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Scare us!
It's time we scared each other silly. Welcome to a reprise of our Scary Stories
Second annual HALLOWEEN AUTHORS CHALLENGE, #24.
After all the "fun" we had Grading articles for our recent School Challenge, we're going to keep SCARY STORIES plain and simple, perhaps the simplest yet.
There will be no Grading, no Points, no special Bonuses -- just a simple choice for our contestants:
Which entry is the SCARIEST? --period.
We'll be accepting both fiction and non-fiction (fact might be scarier, after all!), and your entry can be a "story" or a documentary of some horrid problem, or any permutation you deem "scary" in some way or another.
JUDGING:
As readers, you will choose among the entries just ONE as "the scariest."
You should offer at least one sentence of explanation. You may critique your choice and any other entries as you like, but it's simply not required this time around.
Our first Challenge twist:
By participating, you agree that you will PROMOTE your chosen Scariest Story at least once via some manner of social networking. This could be a Facebook post, a Tweet (or three), a StumbledUpon link, and so on -- even a simple email to a friend saying, "Hey, you gotta read this!"
Second Challenge twist:
We, the contestants, will also agree in advance to PROMOTE THE WINNER in the same way we promoted our First Place choice, via whatever Social Networking means we're comfortable with.
Sound simple? Basic? Are those rules clear enough?
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Big thanks to Terry for suggesting that we observe a Halloween Theme in some way. When we first competed for Scary Stories, we all had a blast. Let's see if we can top that original, very successful go-round.
Folks, these articles might earn some money! Two of the most-read pieces on my Camping Blog are "true camping stories," one about Alien Abductions and the other regarding One Scary Night in the Woods. (The latter may end up being my entry, if I can't finish the new story I have in mind for this competition.)
HOW TO ENTER:
Post your entries right here in the comment section at the bottom or on the accompanying thread for Second annual Halloween Challenge
WHAT TO ENTER:
Find us something devilish, frightening, fearsome, horrid, diabolical, mind-numbing, terrifying, heart-stopping ... you get the idea. Don't count out non-fiction, either. Plenty of writers are making a fine living scaring the crap out of us about one current event or another every day.
We will continue our usual FOUR PAGE LIMIT for all entries.
All entries must be Helium articles, whether existing or newly-published.
All Challenge Writer Group members are welcome. Please see the Official Rules for details and exclusions. Thanks again for an outstanding competition during our School Challenge for #23. You guys are simply THE BEST. Winner of 2010 Halloween Scary Story Challenge: Revel Arrowway
by Revel Arroway The Haunting of Haight House We moved into Haight House when I was three and my sister a new-born; my little brother would come along just a year later. Haight House was a huge, barn-red farm house pl...More>
 Write Enties for Challenge 24: Halloween Scary Stories
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Prizes? Oh, yeah...about that.....
by Grace Alexander Here Be Dragons The glass slipped out of my suddenly numb fingers and shattered on the stone floor, but I didn't register it happening. I strained to see, to hear, in a room suddenly devoid of either ...More>
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Another unusual encounter
by Daniel Xiao Wang I have always hated cats. At times I considered them as bad as demons. So I probably shouldn't have been surprised, they don't care any more for me than I do for them. I pulled my old beat up Carolla ...More>
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by Tim O'Dell The Librarian
"Out, get out now, you little lout!" Eric stood rigid and pointed towards the door, Hitler-like, as the child ran, tears streaming down his cheeks, out of the library, out of the bui...More>
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Demons, monsters, and otherworldly visitors
"Frank Billings sat by the south window of the Maryhaven Cemetery caretaker's house watching an old movie on TV. While warm and cozy inside the little house, outside the window the snow was piling into drifts. A winter weather watch had gone into effect at ten o'clock. The clock on the wa..." "It was one of those nights when the red skyline stretches across the top of the land in the distance, that sits in silhouette as if giving the sky it's moment of glory. The sun..." "The baby's screaming continued to get louder and more ferocious. She'd already attended to him twice, even brought him into their bed. But he's started to how again. Raphy threw the covers back and stomped over to the baby monitor and ripped the cord from the wall..."
by Fiona Mather Tentatively I walked down the path approaching the tree that stood guard on the way to the village that was my home. Soaking up the suns rays and feeling them penetrating my ageing bones, making me fe...More>
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Terror from within
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"His whole life was constructed around numbers. They led him to his fruitful career, comfortable lifestyle, and a fut..." "Sigh. Working on my thesis is difficult work. It is even harder when "it" decides to eat while I work. It co..." "I used to keep it under my bed. As it grew with me, I moved it to my basement. Growing up, trying to hide it from my parents was difficult, but now that I have a house all to myself, I can..."
by Claire Caterer It is a ritual as old as history itself: the seat drawn up to the fire, round faces lit by flickering flames, and the soft voice of the consummate storyteller as he ensnares each listener. This is how...More>
29 articles Write
The paranormal
"The magnificent old grandfather clock seemed to tick in anticipation on this 13th night of June, a Friday, and also the night of the full moon. The spectacle from the balcony was wondrous; the golden orb could be seen rising between the boughs of the ancient...' "Silence is what greeted me, that and the smell of musky dank places. Entering the room I couldn't qu..." "The house on the end of Mariner's Lane sat isolated and private behind a high hedge that shie..."
by Daniel Xiao Wang I was speeding down highway 17 headed back south towards Fort Myers. I thought I would never return to that accursed place. It was there, after all, that I learned that my nightmares were a reality. T...More>
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by Jon Coe Joe sat beside the lake, it was the exact spot that he and his true love Patricia had been sitting the previous year. As Joe reflected upon his memories, tears started to roll down his face. It was Va...More>
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Michael Jackson - Thriller
Music video by Michael Jackson performing Thriller. (C) 1982 MJJ Productions Inc. Lookie here! Former Challenge Winners
And now, to keep the lawyers happy, the fine print...
by Norman A. Rubin "Memories of the past are usually quite pleasant but one bit of memory that was and still is constantly retained in my mind sent a cold finger of terror down my spine and left me in a cold sweat. Abou...More>
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Zone Rating: 67
Comments (1 to 10 of 32)
Customer Service, enjoy!
Please note that, with Betaville Groups down for several days, we have created a brand new Group using Facebook, here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=163770990316189&ref=mf
Cherry,
Please feel free to post additional links in our FB Discussion Board, pictures too if you like.
Richie