The 11th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!

***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!!!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is halloweensie-pumpkin.jpeg

~ 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)!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is dawn-young-1.jpg

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (nonrhyming) by Janie Reinart, author of WHEN WATER MAKES MUD: A STORY OF REFUGEE CHILDREN (Blue Whale Press, 2021)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is janie-reinart.jpg

⭐️ 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)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is lindsey-mcdivitt.jpg

⭐️ 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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is kenda-henthorn.png

⭐️ 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)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is randi-sonenshine.png

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Danielle Dufayet, author of YOU ARE YOUR STRONG (Magination Press, March 2019) and FANTASTIC YOU (Magination Press, September 2019)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is danielle-dufayet.png

⭐️ 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!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is once-upon-a-christmas.jpg

⭐️ 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!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is branches-of-hope.jpg

⭐️ 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!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is mimic-makers.jpg

⭐️ 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!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is a-plan-for-the-people.jpg

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT by Randi Sonenshine PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is the-nest-that-wren-built.jpg

⭐️ 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:

Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul
Writing Irresistible Kidlit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers by Mary Kole
The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories For Children by Nancy Lamb
Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career by Nancy I. Sanders
Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Beginning Readers and Chapter Books by Nancy I. Sanders
Making a Living Writing Books for Kids: Tips, Techniques, and Tales from a Working Children’s Author by Laura Purdie Salas

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! 🎃 😊

  1. Isolated For Halloween – S. J. Little
  2. A Halloween Time Machine – Sara Kruger
  3. Weather’s Trick, Witch’s Treat – Abby N. Wooldridge
  4. Halloween Is LIT! – Anne Lipton
  5. Kit’s Costume – Kari Ann Gonzalez
  6. Mean Halloween – Heather Ferranti Kinser
  7. A Witchy Switch – Katie Schwartz
  8. The Porchlight – Chris Garcia-Halenar
  9. Bruce Goose – Jessica Hinrichs
  10. Undersea Halloween – Vashti Verbowski
  11. Sweet Swap – Daniella Kaufman-Schloss
  12. The Halloween Witch – Trista Herring Baughman
  13. The Lonely Pumpkin Head – Elle Jaufret
  14. Hallows’ Eve – E. A. Peterson
  15. Whose Cat Is THAT? – Beth Stillborn
  16. This Pumpkin’s Not For Picking – Laura Howard
  17. The Jimjam – Carrie Karnes-Fannin
  18. Trick Likes Treats, But So Does Swoop – Melissa Valente
  19. The Haunted House High Up On The Hill – Sue Lancaster
  20. Tricked The Treats – Katie Fischer
  21. A Helpful Ghost – Emily Durant
  22. The Wraith On My Wrist or Ghostie Lost In City Mist – Sally Yorke-Viney
  23. Three Little Geese Do Halloween – Linda Williams Swanson
  24. A Glowing Solution – Nicole Loos Miller
  25. Warning: May Contain Sugar – Amy Leskowski
  26. How Hannah Saved Halloween – Colleen Murphy
  27. Double Meaning Halloween Knight – Debbie Meneses
  28. Untitled – Shariffa
  29. The Scavenger’s Feast Ball – Sarah Hetu-Radny
  30. ‘Tis The Season, Candy Eaters – Hannah Roy LaGrone
  31. Greta’s Glow-In-The-Dark Goosebumps – Susan E. Schipper
  32. Bobbing For Apples – Lyn Jekowsky
  33. The Perfect Pumpkin – Barbara Kimmel
  34. No More Sugar! – Sarah K. Rose
  35. Fairy-Fire – Vanessa Konoval
  36. Creepy Cook-Off – Sarah Meade
  37. Macy & Lucy’s Halloween – Sarah Meade
  38. Ghostly Linens – Stephanie Maksymiw
  39. Happy HOWL-oween – Lindsey Hobson
  40. Three Glowing Bats – Sherry Roberts
  41. Halloween Family Secret – Jennifer Mary Grolemund
  42. A Sick Day – Jany Campana
  43. The Pied Pumpkin Of Halloween – Marta Cutler
  44. Creatures From The Couch – Julie Hansen
  45. Alligator The Ghost – Marta Cutler
  46. Goose-Zilla – Linda Staszak
  47. Welcome To The Skeleton Dance – Sue Heavenrich
  48. Teal Halloween – Kathleen Lowry
  49. The Gloves – Stephanie Rondeau
  50. Ghoulie Rulies – Brenda Whitehead
  51. Tricky Treaters – P. J. Purtee
  52. Garth’s Game Changer – Darcee A. Freier
  53. Nabbed! – Abby Voss
  54. The Wart-Covered Tree – Danielle Arndt
  55. The Last Fall Firefly – Meagan T. Gentry
  56. Who Cares If It’s Cold? – Allison Strick
  57. Glenda’s Goosebumps – Susan Burd
  58. The Candy Thief – Meagan T. Gentry
  59. Halloween Hero – Rose Cappelli
  60. The Halloween Ball – Marta Cutler
  61. Scary-Go-Round – Catherine Catcho
  62. The Scariest Monster – Marty McCormick Bellis
  63. Fright Night – Marty Findley
  64. Halloween Eve – Barbara Renner
  65. Wilbur Werewolf – Deb Buschman
  66. Teeny Owl’s Spooky Halloween – Janet Parkinson Bryce
  67. No Room For Monsters – Jill Stuck
  68. Ghost House – HC Morris
  69. Boogie Man’s Bright Idea – Jenn Shetsen Wierda
  70. Swamp Beast Falls For Sweets – Jilanne Hoffman
  71. Have You Seen My Monster – Alan Elliott
  72. Halloween Hang-Ups – Russell Wolff
  73. Mark Lights The Way – Karyn Curtis
  74. Halloween Pie – Jill Stuck
  75. The Costume – C. E. King
  76. I’m Coming To Get You – Pat Holloway
  77. The Frightmare – Linda Staszak
  78. Frankie & Gigi: Trick Or Feet – Kira Barrett
  79. Home For Halloween – Melissa Miles
  80. Not The Costume I Wanted – Michelle S. Kennedy
  81. Goosey Glender’s Fall Feast – Bartybear
  82. Halloween Scavenger Hunt – Denise Seidman
  83. Stink Fairy’s Hallo-smelly-ween – Stacey Miller
  84. Hallowmas – Danielle S. Hammelef
  85. Goosebumps For Mother Goose – Lynne Marie
  86. How Do You Tickle A Ghost? – Kizzi Hutcheson
  87. Dragon Magic – Melissa Rotert
  88. Gretyl Hobbled Into Halloween History – Royal Baysinger
  89. Shiver And Sugar! – Abby Voss
  90. Monster Feast – Abby Voss
  91. Are You Ready To Trick-Or-Treat? – Corine Timmer
  92. Christmas In October – Vanessa Konoval
  93. Spooky ABCs – Alan Elliott
  94. Dragon And Pirate’s Halloween – Alan Elliott
  95. Tiny’s Halloween Flight – Carolyn C. Snelling
  96. Rainbow Bridge – Corine Timmer
  97. Great-Aunt Broomhilda – Josh Cohen
  98. Cirque Fantome – Kizzi Hutcheson
  99. A Knock On The Door – Pamela Swanson
  100. Trick-Or-Treat Nightmare – Cindy Sommer
  101. Worth The Climb – Armineh Manookian
  102. Thank You, Trick-Or-Treaters! For Protecting Your Mother – Sharon McCarthy
  103. Beware, Out There – Julie Lerczak
  104. The Haunted Bathroom – Jill Lambert
  105. Plan Bee – Jenny Morales
  106. “BOO!”K Spooky Halloween – Laura N. Clement
  107. The Witch’s Mistake – Jennifer Kaap
  108. Itsy B. Spider – Molly Ippolito
  109. Too Many Goodies – Rachel Krackeler
  110. Ghostmetics – Rozana Rajkumari
  111. Santa’s Halloween – Jen MacGregor
  112. My Scariest Halloween Night – Les Degnan
  113. Winnie Trick-Or-Treats – Dorothy Kohrherr
  114. Camping Surprise – Meredith Flory
  115. Halloween Hunt – Mary Ann Featherston
  116. The Glow-In-The-Dark Bowl – Kathy Scott
  118. The Haunted House – Carmen Castillo Gilbert
  119. Once Upon A Halloween – Colourbeam
  120. A Witchy Potion – Susan Summers
  121. A Giant Surprise – Susan Summers
  122. Hollow-Eeek! – Karen Keesling
  123. Once Upon A Halloween – Nadia Ali
  124. Halloween Battle: (Vampire) Squid vs. (Goblin) Shark – Laura Bower
  125. Happy, Happy Halloween – Claire Freeland
  126. Mr. O’Leary’s House – Nina Nolan
  127. Phantom Festival – Lynn Moore
  128. The Surprise Halloween Friend – Cindy Greene
  129. Goosebumps – Amy Flynn
  130. Ninja Goose And The Halloween Hi-Yah! – Deborah Foster
  131. Tricky Treat – Patricia Nozell
  132. A Halloween Snack – Debra Daugherty
  133. Escaping Planet Taradiddle – Colleen Daugherty
  134. First Halloween Treat – Natalie Cohn
  135. My Last Trick-Or-Treat – Reed Hilton-Eddy
  136. Glowing Ghost – Lauri C. Meyers
  137. hALLYween SPELL – Paul Roncone
  138. Halloween Love – Marla Yablon
  139. Cockroach’s Glowing Problem – Lori Himmel
  140. Scaredy-Cat Pat And The Haunted House – Sara Dean
  141. Let The Real Halloween Begin! – Lori Evans
  142. Ixchel’s Belizean Halloween – Blanca Manzanilla
  143. Emy Is Always Right – Katharyn R. Benessa
  144. Tricky Treat – Ann Grilli
  145. Jack’s Pumpkin Plan – Diana Murrell
  146. Lights In The Dark – Ivanka Dimitrova
  147. Fraidy Cat No More – Jennifer Cherry
  148. Galactic Trick-Or-Treat – Tiffany Hanson
  149. My Ghost Bubble Friend – Sheila R. Schmotzer
  150. R-R-R-Rattled – Gennie Gorback
  151. Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies – Leslie Collins
  152. Moonlit Love – Liz Kehrli
  153. Un-Spooky Halloween – Krista Legge
  154. Stella Shines – Laura Barens
  155. Tabby The Trouble Maker – Dawn Renee Young
  157. The Nameless Ghoul – Imelda Taylor
  158. How The Jack-O-Lantern Found His Real Smile – Sheri Palmer
  159. Halloween Chase – Connie Newbauer
  160. Spidey Sparkles – Angelique Lamour
  161. Never Trick A Witch – Tiffany Hanson
  162. Halloween Monster – Tiffany Hanson
  163. The Halloween Sleepover – Kelsey E. Gross
  164. Goose Bumped – Jen Subra
  165. The Rock – Trista Herring Baughman
  166. Halloween Pumpkin – Shariffa
  167. A Tricky Tattoo – Gregory E. Bray
  168. Brave, Adalaide – Katie Walsh
  169. March Of The Skeletons – Jill Richards Proctor
  170. Little Night Terrors – Obbverse
  171. The Mansion On Maple – Glenda Roberson
  172. The Graveyard Picnic – Gabrielle Cardwell
  173. Halloween Heebie-Jeebies – Karen Pickrell
  174. A Few Of The Scariest Things: A Parody To The Tune Of My Favorite Things – Ingrid Boydston
  175. The Witch Of Jekyll Island – Shampa Enayet
  176. FEELINGUNSEENONHALLOWEEN – Nicola Beach
  177. Hank’s Halloween Costume? (A Riddle In A Story) – Ken Major
  178. All Hallow’s Eve – Stacey Miller
  179. Molly’s Ghost – Hobbo
  180. The Witch’s House – Emma Wood
  181. My Word – It’s Halloween! – Jamie Donahoe
  182. Switched On And Off – Diana Webb
  183. A Night With Gran – Diana Webb
  184. Boys Will Be Boys – Matt Snyder
  185. Flicker Of A Cat’s Tail – Jacqui Boulter
  186. Pumpkin Train – Kathy Raggio
  187. The Alien – M. Waknitz
  188. Jellyfish George’s Halloween – Scott Kinder
  189. Skeleton’s Halloween – M. Waknitz
  190. Twyla Z. Witch – Lori Dubbin
  191. Witch’s Brew – K. Sibilia
  192. It’s Halloween – Elizabeth Muster
  193. Capture The Goodies On Halloween – Ames Jegen (age 11)
  194. (Not) A Very Scary Story – Linda Staszak
  195. Halloween Helpers – Ellen Seal
  196. Halloween Warning – Stephanie Henson
  197. Leaping Lizards! – Sharon Match
  198. Graveyard Bully – Jean James
  199. The Greatest Night Of The Year – Krista Harrington
  200. Halloween Hide And Seek – Melissa Wrex
  201. Trick Or Treat Night – Emily Keifer
  202. Oscar’s Irresistible Brew – Lucretia Schafroth
  203. All Hallow’s Eve At The Roller Rink – Bonnie Kelso
  204. My Halloween Crew – Alana DeVito
  205. Post Halloween Goals – Amy Reitz
  206. The Card Game – Cathy Lee
  207. Quiet Night – Thelia Hutchinson
  208. Trick-Or-Treat, Night Animals!: A Halloween Story – Mary Catherine Amadu
  209. A Halloween Tail – Janice Kay
  210. An Inch – Susan Leigh Needham
  211. Underwater Halloween – Judy Sobanski
  212. The Lonely Scarecrow – Sarah Atherton
  213. The Little Witch – Deborah Hunt
  214. Waking The Dead – Nancy Derey Riley
  215. A Not-So-Sweet Halloween – Erika Romero
  216. It’s Halloween In Toothytown – Kristen Littlefield
  217. Until It’s Safe – Brittany Saulnier
  218. First Halloween – Karen deWilde
  219. You Are What You Eat – Alexa Tuttle
  221. Once Upon A Halloween – Carrie O’Leary
  222. Goodie Ghost’s Halloween Screams – KJ Albright
  223. A Bunny Can Dream – Becky Walker
  224. Ogre’s Halloween – Barbara DiMarco
  225. Monster Lipstick – Kathi Morrison-Taylor
  226. Ghoulies Grand Soiree – MaryAnn Cortez
  227. Haunting Gnomes – Lindsay Moretti
  228. Goosebumped Ghoul And Scattered Skeleton – Sarah Kohls Roberts
  229. Not This Time – Sandhya Acharya
  230. How To Sneak A Halloween Treat – Alicia Meyers
  231. I Wish. . . – Amy Duchene
  232. Bram’s Hunt – Michaela Almeida
  233. Terrific Toothpaste! – Heather Gallagher
  234. The After Party – Samantha Sinclair
  235. The Final Hour – Ashlee MacCallum
  236. Halloween Gala – Tonnye Williams Fletcher
  237. Halloween Bites – Melissa-Jane Nguyen
  238. Double, Double Toilet Trouble – Stephanie Amargi
  239. Henley’s Haunted House – Jeannette Suhr
  240. Disguise Surprise – Nancy Derey Riley
  241. Enough – David McMullin
  242. Witches Aren’t Supposed To Be Afraid Of The Dark – Ally Piper
  243. Frankenpixie – Paul Kurtz
  244. Scaredy-Monster – Paul Kurtz
  245. Halloween’s The Worst! – Donna Kurtz
  246. Bunny’s Bored! – Donna Kurtz
  247. The Goblin Market – Aly Kenna
  248. Wilfred The Wizard – Nicola Thackrey
  249. Halloweenie – Jana Mattern
  250. The Last House On Halloween – Bru Benson
  251. Ghostly, Ghastly, Goosebumps – Janet F. Smart
  252. Astronaut Aidan – Kaye Wright
  253. The Halloween Dare – Erin Cleary
  254. Dracula’s First Halloween – Eleanor Cullen
  255. Pumpkin Dawn – TSW Sharman
  256. A Southern Halloween – Trista Herring Baughman
  257. The Candy Monster – Judy Cooper
  258. The Halloween Potty – Andrew Hacket
  259. It Absolutely Will Be A Fine Night – Susan Krevat
  260. Halloween Goodies – Una Belle Townsend
  261. It’s Dark In Here – Sue Ko
  262. Eyelashes – Sue Ko
  263. Fall – Sue Ko
  264. Too Dark – Rae Harkness
  265. Boo – Mary Ann Napolitano
  266. Much Too Goody – Sarah Hawklyn
  267. Candy Surprise – Julianna Kurtz
  268. Halloween Surprise – Judy Egan
  269. Trick-Or-Treat At 20 Below – Matthew Lasley
  270. Gotcha! – Pat Finnegan
  271. The House Next Door – Aundra Tomlins
  272. No Grownups! – Penny McNally
  273. The Halloween Party – Claire Schlinkert
  274. Can We Please Skip The Costumes? – JC Kelly
  275. How Would She Know? – Meredith Adams
  276. The Day After Halloween – Haven Blough
  277. Brujita’s Treat – Desi Vee
  278. Spooky Investigates – Jessica Murray
  279. The Best Medicine – Becky Falkum
  280. You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hot Dog – Joyce Schriebman
  281. Witches Holiday – Nadia Nakib
  282. Halloween Hocus Potion – Shelley Kinder
  283. Goats And Goblins – Briana Joy McCormick
  284. Next Halloween – JC Kelly
  285. Pirate’s Halloween – Marjorie David
  286. Silly Goose – Sarah Marhevsky
  287. All’s Fair In Spook And Scare – Patricia J. Weaver
  288. Smartie Treat – Steena Hernandez
  289. Haunted Hunt – Dea Brayden and Linsday Brayden Ellis
  290. The Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies – Christopher Singleton, Sr
  291. Witches Woods – Bevin Rolfs Spencer
  292. Invite A Witch To Your Halloween Party?! – Holly Vagley
  293. Pumpkin’s Halloween – Holly Vagley
  294. Halloween Moon – Martha Holguin

2,962 thoughts on “The 11th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!”

  1. Jill Purtee says:
    Reply

    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!”

  2. Darcee Freier says:
    Reply

    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.”

  3. Abby Voss (@VossyWRITES) says:
    Reply

    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.

  4. arndt4writing says:
    Reply

    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.”

  5. meagantgentry says:
    Reply

    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.

  6. Allison Strick (she/her) (@byallisonstrick) says:
    Reply

    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!

  7. Susan Burd says:
    Reply

    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!

  8. meagantgentry says:
    Reply

    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.

  9. rosecappelli says:
    Reply

    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.

  10. Marta Cutler says:
    Reply

    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

  11. Catherine Catcho (@CCatcho) says:
    Reply

    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/

  12. marty bellis says:
    Reply

    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.

  13. martyfindley says:
    Reply

    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!

  14. Barbara Farr Renner says:
    Reply

    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.”

  15. Deb Buschman (@DebBuschman) says:
    Reply

    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.

  16. authorjanetparkinsonbryce says:
    Reply

    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.”

  17. jillcstuckgmailcom says:
    Reply

    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.

  18. heathercmorris says:
    Reply

    GHOST HOUSE
    By HC Morris
    87 words

    Ghost House – 11th Annual Halloweensie Entry

    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.

  19. jshetsen says:
    Reply

    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!

  20. Jilanne Hoffmann says:
    Reply

    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.

  21. Alan Elliott (@AlanCElliott) says:
    Reply

    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!
     

  22. Russell Wolff (@rswolff1) says:
    Reply

    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.

  23. KarynCurtis21 says:
    Reply

    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!”

  24. jillcstuck says:
    Reply

    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.

  25. C.E. King (@ckinginator) says:
    Reply

    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!”

  26. Patricia J Holloway says:
    Reply

    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

  27. Linda Staszak says:
    Reply

    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!”

  28. Kira Barrett (@KiraBWrites) says:
    Reply

    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!”

  29. melissamiles1 says:
    Reply

    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.

  30. Katie Schwartz says:
    Reply

    Poor Glenda! But she fixed her problem, and I bet her witch friends were envious of her big lumpy goosebumps! Good luck!

  31. Michelle S Kennedy says:
    Reply

    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…

  32. bartybear says:
    Reply

    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

  33. Denise Seidman says:
    Reply

           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!”

  34. stacey miller says:
    Reply

    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.”

  35. Danielle Hammelef says:
    Reply

    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.

  36. Lynne Marie says:
    Reply

    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]

  37. Kizzi Hutcheson says:
    Reply

    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!

  38. irmelsa says:
    Reply

    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.

  39. Royal Baysinger (@RoyalBaysinger) says:
    Reply

    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.

  40. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    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.

  41. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    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.

  42. Corine Timmer says:
    Reply

    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!”

  43. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    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!

  44. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    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.

  45. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    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!

  46. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    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!

  47. Corine Timmer says:
    Reply

    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

  48. joshpcohen says:
    Reply

    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!

  49. Kizzi Hutcheson says:
    Reply

    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.

  50. Pamela Swanson says:
    Reply

    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!

Leave a reply to melissamiles1 Cancel reply