MicroHorror

October already! Where does the time go? I swear it was April just a few weeks ago. Maybe I should spend more time aboveground… nah. Anyway, let me begin by extending my heartiest thanks to Yuichi Mendez, Brayden Krell, Chris O’Neal, R. K. Gemienhardt, Thomas Turren, Alexandra Erin, Andrew JM Stone, Adrian W. Ludens, A D Dawson, Heather Kuehl, Brick Marlin, Charles Skorzewski, Nathan Tyree, Amanda Blackburn and Kimberly D. Robinson for their generous and chilling contributions, and particularly warm-and-still-dripping hearty thanks to all the newcomers and first-timers. Nothing suits a horror fiction archive more than–you guessed it–fresh blood.

And speaking of blood, it’s October 1! We’re at the dawn of the greatest horror month of the year and only thirty days away from All Hallows’ Eve, when ghosts and ghouls stalk the streets and witches roam abroad. (Of course, with the dollar at a record low, American witches might just as well stay home, but I digress.) All of this, of course, means that it’s time to announce the Second MicroHorror.com Story Contest! We’re doing something different this year, though. This year, I want to see stories that capture the spirit of Halloween, and that do it in 100 words or less. This is real microfiction, folks, and we’re cutting right down to the bone. And yes, there will be fabulous prizes! Start sending in your entries now, because the deadline is 11:59 PM EST, October 31. Read the official contest rules here!