Halloween Writing Contest
A Wicked Invitation From the Macabre Monday Crew
Calling All Horror Writers!
Welcome to Macabre Monday’s Halloween 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 readers’ 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 the 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. 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!
The Challenge:
What terrible, dreadful things could happen on Halloween Night? Write a short story that happens on All Hallows Eve. Let’s really go for the most frightening and unsettling vibe possible. We know you have it in you.
Deadline: Midnight, Monday October 21st
Judging: Your Macabre Monday crew and a few guest judges
Prizes: The winning story will be turned into an illustrated zine and an audio feature for Macabre Monday’s Halloween special!
Macabre Monday Monthly Writing Contest Rules
Entry Requirements:
Word Count: The entry must be a maximum of 1500 words.
Format: The entry must resemble a short story. (if your poem meets the criteria, then have at it).
Genre: The entry must be speculative horror/dark fiction and written in English.
Subscription: Anyone who wishes to enter must be a subscriber to Macabre Monday.
Number of Entries: Only one entry per person.
AI Restriction: Don’t do this. It’s lame. And you’re all better than that.
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: The entry must be a shared Google document or similar file. Once complete, send the document to MacabreMondayTeam@gmail.com with the subject line “Halloween Night Entry” to be confirmed.
Publishing Rules: The entry content cannot be posted to Substack until after the contest is over, to prevent biased judging.
Timing: Work must be started and completed within the contest timeline.
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.
Judging Criteria:
Creativity/Originality (15%) – Evaluates how novel and unique the story is. Considers new ideas, twists, or innovative approaches to the genre.
Flow, Structure, and Character (15%) – Assesses the logical progression of the story, the organization of its structure, and the depth and believability of characters.
Quality of Writing (15%) – Measures technical excellence of the writing, including grammar, syntax, and style. Focuses on effective language use, sentence variety, and textual richness.
Thematic Coherence (15%) – Looks at how well the story adheres to or explores the given theme and the integration and consistency of the theme throughout the story.
Macabre Meter (40%) – Evaluates the story’s ability to deeply unsettle, disturb, or frighten the judge. Focuses on how effectively the narrative creates a creeping sense of dread, evokes visceral reactions, or lingers in the mind long after reading. Considers the intensity of fear, shock, or unease, and how well the story taps into primal, Halloween-inspired horrors.
Delighted to have finished something today for this on time - have submitted google doc via email - hopefully got it right. does it also have to be posted on substack to qualify too?
Aww, too bad I started my Halloween piece in September! That will teach me to plan ahead. Ah well. Looking forward to seeing what everybody comes up with.