Adder’s fork and wool of bat! It’s time for. . .
The 15th 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 wings, spell, and fog.
- 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!
- Please include your title, byline, and word count at the top of your entry.
- Title is not included in the word count.
- You may use the words in any grammatical variation i.e. wing, winged, winging, spells, spelling, spelled, foggy, foggiest, fogginess etc. 😊
- 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 below between right now this very second and 11:59 PM Eastern Friday October 31st (So you have 3 full days to post – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.)
A note about formatting: if WordPress is feeling kindly, bold and italic font will show up, but depending where you’re copying and pasting from, it may not. If you creatively write your entry in the shape of a jack-o-lantern or a witch on a broomstick, the chances of WordPress coming through for you on that are pretty much nil. So as a general rule, don’t attempt anything fancy with your formatting. We’re here for the story, so we won’t be giving or taking away points for elaborate formatting 😊
- For those of you who would also like to post on your blogs (where maybe that fancy formatting will come through for you and so your fellow writers can come visit you at your place), 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, the Official Contest Post, between 12:01 AM Eastern Wednesday October 29th and Friday 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!
- 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. In addition, I can’t add the links until 51 entries are posted or they get messed up and have to be redone. 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: following the close of the contest at midnight Friday, my devoted assistants and I will read and re-read and narrow down the entries to a finalist field of about 14 (because we have 14 prizes for this contest!) which will be posted here for you to vote on as soon as I can get them up! The winners will be announced a couple days after the voting to give everyone time to vote.
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! Take a moment to ooh and aah over what you can win and admire our talented prize donors and their work! (And don’t miss the end of this post which is all the way down below the prizes 😊)
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ FABULOUS PRIZES FROM GENEROUS PEOPLE⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Please enjoy exploring all their amazing work!
⭐️ Mentorship with the one and only Vivian Kirkfield!
Vivian will take a quick look at 3 of your manuscripts and then you and she will work on 1 to polish to submission-ready, plus a query letter edit for that manuscript as well as a Zoom session to discuss the manuscript or anything related to the path to publication!
Vivian encourages new writers through her critique and editing services, shares her love for reading and writing with children through school visits, and offers advice and resources for aspiring authors through her blog, Picture Books Help Kids Soar. She is the author of One Girl’s Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World, From Here To There: Inventions That Changed The Way The World Moves, Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marily Monroe, Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book, Pippa’s Passover Plate, and Sweet Dreams, Sarah.
Vivian Kirkfield
Webinars/Classes/Workshops!
⭐️ A Spot in Teresa Robeson’s inaugural 2-hour Webinar/Class: Write A Graphic Novel for the First Time! (to be held sometime in January 2026) Write A Graphic Novel for the First Time is a 2-hour step-by-step webinar that takes you from idea to pitch packet, learning everything you need in between. If you’re interested in knowing when the course is ready and when you can sign up, you can go here: https://teresarobeson.myflodesk.com/poatu0ji2z .
Teresa is the APALA Picture Book Award winning author of fiction and nonfiction on her own culture and science. Her titles include: Clouds In Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us, Who Is Tibet’s Exiled Leader? The 14th Dalai Lama, Clear And Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story, Disgust-ology: The Science of Gross, and Who Smashed Hollywood Barriers With Gung Fu? Bruce Lee.
Teresa Robeson
⭐️ A Free Admission Ticket to Rosie Pova’s November or December Workshop + A Breakthrough Consultation With Rosie for unagented and unpublished PB writers! November and December Workshop Guests will be announced after October 28th. The Breakthrough Consultation with Rosie is a one-on-one session with her, designed to help the writer identify and overcome any challenges they’re facing—whether it’s related to story craft, manuscript submissions, finding an agent, building an authentic author brand, or strengthening their online presence. During your session, Rosie will help them pinpoint what’s holding them back and create an actionable plan to help them move forward!
Rosie J. Pova is an award-winning, multi-published children’s author, poet, and writing coach. Her books include Sunday Rain, featured in The New York Times, The School of Failure, a Readers’ Favorite silver medalist, and her latest title, Sally’s Musical Tale. She is also the founder of Picture Book Author Academy, where she mentors aspiring authors toward publishing success. In addition, Rosie hosts monthly workshops with agents and editors, offering exclusive learning and submission opportunities for the kidlit community.
Rosie J. Pova
⭐️ A Virtual All-Season Pass to Every SCBWI Eastern NY Webinar in 2026 donated by SCBWI Eastern NY (my local chapter)! Fabulous webinars to help you hone your craft and business of writing no matter where you live!
A Bundle of Three Books by Talented Authors Pamela Courtney, Robin Newman and Alayne Kay Christian!
⭐️ 1. From Pamela Courtney, a signed copy of A SEASON FOR FISHIN’: A Fish Fry Tradition
Pam’s Louisiana upbringing inspired her 2025 debut A Season for Fishin’, A Fish Fry Tradition and nurtured her life’s passion for writing, teaching, music. Combining these loves, Pam brings the eyes of a classroom teacher to each narrative she crafts and created MyLMNOP, a literacy and music program for early learners “My duty is great,” says Pam. “I am a writer who teaches. I am a teacher who writes.”
together with
⭐️ 2. a copy of TRIAL AND ERROR, the newest chapter book from Robin Newman!
Raised in New York and Paris, Robin Newman is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but now prefers to write about witches, mice, ants, and peacocks. Author of the award-winning Wilcox & Griswold Mystery Series and several picture books, she lives in New York with two spoiled spaniels. To learn more, please visit www.robinnewmanbooks.com.
Robin Newman
together with
⭐️ 3. a signed copy of THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS from Alayne Kay Christian!
Alayne Kay Christian is the former acquisitions editor and art director for Blue Whale Press and an award-winning children’s book author. She is the creator and teacher of a picture book writing course, Art of Arc. She shares more of her knowledge and tips for writers through Writing for Children Webinars and Courses. Her books include The Weed That Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Take of the Toledo Christmas Weed, An Old Man and His Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin, Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa, and two Sienna the Cowgirl Fairy books: Trying To Make It Rain and Cowboy Trouble.
Alayne Kay Christian
AMAs PLUS!
⭐️ A 30-Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything for an Individual or for the Individual and their Critique Group from Heather Pierce Stigall , PLUS a signed copy of the winner’s choice of one of her picture books: PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY or GILBERT AND THE GHOST!
Heather Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in Child Development, Psychology-based Human Relations, and Social Work to create stories that speak to kids. She is the author of the picture books Gilbert and the Ghost and Paisley’s Big Birthday. You can connect with Heather at www.HeatherPierceStigall.com.
Heather Pierce Stigall
⭐️ A 30-Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything from Tina Shepardson PLUS a signed copy of her picture book THE SORRY SEEDS!
Tina, an award-winning teacher of 33 years and an award-winning author, now inspires, educates, and engages kids writing children’s books. Author of Walkout, The Sorry Seeds—a Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorite, 2025, and Canines Unleashed: Hank’s New Pack, she created and hosts @thelilleaderspodcast.com, celebrating young leaders and literacy by interviewing kids about their life experiences in the hopes of impacting others.
Tina Shepardson
Pitch Critiques!
⭐️ A Package of 3 Pitch Critiques from Heather Preusser! Pick out three pitches you’d like help with, and Heather will help you polish them to perfection!
Heather has a BA in English and art history from Williams College, an MA in education from the University of Colorado, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. A National Writing Project fellow, Heather has seventeen years of experience teaching both middle and high school English. She is represented by Janine Le at JLLA. Her books include A Symphony of Cowbells, Hedgehog Whodunit, Hedgehog Whodunit: The Carousel Caper, and forthcoming in 2026, Hedgehog Whodunit: The Protective Order of Peanuts.
Heather Preusser
Picture Book Manuscript Critiques!
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, non-rhyming) from author/illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch!
Julie is a reformed graphic designer, concocting and sculpting story ideas and illustrations – every day. She is the author and illustrator of I’m A Hare, So There!, and the illustrator of Stopping By Jungle on a Snowy Evening, Not All Sheep Are Boring, and Louis.
Julie Rowan-Zoch
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Fiction or Nonfiction, Rhyme or Prose) from Nancy Derey Riley
Smart Stories for Curious Kids – Where Science, Imagination, and Kindness Meet. Nancy Derey Riley is an author, illustrator, and competitive adult figure skater. After completing a B.S. and M.S. in wildlife biology, she had a 32-year career as a wildlife biologist. She worked in New England, the Midwest, the desert Southwest, and at the national level in Arlington, Virginia. She loves bringing science and nature to life in her stories. Her website is: Nancy Riley Novelist – My writing website. Nancy is the author and illustrator of 3 self-published titles: Curiosity’s Discovery (Nov. 10, 2020), Butterfly Inn (May 25, 2022), Yeti In The Serengeti (May 30, 2023), and Who Ate My Cactus? (Shadelandhouse Modern Press, May 13, 2025)
Nancy Derey Riley
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming) from Deborah Holt Williams
Deborah is the author of five early readers for the educational publisher Continental Press. Susanna’s contests got her back to her first love—writing in rhyme. Her poems have appeared in Highlights mags and on poetry sites for children, and her rhyming picture book Nighty Night Dinos comes out in June of 2026 from Familius. (The image below is an art sample from Nighty Night Dinos, illustrated by Anna Doherty, ©Anna Doherty 2026.)
Deborah Holt Williams
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Fiction) from Melissa Stoller PLUS a signed copy of her newest picture book, HAZEL AND MABEL: Two Hearts Apart!
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, released from Gnome Road Publishing in September, 2025. Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, will release from Kar-Ben Publishing in Fall 2026. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, and a Rate Your Story Judge.
Melissa Stoller
⭐️ A Manuscript Critique from Donna Martin– winner’s choice of a Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, rhyme or prose), OR a First Chapter of a Chapter Book Critique, OR the First 10 Pages of a YA Novel Critique. Donna is especially good with PB fiction and rhyme, CB historical fiction and action, and YA fantasy!
Kidlit author, Donna L Martin, writes award winning stories for children, including picture books, chapter books, and young adult fantasy. Her books include A Barnyard Christmas, The Warriors Three, Lunadar: Homeward Bound, the History’s Mysteries series, and Hildie and the Beastie. She can be found on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn under DONASDAYS or readers can learn more about all her books at www.Amazon.com/author/donnalmartin.
Donna L. Martin
⭐️ A Rhyming Picture Book Manuscript Critique – fiction and nonfiction from Jill Richards Proctor. Her critiques include line-by-line review of rhythm and rhyme, suggestions for cutting or changing words, review of grammar, and feedback on the strengths/weaknesses of the manuscript itself.
Jill Proctor
Jill has been a writer and rhymer nearly all her life. She and her cat live on the top of a mountain, where she spends most days chasing my muse. Her poetry has been published in High Five Highlights Magazine, The School Magazine, and Children’s Writer. She has won a long list of awards and mentions in many kidlit contests, including First Place in the Institute of Children’s Literature (ICL) Rhyming Animal Poetry Contest, and First Place in ICL’s Fall Poetry Contest. Examples of her list of publications can be found on her website, as well as a list of her awards and mentions – all in rhyme.
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! 😊
With so many great prizes up for grabs I hope there will be a lot of entries – the more the merrier! And you’ve still got a couple days to write, so you can squeeze in under the wire if you haven’t written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well. And your reading friends – parents, teachers, etc. The more people who read and enjoy your stories, the better!!!
Contest Entrants, remember you MUST post your entry in the comment section below and include title, byline, and word count.
Eager Readers – just go along the list of links below, click on them (they’ll take you directly to whichever story you click on), and enjoy the stories!
So, let the Halloweensie begin!
Happy Reading! Happy Writing! Happy Halloween! 🎃 🎃 🎃
I can’t wait to read your entries!
The 333 entries listed below are linked to where they appear in the comments so you can click on the titles and get right to them! Anyone who feels kind can start at the bottom of the list so those entries get some comments too! 🎃 😊
2025 Halloweensie Contest Entries!
- THE SPOOKIEST GOBLIN IN GHOULVILLE – Vashti Verbowski
- SIBLING MAGIC – Lori Knutsen
- RASKELLY RUNS FOR HIS afterLIFE! – Katie Schwartz
- FROG FOG – Jocelyn Watkinson
- GRAM’S HALLOWEEN GARDEN– Susan Elizabeth Schipper
- FROG GOES TRICK-OR-TREATING – Mike Flowers
- SCARY HAIRY HALLOWEEN FAIRY – Jill Richards Proctor
- A MOST UNUSUAL SPELLBOOK – Danielle Anderson
- RETAIL SCARE-APY – Heather Kinser
- Aerial AcroBAT – Jill Lambert
- HALLOWEEN PARADE AT THE ART MUSEUM – Lauren N. Simmons
- HAPPY SPECKTAQULAR HALLOOVEEN! – Kiran Vazir Nair
- NORMALLY VERY NICE – Bethany Brodsky
- THE SPELLING MISTAKE – Tamara Hecht
- HOW TO WOO A WiTCH – Maria Kim
- A WICKED GOOD COSTUME – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
- HOMOGRAPH HALLOWEEN – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
- MOONLIGHT MAGIC – Rebecca Woodall
- THE GREAT HALLOWEEN BAKE OFF – Polly Hunt
- BATSY AND HAZEL – Lisa Carmody Doiron
- THE DRAGON, THE WITCH AND THE CAULDRON – Sue Lancaster
- HALLOWEEN NIGHT FLIGHT – Daniella Kaufman
- CACKLE, CRACKLE, OOPS! – Sarah Atherton
- MUMMY MOMMY – Shawna Cain
- WHAT KIZZY KNOWS ABOUT MS. DEVEREAUX – Bronchelle Parker
- CALL YOU RUDOLPH – Betsy J. Bennett
- WINGS INSTEAD OF A BROOM – Tracy T Agnelli
- WITCH WILDA – Elizabeth Volkmann
- F-L-Y-B-E-R-T – April Berry
- ‘SPELLING’ COUNTS – Elyse Trevers
- THE BIGGEST FRIGHT ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Emily Roberts
- THE HOBLINGOBLIN HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE – Emily Roberts
- WHEN THE FOGHORN SOUNDED – Erica Chester
- THE RAVEN’S GHOST – Lyn Jekowsky
- HALLOWEEN IN FOG HOLLOW – Shelley Jones Clark
- A HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE – Janet Bryce
- MONSTER SPELLING COMPETITION – Susan Wollison
- A FROGLET’S HALLOWEEN – Anthony Baldasare
- THE SPELL – Mona Voelkel
- MORGAN’S HALLOWEEN BROOM VROOM! – Chelsey Bahe
- ITCHY TWITCHY HALLOWEEN WITCHY – Julie Lerczak
- KIND-HEARTED KRYSTAL – Deborah Williams
- HALLOWINGED – Kat Kindig
- BOO-TIFUL BY MISTAKE – Deborah Foster
- TINA’S SCARY WISH – Randi Lynn Mrvos
- TREATS? OR TRICKS? – Sandra Bohman
- HERBIE AND MARIBEL – Milanka Reardon
- IT ALWAYS HAPPENS ON HALLOWEEN! – Isabel Cruz Rodgriguez
- THE WITCH’S WAY – Kelly Kates
- LEARNING TO SPELL – Jenny Nelson
- THE DEVILLED EGGS: AN ORIGIN STORY – Sherry Moon
- BONE-LY HEARTS SNUB – Laura Proven Croyle
- THE LETTER THIEF – Kendra Lusty
- THE HALLOWEEN WINGDING – Debbie Land
- SCARECROW’S FIRST HALLOWEEN PARTY – Eleanor A. Peterson
- MARIPOSA MOON – Katie Combe
- OH, SWEET FOG! – Robin Birdie Jordan
- SECOND GRADE WITCH SPELLS – Quincy Trochue
- WHAT IF? – Kim Collazo
- SPELLS & SUCH: THE SERIOUS WITCH’S SHOP – Lauri C. Meyers
- A TEENSIE-WEENSIE HALLOWEENSIE TALE – Mary Louise Kiernan
- A BATTY HALLOWEEN – Amy Kolb Noyes
- COSTUMED CRITTERS – Jessica Jenson
- IT’S MINE! – Josh Donner
- NO TRICKS, JUST SWEET – Tiffanie Leung Abbott
- A KIND HALLOWEEN SPELL – Kelsey Mango
- WANDA THE WHICH – Russell Wolff
- SWEET DREAMS – Margaret Robison
- IN A WITCH’S KITCHEN – Laura Wippell
- DON’T MESS WITH THE FROG – Linda Staszak
- TILLY’S MOONLIT SPELL – Leigh Lachman
- BANNED PRACTICE – Sarah Hirsch
- THE FRIGHT NIGHT JAM-BOO-BEE – Jennifer Tarr
- GHOUL BUS – Jessica Iwanski
- PARTY SKELETONS – Eric Roscosky
- GHOST SQUIRREL – Paige Lohr
- A FAIRY BAD MISTAKE – Jany Campana
- IT’S BEWITCHING TIME! – Marty Bellis
- GRETA HATES HALLOWEEN – Cindy Sommer
- A RECIPE FOR HALLOWEEN – Catherine Rose
- FLIGHT OF THE TURNIP – Rochelle Smith
- THE SPELL OF THE HALLOWEEN FOG – Alli Straus
- DARK AND FOG’S SPOOKY HALLOWEEN – Rebecca Thill
- HETTIE WITCH’S PARADE PROBLEM – Meg Winikates
- TESSA’S TRUNK OR TREAT TRICK – Nancy Ferguson
- SHE COULDN’T WAIT TO GO! – Sara Kruger
- MENACE AT THE DENTIST – Jessica Russo
- TRICK OR TREAT – RJ Clarken
- WHERE’S THE CHOCOLATE? – Donna Van Oss
- EERIE MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS – Seth Standley
- HALLOWEEN MAGIC – Theresa Dabney
- THE HOUSE THAT WAITS – Alex Waldo
- HILDRUN’S HALLOWEEN HOEDOWN – Theresa Dabney
- MONSTER JAMBOREE – Lauren Kimberly
- TROUBLE AND TOIL – Kelly Clasen
- THE RAVENS – Ali Lithke
- MG – THE HOLLOW BETWEEN TWO HEARTS – Gayle Krause
- SIT FOR A SPELL – Amy Farris
- THE DANCING SPELL – Brianna Rose Lengel
- RUNAWAY PUMPKINS – Martha Holguin
- WICKED TREATS – Kristen Littlefield
- HALLOWEEN CIRCUS – Shaunessy Sinnett
- HALLOWEEN WONDER – Theresa Dabney
- BAZ CROW AND THE SCARECROW – Allison Wilhelm
- THE VAMPIRE – Leslie Johnson Piotrowski
- TRICK-OR-TREATING MISCHIEF MAKERS – Jenna Daucunas
- MINA’S FIRST HALLOWEEN FLIGHT – Imelda Taylor
- BEGGAR’S NIGHT – Jess Appel
- DRUSCILLA AND BATSON – Anna Marie Evans
- RUDOLPH’S HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE – Susan Corry
- THE OOPSIE SPELL – Aida Nash
- BAT’S FREAKY FRIDAY – Sandra G. Ramirez
- WHERE BUSS CAN WEAR WINGS – Sherry Dubis
- NOT THIS YEAR! – Heidi McFadzean
- THE WITCH’S SPELL – Joanna Szeto
- I’M NOT GOING TO HALLOWEEN – Trine Grillo
- PEGGY’S REVENGE – Brooke Baum
- TRICK-OR-TREAT – Tracey Kiff-Judson
- LITTLE WITCHY ~ MASTER SPELLER – Pam Adams
- SPELLS CAST – Candelaria Norma Silva
- MAMA’S SPELL FOR FINDING HOME – Laura N. Clement
- THE MOON WHO WISHED – McKenzie Lynn Tozan
- DRACULA’S HALLOWEEN BASH – Sara Hoy
- ELISA’S MAGIC – Kathleen Jacobs
- BEWARE THE GARGOYLE PUMPKIN – Dawn Mitchell
- TRICK-OR-TREAT – Pallavi Jesrani
- WINGED WONDERS – Debbie Vilardi
- WITCHY WISHES – Jenn Gautam
- MAYBE I CAN CAST A SPELL – Lily C. Fen
- WENDY THE WITCH – Colleen Fogarty
- MIRABELLE’S SPELLS – Jamie Donahoe
- BAT’S GIFT TO GARGOYLE – Sarah Hawklyn
- DON’T BE SCARED, IT’S HALLOWEEN – Sarah Lynne John
- SCARED OF NOTHING – Jan Peck
- THE SKELETON’S NEW CLOTHES – Lucretia Schafroth
- SCHOOL OF REVIEW – Mona Pease
- THE CANDY BAN – Anne Lipton
- LITTLE BEE’S HALLOWEEN – Blythe Williams
- FAIRY DUST HALLOWEEN – Rose Cappelli
- HALLOWEEN THESAURUS – Rebecca W. Chester
- A SURPRISE SPELL – Susan Summers
- HAIRY HOUDINI’S HALLOWEEN HIJINKS – Jeanette O’Toole
- LITTLE BAT’S BRIGHT NIGHT – Emma Applegarth
- BETTY BATS BLOODY GOOD IDEA – Sharon McCarthy
- HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE – Mary Rudzinski
- THE POULTRYGEIST – Melissa J. Miles
- BEHIND THE BROOMSTICK: A TELL-ALL – Anya-Kaye Francis
- HALLOWEEN BIRTHDAY – Andy Nuttall
- SPELLS, FOG AND FROGS! – Lucia Lemieux
- JUST TAKE ONE! – Amy Chini
- FREDDIE THE WINGED FROG – Karen Opp
- SIR BAT AND THE HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Jennifer Arnold
- THE MISSING INGREDIENT – Charlene Yutmeyer
- THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER – Katia M. Jesson
- RASPBERRY CREAM – Amanda Fletcher
- A WARNING TO BATS – Elizabeth Muster
- COUNTING ON HALLOWEEN – Rebecca Singer
- SUGAR RUSH – Celia Cataldo
- MISSPELL – Eric Sondergeld
- CANDY CURIOSITY – Celia Cataldo
- WING SONG – Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor
- MATHILDA AND THE LITTLE MONSTERS – Katrina Stern
- GHOST COWS? – Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor
- THE GREAT FROG CROSSING – Kathy Dobson
- THE HALLOWEEN WISH – Kathleen Jacobs
- ATHTHAMMA WHAT IS HALOON – Diyamanthi Galpoththage
- WITCHY AND GHOSTY – Stacy Barnett Mozer
- SILLY WILLY’S CHICKEN CHILI – Tess Bass
- CHICK OR CHEAT: A HALLOWEEN WISH – Jennifer Concepcion McLennan
- LITTLE SNAGGLETOOTH – Susan Gleeson
- THE HALLOWEEN SPELL – Beth Gallagher
- REVERSE THE CURSE – Webb Smith
- BAT’S BIG NIGHT – Lisa Billa
- RULES ARE FOR THE LIVING – Ragan Fry
- A SPELL FOR DADDY – Deborah Kim
- HALLOWEEN NOSTALGIA – Michelle S. Kennedy
- SPOOKY SPELLING BEE – Kassandra Ayala
- CATIE’S COSTUME CONUNDRUM – Jan Schwaid
- THIS HALLOWEENSIE FRIGHTFUL NIGHT – Joni Klein-Higger
- BATTY NOT IN THE NIGHT – ?
- A HALLOWEEN GLOW – Sue Parker Mielinski
- CAST A SPELL – Deborah Hunt
- ELARA AND THE BROOM WING CHALLENGE – ?
- BEE-WITCHED – Cindy Chambers Johnson
- ASTRA’S SPELL – Marty Findley
- HUBERT THE ELF WANTS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN – Margaret Lea
- HALLOWEEN BREAK – Keatley Eastman
- SCARLET’S HALLOWEEN HUNT – Lora Stead
- SCARY ROCK – Sonja McGiboney
- A HALLOWEEN FOLKLORE: WITCHCRAFT & FROGS – P.J. Purtee
- WITCHY AND THE TRICK-OR-TREAT SPELLING BEE – Sarah Meade
- WICKED WANDA – Alan Elliott
- TRIXIE AND PUMPKIN – Sarah Meade
- EEK! A WEEKNIGHT HALLOWEEN – Jenn Gaulding
- MURDER ON HALLOWEEN – Laura Kiehner
- STAY CALM AND SPARKLE ON – Melissa J. Miles
- BABY GHOST – Katherine Fox
- THE BRIGHT HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Christy Eiler
- THE SPOOKY SPELL – Catherine Ann Velasco
- BOXED IN – Diane McBee
- THE SPOOKIEST HOUSE – Lisa Davis
- THE HORRIBLE HALLOWEEN STENCH – Angela Steffen
- TRICK OR TREAT AND DOGGIE TREATS – Kathleen Jacobs
- OPAL OWL AND THE MAGIC FOG – Susan Kalver
- THE 1,374TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN SPELLING BEE – Cari Chamberlain
- THE GREEDY WITCH – Gregory Bray
- THE HALLOWEEN DARE – Carmen Castillo Gilbert, PhD
- HAPPY HALLOWEEN – Lori Bresnahan
- HALLOWEEN MORNING – Lori Bresnahan
- THE WITCH’S CROW – Leslie Ross-Degnan
- THE WILY WAND OF WINIFRED WITCH – Annette Martin
- FIRE IN THE SKY – Charlie Griffin
- THE HAUNTED HORSE HOTEL – Jen Stambolsky
- HALLOWEEN – Debra Fagans
- A SPECIAL SIBLING SPELL – Laura Bryte
- TIME TO FLY – Susan Burdorf
- A LaGHOSTY WITH THE MOSTY – Andria W. Rosenbaum
- THE TALE OF THE MISSING WINGS – Usri Chowdhury
- THE SCAREST PHRASE – Becki J. Kidd
- BAT WINGS – Sheila Renfro
- BOBBIT AND HIS MAGIC WINGS – Usri Chowdhury
- REFLECTION CONNECTION – Birdie Jordan
- CHOOSING YOUR BOOK – Debbie Graf
- FAIRY FIX – Annette Birdsall
- HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Milly Strawn
- A PEST IS BEST FOR HALLOWEEN – Debbie Graf
- THE CANDY THIEF – Debbie Graf
- TRICK OR STEW – Kate DiMaio
- TRICK OR TEETH – Ginger Burke
- A FRIGHTFUL NIGHT OF DELIGHTFUL BITES – N. Q. Haines
- WITCH’S MAGICAL HAT – Tisha Blackman
- MISS-SPELLED – Veronica Bartles
- BERNARD’S BAD BITE – Mary Beth Woodside
- PAT THE PUMPKIN FACES HALLOWEEN – Garland Godinho
- A LONELY GHOST ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Garland Godinho
- HALLOWEEN IS COMING! – Garland Godinho
- PUMPKIN JACK – Sally Mills
- PEN’S HALLOWEEN DREAM – Angela Martinelli
- JACK OF THE LANTERNS – Meeta Vishnu
- THREE SISTERS – Judy Hughes
- OOKY, SPOOKY – Camille Lancaster
- HALLOWEEN SPELL (ING) – Janet Scratchley
- WHEN THE FOG TURNS TO GOLD – Melissa Smith
- MY FEET ARE NOT YOUR TREAT! – Stephanie Mena
- BARNABY BAT – Amanda Spino
- OWL IN THE STEW – Catherine Youngsquist
- HALLOWEEN MAGIC – Claudia Sloan
- TREATS FOR SPELLS – Maya Mackowiak Elson
- THE BOG WITCH’S GARDEN – Jennifer Weingardt
- THE WITCH’S BEHIND – Jonathan Sellars
- BROOKE’S BLUNDER – Rochelle Smith
- A SCARY TOMORROW – Elisa Teichert
- THE WITCH’S MASK – Carolyn Sauer
- TRANSYLVANIA TOAST – Jacinta Patterson
- AN EYE FOR A SPELL – Sarah (Sezza) Hetu
- DON’T GO TO THE GRAVEYARD ON HALLOWEEN! – Karyn Devlin
- ZORABELLE CAN’T SPELL – Margaret Zotkiewicz
- SPELLA’S FOG VANISHING SPELL – Darlene Kesot
- FIRST HALLOWEEN PARTY – Tiffany Hanson
- THE FLOATLESS GHOSTESS – J. Buchet
- FRANKENFEATHER – Maria Pinero Pope
- CAULDRON CHAOS – Maria Pinero Pope
- FIRST HALLOWEEN (AS A WITCH) – Carolyn Sauer
- RECIPE FOR DISASTER – Janet Cannon
- EVIE’S JOKE-O’-LANTERN – Lynn Burton
- THE BAD BEHAVIOR GRAVEYARD – Sarah Hirsch
- CHANGING ON HALLOWEEN – Cindy Greene
- SPELLADONNA TRIES AGAIN – Laura Polasek
- ALL HALLOW’S EVE – Jill Tatara
- DRAGON FLY – Jen Subra
- THE SWAMP ON HALLOWEEN – Amanda Blaylock
- LULU’S WISH – Amanda Blaylock
- VAMPIRE PROBLEM – Denise Seidman
- BLACK CAT’S BAD LUCK – Marla Yablon
- A BODY FOR GHOST – Kendra Lusty
- LAUNDRY GOBLIN – Katrenia Wilcutt
- FRED SAVES HALLOWEEN – Marcia D. Williams
- JACK TAKES FLIGHT – Naz Alibhai
- TERRI-FLYING TIMES – Joy Dickinson
- HALLOWEEN 101 – Cathy Bendix
- WHO? – Debra Collins
- ANTICIPATING THE SPELL – Kate Chabarek
- MYSTI THE ARTIST WITCH – Nazrin Farook
- WITCHLING’S WINGDING – Griffin Taylor
- SET-A-SPELL – ERE
- THE TRICK IS ON YOU – Pat Haapaniemi
- THE FULL-SIZED CANDY HOUSE – Vanessa Ireson
- THE MYSTERIOUS CRUNCH! – Angela Steffen
- MAKE ME A HALLOWEEN BALLERINA, PLEASE – Robin Donovan
- CLASSROOM CUPBOARD TRICK OR TREAT – Jodie Houghton
- A WITCHES MISTAKE – Kate Woodard
- SLOW COOKING – Peter Rogers
- WARTS, WINGS AND WITCHY THINGS – Carol Porter-Peszko
- MUMFORD’S FRIENDS – Carolyn Pfister
- FREE FOG – Teresa Speranza Vargas
- THE COSTUME BIN – Amy Duchene
- PENELOPE SPELLACY HAS HER OWN PLAN – Sharon Korzelius
- SPOOKY’S SPELL – Tonya Dalhaus
- THE BUTTERFLY BEAUTICIAN – Colleen Murphy
- GHOST’S FLYING LESSON – Roxanne Dooley
- SCAREDY BAT –
- BOOOO ARE THEY SCREAMING AT? – Ali DeMoro
- ZOMBIE ZACH’S HALLOWEEN QUEST – Judy Sobanski
- MONSTER BALL – Marc Vestey
- HALLOWEEN REVENGE – Penelope McNally
- BRENDA BAT’S BODACIOUS BUNGLE – Missy Pray
- HALLOWEEN ECHOES – Amy Duchene
- MISCHIEVOUS PIXIE – Annette G. Teepe
- HALLOWEEN HATTIE – Diane Roberts
- PUMPKIN ESCAPE! – C. L. White
- FOR EVERY TREAT, A TRICK REMAINS – Corine Timmer
- TRIM-OR-TREAT – Elaine Thuener
- THE HALLOWEEN SURPRISE – Nina Haines
- IT’S NOT EASY BEING FOG – Jan Milusich
- SHERMAN’S HALLOWEEN PARADE – Maria Marshall
- WITCHY HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Nancy Wade
- WENDALEE’S TRANSPORTATION TROUBLES – Linda Hofke
- HALLOWEEN LEFTOVERS – Catherine Zampier
- SING, WINGS – Margaret Zotkiewicz
- WILLOW’S WINGED WONDERS – Stephanie Santana
- THE OWL’S SURPRISE – Erin Zampaglione
- HILDA THE WITCH WANTS A MASK – Helene Debelak
- THE BAT WITH GLOWING WINGS – CS (student-youth)
- ESTELLA’S SPELL AT WITCH SCHOOL – Claire Schlinkert
- CLAIRE AND THE COSTUME CONTEST – Reed Hilton-Eddy
- THE (MIS) SPELL – Scott Wolf
- CANDY? OKAY. – Greg Beatty
- THE HALLOWEEN BALL – Nora G. Ho
- WOLFIE’S SPELL – Una Belle Townsend
- TRAPPAST FLEES – Zi Hui Yang
- WITCHY WAND – Rosemary Basham
- JUST A JOKE – Maverick May
- MOTHMAN – Trista Herring Baughman
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Trouble and Toil
By Kelly Clasen (98 words)
“I must reverse this spell!”
Beatrix wiped potion fog from her glasses.
Ribbit!
“Quiet, William! I didn’t think the spell would actually work.”
Croak.
“And you said you wanted to be a frog for Halloween.”
Ribbit!
“Shh, I need to focus. I just recite the spell backwards. Right?”
Croak?
“OK, here goes:
Newt of eye,
And troll of wart,
Um, gnat of wing,
And … snot of squirt?”
“Ri—Bit of a close call, Beatrix! Sheesh!”
“PHEW. You’re OK! Now SHHH. Here comes Mom.”
“You kids ready to trick-or-treat? Mmmm. What’s brewing? I’ll try a si—”
“NO!!!”
Love this! Clever idea to reverse the spell. And poor mom almost drank the potion!
Thank you, Amanda!
This one makes me laugh so much Kelly!! So imaginative and takes us on such a journey in so few words. Good luck!
The Ravens
by Ali Lithke
(94 words)
In late October, every fall,
the coven meets in Witch’s Bog.
Donned in cloaks and mantles all,
they conjure up an eerie fog.
Once hidden by this mystic shroud,
the coven can begin their spells.
Together they intone aloud,
voices high and clear as bells:
”Ravens, black as darkest night,
dip your onyx wings and soar.
Sharp of hearing, keen of sight,
find us who we’re looking for.”
Empowered by the coven’s words,
the murder rises with a thrum.
If this year you see the birds,
fear not, but know: your time has come.
Oooh, I had shivers at your last line! Perfect rhyming, love the ab rhyming pattern, so much fun to read! You KILLED it!
MG – The Hollow Between Two Hearts – 100 words
By Gayle Krause
The fog rolled in on Halloween night.
Eliza crept through the graveyard, clutching the spellbook.
As midnight tolled, a shadow passed overhead with wings too wide for any bird.
Eliza’s breath caught. “I just want to see Joshua again,” she murmured.
The book fluttered open. The ground trembled. A spell cast in Latin.
From the mist, a twelve-year-old hollow-eyed figure emerged.
“Eliza,” it rasped.
She raced to hug her twin brother.
The shadow returned. “Some doors,” said a voice in the fog, “should never be opened.”
The creature turned to ash in her arms.
Eliza collapsed. “So close,” she whispered.
whoaaa — spooky and pulls at the heart strings, great job!
Thank you.🧙♀️😉
Perfect title Gayle. Poor Eliza. So much emotion in few words.
Please send the next chapter!
Compelling scene!
Sit for a Spell
by Amy Farris
Inside a stone circle, surrounded by forest and fog, were two girls.
Myrtle sat. Winifred stood.
“The spell says you must sit,” said Myrtle.
“How will it know I’m sitting?” asked Winifred.
“If you don’t, it might not work.”
“It probably won’t work anyway.”
“It’s Halloween. We have the ingredients. The only way it won’t work is if you don’t sit.”
“Nope.”
“Whatever. Let’s begin.”
“Toad toe on ground; bat wing in sky; newt eye, gaze ‘round; MAGIC, MAKE US FLY!”
A sudden squall knocked Winifred onto her bottom. Both girls, now seated, gently rose into the air.
“See?”
this is fantastic! Great job
Thank you!
Ohmigoodness, Winifred sounds like my teenager! Very relatable. Love the ending!
I like this one a lot! Effective dialogue and a creepy, compelling scene.
THE DANCING SPELL
By Brianna Rose Lengel (95 words)
Hazel’s winged familiar cooed as the spell enveloped the sluggish town like fog, enchanting every piece of Halloween candy.
Suddenly, the candy started… dancing.
Whoever ate the dancing candy felt an insatiable urge to dance.
Kids in costumes filled the streets.
Siblings weren’t fighting anymore—they were dancing!
People in wheelchairs weren’t wheeling anymore—they were dancing!
Everyone was dancing! The spell was working!
But when Hazel tried to reverse the spell at bedtime, no one could stop.
One by one, they danced to their graves.
And even after death, their spirits kept on dancing!
oooo, this reminds me of all the people walking through the streets (could be dancing!) in Hocus Pocus.
Hehehe. 🙂 Love that movie!
ENTRY POSTED FOR MARTHA
Martha Holguin
(100 Words) Wings, Spell & Fog
15th Annual Halloweensie 2025
Runaway Pumpkins
Pumpkin Jack embraced Halloween day in a field of foggy weather.
“Eerily Haunting,” said Pumpkin Joe.
“The Pumpkin Harvest is tonight,” replied Jack.
“Hope it is not cancelled,” other pumpkins hollered.
“OH NO! It is a spell cast by departed spirits,” they declared!
Suddenly, pumpkins begin to scatter.
“Wait,” declared Joe, “let’s face our fears.”
“NO!” yelled a pack of pumpkin faces.
Running away like bats with mystic wings.
Into the fields they scurried.
By nightfall, a bright full moon illuminated.
Runaway pumpkins reappeared.
“No more haunting spirits.” exhaled Joe.
“Nor horrifying spells,” proclaimed Jack.
“Until next year!” mysteriously resonated.
ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTEN
Wicked Treats
By Kristen Littlefield
80 Words
On Halloween at Spells ‘n’ Stuff,
The Wicked Witch was in a huff.
“There’s nothing here to scare the kids—
No fog juice, bat wings, rats, or squids!”
The store clerk smiled and calmly said,
“Perhaps try something sweet instead—
Some goon pies or a candied welt?”
But Wicked shrieked, “I’d rather melt!”
Consumed with rage, she lit her broom
And bolted from the monstrous room.
“Too bad she left,” sighed Zombie Fred.
“I would have given her my head.”
I am still fine-tuning any skills I may possess at rhyming well. So, I am always impressed when someone does. You definitely do! And what a clever, clever ending. I had so much fun imagining this entire story!
So fun!
Ha!! Love your ending!
Fantastic rhyme and great ending, Kristen!
Loved this one! Just the right amount of creepy.
Hilarious!
HALLOWEEN CIRCUS (98 words)
By Shaunessy Sinnett
Halloween! The veil is thin!
Let the circus show begin!
POOF! From fog, the twins appear!
Spotlight shines! The patrons cheer!
Perched upon the high trapeze
There they soar with utmost ease.
Nimble twins on swinging wires:
Wingless birds! Highest flyers!
“Daring girls!” the patrons cry.
“If they slip, they’d surely die!”
Risky front flips! Backflips! Wow!
Twins perform a graceful bow.
How’s it done? You’d like to know?
…Both girls perished years ago.
Now, two ghosts of girls who fell,
Charm the crowd beneath their spell…
Here one night while veil is thin:
Haunted Circus High-Wire Twins.
How creative…and downright eerie! This will linger in my head for quite awhile! Well-done, Shaunessy!
Thank you so much for reading it, Theresa!
I always love your entries, Shaunessy. And the spooky vibe is refreshing!
You’re the best, Susan! Thanks a million. I am fully leaning into the spooky season as usual 😉
This is great! So creepy!
Thank you, Ginger! Definitely a story for the 9-12 year old readers 👻
What a twist! I love this. Great pace and rhyming.
This is INCREDIBLE, Shaunessy. So creepy and yet so fun! It should be a Halloween classic!
Amazing twist! Such a wonderfully spooky scene.
Oooh I love this, Shaunessy! Perfectly creepy and your rhyme is fantastic! Thanks for the fun read!
As always, Shaunessy, I tip my hat to you. This is fantastic. All the vibes. Well done.
Great spooky story. It gave me the shivers.
This so SO good, Shaunessy. Just the right amount of eerie/spooky for little ones.
Shaunessy, it’s shivery good. LOVE IT!
Halloween Wonder
by Theresa Dabney
(100 words)
Jospehine’s little brother was driving her batty! He bent the wings of her costume. (Her mother worked on them and announced, “They’re as good as new!”)
He decorated his bedroom wall with the red face paint she was going to use. (Her mother stated, “Blue would match your costume better, anyway!”)
But, worse of all, he convinced their mother to let him trick-or-treat with Josephine. (Her mother declared, “Someday you will miss him wanting to be with you!”)
A spell must have been cast. Josephine smiled. Hand in hand, the two set off into the swirling fog of Halloween Wonder.
Josephine’s little brother woes are soooo relatable. Which makes that ending ever so sweet and powerful. Well done, my prolific friend! You’ve outdone yourself with all these entries 🙂
Oh, Marty! You can’t imagine, or yes, you probably can, how much your words mean to me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Baz Crow and the Scarecrow
By Allison Wilhelm — WC: 93
Baz Crow woke, shivered and stretched her wings.
Oh no — fog! “Can’t see, can’t fly,” Papa Crow said. “There’s always next year, Tweetheart.”
Determined not to miss the parade, Baz hopped toward the school.
“Boo! Shoo! Or I’ll cast a spell on you!”
Baz cocked her head at the boy dressed like a scarecrow.
“I don’t scare you, do I?”
Baz hopped onto his outstretched hand and climbed to his shoulder.
“I’ll win the costume contest now for sure!” he said, skipping to the school.
“Caw!” Baz held on — happy for the lift.
Very sweet story.
What a cute story, Allison. I love “tweetheart!”
The Vampire
By Leslie Johnson Piotrowski
Word Count: 98
Vampire, vampire flying at night,
Come to my window before it gets light.
I hear that you’ve searched through the fog covered street,
Looking for somebody special to meet.
‘Tis I you should notice, my timid heart sings.
I can’t wait to gaze at your moon-tinted wings.
Halloween is upon us, that time of the year
When remarkable beings can meet without fear.
I hope to completely fall under your spell
The moment you enter the place where I dwell.
I crave for your presence, I will not pretend—
This vampire longs for a vampire friend.
The meter and rhyme delightedly danced in my head as I fell deep into your story. I have to admit that the entire time I was reading I kept thinking, “Who or what would WANT to meet a vampire?” You got me! Duh! Another vampire! Well-done, Leslie!
I immediately went to Brown, Bear, Brown Bear” in my head on that first line. It’s catchy!
Thank you Theresa.
So clever, Leslie! Love the meter and rhyme. Well done! Quite entertaining.
Thank you Jeanette.
I love moon-tinted wings! Love the whole thing, Leslie!
Trick-or-Treating Mischief Makers
by Jenna Daucunas wc: 67
Five little wizards looking for some fun.
The first one said, “let’s go and hex someone!”
The second one said, “I’ve got the perfect spell.”
The third one gathered bits of turtle shell.
The fourth sprinkled in a scarab beetle wing.
And the fifth one said, “I think that’s everything!”
In went the specimens, and out rolled the fog,
and little Tommy Tucker turned into a frog.
Fun story, with rhyme no less!
Great fun, I love the scarab beetle wing!
I mean, Tommy Tucker has had this coming for awhile- haha! very cute
That’s awesome! Well done!
so funny! Good luck, Jenna!
Mina’s First Halloween Flight
By Imelda Taylor
99 words
Mina, a young Manananggal, wasn’t ready for Halloween.
The fog rolled in.
The chill brought goosebumps.
The magic was strong for her kind.
A time to stretch their bat-like wings, soaring through the sky with only their top half.
Worried about flying or splitting in two, all she wanted was to go Trick-or-Treating.
Mum cast the spell,
“Let your wings free, your bloodline flows tonight.
Have no fear, the power comes but once a year.”
Mina grew her wings… but stayed in one piece thanks to Mum’s spell. That Halloween, Mina collected candies dressed as her ancestors… in flight.
I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines for two years. So I was thrilled to read a story about manananggals. I think that some of the people on my remote island believed that manananggals and aswangs truly existed.
oh wow! The stories definitely make life interesting.
Delightful and lovely.
Beggar’s Night,
by Jess Appel
94 words
Beggar’s night. Foggy gray. Bag in hand. Making way.
Aliens, animals, heroes, more! Knocking- Treats at every door.
Who’s ahead? Friend or other? “I am your Fairy Ghost Mother!’
“Trick or Treat? Do you dare? Wand outstretched- anxious stare.
Steps aside. Glances down.
Wings flutter, flowing gown.
Smiling wide. “Instead a wish?” Spell cast. Wand swish.
“Trick or Treat, a wish may be! Careful what you ask of me!”
Back at home. Heavy head. Candy wrappers on the bed.
“I wish I may, I wish I might, wish once a year for Beggar’s Night.”
Druscilla and Batson
By Anna Marie Evans
WC: 96
It was Druscilla’s tenth Halloween, which meant she could finally do magic without supervision. Stinky smoke rose from the cauldron and fogged up her glasses. This was not going well.
“Have you tried just winging it?” Batson flapped over to his perch. “That’s what I do.”
“NOT NOW, BATSON!” Druscilla snapped. “This spell needs to be perfect. You’re lucky I’m using artificial bat wing…”
ZOOM! Batson zipped by, dropping in an extra eye of newt.
“NOOO! That’s not what the spellbook—” Druscilla paused. Her eyes widened. The stinky smoke vanished.
“See? Just wing it.” Batson grinned.
What a cute story, Anna Marie! You’ve done a great job crafting complex characters and friendship in such a short space. I was 😂 at “You’re lucky I’m using artificial bat wing…” OMG!
This is so original, and it balances narration with dialogue quite well. Kudos to you!
Love Druscilla and Batson! Such great characterizations.
Your story brings these two personalities to life so vividly, Anna. It’s magical!
Rudolph’s Halloween Adventure
by Susan Corry
99 words
Rudolph sighed. It was only October 31, but Christmas had lost its luster.
“Been deer, done that…I want a new adventure!”
Flying south through the fog, he spotted miniature mummies, winged witches, and plucky pirates clutching sacks.
“Aww…they’re like itty-bitty Santas delivering presents!”
The beasties scampered from doorstep to doorstep.
“No chimneys? How streamlined!”
But rather than giving gifts, the creatures were taking them and shouting, ‘Trick or Treat!’
“They’re casting evil spells!”
Rudolph nosedived to stop them.
But soon he heard howls of laughter, thank-yous, and shrieks of delight.
Rudolph scratched his antlers. “What a stag-geringly strange scene.”
LOL!! I’ve always thought Halloween was a weird holiday – glad Rudolph agrees 😂 LOVE your deer puns!
Thanks, Ginger!
Wow! You packed a lot of story into 99 well-chosen words. I could see this all playing out in my head like a video. I also love puns!
Thanks for your kind words, Sherry!
I love this creative mash-up of holidays! Very unique and very punny!
Thank you Theresa!
i just love this! A mash up of my two favorites!
Thanks Jessica!
Love this one. I wish we had more words, so you could expand on this!
Thank you, Allison!
Susan, this makes me chuckle every read!!!! The puns are hilarious and Rudolph’s personality GLOWS! Like others have said, maybe you can turn this into a fully developed story for submission. Bravo!!!!!
Thank you, Lori. It was fun to write!
Susan, love the puns and wordplay. Can imagine Rudolph’s dismay at the strange sights he’s encountering. Hope someone shares their treats with him!
Thank you, Marty…I’d say he deserves at least one candy bar!
The Oopsie Spell
By Aida Nash
93 Word count
One foggy Halloween night, a tiny bat named Lenny wanted to help his witch friend, Ivy. “Just flap your wings and say the spell!” she said.
Lenny stuck out his chest. “Pumpkens glow, kandy flow—abracadabra, here I go!”
POOF! Instead of glowing pumpkins, Ivy’s broom started sneezing sparkly glitter. The fog turned to purple bubbles, and Lenny’s wings were transformed into Swiss cheese.
Ivy laughed so hard she nearly fell over her broom. “Next time,” she giggled, “maybe spell-check your spells!”
Lenny took a bite of his wing and grinned. “Best Halloween ever!”
Spell check! Funny!
Thank you 🙂 Daughter helped with that part. lol
BAT’S FREAKY FRIDAY
by Sandra G. Ramirez
(100 words)
Mom says to Bat, “Get up! Get dressed!
Today’s your chapter spelling test!”
“I can’t!” Bat cries, untruthfully.
“I broke my wing in Witch’s tree!
It’s cold outside! The fog’s too thick!
I think I might be getting sick!”
“Okay,” says Mom, “you’re making sense.
I’ll write a note in your defense.”
‘Dear Miss Owl, Bat needs some rest.
Please excuse him from the test.
He’ll sadly miss the Second Grade
Fang-tastic Halloween Parade.’
“WAIT!” cries Bat, “DON’T WRITE THAT LETTER!
It’s freaky but I’m feeling better!”
“I’m glad, my dear, I really am,
‘cause Monday there’s a math exam.”
This is a cute story, Sandra. Reminds me of Shel Silverstein’s “Little Peggy Ann McKay!”
So fun!
So good! Well done!
Where Buzz Can Wear Wings by Sherry Dubis: WC 95
“Those wings spell trouble, every time you enter or exit the van, they fall off your wheelchair. Leave them behind.”
“But Dad, people won’t know I’m a bee without wings. We shouldn’t have to drive at all. Stupid rain and fog.”
“Hey Buzz, what if we could get rid of the weather problem?”
“There’s an app for that! Search for Indoor Trick-or-Treat.”
“Hmm. This says there’s a Trunk-or-Treat in an airplane hangar at the old Air Force Base. We can drive right in!”
“Sweet! I can wear my wings where there used to be wings!”
How is it that I can spell hangar, but forget to remove capital letters after removing the name of the air force base? I must’ve flown off in a fog.
You can be a bee without your wings! Clever tie in with airplane wings!
I also agree, love the tie in with the airplane. I think it would be cool to go trick or treating on an airplane.
Not This Year! by Heidi McFadzean (100 words)
Halloween is horrid,
Kids yelling ‘trick or treat’
They make off with my candy
‘Til I’ve nothing left to eat.
Not this year. No treats for them.
I’ll give a trick alright.
I’ll cast a truly awful spell
To wreck their joyful night.
Whiz-kazzam-sha-bing-shabam!
What an awesome spell.
It fills the air with thickest fog
And makes a nasty smell.
Noisy bangs to blast their ears
Hands grabbing at their feet.
But best of all it melts their bags,
So they can’t hold a treat!
I’ve got them good,
I’ve saved my night.
A treat? For me?
Maybe Halloween’s alright.
The Witch’s Spell
By Joanna Szeto
(96 words)
A black cauldron in the Forest of Fog,
one cackling witch and her speckled green frog,
casting a spell on All Hallow’s Eve.
Incantations, potions, magic to weave:
“Sprinkle, sparkle, spadazzle me.
Give me wings and set me free!”
Oopsie-daisy!
The spell went crazy!
So, the frog, instead of melting,
hiccupped twice and started gulping
all the potion and the stew,
Soon wings of ivory quickly grew.
Webbed toes turned talons in the sky,
grasping the witch as they passed by.
Now the witch won’t need her broom.
Her frog takes off and away they zoom!
“Webbed toes turned talons” has a cool ring to it!
Clever and funny – nice job, Joanna!
I’m Not Going to Halloween
By Trine Grillo
100 Words
I’m not going to Halloween.
Out there,
Owls screech in foggy trees. The wind shakes autumn down. Monsters haunt the neighborhood.
Dragons snort. Goblins gurgle. Jack-O’-Lanterns sneer.
Bones clack. Ninjas creep. Spiders lurk in sticky webs.
Not going.
Out there,
Ghouls hover. Vampires rise. Warty Witches cast a spell.
Zombies prowl. Werewolves howl. Mummies pad across the lawn.
Wings flap. Green eyes flicker. Here they come!
CAN THEY GET IN?
With blazing torches they shout out, “Trick or Treat!”
“Ooo, thank you!”
“Yum, I love these!”
“Happy Halloween!”
“See you next year!”
Hmm. Maybe I will go to Halloween.
I love that sugar beats all the creatures of Halloween.
😂
This is so darn cute, Trine! I relate to your cautious main character, and I just love the sweet twist at the end! Good luck in the contest! 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement!
Peggy’s Revenge
by Brooke Baum
(100 words)
Peggy’s brothers were always mean
but meanest of all on Halloween.
They pranked and tricked, they scared and booed.
They thought it was funny; Peggy thought it was rude.
She said, “I’ll get them back for all they’ve done.
I’ll put an end to all their fun!”
She found a book of witches’ spells;
Should she give them bat wings or turtle shells?
“No,” thought Peggy, “I know what I’ll do!”
And she gathered things for a foggy brew.
It was her brothers’ nightmare, the worst she could find:
She turned her mean brothers into ones that were kind!
I love Peggy’s solution! Nice characterization and wonderful rhyme!
Cute sibling rivalry solution! Parents need a wand sometimes.
Haha, good for Peggy!
Very funny, I love her practical, but magical solution!
Go Peggy, hehe! 🪄✨
Ahh LOVE this, Brooke! The ending is PERFECT! Yay Peggy! Boo mean brothers! I also love your rhymes!!!
Peggy is GREAT! (And scary at first!)
Trick-Or-Treat
(100 Words)
by Tracey Kiff-Judson
Buster stared into his candy-stuffed pillowcase. Enough treats. Time for TRICKS!
He crept up Mrs. Crabb’s steps, jabbed the doorbell, and dove into the bushes.
Mrs. Crabb peeked out. “Darn kids!”
Hee-hee-hee.
Buster dangled a plastic bat by its wing from Willie Flinchley’s porch.
Ding-dong.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Ha-ha-ha.
He plopped a rubber hand on Luna Lupine’s stoop.
BINGGGGGGGGGG-BONGGGGGGGGGGG…
CR-E-E-E-E-EAK!
Fog rolled out the door…
KABOOM!
A WEREWOLF BURST OUT AND SNATCHED THE HAND!
“AAAA-OOOOOOOOOO!”
Spellbound, Buster dropped his load of candy…
then bolted!
“Thanks!” Luna tossed aside her mask and the rubber hand.
She wolfed down a Snickers. “I love Trick-AND-Treat!”
Hahaha, Buster got busted!
I had to read that twice find “spell” in “spellbound.” Nice word choice!
Great sound effect words! Kids will love it!
Thank you!
Love this surprise ending…Buster had the tables turned on him. Great “A-ha!” moment, Tracey
Thanks, Jeanette!
I agree—great ending!
I love that karma gets Buster in the end! And “Trick-AND-Treat is great.”
Thank you, Danielle! : )
Hi Tracey. I really like the twist at the end. Glad someone else from our group joined this contest.
Thank you, Leslie! Loved yours!
LITTLE WITCHY~MASTER SPELLER
by Pam Adams WC – 100
Little Witchy saw a sign,
“Calling Master Spellers!
It’s a contest–Halloween—
at the Foggy Cellars!”
When it came to casting spells
Witchy was a master!
Potions, brews, and magic chants.
No one’s wand was faster.
When she arrived at the event…
SURPRISE!! What did she see??
Not magic SPELLS but spelling WORDS!!
“Ah-Ha, a SPELLING BEE!!”
The emcee called out, “Number one–
Your word is Frankenstein.”
Witches, ghosts, and things with wings
all took their turns in line.
Little Witchy did not win,
but that didn’t spoil her fun.
She used her wand to conjure
sweet treats for everyone!
Love this story Pam! So Clever!
Thx much Pallavi! I had fun with this one.
This is gorgeous. I love the pun on spelling.
creativelya6c2e39861~ Thank you! I do love puns!
ENTRY POSTED FOR CANDELARIA
SPELLS CAST
by Candelaria Norma Silva
(WC 99)
My costume has boogers and snot. Spittle and phlegm are all over his. Spores cover our wings. These weren’t the costumes we started in. We were tricked.RIBBIT, SSSSTTTT sounds amplify through the fog.Spells are cast but they never last. If we find our way back and get a treat, we’ll be creatures no more.SNIFF: We crawl toward the sweet, then SLOG through the stream behind that house. SNORT: Taffy apples drip. DROOL: Cider bubbling by the back door. Hurry. DIP and SIP.Boogers, snot, phlegm, and spores whirl into air.We’re human again. Not Brothers Grimm.
I like your vivid description of the costumes, and the way your story moves from a grim situation to a resolution. Bravo!
Mama’s Spell for Finding Home
By Laura N. Clement
Word Count: 100
Tickling under,
over,
and in between leaves,
Raven stretched her coal black wings wide,
swooping,
darting,
she melted into the swelling shadows
hunting for worms.
Fog silently crept in…
Suddenly,
Raven wanted to be safe and warm at home on this,
All-Hallows’ Eve night… but the sky had grown dangerous.
Lost,
alone,
Raven shivered,
then remembered her Mama’s,
Find Your Way Home Spell…
If in the air you cannot see,
underfoot,
the ground will be.
Just take a step,
one at a time,
to bring your heartbeat,
back to mine.
Full of courage Raven hopped into the darkness, until…
…Mama!
Great emotional arc!
Thank you! I really enjoyed this prompt this year. Good Luck to you.
Beautiful writing!
Lovely! And good advice for all of us!
🙂
I really enjoyed this story about Raven and Mama’s spell. So sweet!
Love the images (aura) and emotions you captured for Raven and the sweet ending rhyme. Best of luck!
THE MOON WHO WISHED
by McKenzie Lynn Tozan (WC: 100)
Though we see the Moon every night,
every crook, cranny, and light,
the Moon had a secret: the Moon wanted wings!
Not made from cardboard and glitter and strings,
nor trinkets, treasures, and feathery things.
the Moon wanted wings, a magical spell,
so spooky and perfect, a story to tell!
For centuries they wished
for one night of wonder, one night of bliss.
Finally, one Hallowe’en Eve, a fairy appeared.
She twirled her hands. She whispered sweet sounds.
She drew her magic from under the ground.
Then rose to the Moon up from the bog
perfect wings shrouded in fog.
Dracula’s Halloween Bash
By Sara Hoy
(97 words)
Dracula was hosting a Halloween bash,
where the werewolves could howl and the monsters could mash.
Grim guests arrived as the fog creeped in.
“Velcome,” he said. “Let the party begin!”
“I’m starving,” grumbled a hideous beast.
“When do we eat? You promised a feast!”
Dracula panicked; he forgot to make food!
“Be patient,” said a witch. “There’s no need to be rude.”
She cast a quick spell and dinner appeared.
The mummies stopped moaning and the goblins all cheered.
He thanked her for saving his spooky soiree.
Then Dracula gasped, “is that a bat wing buffet?”
Love the rhyme and meter on this!
Great job!
I agree with Shawna that the rhyme and meter are on point! It’s definitely giving “Monster Mash” and in the BEST way. So fun!
Elisa’s Magic
By Kathleen Jacobs
(100 words)
“Slugs slime!” Elisa frowned as trick-or-treaters scurried past her hut.
Elisa couldn’t cast spells like other witches and therefore wrote magical stories instead. Too bad, they couldn’t compete with a skeletons’ ballet, a jack-o’-lanterns’ chorus, or fire-breathing jawbreakers.
“No one wants my books!” she cried.
Bat crossed his wings. “Told you so! Children want true magic on Halloween.”
But then…
An enchanted fog swirled as trick-or-treaters discovered her stories.
Elisa held her breath as Bat read one of her books upside-down.
“Magic,” he whispered. “True magic!”
“Yes!” The children agreed.
Bliss leapt in Elisa’s heart. “Joy and stardust!” she beamed.
Joy and stardust in the magic of stories! I enjoyed this enchanting tale.
reading IS magic!!
I love the message that we don’t all have to be the same to be happy and fulfilled. Magical!
Beware the Gargoyle Pumpkin (96 words)
by Dawn Mitchell
The sign read NO TRESPASSING.
A carved pumpkin gargoyle with glowing eyes and tattered cardboard wings crouched
on a cracked pillar, its jagged grin almost human.
“Looks like it’s smiling.” Amirah whispered.
Kyra shivered. “Let’s just grab the book and go.”
The gargoyle blinked, then opened Its jagged mouth, releasing a low, rumbling growl.
It was alive!
They ran, wings flapping behind them. Amirah vaulted over the fence, fearless as
began to creep and curl around her, swallowing everything into darkness.
Spooky.
Ooo wow, no trespassing, indeed! I love the depiction of the pumpkin and the gargoyle.
Trick-or-treat witch
By Pallavi Jesrani
(WC = 100)
One Halloweensie night,
all across the street,
children were excited.
Time for trick-or-treat!
But a foggy evening
made it hard to see
kids as witches, ghosts
butterflies or bees.
Above in spooky skies,
Swishing sounds were heard.
Something flapped its wings!
A bat? A monstrous bird?
Was Halloween called off?
Whatever could they do?
“Fear not”, said a witch.
They looked at her askew.
“Begone, you nasty fog!”
She cast a magic spell.
Fog retreated quickly.
Night went very well.
Who was their benefactor
who conjured up the fun?
Was she a real witch?
A kid dressed up as one?
Great job on this Pallavi! I love the questions you bring up at the end.
Very cute!
Winged Wonders
by Debbie Vilardi
(98 words)
I had a fever on Halloween, and it spelled disaster. Instead of trick or treating, I coughed and sneezed. My head felt foggy.
I stared out the window wrapped in a blanket, not my fairy wings.
My friends were winged wonders. A bat, ladybug, and dragon giggled on my porch.
Mom opened the door.
My friends shouted, “Have no fear, friends are here, we’ll give you something we can share.”
I shuffled to the stairs.
“You have blanket wings,” Lexie called.
Each of my friends dropped my favorite treat in my bag. I felt like I could fly.
This is so sweet. Friends are magical. ❤
Friends, a cozy blanket and treats make everything better! Good job!
What a sweet story. Good luck!
Thank you , Ladies.
Nicely done! The Spirit of Christmas on Halloween!
Thank you, Anthony.
Witchy Wishes (99 words)
By Jenn Gautam
“ABRACADABRA!…
Drat!”
Fog wanted to be a witch.
But his spells weren’t working!!
“ALACAZAM!!….
Fudge!”
Witches were magical, why not Fog too?
“BIBBITY-BOBBITY-BOO!…
Grrrr!”
It’s Halloween!
Making magic should be easier!
What’s missing?
Spell ingredients! How could Fog forget?
Bat wing,
fat frog,
toadstool.
Mix, mix, mix!
“HOCUS POCUS!…
GAHHHHH!”
Then Fog heard someone…
“ABRACADABRA!… Drat!”
“ALACAZAM!… Fudge!”
“BIBBITY-BOBBITY-BOO!… Grrrr!”
“Why is my fog spell not working?” the little witch cried.
Fog? Hmmmm.
Maybe I can be her magic.
“HOCUS POCUS!” yelled the little witch.
Fog rolled toward her.
The little witch cheered!
Fog had never felt more magical.
Awww…I have a new appreciation for Fog now!
Original! I love it!
Love the ending!
Funny!
LOVE the spell words!!
Love the fun language! And love that Fog finds a way to be magical (and to help little witch) – sweet ending!
Maybe I Can Cast a Spell
By Lily C. Fen
96 words
In my pretty lace dress,
I skip and hop,
hop and skip,
as if on wings.
Bright orange basket in my hand,
Yaya walks with me and my two little brothers.
But who is that boy looking at me?
He smiles at me
but right then and there.
I trip and
fall
over,
smashing into the sidewalk.
I close my eyes.
Pretend I’m dead. Maybe I can cast a spell.
The handsome boy didn’t see me.
Yaya’s voice lifts me from the fog.
Time to get up
take a deep breath
and conjure up some candy.
*
Thanks to my SCBWI Writing Group for encouraging me to send in an entry, inspired by their examples!
Susanna’s page is right now a very busy site, woohoo! Struggled to cut and paste the link to the version on my blog, which keeps the format as I wanted, here goes: https://lilycfenwrites.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/maybe-i-can-cast-a-spell/
So glad she can have some candy after that fall! I love this entry, Lily!
So glad you participated!
The fall — ouch!! Love the sweet ending! Good luck, Lily! 🙂
Lovely, Lily! Yaya’s voice lifts me from the fog.
Hi Susanna, Not sure what is going on but I can’t get my computer to ‘paste” my story. Sorry to bother you, but I’d hate to miss this event! Thanks so much for printing my story and for all your work and enthusisam to make this so much fun!!! Colleen Fogarty
Wendy the Witch WC 100
By Colleen Fogarty
Wendy the witchis not who’d you think.
Friendly, petite, she dresses in pink.
Witches usebrooms to fly all around.
Wendy sproutswings to get off the ground.
Casting a spell is witches’ delight.
Wendy can’t doit, try as she might.
Halloween ‘ghosts’ go begging tonight.
Wendy goes too but stays out of sight.
Huge harvest moon shines high in the sky.
Haunting grey fog creeps sneakily by.
“Halt!” shouted Wendy. “Children can’t see.”
Flapping herwings, the fog turns to flee.
“That’s a realspell! How can that be?”
“Who’d ever guessmy wings are the key!”
Looks like you posted it just fine, Colleen 🙂
I love Wendy and witches having wings. Original!
Mirabelle’s Spells
Jamie Donahoe
97 words
“The fog is falling, the fog is falling!”
Little witches panicked,
All except for Mirabelle,
Who knew word magic.
She stood tall, she stood fierce,
She cast a Spell,
And turned the dark wispy fog
Into a friendly frog.
Little witches screamed anew—
Fiendish dragons were flying in,
Wings whipping the air
As their fiery breath blazed!
Standing taller and fiercer still,
Mirabelle cast another Spell,
And turned those dreadful dragons
Into horse-drawn wagons!
Shrieks of fear turned to laughter
As little witches clambered on
And rode off under a Halloween moon,
Cheering Mirabelle and her Spells.
This could become a board book. Beautiful alliteration, Jamie.
Well done! Yeah, for Mirabelle! I like the imagery of the dragons turning into horse-drawn wagons.
Great work, Jamie. So fun to read.
Good luck!
Thanks, Linda! Did you enter? I didn’t see you in the list but could easily have missed it!
Yes, she did, Jamie! #317! 🙂
Adorable story! Love it! Mirabelle sounds a lot like you! Fierce!
Bat’s Gift to Gargoyle
by Sarah Hawklyn
100 words
“I told you I’d return my friend,”
The bat called out to me.
“Oh Bat, I cannot fly with you,
If you could only see.
I sit and guard up on this ledge
A Gargoyle’s job is clear.”
“But now it’s foggy Halloween,
When magic whispers near.
I’ve brought a friend upon her broom,
who has a spell for you.
From stone to bones your frozen wings
will fly you straight and true.”
“It’s all I’ve ever wished for Bat,
but never thought would come.
I’ve watched the city pass me by
for centuries, I’m done.”
ALACASKY!
“Freedom! Let’s fly!”
This is a beautiful story of friendship. It’s full of hope and kindness! Plus, great rhyming!
Don’t Be Scared, It’s Halloween!
by Sarah Lynne John
100 words
On Halloween night
the wind goes…
Whoosh!
And the wings
of a bat swooping low
drum a beat…
Pata pata pata!
I jump
and shriek…
Eek!
The leaves
on the sidewalk go…
Snap-crunch!
A ghost
with a bag of treats shouts…
Boo!
My heart thumps
and I cry…
Ahhh!
You hug me
and say…
Shhh.
From out of the fog
an owl calls…
Hoo-hooooo!
A witch
casts her spell
and cackles…
Mwah-ha-ha!
You squeeze my hand.
I’m safe as can be.
On Halloween night,
spooky can be kinda fun!
I yell…
“You can’t scare me!”
Ding dong…
“TRICK OR TREAT!”
I love the tenderness between the character and the adult/sibling. It’s neat how you wove an entire character arc into such a short story. Well done!
Scared of Nothing
Jan Peck
94
Benji said on Halloween night,
“I’m scared of NOTHING—yep, that’s right!
I’ll march through fog with fearless pride,
No ghost or ghoul can make me hide.”
An owl takes wing—‘Just air,’ I said.
A witch’s spell whooshed past my head.
A creaky gate, a shadow’s crawl—
Benji the Brave ignored them all.
But then—no wind, no sound, no light.
No flap of wings, no bats in sight.
No fog, no spell, no creak, no hum…
NOTHING is there. My toes went numb.
I whispered, trembling, “That’s not fair!
I’m scared of NOTHING—and Nothing’s there!”
This one made me smile – – I can imagine great illustrations to go along with your words.
Clever!
The Skeleton’s New Clothes
by Lucretia Schafroth
WC=100
“Ughhh! Still need a costume,” Skeleton moaned. “Halloween’s tonight.”
He hurried to Witch’s fog-shrouded house for help.
“Go as you are,” said Witch.
“But everyone’ll know it’s me.”
Witch cast a spell—
“Hocus-pocus, pumpkin head,
brittle bones become undead!”
Skin covered his bones—nothing else.
Witch smirked.
Skeleton blushed. “Unacceptable!”
Witch cackled—
“Wings of bat and lion’s hair,
cover-up to make un-bare!”
Skeleton sprouted golden locks. “Inadequate!”
“Gotcha—
Razzle-dazzle, shiny pearl,
twirl around a plaid-clad girl!”
POOF!
Skeleton sported a pink cable-knit sweater, pleated skirt—and pearls.
“What’s THIS?”
“Preppy—”
“It’s . . . ,” Skeleton grinned. “—spook-tacular! No one’ll know it’s me Trick-or-Treating!”
SCHOOL OF REVIEW
Mona Pease 100 words
Angelica’s friends moved up to flying school
Angelica was sent to review school.
This is the room, she thought. SPELL EXAM
Were uniforms required?
Everyone wore black capes.
Angelica wore pure white.
The teacher posted a word
A-BRA-CAT-A-BRA-ZIM-ZAM-ZOOM
“Sound out each syllable.
Put them together to pass the class.”
Angelica whispered,
until…
“abracatabrazimzamzoom.”
Angelica earned her broom!
Everyone chanted.
“abracatabrazimzamzoom”
As they flew around the steaming cauldron
Angelica’s glasses fogged.
On her way home, Angelica noticed her friends-
still grounded!
She swooped down and chanted.
They chanted.
“abracatabrazimzamzoom”
Could witchy broom chants charge up angel wings?
swoosh
whoosh
loopty-do
Yes!
I wasn’t expecting angels! Love this!
I love the exam word! Very clever, Mona!
The Candy Ban
by Anne Lipton
(99 words)
Rest your bones for just a spell
and revel in the tale I tell
of a narrow-minded land
where Halloween and fun were banned.
Around the town, they built a wall
and nailed a scroll to City Hall:
“No tricks! No treats! Don’t be a clown!
Don’t fly by night—we’ll bring you down!”
The townsfolk crept like living dead,
their only treat—a slice of bread.
Kids were banished to their rooms.
Grounded witches hid their brooms.
Until one foggy Halloween,
when things with wings attacked unseen,
and everyone took to the streets
to catch freefalling candy treats.
What an awful town to live in! I love this concept Anne – feels fresh and I think it would make a wonderful PB!
Thanks, Laura!🧡
Love how much you pull us in with those first lines! And you paint a great picture of the town.
Thanks, Danielle!🧡
This had me laughing throughout, especially the line, “their only treat—a slice of bread.” Very creative!
Thanks, Michelle!🧡
As always, excellent, Anne! Love the ending image of freefalling candy!
Thanks, Sarah!🧡
So much atmosphere, Anne. Wonderful storytelling!
Anne! This is so beautifully written! I’d love to rest my bones for just a spell.
This is great! Perfect ending, too. Well done and good luck!
Little Bee’s Halloween By Blythe Williams (99 words)
Little Bee couldn’t decide on a Halloween costume.
Zombie bee — too scary.
Carpenter bee — too many tools.
Queen bee — too fancy.
Finally, she had an idea!
All week she sewed, juiced berries to dye her costume and embroidered the words:
Antennae
Buzz
Colony
Drone
Exoskeleton
Flowers
Gloves
Honeycomb
Insect
Jelly
Keeper
Larva
Mandible
Nectar
Organic
Pollen
Queen
Robber
Stinger
Tongue
Uncapping
Venom
Wings
eXcrement
Yellow
Zoology
Little Bee was ready.
She strapped on her backpack for candy collecting and flew through the fog, “Sting or sweet!”
“What are you dressed up as?” asked a hive homie.
“A Spelling Bee!”
This is so clever! Great punchline at the end, and I enjoyed little bee’s reasons for rejecting various costume ideas.
So fun and clever! You had me at eXcretment!
Love this!🎃🎃🎃
Love this!
Fairy Dust Halloween (97 words)
by Rose Cappelli
More than anything, Lily wanted to trick or treat with her friends.
But tonight, a mysterious fog rolled in, as if casting a spell on the slowly disappearing neighborhood.
Lily slipped on her wings and grabbed her wand.
Her friends were waiting.
But would she find them in the spooky haze?
Outside Lily heard monster moans, clanking skeleton bones, and witches’ cackles. Not her friends.
Maybe her wand held fairy dust magic!
With shivers and quivers she waved it until…
silence.
Then through the mist came the sweet sound of familiar laughter.
Time for trick or treat!
Such beautiful imagery, Rose. I love the title!
Love this title, Rose! All the sensory details are on point!
Rose, such great imagery, mood, and story here. I felt like I was walking with Lily through the fog. Beautiful!
Great title. I’d love a wand like Lily’s!
Yay, she found her friends!
How deliciously spooky! love the monster moans and skeleton bones in the foggy night!
So satisfyingly spooky! I’m right there with her!
Halloween Thesaurus
By Rebecca W. Chester
88 words
This Halloween, I plan to discombobulate tradition.
I’ll herald pandemonium–that’s chaos–with my diction.
Sludgy, slimy, goopy, grimy–all those words mean icky.
Tacky, gluey, gummy, gooey–Yep! You guessed it–sticky.
Incantations, runes, and charms–I spell-cast with precision.
Misty, groggy, murky, foggy–can you see my vision?
While spirits, ghosts, and phantoms roam, demanding tricks or treats,
I’ll dash to every door and shout, “Shenanigans or Sweets!”
My costume’s unconventional–no bat or stegosaurus.
I don’t need wings or spikes, ’cause I’m a Halloween Thesaurus!
Superlative premise! You’ve created such a brilliant and witty treat for logophiles, Rebecca!
Thank you, Anne! And thanks so much for your thoughtful critique!
Love this!
Thank you, Rebecca!
Wow-amazing! Love your word usage and rhyme!
Thanks so much, Pam!
So many wonderful rhymes with an absolutely original Halloween story –well done!
Thanks so much, Bethany!
So much fun! I love “Shenanigans or Sweets!” lol
Thanks, Sarah!
Rebecca, this is super creative! And I’m absolutely going to teach my kids to say “Shenanigans or Sweets!” 😂
Ha! Thank you, Ginger! Your feedback was so valuable!
Such a great poem. I love this idea and your rhyme. (Great surname too.)
A Surprise Spell
By: Susan Summers
WC: 97
Speckled candies, jar of fog.
Moldy pumpkin, one small frog.
Add some moth wings, spider legs.
Then a scoop of rotten eggs.
This Halloween I found a spell.
It’s gonna stink – a putrid smell.
“Cauldron full of pumpkin goo!
Boil and bubble! Rumble! BOO!”
Fingers crossed I peek to see.
A spooky sight in front of me.
My mushy mix is rearranged.
The magic worked! It’s all been changed.
It’s not a treat. It reeks, it’s slick.
Can’t wear that! I might be sick.
I guess I’ll need to practice more,
to make a costume I’ll adore.
Flawless rhyme and what a fun story, Susan. You nailed it!!!
Fantastic tale of a spell gone wrong. So much ewww factor in this story that kids would eat up…would love to see the unwearable costume! Love it!
Fun!
Susan, so much fun to read! I wasn’t sure what was going to happen in the end. Great rhyming and meter…and a spell that goes in a new direction, who knew!
Hairy Houdini’s Halloween Hijinks
By: Jeanette O’Toole
98 words
For his owner, Hairy Houdini marches through fog in the Halloween Pup Parade…
plotting escape.
Owner offers liver treats
To not tug his leash, but
Houdini plays tricks, wiggles FREE.
“Do you want to see a magic trick?”
Houdini whispers to curious furry winged dragons and
wagging wizards.
“I’ll cast spells to free these caped superheroes,
and four-legged tacos who sniff and smell,” Houdini encourages.
“Follow me!”
Weave around,
duck behind,
WAG.
POSE.
C-L-I-M-B.
D
A
N
G
L
E.
On the finish line stage, Houdini barks, “Tonight we are all escape artists!
But don’t forget who feeds you on this Happy HOWL-o-ween!”
Houdini is one slippery pup! : )
Thanks, Tracey!
Hairy Houdini’s Halloween Hijinks (great title) has amazing action (and fantastic line breaks) captured in 98 words! Love the ending wordplay, too! I really enjoyed the energy and Halloween fun captured throughout your fun story, Jeanette!
Thank you, Mona!
This is adorable, Jeanette! I love how you showed the tension straight away and I enjoyed the examples of concrete poetry with his actions. The ending also made me smile. Hope you consider turning this into a PB later on!
Thanks for your support!
What a fun little story! Love the creative formatting =)
Thanks Sara!
Delightful!!
Thank you, Sarah!
Little Bat’s Bright Night
by Emma Applegarth
100 words
Little Bat peeked out at the foggy forest.
The twinkling stars and shining moon were hidden.
“This could spell disaster for Halloween! My daytime friends can’t see in this mist.
Fieldmouse will wander,
Lizard will stumble,
Chickadee will blunder!”
He stretched his wings with resolve.
He soared.
He searched.
He swooped—he snooped—he scooped!
When he was done,
Gleaming glowworms,
Flickering fireflies, and
Shimmering mushrooms
Shone green, orange, and yellow in acorn-cap jack-o-lanterns.
Fieldmouse, Lizard, and Chickadee greeted Little Bat as he flapped over the light-lined path.
“Happy Halloween!”
Little Bat led the trick-or-treaters into the glowing Halloween night.
This is awesome, I loved the gleaming, flickering, and shimmering!
Love it, Emma 🎃 Wonderful images!
This is so magical and delightful. Nicely done!
Love this line: “Shone green, orange, and yellow in acorn-cap jack-o-lanterns.” Well done!
Betty Bats Bloody Good Idea WC 100
By Sharon McCarthy
.
On Halloween night, horn flies swarmed jack-o’-lanterns, casting a spell on farm animals for bloodthirsty bats.
Betty Bat gasped as the bats swooped down on unsuspecting beasts by a fog-covered barn. She screeched at the sound of a squealing pig.
“Stop! I’ve got a different idea!”
The bats’ wings dropped yet continued to glare at the terrified animals.
But Betty didn’t have an idea until…
“Look! The flies are biting our treats! Devour those villains!”
“Bitter!” the bats declared.
Hooray for my trick! Betty gleamed.
Every Halloween after, the bats enjoyed a different feast that left the animals in peace.