Tales & Wails – Spooky Story Competition

Let’s celebrate All Hallows’ Eve with terrifying tales!

Tales & Wails is an online writing and cosplay 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, feel free to reach out to @SlushpileSteven via DM for more info.

SUBMISSION WINDOW: 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.

If you're a writer struggling to find a good beta reader who will provide constructive criticism and is sure to help you improve your writing, you're not alone! Why not enter the Slushpile Monster's writing contest to win a free critique from an experienced beta reader?

Also, don’t forget to join our mailing list so you never miss any of the games or competitions! 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!