Looking for Halloween writing prompts to inspire some seriously spooky storytelling? You’ve come to the right place.
Children are fascinated by Halloween and all its mysterious goings-on. Haunted buildings, ghostly shadows, abandoned fairgrounds and unexplained events can spark their imaginations and give them plenty to write about.
These eight spooky writing prompts will help your pupils explore suspense, atmosphere, descriptive language and storytelling, while bringing a touch of Halloween excitement into the classroom.
Each prompt comes with six ready-made writing activities, including a story starter, word bank and punctuation challenge, giving you everything you need to get your class talking, thinking and writing.
The children know that Halloween is supposed to feel spooky, but something about this particular place does not feel right. As an eerie pumpkin glares at them, the bravest member of the group takes a cautious step forward.
“They knew it was Halloween. Things were meant to be spooky. They were meant to be scary.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
A ghostly galleon appears and disappears among the black ocean waves. Some believe the mysterious ship is cursed, while others say it protects sailors in danger. Now, a group of brave souls is about to see it up close.
“Shrouded in a veil of sea mist, the ghostly galleon swept through the black ocean water.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
A mysterious shadow vanishes into the fog. Although every instinct tells her to turn back, curiosity draws one traveller deeper into the woods.
“One second you saw it, the next you didn’t. The ghostly shadow vanished into the mist.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
The Northern Railroad has been abandoned since a terrible disaster in 1911. As a group of friends shares old stories around a campfire, the shrill sound of a steam train echoes in the distance.
“It had been many years since the shrill shriek of a steam train puffing along the track had been heard in these parts.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
Lucy approaches a ghostly house hidden within the woods. Its stairs are rotten, its silhouette is unsettling and a gathering of sharp-eyed crows appears to be watching her every move.
“The night was still, an eerie silence filling the air. The crows’ wings flapped as they returned to their nest, breaking the quiet.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
An abandoned church stands at the top of a forgotten village hill. Very few people dare to approach it, but those who do report hearing strange noises from behind its ivy-covered walls.
“Atop a forgotten village hill stands the old Church on the Hill. It is eerie and abandoned, covered in ivy.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
Rumours have always suggested that the dusty mirror inside an abandoned manor house is haunted. When the glass suddenly turns to dust, a mysterious grey wolf emerges from within.
“In an abandoned manor house at the edge of town stood an old mirror, covered in dust.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
A group of adventurous friends enters a fairground that has been left to decay. As rusty rides creak, lights flicker and ghostly laughter echoes around them, they begin to wonder whether investigating was a terrible mistake.
“The once-bustling fairground now lay silent, covered in vines and cobwebs. A sense of unease hung heavy in the air.”
Can your class continue the story?
See all six writing activities that accompany this image.
These spooky prompts can inspire a variety of writing activities. Your class could:
Before writing, encourage pupils to collect vocabulary that creates a tense and unsettling atmosphere. Think about what the characters can see, hear and feel, then explore how short sentences, carefully chosen verbs and unanswered questions can build suspense.
Halloween writing does not have to be terrifying. Funny ghosts, friendly monsters and magical mishaps can work just as well, particularly for younger children or pupils who prefer something less frightening.
Whether your pupils choose to explore a haunted church, follow a ghostly shadow or investigate an abandoned fairground, these prompts are sure to inspire stories filled with mystery and imagination.