The contest is a fundraiser of the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library of Lockhart, Texas.

First prize, $500.00 and a trophy
Second prize, $250.00.
Third prize, $150.00.
Special local prize, $100.00 (for Caldwell County residents only).
$20 entry fee.

The “Scare the Dickens Out of Us” Ghost Story Contest is in conjunction with the annual “A Dickens Christmas In Lockhart” festival, which is held on the first weekend in December (Friday night, Saturday) in Lockhart, Texas.

We want ghost stories. Here are the contest rules:

1. The contest is open to published and unpublished writers alike. All publication rights remain with the author. Contest judges and their immediate families are ineligible.
2. The ghost story must include a character from any of Charles Dickens’ works as part of your original story.
3. The story must be set in the month of December and around any of the December holidays.
4. The story must be 4,000 words or less, in English, typed double-spaced.
5. Entries must be original and unpublished. Only one entry per writer.
6. With your manuscript you must submit a completed contest entry form and $20 entry fee (check or money order). Entry forms are available at our web site www.clarklibraryfriends.org.
7. You must mail your manuscript, completed contest entry form, and $20 entry fee to us at this address: Ghost Story Contest, co/Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 821, Lockhart, TX 78644.
8. Contest deadline is October 1, 2009. Your entry must be postmarked no later than October 1, 2009.
Make your check or money order payable to Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) if you want your manuscript returned to you.

Decisions of the judges are final. Judging will be in a blind format in which the judges do not know the names of the authors of the stories. For that reason, please do not place your name or other identifying marks anywhere on the manuscript. The title page should list only the name of the story and approximate word count. Succeeding pages should contain only story text, page numbers, and a partial story title.

Winners will be contacted at contest end. Names of winners also will be announced at the “A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart” festival in December, and will be posted at our web site www.clarklibraryfriends.org .

JUNIOR “SCARE THE DICKENS OUT OF US” GHOST STORY CONTEST

Sponsored by the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, Texas.

We want ghost stories. Here are the junior contest rules:

1. There is no entry fee for the Junior “Scare the Dickens Out of Us” Ghost Story Contest. First prize will be a trophy. Judges also will award second and third places. This contest is open to residents of Caldwell County, Texas residents who are age 12-18 on October 1, 2009. Contest judges and their immediate families are ineligible. All publication rights remain with the author (you!).
2. The ghost story must include a character from any of Charles Dickens’ works (stories or novels) as part of your original story.
3. The story must be set in the month of December and around any of the holidays therein.
4. Stories must be typewritten and double-spaced and must be 4,000 words or less, in English. Stories must be an original unpublished work. Only one entry per writer.
5. You must completely fill out a junior contest entry form, available from our web site www.clarklibraryfriends.org, and submit it with your story.
6. You must mail your typed story and your completed junior contest entry form to this address: Junior Ghost Story Contest, c/o Friends of the Library, PO Box 821 Lockhart, Texas 78644.
7. The deadline for mailing your entry is October 1, 2009. Your story submission must be postmarked no later than October 1st, 2009.

If you want your story returned to you, include with your story a self-addressed stamped envelope big enough for us to mail it back to you when the contest ends.

Decisions of the judges are final. Judging will be a blind format in which the judges do not know the names of the authors of the stories. For that reason, please do not place your name or other identifying marks anywhere on the manuscript. The title page should list only the name of the story and approximate word count. Succeeding pages should contain only story text, page numbers, and a partial story title.

Names of winners will be announced when the contest is over and posted to www.clarklibraryfriends.org, and will be announced again at the “A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart” celebration in December.

Download pdf entry form for Adult contest.

Download pdf entry form for Junior contest.

Questions? Please Email us.