The Semi-Sages of the Pages and Bone-a-fide Books have partnered for a spooky short fiction contest. We’re looking for Halloween-inspired stories with the prompt:

A Strange Book Once Found Can Never Be Forgotten

You can use this prompt as inspiration or a line in your story. Whatever works for you!

Want some tips on how to write flash fiction? We’re posting videos on Wednesdays at 7pm Pacific October 2nd and 9th with helpful information. Want even more? You can submit your first page for this contest and we may provide feedback live on Oct 16th.

The rules:

1) Please keep it to no more than 500 words. Less is fine too, but submitting a longer story, no matter how great it is, will disqualify you.

2) We will be reading winners on our YouTube channel, so please keep to a PG-13 level. Cursing and sex is fine, but PG-13 cursing and sex please.

3) We will not tolerate any stories with torture-porn, explicit sex, rape, hurting of children or animals etc.

4) Please be over 18 if submitting with the Semi-Sages of the Pages. If you’re under 18, please submit over at Bone-a-fide Books.

5) Contest opens on Sept 15th and ends Oct 19th. We’ll be announcing the winners of those over 18, and reading their stories on Oct 30 at 7pm on our YouTube channel.

6) For those 18 and up, the author keeps the rights to their story. Your story will not be published anywhere, without your permission and a contract to do so. If you’re under 18 please submit here.

The prizes:

First Place: $50 gift card for Bookshop.org or $50 through PayPal. Winner’s choice.

Second Place: $20 gift card for Bookshop.org or $20 through PayPal. Winner’s choice.

Third Place: $10 gift card for Bookshop.org or $10 through PayPal. Winner’s choice.

This contest is now closed. Thanks for your submissions!