Spooky glastonbury Writing Contest
From September 14-October 16, 2026, Glastonbury residents ages six and up are invited to submit an original spooky tale using the guidelines below. Each story will be published in a Spooky Glastonbury volume, which will be added to our library collection. All participants who submit a story within the guidelines will receive a commemorative item. Prizes will be awarded to one winner from each age group (6-11, 12-18, and 19+). Winning stories will also be featured in a Best of Spooky CT volume.
Submitted stories must:
- Be set in Connecticut past, present, or future
- Be a maximum of 2,750 words
- Be an original piece (no AI, please!)
- Be authored by a Glastonbury resident
- Have no excessive bad language or extreme gore
- One entry per person, please!
Submissions will be accepted via Google Form. Please note that to submit via the Google Form, you must have or create a free Google account. Questions or issues with submission should be directed to wtmlreference@gmail.com.
We can’t wait to read your frightful stories! Do your best to scare the librarians!
This event is generously sponsored by The Friends of the Welles-Turner Memorial Library.
story collections
FAQs
What are the font size and spacing requirements?
Please use at least size 10 font. There is no spacing requirement.
What is the preferred file format?
Word document format is preferred. PDFs are also acceptable.
Are illustrations allowed?
Yes, with an accompanying story!
Can a group of people submit a story together?
Each submitted story must have only one author because the library will recognize a single winner per age group.
Can I receive a copy of the short story volume at the end of the program?
A bound volume of all submitted short stories will be available to view in the library’s collection. A digital copy will also be available to patrons on the library’s website.