The Ghost Story
Supernatural Fiction Award
The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award competition for full-length short stories on a supernatural theme is now open for submissions. Good luck!
Twice each year TGS awards $1,000 and publication in The Ghost Storyto the winner of our short story competition. (Read our most recent award winners.)
Two other writers will receive Honorable Mention and Second Honorable Mention awards that include publication and cash prizes of $250 and $100 respectively. The winning stories will be published on Midsummer’s Eve and October 31. The upcoming deadline is September 30, 2017.
NEW FEATURE: Publication for each story will now include a custom illustration by British folk-horror artist Andy Paciorek! Andy is also the creator of the wildly popular Facebook group, Folk Horror Revival.
Our competition typically draws around 150 submissions from all around the world. Winners have included writers with a long history of publishing their work and/or winning awards, as well as writers who have never before published a story.
GUIDELINES: Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is fine writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises in the field of supernatural fiction. Story length should run between 1,500 and 10,000 words. Please be assured that we will read and carefully evaluate ALL submissions to The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award competition. If you would like us to consider publishing your story even if you do not win an Award or an Honorable Mention, let us know in your cover letter.
For some tips on what we’re looking for in our winning stories, read the interview we recently did with Duotrope.
Further information about the editor and publisher of TGS is available here.
Entry fee is $20 per story. Multiple entries and simultaneous submissions are permitted. We do not accept stories that have been published previously or that are scheduled for publication elsewhere. Please submit all entries via the link at the top of this page.
Further questions? Contact us by e-mail.