Halloween Countdown: Getting ready for NaNoWriMo

It's clear that Halloween is my favourite time of the year, but a very close second is the month of November—which kicks of National Novel Writing Month, a global event that challenges writers of all levels to write 50,000 words.

Obviously that number is a bit high for me (I usually aim for 5,000, which is about 167 words a day) but I love knowing that millions of people are pounding away at their keyboards, or furiously jotting things down in their notebooks. (I tend to do both.)

I'm planning to do NaNoWriMo again this year—but with a twist.

I'm going to do the YOUTH program, which I think is new this year. Here's the link for you to check out.

And because it was such a hit for the past two years, I'm combining my two favourite months to write one creeptastic Halloween story—again. (I really am best at monsters!) Below, I've found seven spooktacular story prompts to get your (and my) imagination gurgling.

Take a look, and see if something stokes your writing fire.

1. If you could create your very own monster, what would it look like? What would it be called? What types of things would it do to scare people? Where does this monster live? Share everything there is to know about your monster! 
2. Do you love trick-or-treating? Dressing up in costumes? Haunted houses? Scary movies? Write a poem about your favorite part of Halloween, telling why it is special to you. (You don't have to write a 10-page sonnet, why not try a Haiku like in the Superman Duffy graphic novel 5-7-5 Errand Boy?) 
3. 
Write a story about a kid who goes trick-or-treating. Start from the minute he or she puts on his or her costume and finish when he or she gets home and put on normal clothes again. What are some of the adventures that happen in those few hours?
4. 
If your parents threw you a Monster Bash, what would you want to see? How would you want them to decorate the house? What types of food and activities would you have? 
5. What was the best Halloween you ever had? What made it great? What would make this Halloween even better than that?
6. Write a spooky story to tell around the campfire. Remember, you want to build suspense using onomatopoeia and alliteration. Don’t forget to have a big finale to frighten everyone who is listening.
7. If you could design a haunted house, what types of rooms would you have? Describe, in detail, three of the best rooms in your haunted house—and who is haunting them.

So, will your write about your favourite part of Halloween, or draft an adventure for a curious trick-or-treater? Or maybe you'll pen a spooky story for your next campfire. Whatever you write, I'd love to read it!

Send your short stories to me, and I'll send you a copy of BENEATH THE SOIL, the spookiest book in the Superman Duffy series of educational graphic novels.

Gotta jet! Get writing—but don't forget to take a break tomorrow to check out my blog for another Halloween Countdown post.

~ Chase Superman Duffy