Scare the Dickens out of Us Ghost Contest

During a presentation at the MWG conference last weekend, mystery writer and keynote speaker Elaine Viets encouraged writers to enter contests.

The following is information about a contest she recommends. The entry fee for adult writers at $20 is a bit steep, but the prizes are generous and it's for a good cause.

Friends of the Clark Library is sponsoring the "Scare The Dickens Out of Us" ghost story writing contest.

First place prize of $1000, second place prize of $500 and third place prize of $250 will be awarded this year for the best original, previously unpublished ghost stories 5000 words or less that are submitted.

For younger writers, The Junior Scare The Dickens Out of Us ghost story contest, which follows the same rules, offers $250 for first place for writers aged 12-18.

This contest is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, Texas. The main contest requires a $20 entry fee and the Junior contest a $5 entry fee. The contest is privately funded. All entry fee money goes directly to the Friends where it is donated to the library for library projects.

Entries are accepted beginning July 1.
The contest postmark deadline is October 1, 2011.

Full rules are at the Clark Library Friends website. No publication is involved. Writers retain full rights to their stories. The contest is open to published and unpublished writers, and to local, national and international writers as well. The only rules are that you write an original, unpublished ghost story and that it be 5000 words or less in length.

Good luck if you enter.