Shortlist
Over 120 Story Submissions
57 Stories selected for the Shortlist and Amazon Kindle book
Voice Message
(Check volume, and click 🔊 icon below to hear audio message)
Every October brings our annual “Scary” contest, which is always a great favorite. You writers outdid yourself this year with stories of ghosts and ghouls and monsters, but also with stories featuring very relatable, endearing characters. We shiver with delicious fear as we read, or shed a tear or two, or simply share in the joys and sorrows of being human. These stories will never fail to entertain and inspire us all for many Halloweens to come!
Thanks to each of you for another highly successful contest!
We had a very large number of submissions to our annual Halloween contest. From the list of over 120 entries, twelve Finalists were chosen. In addition to the Grand Winner and the two Runners Up listed above, the other finalists are listed below in alphabetical order:
Ashes to Dust – by Sandra James
For What Might Be in Store – by Paul Lewthwaite
Inconceivable – by Carrie O’Leary
Insomnia – by Greene M Wills
Liberty Theater – by Barb Dukeman
On the Second Day – by Daniel Onchoka
The Pumpkinhead – by Nataliia Stempkovska
This Songbird Must Fly – by Julie Harris
Woman in White – by Susan Dawson
For the first time, a second category was created for Scary stories! This new category is called “Sweet/Scary” and includes the stories that were outstanding for their beauty and delicacy, or their sweetness. There were four winners in this category, listed below by ranking. “Scary” doesn’t always have to be terrifying!
Congratulations to the writers whose stories made the shortlist!
- All selected stories were formatted and edited for publishing in our eBooks Collection.
- Voice.club Staff will select the Grand Winner from the shortlist.
- Public voting will select 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners.
- Check your My Account page to watch your likes and credits accumulate!
There’s a like button at the bottom of each story. Each “like” = 1 vote.
(All Prizes and Rewards are only paid out via Amazon Gift Cards)
Contest
2021-Flash-05
(CLOSED)
Scary!
- Grand Prize (Staff Pick) – $50 Amazon Gift Card
- First prize (Public Voting) – $25 Amazon Gift Card
- Free Google SignIn, and Free Contest Submission
2021-Flash-05
"Scary"
It’s that time of year again! Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are getting shorter, the nights longer. Halloween is just around the corner, with its pumpkins and witches, harvest moons and black cats.
We invite you to write a story of 350 words or less with a Halloween theme. Your story can be frightening, funny, supernatural, spooky – just as long as it is in the spirit of Halloween. Some of our past shortlisted scary stories might inspire you!
Good luck in the contest!
Double-check your story against the rules below, and make all corrections BEFORE you submit! Multiple entries of the same story will be disqualified.
Ensure your submission follows these rules:
- Correct length (350 words or less)
- Correct spelling and grammar
- Family-friendly content
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you for this latest contest! My head is already buzzing with ideas ?
Does it have to be a story or can it be a script or poetry?
Hello Leyla – Good question! Your Scary entry really needs to be a story. Flash Fiction – 350 words or less. Good luck!!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI’m not much of a poet, but it would be nice to see a poetry contest at some time. There doesn’t seem to be a very big outlet for short poetry, and I do love to read a good poem from time to time. I also have a friend who writes poetry, well, she’s Emily’s friend from her synchronized skating days, but I got to know her and her mum quite well.… Read more »
I would really like to see a poetry contest in the future, too. I love the flash fiction contests, the wonderful prompts that inspire me and reading the incredible variety of stories from fellow members. A poetry contest would be a great bonus. My grade six teacher cruelly told me the poems I’d tried so hard to write for homework were ‘not very good’ 🙁 I resolved to never try again but,… Read more »
I can hardly believe we’re back to this time of year again. It only feels like five minutes since I wrote my stories for last years ‘scary’ themed contest. It’s such a fun and diverse theme, I’m sure our cauldrons are brimming and boiling over with ideas. Let the fun commence ?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOh my, oh my. Halloween makes me want to ghostly write… if you know what I mean… ? ? ?
Is this contest unlimited entries?
Hello Leyla – Yes, any member can enter any number of times. Enjoy the contest, and good luck!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleCan I ask what “under review” means if I find it attached to one of my stories? I love this theme by the way, so much fun!
Hello Melissa – We’re so glad you’re enjoying this theme – we all are! It’s always fun, and has become a yearly tradition, dating back to October 2019 in ZenGarden! If one of your stories is marked as “Under Review”, it means we’ve received the story and it is in the queue to be read and considered. Not all stories will be shortlisted of course, and an even fewer number will be… Read more »
Thanks for explaining it to me! I just thought maybe I had done something wrong ? . I’m thankful for the clarification!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI love this theme too. I rarely write stories that don’t have at least a touch of the supernatural, so this theme is right up my street. There are some superb stories that have been early shortlisted to read too. So much fun, and makes Halloween more enjoyable for this introvert at least! ?