As befits the name, we're looking for dark stories. Whether you've got a traditional campfire ghost story or a cutting-edge literary experiment, the Mid-Atlantic Horror Professionals want to hear from you.
No, really. We do.
The MAHP (formerly/currently the Baltimore/Washington DC chapter of HWA) is a new group of professionals in the horror industry (and we don't mean telemarketing). Our members hail from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington DC, but the contest is open to authors worldwide.
Stories of up to 3,500 words are sought. First prize is publication in the 2003 anthology from the MAHP plus payment at three cents per word. Second prize is two cents per word, and third prize is one cent per word--with the top three stories all appearing on the MAHP website.
Entering writers need not be residents of the mid-Atlantic region, but this is where Poe created his greatest works, so you can be sure we're looking for quality. Entries will be judged by a panel of published authors. The initial round of reading has been designed to that each entry will draw comment from at least two of the judges.
Midnight, October 31, 2002
The contest is open to unpublished writers or those who have not published more than two fiction stories in a nationally distributed magazine with a circulation over 5,000. Submitted stories must be previously unpublished.
Snail Mail:
Standard double-spaced manuscript format. No handwritten entries; keep fonts plain. Title and page number (but NOT NAME) on each page. Your name should appear only on the title page. Send to:
Mid-Atlantic Horror Story Contest 2002
P.O. Box 124
Riva, MD 21140
E-Mail:
Paste the story in the body of an e-mail or send it as an attachment. Use "contest entry" as the subject line and send it to EnterMAHP@aol.com. We only accept text or rich text format attachments. All others will be deleted unread.
Judges' comments will be transcribed and sent to you in return e-mail. All submissions are considered disposable and none will be returned.
$10 per story. Snail mail entries should include check or money order payable to Ralph Bieber. E-mail entries may pay through Pay Pal. (Note: Non-U.S. entrants SEND ONLY U.S. MONEY ORDERS OR CHECKS DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK)
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in the immediate disqualification and disposal of your story. Entries are assigned to the judges solely by the contest committee at random--no requests, no exceptions. Entry fee does not guarantee acceptance. Entry fee is non-refundable regardless of submission status. The MAHP as an entity, its officers (Brian Keene, Karen Taylor, Ralph Bieber), its members, and the contest judges are not responsible for lost or disqualified manuscripts. Decisions of judges are final. Employees do not have keys to safe. Keep your arms in the vehicle at all times. Objects in contest may be closer than they appear.
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