Some pretty things, some scary things, some tips for fiction writers, and more.

• Some of these cats are cute, and some are behaving badly.
• Writing prompts for Halloween.
• Halloween illustrations from children’s books.
• Jack-o’-lanterns with literary tie-ins.
• Beautiful steps.
• HBO’s The Gilded Ageincludes authentic characters of color.
• Free quilt patterns from Riley Blake Designs.
• For the fiction writers: chapter management.
• Whether you’re an author, an artist, or an inventor, if you’ve been thinking about starting a newsletter, prepare yourself.
• For the bloggers: ideas for blog posts.
• More for the fiction writers: developing characters.
• And yet more suggestions for developing your characters.
• Ghosts of the great artists.