Fright Club
Creative Writing Contest
Ideal for 10-18 years
CAN YOU SCARE SOMEONE IN JUST 100 WORDS?
A knock at the door. A figure in the dark. A curse. A missing person. A ghost who’s having the time of their afterlife...
Fright Club challenges you to create an original ghost story in just 100 words.
Creepy, mysterious, funny, or truly terrifying, the story is yours.
WRITE IT. ENTER IT. GET PUBLISHED.
Your 100-word ghost story could turn you into a published author.
Enter Fright Club for the chance to see your ghost story published in a real Young Writers anthology.
3 WRITERS WILL EACH WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD
Writers whose work we'd love to publish will also receive a certificate, and every entrant receives a Fright Club bookmark.
ENTER IF YOU DARE...
Not sure where your story begins? Start with something that makes you want to know what happens next...
My friends dared me to knock...
What’s behind the door, and why does nobody else want to find out?
I didn’t believe in ghosts until...
What happens that makes you change your mind?
The curse was unleashed...
What caused it, who is in danger, and can it be stopped?
My curiosity turned to terror...
What do you discover that you wish you hadn’t?
He’d been missing for months...
Where has he been, and why has he suddenly returned?
It’s fun being a ghost...
Who says a ghost story has to be scary?
Or create something completely your own.
Haunted houses, creepy dolls, abandoned schools, strange footsteps, ghost ships, secret passages... anything can become the beginning of a 100-word story.
READY TO WRITE?
You only need an idea and 100 words. Here’s how to turn it into your Fright Club story.
1
CHOOSE
Choose a creepy idea
2
BUILD
Build the tension
3
WRITE
Tell it in 100 words
4
ENTER
Send us your story
BUILD THE SUSPENSE
You don’t need hundreds of words to give someone the creeps. Try these quick tips:
Dive straight into the story
Start with the strange noise, unexpected visitor, mysterious discovery, or moment something goes wrong.
Start with the strange noise, unexpected visitor, mysterious discovery, or moment something goes wrong.
Create an atmosphere
Think about what your character can see, hear, or feel.
Think about what your character can see, hear, or feel.
HOW SCARY CAN MY STORY BE?
Pretty scary! Fright Club is all about creating stories that thrill, chill, and unsettle your reader.
Dark themes, frightening situations, supernatural horror, and some violence are all OK where they’re part of the story. Just avoid excessively graphic or gratuitous gore and violence, and don’t include cuss words/profanity.
Think atmosphere, tension, suspense, and chilling twists rather than shock value.
Not sure where the line is? Take a look at some of our previous winning stories to see the kind of horror that has impressed our judges.
READ PREVIOUS WINNERS →
IT'S EASY TO TAKE PART - HOW TO ENTER
OR
OR
MAIL
Mail your entry, along with your name and full address, to:
Young Writers Fright Club
77 Walnut Street
Unit 11
Peabody, MA 01960
Mail your entry, along with your name and full address, to:
Young Writers Fright Club
77 Walnut Street
Unit 11
Peabody, MA 01960
Rules
To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:
YOUR STORY
• Your mini saga must be your own work.
• Your mini saga can be written on the entry form, on a separate sheet of paper, or typed.
• The word limit is 100 words, not including the title, but your story can be shorter.
YOUR ENTRY
• Include your name and age on your entry.
• First names only or initials can be used if needed.
• There is one entry per person.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Free to enter.
• No purchase is necessary to win.
• Open to US entrants only.
• Copyright remains with the author.
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
Prizes
3 WINNING WRITERS
$50 Amazon gift card each
Become a published author
Our 3 favorite published writers will each win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Our 3 favorite published writers will each win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Every entrant receives a bookmark
Everyone who enters will receive a Fright Club bookmark for taking part.
Everyone who enters will receive a Fright Club bookmark for taking part.
Celebrate getting published
Every student whose story we'd love to publish will also receive a Certificate of Merit.
Every student whose story we'd love to publish will also receive a Certificate of Merit.
Winners will be chosen from entries received Sept–Nov 2026, and independent entrants are eligible for student prizes. No purchase necessary.