Writing Exercise

A Halloween Story That Flows

October 14, 2026

          Write a fictional short story of approximately 500–1000 words with a clear Halloween theme. Your story may be spooky, humorous, mysterious, nostalgic, whimsical, or quietly reflective, but it should include some recognizable element of Halloween—such as costumes, trick-or-treating, a haunted house, an autumn night, a strange visitor, a ghost story, a jack-o’-lantern, or something unexpected that happens on Halloween.

         The main craft goal of this exercise is to practice syntactic flow—the way sentence structure helps readers move smoothly through your writing. As you draft and revise your story, pay particular attention to how your sentences connect, how your ideas move from one moment to the next, and how your sentence structure either helps or hinders the reader’s experience.

Your story should intentionally use at least two of the following techniques from the study material:

• Transitions
  Use words or phrases that help the reader understand how one sentence or idea relates to the next. These might signal contrast, continuation, cause and effect, sequence, emphasis, or conclusion.

• Subordination
  Use dependent clauses to connect ideas more smoothly within sentences. Let some clauses serve as “ramps” into or out of the main idea rather than making every thought stand alone as a separate sentence.

• Modification
  Use modifiers—such as participial phrases, descriptive phrases, or other sentence additions—to fold supporting details into your sentences without forcing the reader through too many stops and starts.

          However, do not make every sentence long and flowing. Your story should also include intentional sentence variety. Use shorter, sharper sentences where they create emphasis, tension, humor, surprise, or emotional impact. Remember, the goal is not merely to make the writing smooth. The goal is to make it smooth enough to carry the reader forward while still giving the story texture and energy.

Story Requirements

Your story should include:

• A Halloween-themed setting, event, or conflict.

• A clear beginning, middle, and end.

• Approximately 500–1000 words.

• At least two syntactic flow techniques from the study:

  • 1. transitions,

    2. subordination,

    3. modification.

• At least three intentional short sentences used for effect.

• At least one paragraph revised specifically for improved flow.

• A readiness to explain, during the meeting, where and how you used the chosen techniques.

Optional Starting Prompts

If you need a doorway into the story, you may begin with one of the following ideas:

• A child receives the same piece of candy from every house on the street.

• A jack-o’-lantern keeps changing its expression.

• Someone answers the door on Halloween night and sees a costume they recognize from childhood.

• A group of trick-or-treaters finds one old house that was not there last year.

• An elderly neighbor gives out something stranger than candy.

• A costume seems ordinary until midnight.

• A person who dislikes Halloween becomes responsible for saving it.

You are welcome to use one of these prompts, change one, or ignore them entirely. 

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