The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award . . .
. . . featured in Poets & Writers‘ May/June 2023 “Guide To Great Contests For Emerging Writers”
Is currently CLOSED to submissions!
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 of our most recent print anthology
Twice each year TGS awards $1,500 and both online and print publication to the winner of our short story competition. (Read our most recent award winners.)
Two other writers receive Honorable Mention awards that include publication and cash prizes of $300. Online publication dates are June 1, and October 31. In addition, Winners and Honorable Mentions will be included in our paperbound anthology, 21st Century Ghost Stories—Volume III, which is scheduled for publication by Wyrd Harvest Press (Durham, U.K.) in 2024. All proceeds from the sale of 21st Century Ghost Stories—Volumes I & II, will be donated to projects of Britain’s Wildlife Trusts. (Volumes I & II, containing the winning and honorable mention stories from 2015 through summer 2021, are now available for purchase.)
Online publication for each story includes a custom illustration by British folk-horror artist Andy Paciorek! Andy is also the creator of the wildly popular Facebook group, Folk Horror Revival.
Our competition typically draws over 300 submissions from all around the world. The winning stories are selected by the editors of The Ghost Story, and contest winners have included writers with a long history of publishing their work and/or winning awards, as well as writers who have never before published a story.
GUIDELINES: 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 fine writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises in the field of supernatural fiction. Story length should run between 1,500 and 10,000 words. Please be assured that we will read and carefully evaluate ALL submissions to The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award competition.
Submissions do NOT need to be “blind.”
For some tips on what we’re looking for in our winning stories, read the interview we recently did with Duotrope.
Further information about TGS and our competitions and publications, including some media coverage of us, is available here.
Entry fee is $20 per story. Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are permitted. ONE story per submission, please. We do not accept stories that have been published previously or that are scheduled for publication elsewhere. Please submit all entries via the link at the top of this page.
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 and in 21st Century Ghost Stories, authors are free to resell/republish their pieces elsewhere.
Further questions? Contact us by e-mail: editor@theghoststory.com
The “Ghost Rider” photo used in our online ad is by photographer Gabriel Millos. The photo has been slightly changed from the original: it has been cropped, and the aspect ratio has been slightly altered.
