The Halloween 2024 Official Contest Support Thread!

[StillStunned]

What is "terrifying"? Ghouls and werewolves and and gore and whatnot? Or disturbing psychological torture and things like that?

Judging by some discussions we have here:
- A strong, assertive female protagonist
- A confident, comfortable male protagonist
- A short, ambiguous, open-ended story
- Second person POV

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Judging by some discussions we have here:
- A strong, assertive female protagonist
- A confident, comfortable male protagonist
- A short, ambiguous, open-ended story
- Second person POV

Well, I guess I will continue with my usual upending of everything routine.

I have a weak, uncertain female protagonist
No real male protagonists (a bunch of men, but they are nameless and faceless)
Definitely not open-ended (the ending is final -- although I do have an epilogue explain a bit)
First person POV

So, another contest that I won't even be close to placing in. But it's a cool story. I like it! It'll be fun to see what readers think of this one.

 

[OffNSFW]

First sex scene is in the can. In more ways than one.

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

Unusually for me, inspiration struck and I had time to write, so mine is already done. Just needs editing.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I have a short story I started for last year's contest that turned into a 25K word novella. It starts with a sorority Halloween party but that's about it. Wondering if it might work... Oh, yeah, the working title has the word Halloween in it, too.

 

[Rob_Royale]

- Second person POV

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Is there an announcement thread yet?

 

[HippyJeanSalon]

I have two stories I want to write for this. I don't expect to win anything, but I'll certainly have fun with this.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Didn't take long to work out the 8-900 word finale of a series and tailor it to fit this theme.

 

[MelissaBaby]

From what I can tell the category is dominated by badly portrayed succubus stories, vampires, and less subtle horror than ghosts, and I think the readers lean more towards the H than the E in the category title. I had two long ones that did very well when I posted them in 2014/2016 and both were violent and gory.

That's pretty much my impression as well.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Is there an announcement thread yet?

Probably in a week or so, now that the summer comp has wound up.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

From what I can tell the category is dominated by badly portrayed succubus stories, vampires, and less subtle horror than ghosts, and I think the readers lean more towards the H than the E in the category title. I had two long ones that did very well when I posted them in 2014/2016 and both were violent and gory.

Mine isn't.

And it'll be in IT.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Probably in a week or so, now that the summer comp has wound up.

I'm kind of anxious to get it going even though I know it won't be posted until the end of Oct.


But it's giving me time to make some word tweaks.

 

[Rustyoznail]

You could submit it now, if you want. As long as you have Halloween 2024 in the notes, Laurel will hold it to the start date.

 

[SimonDoom]

Judging by some discussions we have here:
- A strong, assertive female protagonist
- A confident, comfortable male protagonist
- A short, ambiguous, open-ended story
- Second person POV

You walk jauntily down the street, holding your head high and feeling good about things. You're about to have lunch with your wife, a successful cardiac surgeon who's just been promoted to chief of staff at the hospital at which she works.

You turn the corner, and . . .



The horror, the horror.

 

[SimonDoom]

Question: Is it sufficiently "Halloweenish" to have a story based on costumes/cosplay, but without any elements of horror? That's the only thing I've got right now. It's an IT story featuring cosplay.

 

[TruthwithaTwist]

50/50 if I get a story done in time. Work in progress, not super excited by it yet. First part is lead-up to Halloween with a couple choosing costumes. Second is the college Halloween party they attend. If inspiration and/or time become an issue, I can always end it after the first part. We’ll see, I guess!

 

[TruthwithaTwist]

Question: Is it sufficiently "Halloweenish" to have a story based on costumes/cosplay, but without any elements of horror? That's the only thing I've got right now. It's an IT story featuring cosplay.

Yes. Check mine out. No horror at all, just dress-up shenanigans!

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Question: Is it sufficiently "Halloweenish" to have a story based on costumes/cosplay, but without any elements of horror? That's the only thing I've got right now. It's an IT story featuring cosplay.

Absolutely.

Halloween can be a lot of fun with no scary at all.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Question: Is it sufficiently "Halloweenish" to have a story based on costumes/cosplay, but without any elements of horror? That's the only thing I've got right now. It's an IT story featuring cosplay.

Sure. Shenanigans at a Halloween party will be fine.

(Puts on my EB hat...) But will you finish it?

 

[Fatdog25]

Question: Is it sufficiently "Halloweenish" to have a story based on costumes/cosplay, but without any elements of horror? That's the only thing I've got right now. It's an IT story featuring cosplay.

There are a lot of those floating around.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I wish somebody could read this to see if it has the same effect on others.

 

[lovecraft68]

Mine isn't.

And it'll be in IT.

I did one in I/T years ago 'Hellbent For Incest" about two demon siblings who go around pushing people towards incestous encounters. Did fairly well.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I'm just wondering if folks will think it's too Halmarkey, Lifetimey.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Some people like that sort of thing. You'll still find a bunch of readers who'll appreciate it.

If you want a beta reader, send me a PM. I don't think I'll finish mine so I have a bit of time to read.