The October Society Creative Writing Adventure

The October Society

A Salem Creative Writing Adventure

There is a gravestone tucked into a quiet corner of an old Salem cemetery.

The inscription is worn. The woman buried there has been nearly forgotten. There are no stories told about her on the walking tours, no grand monument marking her life, and very little left behind to tell you who she was.

Only a few weathered details remain.

And The October Society would like you to find out the rest.

The October Society is an interactive creative writing adventure that invites you to step into the role of investigator, researcher and storyteller as you follow a mystery through Salem, Massachusetts.

Your investigation begins among the old gravestones of Salem and takes you through real historic locations, quiet streets, bookshops, gardens and centuries-old rooms. At each stop, you'll uncover another small piece of the story—but deciding what those discoveries mean is part of the adventure.

Observe your surroundings. Record clues. Sketch what you imagine. Develop theories. Question your assumptions. Follow the threads that seem important and see where they lead.

There is no right way to keep your journal. Fill the margins, make lists, doodle, write pages of theories or jot down only a few sentences. This is your case file.

Optional dice and oracle-card reflections are included throughout the adventure for anyone who would like to introduce a little chance and intuition into the investigation. They're completely optional and the full story can be enjoyed without them.

As you travel deeper into the mystery, fiction begins to weave through the very real history of Salem and the people and places that shaped it.

Some clues will answer questions.

Others may leave you with entirely new ones.

And somewhere along the way, a woman almost lost to history may finally have her story told.

Choose Your Adventure

Printed Creative Writing Adventure + Sticker Kit — Limited Quantity

Receive a physical copy of The October Society Creative Writing Adventure along with a coordinating sticker kit created especially for the story.

The stickers include artwork inspired by the places, objects and discoveries you'll encounter along the way—perfect for decorating your journal pages and building a case file of your own.

Printed copies are available in limited quantities.

Downloadable PDF — Story Only

Want to begin right away? Choose the downloadable edition and receive the complete October Society Creative Writing Adventure as a PDF, ready to print at home.

This version includes the complete story and all writing, observation and optional prompts, but does not include the physical sticker kit.

Print your copy, grab a journal or notebook, and begin whenever you're ready.

What You'll Need

All you really need is a journal or notebook and your favorite pen.

You may also want pencils or art supplies for sketching and doodling. If you'd like to use the optional elements of the adventure, bring along a six-sided die and an oracle or inspiration deck.

No special writing or drawing experience is needed. Your journal can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like.

The October Society has a case for you.

The rest is waiting in Salem.