Start Date: Sep. 26, 2026.
Deadline: Oct. 31st, 2026.

The fire crackles as the sun disappears beyond the trees. You sit around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and watching the flames dance into the night. One by one, stories begin to make their way around the circle, some spooky, some strange, some funny, and some that might make you think twice before wandering into the woods alone.

Tonight, the campfire is yours.

For Campfire Tales, your challenge is to tell a story worthy of being shared around the fire. Maybe it's a ghost story whispered beneath the stars. Maybe it's a strange tale about something lurking between the trees. Maybe it's a childhood legend, a monster story, or something completely unexpected.

So grab a marshmallow, settle in, and take your turn.

What story will you tell?

1). Your story must be your own original work. This means anything from blatantly posting someone else's writing to the use of generative AI is strictly not allowed.
2). Keep it Halloween-themed. Your story should have some connection to Halloween, autumn, the supernatural, or the spooky atmosphere of the season.
3). One story per person. Everyone gets one seat around the campfire, so please submit only one entry.
4). Have fun with it! There isn't one right way to tell a campfire story. Make us laugh, make us nervous, make us wonder what happened in those woods-- or leave us checking under our beds afterward.

1st Place: 200k Gold, 100 Diamonds, and a themed pet of your choosing from my stables.

2nd Place: 100k Gold, 50 Diamonds, and a themed pet of your choosing from my stables.

3rd Place: 50k Gold and a themed pet of your choosing from my stables.

Participation: 5k Gold.

F.A.Q.

When are submissions due?

All writing submissions should be posted by 11:59PM Sylestia Time on October 31st to be considered! But of course I won't be too picky if you submit it a couple of hours later.

When will the results be announced?

Judging will begin Nov. 1st and the winners will be announced promptly, with prizes being sent out as soon as the results are posted! Depending on the volume of submissions, judging could conclude on the same day or maximally within 2-3 days.

What should I write about?

Any kind of story you might tell at a campfire! This could mean your traditional ghost stories, classic folk lore, urban legends, etc.

What will we be judged on?

I take into account five main components.

Overall Storytelling - Does it have a clear beginning, middle, and end? Does the narrative hold the readers attention?
Writing and prose - How effectively is the language being used? Consider descriptions, dialogue, sentence structure, and word choice.
Atmosphere - Does the story create a strong atmosphere? This could be eerie, cozy, mysterious, nostalgic, etc.
Creativity and originality - Does the story bring an interesting idea, perspective, or interpretation to the theme?
Impact - Does the story leave you feeling something? (Does it make you laugh? Did it creep you out? Make you sad? Surprise you? Are you left thinking about it afterward?)