Monsters, mayhem, and madness—bring your best fright to Dictionary.com’s spooky writing contest, Haunting Hooks: Scary Monster edition!
The Contest
We’re challenging you to write an original opening to a scary monster story using 50 words or less.
Whether it’s spooky, funny, or outright horrifying, your opening needs to hook the reader in just a few lines.
The Prizes
Judge’s Choice: The winning entry will be chosen by guest judges Dan and Lynze Cummins and announced on Halloween!
The Judge’s Choice winner’s story will be read on a Scared To Death podcast episode! Plus, the winner gets a $100 Amazon gift card, Scared To Death swag, and Dictionary.com swag.
Fan’s Choice: The winning entry will be chosen by fan vote via Instagram! We’ll share a selection of haunting hooks and the author whose post garners the most likes will win a $50 Amazon gift card, Scared To Death swag, and Dictionary.com swag.
Honorable mentions will receive Dictionary.com swag.
Can you craft the most haunting hook?
Enter by Oct. 13…if you dare.
ENTER NOW
Featuring guest judges Dan and Lynze Cummins from Scared To Death
Dan and Lynze are the scream team behind the podcast Scared To Death. In each episode, they take you on a hair-raising journey through stories that’ll leave you double-checking under the bed and locking all the doors.
Check out their podcast here.
Judging criteria
Be original.
Whether the monsters are based in centuries old folklore or more imaginative horrors, scary monster stories tap into our deepest fears. Your unique interpretation of “scary” and “monster” is what will make your opening stand out.
Establish an atmosphere.
Your opening should set the scene and establish the atmosphere. Whether it’s spooky, funny, or outright horrifying, it needs to be vivid and memorable.
Make it captivating.
Hook the reader right away. You’ve only got 50 words to introduce your story and draw the reader into its world, so make every word count!
Submit your entry
Write an original opening to a scary monster story in 50 words or less. We’re looking for the *opening* of a story—the very beginning, as in its opening line or lines (not a whole story). The entry deadline is Oct. 13.
Only one entry per person. To be eligible, you must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and be 18 years of age or older. Read the official contest rules, terms, and conditions.
Return to this page on October 1 to submit your entry…if you’re brave enough.
