Open-Ended Spooky Stories
Open-ended stories can provide excellent creative writing motivation. Here are two eerie Halloween story self-starters. Pass out paper to each student. Then read one of these open ended stories aloud to the group. Get the group involved in the story and then stop at its end with a real flourish, instructing each of them to finish the story in the same style.
- Open-Ended Story 1: Just as I was turning to see where the voice came from, I heard the door behind me slam shut! I ran to it and tried to push it open but, of course, it was locked. Now we had to go on; we could not turn back . . . . Chris and Megan called softly to me and I groped my way toward them in the dark. "I think we can still make it if we just stick together and don't panic," Megan cautioned. "Here, let's use my belt to keep us together. We can each hold onto part of it as we walk along and even if we can't see, we can at least know where . . . ." The belt flew out of my hands as Megan's voice fell away beneath us! I fumbled in the dark for a second and then said, "Darn it! Why didn't I think of this before? Right then and there I produced . . .
Open-Ended Story 2: The hunchbacked figure beckoned to us to follow him, and we entered the castle, our teeth chattering. The hunchback turned and looked at us. He laughed softly and said, "Don't fall behind. People have gotten lost in these hallways and starved to death before they were found . . . hee-hee-hee!" He led us into a huge room where a whole tree was blazing in the fireplace. I noticed some golden eyes glowing in the far-off corner. "Don't be worried, my dear," our host assured me, "that is just Fiona and she's not one bit hungry. She ate an entire piglet just this morning." At the sound of the hunchback's voice, Fiona growled sweetly. "I will be back shortly with some hot chocolate. You warm yourselves by the fire until I return." He turned sharply, and with narrowed eyes, warned us: "But do not attempt to leave this room, my dears" . . . .
Some students may enjoy reading their endings aloud for the rest of the class to appreciate.
Excerpted from The Complete Teacher's Almanack: A Daily Guide to All 12 Months of the Year by Dana Newman.
