The Halloween 2024 Official Contest Support Thread!

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. šŸ˜Ÿ

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.
 
Unusually for me, inspiration struck and I had time to write, so mine is already done. Just needs editing.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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. Weā€™ll see, I guess!
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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