Annual Halloween Contest

With October just around the corner, it’s time to start our annual Halloween contest! Please find entry requirements below. The top three pieces (either one from each category, or the top three in all categories, depending on the number and quality of entries) will be featured on our blog, along with a brief bio about the author, who will be gifted with some Miscellaneous swag.

Entries will be accepted from September 28th, 2015 – November 3rd, 2015.

Prose/Fiction:

This is not a “scary story,” but a story about Halloween. No ghosts, ghouls, or goblins. Your characters have to be human. No serial killers, no Wes Craven inspired pieces. Write something about the actual experience of Halloween. Less theatrics, more narrative. 7 pages maximum.

Poetry:

It’s hard to put requirements on poetry. But, we’re going to. Your poem is exactly that, your poem, not an Edgar Allan Poe poem. Make Halloween fresh for us again. Try to avoid rhyme scheme, death themes, all of the various clichés that surround the topic of Halloween. Make your poem rich with imagery. Editors love imagery. 2 pages maximum.

Non-fiction:

Simple. Write a short essay about a Halloween that actually happened to you. 7 pages maximum.


Please email all entries to miscellany@cofc.edu with “Halloween Contest Entry” as the subject of your email. You may submit up to three pieces total. You may submit in multiple genres. Please do not include your name on your entry. The body of your email should contain your name, school year, and what college you attend. You will be notified of your submission status after November 6th, 2015. Please do not email us with inquires until after this date.