2025 Bow and Chariot Horror Story Contest
Calling all writers who want to delve into the season of mystic and horror.
Time to write a winning story in 7 days.
Pre-registration opens September 26th and runs until October 24th at 11:59 PM CST.
The contest officially begins on October 25th at 12:00 AM CST, when all pre-registered participants will receive the contest rules and prompts (either a monster, a special word, and/or a theme you must use in your Horror Story).
From that moment, the clock is ticking. Writers will have until October 31st at 11:59 PM CST to submit their completed horror story.
Winners will be announced on November 25th.
Calling all writers who want to delve into the season of mystic and horror.
Time to write a winning story in 7 days.
Pre-registration opens September 26th and runs until October 24th at 11:59 PM CST.
The contest officially begins on October 25th at 12:00 AM CST, when all pre-registered participants will receive the contest rules and prompts (either a monster, a special word, and/or a theme you must use in your Horror Story).
From that moment, the clock is ticking. Writers will have until October 31st at 11:59 PM CST to submit their completed horror story.
Winners will be announced on November 25th.
Prizes
1st Place: $150 and Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
2nd Place: $50 and Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
3rd Place: $25 and Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
4th–7th Place: Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
Guidelines
Word count: 1,000–1,500 words
All work must be unpublished (including on blogs, newsletters, or social media).
Submissions must be written in English.
AI-generated work will be automatically disqualified without refund.
Please include a content warning (CW/TW) at the top of your document if your story contains potentially triggering material.
Format: double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman or Courier New. Submit as a Word doc or PDF.
Story must be under the Horror Genre umbrella.
How It Works
Pre-register between September 26th – October 24th.
All pre-registrants will be added to the contest list.
Contest launch (October 25 at 12 AM CST).
You’ll receive the official prompts by email: either a monster, a special word, and/or a theme you must use.
Your story must use the official prompts.
Write your Horror Story.
You’ll have until October 31 11:59pm CST to finish and submit via our contest submission form.
Judging.
All stories are first read by Bow & Chariot editors. Shortlisted entries will be considered anonymously for final decisions.
Winners announced November 20.
Fees
Entry fee: $10 per story
You may submit more than once, but each entry requires a separate fee.
Rights
Authors retain full copyright to their work.
By entering, you grant Bow & Chariot a non-exclusive license to publish winning stories and promote them across our channels (including short excerpts, social media graphics, or video teasers).
All other rights revert to you after publication.
Important Notes
Submissions are final. Please double-check your file before submitting. Typos won’t disqualify you.
Entry fees are non-refundable, even if you withdraw or your story is not selected.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it from our contest immediately.
Are you ready to summon monsters, weave nightmares, and capture the season’s dark spirit?
Calling all writers who want to delve into the season of mystic and horror.
Time to write a winning story in 7 days.
Pre-registration opens September 26th and runs until October 24th at 11:59 PM CST.
The contest officially begins on October 25th at 12:00 AM CST, when all pre-registered participants will receive the contest rules and prompts (either a monster, a special word, and/or a theme you must use in your Horror Story).
From that moment, the clock is ticking. Writers will have until October 31st at 11:59 PM CST to submit their completed horror story.
Winners will be announced on November 25th.
Calling all writers who want to delve into the season of mystic and horror.
Time to write a winning story in 7 days.
Pre-registration opens September 26th and runs until October 24th at 11:59 PM CST.
The contest officially begins on October 25th at 12:00 AM CST, when all pre-registered participants will receive the contest rules and prompts (either a monster, a special word, and/or a theme you must use in your Horror Story).
From that moment, the clock is ticking. Writers will have until October 31st at 11:59 PM CST to submit their completed horror story.
Winners will be announced on November 25th.
Prizes
1st Place: $150 and Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
2nd Place: $50 and Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
3rd Place: $25 and Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
4th–7th Place: Publication on the Bow & Chariot website
Guidelines
Word count: 1,000–1,500 words
All work must be unpublished (including on blogs, newsletters, or social media).
Submissions must be written in English.
AI-generated work will be automatically disqualified without refund.
Please include a content warning (CW/TW) at the top of your document if your story contains potentially triggering material.
Format: double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman or Courier New. Submit as a Word doc or PDF.
Story must be under the Horror Genre umbrella.
How It Works
Pre-register between September 26th – October 24th.
All pre-registrants will be added to the contest list.
Contest launch (October 25 at 12 AM CST).
You’ll receive the official prompts by email: either a monster, a special word, and/or a theme you must use.
Your story must use the official prompts.
Write your Horror Story.
You’ll have until October 31 11:59pm CST to finish and submit via our contest submission form.
Judging.
All stories are first read by Bow & Chariot editors. Shortlisted entries will be considered anonymously for final decisions.
Winners announced November 20.
Fees
Entry fee: $10 per story
You may submit more than once, but each entry requires a separate fee.
Rights
Authors retain full copyright to their work.
By entering, you grant Bow & Chariot a non-exclusive license to publish winning stories and promote them across our channels (including short excerpts, social media graphics, or video teasers).
All other rights revert to you after publication.
Important Notes
Submissions are final. Please double-check your file before submitting. Typos won’t disqualify you.
Entry fees are non-refundable, even if you withdraw or your story is not selected.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it from our contest immediately.
Are you ready to summon monsters, weave nightmares, and capture the season’s dark spirit?