“Something spooky this way comes...
So let us hear the roll of drums!
We want to read your scary stories,
everything ghoulish, ghostly or gory.
A short story competition The Open Book is holding,
So if you have a tale inside, something unfolding;
tell us about the monster - maybe they’re nice,
or share the thing that’s haunting you and filling your bones with ice.
All are welcome to apply; kids, teens and adults,
the only thing we ask is that your story is about the occult
or of fairies and trolls, and other magical things.
We look forward to reading how you give them all wings.
”
Enter if you dare…
Come ghouls, children, teens, witches and big kids (aka adults) to The Open Book Halloween story competition. For the first time ever, we’re opening our doors to horrible, hilarious, and haunting tales of your own creation. There are bookstore staff to spook and prizes to be won.
The story competition is open to all kids, teens and adults who have a creepy tale to tell.
How to enter
Write and submit your own spooky short story to The Open Book by Friday 21st October. All stories must be under 1,000 words.
You can enter one of the following categories:
Stories by kids (12 years and under)
Stories by teens (13 to 17 years)
Stories by adults (18 years and over)
There will also be special spot prizes for the funniest and the creepiest stories in the kids category.
You may enter multiple stories, including pieces that have been published elsewhere. The Open Book will not retain any rights to them except to publish the winners. All entrants must be based in New Zealand.
Submit your entry through this form or drop off a physical copy to The Open Book, 201 Ponsonby Road, by Friday 21st October. You’ll be asked to upload a digital copy of your story - please name the document in the following way: ‘[Kids/Teens/Adults (choose one)]: [The Title of Your Story] by [Your Name]’. Email us at info@theopenbook.co.nz if you have any questions.
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 26th October.
What do you win?
Prizes have been kindly donated to us by our excellent Ponsonby neighbours - Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Ponsonby Central, Duck Island and more. We’ll confirm the prizes in the next week, but the overall winner for each category will receive a lovely book voucher and have their story read out during our Halloween weekend extravaganza on Saturday 29th October. More event details TBC.
The Judges
We invited the suitably bookish people in our lives to judge each category. Mary and Helen, owners of the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop will be judging the kids entries. Judgement for the teens and adults… we mean, judges, will be announced soon.
The Halloween Weekend Extravaganza
The Open Book Halloween Story Competition will wrap up with a weekend of fun, mischief and costumes on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October. Enter The Open Book (if you dare) for trick or treating, a ghost hunt, a costume party and more. The winning stories will be read out on Saturday afternoon for the kids and on Saturday night for the adults. Keep an eye out for the full event schedule on Instagram and Facebook.
Our Partners
We couldn’t do any of this without our awesome local partners who have provided us with vouchers for the competition and the Halloween Weekend Extravaganza. With the biggest, darkest non-beating hearts we thank Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Ponsonby Central, Duck Island Ponsonby, Cake & Co, Fatimas, and The Women’s Bookshop. You’re all sweeter than a witches brew.
