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 
Title: The Mysterious CRUNCH!
Word Count: 100
By: Angela Steffen
Best. Halloween. Ever!
My bag is overflowing with crunchy, sweet, ooey gooey treats.
After I gobble it all, I’ll be under a sugar spell.
I can’t wait to finish it tomor…
CRUNCH!
What’s that?
CRUNCH!
Is it in my closet?
No.
CRUNCH!
Under my bed?
No.
There’s crinkling, crunching, chuckling and shushing.
My brain is in a fog as I investigate.
Is it my imagination?
No.
Does it have wings and soars through the dark sky?
Maybe.
CRUNCH!
It’s getting louder.
Shhh! I hear…
Silence.
It knows I’m close.
CRUNCH!
It’s in the bathroom.
I caught you…
Mom?! Dad?!
CRUNCH!
Make Me a Halloween Ballerina, Please
by Robin Donovan
93 Words
“Make me a Halloween ballerina, please. Cast a spell!” screams Remi Rose.
Suddenly…a witch’s hat appears in pink with a sparkly crown.
Blue jay wings deliver autumn leaves—yellow, purple, orange and red.
Crunch, crackle, pop!
Beetles haul pine cones,
while squirrels scatter acorns. Stems mingle with fall woodsmoke.
“Oh my goodness! A broom!”
Opossums add ornaments.
“A tutu!”
Woodpeckers and beavers uncover…
“Ballet slippers!”
Ladybug flies down to kiss Remi Rose’s cheek.
“You look beautiful.”
Remi Rose pirouettes and pliés all through the foggy night,
her Halloween dreams are pure delight.”
fall ballet and halloween – sweet
Thank you!♥️
This would be fun to illustrate. I love animals and you hooked me. Good luck!
Thank you so much!
Classroom Cupboard Trick or Treat
By Jodie Houghton
100 words
Halloween makes my fur stand on end. Instead of eagerly flying to Monster School, I stomp through the foggy cemetery, my wings wrapped around me for comfort.
“Evening!” wails Miss Witch when I reach the classtomb. “My, you look like you’ve seen a human! Whatever’s the matter?”
I stare towards her coffin cupboard and shudder, remembering last year’s fright: a grueling spelling test.
“Ahhh,” she grins. “Fear not – there’s no test this year. Here’s a treat instead.”
She flicks her wrist. The coffin opens and out flies…
“Flies!” she cackles as we open our mouths to catch them. “Happy Halloween!”
’You look like you’ve seen a human!’ —I love that! Made me smile
Thanks, Rebecca 🙂 Knowing that made me smile too!
fur, flies, and human monsters — frightful fun!
Thank you, Annette 🙂
Cute idea!
Thanks, Trine 🙂
A Witches Mistake
by Kate Woodard
Halloween night at twilight.
Fog seeps in. Bats take wing and spread like fingers around the moon.
On a hilltop, monsters meet to plan.
“We’ll give the world a fright tonight!”
Helsa, the witch, raises her arms to say the spell that will give them the power.
“Abracadab—ACHOO!!!! Oops…”
Poof!
Everyone had…the sniffles.
“The spell’s gone wrong! I’ll fix it!” she cried.
“Abra—ACHOO! ACHOO! Oh no!”
Poof!
“It’s worse!”
Heads were pounding, noses dripping, and the sneezing was monstrous.
“Ugh…” wailed Helsa, collapsing with fever.
Lucky for us, all monsters stayed in bed. We had a happy Halloween…Boo!
100 WORDS
How cute.
Love it!
A real fright for the little monsters! Fun!
Glad you think so! Thanks!
Very cute, fun to read, and Boo was a perfect ending! Favorite line – ‘the sneezing was monstrous’! Great job!
SLOW COOKING by Peter Rogers
100 words
“What was that noise?” said a nervous Foggy Frog.
It was the time of year that frogs were their most scared. You never knew when a passing witch would take a fancy to your legs for their latest spell.
CRASH!
A bat fell through the trees and landed right next to Foggy.
“Hide me!” pleaded the bat. “She’s after my wings!”
“Follow me,” called out a passing snail. “She’s after me too.”
Foggy and the bat started to follow the snails slimly trail.
A passing witch looked down from her broom and smiled at the very slow-moving line of ingredients.
Uh-oh! love the surprise!
WARTS, WINGS AND WITCHY THINGS by Carol Porter-Peszko WC 100
Long long ago
a Halloween sight,
a witch on her broom
On a cold, foggy night
Looking around,
She cackled with glee
“Fly down here, broom
Do you see what I see?”
Alone in a pond
on a little brown log
Croaking tunes
sat a warty green frog
“At last, cried the witch
I’ve found my first spell
My frog prince needs wings
To make my magic swell”
Hopping up the frog smiled
He knew some tricks
Kissing that witch
right on her lips!
Magic wings flew
To the two warty green frogs
Croaking together
On the little brown log
…warts and wings and witchy things indeed! love a little magic going awry.
MUMFORD’s FRIENDS
By Carolyn Pfister
98 Words
Mumford’s friends are monsters.
They hover and fly.
They howl and growl.
Mumford’s friends are frightening.
Timmy tugs on Mumford’s bandages.
“It’s Halloween. Want to trick-or-treat?”
Mumford isn’t sure.
Timmy doesn’t cast spells or float like fog.
He has no wings.
Timmy DOESN’T frighten ANYONE!
Maybe it doesn’t matter that Timmy isn’t a monster.
Mumford can be frightening enough for them both.
They’d make a great team.
Timmy knows terrific places to trick-or-treat.
Nobody shrieks when he knocks on their door.
And Timmy understands Mumford is more than dust and bandages.
They’re friends.
The best treat of all!
Such a sweet Halloween friendship story! Good luck.
FREE FROG
(100 words)
By Teresa Speranza Vargas
Frog hung a “Free Frog” sign on a bucket and hopped in. “I’m leaving! It’s Halloween. Tons of witches will want me!”
He glared at his witch handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Witches, pirates and a one-winged fairy glanced his way, but nobody took him!
Hours later, the porch light went out. His witch peered into his bucket. “Are you done being mad at me?”
Frog hopped out. “Nobody else wants me.”
“I want you.” Her wand tapped his head.
“Don’t put a spell on me!”
“I reversed it. You can spell again.”
Frog looked. His sign read, “Tree Fog.”
I apologize for posting my story twice. I couldn’t find my entry in the comments and I thought is didn’t go through…
The costume bin
(To the tune of My Favorite Things)
By Amy Duchene
Word count: 90
Bat wings and witch hats and cat ears aplenty.
Clown wigs and sheet ghosts and large, shiny pennies.
Frightening masks and a shark suit with fin;
These are the things in my Halloween bin!
Skeleton jumpsuits and long, gauzy dresses.
Tiaras and jewelry and red, curly tresses.
Fog machines, spell books, and swords made of tin;
These are the things in my Halloween bin!
Things to be sweet…
Things to be cute…
Things to make you scream…
But simply remember it’s only just me;
I’m underneath all of these things!
ewww troll breath lol good job and good luck, Lauri!
Penelope Spellacy Has Her Own Plan
by Sharon Korzelius
WC: 100
“The plan is to fit in,” Dad said. “Pretend you’re not a witch.”
Today was Halloween and Penelope didn’t want to hide her true self anymore. Not when she could transform herself with the spellbook Mom left behind.
Fingers of cauldron fog encircled Penelope.
Hair sprouted along her arms. Wings unfurled from her back.
DING-DONG.
“Andi and Emily–I mean, Glinda and Elphaba are here,” Dad called.
“No!” Penelope screeched. She was a white-winged unicorn, not a flying monkey.
“It’s hard to hide yourself,” Dad winked, changing her back into a girl dressed in a costume. “Next time ask for help.”
Clever!
Great twist! 🧙♀️
Spooky’s Spell
Tonya Dalhaus
Word Count:92
The winged bats swooped, the eerie fog rolled,
Spooky spread her wings, looking bold.
“One kernel of corn, a bit of shell,
let pumpkins grow beneath my spell!”
A twitch of her beak, a shake of her tail,
the water shimmered inside the pail.
The earth went rumble, the ground went crack,
pumpkins popped up front and back!
“Oh no!” cried Spooky, “there’s dozens more!”
They filled the coop and blocked the door.
Hens now cluck in the moon’s pale glow:
“Be careful what you wish for, lest magic makes it grow!”
The Butterfly Beautician
by Colleen Murphy
100 words
The Master Make-up artist, me,
took on a task for all to see:
I’d change the scariest monster seen
into a prince for Halloween.
But when he came, my spirits fell.
Instead of art, I’d need a spell.
His wart alone was twice my size!
I spread my wings across my eyes.
I had to overcome my doubt–
and keep my brain from checking out.
I cleared the fog, devised a plan
to beautify this gruesome man.
A matching wart. A couple tweaks.
Then, presto chango — puffy cheeks!
I finished up. The people cheered
when, at last, my prince appeared.
A real twist on beauty marks! fun.
Thank you! I tried to think of some different angle.
Thanks! I was trying to go somewhere unexpected with the story.
Nicely done! I like the transformation!
Thank you!!
What a transformation!! 🎃
Thanks! It was fun to imagine!
I think I saw this guy on Match.com–glad you beautified him! Fun poem!
Such a unique idea Colleen!
GHOST’S FLYING LESSON
By Roxanne Dooley
98 words
It’s Hallows Eve; a foggy night,
as Bat and Witch and Ghost take flight.
Enormous wings help Bat to glide.
Witch’s broom’s a speedy ride.
But Ghost can only float and glow.
Grumbles sadly, “I’m too slow!”
Pointing wand to make Ghost faster.
Witch’s aim causes disaster.
Spell rebounds off Witch’s broom.
She’s descending to her doom.
The broom hits Bat with massive force.
Sonar glitches! Bat’s off course!
Noticing his pals in trouble,
Ghost expands into a bubble.
Gathering his wayward friends,
Ghost prevents their tragic ends.
Flying onward, Ghost shines bright,
discovering he’s built just right.
Aww…ghost saved his friends with his special skills! Favorite line – Sonar glitches! Bat’s off course! Perfect rhyming, fun to read!
Scaredy Bat
“Fly away, ‘not scary Harry’.”, Vlad shows off his “Hallowe’en scariest spellmaster” trophy.
Harry’s conjured ham-monster scampers below him.
“Why can’t you be a cuddly spellmaster instead of scary?” It squeaks.
“Shoo!” Harry yells.
“Ok, I’m going. You could seek the Foglands’ fright wand.”
Harry’s wings droop with dread but he must dare the dangers of glower gate and smazy swamp.
He succeeds and soars up murky mountain to claim the wand.
Harry, now very scary, frightens everyone away, even Vlad.
Harry feels alone and afraid.
Squeak. “Is this what you wanted?”
“No, I’d like cuddles please.”
“Good, me too.”
Great title and story! 🦇
Thanks!
Boooo Are They Screaming At?
By Ali DeMoro
100 Words
On Halloween, the tricksters were ready.
But Ghost’s mouth misted, “Kids get treats, pretending to be me!”
“Thooz wings vook like cousin Bea’s!” Said Vampire.
“Spell! That cackle’s like Aunt Vern’s.” Added Witch.
“Why can’t we??” Ghost shrieked.
“Trick or Treat!”
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”
“Boooo are they screaming at?” Said Ghost.
“I vant candy, not dwoors!” Vampire wailed.
“Let’s trick to get treats…” Ghost schemed.
They haunted through the fog.
Kids ran!
“The candy’s ours!”
“We’re not treating right.” Ghost sighed.
They agreed, and with the kids, had a Treat Feast!
“Yummy treats,” said Ghost, “but next year, I’d rather have SCREAMS!”
ZOMBIE ZACH’S HALLOWEEN QUEST
by Judy Sobanski – 100 words
Zombie Zach had a huge appetite.
His cupboards were bare, no morsel in sight.
No Chee-toes, no Fri-toes, no liver or spleen,
No “Hello Flesh” delivery on this Halloween!
Zach sat for a spell, thought it all through.
He’d have to wing it; he knew what to do.
Yes! Trick or Treat! Zach grabbed an old sack.
He stomped door to door in search of a snack.
Through a dense fog, Zach collected more sweets.
One house remained. He knocked — “Trick or Treat!”
The snacks in his sack made his zombie smile linger.
Not one, not two, but ten… Butter-fingers!
LOL. Hello Flesh. Butterfingers. I love your puns
Very clever. Well done!
Thanks! I do love me some puns!
Thanks, Kendra!
Butter-fingers!!! How clever.
Thank you, Mona!
Hi Judy! Great story. I think we both like rhyming! Good luck with this entry.
I do love rhyming. Such a challenge! Thanks, Margaret!
This is well written, clever, and fun! Very Halloweenie too.
Thanks, Corine!
Funny and punny! My neighbor gets Hello Fresh and now every time I see the box on her porch I’m going to picture Hello Flesh!
I couldn’t decide between that or Gore Dash! 😉
Hello Flesh!!! HA! Butter fingers!!! LOL
Halloween is when pigs should fly! How fun!
Free Frog or mis-spelled. delightful.
all the favorite things for Halloween or at least a few. Fun!
Somehow my reply jumped. Sorry about that.
Your entry reminds me of my childhood Halloween loot?
I left this on the wrong entry at first! Sorry.
Halloween is the perfect time for pigs to fly! Fun!
Monster Ball
By Marc Vestey
Word Count: 100
A spooky, foggy Halloween, dressed in a bright white sheet.
The door creaked slowly open — I hollered, “Trick or treat?”
A vampire pulled me in the house, hurrying down the hall.
“Qvickly, little ghost, you’re late! Veelcome to Monster Ball!”
Vampires, zombies, werewolves — dancing to and fro,
Broomstick floating under a spell — witch limboing below.
Skeleton band playing jaunty tunes, a ghoul gets up to sing.
Dancing hard, my sheet flew off — caught on a demon’s wing!
The music stopped. The monsters gasped. “A human! No ghost at all!”
I whispered, “Boo…” — they ran away. That ended the Monster Ball!
Ha! Love the ending.
Great ending! 👻
Nice twist at the end. Well done!
HALLOWEEN REVENGE
Penelope McNally
WC 100
Victor was a massive vampire with itty, bitty wings.
“Baby bat wings,” teased Warren Werewolf.
“No one’s scared of you,” laughed Garrett Goblin.
Victor bared his fangs at them. He hated Warren and Garrett.
They’ll regret mocking him.
Shrouded in fog, Victor drank the potion and chanted the spell:
“Abracadbra, on Halloween night
Grow thy wings to give a fright,
To those who mocked, revenge is nigh
Trick or treat…say bye bye!”
WHOOSH!
Victor was a massive vampire with enormous wings.
Warren and Garrett shrieked as Victor swooped in,
covering them with his gigantic wings,
Silencing their taunts forever.
BRENDA BAT’S BODACIOUS BUNGLE
By Missy Pray
98 words
Brenda the bat wants nothing more than to be a witch. Casting spells, brewing potions and doing her will.
One Halloween night, she stole Witch Wendy’s spell book. She enlisted her unsuspecting friend, Darla the dragonfly, to practice on. POOF! Darla’s wings became arms! Impressive, but Darla can no longer fly!
Brenda tried one spell, and another after another with no results. What will she do?? And then, Witch Wendy emerged from a fog. “You stole my book!” Witch Wendy said. “Yes, ma’am,” Brenda replied. “If you ask me nicely, I’ll train you, Brenda.” Restored, rehabilitated and reunited!
Halloween Echoes
By Amy Duchene
Word count: 90
Big, big, big glows the moon (glows the moon)
Blap, blap, blap blows a bat (blows a bat)
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh calls the wind (calls the wind)
Down, down, down falls the fog (falls the fog)
Glide, glide, glide float the ghosts (float the ghosts)
Up, up, up, wing the witches (wing the witches)
Swish, swish, swish cast a spell (cast a spell)
Dong, dong, dong dings the bell (dings the bell)
Trick, trick, trick, trick or treat (trick or treat!)
Candy, candy, candy now we eat (now we eat!)
This would be fun to read to a small one
Definitely a board book. Good luck!
Mischievous Pixie
By Annette G. Teepe
(98 words)
Pamela Pixie giggled with glee,
“Halloween is here, the first for me!”
Party first, real fun next,
Spells to cast, humans to hex!
She couldn’t wait to join in the fun,
She wanted to learn how it was done.
Foggy flight, wings flashing in moonlight,
To be tricksters, startle, and fright!
She watched each move, quick to learn,
Eagerly waiting for her turn.
Yanked on a cape, casually draped,
Quick head turned, easily escaped!
Tickled necks, snagged candy treats
Confounded those on darkened streets
Fun to be a pixie on this night
Causing trouble, but out of sight!
That does sound like fun! Cute story
Thank you!
Cute and fun. Luckily they can’t see her.
Thank you!
Halloween Hattie
by Diane Roberts
95 words
Attention, you pretties.
Time to tuck in your wing.
All bats at this concert,
Must be willing to sing.
Stay still on your perches.
Don’t you dare fly about.
Or one of my monsters,
Must then usher you out.
Miss Halloween Hattie,
Will appear on the stage.
A brand-new sensation.
She is now all the rage.
The room is quite foggy.
Not a sound can be heard.
Bats dive under their chairs.
And will not sing a word.
Haunting notes start softly.
As her voice slowly swells.
Beware, all you Swifties.
Hattie’s casting her spells.
This sounds like a fun performance!
Pumpkin Escape!
by C. L. White
(98 words)
On Halloween, Patrick beamed, glowing in the fog.
But despite the smile carved on his face, he longed to explore.
Clumsy trick-or-creatures climbed onto Patrick’s porch. A goblin reaching for a treat, knocked Patrick from the table.
A winged-beast scooped Patrick up, talons gripping tight.
Patrick soared, until he fell—right into a nest. Inside awaited hatchlings, squawking for their meal.
One look at Patrick, the chicks cried out in disgust, “EEEWWWW, not a vegetable!” They kicked him from the nest.
Patrick bounced across the lawn, stopping at his porch.
Wrapped in adventure’s spell, he grinned from within.
trick-or-creatures. 🙂 that’s cute
You’ve written such an incredibly action-packed story in so few words, Chelsea! I love your brilliant ending line, and I’m so glad Patrick got his chance to explore.
Hello, Susanna. I haven’t had much time but just had to join in. Happy Halloweensie.
For Every Treat, a Trick Remains
Corine Timmer
97 words
Fifi is frenzied.
Today is Halloween.
She can no longer hide it,
She yearns to be seen.
Her mommy gave her
A glow-in-the-dark suit,
With spiderweb wings
Laced with snakeroot.
When the fog rolls in
And day turns to night,
Fifi sets off to
Give all a FRIGHT.
But at each front door,
She’s saluted with a smile.
With an “Aww” and an “Ahh”
And an “I like your style!”
“What a wicked spell!
Sooo many treats!”
So she runs to the pond
And rolls in slime.
“My trick will need to wait
Until the next time!”
Ahhh! She so wanted to frighten everyone. But I’m curious as to which trick she would play on everyone.
Thanks for stopping by. Happy Halloweensie!
Great title and vivid description of Fifi’s costume. You’ve perfectly captured a child’s need to be scary, not cute. Terrific!
Thanks for reading and commenting. Fifi is actually a dog (in my mind anyway) but children relate to anthropomorphism. Happy Halloweensie!
“Trim-or-Treat” (99 words)
By Elaine Thuener
The sign on the door said “Welcome, Hairy’s Beauty Parlor”.
I stood in line waiting to go in.
Fog piled around the door, hiding the jack-o-lantern’s lit faces.
Suddenly the doorknob turned.
The door swung open!
A witchy face smiled, “We’ve been expecting you, come in!”
“Take a seat in front of the mirror,” said the werewolf beautician.
No spell was needed.
Just a snip, comb, style, and blow dry.
My winged, unruly locks became sleek perfection.
With my added ears, whiskers and face paint, the mirror now reflected a black cat.
I’m purrrfectly ready for this Halloween night!
Original!
“The Halloween Surprise” (100 words)
By Nina Haines
In the thick of fog, where shadows swell,
Young children gather, casting spells.
Ghosts dance lightly on breeze,
As costumes rustle, autumn leaves.
With wings of bats flitting through the night,
They whisper secrets hidden from sight.
On Halloween eve, hearts race, sing,
Each corner holds a surprise waiting to spring.
But one little boy, full of laughter, cheer,
Lurks near school where his teacher draws near.
“Trick or treat!” he shouts, eyes wide with fright,
And the teacher just smiles, “How about a delight?”
For she wears a mask—it’s no ordinary scene,
That spooky teacher is really mean!
I wonder which mask she was wearing to spook the boy.
ENTRY POSTED FOR JAN
Title: It’s Not Easy Being Fog word count:98
by Jan Milusich
Halloween was less than an eve away, and Fog wasn’t a droplet nearer to
being scary, not like the Spooky Halloween crew.
When Bat flapped his wings, werewolves whined.
When Witch wove spells, skeletons skedaddled.
Meanwhile, ghosts glided through Fog and giggled.
Fog knew he’d never scare anyone unless he grew darker, denser.
So, he hovered below thunderclouds.
He loomed above bubbling cauldrons.
Nothing worked.
Misty-eyed, Fog hung in a haze.
Along came some trick-or-treaters.
If Fog bellowed, “Boo!”
He’d scare them.
But instead, Fog gushed, “Happy Halloween!”
And it was, Fog and his new trick-or-treating friends agreed.
Sweet! Love your unexpected protagonist.
Sherman’s Halloween Parade [100 words]
by Maria Marshall
Every fall,
Rain, shine, or fog,
our small humans transform us.
I’ve proudly been a –
superhero, unicorn, and clown.
But today, my girl proposed
floppy, flappy wings of a . . .
LADY bug!
As a gelding, I’d never live this down!
Even my girl’s sweet, whispered spell
couldn’t coax me into the arena.
I locked my legs and tucked my head.
Until, she explained (and promised a treat).
I tried to gallantly trot.
Sure enough, the other horses snorted.
I held my head high.
They never knew I’d get sugar cubes,
and an apple,
for being my girl’s SHERMAN bug!
Smart horse, a girls best friend.
So cute Maria! I can see the whole thing and it gives me giggles.
“As a gelding, I’d never live this down!” This made me smile 😊 The things we do for love, and sugar cubes
Witchy Halloween Night
By Nancy Wade
Windy night
Blew away witch’s hat.
Pheeeww
No hat
No spell
Practiced months
“Witches Manual of Cool Spells”
Where’s my hat??
Fog
Bad vision
Stumbled in woods
Flashlight conked out.
Tripped on ragged root
Flat on face
Glasses flew like winged.
Creepy spider crawled
In circles
Feeling around
Hat
Glasses
Have
To
Be
Here!
Hat slapped face,
Landing hard
Over ears.
Rummelburngermama
Fizzamjontic
Piney, slimy, misty
Waves wand wildly
Air crackles
Sparks
Smelly sneakers
Squeeze eyes shut
Clench fists
Glasses flutter onto lap.
Open eyes
Clear skies
Full moon
Ralphie calling
“Where are you?”
Don’t answer
Sit for a spell.
“Sit for a spell!” Clever use of that word!
Very spooky! Like the hanging ending… and she does need to sit for a spell after the evening she’s had! Nice!
Fun perspective!
Wendalee’s Transportation Troubles
wc: 100
Linda Hofke
It’s time for the Halloween Ball.
Wendalee Witch zips her costume, sprays a fog of Perfectly Skunk perfume, reaches for her broomstick…
“Oops. Not again. I must stop misplacing things.”
Wendalee searches everywhere. No broomstick.
“I’ll make wings. Where’s my spellbook?”
Missing.
She simmers goblin guts, monster toes, mushrooms.
“That’s the potion…I think.”
Sip.
POOF!
Airplane wings?
She runs, tilts her wings and…
can’t take off.
She mixes in frozen feathers. Sips.
POOF!
Penguin wings?
“Penguins can’t fly!”
She stirs in fire ants. Drinks.
Nothing.
“I NEED WINGS!!!
POOF!
Buffalo wings on a plate?
“Yum. Maybe the ball can wait.”
LOL! What a clever ending?!
thanks, Anya-Kaye!
So cute! My grandchild misplaces his stuff all the time. Good luck!
thanks
Love this ending! And it makes me hungry….
thanks, Amanda 🙂
Clever take on wings!
thanks, Jamie
Buffalo Wings!? What a delicious mistake.
thanks, Lauri
ENTRY POSTED FOR CATHERINE
Halloween Leftovers
By Catherine Zampier
Word Count: 100
The fun is done, the fright is over
Mother and Father will enjoy leftovers
A steamy pot cooks costumes and bling
Mother adds string and wings from ugly things
With black cats and bats and pointy witch hats
Father plops masks and candy wrapper trash
Ghosts and goblins and spiders galore
Spells and smells of spookiness gore
Tossed and stirred over the fire so hot
Including the skeletons and cardboard robots
Mother and Father make it sizzle and fizzle
Into the best ever Halloween grizzle
No fog, no smog, no princessy frogs
Mother and Father are now ready for Thanksgiving!!
I love this! So musical. All those esses sizzle and fizzle. Great sound devices. A fun story that fits the brief in an original way. Well done.
Sing, Wings – Margaret Zotkiewicz
100 words
“Sit a spell,” Raven-Ma says from the tower.
I peer at Raven-Ma, her ebony wings a marvelous array.
“The moon is rising. We leave for the Midnight Flight once the fog vanishes.”
I feel invisible in the pea soup.
“My wings are too weak for the journey, Raven-Ma. How will I keep up with you?”
Raven-Ma flutters near.
“Follow me.” Raven-Ma rises, wings black against the glowing moon.
I fall with a thud to the ground.
“My wings are useless.”
“You know the spell, child.”
I close my eyes and whisper,
“Sing, wings, like Raven-Ma’s.”
I rise, and they do.
Ah, sweet. Parents know how to encourage their kids.
I love your lyrical writing! I can picture the thick fog and the moon. Very nice! Good luck!
Willow’s Winged Wonders [98 words]
By Stephanie Santana
Willow weaves her final webbed centerpiece. Voila! Her spooky décor will wow at the Halloween school party. Cauldron stuffed full of DIY goodies, she dons her black hat and opens the door…
But, oh! Fog as thick as a wolf’s winter coat!
“Wiggle wort!” cries Willow.
She scans her room for help.
A broom? Just for sweeping. A red nose? Dead batteries.
A spell?
“Of course! I’m most powerful on Halloween!”
She points at her toilet-paper bats—
POOF! Alive, the winged creatures fly, and pierce through the fog by sound.
And voila! Willow’s winged wonders wow the Wickedfest!
Inventive little Willow.
THE OWL’S SURPRISE
By Erin Zampaglione
Word count: 82
An owl at night is a spooky sight
On the eve of Halloween.
And the fear she brings on her silent wings
Is like none you’ve even seen.
Through the fog she dives with her claws like knives,
For her unsuspecting prey.
“Yes, this tiny beast will make one fine feast
When I carry it away.”
Suddenly, she veers! For it now appears
That her confidence is fleeting.
“Has a spell been cast? That’s no mouse! Alas,
It’s a kid out trick-or-treating!”
Phew! That was close! Love it!
Hilda the Witch Wants a Mask
By Helene Debelak
97 Words
Though frightened, Hilda the witch craved a mask sold by Troll in his foggy ditch. The one that glowed and spelled “boo” on top would make children scream when she leaped across their path on Halloween night.
Troll’s raspy voice called, “Come down if you dare. I have masks that stink like skunks, bloody ones with slits for eyes, and one with winged frogs dangling on each end.”
Her bony finger quivered as she reached toward the pit, but up he leaped across her path. She screamed.
Troll shook his head and croaked. “Hilda! Behave yourself tonight!”
So, Hilda is a troll?
Or a witch?
The Bat with Glowing Wings by CS (student-youth)
There once was a bat named Buster with light-up wings. Buster thought this was embarrassing and that others would laugh at him. He tried to get a spell from the magical sheep named Barley to change it.
But that Halloween was very foggy. The think fog made it hard to see. When Buster trick-or-treated, he found his glowing wings were useful and others thought so as well. He made some friends that night and invited them to a Halloween party. He now liked his wings and appreciated them. Happy Halloween!
Buster and Rudolf could start a club! This is super cute- good job.
Cute!🧙♀️
ENTRY POSTED FOR CLAIRE
Estella’s Spell at Witch School
by Claire Schlinkert
(92 words)
Estella delighted in creatures,
so Spells class was hardly her thing.
She’d never mix into her potions
an animal’s eye, toe or wing.
While friends’ cauldrons sparked pyrotechnics
or fumed with a luminous fog,
Estella’s spells flickered and faltered
for lack of a bat, newt or frog.
Estella spent Halloween scheming,
and saved every beast she could see,
then secretly doctored class parchments
to make the spells cruelty-free.
In horror, the witches expelled her.
Estella had zero regret,
and now has a stellar vocation:
she’s training to work as a vet.
Hi Claire! The metre and rhyme are superb. Love how Estella switches in the end to a more caring career!!! Good luck for the short listing Andy
Thank you, Andy!
Clever and delightful! Great ending image too
Thank you, Sarah!
Wonderful story!
Thank you!
I enjoyed reading this. Clever, fun to read, and current.
Thank you, Corine!
Claire and the Costume Contest
Reed Hilton-Eddy (100 words)
Claire relished her reflection wearing a regal robe and wonderful wings.
But she lost track of time concentrating on claiming first prize for her crafted costume at the Halloween Hoedown.
Worried- was she too late?
Determined that her darning would not be senseless she grabbed her garb and raced down the road.
Panting she paused and sat for a spell.
From the fogginess she saw forms of witches, ghosts, ghouls and werewolves.
Friends or foe?
Creepy creatures skip and sway.
Claire crept closer.
Then claws and paws pulled …
and placed her on the podium.
First, for all to admire.
So she won! Congrats Claire!
Fun! Love the language throughout.
The (Mis)Spell
Scott Wolf
98 words
“My spell will make the spookiest Halloween EVER!” Jana said.
“Wing of dead fly,
Tell the worst lie,
Hair of old shrew,
Witch who…AH-CHOO!!!”
Green fog spread everywhere.
“Did it work?” Stella asked.
An un-spooky sign hung at the first house: “TOOT OR TEETH”. They continued door-to-door. “This candy’s weird.” Stella held up Roosie’s Cops, KipKap and Free MustyEars bars.
“Oh no,” Jana cried, “It’s a MISspell! We’ve got to reverse it.”
“Try, ‘CHOO-AH.’” Stella tickled Jana’s nose with a feather.
“CHOO! AH, that’s better.”
The next sign read, “TRICK OR TREAT”. “Well?” asked Stella.
“Just treats, PLEASE!”
Cute! I hope Jana doesn’t sneeze again.
Who knows what would happen? 🙂
If you write a PB we’ll see.
Fun! Love the candy names.
You should try the Free MustyEars. I hear they’re…memorable.
Title: Candy? Okay.
by Greg Beatty
100 words
“Trick or Treat!”
“H-help me!”
Eric and Annamaria looked around.
“Must be a Halloween trick,” Eric said.
“Please! Help me!”
“Look over there,” Annamaria said.
“Over there” was a small bottle at the side of the porch.
They clutched their candy.
“What do you want?” Eric asked.
“Rub the bottle…”
When Annamaria rubbed the bottle, fog started leaking out. They heard the sound of beating wings, and…
“The spell is broken!”
The thing shouting those words was ten foot tall, with immense fangs.
“Cool costume!” Annamaria said.
“No—”
“We’re going to get so much candy!” Eric cried.
“Candy? Okay.”
Courageous kids. Even monsters love candy. Good luck!
Clever!
ENTRY POSTED FOR NORA
The Halloween Ball by Nora G. Ho | Word Count: 96
Shiver Hollow, ghostly town,
spirits all, reveal a frown.
Wingless creatures fly and shriek.
Welcome to Spooktober Week!
Mischief goblins tolling bells.
Cackling witches chant dark spells.
BONG…
Appearance by requests:
Our departed ghostly guests.
Bully Wind’s a mean one here.
Blows away all that’s near.
Swoosh, whoosh, beyond repair.
Stirring panic everywhere.
Misty Fog flooded with fear.
Faces Bully Wind, one bad peer.
Bothered not by fear’s smug grin.
Could their sharing be the win?
Throw out past suspicions.
Unite with new traditions.
Celebrate one and all.
Stomp to the beat at the Halloween Ball.
Smart Fog. Nice message within.
Love “Welcome to Spooktober Week”!
A Halloween Ball for Misty Fog and Bully Wind to settle conflicts. Fun narrative poem.
I love this, Nora – great imagery, wonderful rhyme, personification of Bully Wind and Misty Fog, and joyful message within!
A clever message presented in a delightful way. Well done.
Wolfie’s Spell
By Una Belle Townsend
100 words
Wolfie’s Spell
Miss Evans, Wolfie’s teacher, said, “Tomorrow is Halloween. You haven’t shown the class your spell yet.”
“I’ll practice tonight. It’s foggy, so if it doesn’t work, no one will know.”
At recess, Wolfie said to his friends, “What words will make the spell work instead of saying ‘hocus-pocus’?”
His friend Boo said, “Start with ‘Bats, beasts, and bogeymen.’”
Jimbo said “Weird, werewolf wizards.”
Halley said “Scary, screaming, skeletons.”
That night, Wolfie grinned an evil grin and yelled, “They must fly! I’ll make them fly!”
The next day, Miss Evans and all Wolfie’s classmates walked around the room with gigantic wings!
Naughty bat! He probably had a ball though. Good luck!
Nice twist at the end.
Thank you for your comment about a twist at the end of the story. It’s always fun when I can think of one.
Fun surprise!
Thank you, Sarah, for the comment. I really enjoy writing little “not too spooky” stories for the young listener or reader.
How fun!
Thank you for your comment. I enjoy writing, and I like to throw a twist in at the end when I can.