Tales & Wails 2022 – Spooky Story Competition
Updated: Oct 14, 2022
Let’s celebrate All Hallows’ Eve with terrifying tales!
Tales & Wails is writing competition that is open to all. The competition is a chilling combination of spine-tingling stories and visuals to get us in the Halloween spirit!
Haunt the hashtag #TalesAndWails on Twitter to see all the entries and updates!
Who is this for?
All lovers of the macabre, gothic, and spooky stories are encouraged to participate. Whether you’re a writer, ghost hunter, or just want to get into the Halloween spirit, join us!
We will have two categories: one for families and pets and one for adults.
How can I enter?
Story: Write a ghost story that is up to 600 words. The story can be true, heavily embellished, or completely invented. It should be goosebump-raising-spooky (rather than bloody horror like zombies or a chainsaw massacre, please!).
Visuals: Submit 1-3 photos of a visual that corresponds with the story. It can be an illustration, digital art, costume, or photograph. You can be creative with how you portray your tale, but the story and visuals will be judged as a set, so make sure there is some overlap.
If you’re not sure about your idea or want more information, feel free to reach out to @SlushpileSteven via DM on Twitter or at slushpilemonster [at] gmail [dot] com.
Ready to submit? Fill out the entry form here.
>>> SUBMISSION FORM <<<
Submissions accepted from Monday 17 to Sunday 23, October
What's the timeline?
Monday, 17 October - Submission form opens
Thursday, 20 October - We will begin to share entries on Twitter (@SlushpileSteven) and through our mailing list
Sunday, 23 October - Submission form closes
Monday, 24 October - Voting will open for 24 hours
Wednesday, 26 October - Winners are announced!
What's the prize?
One winner from the family category and one winner from the adult category will receive a custom banner for social media (see below) and, of course, eternal glory in both life AND afterlife.
Meet the hosts
Tales & Wails Spooky Story Competition is co-hosted by Fantasticarium and the Slushpile Monster Writing Competition.
Fantasticarium: Enter the realm of the fantastic.
We strive to share our love of costuming and all things fantastical. Whether a gothic masquerade ball or renaissance festival, we aim to celebrate all realms of fantasy. Join us as we host various events such as cosplay and convention meet ups, photo ops, festivals and fairs, and masquerade balls.
Follow us on Twitter at @Fantasticarium and on Instagram at @fantasicarium_official.
Trapped in the slush pile? Don't suffer alone! Meet Steven, the big blue monster that lurks in this hopeless black pit. When he's not munching on the souls of hapless writers, he hosts an online writing community dedicated to making friends, having fun, and improving our literary skills.
Don’t forget to join our mailing list so you never miss any of the games or competitions for bookworms! We also share resources for writers. It's much more reliable than getting updated on Twitter, and we also have special mailing list-only content!