Spooky Stories Writing Prompts
Spooky Tales Studio
Hollow Creek Mysteries • Creative Writing Series
Level 1: Visual Story Starters
Author:
Date:
The Secret of the Pumpkin Patch
Look at each spooky picture scene below. Read the picture clues, then finish each sentence starter to tell the story!
Moon • Jack-o'-Lantern
Part 1 • Beginning
On Halloween night, I crept past the creaky fence and saw...
Scene 2
Key
Ghost • Golden Key
Part 2 • The Twist
Suddenly, a friendly ghost floated out and handed me a key that...
Scene 3
Treasure Chest • Treats
Part 3 • Ending
We unlocked the mystery chest and discovered the happiest surprise because...
Writer's Checklist:
Used the picture clues
Capital letters at start
End punctuation (. or !)
Spooky Tales Studio
Hollow Creek Mysteries • Creative Writing Series
Level 2: Guided Sentence Starters
Author:
Date:
The Whispering Trunk in the Attic
On Halloween night, a sudden gust blew your attic window wide open. Behind the dusty velvet curtains, an ancient wooden trunk began to rattle and hum. Complete the story below using each sentence starter!
1 When I crept up the creaking stairs and lifted the heavy bronze latch, I saw...
2 Suddenly, the glowing mist poured out and transformed into...
3 My heart raced, but I knew I had to be brave, so I quickly...
4 Before the clock struck midnight, the mysterious secret of the trunk was finally...
Writer's Checklist:
Capital letters
Spooky sensory details
Complete ending
Spooky Tales Studio
Hollow Creek Mysteries • Creative Writing Series
Level 3: Word Bank Explorer
Author:
Date:
The Phantom of the Clocktower
At the stroke of midnight on Halloween, the abandoned town clocktower chimed thirteen times. The massive brass gears began spinning backwards, and a glowing green mist curled down the cobblestone street...
Spooky Word Bank Check off at least 4 words as you write!
Describing
eerie
cobblestone
spine-chilling
decrepit
Nouns
gargoyle
pendulum
phantom
skeleton key
Verbs
trembled
unraveled
vanished
echoed
Sounds
screeching
clanking
deafening
whisper
Word Hunter Goal:
Target: Used at least 4 bank words
Words Used: / 4
Spooky Tales Studio
Hollow Creek Mysteries • Creative Writing Series
Level 4: Master Storyteller
Author:
Date:
The Midnight Carnival of Shadows
Open Prompt
Every hundred years on Halloween night, a traveling carnival appears in Hollow Creek for exactly three hours before vanishing into thin air. You and your friends step through the glowing wrought-iron gates, but as soon as you enter, your golden ticket changes into an ominous riddle. Write the story of what happened next.
Character & Costume
The Carnival's Secret
The Daring Escape
Story Title:
Narrative Goals:
Suspense & pacing
Sensory atmosphere
Climax & resolution
