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Do you write horror that lingers? Stories that unsettle, haunt, and make skin crawl? And have you ever pictured it on a big screen?
If so, Written in the Dark is for you.
Written in the Dark is a writing contest, created to spotlight emerging voices in literary horror. Authors of 4 best short stories will split $4,000 in cash prizes, and 1 will get an opportunity to pitch their work to film producers actively seeking horror material for movie adaptation.
To participate, submit your best work by October 15th, 2026.

Why horror, why now?

We are now in a unique moment for horror: after decades of being boxed into a “genre entertainment” category, horror writers no longer have to chose between literary recognition and mainstream success.
While some horror stories are built for a quick thrill (and there is nothing wrong with that), more and more authors use this genre as a platform to highlight some of our society’s most pressing issues — discrimination, displacement, misogyny and trauma. And they do it in a captivating, wildly entertaining way that makes millions of people return to the pages and to the screens.
Genres like drama and comedy have long been recognized as both culturally important and entertaining, and now it’s horror’s turn.
And it’s your turn to have your voice heard.

What we are looking for

We are looking for fresh takes on classic horror, stories that use fear to illuminate something true about the world we live in, and genuinely great stories that get under your skin.

• Horror. It should draw the reader into the unknown, the unsettling, or the disturbing, and leave them with a sense of fear or dread.
• Original and unpublished. It must be written in English and never published before. Each author may submit one story.
• 10,000–20,000 characters long, including spaces.

Prizes: $4,000 and a pitch to film producers

1. First place: $1,500 USD + a direct pitch for movie adaptation to Nightmare Street, a Wonder Street company
2. Second place: $1,000 USD
3. Third place: $500 USD
4. Readers' Choice award: $1,000 USD

Meet the judges

Mark Holder — a producer and founding partner of Wonder Street Entertainment and Nightmare Street horror studio, with projects set up with Paramount, Warner Bros, HBO, Amazon and Netflix. His notable credits include the Mauritanian, hit international Netflix series Bandidos and Beasts of No Nation.
Andrew Wilson — a producer and manager with over 25 years of experience, whose clients’ collective worldwide film grosses exceed a billion dollars. A founding partner at Wonder Street Entertainment and Nightmare Street. His notable projects include Netflix’ BANDIDOS, Warner Bros’ LOTTERY TICKET and Fox’s DEVIL’S BACKBONE, TEXAS.
Christine Holder — a producer and founding partner at Wonder Street Entertainment and Nightmare Street, co-founder of Zero Gravity Management, leading the cultivation of premium IP from concept through execution. A member of Film Independent, Women in Film and the Producers Guild of America.
Readers’s Choice award will be based on number of reader votes on each participating story.

Key dates

• Submission deadline: October 15, 2026, [00:00PM CET]
• Winners announced: October 31, 2026, the spookiest night of the year

How to participate

Head over to written.app/in-the-dark-2026 and click “Submit your short story”.

Your story belongs in the dark. Are you ready to enter?