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30 Best Halloween Short Story Ideas

Showing 30 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.

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Write a story about a family who goes pumpkin picking, only to discover that at some point their prize pumpkins have been mysteriously switched with others from the patch. What happens next?

Set your story on a hayride. Bonus points if a headless horseman makes an appearance.

A group of students hold a high-stakes competition to see who can carve the best jack-o-lantern. The class clown is appointed the judge.

Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.

Each year, the Springers host the town's most epic Halloween costume party. You're determined to win the grand prize this year, except that this year the theme is "Willy Wonka."

Write a story about a young couple getting into their first argument over what costume their pet should wear on Halloween.

Write a story about a family adopting a black cat, just in time for Halloween.

You are the Grinch who hates Halloween, and your mission this year is to replace every single Ferroro Rocher with brussel sprouts.

Write a story about a group of five friends who set out at night for trick or treating… and when they return, they're only four.

Someone has been stealing from other kids' pools of candy on Halloween. This means war.

You've been turned into a ghost! Now the fun part begins. Who do you pick to haunt, and why?

A group of friends go pumpkin picking at a local farm and have a competition to see who can find the biggest pumpkin. Plot twist: the farm has a previous reputation for being haunted.

A group of high school students go on an educational field trip to a graveyard to learn about the history of the area. But when a storm starts up and they get trapped, they have to figure out how to survive the night.

Write a story using the Halloween colors somewhere in the piece: orange, black, purple, and green.

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