Spooktacular Dollar Challenge (October Edition 🎃 🕯)

Here's the challenge I set for September:

Dollar Challenge - Country Edition

If you're not familiar with these little prompts from me, let me catch you up.

The idea was to do them monthly, but of course life has a way of happening!

They are quotes that inspired me, or stuck with me in some way. They might be from books, songs, or films. From anywhere, really.

This is the prompt I gave for September:

I'm much too young to feel this damn old

- Garth Brooks

This time, there were six entries, if I've counted up right. One was awarded Top Story, and three had a go at the Stretch challenge: 500 word fiction without the personal pronoun (I).

The Responses

Without further ado, then, here are the entries:

Under the Blood Moon by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin

To Never Grow Old by Mike Singleton

Stranded by Lana V Lynx

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Here are the ones who had a go at the stretch:

Much Too Young - Much Too Old by King Paul

Much Too Young by Cristal S

Asphalt Years by Fatal Serendipity

(Apologies - Vocal wouldn't let me embed the links!)

As usual, a shiny silver dollar will be winging its way to my favourites. THANK YOU to absolutely everyone who gave it a go!

Moving on, then, to the challenge for October... and of course it has to be a spooky one, no?

October Challenge

L.C. Schäfer's One Dollar Challenge - Quote Me Baby (Spooktacular Edition)

Hold on to you scrotum, or your hat, or whatever - here comes your prompt:

The Prompt

The dead know only one thing

- "Private Joker", Full Metal Jacket

Mission: Impractical

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is as usual:

Write me a piece inspired by the quote.

This time, I'm going to give you a few more requirements:

1. fiction piece, which is
2. spooky/horror themed, and
3. frightens the crap out of me!

Stretch!

An exercise to flex your writing muscle:

Use the word selcouth

It's an archaic word meaning strange, unusual, or uncommon. It should feel at home in your piece, so the style should fit.

Them's the rules

Word count: The word count is loosey goosey for this one. I'm pressed for time these days, so I'm only promising to read any that are published in the fiction community, and listed as a 5 minute read or less.

Prize: Same as usual, I'll tip my favourites a dollar each.

Winners: Again, same as always! If there's only a few entries, I'll just pick one or two people. If more than 10 people enter, I'll pick 3. More than 20, I'll pick 5. For the stretch, enough people try it (say, 5), I'll also do a $10 first prize, and $5 second.

Content: You can include the quote, in which case it should feel like it belongs. Or your story can be inspired by it, in which case the link should be clear.

Limits: You can submit as many as you like, but I'm only promising to read the first two that meet the criteria from each person.

Closing date: 11:59PM GMT, Friday 31st October, 2025

Really important: Please do link your story below! I'd be gutted to miss anyone. I'd appreciate it if you could link back to this challenge as well.

Before you go...

If you can think of a quote you think would make a good prompt, let me know! Especially if you can think of a good one for November. I have a few ideas bumbling around in my head. Talk to me in the comments. I'm open to suggestions, and will tip you if I use yours.

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Thank you for reading!

If you took part in the Country challenge, THANK YOU!

If you give this one a bash, THANK YOU!!