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!!!”

  2. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR DAWN

    Dawn Renee Young
    95 Words

    WHO’S THERE?

    KNOCK-KNOCK … Who’s there?

    Slither-slither, Mr. Snake,
    Rattle-Rattle, Goodness’ Sake!
    Me oh my, what a scare!
    Please don’t bite me if you dare.

    DING-DONG … Who’s there?

    Spider-Spider big and black.
    What’s inside your orange sack?
    Bet a yummy-yummy treat.
    Here you go. Stay off the street.

    TAP-TAP … Who’s there?

    Ladybug all red and white.
    Polka-dots a pretty sight.
    “Trick or Treat Treat or Trick.”
    Lollipop, fun to lick.

    Porch lights off and my bowl’s empty.
    Who’s my favorite of the twenty?
    Princess, Ghost, Witch, or Bee?
    All of them filled me with GLEE!

  3. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTA

    A HALLOWEEN FOR WILLARD
    By Krista Harrington
    98 words

    When pumpkins lined porches, Willard knew Halloween was coming.

    “I can’t wait to join it the fun,” he said, slithering to the store.

    He tried on a pirate costume. Too baggy.

    Next, a scarecrow. Too scratchy.

    Vampire? Too easy.

    “This zombie mask is sssure to ssscare,” Willard smiled, and wriggled out the shop.

    But after a few blocks the mask got too hot.

    Too tight.

    It smelled rancid.

    Breathing was impossible!

    “HISSSS-HISSS-HISSSSS!” he coughed, shaking it off.

    Onlookers dropped their bags of treats, running away in a flurry. “Snake!!!”

    This was going to be the tassstiest Halloween yet.

  4. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR AMANDA

    On Halloween Night
    By Amanda Flinn
    Word Count: 88

    On Halloween night
    Try as I might
    I simply have nothing to wear.

    A ghost that says, “BOO!”
    Clearly won’t do
    This ratty old sheet has a tear.

    A wicked old witch
    With a wig that would itch
    My cackle is not worth a treat.

    A slithery snake
    Would be easy to make
    But I’d rather walk on two feet.

    A werewolf could scare
    And howl in the air
    But I wanna be something pretty.

    On Halloween night
    This fits just right!
    I’m a princess doing the griddy.

  5. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR CURTIS

    Early Worm’s Halloween Birthday Wish
    By Curtis King
    100 words

    Savoring an apple was Early Worm’s Halloween birthday wish on Dr. Adday’s haunted farm.

    Dr. Adday creeps the apples away with his flock of scary crows.

    Early plots escape.

    In a gummy worm costume, Early slinks past the roosting crows.

    One awakes.

    Early Worm catches the bird by surprise, jumping onto its back.

    The crow soars.

    Early falls off in mid-air, filling Early with fear.

    He lands among gummies and treats in a bowl at a Monster Party.

    Early emerges, spooking an apple out of an apple bobbing contestant’s mouth.

    Early slithers with a toothless grin towards the trembling apple.

  6. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR BARBARA

    Sweetie the Parrot by Barbara DiMarco
    WC 100

    “Trick or treat!” squawked Sweetie.

    “Not THIS year, me pet.” said the Cap’n.

    “NO HALLOWEEN for that scurvy crew!”

    “Awwww!” shouted the crew.

    “START SWABBIN’! Any scallywag caught eatin’ pumpkin pie will walk the plank!”

    The ship creaked in the darkness of Hallows’ Eve.

    “CA-CAW!” was the signal for a slithery friend to be ready…

    The moon cast a parrot’s shadow hauling booty.

    The Cap’n woke with a scare!

    “Where’s me patch? Who took me peg-leg?”

    Trip.

    Tumble.

    Slip.

    “ARRRR!”

    SPLASH!

    The Loch Ness received a salty Halloween treat.

    “Hurray!” shouted the crew.

    “Trick or treat!” squawked Sweetie.

  7. Laura says:
    Reply

    THE ANNUAL PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST
    by Laura Straut
    97 words

    Carving pumpkins is really fun,
    But I find it such a pity…
    In all these years I’ve never won.
    My pumpkins are just too pretty!

    Things that slither, sneak, snarl, and shriek always take the prize.
    But this year when the judges peek, they’ll be in for a surprise.

    On the side for all to see,
    I carve two words: “OPEN ME.”

    A judge lifts the pumpkin lid.
    She has quite a scare!
    No one knew the pumpkin hid
    Two pet rats in there!

    The rats enjoy their pumpkin treat.
    The judge goes screaming down the street.

  8. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR JEAN

    Boo
    By Jean Martin
    100 words

    Little witch dreaded Halloween.

    She didn’t like being wicked.

    And she really didn’t like preparing brews with creatures that slither.

    She sat in the corner stewing.

    She thought and she thought.

    She would dress up, too!

    A pink dress, a tiara, rose petal slippers and a sparkling cape.

    Bedazzled by her own genius, Little Witch set out to trick or treat.

    BUT…

    It wasn’t any fun.

    Not like flying!

    She ripped off her bling, grabbed her broom and zoomed off into the dark night.

    No wicked cackle,

    No creepy brew,

    Just wind in her hair

    And a soft polite,

    BOO!

  9. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR TIFFANY

    Pete the Smallest Pumpkin
    By Tiffany Hanson 100 Words

    Pete was the smallest pumpkin in the patch. He was left alone and lonely when the other pumpkins were picked for Halloween.

    On Halloween the house held a party. The kids arrived then Pete heard a scream. A thief ran out the backdoor carrying the bags of candy. He sprinted toward the pumpkin patch.

    Pete wasn’t scared. The thief didn’t see him so Pete slithered his vines. Thud! The thief tripped. The treats went flying. The kids recovered their candy.

    Pete was a hero and none of his new friends cared that he was the smallest pumpkin in the patch

  10. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR TIFFANY

    Candy Corn’s Revenge
    By Tiffany Hanson 96 Words

    Candy corn wanted to be the king of Halloween. But the other treats were chosen first. It sat on the child’s desk. Uneaten. Unloved. If it couldn’t be a treat, it would be a trickster.

    Candy corn waited as the other treats disappeared. It waited until the child slept. Then it slithered across the floor and arranged itself into a word.

    Candy corn’s message was spelled out on the ground when the child awoke.

    “Boo!”

    The scared child ran from the room. Candy corn crept back into its bag. Maybe Halloween wasn’t so bad after all.

  12. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR ANGELA

    A Martian’s Halloween (94 words)
    By Angela Calabrese

    A tiny spaceship landed with a rumble and a roar
    So Timothy, a Martian boy decided to explore
    Zombies, witches, scary creatures slithered down the street
    Traveling from door to door, they shouted “TRICK OR TREAT!”

    Suddenly, poor Timothy felt frightened and alone
    “This Earthly kind of holiday just isn’t in my zone!”
    An alien, dressed up in green, peculiarly appeared
    “You’re looking lost. I’ll get you home,” she gladly volunteered.
    She found his spaceship just in time. He knew she saved the day.
    Then she reached inside her sack. “Have a Milky Way.”

  13. Patricia MacMillan (@PatriciaMac83) says:
    Reply

    Candy Monster
    By Patricia MacMillan
    WC: 89

    On Halloween night,
    I hear such a fright.
    There’s loud, scary slurps.
    Worse yet are the burps.

    It targets my treats.
    My haul from the streets.
    It slithers and slinks.
    I’m certain it stinks.

    My sis rolls her eyes.
    “You’re crazy,” she cries.
    But I will not sleep.
    I’m in this too deep.

    I load up the bait.
    It fills the whole plate.
    A sweet candy feast
    should draw out this beast.

    Near dawn, it appears
    and gone are my fears.
    The reason is this:
    The monster’s my sis!

  14. drdanna says:
    Reply

    Igor’s First Halloween
    By Danna Zeiger
    Word Count: 100

    “Sorry… w-what’s Halloween?” Igor stammered.

    Everyone quickly filled Igor in on his first American holiday ever.
    Scary costumes! Trick-or-treating! Candy!
    So different from Russian holidays.

    After school, Igor wondered… what was the scariest thing ever?
    “Definitely laundry!” moaned Mama as she stared at the overflowing basket of clothes.
    “Ugh, bills,” sighed Papa at a teetering paper stack.

    Igor shook his head. No dirty underwear or adult paperwork for his costume.
    He got to work.
    Cardboard. Markers. Ruler.

    The next day, between slithering snakes, wailing ghouls, and howling zombies…
    Igor waddled into school…
    As his worst nightmare:
    A life-size pop quiz!

  15. drdanna says:
    Reply

    YOU CAN’T SCARE ME
    By Danna Zeiger
    Word Count: 100 Words

    Halloween’s always the same.

    “Booooooh!” screeches a white ghoul.
    Eye roll.

    “MWUHAHAHA!” A creepy doll springs from a toy box.
    Yawn.

    “Hsssssss!” A snake’s skeleton slithers.
    Shrug.

    “You can’t scare me!” I holler.

    Pumpkin buckets in hand, we ring the bell.
    “Trick or treat!”

    The door creaks open.
    Smoke pours from the doorway.
    A furry hand with razor sharp nails slips through the crack.

    “You can’t scare –“
    “ROOOOOOAR!!!!!”
    “Aaaaaaaah!” I shriek.

    Candy explodes in the air like a colony of spooked bats.

    We run, screaming like banshees.

    My heart races.
    My fists squeeze.
    My breath shakes.

    Best. Halloween. Ever.

  16. brennajeanneret says:
    Reply

    Pumpkin, Skeleton, Wolverine (98 words)
    By Brenna Jeanneret

    Welcome to the Halloween Rock, Paper, Scissors Costume Battle!

    PUMPKIN, SKELETON, WOLVERINE, SHOOT!
    Skeleton scares Pumpkin for the win!

    PUMPKIN, SKELETON, WOLVERINE, SHOOT!
    Wolverine’s sharp, too sharp! Now Pumpkin is a Jack-O-Lantern.
    Wolverine wins!

    What’s this? Where is Pumpkin rolling away too?
    “I never win. My costume is too cute to be scary.”

    Rock and Paper are brainstorming new costumes!
    Rock says––chocolate.
    Too cute.
    Paper says––beach ball.
    Even cuter!

    Here comes Rock, with snake paint!
    SNAKE, SKELETON, WOLVERINE, SHOOT!
    Snake slithers toward Wolverine and…Wolverine is afraid of snakes!
    Snake wins!

    What a treat. See ya next year!

  17. dmd03c says:
    Reply

    TRICKY TREATS
    By Ashley Sutphen Delaney
    100 words

    “Remember, only five pieces of candy tonight!,” was the last thing Groop heard as he raced out the door.

    He had only trick-or-treated one street when he realized he had eaten his candy quota.

    He wanted more. His mother would never know…

    Chomp.

    Groop’s tongue slithered out of his mouth and grew to the length of a witch’s broom. His mouth was so full that he couldn’t speak or eat!

    Groop moped home, dragging his tongue behind.

    Scared, he opened the door. His mother took one look and said, “oh, my poor little monster, dishonesty and greed always have consequences”.

  18. lauriekaiserwrites says:
    Reply

    Little Sister Saves The Night (98 words)
    by Laurie Kaiser

    “Don’t worry,” Jack said as they entered the haunted house on Halloween. “It’s not too scary.” At 10, Jack knew goblins weren’t real. Jessica wasn’t so sure.

    A skeleton popped out, followed by a moaning mummy hanging down.
    “Ahhh,” Jessica cried. When a cackling witch brushed Jessica’s hair, she jumped. “Let’s go! Treats are outside.”

    Jack’s pale face glistened with sweat. “What’s wrong? Too scary?” Jessica teased. Then she saw a snake slithering up Jack’s leg. “Shake it off!” she yelled. As the snake flew through the air, Jessica grabbed Jack’s hand and they raced toward the exit.

  19. christinashawnbooks says:
    Reply

    THE SWEETEST TREAT
    by Christina Shawn
    83 words

    It’s Halloween! Come one and all!
    Slither, scurry, climb and crawl –

    gather round the bright full moon.
    Children will be coming soon.

    As they swarm the darkened streets,
    calling out their “Trick or Treats!”

    we’ll lurk nearby, our eyes aglow,
    making sure our tails don’t show.

    Once they’re candy-full and sleepy –
    numbed to all that’s scary, creepy –

    leap out from our hiding place
    and lick the children – just a taste.

    The sweetest tasting child will be
    the one we eat on Halloween!

  20. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR SASHA

    ALL HALLOWS’ EVE by Sasha Sirisena-Green (100 words)

    The sun has set.

    The moon is bright.

    Welcome to Halloween Night.

    Corn stalks, hanging door to door.

    Ravens, screeching “Nevermore”.

    Vampires, zombies, come alive.

    Ghouls, slithering up the drive.

    Tricks. Scares. When denied treats.

    Beware! Pay tithe to the spirits of the street.

    Wary dogs bark. Forlorn winds howl.

    Slinky black cats, hiss and prowl.

    Silvery ghosts dance away.

    In rapture till the first light of day.

    Spirits come alive this magical eve.

    This promised night, this reprieve.

    On All Hallows’ Eve, keep lit candles at your window, my dear.

    Lest you tempt the spirits, you’ve nothing to fear.

  21. readmybook2002 says:
    Reply

    Word Count: 91
    Title: Pumpkin Cat’s Turn
    By Bru Benson

    Pumpkins sitting
    In the front yard,
    a sheen of frost they wear.
    Black cat creeping
    ready to scare.

    Slither in the grass,
    hear same sounds
    Wet dewy paws meet.
    Jumps,
    pounce finds a treat.

    Empty wrappers crinkle
    Nothing inside again.
    Meow said hungry cat
    sees a pirate boy with
    candy, full and fat.

    Halloween’s tonight
    A half-eaten
    bag held tight
    Can’t wait to go.
    “Who took the candy for tonight?”

    Guilty look, pirate face
    Mom’s message loud
    And clear.
    Feed the cat before you go
    Catnip treats hit Black Cat’s ear.

  22. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR RYANN

    (100 words)
    Frankenslug

    By Ryann Jones

    Sully the slug dreamed of having arms for Halloween.
    He was sick of knocking on doors with his eyeballs,
    lugging his treat bag on his back,
    and being unable to scare a soul.

    So he used slime and stuck on some licorice.
    Too bendy.
    He tried leaves.
    Too light.
    He added pencils.
    Just write . . .
    actually, scratch that.
    The pencils were pointless.
    All these extra “arms” were dragging him down.

    Catching his reflection in a puddle, he slithered to a stop.
    Wow!
    These arms may not work for knocking on doors
    or carrying candy, thought Sully,
    but I sure look Franken-scary!

  23. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR NINA

    The Costume (93 words)
    by Nina Nolan

    Dragging myself down the aisle of Halloween costumes,

    they’re…

    Yikes!

    Too bright.

    Whoa!

    Too loud.

    Uh-oh!

    Just. So. Wrong.

    What do I want to be for Halloween?

    Someone who isn’t always shy.

    Am I really going to only scare myself this Halloween?

    No way!

    I slither back down the aisle.

    This one’s not so bad.

    I could maybe manage that one.

    Oh! This is the costume for me.

    Fluffing out my peacock feathers…

    and shaking them

    down to my sparkly webbed feet

    feels like a treat.

    The candy will just be a bonus.

  24. seahorsecoffeeelektra79018 says:
    Reply

    The Best Halloween Ever
    by Dianne Borowski

    It was windy. Then it began to rain. Lightning danced across the sky. Thunder rumbled.
    “I’m scared, Mike.”
    Mike is my big brother. He and his fiends took me trick or treating this year.
    “There’s a porch light!” said Mike. “Let’s go and get out of the rain.”
    A lady with white hair said, “come in.”
    “You’re Joe’s grandmother, ” said Mike.
    “Yes, and this is my dog Sparky and my snake Slither.”
    “Wow! A snake in an aquarium. Can I hold him?” I asked.
    I did and what a treat! This was the best Halloween ever!

  25. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR GERALDINE

    Tricked
    100 Words
    By Geraldine V. Oades-Sese

    Chewy, Gooey, Slimy, Crunch,
    Halloween is here to munch,
    Candy corn, sweet delights,
    Green apple treats and mini bites,
    By zombies, ghouls, and moaning mummies,
    Goblins, werewolves, with grumbling tummies.
    Can you hear them scream and boo-
    Sounds that make your heart thump, too?
    As they slither, wriggle, creep,
    Up the stairs to where you sleep,
    Moving shadows, creaky floors,
    Howling winds, squeaky doors,
    Dare to scare; you won’t win,
    My flashlight’s ready; let’s begin,
    I’m not scared, but YOU should be,
    I am brave! I won’t flee!
    Creeping closer, I may scream!
    Wait! Wait! Wake! It’s just a dream!

  26. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISSY

    Trista’s Treat or Trick?
    By Krissy Massey
    (100 words)

    Trista stood still on the sidewalk. Shadows slithered and chased moonlight as skeletons rose from the earth. Something sat between two angry pumpkins on the porch step.

    “Are you scared?” asked a pirate.

    “No,” lied Trista.

    “Hurry! Bowl is full of big candy bars!”

    Monsters, princesses, and superheroes paraded down. And back.

    Trista stood alone, watching the yard. Then gripping her bag, she ran to the porch.

    “All gone!” gulped Trista.

    She emptied her bag, waved her wand, and chanted “Trick or treat?” three times. Then Trista snatched a big candy bar and skipped away down the sidewalk.

    “Happy Halloween!”

  27. Abby Wooldridge (@ANWBooks) says:
    Reply

    The Scariest Costume of All
    90 words
    Abby N. Wooldridge
    https://abbywooldridge.com/2022/10/31/halloweensie-2022/

    This year I’m getting the scariest costume of all!

    IF I’m not too late.

    Waiting ‘til the last minute to shop?
    Now, THAT’S scary!

    What if they run out?

    I creep down the decoration aisles
    dodging dancing spiders,
    fleeing flying bats,
    watching wicked witches…

    One more row to go…

    almost to the costumes…

    around the corner…

    and…

    What is THAT?

    It’s green.

    it slithers

    out of its season…

    into this one…

    It’s…

    A CHRISTMAS TREE?!?!

    On Halloween??

    Hey Santa! TRICK or treat?
    I guess I’ll be an elf this year.

  30. catchandi says:
    Reply

    Halloween is the BEST, but…
    By Andi Chitty
    88 words

    It’s here! It’s here! Tonight’s the night!

    Yummy treats, scary decorations, and hot cider.

    Halloween is the BEST!

    I’ve been waiting all year for- *splurgle*

    *rumble*

    *bumblepop*

    Umm. . . why does my tummy feel weird?

    Is it nerves? No.

    Am I scared? No way.

    Is it the noodles I had for lunch?

    Why does it feel like they’re slithering in my stomach?

    Burbling and gurgling.

    Tossing and turning.

    Bubbling and-

    BLEURGHHHHH!!!

    Are you KIDDING ME???

    Yucky throw-up, achy bones, and fever chills!?

    Being sick on Halloween is the WORST!

  31. Katie Schwartz says:
    Reply

    IT’S A TRICKY AFTERLIFE
    100 words
    Katie Schwartz

    Thank you Susanna for organizing this! A fun contest, to welcome Halloween! Or the holidays, or snow days, etc!

    IT’S A TRICKY AFTERLIFE

    The apparitions in Happy Afterlife Acres disliked anything scary.

    On Sept. 30, M. T. Headdead announced, “No rising for 30 days”.

    Dawn broke…October 31st….the spirits happily floated up from their tombs – …Halloween…oops…EEEEEEEEEEEEK!

    Invading, blinding tendrils were everywhere! Seeping…creeping…ever closer…

    Advancing over dusty pebbles…dead flowers…decaying headstones……SK-SK-SK-SCCAAAAAAAAAARRY!

    The Grim Reaper came at night, but this was different. Seemingly harmless, but able to curdle blood…tingle spines…scald skulls…(luckily they didn’t have any).

    No treat, this was pure trickery.
    “Escape apparitions – vaporize!”

    But the slitheringness captured them midair. They were sweating!

    Then clouds rolled in…finally they were able to escape the sun!

  32. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR CASSY

    Spider’s Halloween
    By Cassy Clarcq
    (91 words)

    Halloween night.
    Spider alone.
    Witches, pumpkins, goblins roam.
    Kids cry:
    “Trick or treat!”
    Goodies piled,
    Candy shared,
    munched a while.
    Spider smiles.

    Spider listens:
    Treaters’ chatters
    Costumes, cauldrons, candy matters.
    Friends cry:
    “Let’s go!”
    Children scurry
    Quest for treats –
    time to hurry!
    Spider wishes.

    Spider watches
    Sheeted ghost
    Creep behind a crooked post.
    Ghost cries:
    “Boo!”
    Scared-giggle-screams —
    Live only in
    Spider’s dreams.
    Spider sighs.

    Lonely spider
    On webbed moonlight
    Wants fun this Halloween night.
    She cries:
    “I know!”
    Slither-skitter,
    Weave and wind;
    expert knitter.
    Spider spins:
    Happy Halloween!

  33. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR IMELDA

    Slimon’s Halloween
    By Imelda Taylor
    100 words

    “What scary thing shall I dress up as?” Slimon wondered as he got ready to go Trick or Treating.

    “A creepy caterpillar?

    “A scaly snake?

    “A monstrous millipede?

    “I know, I’ll go as a rotten rat’s tail.”

    Slimon slithered along the street to collect some sweets.

    Candy corn from the cockroach,

    a toffee from the toad,

    a gummy worm from the grasshopper.

    “Terrific tricks for a toothless worm but where’s the treat?”

    He reached the end of the street. No more houses left but a spooky communal garden.

    There

    Stood

    “A putrid pumpkin! Finally, a treat fit for a worm.”

  34. Liz Kehrli says:
    Reply

    The Zombie Flop (sung to the tune of the Monster Mash)
    By Liz Kehrli- 100 words

    I was cutting through the graveyard on Halloween night,
    when I saw before my eyes, such a scary sight.
    There were zombies everywhere- what was I to do?
    So, I jumped up on a tomb- yes, I joined their crew

    and did the flop! Oh yeah, it was the Zombie flop.
    I did the flop! More than a spooky bop.
    I did the flop! Not just your average plop.
    I did the flop! A slither, a groove, then a freakish flop!

    Next thing that I knew the zombies gathered round-
    they handed me a treat- it was the zombie crown!

  35. Lindsey Donner LeBlanc says:
    Reply

    Melanie Monster
    By Lindsey LeBlanc
    Word Count: 98

    When Melanie Monster went into town, she got some very strange reactions.
    “It’s not Halloween yet!” called the postman.
    “Yes, I know,” Melanie said patiently.
    “No monsters allowed!” teased the librarian.
    Well, that’s rude, Melanie thought.
    Then, finally, it was Halloween!
    Melanie couldn’t wait to trick-or-treat.
    This year she’d chosen her scariest costume yet.
    She slithered into her skin-tight suit, pulled on her mask, and headed for the first house.
    The lady who answered the door seemed confused.
    “Where’s your costume?” she asked. “What are you supposed to be?”
    Melanie grinned.
    “I’m a human, of course! Happy Halloween!”

  37. Julie Fruitticher Schroeder says:
    Reply

    SWITCH WITCH SWAP
    By Julie Fruitticher Schroeder

    On Halloween, Slither and Flash dressed as scary monsters,
    and dashed through town trick-or-treating,
    gathering gobs and gobs of goodies.
    “Hey Flash,” said Slither, “tonight the Switch Witch comes,
    collecting bags of candy that kids leave her,
    and she switches them for super-duper toys.
    She’ll have bunches of candy, and if we catch her, we can have it ALL!”
    Flash grinned.
    That night they laid their sticky trap and hid in the closet with a crab net.
    The following morning when their mom went to wake them,
    all she found was a pile of candy wrappers
    and two fat toads.

  38. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR NANCY

    S-S-Selma
    Nancy Forbis-Stokes
    97 words

    Halloween. Costumed children laughed and shrieked throughout the Snake House. The noise kept Selma awake, and fingers tapping on her window annoyed her. Hoping to escape, she eyed the grate over the air vent in her pen. With mighty effort, she squeezed through to freedom.

    Selma slithered and slid through the slippery duct, finally reaching the lobby end. Just as she poked her head through the grate, a group of children in the lobby yelled, “Trick Or Treat,” saw Selma, and screamed. This scared Selma! She slithered at record speed back to the safety of her window.

  39. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR GREGORY

    A Halloween Adventure
    By Gregory E. Bray
    (100 words)

    The path to the treats was a scary obstacle course. My Indiana Jones costume was perfect for my sweet quest.

    I slithered through the poisonous spikes of spider fangs.

    I dove through the slimy rings of ghostly goo.

    The toadstools of stench were the only thing between me and my reward. Candy!

    The first three were easy. One more and sweet victory was mine.

    I bounced off of it, somersaulted through the air, and landed at the bowl of candy.

    A crowd burst into applause and someone yelled, “Next time try the stairs!”

    “Where’s the adventure in that?” I replied.

  40. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR TRISTA

    Enter If You Dare
    by Trista Herring Baughman
    100 words

    Silent shadows slithered
    On the sidewalk, ‘neath the trees
    Limbs like writhing serpents
    Swayed in rhythm with the breeze.

    The dimly-lit front porch light
    Beckoned wayward trick-or-treaters
    Dressed as witches, ghosts, hobgoblins,
    Ketchup bottles, knights, and skeeters.

    A sign out by the mailbox
    Said, “Enter if you dare!”
    I hesitated slightly
    My friends all teased, “You’re scared!”

    The door creaked open slowly;
    we all let out an “Aaahhh!!”
    A vampire handed out our candy
    Before shouting, “Bleh bleh bleh!”

    We ran down squeaky doorsteps,
    Nearly tripping on a cat.
    I glanced over my shoulder;
    He had turned into
    a bat!

  41. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR NADIA

    Snake’s Sweet Treats

    By Nadia Ali

    Words 87

    The door cracked and a snake slithered in.

    “There’s too many creeps on the outside tonight,” snake rattled.

    And, with a glide and a slide, sweets caught his eye.

    He curled and swirled his body around the treats.

    Eating and licking sugary sweets. Snake had a feast.

    When suddenly, out of nowhere a vampire appeared.

    Eyes locked. Vampire screamed. Snake hissed and shot out the crack.

    “Mom a snake ate my treats!” Vampire sobbed.

    “Are you sure it wasn’t your brother he is dressed as a snake?”

  42. Keatley Eastman (@KeatleysWords) says:
    Reply

    COSTUME CRISIS
    by Keatley Eastman
    100 words

    A candy cane? A toilet brush? A hot dog in a bun?
    Sebastian sighed, “These costumes wouldn’t frighten anyone.”

    He grumbled at the prospect of a boring trick or treat.
    Just once he’d like to terrify the neighbors on his street.

    A frantic exploration of the attic was a bust.
    His scariest discoveries were spider webs and dust.

    His friends arrived that night to find him slouching in despair.
    “I’ll never spook a single soul, I’ve got nothing to wear!”

    With sympathetic smiles they told him, “Give yourself a break!
    Just slither out the door undressed. Sebastian, you’re a snake!”

  43. Elizabeth LaGrange Muster says:
    Reply

    Tricked by the Treats
    By Elizabeth Muster
    WC 97

    Every crinkle of the sack scared Sid the Gummy Worm. Each doorbell brought him closer to doom. Those three dreaded words sent shivers down his sticky skin. “Trick or treat?”
    That was it! “We must take matters into our own wrappers,” Sid hissed at the other candies. “Who decides if we are tricks or treats? WE DO!”
    The Starbursts exploded into a sticky disaster. The Reese’s broke into pieces.
    As the child’s chubby fingers reached through the darkness, Sid slithered between them. She shrieked, dropping the bag to the ground. “How did a snake get in there?”

  44. Thelia Hutchinson 👻 🎃 (@TheliaHutchins1) says:
    Reply

    Halloween Friend
    By Thelia Hutchinson
    97 words

    Under a glowing moon, a dark figure slithers.
    Watching.
    Lurking.
    It’s Halloween, and everyone’s out trick or treating.
    With a perfect plan, the slithering figure awaits its prey.
    Smacking his lips, anticipating the arrival of a bountiful of treats.
    He’s looking to scare, but he’s also scared.
    This is his first ambush, but everyone is having fun.
    He wants to have fun too.
    He jumps out and yells “give me all your treats!” to a group kids.
    “Cool costume” they chided.
    He smiled as they offered him some treats and invited him along for some Halloween fun.

  45. setwiggs says:
    Reply

    Forgot the word ‘scare’ on my previous post.

    My Dreadfully Dangerous Walk
    By Susan Twiggs
    WC 99

    Play practice runs late.
    Goblins gone,
    sorting sweet treats inside.
    I careen down the slithery street,
    my heels tapping the icy pavers.
    Another sound echoes.
    CLICK CLACK, click clack.
    It’s in your mind, I insist.
    Stop scaring yourself.
    I push down the rising bile of fear.
    CLICK CLACK, click clack.
    I stop and the trailing steps stop—
    until they don’t.
    Click-clack.
    I am being followed.
    Shivering from sweat,
    I quicken my pace.
    The streetlamp flickers,
    then sputters out.
    Can I make it home
    or will I disappear into a blind alley?

    My key clicks.
    Home at last,
    deadbolt secured.

  46. Lynn Marie Greenway says:
    Reply

    Slither, Treat, Scare:
    A Halloween Story
    (100 words)
    By Lynn Greenway

    The trees were bare and the ground littered with leaves. Siegfried slithered toward the witch’s house, hungry for treats. Maybe this year she’d pass out mice or toads! His forked tongue darted out, just thinking about it. Then he spotted the witch lugging her cauldron. Perfect, he’d wait here. His tongue tasted the air. Was the witch shorter than usual? His eyesight wasn’t good. She seemed shorter. And younger. She must be new. Siegfried reared up and hissed, so she wouldn’t pass him by, but it scared her. She dropped her cauldron and ran. Siegfried peered inside and found… candy?!

  47. cityondown27 says:
    Reply

    I’m Not That Scared
    By: Allison Gray

    I’m not that scared of Halloween,
    I’d like to see a wolverine.
    If I did, I’d be impressed,
    but that’s it, impressed at best.
    Maybe I’d race him up the street,
    and ring my doorbell – trick or treat!
    My mom would faint at the door,
    my dad would fall to the floor.
    As a full moon lights the night,
    we’d make neighbors run in fright.
    All the candy would be ours,
    gummy bears and chocolate bars…

    A smiling snake slithers by,
    Green-black clouds invade the sky.
    Umm maybe this is a sign,
    staying home would be just fine.

  48. Writer on the run says:
    Reply

    The Halloween Prize (Mary Rudzinski)

    Goblins and ghouls,
    Witches and bats
    Watch your path
    For a spooky black cat!

    On Halloween night
    The trouble brews.
    To win the prize
    You must follow the clues!

    Lights up ahead
    And then a scream
    Monsters run past
    In a steady stream

    Something slithers
    Over the ground
    The owl swoops down
    What’s that sound?

    Down the street
    A doorbell rings
    “Trick or treat,”
    Count Dracula sings.

    Time to be brave
    And cause a scare
    Knock on the door-
    If you dare.

    You won the prize
    Lots of candy
    …But now a bathroom would come in handy.

  49. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR JUDY

    100 Words
    PORTIA PUMPKIN PROCLAIMS
    By Judy Caldwell Hughes

    Peighton planted Portia Pumpkin Seed.

    Portia sipped sprinkles,

    Slithered roots,

    Sprouted leaves,

    Stretched her stem,

    And curly-cued her tendrils.

    Portia’s blossom greeted and treated bees and bugs to sweetness.

    Like a green balloon Portia plumped-up.

    She dreamed of merry fun,

    But nibbling-neighbor nightmares and pumpkin smashers scared her.

    She cloaked herself in summery yellow to soak-up spunk.

    Portia grew a stronger shell.

    She super-sized.

    When frost nipped, Portia robed herself in courageous orange.

    She rippled her ribs.

    She modeled majestic moxie.

    Presto! Peighton plucked Portia,

    Painted Portia,

    Then placed Portia on a front porch post.

    Proudly Portia proclaims, “Happy Halloween!”

  50. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
    Reply

    ENTRY POSTED FOR STEPHANIE

    POOKIE THE POMERANIAN’S HALLOWEEN WISH
    by Stephanie Jackson

    Pookie looked in the mirror.

    “I’m toasted!”

    She was fluffy,

    not fierce.

    Not scary.

    Not spooky.

    She looked like a puffy ‘lil marshmallow.

    Sigh.

    Guests were arriving:

    A chihuahua taco.

    A dachshund wiener.

    A shih tzu icecream sundae.

    Why are we all food?

    Pookie looked longingly at the treat table.

    Ding!

    The doorbell. Also, an idea.

    She dipped a paw in black frosting…

    zebra?

    Too nice.

    Cow?

    M-boo. No.

    King snake?

    Perfect.

    Pookie had been working on her slow-slither.

    “Frost me!” barked Pookie.

    Soon, Pookie was black and white.

    She shimmied.

    Hiss!

    She was a new dog.

    “That’s spooky, Pookie!”