Writing Prompts

September 25, 2026

Do you love the classic coziness of autumn, with the vibrant shades of fallen leaves, the soft warmth of a chunky sweater, and the spicy smell of cinnamon wafting from your pumpkin chai latte? Or, does your heart begin to race as your thoughts turn to spooky season, with specters peeking from the attic windows of decrepit Victorian houses, bare tree branches reaching their bony fingers toward the full moon as a bat flies past, and the haunting strands of music from some ancient, unseen Victrola serving as the soundtrack to your walk past a graveyard on your way home for the night? If so, feel free to let the following prompts serve as your muse for inspiring your own fall- and/or Halloween-themed creative works!

General Prompts:

• A cafe that only opens on Halloween or only during autumn

• The smell of autumn

• A fond fall memory

• Academics and Halloween

• A crow funeral

  • Note: Crow funerals are a real phenomenon!

Question Prompts:

• Where do all of the display pumpkins go after the fall season is finished?

• Does autumn hold any sort of symbolism for you personally? (It's okay if this answer is unique to you/your experience!)

• If you were a child, what argument might you make for why schools should be closed on Halloween? Share your ideas from a child's perspective.

Photo Prompts:

• What stories do you see behind our photo prompts (which you can access by clicking on the links below)? Let your imagination run wild as you consider the answers!

  • Ivy-covered building

  • Jumping spider