The theme for October is HORROR, THRILLER, SUPERNATURAL!
It's spooky season, so this month's submissions call is for short stories and poems that cross into the genres of horror, thriller, supernatural, paranormal, or otherwise spooky. You're welcome to mix other genres into your tale (paranormal romance is a popular genre blend, for example) or to stay strictly in the horror lane.
Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, microfiction, short memoir, and first chapters of longer works are all welcome. The word limit is 2,000 words. Please let me know if your submission comes with any content warnings. I also ask everyone to refrain from egregious violent or sexual content as I don't put age restrictions on content.
How to Submit
There are four ways to submit your work. Please pick the one that is most convenient for you.
Image Description: A womanly figure is silhouetted eerily against a dark backdrop and a bed of fallen leaves. She is backlit by spooky, greenish light.
Credit: Aljoscha Laschgari / Pexels
- Via Email:
- email your submission to contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com
- include the contest you are submitting to, the name you would like to be credited under, a brief bio, and your pronouns
- Via Neobook:
- publish your completed poem on Neobook
- include the hashtag #flashfictionfun so that other participants can find and read your work
- direct message the contest moderator (@LauraWrites), (include the contest you are submitting to, the name you would like to be credited under, and your pronouns)
- Via Booksie:
- publish your completed poem on Booksie
- include the hashtag #flashfictionfun so that other participants can find and read your work
- direct message the contest moderator (@LauraWrites), (include the contest you are submitting to, the name you would like to be credited under, and your pronouns)
Via Wattpad:
- publish your completed poem on Wattpad
- include the hashtag #flashfictionfun so that other participants can find and read your work
- drop the link to your submission in the comment section of the September Writing Contest Chapter (or email me the link if you have difficulty posting the link: contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com)
Contest Timeline
- Submissions open October 1, 2025
- Submissions close October 26, 2025
- Results announced the week of October 27, 2025
Prizes
Winners/honorable mentions have the option to have their story or poem featured on Underground Bookshelf the following month. If you are a winner or honorably mentioned, please make sure I have your up-to-date bio, the name you wish to be credited under, and your pronouns.
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