Wicked Writing
Submission form below!
Welcome to Macabre Monday’s monthly writing contest, a gathering of dark fiction aficionados and horror enthusiasts! At the heart of our community is a shared passion for the chilling, the dreadful, and the uncanny. We celebrate this genre not for grand prizes or widespread acclaim, but for the sheer thrill of crafting tales that make our reader's hearts race and their nights a little more sleepless.
This contest is not a battleground, but a playground. It’s an opportunity to hone your craft, challenge your creativity, and engage with fellow writers who revel in the dark corners of imagination. Our aim is to learn from each other, grow together, and above all, have fun in the process.
We understand that writing is a deeply personal and often vulnerable act. It takes courage to put your creations out there, and we commend every brave soul who does. While our judges provide scores and feedback, these are intended as constructive tools to guide and encourage, not to discourage or create divisions.
So, let’s write not for victory, but for the love of the genre. Let’s share our stories because they demand to be told, and let’s do so in a spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect. It’s this shared pursuit for the thrill of the scare that binds us, creating a community not just of writers, but of kindred spirits in the art of the eerie. Let’s celebrate the macabre. Let’s inspire and be inspired, and let the ghosts of our imagination run wild across the page!
Below you will find everything you need to enter, and at the very bottom, a form for your submission. Best of luck to you all!
-The Macabre Monday Team
Current Contest Deadline: 06/17/2024
Current Theme: Sinister Sculptures
Theme Introduction
Not to be confused with statues, sculptures are figures designed and painstakingly carved by the artist with different mediums such as clay, wood, bronze, marble and so on. This legendary art forms spans tens of thousands of years into our history and has given us some of the most breathtaking pieces of art that exist in our world. Whether we are talking about the famed Terracotta Army that was tasked with protecting their emperor well into the afterlife or the Gates of Hell by Rodin, inspired by Dante Alighieri’s work, they are at testament to the skill and creativity of humankind. Can you take inspiration from this magnificent art form to carve and shape a twisted tale that embodies the darkest and scariest themes in our world?
Why Sculptures?
There is no denying that there are some sculptures out there that are just downright creepy. If you don’t know of any that instill this deep dread, we encourage you to seek them out because there are plenty. This serves as a great example of one direction you can take with your story, by making the physical statue itself terrifying...or even alive. As we all know, there are plenty of artists that have…not-so-sound minds—a trait that you can definitely exploit. Delving into the spiraling madness of an artist when creating their masterpiece could serve as a chilling story. Although, maybe you are after something much more sinister and the sculpture serves as a marker for some terrible event that took place. Whatever direction you take, make sure you take the time to sculpt your masterpiece.
Contest Rules & Requirements
Please read over the rules with care
Word Count: The entry must be a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 3000 words.
Format: The entry must resemble a short story. (if your poem can reach over 500 words, have at it).
Genre: The entry must be horror/dark speculative fiction.
Language: The entry must be written in English.
Subscription: Anyone who wishes to enter must be a subscriber to Macabre Monday.
Prohibited Content:
Offensive and likely to expose an individual or a group of individuals to hatred or contempt on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical disability.
Pornography; Erotic overtones and sexual innuendo are permitted, the extent of which is to be determined by the judges.
Anything illegal.
Hate speech.
Threats, harassment.
Threats or suggesting committing a criminal act.
Profane, libelous, defamatory, threatening, insulting, or promoting any activities that may be illegal, inappropriate, unsafe, dangerous, or socially irresponsible.
Number of Entries: Only one entry per person.
AI Restriction: NO AI—Not like that trash would win anyway!
Collaboration: Multiple authors can work on and submit an entry, but only one author can take credit for it. Other authors are allowed to make a separate entry.
Submission: Please see the “Submission Form” at the bottom of the page!
Publishing Rules: The entry cannot be posted to Substack until after the contest is over, to prevent biased judging. (The contest is considered over when the announcement for the winner is posted).
Timing: Must be work that was started and completed within the contest timeline, no sooner.
Repeat Winners: Any 1st place winner must wait for an additional contest to pass before they are allowed to participate again.
Blind Judging: No personal details (Bio, Substack name, etc.) are allowed in the document to preserve blind judging. Provide your name(s) and Substack in the entry email.
Good Sport: No unkind behavior towards other contestants or the judge will be tolerated. A verbal warning will be issued first, followed by a total ban if the behavior continues. If something occurs that we are not aware of, please feel free to shoot over an email about the situation. We aim to make this contest a safe and fun place for writers to engage in light-hearted, healthy competition.
Judging Criteria:
Entries will be judged upon each of the categories listed below. Each category is worth 10 points, allowing for a total of 50 points to be earned overall.
Creativity & Originality (20%) - Evaluates how novel and unique the story is. Considers new ideas, twists, or innovative approaches to the genre.
Flow, Structure, and Character (20%) - Assesses the logical progression of the story, the organization of its structure, and the depth and believability of characters.
Quality of Writing (20%) - Measures technical excellence of the writing, including grammar, syntax, and style. Focuses on effective language use, sentence variety, and textual richness.
Macabre Meter (20%) - Evaluates the intensity and effectiveness of dark, grim, or chilling elements in the narrative and their contribution to a feeling of dread or horror.
Thematic Coherence (20%) - Looks at how well the story adheres to or explores the given theme and the integration and consistency of the theme throughout the story.