Scary Story Contest  

Incorporate three key words into your frightening fiction for a chance to win prizes in the annual Scary Story Contest for teens. The contest welcomes writers from the Tri-Cities in two age categories: 11 to 14, and 15 to 18.

Each entry must include three key words:

• Ashen
• Grim
• Unearthly

Word Limit: 500

• Title and byline do not count towards the total
• If your story runs over 500 words, it will be disqualified
• Each story must be original: written by the person who submits it

Writers must submit their stories by e-mail no earlier than Sep. 1 (the start of the contest) and no later than our deadline.

• Deadline: Sunday, Oct. 19, 11:59 pm
• Email: scarystorycontest2025@gmail.com
• Format: Stories must be submitted as text inside the body of an e-mail. In other words, please copy and paste your story into the body of your message. No attachments this year, please!
• Include: Your name, age, city of residence, and phone number with your entry

The contest is open to students who live or go to school in Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Anmore or Belcarra. If you live outside of the communities listed above, please include the name of your Tri-Cities school.

Initial judging to be completed by local library staff. Final judging by award-winning freelance journalist Richard Dal Monte, former editor of the Tri City News.

Prizes: $50, $30, $20 gift cards to Coquitlam Centre Mall for first, second, third in both categories. Stories to be published on library web sites and/or social media.

11 to 14 Category

1st Place - Oonah Barnes (14) - George
2nd Place - Devansh Kumar (13) - The Ichor of Black Hollow
3rd Place - Lillian Lu (14) - Witch

15 to 18 Category

1st Place - Malaya Barroso (16) - Portrait in Flesh
2nd Place - Lexi Johnson (16) - "Good morning, Tony!"
3rd Place - Jalian Jiang (15) - Mother