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66 Halloween Writing Prompts for Middle School: Spooky Fun for Everyone!

It’s that time of year again when the leaves change color, the days get shorter, and pumpkins appear on doorsteps. Yes, it’s almost Halloween! This is a great time for students to get creative and have fun writing. We’ve put together a list of spooky writing prompts for middle school students that will get their imaginations flowing. Whether they are writing essays or stories, or journaling about their thoughts and feelings, these prompts will surely provide some Halloween fun!

Halloween Writing Prompts for Persuasive Writing

An opinion writing prompt is a great way to get your students to think critically about a topic. They can be used in any genre and are especially helpful if you want to teach your students how to write persuasively.

  1. What does Halloween mean to you?
  2. Why do we celebrate Halloween? What message does it send to society, and what does it say about our values and beliefs?
  3. Do you think Halloween is scary or fun? Why do you think that?
  4. Why do you love or dislike Halloween?
  5. How would you describe Halloween night?
  6. What’re some of the best things about Halloween activities? What’re some things that are annoying about Halloween activities? Why do you think these things are good or bad?
  7. What would make this year’s Halloween the best?
  8. Do you think it’s good when people dress up as vampires, werewolves, and witches for Halloween? Why or why not?
  9. How do you think people should dress up for Halloween parties and events like this one night a year where everyone has fun (or is scared) with their costumes, makeup, masks, or whatever else they wear? Do these rules apply even if someone doesn’t have a chance to dress up because they don’t have any money left after buying all the presents/pumpkins/etc.?
  10. What do you like least about Halloween? And why?
  11. What’s the best part about being in middle school in October? Why is it so great during this time of year? Or do you think October will be better when you’ll be in high school?
  12. Do you think Halloween is too commercialized these days? Why or why not?
  13. If you could give one piece of advice on celebrating Halloween this year, what would it be?
  14. Do you like to get spooky on Halloween, or are you more of a party person?
  15. Should schools celebrate Halloween? Why or why not?
  16. Do you think it’s okay for adults to dress up like children on Halloween night? Why or why not?

Reactivate Memories With Halloween Writing

Memories make us who we’re today and how we act in the future. Writing about the past can help story starters learn from their mistakes, celebrate their successes, and get an idea of where they’ve been, so they know where they want to go next (e.g., better prepare for high school).

Halloween writing prompts will help your students reflect on their past and inspire them to write.

  1. Write about your first experience with Halloween
  2. Write about your favorite Halloween memory.
  3. What’s the scariest thing that happened to you on Halloween?
  4. Write about something that scared you as a child but doesn’t scare you anymore. Do you’ve any Halloween superstitions? What’re they, and how do they affect how you celebrate the vacation (if at all)?
  5. Write about the scariest thing that happened to you.
  6. Describe how you were once scared of something that turned out to be harmless.
  7. Write about something that happened to you last year on Halloween.
  8. Write about someone who taught you to be brave on Halloween or in general! What did that person say or do? How did it help you?
  9. Write about an event where you were afraid of something that wasn’t real.
  10. Write about the scariest thing that happened to someone else.

Improve Their Writing Skills by Getting Them to Describe

Description is one of the most important parts of writing. It creates a picture in the reader’s mind and helps them connect with what the author is saying.

  1. Write about your favorite Halloween costume during childhood.
  2. Write about what you’re going to go as for Halloween this year.
  3. What’re your plans for Halloween this year? Describe how you plan your celebration.
  4. What’re your favorite scary stories you’ve heard at school or around the neighborhood? Can you remember any specific details that stuck with you today?
  5. What’s your favorite Halloween movie?
  6. Who’s your favorite character in a horror movie?
  7. Write down what scares you the most and why.
  8. Write down what would scare your parents if they knew and what wouldn’t scare them, and why those two things are different.
  9. Describe your favorite Halloween candy.
  10. What’s your favorite thing to wear on Halloween? And why?
  11. What kind of costumes do you like to wear on Halloween? Why this type of costume?
  12. Describe your worst Halloween costume ever.
  13. What’s the most unusual costume you’ve seen at a costume party or on Halloween night?
  14. Write about someone creepy, but not in a bad way (e.g., a neighbor).
  15. Write a poem about your favorite vacation tradition.

Fun Writing Prompts for Creative Writing

Halloween is the perfect time to spark your kids’ Halloween creative writing activity. Whether you’re having a fun costume party or just getting ready to go trick-or-treating, here are a few October writing prompts to help your kids use their imaginations and explore the world of fantasy:

How would you answer if someone dressed as a witch asked for directions?

  1. What do you think it would be like to be a ghost?
  2. If you could be a ghost on Halloween, what would you do?
  3. If you could create your monster, what would it look like?
  4. If you could fly on a magic broomstick, where would you fly?
  5. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? And why?
  6. Write a story about a haunted house.
  7. If you were stuck in a haunted house, who’d you call for help?
  8. Write a story about a child who’s afraid of the dark, but then something happens that changes that fear.
  9. Write a story about two children who go trick-or-treating and see a ghost.
  10. Write a story about a ghost that’s not scary but sweet and kind.
  11. Write about a ghost that’s bored of haunting.
  12. If you could talk to a ghost, what would you say?
  13. How do you imagine a Halloween party when you’ll be in high school? How will Halloween fun differ from middle school?
  14. Write about one thing that would never scare you.
  15. What would happen if you opened a door and found yourself face to face with a monster?
  16. If Halloween was celebrated in the summer, would it be different?
  17. Imagine celebrating Halloween on the moon; how would that feel?
  18. Who’d it be and why if you could pick one person to spend Halloween with?
  19. Where would it be and why if you could pick any place to spend Halloween?
  20. If you could pick the date for Halloween, when would it be and why?
  21. Do you believe in ghosts or other supernatural beings? Why or why not?
  22. If you could change one part of Halloween, what would it be? How would you change it?
  23. Write a short story about a vampire who wants to become human again.
  24. Where would you go if you were invisible?
  25. Who’d you choose if a superhero could save you from ghosts on Halloween?

Create a Context

To inspire your middle school students to write around a creative writing prompt, you should create a context before giving them the assignment to work on.

Here are a few ideas for this task:

  • First, ask them what kind of short story they’d like to write. This will help you figure out if you need to adapt the prompt you give them or if it’s too general for their tastes.
  • Point out to them that this is a fantasy story, not a real-life scary story – this will help them focus on the elements of storytelling rather than what happens in real life.
  • Give them a setting: where’s the Halloween story set? Who’s there? Is there anything unusual about the place? What do they see when they look around? What do they smell? Etcetera…
  • Then give them something happening: What’re the characters doing right now? What’re they talking about? Are they having fun together, or are they arguing? How do they feel about each other right now? Etcetera…
  • Finally, ask your students questions about their characters: Who’re these people? Why are they here today? What do they want most in life right now?

Use Pictures or Short Videos

You can help your students write Halloween-themed stories by using additional materials:

  • Use pictures or short videos to get them into your fall writing prompts. A picture is worth a thousand words – the trick is to use it to get your students in the Halloween mood and spark their creativity during the Halloween writing activity!
  • Ask them to describe what they see in the picture or video. If someone says, “I see a girl with long brown hair,” have them describe what kind of girl they see (tall, short), what color her hair is (dark brown), etc. Then have them add more details (she’s pigtails) or ask another question (she’s wearing a purple sweater).
  • Ask children to describe the characters in the Halloween story and their feelings about those characters using words from their class vocabulary list (e.g., friendly, mean). This will teach them how to use language effectively and improve their writing skills at the same time!