As the temperature starts to drop and the leaves start to fall, Halloween is quickly approaching. It’s a time for copious amounts of candy, frights, and now writing!

The Authored Ascension is holding its second annual Halloween short story contest this year, 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 Wednesday, October 24th, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 31st.

The staff of The Authored Ascension will judge the stories, and prizes 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. As an added bonus, the English teachers are offering extra points for those who submit a short story.

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