ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
Generously sponsored by prize donors and the following Groups:
"I keep seeing these people, all recognizing each other. Something is passing between them all, some secret. It's a conspiracy, I know it."
- Elizabeth, Invasion of the Body Snatchers
"You see, I take these glasses off, she looks like a regular person, doesn't she? Put 'em back on...formaldehyde-face!"
- Nada, They Live
"One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires."
- Grandpa, The Lost Boys
"Watch out for the weirdos, girls."
"We are the weirdos, mister."
- the driver and Nancy, The Craft
They seem like normal people. They go to work every day, keep their lawn nice and trimmed, and pay their taxes on time. They vote. They go to school. You run into them at the mall, or at the playground with their kids. Such nice folks, upstanding citizens.
If you only knew the truth.
You'd never have suspected that they...That those things...
LIVE AMONG US.
THE CONTEST
This is a Halloween-inspired, Literature-only contest asking for submissions of prose fiction around the theme of They Live Among Us, or the idea that something or someone malevolent, alien, supernatural or just plain bizarre dwells among everyday society under the veneer of normalcy, and what you don't know CAN hurt you.
Interpret the theme however you see fit, but do remember that this is a Halloween contest, and creepy, suspenseful, scary, bone-chilling, spine-tingling, and even darkly humorous or ironic stories are preferred. If you aren't sure if your idea fits the bill, feel free to note Memnalar and ask.
HOW TO ENTER:
Submit your entry as a deviation in the appropriate Literature category. Send a note to Memnalar with a link to your entry, and it will be collected into an entry gallery.
RULES:
Deadline is midnight October 23 (CST), and winners will (hopefully) be announced by October 31. Prose fiction only, 3,000-word maximum. One entry per contestant will be accepted. Prize donors are eligible to enter, but not judges. Entries must be new pieces posted after the contest begins. Entries earning Daily Deviations or major features before the end of the contest will be disqualified. No fan-fiction will be accepted.
Rules, deadlines, sponsorships and prizes may be subject to change. Please see this journal entry for current contest information.
JUDGING:
Each entry will be judged on a point system encompassing four factors: Creativity, Technique, Use of Theme and "The Halloween Factor."
The official judging period will be the week after the contest deadline. HOWEVER, judges will be encouraged to read and score the entries as they come in. Please be aware that your entry is fair game for judging as soon as you submit it to Memnalar.
JUDGES
The following brave souls have agreed to read and score the entries.
angeljunkie
jon-com
SadisticIceCream
safia3
Lucy-Merriman
PurpelBlur
PRIZES:
Points Pool Donors:
Pooled points may be used for prizes or other contest-related activities.
200 points - Anonymous
300 points - ThornyEnglishRose
28 points - orphicfiddler
50 points - Hiliasin
30 points - Anonymous
71 points - Anonymous
200 points - apocathary
200 points - neurotype-on-discord
400 points - Anonymous
50 points - Penfury
First Place
$20 Amazon Gift Card by thorns
Devwear shirt by PurpelBlur
"Trick or Treat" Bunker Gear Tote Bag made by Aranov (see example)
Toy Vault 12-inch Cthulhu Plushie by Memnalar
One Art Commission by Lucy-Merriman
One-year Premium Membership by AGMeade
Six-month Premium Membership by LadyLincoln
Three-month Premium Membership by Beta-Readers
Three-month Premium Membership by PurpelBlur
200 points by Lucy-Merriman
100 points by TheSkaBoss
Critique by Lucy-Merriman
Critique by TheSkaBoss (prose only)
Feature in “Friday Night Features” news article by dreamsinstatic
Second Place
Toy Vault 6-inch Cthulhu Plushie by Memnalar
One-year Premium Membership by RalfMaximus
Three-month Premium Membership by LadyLincoln
Three-month Premium Membership by Beta-Readers
100 points by Lucy-Merriman
50 points by TheSkaBoss
Critique by Lucy-Merriman
Critique by TheSkaBoss (prose only)
Feature in “Friday Night Features” news article by dreamsinstatic
Third Place
Toy Vault 6-inch Cthulhu Plushie by Memnalar
Six-month Premium Membership by FocusOnLit
Six-month Premium Membership by inknalcohol
Three-month Premium Membership by LadyLincoln
100 points by Lucy-Merriman
20 points by TheSkaBoss
Critique by Lucy-Merriman
Critique by TheSkaBoss (prose only)
Feature in “Friday Night Features” news article by dreamsinstatic
Journal Features for all winners:
ikazon
toxic--sunrise
angelStained
Solarune
dreamsinstatic
HugQueen
ThornyEnglishRose
Other Halloween Contests around DA:
Poetry Screams Contest - Deadline November 1
It's October
I've received questions about this, so I thought I should say something. No, there is no All Hallow's Tales contest this year. Yes, I feel weird about that. It's been a part of my life for well over a decade, as well as for many, many people who entered, supported, judged, and enjoyed the contest along with me. For a lot of reasons, I decided to let it go. Forever? I don't know. I can tell you that I'm more than happy to support and help out anyone who wants to take it on, or do their own Lit contest for the spooky season. I certainly don't own the idea. I'll always love this time of year, and I'll always love all of you. You're the reason the contest lasted as long as it did, and it had a damn good run. I'm proud of it, and grateful to everyone who has ever been a part of it. Happy Halloween. - Jay
Winners all!
This year's All Hallow's Tales contest has come to an end, and for the first time ever, with someone new at the helm. @ThornyEnglishRose did an outstanding job, and the contest drew some fantastic entries. Judging was very hard, and the margins were - as I understand - razor thin. With that in mind, I encourage you to check out the entire entry gallery. Good stuff within. Here are the winners! Watching and Waiting, by @squanpie took First: A Choice Between Deaths by @CobraToon took Second: Shortage by @saartha took Third: Honorable Mentions (told you it was close) go to: The Greatest of Them All by @Asahi-Taichou Growth by @SunlessSquid Thanks to all judges, entrants, prize donors, and especially to @ThornyEnglishRose for knocking it out of the park. And as I always say: Halloween never ends. It waits.
Fifty Halloweens
So I'm reading over the All Hallow's Tales entries, and damn, I should have given this thing to @ThornyEnglishRose years ago. Y'all turned in some good stuff! I turned 50 today. Kinda snuck up on me like a sudden ghost. A bunch of creepy stories is the perfect gift. Happy Halloween, all. Thanks for helping me celebrate the season all these years.
All Hallows' Tales - BIG CHANGES
Hello all! If you've been following me for the past, I dunno, 14 years, then you know that September is the time when I usually start asking for prize and/or volunteer commitments for the All Hallows' Tales contest. After 13 amazing years, I am now handing over primary hosting duties to @ThornyEnglishRose. She is no stranger to the contest, having entered every year and won every prize level at least once. She's also an outstanding Lit supporter and a dear friend. The contest is in good hands. So, if you haven't already done so (and I can't imagine why not), go and follow @ThornyEnglishRose for all contest announcements and updates. She'll be posting a journal about this in the next day or so. I'll do my best to support her in any way possible, and I hope you will, too. :pumpkin: :rose:
© 2011 - 2024 Memnalar
Comments156
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
I haven't written in what seems like forever. Time to dust my pencils off and get scribbling!