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Fright Club | Creative Writing Contest | Middle & High
A creative writing contest to engage 10-18 year-olds, teaching them how to write a ghost story.
Enter Fright Club, where shadows lurk and mysteries swirl. Capture your students' imaginations with this fun theme as they try to terrify their readers. They could write a scary, tension-filled tale with a thrilling twist, or a funny story of ghosts and ghouls causing havoc.
The 100-word limit takes away the fear of long-form writing, so even the most reluctant writers will be eager to take part, and the 8 story-starter postcards will help to kick-start their ideas. Where the story ends is up to them!
Use the FREE online resources, including a ready-made lesson plan and accompanying slide deck (also available in Google Slides - select 'Make a copy' to save an editable version), to teach your students how to write with tension, atmosphere, and suspense to create their creepy tales.
The entry forms can be copied or downloaded, so get as many as you need for your whole school to take part. If you prefer to go paperless, students can type their entries in Word. For a really easy way to enter, your students can type their work in our Online Writing Portal found in your teacher account, and you can submit them all with the click of a button.
Will your students be crowned the top writers and take home the trophy? Enter Fright Club today and find out!
Closing Date: Friday Jun 19, 2026
We've worked with over 20,000 schools. Here's what some of them have to say...
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This is my sixth year using YW to publish my students' writing and they are so easy to work with! My students are always excited to use the provided theme and challenge themselves to be chosen!
Thank you so much for another opportunity! The class really enjoyed this.
Justina Denapoli, Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, NYSee more...
The students enjoyed the freedom of this project (Peculiar Pets). It got them excited to write.
Amanda Peterson, Christ The King School, NYSee more...
Peculiar Pets was a great activity!
Anne Piccoli, Immaculate Heart Of Mary School, NYSee more...
Thank you for the intriguing prompts and engaging activities! I look forward to these contests each year.
Mike Carter, Millis Middle/High School, MASee more...
My students absolutely loved the challenge of writing mini sagas!
Darla Bubar, Edward Town Middle School, NYSee more...
The story starters are so fun!
Nichole Charbonneau, Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, MASee more...
My students look forward to this contest every year, and so do I!
Rachel Barnes, Monomay Regional High School, MASee more...
This was such a fun way to have my students engaged with their writing!
Christina Guertin, Midland Street School, NYSee more...
This is my sixth year using YW to publish my students' writing and they are so easy to work with! My students are always excited to use the provided theme and challenge themselves to be chosen!
To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:
Closing Date: Friday Jun 19, 2026
Only one entry per student, there is no limit to the number of entries per school.
Teachers please submit your entries altogether where possible, using one Teacher Entry Form per teacher.
Students can work together to submit a joint story.
Mini sagas can be submitted on the entry form or a sheet of paper or typed (on a computer or using the Online Writing Portal or Word Doc entry form)
Each student's name, age and school name should be included on their entry. (Entries can be submitted with first names only or initials if needed.)
Mini sagas have a 100-word limit. Titles are not included in the word limit.
If a story starter is used, it must be included in the 100-word limit.
US entrants only.
Copyright remains with the author.
Free to enter.
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
For Schools
Young Writers’ Award of Excellence is awarded to the school that submits the best set of entries for this contest.
PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their students feature in.
(The more entries you send, the more free books you’ll receive: E.g. Send 1-30 entries & you'll receive 1 free copy, send 31-60 entries you'll receive 2 free copies, etc. Every participating school receives at least 1 free copy their students feature in.)
For Students
A $50 Amazon gift card will be awarded to our 3 favorite writers.
PLUS every entrant receives a bookmark for taking part. A certificate of merit will be sent out to every student whose work we'd like to publish.
(Winners will be chosen from published entries received April-June 2026.)
Enter Online
Email
Email your entries to [email protected]
and please ensure your students' names and ages are on their work, and that you include your name, school name and school address in your email. Thank you!
Please ensure your name, email and school name and address are included with your entries if you send entries digitally via a non-Young Writers service.
Send by Mail
Send your entries, along with your school entry form, to:
Young Writers Middle & High 77 Walnut Street Unit 11 Peabody MA 01960
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