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FLASH FICTION COMPETITION

The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition  

. . . is now CLOSED to submissions. Our competition for full-length short stories on a supernatural theme—The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award, will OPEN to submission on February 15. 

BTW . . . we’re pleased to report that TGS was featured in Poets & Writers‘ May/June 2023 “Guide To Great Contests For Emerging Writers”

submit

Or, click HERE.

[S]trange and smart and upends ideas of what a ghost story is, and expands, with verve and unsettling bizarrity, what it can be.
—The Boston Globe . . . in its review our 2021 print anthology. 

Twice each year TGS will award $1,000 and publication to the first-place winner of our Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition. In addition, two honorable mention winners will receive $200 each, as well as publication. Our deadline is January 31. Winners and honorable mentions to be announced and published on February 14.

Entry fee is $15. We’re interested in flash fiction pieces of between 250 and 1,000 words sent to us via our online submission system (available above).

GUIDELINES: As with The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award, in our flash fiction competition we’re seeking the finest work we can find that incorporates an uncanny element. Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is superb writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises. Please be assured that we will read and carefully evaluate ALL submissions to The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition.

Formatting: We prefer double-spaced Word documents. We don’t require that you remove your name and contact information from your story. Please include a phone number somewhere in your submission.

Read past winners and honorable mentions.

Further information about the editor and publisher of TGS, including media coverage of our competitions, is available here.

Multiple submissions (one story per submission) and simultaneous submissions are permitted. However, we do not accept stories that have been published previously or that are scheduled for publication elsewhere. Further questions? Contact us by e-mail: Editor@TheGhostStory.com

RIGHTS: The Ghost Story acquires First Rights (online and print) to the winning and honorable mention stories in the Fiction Award competition. Following publication on our website, authors are free to resell/republish their pieces elsewhere.

Good luck!