Welcome to our 2024 50 Words of Horror Contest. This year our contests horror contest are starting a bit early, running from around March until October 1. The first week of October will see our digital issue and with our winners. We know you crave the chilling thrills of Halloween all year round. To truly feed that hunger for terror, we need spine-tingling tales crafted with word economy that overflow with dread. We want stories that quicken pulses and unleash screams with only 50 words.
Sharpen your literary knives and craft the most shocking short story to submit by October 5th, 2024. We dare you to compress epic horror into an itsy package that completes yet utterly terrifies. If you scare our judges out of their wits, you may just win a promotional package to die for.
The rules:
- It must be a horror story
- It must be 50 words or less
- It must be a complete story
- Entries must be submitted by October 1th, 2024
- Enter as many stories as you like!
- Post your story in the comments below
- Scariest Story Wins
The prizes:
- The top scream selected by our judges wins a promotional package
Includes website features, email blasts, and social media posts - Your story will be featured on our site and in our October issue
We want to send bone-rattling shivers down spines with deliciously dark tales. Our past contests have unearthed terrifying gems of ultra-short horror, and we long to discover more. Will your story be the next to horrify?
Put on your creator of creepiness hat and craft a complete 50-word horror story overflowing with dread. It must terrify, yet leave readers longing for more goosebumps. Enter multiple times to up your chances of striking fear into our judges’ hearts.
What disturbing tales does your imagination hide? Now is the time to unleash them. Polish your most shocking short story and leave your scary submissions in the comments below, if you dare!
We eagerly await the twisted stories your mind births when constrained to just 50 words. Don’t hold back your horror – let it breathe life in less space than a tweet. Our hungry judges are ready to select which tiny tale will win the prize. Make us shudder! Enter as many times as you like!
- Story Structure: How the Save the Cat! Method Can Transform Your Writing - April 23, 2025
- HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN: 50 Words of Horror Contest - April 22, 2025
- How to Edit your poetry for beginners and beyond (with worksheet) - April 18, 2025
The old mirror hung in the attic, forgotten. One day, a curious girl looked into it, seeing her reflection smile back. Delighted, she visited daily, until the reflection spoke. “Let’s trade places,” it whispered. The girl agreed. Now, trapped behind the glass, she watches helplessly as the reflection lives her life.
She found the old book in the library, its pages yellowed and crumbling. As she read the ancient words aloud, the candles flickered, and shadows danced on the walls. A cold wind whipped through the room, and she heard a sinister laugh. The book fell from her hands, bursting into flames.
A full moon night, and driving five times over the speed limit . As my friends are in for the ride. Jamming to the car stereo; we are laughing. All of a sudden something appears in the middle of road . The car goes flying and bodies are laid on the ground.
Entries were moved to a new contest at https://www.everywritersresource.com/50-word-horror-story-contest-2024/comment-page-1/#comment-1153221 This contest is now closed