Halloween Writing Contest

The Furious Gazelle’s 2020 Halloween Writing Contest will open on August 17th, 2020. Read this year’s guidelines below.

The Furious Gazelle’s 2020 Halloween writing contest will be open from August 17th through October 5th.

Click here for the 2019 winner.

Click here for Halloween 2019 second and third-place finalists.

Click here to view our 2018 finalists.

Rules

The contest is free to enter. The first-place winner will receive $50. Runners up will receive publication and a $5 honorarium.

Send us your Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays, and creative non-fiction as an attachment to submit@thefuriousgazelle.com, and put “Halloween contest + [your name]” in your subject line.

Each writer may submit up to three entries to the contest, not exceeding more than 4,500 words total.

Use that however you want, for example, send one 4,500-word prose piece, or a 4,400-word short story and a 100-word flash piece, or send 3 poems, or 1 poem and 2 flash pieces, the possibilities are endless.

Critique

Our critiques offer insight and constructive criticism about your entry. Constructive criticism is a great way to learn how to become a stronger writer. We will provide three lines of feedback: what we liked, what could be working better, techniques you could consider using to strengthen your story.

If you’d like constructive feedback, click here to purchase the item in the Square store (non-US: send $8 via paypal to thefuriousgazelle@gmail.com and note your receipt number in your submission e-mail).

Halloween anthology + two critiques

This year, we’re adding the option to purchase a critique from each of the Furious Gazelle editors (Tess Tabak and e. kirshe) along with our Halloween anthology. This illustrated anthology includes our favorites of the past five years of Halloween contest winners and runners up. You will be supporting our past authors, and the contest, as well as receiving twice the constructive feedback. If you’d like to do this, please purchase a copy of the book here and email us a copy of your receipt with your entry.

Donation ) and submit your entry as an attachment to submit@thefuriousgazelle.com. Just want to support our contest? We’re committed to keeping our Halloween contest free to enter, but that costs money. If you can, please consider making a contribution with your entry. Your $5 (really any amount is appreciated) contribution will go towards the first-place prize and our website hosting costs. If you’d like to contribute, click here to donate through our Square store (non-US: send $5 or any amount via paypal to thefuriousgazelle@gmail.com ) and submit your entry as an attachment to submit@thefuriousgazelle.com.

Donating will not have any impact on your chances of winning, but it will earn our eternal gratitude, and help us to keep The Furious Gazelle online.

Please direct any questions to submit@thefuriousgazelle.com with “QUESTION” in your subject line.