1. Write & Submit
Write a story by July 31 that meets the following criteria
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Must be a horror story
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Must feature an original creature of your own creation (no werewolves, vampires or zombies)
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Must feature three deaths
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Must take place in the town where you grew up
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Must be more than 1,500 words but less than 4,000 words
Sorry, this event is not currently accepting new entries. Check back for future events!
2. Read & Rate
Once you have submitted your story, the real fun begins!
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Read stories that have been submitted by other members
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Rate the stories you do and don’t like
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Provide and receive feedback for your fellow writers
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Meet other up-and-coming writers
Read Great Stories
3. Fun Will Be Had!
Though writing should be all the incentive you need, there is more!
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We will be offering up a variety of unannouced awards. Why unannouced? Because we want this to be about fun first. All submissions can qualify, not just the best rated ones.
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Get personal feedback from some of our instructors like: Ed Sikov, Holiday Reinhorn, Suzy Vitello, Lidia Yuknavitch, Christa Faust and more
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Challenge yourself to come out with a polished, short story
Who can participate?
This writing challenge is open to everyone age 16 and up. Why 16 and up? Because entries may contain age-sensitive material.
How do I submit?
Just sign up for a free account here.
Does a story have to be original to submit?
We prefer it is, yes, but if you want to tweak a current story you have to fit within this challenge, we won't stop you (nor will we probably know). Our only stipulation is that the story should not be officially published elsewhere if you're going to submit it here.
Who owns a story once I submit it?
You retain all rights to your story. Nobody here is a shady thug who would try to profit from your work. This is about writing, participating and having fun.
What do I get for participating?
We would hope that the fun of the challenge is enough for you. But we will be giving out a variety of secret prizes including swag, memberships, stuff and personal feedback on select stories written by some really cool authors.
If I submit a story, does it mean I’m “published”?
We certainly don’t think it does, but we’re also not lawyers. If you want to promote your story, feel free to do so.
I have a question that isn't answered here.
Head on over to this discussion to find out anything you need to know. Ask questions, give us ideas, chat with other participants, learn to throw your voice.