The only terrifying thing about the hideous 70s and 80s store-bought Halloween costumes was the cancer one might get after exposure to all the synthetic materials. It always seemed repulsive to me how they had pictures and logos on the bad polyester shirt and didn’t even try to make a kid look like a character. The masks were poorly made from a single piece of plastic and the weakest rubber-bands known to man. Their appearance was usually very disturbing… even if the character was cute and cuddly. I have wanted to somehow incorporate these terrible costumes into a story, but have not had the opportunity. Luckily, Halloween for authors has a lot of other sources of inspiration.
Ultimately, Halloween is a celebration of storytelling. From the ghost tales told around campfires to the horror movies that have become a staple of the season, it is a time when people come together to share in the thrill of the unknown. As a writer, you can tap into this collective energy, drawing on the feelings, traditions, and fears that Halloween evokes to create a novel that is as thrilling and mysterious as the holiday itself. Whether you’re writing horror, fantasy, mystery, or even romance, Halloween’s magic can be the spark that ignites your imagination, leading you into the depths of your story and beyond.
Halloween for authors as a setting
One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about Halloween is the setting. The season’s visual elements, from mist-covered graveyards to flickering jack-o’-lanterns, create a sense of mystery and suspense that can provide the perfect backdrop for a novel. Imagine starting your story in a small, isolated town where every street is lined with tall, skeletal trees, their bare branches swaying in the autumn wind. The air smells of damp leaves and wood smoke, and the nights arrive earlier, longer, and darker. There’s an inherent magic in this, a sense that anything can happen when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thinnest.
Let’s look at the obvious example: the movie. The original. I refuse to accept the remakes as anything but derivative trash. The setting of Halloween plays a crucial role in creating its iconic spooky atmosphere. Set in the fictional small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, the film’s quiet suburban streets, lined with seemingly idyllic homes and leafy trees, evoke a sense of normalcy that contrasts with the lurking terror. The story takes place during fall, with dead leaves scattered across the streets and a chill in the air, enhancing the sense of isolation. The frequent use of dimly lit interiors, shadowy corners, and long, eerie nighttime sequences heightens the tension. The neighborhood, which should feel safe and familiar, becomes a place of dread as Michael Myers stalks his victims, turning the everyday into something menacing. The setting’s blend of suburban tranquility and darkness mirrors the film’s theme of evil hiding in plain sight, intensifying the horror.
A story that weaves together the playful elements of Halloween with its more sinister side could create a unique tone that balances light and shadow, leaving readers both thrilled and charmed.
Dive deeper
But Halloween isn’t just about the setting—it’s about the characters who inhabit it. From witches to werewolves, from restless spirits to masked strangers, the holiday’s lore is filled with figures that can serve as the foundation for a compelling cast. These archetypal characters allow for creative freedom. You can draw on familiar myths, like that of the Headless Horseman, or invent entirely new legends, taking inspiration from Halloween’s themes of transformation, the unknown, and facing fear. Perhaps your protagonist is a reluctant witch, someone who has inherited powers they don’t fully understand and must come to terms with their abilities as darkness begins to spread across their town.
Another aspect of Halloween that lends itself beautifully to novel writing is its focus on the supernatural. The holiday’s deep connection with spirits, ghosts, and otherworldly beings opens up possibilities for exploring themes of life, death, and what lies beyond. Consider a story where the barrier between life and death is broken, allowing ghosts to walk freely among the living, with both positive and terrifying consequences. This could lead to a novel rich in suspense, emotion, and moral complexity, as your characters are forced to confront not only their fears but also the unfinished business of their pasts.
Halloween also evokes a certain childlike wonder—a nostalgia for the days of trick-or-treating, elaborate costumes, and the excitement of a night when the rules are different and the ordinary world feels just a little bit magical. This sense of wonder can infuse your novel with an underlying sense of fun and enchantment, even in the midst of dark or terrifying events. A story that weaves together the playful elements of Halloween with its more sinister side could create a unique tone that balances light and shadow, leaving readers both thrilled and charmed. Perhaps you write a novel where a group of children stumbles upon an ancient curse while out trick-or-treating, and they must work together to break it before Halloween night is over.
