Knock on the Door
By Pamela Swanson 97 count
The children walk in homemade costumes towards THE DOOR visiting about the party held the night before, bobbing for apples, passing lifesavers on toothpicks, and other games. They climb steps lined with well-lit jack-o-lanterns, lighting the way to THE DOOR. They hold their glow-in-the-dark pumpkins that will be filled with goodies. What is behind THE DOOR? As they knock they get goosebumps. THE DOOR opens –TRICK OR TREAT they yell to a woman dressed as Little Bo Peep. They tell their jokes, receive candy, and head to the next house. That is a True Halloween celebration!
Oh, THE DOOR! It was so intimidating to me as a child. Good job!
I love the suspense you build with THE DOOR and then surprise your reader with Little Bo Peep instead of something frightening. I also like the mention of nostalgic Halloween fun like apple bobbing. Brings back happy memories.
I remember those games, and homemade costumes. A fun Halloween tale! 🎃
You perfected a nostalgic tone with things such as homemade costumes, apple bobbing, and passing lifesavers on toothpicks, and THE DOOR injected just the right amount of scary:-)
I was getting anxious, but then a smile at who opened THE DOOR! 🙂