From perennial picture book favourites like Meg and Mog and Winnie the Witch, to classic fiction that captivates generation after generation like The Worst Witch and Pongwiffy, witches provide rich pickings for fiction. Witches also have the power to spark very different kinds of stories, as revealed by two of our recent favourites, Witchstorm and Stone.

With all that in mind, and with Halloween on the horizon, this month’s Get Creative feature shares poem puzzler activities that use witchy words to spark creepily creative writing. 

You might want to use these poem puzzlers alongside our feature on writing spooky stories. If you’re looking for seasonal reading material, check out our collection of books for Halloween.

Without further ado, board your broomstick, buckle up and let your imagination soar up, up and away!

1. Witchy words
Write an acrostic poem about witches. An acrostic poem is a poem in which the first letter of each line spells out the word the poem is about, like this example about some creeping cats:

Cats creep sleekly 
As the moon shines bright.
Tiny paws patter
Softly through the night.

Write your own acrostic poem about a witch. 

W
I
T
C
H

2. Potent potion poem

Now write an acrostic poem about a potion. Perhaps it could be a rhyming spell. Think about what ingredients might go into your potion and the sounds it makes as it bubbles away. For example, does it fizz, spit, pop or bang? Think about what power your potion has.

P
O
T
I
O
N

3. Find a familiar

Many witches have an animal familiar to keep them company and help them do their magic, a bit like a sidekick, or a best mate they can always rely on! Pick your familiar and write an acrostic poem about them. 

Tip: you don’t have to write about an obvious animal, like a cat, bat, or frog. You could go for something more unusual. How about a spell-squawking parrot? Or a monkey that becomes magical by the light of the moon?!

For more writing activities, read the rest of our regular Get Creative series.

Joanne Owen is a writer and publishing professional with over twenty years’ experience of the book industry, and the author of a how-to children’s guide to creative writing, You Can Write Awesome Stories. Alongside writing and reviewing books, she hosts writing workshops and is an Editorial Expert for LoveReading.