If the prospect of crisp, fall evenings and a cool breeze brings to mind stories around a crackling campfire, the Independent-Mail has something for you.

For the 17th annual Halloween Writing Contest, we ask you to imagine that campfire and tell your own story using our two story introductions.

Once again, we ask school-aged children and adults to complete the story starts below and our very young readers to draw a picture to express their story idea.

The contest deadline is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The results will be announced Saturday, Oct. 25 at the 17th annual Literacy Fall Festival. The festival will be 2 to 5 p.m. at the Civic Center of Anderson.

The carnival is sponsored by the

Independent-Mail and the United Way of Anderson.

Contest rules: Write a story to go with the introduction that’s appropriate for your age group. The stories must be no longer than 300 words. The story introduction does not count as part of the 300 words.

The judging categories are: Kindergartners (submit drawings instead of stories); first- and second-graders; third- through fifth-graders; sixth- through eighth-graders; ninth- through 12th-graders (use the “adults” story intro); and adults (older than 18).

Mail to entries to: Halloween Writing Contest, Independent-Mail, 1000 Williamston Road, Anderson, SC, 29621.

To enter online, click on the Halloween writing contest button on our home page, or go to www.independentmail.com/halloween.