Crowvus

Ghost Story Competition T&Cs

Adult Category​

  1. The entry fee for adults is £3 per story or 2 stories are £5.
  2. There is a maximum of 2 stories per author.
  3. Word limit: 4000 (there is no lower limit)
  4. Competition deadline: 30th September 2024 (the very last second of the month!)
  5. Winners will be listed on the Competition page on Thursday 31st October 2024 – Crowvus does not send out individual messages until after this date, when we will get in touch with our successful authors. Crowvus does not contact unsuccessful authors individually
  6. Stories must have only one author. No co-authored stories please
  7. Entries must be solely the work of the contributor
  8. Please pay for the entry via our shop, then submit by email quoting the Order Number. If you have any queries or problems, please contact the_team@crowvus.com
  9. All entries are judged anonymously and should be .doc, or .docx attachments – this means your name cannot appear on the manuscript. The covering email should include name, address, email (if different), title of story, order number, and word count. Check the How to Enter page for details on this.
  10. Please submit your entry to submissions@crowvus.com Do not use the online form. Note: this is an unmanned email address
  11. Make sure you make some reference to the Ghost Story in the subject line, so we know you’re entering the competition rather than making a Journal submission
  12. Entries are very welcome from overseas authors. However, these must be written in English. Dialect is welcome if it furthers the development of the plot
  13. While copyright remains with the author, Crowvus reserves the right to publish and sell the entries in the anthology at no extra cost. Crowvus will keep all profit from the sale of the anthology. We will provide the ISBN for the anthology. The paperback will be published in December 2024 and an eBook version will become available in December 2025.
  14. Crowvus will have exclusive publishing rights for a 12-month period (until 31st October 2025)
  15. Crowvus reserves to the right not to publish the anthology if there are not enough entries
  16. The decision of the judging panel is final. No correspondence will be entered into with unsuccessful authors
  17. Crowvus will not enter into disputes with third parties
  18. The prizes are:
    • First Prize: £100
    • Second Prize: £75
    • Third Prize: £50
  19. Shortlisted writers will also receive one free copy of the anthology
  20. By entering the competition, you agree to ALL the terms and conditions.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to Rule 14, we are unable to accept previously published work, including that published through other competitions. You are welcome to enter anything that you have published yourself on a personal blog or website etc. However, if you are successful in this competition, please remove your story from your blog/website until 31st October 2025

The Ghost Osa Prize for Children

  1. There is no entry fee for children.
  2. There is a maximum of 2 stories per author.
  3. This category is for anyone up to and including 16 years old on 1st December 2024
  4. Word limit: 4000 (there is no lower limit)
  5. Competition deadline: 30th September 2024 at midnight (oooh spooky!)
  6. Winners will be listed on the Competition page on Thursday 31st October 2024 – Crowvus does not send out individual messages until after this date, when we will get in touch with our successful authors
  7. Stories must have only one author. No co-authored stories please.
  8. Entries must be solely the work of the contributor
  9. All entries are judged anonymously and should be .doc, .docx attachments – this means your name cannot appear on the manuscript. The covering email should include name, address, email (if different), title of story, and the word count
  10. Please submit your entry to submissions@crowvus.com Do not use the online form
  11. The 1st place prize is £50 – this is donated by the Bowditch Family in memory of Osa
  12. Entries are very welcome from overseas authors. However, these must be written in English. Dialect is welcome if it furthers the development of the plot.
  13. While copyright remains with the author, Crowvus reserves the right to publish and sell the entries in the anthology at no extra cost. Crowvus will keep all profit from the sale of the anthology. We will provide the ISBN for the anthology. The paperback will be published in December 2024 and an eBook version will become available in December 2025
  14. Crowvus will have exclusive publishing rights for a 12-month period (until 31st October 2025)
  15. Crowvus reserves to the right not to publish the anthology if there are not enough entries
  16. The decision of the judging panel is final
  17. Crowvus will not enter into disputes with third parties
  18. Shortlisted writers will receive one free copy of the anthology
  19. By entering the competition, you agree to ALL the terms and conditions

PLEASE NOTE: Due to Rule 14, we are unable to accept previously published work, including that published through other competitions. You are welcome to enter anything that you have published yourself on a personal blog or website etc. However, if you are successful in this competition, please remove your story from your blog/website until 31st October 2025