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The Fiction Desk Ghost Story Competition

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A project of The Fiction Desk (see other related projects).

Do not submit here! This project is permanently closed to submissions (December 2018). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

Most of the stories we publish at The Fiction Desk are more or less realistic, but we try to stray outside that from time to time: some genre fiction should be part of any balanced reading diet. One genre that we'd like to feature more of in our pages is the ghost story.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions.
Important: This is no longer a separate competition. Ghost story submissions should now be reported under the main listing for Fiction Desk.

Country of Publication

United Kingdom

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year.

Fiction Closed
Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General. Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Gothic.

Horror. Subgenre: Supernatural.

Lengths:
Short Story1,000 - 7,500 words.
Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Folklore/Mythology: Ghost stories.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word).
Note: We list broad pay categories rather than prize specifics. Check with the publisher for details.

Submissions:

Method: Electronic submissions.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

The Fiction Desk Ghost Story Competition Submission Statistics — Free Preview!

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.
AccuracyWe have received 1 report within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.

Other Information

Most recent response reported was received on 13 Feb 2025.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 31 Jan 2025.

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Your Submissions

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The Fiction Desk Flash Fiction Competition CLOSED Charges fees for all submissions
The Fiction Desk Newcomer Short Story Prize ON HIATUS Charges fees for all submissions
The Fiction Desk Charges fees for all submissions

Dates

Last Updated: 11 Mar 2025
Date Added: 04 Mar 2013

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.