Halloween Story Contest

Do you love to write stories about the paranormal, the macabre, or other Halloween-friendly topics? We invite you to enter your short story, poem, or creative essay for a chance to win a 10% discount on your next manuscript edit (see details below) and have your work presented on Facebook Live this Halloween night! 

Your story, poem, or essay must be no longer than 2,000 words. And while there are no specific restrictions on subject matter, please keep in mind our audience includes all ages. You may submit as many entries as you would like. Each entry must be your own work—no plagiarism! We can accept online submissions only.

Entries must be submitted no later than Wednesday, October 23, 2024, by 10:00 p.m. EDT. 

Submitting authors will retain all copyrights and publishing rights for their submitted work(s). You may submit a work that has previously been published as long as you, the author, hold the publishing rights. All entries, except those chosen as the contest winners, will be kept confidential. By submitting your work, you agree 1) to accept a complimentary copyedit of the piece, 2) for the work to be presented on Facebook Live, and 3) for your name (or chosen pseudonym) to be mentioned in social media and other online contest and performance promotions if your work is chosen as a winner. Winners will be announced during the Facebook Live presentation on October 31, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Winner(s) will receive:

• Professional editing of the winning piece

• A live reading of your winning story, poem, or essay on Facebook Live by editor and vocal performer Karin Nicely Lord of Seren Publishing

• Ten percent off the price of a professional line edit provided by Seren Publishing for your approved book-length manuscript (20,000-word minimum). (Note: There is no obligation to publish the work through Seren Publishing.)

At least one and up to three winners will be chosen. This depends upon factors such as quality of the entries and the length of the winning work(s). Last year, three winners were chosen—two short stories and one poem—and each was presented live on Halloween!