HAUNTED
PAMLICO

Haunt Season Writing Competition

Try your hand at writing sinister prose inspired by the history, folklore, and ghost stories of the Southeast. Entries should be comprised of 2,500 words or less. We're seeking startling and inventive tales that will entertain and enlighten our followers. The winner and the runner-up will have their stories read live by our actors during Carnival of Darkness and the Haunted Pamlico Halloween Festival in October at the historic Turnage Theater. We'll also read the top-two stories in a video to be posted on our platforms. The first- and second-place finishers will receive printed certificates honoring their work. The entry period runs from May 1 through Aug. 1. Send your stories to hauntedpamlico1@gmail.com. The competition is open to all writers everywhere. Thanks to the Pamlico Writers Group for partnering with us on this competition and all the literary aspects of our festival. 

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Carnival of Darkness Screenwriting Contest 

Haunted Pamlico announces its first-ever Carnival of Darkness Screenwriting Contest. This competition is designed for sci-fi, horror, and suspense screenwriters who are seeking opportunities to see their work recognized as they pursue their cinematic dreams. 

You must submit your screenplay through the Carnival of Darkness page on FilmFreeway.com. We'll accept entries from May 1 through Sept. 1. Here are the criteria for short and feature length scripts:

• 120-page limit for feature-length scripts.
• 30-page limit for short scripts. 
• $10 charge for each script entry for which no feedback is requested. 
• $20-per-script charge to receive feedback from one of our judges. 

We recommend that you send your file as a PDF. 

All scripts will remain your property and will not be shared, copied, or have their contents revealed to the public by any of our judges. 

We will select a winner and a finalist in the short and feature-length categories. The authors of these selected scripts will receive digital laurels and printed certificates honoring their work. Should your work find a place in the contest, you must provide your mailing address in order to receive a printed certificate. 

Contest judges will include members of the Pamlico Writers Group and authors, directors, and producers who have experience in independent filmmaking. We won't reveal the identities of our judges.