Scary Story Starters and Horror Writing Prompts for Paranormal Prose

Do you love scary stories? Halloween is a great time to explore horror fiction. But you don't just have to read it. You could try your hand at writing it. Maybe you have to write a spooky tale for school, a writers workshop, a Halloween flash fiction contest. What fun!



Wait, what's that? You're too afraid to try? If you can stand reading horror, you shouldn't fear a little ole' writing activity! I know what you mean, though. I taught creative writing for years and believe it or not, writing scares some students more than a bogeyman in the closet!



But trust me, it's not that bad. Who knows? You might even write the next Frankenstein. Mary Shelley wrote her famous horror work during a weekend house party game!



Maybe what you need is a little help in the form of some horror writing prompts and mystery story starters? I've compiled a few. Go hole up in a dark attic garret in a creepy Gothic mansion on a lonesome, windswept moor (or just imagine yourself there--for atmosphere) Read 'em over. Chew on them. Let the specter muses inspire. Off with you! Write us that new Edgar Allen Poe! Scary Story Starters and Horror Writing Prompts for Paranormal Prose - Bubblews

Creative Homemade Halloween or All Saints Day Party Invitation Ideas

Planning a Halloween party? Or maybe a Halloween alternative harvest party at church? Maybe you're Catholic and are throwing an All Saints Day party instead of Halloween. However you celebrate, skip boring paper invitations and try these creative unique ways to announce your party? Here are alternative party invitation and announcement ideas.

  Balloon: Purchase larger latex balloons. Inflate balloon. Write invitation message and party details in marker (silver for dark colors). Deflate and mail. Don't explain. Let guests figure out what to do.


  Jigsaw puzzle: purchase blank jigsaw puzzles or make your own. Write party message and details on assembled jigsaw puzzle. Take puzzle apart and mail pieces. Make your own jigsaw puzzle. Print a Halloween or party themed coloring page (lots of links on this blog). Cut out sides of cereal box. Glue to picture to colored side. Write message on plain side. Cut into pieces. Guests can use picture on the front to assemble message.


  Code Message Invitations: Write invitation in code. A simple code might for children's' parties is to represent letters with numbers 1-26. (A-1, B-2). For older kids use math problems with the letter number code.


  Treasure Map: Make a map of the party location. Write directions in code or clues. For example, we live on Columbus Ave. I might say, "You'll find the party on the street named for the guy who discovered our country."

  Edible invitations: Kids love these. Write the invitation message and details on sticks of chewing gum with food grade marker (found in cake decorating supplies section). Fruit Leather or Fruit Roll Ups work well too.

  Beaded bracelet: Buy cheap plastic letter and number beads. Compose invitation message and string on piece of yarn. Or write the details on a piece of paper and put words on the bracelet--Happy Halloween! Blessed All Saints Day! Or put saints medals on ribbon.

  For more awesome party ideas, visit me at www.diypartyplanner.blogspot.com and www.freeprintablecards4u.blogspot.com.

Homemade Animal Costumes, Habitats for Halloween

 Dramatic play develops preschool social, emotional, artistic, creative and communication skills. Plays lend themselves to all content. Here are homemade costumes, props and settings for life science theater. I call it bio-drama. Using recycled materials teaches real-life environmental science! These costumes and habitiats would be perfect for Halloween costumes. Make a spider in her web, bats, mammals, reptiles, insects and more.   Homemade Preschool Dramatic Play Animal Costumes, Habitats

Native American Indian Paper Bag Crafts for Thanksgiving

Many schools teach Native American Indian history. Around Thanksgiving in the autumn is a popular time to explore native themes. Here is a cross-curricular lesson plan and craft to make Native American costume from a paper bag. Perfect for Halloween.  Recycle Bin Native American Indian Paper Bag Crafts for Thanksgiving 

Furry Thief Goes Trick-or-Treating, Gets Halloween Harvest

A naughty, greedy deer is caught on camera pilaging a neighbor's bushes. Her excuse? Kids get candy from strangers at trick-or-treat. Why can't I do my own Halloween harvesting? Enjoy this funny photo expose we snapped. Furry Thief Caught in the Act

Vintage Gothic Haunted House Ideas

I recently did the Haunted Museum at our local historical society. I don't believe in spook houses nor in scaring kids but I thought it would have an educational bent. It didn't, so I tried to swing it vintage Gothic to get away from a gory a little. Here's how I scripted, costumed and staged it.  I Have a Flair For Scaring People with Gothic Horror, to My Chagrin

My Dual Purpose Halloween Costume, Boadicea Scary and Non-Scary

I will be dressing up for Halloween this year and I need two costumes--a non-scary one for helping at my daughter's school concert. I'm volunteering at our local "Haunted Museum." I'm not big on scary costumes. But a haunted event will draw kids to the museum and give them interactive experience with history outside ho-hum textbooks. Being a teacher, I want my costume to have educational value. My Dual Purpose Halloween Costume, Boadicea Scary and Non-Scary

Preschool Apple Themed Printables, Crafts, Lessons, Recipes

Apples are the perfect theme for fall lessons. And just in time for harvest and Halloween. Here's an interactive, cross-curricular apple unit with crafts, recipes, science, art, creative writing, math, social studies, practical life, field trips and community-builders. I've added free printable apple-themed lesson plans and worksheets for activity extenders.   Preschool Apple Unit, Cross-Curricular Hands-on Crafts, Activities, Recipes

Healthy Pumpkin Treats Kids Can Make

Boy, pumpkin sure is the theme--everything from IHOP pancakes to beer features it. And right in time for harvest and Halloween parties. So I thought, why not tap into that beta-carotene goodness for my Week-of-school-snacks and Five-day-school-lunch-menu series? Here are healthy recipes featuring pumpkin. Use fresh (use pumpkin, not a jack-o-lantern) or take my lazy way out and use canned--not pie filling. Involve toddlers and preschooler in preparations. Weekly Snack Menu, Healthy Pumpkin Themed Kids Treats

Paranormal Prose Flash Fiction Slam for Halloween

On another site I wrote for, we used to have an annual Halloween flash fiction contest. Several years in a row, I "hosted" a fiction share thread on our forum. We'd share our submissions, read each others' and have good spookable fun. I added submissions to my blog

thewritersgarden.blogspot.com

You can read preceding year's selections under "horror" and "Halloween" tag or by clicking the Paranormal Prose Promotion link list. Last year, I decided to resurrect (pun intended) that fright fest with a Paranormal Prose Promotion of Facebook (same idea). Here's a way you can get in on the Halloween hauntings. Visit Bubblews   Paranormal Prose Flash Fiction Slam for Halloween