The 12th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!

Hi Everyone. Posting of finalists is delayed. I’m not exactly sure when they’ll be up, but it will be as soon as possible. Likely another week.

Eye of newt and dragon fang! It’s time for . . .

The 12th 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 slither, treat, and scare.

  • 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.
  • You may use the words in any form i.e. slithery (yes, it’s a word, we looked it up 😊), treated, scary, etc, 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!

POST: your story in the comment section of the Official Contest Post (that’s this one!)( between Right NOW this very second! and 11:59PM Eastern Monday October 31st (So you have 3 full days to post – today, tomorrow, and Monday.)

  • 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 of the Official Contest Post so that people can come visit your blog, but all entries must be posted in the comment section of THIS Post between right now and Monday October 31st at 11:59PM Eastern.
  • 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! [susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title, byline (that means who the story is by – you! – so for example, By Jane Doe) and word count at the top – NO ATTACHMENTS! and please do not submit any entries before the official opening of the contest at 12:01 AM Saturday October 29th. They will not be accepted.
  • 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 😊

THE JUDGING: over the following days, 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 Saturday November 5th (though if the judging takes longer than expected it might be a little later – we will do our best! But fair warning I have two school visits that week and a long drive Friday.) The winners will be announced Tuesday 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!

⭐️ Rhyme & Meter Self Study Course – Renee LaTulippe Renée M. LaTulippe is the author of The Crab Ballet (Cameron Kids/Abrams, 2022) and Limelight: Theater Poems to Perform (Charlesbridge, 2024) and has poems published in many anthologies including No World Too Big, Night Wishes, School People, National Geographic’s The Poetry of US, One Minute Till Bedtime, Poems Are Teachers, ThankU: Poems of Gratitude, and A World Full of Poems.

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming or Non-rhyming, Fiction or Nonfiction) with written feedback AND a 30-minute Zoom Chat with children’s author Vivian Kirkfield, author of PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House, 2019), SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books, 2019), FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN (Pomegranate, 2019), MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: THE INSPIRING FRIENDSHIP OF ELLA FITZGERALD AND MARILYN MONROE (Little Bee Books, 2020), FROM HERE TO THERE: INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD MOVES (Clarion Books, 2021), and SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING (MoneyPenny Press Ltd, 2010)

⭐️ 30 Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything with Rosie Pova author of IF I WEREN’T WITH YOU (Spork, April 2017), SARAH’S SONG (Spork, September 2017), SUNDAY RAIN (Lantana Publishing, March 2021), THE SCHOOL OF FAILURE: A STORY ABOUT SUCCESS (Yehoo Press, May 2022), and for Middle Grade readers, HAILEY QUEEN PRANKING MAKES PERFECT: THE ALIEN ENCOUNTER (Spork, April 2017) Rosie does a lot of school visits and presentations, should that happen to be of interest for your Ask Me Anything.

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming preferred) with Andrea Denish, author of EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE (Astra Young Readers, March 2020), and THE WAY WE SAY HELLO forthcoming from Starry Forest Books February 7, 2023

⭐️ Picture Book Critique (non-rhyming) with Becky Scharnhorst, author of MY SCHOOL STINKS! (Flamingo Books, July 2021) and THIS FIELD TRIP STINKS! (Flamingo Books, August 2022)

⭐️ Connecting With School Librarians! Fabulous Opportunity for published or soon to be published authors! Winner’s Choice of either a Zoom or phone chat about how to connect with school librarians and get their ear or an Ask Me Anything Zoom or phone chat about K-8th grade author visits from a librarian’s POV from Kathy Halsey. Kathy Halsey is Storyteller Academy’s Community Manager and Ambassador. She enjoys writing picture books, humor, and nonfiction. Kathy’s active in SCBWI and blogs with other kid lit writers on the GROG. She serves on the Choose to Read Ohio Advisory Council and speaks at educational and literary conferences. Kathy’s a former K-12 school librarian and children’s bookseller. She writes monthly author studies for the Reading for Research Month along with Keila Dawson.

Writer, librarian, bookseller, blogger Kathy Halsey

⭐️ 30 Minute Ask Me Anything Zoom Chat (anything relating to writing/publishing) with Penny Parker Klostermann, talented author of THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT (Random House 2015) and A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE (Random House 2017) as well as the forthcoming SPIDER LADY: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid WWII Army (Astra/Calkins Creek 2025) and another as yet unannounced 😊

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming) PLUS Zoom Chat from developmental editor Lou Piccolo! Lou studied English Literature, creative writing and teaching at university in South Africa. After working as an EFL teacher in France for twenty years, she studied proofreading and editing before becoming a developmental editor of children’s and young adult’s literature for independent authors. She is a graduate of Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab – Punching Up Prose With Poetry course and Making Picture Book Magic, the in-house writer for Editions Entrefilet’s language-learning magazine ‘Go English Kids’ for children of 8-12 in France, and a traditionally published author of MG and YA fiction with Burlington Books.

Developmental Editor, Lou Piccolo

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique PLUS Zoom Chat with Ellen Leventhal! Ellen is the author of DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS (Spork, 2017), LOLA CAN’T LEAP (Spork, 2018), HAYFEST: A HOLIDAY QUEST (ABCs Press, 2010), and A FLOOD OF KINDNESS (WorthyKids, 2021)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or non-rhyming) with Kelly Conroy whose poems have been published in 5 anthologies (10.10, wee words for wee ones, October 2021; BETTER THAN STARBUCKS, January 2022; THINGS WE EAT, Pomelo Books, March 2022; THINGS WE FEEL, Pomelo Books, July 2022; WHAT IS A FRIEND, Pomelo Books, October 2022) and also the author of a rhyming board book due out in 2025.

⭐️ 30 Minute Picture Book Zoom Critique Session with Lynne Marie

Lynne Marie is the accomplished author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten – art by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic 2011), Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School – art by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play — art by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books 2018), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares — art by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling 2019 and Scholastic 2019),  Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World — art by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books 2019) and The Three Little Pigs And The Rocket Project — art by Wendy Fedan (Mac and Cheese Press 2022) and American Pie — art by Dea Lenihan (Dancing Flamingo Press, April 12, 2022)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming or Non-rhyming, Fiction or Nonfiction) with a recording of first read-through by children’s author and poet Sarah Meade, contributor to HOP TO IT: POEMS TO GET YOU MOVING (Pomelo Books, 2020!)

⭐️ 20 Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything with Darshana Khiani, author of HOW TO WEAR A SARI (Versify, June 2021), I’M AN AMERICAN (Viking Books for Young Readers, May 2023), and THE BOYS OF KOH PANYEE (coming Fall 2023)

⭐️ Rate Your Story Speed Pass from Lynne Marie

And maybe I’ll have some extra picture books to add in here and there to sweeten the pie. . . 😊

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, recommending their books for school and library purchases, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊

Happy Writing! Happy Reading! And Happy Halloween!

For those of you having trouble commenting, I apologize for the fact that my site is apparently very temperamental! I can suggest the following: if you’re trying to post comments from a phone or tablet, try a computer – sometimes it works better than way. Chrome seems to work better with this site than some of the other browsers, although one dedicated individual, determined to be able to comment, has reported that she finally managed with Microsoft Edge. Thank you for trying – it’s so important for all of you to get to hear from each other!

Now, let the Halloweensie begin!

The 239 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. Apparition Preparation For A Scary Halloween – Royal Baysinger
  2. Attack Of The Zornaks – Royal Baysinger
  3. Down In the Halloween Cave – Royal Baysinger
  4. Sisters – Sara Kruger
  5. Halloween Nightmare – Helen Lai
  6. The Follower – Marla Yablon
  7. A Frightfully Fun Time – Susan E. Schipper
  8. The Halloween Dream Team – Jenna Elyse Johnson
  9. Skeleton Sam Settles The Score – Jennifer Cowan
  10. Slug Slime – Vashti Verbowski
  11. Ghost Recipes – Julia Pierre Hammond
  12. Rainforest Halloween – Heather Kinser
  13. On Snail-O-Ween – Heather Kinser
  14. The Frightful Fugitive – Anne Lipton
  15. Little Witchy – Elizabeth Myer zu Heringdorf
  16. Get Your Glow On – Corine Timmer
  17. Sally The Slug Has A Sweet Tooth – Eleanor Ann Peterson
  18. In The Middle Of A Snack – Bridget Magee
  19. Coming Around – Emily Durant
  20. Piper’s Pickle – Colleen Murphy
  21. Safe From Scares – Sarah Meade
  22. Claudia Maude Clickerticker’s Costume Shop – Sarah Meade
  23. What Do Witches Eat? – Kelly Clasen
  24. Ghouldilocks And The Three Shares – Claire Blumenfeld
  25. Closer – Reed Hilton-Eddy
  26. SSSSSScary – Jen Subra
  27. A Shady Halloween – Jennifer Lowe
  28. Help! – Elizabeth James
  29. Arabella’s Halloween Treat – Colleen Fogarty
  30. Trick Or Treat? – Corine Timmer
  31. The Coolest Halloween Costume – Carmen Castillo Gilbert
  32. Green Goulash Stew – Claudine Pullen
  33. The House With The Good Candy – Vanessa Konoval
  34. The House Creatures’ Halloween – Lauri Meyers
  35. When Good Luck Struck – Molly Ippolito
  36. The Haunted House Halloween Challenge – Marty Bellis
  37. Demon On The Line – Laura Polasek
  38. The Spooky Halloween Parade – Janet Krauthamer
  39. Mrs. Cleary’s Cats – Susan Eyerman
  40. A Halloween Twist – Cheryl Simon
  41. Wilhelmina The Witch – Ashlee MacCallum
  42. Halloween Hater – Blaire Moore
  43. The Halloween Bake-Off – Rose Cappelli
  44. Trick-Or-Treat, Shoes To Eat – Ashley Sierra
  45. Tricks Before Treats – Danielle S. Hammelef
  46. Happy Halloween – Stephanie R. Mena
  47. A Batty Halloween – Melissa Chupp
  48. Who Whispers In The Dark? – Erika Romero
  49. Interview With The Vampire – Helen Lai
  50. Slug Life – Kim Wagner Nolan
  51. Sapling’s Halloween – Lori Sheroan
  52. Nothing Scared Alicia Bones – Christine Evans
  53. The Mask – Su Ko
  54. DON’T FLUSH YOUR GOLDFISH DOWN THE TOILET OR HE WILL COME BACK TO GET YOU ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Sue Ko
  55. Going As Myself – Marianna Sacra
  56. Halloween Snack – Debra Daugherty
  57. Halloween-ing – Lori Himmel
  58. Something Wriggling This Way Comes – Amy Chini
  59. Edgar Allen Crow – Kathleen Jacobs
  60. Queen Slug’s Halloween – Kelsey E. Gross
  61. Pull Of The Moon – Darla Christie
  62. There’s One In Every Class – Linda Staszak
  63. Snollooween – Katie McEnaney
  64. A (little) STEM Halloween – Jilanne Hoffman
  65. Trick For Treat – Linda Starszak
  66. Mattie, The Scaredy Tabby Cat – Janet Parkinson Bryce
  67. Nothing Scares Me – Karen Condit
  68. ‘Twas Halloween Night – Sharon Coffey
  69. A Hotdog Halloween Hullabaloo – Sharon Coffey
  70. Their Trick, My Treat – Carol Van Gorp
  71. Interview With The Vampire – Helen Lai
  72. Halloween Night Light – Daniella Kaufman
  73. Do Goblins Gobble? – Sally Yorke-Viney
  74. Witchy-licious Stew – Charlotte Dixon
  75. The Ghouliest Ghouls – Marta Cutler
  76. The Scariest Bear – Marta Cutler
  77. Halloween Is Different This Year – S.S. Lee
  78. The Rattlesloth – Russell Wolff
  79. The Eyes Have It – Marta Cutler
  80. A Scare Affair – Lori C. Evans
  81. Halloween Haul – Stephanie Maksymiw
  82. Halloween Is Magic – Kristen Littlefield
  83. Command Performance – Jamie Donahoe
  84. Zombie In The House – Isabel Rodriguez
  85. A Wise Disguise – Jill Purtee
  86. Truck-Or-Treat – Mia Geiger
  87. The Halloween Dare – Marty Findley
  88. Witch’s Brew – Marty Findley
  89. A Halloween Tail – Katie Lee Reinert
  90. Creepy People – Sharon McCarthy
  91. Happy Halloween – Elaine D’Alessandro
  92. Scared Sssssilly – Julie Lerczak
  93. A Spooky House – Gail Hartman
  94. A Halloween Smile – Tonnye Fletcher
  95. A Scary Dare – Mona Pease
  96. Stop Your Bellyaching Soup, A Jump Rope Song – Debbie Meneses
  97. A Spell Of Transformation – Meagan T. Gentry
  98. First Flight – Paul Kurtz
  99. I Scare You, You Scare Me – Paul Kurtz
  100. Spiders vs. Snakes – Linda Schueler
  101. Pot Of The Witch – Reed Ambrose
  102. Snake In The Grass – Judy Sobanski
  103. Beware Or Be Scared – Norah Colvin
  104. Bat’s First Halloween – no author listed
  105. Children Of The Bog – Melissa Miles
  106. In Through My Window – Eric Sondergeld
  107. A Squishy Scare – Stephanie Henson
  108. The Last House – Janet Smart
  109. Jack-O-Lantern – Darcee A. Freier
  110. Beak-A-Boo! – Jill Lambert
  111. Jackie Saves Halloween – Brittany Richman
  112. The Treat – S. E. Cottrill
  113. Little Vampire’s First Halloween – Sharon Dalgleish
  114. Franny Fruit Bat’s Friendly Halloween – Amy LaMae Brewer
  115. Chicken’s First Halloween – Emma Hay
  116. Moldy Mayhem – Sue Lancaster
  117. Sea Monster – Patricia Nozell
  118. A Halloween Lullaby – Brigid Finucane
  119. Tricky Treats – Lisa Lowe Stauffer
  120. KA-RUNCH! – Donna Kurtz
  121. Scary-Fairy – Donna Kurtz
  122. Halloween Hop – Carole Gerber
  123. Halloween Treat – Krista Legge
  124. Sara’s Hairy Halloween – Jesse Anna Bornemann
  125. Scary Goat Scam – Elenore Byrne
  126. Goulentine – Michelle S. Kennedy
  127. My Teacher Is A Creature – Mary Ann Cortez
  128. The Haunted House – Karen Morgan
  129. Trick or Treat: A Forest Halloween – Sarah Marhevsky
  130. Shadows Come Crawling – Marlee Fuller-Morris
  131. Slithering Snake – Deborah Hunt
  132. Jack-oh-no! – Pollu Mendoza
  133. Jack’s Lament – Steve Jankousky
  134. Sense The Way – Sarah Hetu
  136. Slither and Hiss: Trick or Treat? – Cathrene Youngquist
  137. Pumpkin Jack – Jennifer Weingardt
  138. The Peanut Butter Cup Song – Hannah Roy LaGrone
  139. Gregory’s First Halloween – Morgan Lau
  140. Scary Treats – Ken Major
  141. Super Scary Sausages – Chris James
  142. Midnight Snack – Deborah Foster
  143. How To Trick-or-Treat If You’re A Snake – Abigail Mumford
  144. Scarecrows Of Halloween – Helen Ishmurzin
  145. Sneaky Snake – Jan Suhr
  146. Who’s There? – Dawn Renee Young
  147. Space Rangers And Skeletons – Cynthia Mackey
  148. A Halloween For Willard – Krista Harrington
  149. On Halloween Night – Amanda Flinn
  150. Early Worm’s Halloween Birthday Wish – Curtis King
  151. Sweetie The Parrot – Barbara DiMarco
  152. The Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest – Laura Straut
  153. Boo – Jean Martin
  154. Pete The Smallest Pumpkin – Tiffany Hanson
  155. Candy Corn’s Revenge – Tiffany Hanson
  156. A Martian’s Halloween – Angela Calabrese
  157. Candy Monster – Patricia MacMillan
  158. Igor’s First Halloween – Danna Zeiger
  159. You Can’t Scare Me – Danna Zeiger
  160. Pumpkin, Skeleton, Wolverine – Brenna Jeanneret
  161. Tricky Treats – Ashley Sutphen Delaney
  162. Little Sister Saves The Night – Laurie Kaiser
  163. The Sweetest Treat – Christina Shawn
  164. All Hallows’ Eve – Sasha Sirisena-Green
  165. Pumpkin Cat’s Turn – Bru Benson
  166. Frankenslug – Ryann Jones
  167. The Costume – Nina Nolan
  168. The Best Halloween Ever – Dianne Borowski
  169. Tricked – Geraldine V. Oades-Sese
  170. Trista’s Treat Or Trick? – Krissy Massey
  171. The Scariest Costume Of All – Abby N. Wooldridge
  172. Halloween is the BEST, but. . . – Andi Chitty
  173. It’s A Tricky Afterlife – Katie Schwartz
  174. Spider’s Halloween – Cassy Clarcq
  175. Slimon’s Halloween – Imelda Taylor
  176. The Zombie Flop – Liz Kehrli
  177. Melanie Monster – Lindsey LeBlanc
  178. Switch Witch Swap – Julie Fruitticher Schroeder
  179. S-S-Selma – Nancy Forbis-Stokes
  180. A Halloween Adventure – Gregory E. Bray
  181. Enter If You Dare – Trista Herring Baughman
  182. Snake’s Sweet Treats – Nadia Ali
  183. Costume Crisis – Keatley Eastman
  184. Tricked By The Treats – Elizabeth Muster
  185. Halloween Friend – Thelia Hutchinson
  186. My Dreadfully Dangerous Walk – Susan Twiggs
  187. Slither, Treat, Scare: A Halloween Story – Lynn Greenway
  188. I’m Not That Scared – Allison Gray
  189. The Halloween Prize – Mary Rudzinski
  190. Portia Pumpkin Proclaims – Judy Caldwell Hughes
  191. Pookie The Pomeranian’s Halloween Wish – Stephanie Jackson
  192. Boo The Ghost Gets Beaten – Stephanie Jackson
  193. Costume Drama – David Cobb
  194. Slither Spook – Jessica Milo
  195. Samira’s Potion – Jessica Milo
  196. Sabrina Squirrel Does Not Scare Easily – Liz Gill
  197. Snake’s Stealthy Solution – Kira Barrett
  198. What Did You See? – Kathleen Mazurowski
  199. Father Knows Best – Janice Kay
  200. The Costume – Amy Duchene
  201. Trick Or Treat – Laura Seely-Pollack
  202. Many Happy Resquirms – Diana Webb
  203. Theodore Turkey’s Halloween Hunt – Mary-Catherine Amadu
  204. Ghost Finds His Groove – Cindy Greene
  205. Weird Halloween Treats – Una Belle Townsend
  206. The Jabberwocks Of Halloween – Jenny Bowman
  207. Sooner And Sooner Every Year! – Stephanie Henson
  208. A Slimy Halloween: Halloweenie Competition – Erin Buhr
  209. Candy Night – Anne Weaver
  210. Growing Candy Apples – Hannah Roy LaGrone
  211. Sister’s First Halloween Night – Linda Hofke
  212. Calling All Campers to the Camp Spooky Halloween Campfire – Jamie Rodarte
  213. A Pumpkin Named Rattlesnake Pete – Pat Finnegan
  214. Pumpkin Pride – Pat Finnegan
  215. Gardenia Ghost – Katie Walsh
  216. I Am Always a Cat – Amanda Littlefield
  217. Scaredy Snake – Kathy Hill Crable
  218. Classroom Costume Conundrum – Cynthia Reeg
  219. A Beckoning Spell – Les Degnan
  220. Halloween Eve – Tarsia Rhyne
  221. Which Witch Will Win? – Lucretia Schafroth
  222. The Spider Web House – CJ Penko
  223. The Monster of Barlow’s Bakery – Jill Burns
  224. A Candy Break For Mongoose And Snake – Katie Schwartz
  225. Kid Cobra’s Halloween – Denise Seidman
  226. Costume Not Required – JC Kelly
  227. Lucinda Blackletter – Karen Pickrell
  228. Candi Corn – Liz Kehrli
  229. Glass Lizard Halloween – Maria Marshall
  230. Scaredy Cat And The Haunted Hunt – Samantha Cora Christian Haas
  231. Graduation Night – Naz Alibhai
  232. New Friends – Sarah Hawklyn
  233. Sam Wasn’t Afraid – T. May LeGrys
  234. Black Cats Get A Bad Rap – Colleen Dougherty
  235. Dad’s First Trick or Treat – Annette Bethers
  236. Skeletons Need Teddy Bears Too – Sharon Jackson
  237. Sam And Dusty Trick Or Treat – Julianna Helt
  238. Lost – Brenda Covert
  239. The Snakertons – Emily Holewczynski

2,677 thoughts on “The 12th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!”

  1. Melissa Chupp (@MelissaChupp) says:
    Reply

    A BATTY HALLOWEEN
    By Melissa Chupp
    WC 97

    “I will be a scary bat for Halloween,” said Snake.
    “That’s silly,” said Snail. “Bats fly. You slither.”
    “But my costume has wings.” Snake tried flapping them. Snail was right.
    So Snake constructed a catapult.
    “3…2…1!” yelled Snail.
    “This will not do,” said Snake as he soared way past the neighborhood with the best treats.
    Next, he attached a bunch of balloons. Unfortunately, he went up and up instead of house to house.
    Finally, after he cut and ripped and glued and stitched, Snake did trick-or-treat as a bat.
    And Snail . . . went as the ball.

  2. Erika Romero, PhD (@evereducating) says:
    Reply

    Who Whispers in the Dark?
    by: Erika Romero
    WC: 79

    Who whispers in the dark…

    A snake slithering home—sss, sss, sss,

    An owl on a hunt—hoot, hoot, hoot,

    A spider climbing high—chit, chit, chit.

    Who whispers in the dark…

    A monster under the bed—boo, boo, boo,

    A child after a scare—mommy, mommy, mommy,

    A parent with a treat—safe, safe, safe.

    Who whispers in the dark?

    All sorts of critters and creatures,

    Experiencing the world,

    One quiet moment at a time.

    Shh, shh, shh…

  3. Kim Wagner Nolan (@kimwnolan) says:
    Reply

    SLUG LIFE
    by Kim Wagner Nolan
    100 words

    “My therapist says I need to face my fear.”

    “What are you ssscared of? Sssalt?”

    “Nope. Halloween.”

    “Why Halloween?”

    “We’re underfoot of costumed kids running hither and thither in a sugar-fueled frenzy fighting for treats!”

    “Try ssswiftly sssneaking away like thisss.”

    “Slugs can’t slither like snakes. We’re limited to the scrunch and slide.”

    “I ssssee.”

    “And our embarrassing slime trail makes it impossible to hide from the size 13 sneaker of a six-year-old Superman.”

    “How ssshameful.”

    “This year, I’ve got a fear-conquering plan. I’m dressing up as a sweet little ladybug.”

    “Kidssss do love ladybugsss.”

    “Precisely! And slugs love candy!”

  4. Lori Sheroan says:
    Reply

    Sapling’s Halloween
    by Lori Sheroan
    (99 words)

    Sapling was scared.
    October was nearly over,
    and still she had no costume.
    On October 1st,
    Maple proudly primped in his pumpkin colors.
    By mid month,
    Oak fetchingly flaunted her firefighter red.
    Sapling grew green with envy.
    “Don’t worry,” Hickory whispered
    through his fur-brown mask of foliage.
    “Mother Nature will make sure you’re ready for trick or treat.”
    Hickory and his brothers were the three bears.
    On Halloween Eve, Sapling swayed slightly.
    A cool breeze slithered through her leaves.
    She held onto hope.
    When the sun rose on Halloween,
    Sapling’s costume was complete.
    Sapling, the young Ginkgo, was Goldilocks.

  5. Christine says:
    Reply

    NOTHING SCARED ALICIA BONES
    By Christine Evans

    On Halloween night, nothing scared Alicia Bones.
    A slithering snake didn’t make her shake.
    Skeletons couldn’t cause a shiver.
    Witches didn’t spook her.
    And as for ghosts… she booed them right back.

    But one house struck fear into our girl. For she knew what would happen if the owners of 14 Grimm Lane caught her.

    She avoided the house as she collected treats.
    She crossed the street.
    Ducked behind gravestones
    Crawled under cobwebs.

    But as the full moon rose, the door of 14 Grimm Lane slowly creaked open. The words she had been dreading echoed through the night…

    “IT’S BEDTIME!”

  6. suejeanko says:
    Reply

    THE MASK
    By Sue Ko
    Word Count: 99

    Barry had red hair and freckles.
    Everyone laughed at him.
    He always ate lunch alone.
    For Halloween, Barry wanted to scare the whole world.
    He made a gruesome mask.
    After one look, everyone dropped their trick-or-treat bags and slithered home.
    Barry felt good…until his little sister saw him.
    “Jenny, it’s me! Don’t cry!”
    Barry tried to remove the mask–but it wouldn’t budge.
    The more he pulled, the more it tightened over his head, like a balloon.
    The neighbors surrounded him.
    “It won’t come off! Help!”
    But it was too late.
    The mask was Barry’s face now, forever.

  7. suejeanko says:
    Reply

    DON’T FLUSH YOUR GOLDFISH DOWN THE TOILET OR HE WILL COME BACK TO GET YOU ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT
    By Sue Ko
    Word Count: 93

    If you don’t believe it

    Dare me to

    Pull down my pants so

    You can see what

    My dead goldfish Jerry did

    To my

    You-know-what.

    I flushed him the night before Halloween and

    Watched him swirl around and around and disappear

    And I felt sad

    But Halloween night I was excited about treats and forgot but

    When I sat on the toilet in my Batman costume something scary

    With gigantic fangs

    Slithered up and

    CHOMPED

    And if you don’t believe it

    I can pull down my pants so

    You can see

    Dare me?

  8. Marianna Sacra (@mariannasacra) says:
    Reply

    GOING AS MYSELF
    by Marianna Sacra
    86 words

    My mirror scares me. Should I really go trick-or-treating without disguise?
    My shiniest bangles slither down my arm, CLINK-CLINK. I can always say I’m a princess…
    My finest tutu slides up my legs. I can always say I’m a ballerina… TWIRL!
    Wig or bow? Both! I can always say I’m a stylish witch… HEE HEE! I’ll always know I’m me.
    “How do I look?”
    “You look like you, Paul,” Mom says, putting her purplest necklace over my head.
    “Just fabulous,” says Dad.
    I think I’m ready.

  9. authordebradaugherty says:
    Reply

    HALLOWEEN SNACK
    By Debra Daugherty
    100 words

    “Hey, kid. Cool zombie costume. Want to go trick or treating with me?
    ‘I take it your nod means yes. Okay. Let’s go!
    ‘I love Halloween. Scary costumes. Spooky decorations. Candy. Look! My bag’s almost full.
    ‘Watch out! Snake.
    ‘Whew! It slithered away.
    ‘See that house? My brother says a witch lives there. I don’t believe him. Let’s knock on the door.
    ‘Trick or treat!”
    “Zombie, you brought Witchy a snack. The boy’s brain is yours. I get the rest.
    ‘Yum. Witchy loves Halloween.”
    Crunch.
    “So does Zombie.”
    Chomp. Chomp.
    “Thanks for eating my candy instead of me.
    ‘Friends? Cool.”

  10. Lori Himmel says:
    Reply

    HALLOWEEN-ING
    by Lori Himmel
    57 words

    Costume-dressing
    Make-up-messing
    Slither down the stairs

    Boo-boo-booing
    Sheets-a-moving
    Floating through the air

    Darkness brewing
    Rats-a-shrewing
    Nibble without a care

    Zombies starving
    Brains-a-blobbing
    Graveyards almost bare

    Spiders creeping
    Grimmers reaping
    Werewolves howl a scare

    Ding, dong! Knocking!
    Bats screech! Shocking!
    Witches everywhere

    Moonshine glowing
    Bags keep growing
    One more step—we’re there!

    Trick-or-treating
    Candy-sweeting
    Eat it all, I…DARE!

  11. Amy Chini says:
    Reply

    Something Wriggling This Way Comes
    by Amy Chini
    (97 words)

    Imagine, child, how great the fright,
    When gobbling treats All Hallow’s Night,
    A rustling from my candy stash
    Pricked up my ear mid-Monster Mash.
    Though scared, I crept across the floor,
    But child, I wish I hadn’t, for
    There in the dish before my eyes,
    A something buried tried to rise;
    And as it slithered through the sweets,
    My heart, it skipped a thousand beats;
    Some wrinkling, crinkling apparition
    Ravaging my disposition,
    Surfacing then, almost through,
    My child, I knew not what to do;
    When breaking free with one last squirm,
    Up popped a gooey gummy worm!

    http://www.amychini.com/kidlit-fun/halloweensie2022

  12. kathleenannajacobs says:
    Reply

    EDGAR ALLEN CROW
    By Kathleen Jacobs
    Word Count: 82

    Are you ready for a treat?
    A creepy sort of thrill?
    Then please be so kind
    As to hand me my quill

    One cannot be expected
    To work on an empty tummy
    So, with no further ado, fork over your
    Slithery worms made of gummy

    Spook night is here
    Oh, beware! Beware!
    Perched on a mailbox
    I’m ready to scare!

    Who am I? I’m Edgar Allen Crow
    Wordsmith of eerie poems
    A literary bird who pens odes
    To goblins, ghosts, and gnomes

  13. kgross2 says:
    Reply

    QUEEN SLUG’S HALLOWEEN
    By Kelsey E. Gross
    WC 100

    Seven sister slugs squirm out
    One chilly Halloween
    Six costume as scary ghosts
    The last: a fairy queen

    The ghosts are first to reach the porch
    They slither to the treats
    “We’re sorry, sis!” the ghosts announce
    “Now we get all the sweets!”

    They climb the bowl, but slip-slide back
    …KERPLOP!
    into a slimy stack.

    The queen came tripping on her gown
    “Behold, Queen Slug the Great!”
    She spies a dangling spider king
    “Let’s have a spooky date!”

    He whisks the queen into the bowl
    They monster mash and dine
    “So sorry, sisters!” giggles Queen
    “The tasty treats are mine!”

  14. Darla Christie says:
    Reply

    Pull of the Moon
    By Darla Christie (98 words)

    Shadows creep over rooftops as the blood moon slithers up into the sky. Howls haunt the silence of the night, awakening a rumble in my chest. The desire to answer the call is strong, but I will not treat with the wildness that tempts me to abandon my human life. Swallowing the roar, I let it slide back down my throat as another volley of baying leaves me gasping for breath. The yearning to join scares me when, breaking from a cloud, the moon shines fully on my face, and I shatter. My first Halloween as a werewolf.

  15. Linda Staszak says:
    Reply

    Thanks Susanna. This is always fun!

    THERE’S ONE IN EVERY CLASS
    By Linda Staszak
    100 words

    Griselda rapped her wand against the caldron.
    “Pay attention—we want to scare the trick-or-treaters.”
    Young witches clutched their wands.
    “First—two sprinkles of magic dust and swirl your wand once.”
    Poof!
    Hair-raising howls filled the air…
    And cheery chuckles.
    Azalea ducked her head.
    Griselda glared.
    “Next—three sprinkles and two swirls.”
    Zap!
    Sinister screams erupted…
    And giddy giggles.
    Azalea’s cheeks reddened.
    “Concentrate,” growled Griselda.
    “Seven swirls, four sprinkles and two taps.”
    Smoke billowed.
    Ghosts fluttered…
    And an elephant slithered by.
    Griselda groaned. “Elephants don’t slither.”
    Azalea shrugged. “He’s lumpy but he’s trying.”
    “Buttered broomsticks! There’s one in every class.”

  16. Katie McEnaney says:
    Reply

    Snolloween
    By: Katie McEnaney
    WC 100

    A sudden snowstorm stopped the animals’ annual Halloween pumpkin party.

    “Too cold for costumes!” chattered a cheerleader chipmunk.

    “Too windy for wands!” whined a witchy weasel.

    “I’m scared of snow!” stammered a swim-suited squirrel.

    Helpless and horrified, they huddled in the tree hollow behind their newly-carved pumpkins. Snow slithered and swooped toward them, coming closer …
    and closer.

    Luckily, the lit jack-o-lanterns held firm, stopping the sneaky snow.

    “Halloween is saved!” they cheered.

    Pom-poms, brooms, and sand shovels attacked the mess. Bravely, Squirrel scooped snow into three bowls, and Chipmunk squirted syrup.

    A tasty treat and a toast to Snolloween!

    https://katiemcenaney.com/snolloween-halloweensie/

  17. Jilanne Hoffmann says:
    Reply

    A (little) STEM Halloween

    It’s time to be wary!
    Those Goblins are scary.
    You’d better not tarry.

    They want to steal all your clothes.
    Quick! Hide!

    When you were dithering
    Ghoul Slugs came slithering,
    slimy and withering.

    They want to slide up your nose.
    Quick! Hide!

    Forsaking all sleeping,
    your eyeballs keep peeping,
    cause Werewolves are creeping.

    They want to gobble your toes.
    Quick! Hide!

    The trick? There’s no treating!
    Starved Zombies start eating
    through all of your sheeting—
    screeching as they decompose.

    Phewf! Saved by bacteria,
    securing the area,
    ending hysteria,
    brings Halloween to a close.

  18. Linda Staszak says:
    Reply

    It wouldn’t be Halloween without this–thanks Susanna!

    TRICK FOR TREAT
    By Linda Staszak
    100 words

    Children’s feet thundered onto the porch.
    “Trick-or-treat.”
    Creeeeeeakkkk.
    A raspy voice skritched, “Do a trick and get a treat.”
    “We don’t know any tricks,” the children moaned.
    But they whispered, then hid beside the door.
    “Trick-or-treat.”
    Squueeeeeeeakk.
    The voice screeched, “Do a trick and get a treat.”
    The children leaped out. “Boo!”
    “Not scary enough.”
    The children plotted and climbed and balanced…
    “Trick-or-treat.”
    Criiiiiickkkkk.
    The voice shrieked, “Do a trick and…eeeeee!”
    Buckets of slime dumped from the door-top.
    Costumed creatures slithered across the porch and sprang—hisssssss!
    “Good trick!” the voice cackled.
    And the trick-or-treaters grabbed the candy and ran.

  19. authorjanetparkinsonbryce says:
    Reply

    Mattie, The Scaredy Tabby Cat
    By Janet Parkinson Bryce
    Word count – 97 words

    Mattie worried, “Tomorrow is Halloween, and Halloween night is very spooky,” she meowed. She paced up and down the sidewalk. “What do I do? Me-o-ow,” she cried.
    Echo, the parrot heard her. “What’s the problem, Mattie?”
    “Tomorrow night is Halloween, me-o-o-ow,” she cried. “The scary, slithery things will be walking and creeping through the town. I’m scared!”
    “Hmm, said Echo, I have an idea.” He whispered in Mattie’s ear.
    Halloween night came, and Mattie sat on the porch of her house, wearing a witch costume. “Me-o-ow,” she cried as creatures passed by. To her surprise, they gave her treats. “Me-ow!”

  20. Karen Condit says:
    Reply

    Nothing Scares Me

    Witches don’t scare me, and I love bats.
    Ghosts make me giggle as well as black cats.

    Snakes that slither can be kind of cute.
    Owls in trees do nothing but hoot.

    Skeletons wiggle their wacky dry bones.
    Graveyard noises are pitiful moans.

    Monster faces won’t make me cry.
    Headless horseman—a brainless guy.

    A werewolf’s howl, a vampire’s bite,
    Nothing scares me in the dark of night.

    But . . .

    I know I’d die if I should meet . . .
    A Halloween night without Trick or Treat.

  21. slcoffey33 says:
    Reply

    ‘TWAS HALLOWEEN NIGHT by Sharon Coffey
    By Sharon Coffey
    97 words

    ‘Twas Halloween night and through the town,
    The creatures slithered ‘round and ‘round

    They carried skulls to fill with treats,
    For ghouls and goblins love their sweets.

    When who arrived all dressed in black,
    Witch Liz, her broom, and Ned in back.

    Well, no one knew him. Who was Ned?
    No sweets tonight but fruit instead?

    “We want our sweets,” the creatures cried.
    “My date’s a dentist,” Liz replied.

    “Do brush your fangs, no sweets tonight.”
    Then Liz and Ned flew out of sight.

    Now Halloweens just aren’t the same,
    Because of Ned, yes he’s to blame.

  22. slcoffey33 says:
    Reply

    A HOTDOG HALLOWEEN HULLABALOO
    By Sharon Coffey
    97 words

    Halloweens were boring for Skeleton. Until . . .

    Skeleton watched as one black bat grabbed some hotdogs and flung them at two scary, slithering snakes. Splat-splat!

    The snakes saw three zombies. Thinking the zombies threw the hotdogs, they aimed and flung. Splat-splat-splat!

    The zombies spotted four giggling ghosts. “Aha!” They aimed and flung. Splat-splat-splat-splat!

    The ghosts gasped. “Hmm, five suspicious scarecrows.” The ghosts aimed and chunked. Splat-splat-splat-splat-splat!

    The scarecrows looked around. Skeleton pointed towards the misbehaving bat. Skeleton and the scarecrows aimed and flung. Splat-splat-splat-splat-splat-splat!

    Skeleton laughed so hard her bones rattled. What a Halloween treat!

  23. Carol Ruggiero Van Gorp says:
    Reply

    Their Trick, My Treat
    By Carol Van Gorp
    92 words

    Pillowcases bulge with candy. A Snickers for you. Two Kit-Kats for me.
    Our old babysitter, Mrs. LaGant barks, “Time to sleep!”
    I hop into my parents’ bed, cozy and snug, until my four brothers’ shadows slither in and go under the bed.
    Heart pounding, I pull up the covers.
    Will they jump out? Grab my arm hanging over the side?
    Suspense mounting, I scream!
    Mrs. LaGant’s humongous husband, wearing patched overalls, stomps in roaring, “TO BED!”
    My slithering brothers now scurry like mice.
    Who is more scared now?
    Their trick. My treat!

  24. Helen Lai says:
    Reply

    INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
    By Helen Lai
    100 words

    Police questioned Dracula, Halloween night:
    “You’ve given the neighborhood children a fright.
    Slinking around like some slithery beast…
    Are you harvesting kids for a Halloween feast!?!”

    “Officer, no! Please don’t misunderstand me!
    I only go hunting for treat bags with candy!
    Please let me go, I am telling the truth…
    Despite all these fangs, I am just a sweet tooth.
    On reflection, I see why you thought what you did,
    But I swear on my grave, I would not hurt a kid!”

    “I’m not really scary” he sobbed like a wreck.
    “I’m sorry for being a pain in the neck.”

  25. Daniella Kaufman says:
    Reply

    HALLOWEEN NIGHT LIGHT
    By Daniella Kaufman
    Word Count: 91

    A candle in a pumpkin sees
    the sun set out of sight.
    Then tilts its flame near windows cut
    to free the candle’s light.

    Its glow will guide the ghouls and ghosts—
    some scary, others sweet—
    by casting beams upon a path
    for all to trick-or-treat.

    “Stay bright tonight!” The candle chants
    behind its pumpkin’s face,
    while waxy droplets slither down
    and puddle at its base.

    It droops. It stoops. But still, it shines
    ‘til night has come and gone.
    Then sighs triumphant threads of smoke
    into the light of dawn.

  26. syorkeviney says:
    Reply

    Do Goblins Gobble?

    By Sally Yorke-Viney
    Word Count: 100

    Slither, Treat, and Scare
    Lived in their goblin lair.
    But every year they rose
    From ominous shadows.

    Tonight’s the only night
    For a hideous fright.
    As Halloween began
    They hatched their sinister plan!

    Slither slunk across to Treat.
    “What do you want to eat ?”
    “There’s a child’s outside cave,
    Looking yummy, let’s be brave!”

    Scare screeched a hideous shriek
    “Grab his goodies! Take the sweets!
    “I’m too young to eat a child,“
    “Though I’m shrill, I’m mostly mild

    Slither sadly slunk back down,
    Treat sunk slowly underground
    Scare sighed a dejected moan,
    We’ll try next year when we’re grown!

  27. chardixon47 says:
    Reply

    WITCHY-LICIOUS STEW
    by Charlotte Dixon
    WC 100

    Every Halloween, Willow Witch gathered ingredients for Granny’s Halloween treat—
    Witchy-licious Stew.
    Willow whooshed to Mushroom Meadow but . . .
    NO MUSHROOMS!
    Swished above Slithering Gardens but . . .
    NO SNAILS!
    Explored Frog Bog but . . .
    NO FROGS!
    Willow brewed a new idea.
    I’ll search Scary Woods.
    Willow swooped low and—
    spotted Tilly Ogre.
    “Tilly, do you know why the mushrooms, snails, and frogs are gone?”
    “Why do you ask?” said Tilly.
    “Granny needs them for her stew.”
    Tilly squirmed,
    shuddered,
    and . . .
    BURRRPED!
    “FREEZE! You smell like Granny’s stew!”
    “UBBADUBBAUPCHUCK!”
    Tilly lurched,
    spewed stew, plus—
    Ogre seasonings.
    “Witchy-licious!” shouted Willow.
    “C’mon. Granny’s waiting.”

  28. Marta Cutler says:
    Reply

    The Ghouliest Ghouls!
    By Marta Cutler
    (69 words)

    Hide your candy!
    Look out! Beware!
    The ghouliest ghouls
    Are here to scare!

    Carmen cackles
    Maya moans
    Hannah howls
    Gemma groans

    Simon slithers
    Casey creeps
    Stephen stomps
    Sami sneaks

    Door to door
    They trick or treat
    Filling bags
    With candy sweets

    One more house
    At last! They’re done!
    Now sleepiest ghouls
    Have had their fun

    To bed they tumble
    What do they dream?
    How scary they’ll be
    next Halloween!

  29. Marta Cutler says:
    Reply

    THE SCARIEST BEAR
    By Marta Cutler
    (99 words)

    “What do you think?” asked Rabbit.
    “Best Zombie ever!” said Bear.
    KNOCK! KNOCK!
    “Scare Wear delivery!” boomed a voice.
    “Oh goody!” said Bear. “My costume’s here!
    “Let’s see!” said Rabbit.
    Bear opened the box.
    Something green and shiny slithered out.
    “What is it?” asked Rabbit
    “A glow-in-the-dark alien suit.”
    Bear put it on. It fit exactly one big bear arm.
    “Oh dear,” said Rabbit.
    “Halloween is ruined!” Bear cried.
    “I know!” said Rabbit. “You can be a one-armed Scare Bear!
    Bear brightened.
    “Really?”
    “Scariest bear ever!” said Rabbit. “You’ll get lots of treats!”
    And Bear was. And Bear did.

  30. sslee1 says:
    Reply

    HALLOWEEN IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR
    By S.S. Lee
    100 words

    Once, Halloween was fantastic,
    but now it’s a horrible chore.
    I wish I could go trick-or-treating!
    Instead I just float by the door.

    I COULD be disguised in a costume,
    eating candy, carousing with friends.
    But Mummy drones, “That life is over!”
    while Banshee wails, “Suffer your ends!”

    Zombie groans, “It’s an adjustment.”
    Halloween’s different this year:
    I’m a ghost. No more treats, only tricks!
    Though Ghoul says the treat is their FEAR.

    A crowd slithers out of the darkness.
    Startled, I unleash a BOO!
    It’s clear by their shrieking I’ve scared them.
    I smile… Because tricks are fun too.

  31. rswolff1 says:
    Reply

    THE RATTLESLOTH
    By Russell Wolff
    100 words

    Rattlesloth’s alarm clock screeches.

    Halloween.

    Time to scare.

    Rattlesloth slicks its slitherous tongue
    sharpens its fang-erous claws
    and gathers its clatterous tail.

    Heading to town, Rattlesloth greets Tarantula…
    “Ahhh!” Tarantula cries, trembling.
    …nods at Bat…
    “Eeeek!” Bat squeaks and crashes into a tree.
    …and slow-fives Opossum, who plays dead.
    Rattlesloth smiles.

    Rattlesloth arrives.

    Knock…
    …
    …
    knock.

    The door opens.

    Rattlesloth freezes.

    Out crashes a creature
    with anger-ous eyes
    wormous hair
    and gnashering teeth.

    Rattlesloth trips over its tongue trying to get away.

    “Wicked costume!” the creature says, removing its terrorful face.

    Rattlesloth takes a deep breath
    smiles
    and reaches for treats.

  32. Marta Cutler says:
    Reply

    The Eyes Have It
    By Marta Cutler
    (100 words)

    Max and his sister were almost home.
    Their bags bulged with treats.
    It was the perfect end to the perfect Halloween.
    Except for the eyes.
    “Still there?” whispered Max.
    “Yes,” said his sister.
    Huge, glowing eyes slithered behind them.
    Max and his sister went faster.
    So did the eyes.
    “Run!” yelled Max.
    They dropped their bags and ran home.
    Luna the cat appeared. So did Witch.
    “Nice scare with the eyes!” said Witch.
    “Thanks,” Luna purred.
    Witch loaded the candy onto her broom.
    “The perfect end to the perfect Halloween!” she cackled.
    And the tricksters flew off into the night.

  33. Lori Evans says:
    Reply

    A Scare Affair
    Lori C Evans
    Word Count 100

    Trick or treat,
    My name’s Pete.
    I’m a zombie
    give me meat!

    Brains are best,
    But when pressed
    I’ll accept arms,
    legs, or chest.

    Trick or Treat,
    Vampires greet.
    I dare you –
    Pass them in the street!

    They might bite.
    They’re not polite.
    They’ll suck your blood-
    Oh, what a fright!

    Trick or Treat!
    Misty feet
    slither slide
    beneath a sheet.

    The goodies rise.
    I hear your cries
    as unseen hands
    collect their prize.

    Trick or Treat.
    It’s not complete
    until my friends
    All get to eat!

    Wait, don’t run!
    Just spooky fun.
    Did we scare you?
    Our work’s done.

  34. stephaniemstories says:
    Reply

    Halloween Haul
    By Stephanie Maksymiw
    Word Count: 93

    What do we have here?

    A bucket of treats.
    I reach down and get…
    A box of raisins?!?!

    That’s not a treat.

    Away dried-up fruit.
    Flee in fear.
    Slither in shame .

    The next treat must be better.

    Candy bar!
    Crunch.
    Yummmmm!

    What’s next?

    Caramel apple!
    Crunch.
    Owwwwwww!

    Uh-oh.

    My teeth hurt.
    I need my dentist.
    But she’s busy tonight.

    Doing what?

    Giving out toothbrushes.
    Handing out stickers.
    Scaring trick-or-treaters with tales of cavities.

    I’ll have to wait.

    Until then, no more sugar or hard foods.
    What can I eat?
    A box of raisins!!!!

  35. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTEN

    Halloween is Magic
    By Kristen Littlefield
    Word Count: 91

    “It’s Halloween!” Witch Wanda screeched.
    “And I can’t scare up tricks or treats!”

    “The cauldron’s cracked.”
    “My potion burned.”
    “I’m out of bats and three-eyed worms.”

    So Wanda flew into the night,
    And gathered things to give a fright.

    Ten slithery snakes,
    Two warty toads,
    A shrew that had a runny nose.

    “Yippee!” she cried, “What spooky fun!”
    “Can’t wait to see those kiddies run!”

    But when they spied Witch Wanda’s “treats”,
    Excited children filled the streets.

    They hugged the snakes.
    They cuddled the shrew.

    Now Wanda runs a petting zoo.

  36. Jamie Donahoe says:
    Reply

    COMMAND PERFORMANCE
    By Jamie Donahoe
    95 words

    “Trick or treat!” we called from the street, shouting to the eerie house.

    The door swung wide – “Aha!” cried the witch inside. “This year I will take a trick.”

    “You!” she cackled, pointing a long, crooked finger at ME.

    “Come hither and play my zither.”

    I shivered under her steely gaze as I tiptoed into the scary manse, shadowy candles all ablaze.

    A sliver of moonlight revealed the zither, waiting for me thither.

    I dared not dither, so took a deep breath and began to play.

    The old witch danced and swayed… and slithered away.

    Story on my website: https://www.jamiedonahoebooks.com/post/halloween-performance

  37. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR ISABEL

    ZOMBIE IN THE HOUSE
    by: i c rodriguez
    wc: 41

    Scary Goolish Eyes. Check.
    Plastic Vampire Teeth. Check
    Slithering Fake Blood. Check.
    Black-Nailed Rubber Hands. Check.
    Torn Raggedy Gown. Check.
    Wiry Stringy Wig. Check
    Treats-Filled Jack-o-Lantern. Check.
    Noisy Rattling Chains. Check.
    Mirror on the wall?
    Eeek! Zombie in the house!

  38. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR JILL

    A WISE DISGUISE
    by Jill (P. J.) Purtee
    96 words

    “What shall I wear?”
    said the snake in a dither.
    She slid through the house
    in a slithery slither.

    “Tonight’s Trick or Treat.
    I need a disguise.
    Not something to scare,
    but to fool or surprise.”

    “Last year I was scary
    and dressed as a ghost.
    I even scared me, but
    I don’t want to boast.”

    “Aha! On the nightstand,”
    she said with a hiss.
    “My disguise. I’ll wear those—
    and, of course, I’ll need this.”

    “A book and my glasses.
    I’ll fool them indeed.
    I’m disguised as a bookworm,
    and I’m too young to read.”

  39. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR MIA

    Truck-or-Treat
    By Mia Geiger
    89 words

    Two small trucks drove down the street.
    Soon they’d get to trick-or-treat!

    The green one said, “This Halloween,
    I want to be a lima bean!”

    Her brother smiled, but had some doubt.
    “We really, truly, must stand out.

    Tow trucks? Mixers? Excavators?
    Maybe shippers. Flatbed freighters?

    Or scary tractors full of snakes
    that slither through our wheels and brakes.”

    The green one blinked. “I think you’re right.
    We have to be a frightful sight.”

    Then all at once an idea struck—
    “We each can be … a MONSTER truck!”

  40. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR MARTY
    The Halloween Dare
    By Marty Findley
    100 words

    Sneaky Snake slithered up to Snail with a scary stare. “Mmmmm…a tasty treat!” he hissed. Snail replied, “Please don’t eat me! I dare you to race me to the Halloween Ball. If you win you eat me but if I win, you disappear.”

    Snake knew Snail’s pace so agreed, gliding away sliding side to side leaving snail trailing far behind.

    Crow swooped down and cawed, “Get on!” and away the friends flew to the ball. There was no hurry or worry for they were sure to win. Pumpkins glowed; Snake never showed and two friends had a safe Halloween!

  41. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR MARTY

    Witch’s Brew
    By Marty Findley
    97 words

    Things that slither side to side
    Creepy crawly things that glide

    Trail of snail and wings of bat
    Add some whiskers of black cat

    Serve with peppers for some heat
    Will you have some for a treat?

    A cup of this – you won’t be seen
    When you go out on Halloween!

    Can’t you scare up something nice…
    A tasty treat like pumpkin spice?

    A bit of magic swirled in cream
    Tantalizing like a dream…

    A drink to make us disappear
    When we trick-or-treat this year

    Just a sip…don’t gulp it so
    Hmmm…Where did you go?

  42. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR KATIE

    A Halloween Tail
    By Katie Lee Reinert
    Word Count: 100

    As Sophie sprinted out the door, her mom called, “Just the neighbor’s house!”

    Treat bag in hand, Sophie hurried up the sidewalk.

    She froze. Was that slithering?

    Shrugging, she resumed her candy quest.

    There it was again!

    “Lionel, if you’re trying to scare me, it won’t work!” Her brother wasn’t going to ruin her first solo trick-or-treating! Satisfied, she continued toward the house.

    More slithering! If Lionel wasn’t making those sounds, what was?!?

    A shadowy figure emerged.

    Sophie screamed!

    “Sophie, honey, pick up your tail.” her mom said. “I heard it dragging all the way from our house.”

  43. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR SHARON

    Creepy People
    Word Count 90
    By Sharon McCarthy

    Shhhhh!

    Gather round, my fellow stinkers. Our night of sneaking has arrived!

    The creepy people are itching to scare!

    Let’s deliver a mist of fragrance this year!

    Dress up promptly in your cat costumes. Creepy people adore kitties, so.

    They’ll slither over like impulsive snakes and smack right into our trap.

    Shhhhh!

    Hold your spray!

    Clomping feet are approaching!

    Their stretching fingers are closing in!

    “Nice little kitties!”

    Scratch!

    Pet!

    Tickle!

    HA! HA!

    “Trick or treat, creepy people!”

    Tails, UP stinkers! — Spray!

    “Peeee Ewwwww!

    Skunks!

    Run!”

    Gotcha! Creepy People!

  44. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR ELAINE

    Happy Halloween
    100 words
    Elaine D’Alessandro

    Witch Winona slithers out
    Plotting planning all about
    Cackling calling trick or treat
    Up and down her festive street

    Scary ghosts and grizzly girls
    Princesses with lots of curls
    Scarecrows sporting flannel pants
    Skeletons with creepy hands

    Halloween arrives at last
    Witch’s time to have a blast
    Doling out her many sweets
    To her pals with scanty treats

    Taffy apples, lollipops
    Candy corn and gummy drops
    Licorice in the shape of stars
    Jelly beans and chocolate bars

    Sharing candy at day’s end
    Witch’s way to be a friend
    Then makes sure that everyone
    Heads on home when day is done

  45. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR JULIE

    Scared Sssssilly
    by Julie Lerczak

    One Halloween night, six siblings — SaraSimonSolSerenaSueandStu sought sweets to savor.

    Sensible yet slightly superstitious, they stuck close together, trick-or-treating the shadowy streets.

    Suddenly, silent bats swooped, and a sickening sour smell stopped them in their steps.

    Slurping sounds and someone’s stomping signaled something sinister was stalking.

    Suspecting slobbering swamp monsters or stinking sasquatches, the six were scared silly.

    Screaming, they split, stumbling over sticks, stones, and several salamanders slithering in slime.

    Speeding home to safety, they secured all locks on windows and doors, then sat shivering in silence.

    Simultaneously they said, “SWEET TREATS AREN’T WORTH BEING SO SCARED!”

  46. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR GAIL

    The Spooky House
    by Gail Hartman
    99 words

    “Spooky house,” said Jon.
    “I’m not scared,” said Sophie.
    Did they hear the owl hoot in the old sycamore?
    Did they see the yellow eyes gleam in the window?
    Bong, bong, bong went the doorbell.
    “Trick or treat,” called Sophie and Jon.
    “Maybe we should go,” whispered Sophie.
    Creak went the door.
    “Too late now,” said Jon.
    A shadowy figure with tangled hair and a warty nose peered out. A salamander slithered round its shoulders. A boney hand holding a basket poked out of a tattered sleeve.
    “Full-size chocolate bars!” exclaimed Sophie.
    “Thanks! Great costume, Grandpa,” said Jon.

  47. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR TONNYE

    A Halloween Smile
    by Tonnye Fletcher
    96 words

    The O’Lantern family was thrilled Halloween was here.
    Jack’s job as the chief scarer for the general store was getting intense.
    Day slithered into night as he rolled home.

    Jill had a treat waiting.
    “A baby?!” Jack grinned.
    “Let’s carve a Jack Be Little,” she smiled back.

    They cut two triangle eyes, like his mom.
    They drilled a round nose, like his dad.
    As they began to carve his toothy grin,
    a “roll-ll-ll, THUNK!” scared them
    and the knife slipped.

    Turns out, the toothy grin was toothless,
    just like Grumpkin,
    who had bumped into the door.

  48. viviankirkfield says:
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    Posting for Mona Pease

    A Scary Dare
    by Mona Pease 100 words

    She shivered while slinking down the path
    to the rickety house on the Dead End lane
    and wondered why she accepted the dare
    when everyone else was afraid.

    She didn’t knock and was ready to bolt
    when the door creaked open slowwwww.

    Standing there
    was a crickety man
    with a creakity voice who calmly croaked,

    “Won’t you come in my dear.”

    “Uhhhhhhhhh!”

    He served tea. They played checkers.

    He quietly said, “I’ve been lonely. I’m glad you stopped by.”

    She said, “Goodnight,” to the crickety man with the creakity voice in the rickety house,
    “I’ll come back and visit soon.”

  49. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR DEBBIE

    Stop Your Bellyaching Soup, a Jump Rope Song
    Opening scene: Scary Fairy is eating a heap of candy.
    By Debbie Meneses Word Count: 98

    Scary, Scary Halloween Fairy
    Boats through the bog with her garden rake.
    Catches fireflies in a flurry
    Used as bait for a slithering snake.

    Scary, Scary Halloween Fairy
    Skims through the swamp with her garden rake.
    Crayfish claw for a ride on the tines
    Shrewdest fairy for goodness’ sake.

    Scary, Scary Halloween Fairy
    Floats through fog on her garden rake.
    Dragging her catch from the swampy lake
    Simmers a soup to soothe her ache.

    Scary, Scary Halloween Fairy
    Hangs a sign on her upturned rake.
    “Bellyache Treat” bubbles warm and swirly
    Serves the broth as a Halloween take.

  50. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR MEAGAN

    A Spell of Transformation
    By Meagan T. Gentry
    100 words

    “For a Halloween treat, two must say the word strange.
    As scary moon beasts with fangs, both shall change.”

    The twins repeated the spell again, puzzling over the riddle as clouds slithered past the full moon.

    “Moon? Fangs? What word…” Pippa said. “Wait! What do wolves do at the moon?”

    “Howl?” Peter asked.

    “Yes! HOWL-o-ween. But said ‘strange.’”

    “Ween-oh-howl?”

    “Close. To transform we say…” Pippa grasped Peter’s hand tightly and whispered. They grinned wickedly before shouting in unison at the sky –

    “WE! NOW! HOOOOWL!”

    Moonlight flashed as twin wolf pups trotted away, their tails twined together like two clasped hands.

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