𝕾𝖊𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖚𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖀𝖓𝖔𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖆𝖑 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊

For September, I am hosting another Unofficial Writing Challenge.

The Challenge is to write a Short Story (or poem) based on a Superstition

You may choose any genre and any format for this Unofficial Challenge.

Some Interesting Superstitions you could include:

• Breaking a Mirror: Believed to bring seven years of bad luck. Ancient Greeks and Romans thought mirrors reflected a person’s soul, and breaking one fractured the soul. (In the ancient world, mirrors used a reflective backing of silver, which was considered a holy metal.) (Did you know? Since vampires are undead and possess no soul, classic gothic tales argue there is nothing spiritual for the glass to capture and project back.)

• Opening an Umbrella Indoors: Opening an umbrella indoors is considered by some as an insult to the sun god, Ra, and is believed to bring misfortune. You can reverse the bad luck of opening an umbrella indoors by closing it immediately and stepping outside to reopen it properly, or by knocking on wood (see below).

• Knocking on Wood: Done to secure continued good luck or ward off evil spirits, harking back to ancient pagan beliefs that protective spirits live inside trees.

• Walking Under a Ladder: Considered bad luck because a leaning ladder forms a triangle, which ancient Christians associate with the Holy Trinity; breaking that triangle is seen as a defiance of faith or inviting misfortune. In other cultures, walking under a ladder is an omen, as a leaning ladder symbolizes gallows where people are hanged.

• Crossing the Path of a Black Cat: Black cats and crows are often seen as bad omens and as harbingers of bad luck, illness, or even death. They are often associated with witches in ancient folklore.

• Tokens or Talismans: Some people carry a rabbit’s foot for good luck, decorate their homes with “evil eye” motifs to ward off bad luck, or hang dreamcatchers over their beds to filter out nightmares. (If a rabbit’s foot supposedly brings good luck, why did it fail the rabbit?)

• Whistling at Night: Whistling at night is believed to attract wandering ghosts, evil spirits, and dangerous predators.

• Lucky Numbers: Many cultures believe the number 7 brings good luck, while 13 is considered so unlucky that there’s even a name for the fear of it: “triskaidekaphobia”.

• Walking Backwards: According to some cultures, walking backwards tells the devil your location and where you are heading.

• The Broom Touch: Letting a broom touch someone’s feet means one of their parents will soon die.

• Hiding your Middle Name: People kept middle names secret because it was believed that full legal names were required to cast dark curses.

• Detour After a Funeral: You should never go straight home after visiting a cemetery or funeral. A detour prevents ghosts from following you home.

• Never Kill Spiders in the House: A spider in your home is considered a messenger that came to you. Killing a spider is believed to bring bad luck.

• Telling Someone Your Fears Will Make Them Come True: If you share your fears with someone, you’re more likely to suffer from that fear or have a bad experience with it.

Of course, you are not limited to these ideas. Feel free to use them or to come up with something entirely different.

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The Rules:

• The Challenge is open for the month of September. Entries must be submitted by September 30 at the Witching Hour of Midnight.

• Submit your Entry by posting a LINK in the Comment Section below

• One Submission per person. You can write more, but only one will be considered for the prizes, so designate which is your Official Entry if you write multiple stories

• Your Entry may be a Short Story, a Poem, or whatever other format you can dream up, but the maximum word limit is 2,500 words. There is no minimum Word Count

• Your Submission may be in any format and in any genre. Be as creative as you wish with the theme. Whether you come up with a Horror Spine-Chiller, a Sci-Fi Suspense, a Crime Thriller, Psychological Fiction, a news story, or a children’s tale, or anything else is entirely up to you.

• Prizes: $15 for First Place; $10 for Second Place; and $5 for Third Place, given as Tips.

• I will act as the Judge. I do not claim to have any special qualifications for this difficult task. However, I promise to be fair and impartial.

If you fail to join this Challenge, you will suffer bad luck (and not win a prize), so start writing . . . and Good Luck!

𝕾𝖚𝖇𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘:

Mark Gagnon gets us started strong with an intriguing and mysterious Horror story, “XXI: The thoughts of a dark mind”.

Kelli Sheckler-Amsden gives us a brilliant poetic reminder not to bring spirits back home with you from a funeral. Better take “The Long Way Home”.

Novel Allen has given us a fun and witty warning, but witch way is witch? Check out “If You See a Wicked Witch”.

Mikeydred was “Born Under a Bad Sign”, and he writes us a bluesy poem to chronicle the events. If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all!

In his spooky poem “The Mirror That Must Stay Covered”, Tim Carmichael explores Appalachian folklore about how the souls of the dead may become trapped in the glass if they see their own reflection.

Andrea Corwin gives us a spooky haunt that may rock your world with her creepy little tale, “The Rocking Watchers”.

If you love cats, take extra care to prepare yourself for this poem from Tina D. Lopez, which shares a harrowing truth from history. Get familiar with “Familiar”.

We have another brilliant Cat Poem entry: “Black Cat Blasphemy”. Rain Dayze gives us a little history lesson with a sweet conclusion.

Sara Wilson gives us a new perspective on ol’ Unlucky Number “13”. Perhaps it isn’t so unlucky after all, and luck is just a matter of perspective.

Meredith Harmon2 offers up a story from an Amish perspective on the Dutch Superstition that bad things often come in threes. You daresent disregard this warning! Check out “Des Tswet Des Drit Sich”.

Alyson Smith explores the superstition about taking a detour to prevent wandering spirits from following you home from a funeral in this fun and clever story, “Pagpag”.

Check out this salty yet entertaining poem by Dana Crandell, “From Me Wee Cell”. I needed a good laugh, and this provided it!

Kendall Defoe gives us a cautionary tale about whistling at night in his chilling story “The Seven Whistlers”.

I always love a story where the villain gets a deserved dose of their own medicine, and Clyde E. Dawkins gives us just such a story with his clever tale “Haunting Secrets”.

10/02/2026 Update: I am reviewing each of these stories to determine the winners. Results will be posted this weekend. Thank you all for your Entries!