ACU’s writing center once again has hosted it’s Halloween short fiction contest.

This year’s contest was held until Oct. 28 with submissions being sent to writingcenter@acu.edu.

This event is an opportunity for students to showcase their creative writing abilities and create compelling short stories.

“We just wanted to offer an avenue for students to put their writing out there,” Sarah Sells, assistant director of the writing center, said.

Stories submitted were limited to no more 1,200 words around the Halloween theme. The works are meant to convey the essence of short, scary writing.   Writers are encouraged to rely on the scariness of the story on its own rather than the use of language. The winner that is chosen, was awarded a prize.

Dr. Shelly Sanders, associate professor of English and creative writing, was the guest judge for this year’s contest.

“What we’ve found is that the entries we get never have any profanity and any themes that are considered ACU inappropriate,” Dr. Cole Bennett, director of the writing center, said. “It’s not as skillful as someone who puts together a 4-page scary story on its own merit rather than relying on questionable or profane themes.”

Winners are recommended to submit their work to the Shinnery Review, a student-led art, and literary work magazine that publishes ACU student work.

Following this contest, the Writing Center will also host a love poetry contest occurring in Feb. 2020.