With the weather just as hot and humid as ever, it’s hard to believe that October is halfway over. But, as the pumpkin spice lattes and previews for the newest scary movies reassure us, Halloween is almost here!

This year, The Authored Ascension is holding its third annual Halloween short story contest, and we’re looking for some chilling stories. If you’re interested in writing a horror or Halloween-related short story, get your pencils (or keyboards) ready!

The contest is open to all 8th-12th graders. Short stories must be 2-5 pages, double-spaced, and emailed as PDFs for submission. Make sure your real name is not on the story. Pseudonyms are encouraged, though! The deadline for entries 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29th, and the winners will be announced on Thursday, October 31st.

The staff of The Authored Ascension will judge the stories, and prizes will be awarded to the finalists. First prize is a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, second prize is a $15 iTunes gift card, and third prize is a $10 gift card to Starbucks.  Also, all English teachers will offer bonus points to students who submit stories to the contest.

So, if you’re feeling inspired to share some spooks and scares, send your submission as a PDF to [email protected].