Just say it; let it clunk about in the back of your throat: October. It’s the coolest name for a month, and the coolest month by far. The earth itself (the top half, anyway) is literally cooling down, the air getting damp. Spiders are spinning webs, skeleton hands clawing their way through moist earth towards the night. Coffins creaking open, full moons shining, wolves howling. Good times.
Yes, Halloween is coming. Spookiness will soon be afoot. It’s the 4th Annual…
…boo!
The month of October will once again be a month of Halloweeny fun here on Waltbox. I love a good horror story now and again. Not too often, mind you, because I scare too easily and I’m slow to recover – which may be why the genre doesn’t run too terribly deep in my writerly bones. But by way of celebrating the season I will be trotting out a few pieces from the archives, and a few new ones that are stewing in the cauldron as well. We will revel in the dark, with ghosts and killers and the undead. It will be a hoot.
And you are invited!
To read of course, yes, but also to share, if you’d like. If you sense that someone, or something, is watching you, standing behind you in the dark, reaching out to lay a claw on your shoulder while you fumble for the light, turn it into a Halloweenish piece that’s NO MORE THAN 899 WORDS (trust me, I’ve been doing this a long time — 899 is more than enough, and the fewer the words the more the readers) and post it in the comments below or email it via the contact thingy. If it strikes a chord I will post it as a guest post.
Just one thing to remember: we here at Waltbox (and by we I mean I, you know, the royal we) are not into gore for gore’s sake. A bloodbath is not scary, just unpleasant and tragic, and there’s enough of that in real life. The fun kind of scary is what’s unknown. Unexplained. Supernatural. But of course Halloween doesn’t have to be scarifying either. It can be silly and weird, too. (You’ll see).
Bwa hah har hooooh…owww. Hurt muhself.
YAY!!!! Walt’s back for Halloween! This is gonna be fun. 🙂
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Hooray!! 🙂
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If it’s not supposed to be violent mister than why the blood hand-writing and the shadow of someone holding a snowman’s nose? Or is that a stork? It’s a stork. No, a turkey with the wings cut off by the camera, that’s dark. Those are subway tiles and it reminds me of Blair Witch, thanks for that.
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It’s a flamingo, you nitwit. Also, those kids in Blair Witch didn’t go anywhere near a Subway and there’s nothing scary about a six inch turkey on wheat, anyway.
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Oh, I remember this from last year, which means fall is here! (Hard to tell when it was 103 in the desert.) Looking forward to your stories. Glad you set some limits for the scaredy-cats amongst us…not that it’s me or anything….🙀
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Fall hasn’t gotten to Texas either. It’s been in the 100s this week here too. But after five years in Ohio, however many weeks of 100 degrees-plus I have to take, I will take. I don’t need any more weeks of 10 degrees below or foot-deep snow! 🙂
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Ooh no, I want some cold weather. We’ve been baking in Barcelona for months, and I want it to rain, and rain big.
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I wish you lots of rain and cool weather, good sir!
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You’ve sure given us time to think about it. Thanks!
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Plenty of time to think yourself into a corner, with something dark and sinister approaching?
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Well…I must say Mr. Walker I am very quite insulted oh not by your words but your lack of words as you describe all the deliciousness of Halloween you left us out
Who doesn’t like a creepy spider crawling down ones back
Or the peaceful sound of wolves howling through the dark dreary fog of the night
You came close and I thought you almost had it when your Full Moon came out to light your path
But you neglected the most important part of Halloween
The part that makes Halloween Halloween and without us it would be nothing more than just another night!
For us everyday is Halloween and by the way we could teach you some very valuable uses for those creaking coffin nails you spoke about
So what would Halloween be if on that night as the veil between the World’s of the Spirits and the Mortals becomes so very thin that the Spirits come back to earth and join us for a late night supper
Halloween would not exist without us and you Mr. Walker forgot all about who we are
We could put a spell on you and at the moment the Council is out taking a vote
So beware…Mr. Walker for on that night we fly…
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Okay. That is actually scary.
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Reblogged this on hocuspocus13 and commented:
jinxx👻xoxo
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October was already great but now it’s even better. I love being scared and look forward to reading.
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You should have some fun with it. Submit something!! 🙂
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I believe I will!
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Doesn’t the day-to-day grind contain enough terror, enough gore, for any man (or woman)? Why call additional attention to it? I’m surprised the genre even exists. Well, let’s see. I’m typing this from Bryant Park in New York City. I just looked up and a guy has unbuttoned his dress shirt and is wiping his armpits with a napkin. I’m dead serious. Isn’t that scary enough?
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That you were typing in such a place at such a god-awful hour of the morning is kind of scary itself. But nothing is scarier than the upcoming election, I think. We could use some escape from that, at least.
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Did you know they’re expecting an audience of 100M+ for the debate on Monday night? It’s supposed to get Super Bowl numbers. A cat fight ratings bonanza.
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No, I didn’t know that. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Probably a bad thing, I’m thinking.
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Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
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Thanks, Kate!
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You’re very welcome, it’s not Halloween without Waltoween
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Love the ‘Waltoween’
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🙂
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Waltoween is so scary sounding, which is odd, since Walt is a funny name, overall.
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You mock me, but that’s okay. I will allow it, since you are a vicious fighter who might best me in combat. Might, I say.
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I don’t know…one way to find out! Let’s strip, oil, and get ready for an epic wrestle.
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Well, that sounds a bit much. Maybe I’ll send you-know-who.
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What?! I’m not doing that with him, you sicko!
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Is this picture of your muscles meant to frighten us? Because, if you’re not aware of it, I’m certain all the Ghost, Spirits & Goblins are laughing their & Booing You!
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No way. Even the ghosts and goblins fear the great Dick Hercules. He’s who the goons go to when they need a goon.
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Good Comeback 😎
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Count me in! I’ll nip down to the crypt, pull out my quill and use my reserve of leached blood to write a suitably goose bumpy tale 🙂
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Slip it inside a hollowed out femur and send it by carrier-bat, if you would. Thanks!
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🙂
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Dude I’m in.
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I would LOVE to have you contribute something!!
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I’m gonna enjoy visiting this space, I’m sure ! ☠️👀
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Thanks for stopping by!
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It seems like you really love Halloween! Check out these tips to help it be the best yet! https://treelovinghippy.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/green-halloween/
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Nice!! i just wrote an interesting fiction on Halloween
check it out here: https://mypotentwords.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/halloween/
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I’m glad there is someone who has the same level of appreciation for the holiday as I do!!
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There’s lots of us! Next around, you should think about contributing something!
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I did write a top five list for movies to satisfy a Halloween craving
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I wanted to ‘like’ this, but I had liked last year, before it was written, and commented too, which is … spooky …
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Time is weird like that.
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Hurray! Love Waltoween! Will contributed if I can think of a creepy enough idea 🙂
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Would love it! Also, I still have your previous creepiness in the waltvault if you don’t mind me reposting.
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Repost away! Looking forward to your month long creepathon. Now, I just have to think of a story …
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Reblogged this on Word Shamble and commented:
For any of you out there who love to read or write a spooky story, here’s a fun opportunity not to miss. The very talented writer Walt Walker is running his fourth annual ‘Waltoween’ festival. It’s an opportunity for you to stretch your mind towards the eerie, the creepy and downright terrifying. Walt will be sharing selected stories all month, so get your fright pants on!
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Thank you Lynn! Looking forward to some haunting contributions from your talented writerly friends!!
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will it be scary
3
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Woooo creepy stuffs again…creeping me outtt.
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We aim to please, round here.
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Awesome read! Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks!
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Thanks!
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always
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