ADVANCED WRITER HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE

📝 Min 100 · Max 150 words

🚪 ADVANCED — THE UNSEEN

Write a Halloween story where the most frightening thing is never directly shown or named.

Let us experience it through what your character hears, notices, avoids, remembers, or fears.

Your challenge: Make the reader see what you refuse to show them.

WORD COUNT: 150 WORDS MAXIMUM

🏆 Prizes

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First place

🏆 Win a BOOKPRESSED T-SHIRT

Will it make you a better writer? Probably not. Will you look suspiciously like you know what you’re doing? YES.

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Results

WINNER

Porch Swing Chills

by bagambrell

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Madeline stares at the gravel under her faded pink sneakers. Whoosh! Her body folds into itself, trying to block the sudden bitter breeze. The day had been pleasantly cool, but as the sun slips away from sight, the earth releases a chill that settles in her bones. Chuckle, chuckle. Madeline whips her head back toward two beaming faces. They motion her to continue, clapping their hands in encouragement. Clinching her fist around the plastic bucket handle, she pushes forward. Squeak. Creeeeakkk. Squeak. Creeeeakkk. She yanks at itchy fabric tightening around her. Steps clatter underfoot. Yellow light flickers above the porch. Squeak. Creeeeakkk. Squeak. Creeeeakkk. Madeline holds her breath. Heartbeats thud in her ears as she reaches the landing. Old, wooden boards groan under pink sneakers. She reaches out toward the bowl. Squeak. Creeeeakkk. Pause. "You didn't say trick or treat." "AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Madeline throws the bucket and runs.

1 vote