Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, bsc

October has a way of sneaking under your skin. The air smells like smoke and cinnamon, nights fall too quickly, and the world feels just a little… haunted.

It’s not just the pumpkins on every doorstep or the skeletons rattling in shop windows — it’s the shift in mood. A subtle pull toward mystery, nostalgia, and imagination.

For writers, October is a gift.

This is the month when stories demand to be written. Not polite little tales that sip tea in the daylight, but the ones that lurk at the edges — waiting, whispering, tugging at your sleeve.

Spooky season brings atmosphere, and atmosphere is the lifeblood of storytelling.

---

The Magic of Atmosphere

Think about it: summer screams distraction. Sunshine, beach days, ice cream dripping down your wrist.

But October?

October invites you to sit still. To huddle under blankets with a mug of something hot, to let your mind wander into the darker corners. The chill outside makes us crave warmth inside, and what better warmth than a flickering story?

As a writer, I lean into that. I let the scratch of branches against windows remind me of tension. I let candlelight shape the mood of a scene. The season itself becomes a writing partner — nature co-plotting my chapters.

---

Fear and Curiosity: The Perfect Cocktail

Spooky season isn’t really about fear. Not in the horror-movie, hide-under-the-covers sense. It’s about curiosity. The delicious thrill of “what if?” What if the old house on the corner really is watching you? What if that pitbull running toward you is less danger and more destiny? (Do it for the plot, right?)

October makes the ordinary shimmer with possibility. A fallen leaf isn’t just a leaf; it’s a clue. A foggy street isn’t just fog; it’s a portal. That sense of heightened awareness — that’s where good writing begins.

---

Writing with Shadows as Companions

I’ve found that in October, my characters grow bolder. They argue louder, they kiss harder, they dare to step into the dark because the season tells them to. Maybe it’s the longer nights. Maybe it’s my own brain, stirred awake by the eerie edges of the month.

Writing in October feels like writing with shadows sitting beside me. Not scary, but insistent. Shadows that say:

• “Don’t play it safe.”
• “Let her open the forbidden door.”
• “Make him admit what he’s afraid to say.”

It’s almost like the veil between real life and fiction is thinner this month — and I’m not about to waste that.

---

The Indie Author’s October Advantage

Here’s the fun part: October isn’t just good for writing. It’s good for selling. Readers crave cozy, atmospheric reads during this season. They want to curl up with books that match the mood — witchy romances, mysteries, even heartfelt stories that lean into the bittersweetness of autumn.

As indie authors, we can tap into that craving. Create themed promos, share moody quotes, pair your book with hot cocoa or pumpkin bread in a TikTok reel. Your story doesn’t have to be about ghosts to ride the October wave — it just has to capture feeling.

---

Writing Tip: Do It for the Plot (and the Pumpkin Spice)

So, how do you channel spooky season into your writing? A few ideas:

• Write a scene by candlelight. See how it changes your mood.
• Take a walk in the evening, phone tucked away, and let the shadows spark new dialogue.
• Put on an eerie playlist (you know the one — violins, whispery vocals, maybe a crow or two) and free-write for ten minutes.

Sometimes it’s not about crafting the perfect chapter. It’s about letting the season guide your pen.

---

Closing Thoughts

October reminds us that stories aren’t just words. They’re feelings. They’re the goosebumps when the wind rattles the shutters, the comfort of a blanket as the world outside grows colder, the thrill of asking “what if?”

So this month, I’m writing with shadows. I’m letting the season haunt my drafts in the best way. And maybe — just maybe — that’s where the magic hides.

And if you’re reading this, I dare you: do it for the plot.