For Writers Who Feel the Pull of the Moon
A creative sanctuary for weird fiction and genre-bending storytellers—especially those building creative lives in the margins
EVERY OCTOBER
The Full Moon Challenge
31 days. 31 prompts. One strange, beautiful month of horror and weird fiction.
Built for writers who can't write 50K in 30 days.
Next Challenge: October 2026 | Waitlist opens January 2026
What Is This?
The Full Moon Challenge is our annual October writing event—a month-long creative sprint designed specifically for horror, weird fiction, dark fantasy, and writers of non-traditional stories (though all genres are welcome).
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Unlike other writing challenges, we don't ask you to hit an arbitrary word count. We don't demand you write every single day. We don't expect your body and brain to cooperate perfectly for 30 days straight.
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Instead, we give you 31 prompts—one for each day of October—and invite you to use them however works for you.
Write 100 words. Write 5,000 words. Write for 10 minutes or 10 hours. Start a novel, finish a short story, or just freewrite in your journal. Use every prompt or pick your favorites. Write daily or write in bursts.
The only rule: create something strange.
The Full Moon Challenge is about momentum, community, and giving yourself permission to write the weird stuff. It's for writers who love October, who thrive in the dark, and who want to spend 31 days immersed in creative chaos with people who get it.
31 Daily
Prompts
Write at Your
Own Pace
Daily
Check-Ins
How It Works
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Sign Up (Free) Join the challenge by signing up on our website. You'll get immediate access to all 31 prompts, community guidelines, and the challenge Discord server.
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Write Throughout October Use the daily prompts however you want. Write short stories, novel chapters, flash fiction, poetry—whatever calls to you. Share your progress in the Discord or keep it private. It's your challenge.
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Check In Daily (Optional) Join us for daily check-ins in the Discord. Share your wins, your struggles, or just lurk and absorb the creative energy. The community is here to cheer you on.
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Celebrate at the End Finish one story or thirty. Write 1,000 words or 100,000. Whatever you created, you did it. We'll celebrate together with digital badges, community spotlights, and the knowledge that you showed up for yourself.
What's Included
FREE CHALLENGE
PAID COMPANION GUIDE
✓ All 31 daily prompts (horror, weird fiction, dark fantasy themes)
✓ Access to challenge Discord server
✓ Daily community check-ins
✓ Writing sprint events throughout October
✓ Digital completion badge
✓ Accountability and encouragement from fellow writers
✓ Expanded prompts with additional questions and twist ideas
✓ "Rescue Your Story" worksheets for when you get stuck
✓ Plot development exercises to help you structure longer works
✓ Character deep-dive templates
✓ Printable planning sheets for organizing your October projects
✓ Reflection prompts for each week of the challenge
Patreon members (Full Moon tier and above) get the Companion Guide FREE.
A Taste of What's Coming
Here are 4 sample prompts from the 2026 challenge. The full set of 31 will be revealed when the challenge launches.
October 1st:
THRESHOLD
Something is waiting on the other side of a doorway. You can't see it, but you can feel it watching. Do you cross?
October 13th: THE INVITATION
You receive an invitation to an event you've never heard of, at a place that doesn't exist on any map. You decide to go anyway.
October 7th: THE THING THAT FOLLOWED YOU HOME
You went somewhere you shouldn't have gone. You took something you shouldn't have taken. Now, you face the consequences of your actions.
October 21st: THE LAST PASSENGER
You're the last person on the bus. The driver won't stop. The route doesn't go anywhere you recognize. Where is this bus going?
And that's just 4 out of 31. Every prompt is designed to spark something strange, something odd, something that makes you lean into the dark instead of away from it.
Who is This For?
This Challenge Is For
You If...
✓ You love horror, weird fiction, dark fantasy, and all things strange
✓ You want to write more but struggle with motivation or accountability
✓ You're tired of writing challenges that demand perfection or unsustainable word counts
✓ You have chronic illness, limited energy, or an unpredictable schedule
✓ You're craving creative community with writers who get your genre
✓ You believe October is the best month of the year (correct opinion)
Q: Can I start a novel during the challenge?
A: Absolutely. Some people use the prompts to write 31 standalone flash fiction pieces. Others use them as worldbuilding exercises for a larger project. Do what works for you.
Q: What if I can't finish?
A: There's no "failing" the Full Moon Challenge. If you write one story or one sentence, you participated. That's success.
Q: When does the challenge start?
A: October 1st, every year. You can join anytime during October, but we recommend starting on the 1st to get the full experience.
Q: Can I share my work publicly?
A: That's up to you. Some people share excerpts in the Discord. Others keep everything private. Both are welcome.
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Q: Do I have to write every day?
A: Nope. Write as often as your body, schedule, and energy allow.
Q: Do I have to write horror?
A: No, you can absolutely adapt the prompts to your genre.
Q: What's the difference between the free challenge and the Companion Guide?
A: The free challenge gives you all 31 prompts and full community access. The Companion Guide ($30) adds expanded prompts, worksheets, planning tools, and bonus content.
Q: I have a question that's not here.A: Email us at katelynn@fullmoonfiction.com. We'll answer within 2-3 business days.