Durham Library Hosts Sinister Story Showdown

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Got an idea for a spine-chilling short story that’ll haunt readers after they’ve turned the terminal page? The Durham County Library and the Horror Writers Association are teaming up for the Sinister Story Showdown.

Whether you write psychological thrillers, supernatural tales, or classic horror, consider this contest as a platform for your darkest creativity. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11. The top three winners will be revealed at a special event on Saturday, Oct. 26, where tales will be brought to life by members of the Horror Writers Association in attendance. Winning stories also will be printed, bound, and added to the library’s permanent collection.

Contest Rules

• Contestants must be at least 18.
• Entries must be original, unpublished work.
• No submissions assisted by artificial intelligence/Large Language Models like ChatGPT.
• Maximum word count: 1,200.
• All entries must be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Include a cover page with the story title and author’s name.
• Send your story as a Word document to kfarmer@dconc.gov before the deadline.